THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT LOF A NE COVE BY LYNNE McLOUGHLIN WITH PLANT SURVEYS BY VAN KLAPHAKE The Natural Environment of Lane Cove
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I wish to thank those people who have so willingly assisted in assembling materials and information for various parts of this book detailing the natural environment of Lane Cove. In particular, I wish to thank Susan Butler, Lane Cove Council Bushland Management Officer, for her great support and encouragement for the project from its inception as environmental education material, through the production of the Teachers’ Guide, to its present form. Susan also produced all the maps, assisted with illustrative material, co-ordinated the production of the listings for the appendices and acted as editor for both the Teachers’ Guide and this publication. Special thanks are due to Van Klaphake who surveyed, identified and listed the plant species of our bushland reserves, assisted by Sandy Coe. Van also drafted the vegetation maps, contributed to the birds and the animals listings and assisted with the mushrooms listing. Thanks also to Jon Kingston and Simon Pitcher for their painstaking work in preparing the listings for the extensive appendices. Assistance was also much appreciated from Sheila Walkerden, for information and listings on birds, John Diversi, for listings and information on reptiles and Dennis Ormsby, for material on mammals. Lynne McLoughlin February, 1992.
Maps: Susan Butler Illustrations: Susan Butler – Geology/soils cross-section Boyden & Partners – Stormwater control Kevin Hardacre – Praying mantis Birds: Firetail, Currawong, Pardalote, Wren Anne Hopkins – Recreation at Fairyland Van Klaphake – Juncus Animals: Gecko, Snake, Frog, Fox Bird food niches Birds: Pelican, Cormorant, Kookaburra. Ibis Toni May -Weeds: Morning Glory, Madeira Vine, Dandelion, Cobblers Peg,Lantana, Broadleafed Privet, BalloonVine, Kikuyu Grass Jocelyn Maughan – Brushtail Possum Daniel McLoughlin – Dumping, bike riding, Bush under Siege Lynne McLoughlin – Environment Web, Flying Fox, Impacts: taking flowers & logs, Tree lopping, feral cat. Plants: Lillypilly, Commelina, Pittosporum, Tradescantia. Weed walkmaps. Ferry Judy Messer – Plants: Casuarina, Eucalypt, Lillypilly, Epacris, Hakea, Banksia, Acacia. Ringtail possum, Tony Moody – Vegetation & wetland zonations NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service – Sugar’ Glider Simon Pitcher, fromWaterBoard - Sewage overflow point Victorian Dept of Conservation & Environment – Mammals: Feathertail Glider, bats, Tawny Frogmouth Water Board – Clean Rivers and Creeks Begin at Home
Published by: Lane Cove Municipal Council, Longueville Road, Lane Cove. 2066 February, 1992. Reprinted 2014 ISBN 0 9500855 7 X Copyright © Text: Lynne McLoughlin, 1992
2 Contents
CONTENTS
5 1. INTRODUCTION
2. THE BARE ESSENTIALS 2.1 Climate 8 2.2 Topography 8 2.3 Geology and Soils 8
3. THE VALUES OF BUSHLAND 3.1 The General Values of Bushland 11 3.2 State Policy on Bushland 12 3.2 Special Values of Lane Cove Bushland 12
4. VEGETATION COMMUNITIES 4.1 Naming Vegetation Communities 14 4.2 Factors Affecting Vegetation Communities 15 4.3 Wetlands and Swamps 17 4.4 Wet Sclerophyll Forest 18 4.5 Dry Sclerophyll Forest 20 4.6 Heath 21 4.7 Missing Communities 22 4.8 Changing Communities 23
5. THE ANIMALS OF LANE COVE 5.1 Wildlife in the City 25 5.2 The Mammals of Lane Cove 25 5.3 The Reptiles of Lane Cove 28 5.4 The Amphibians of Lane Cove 31 5.5 Fish of the Lane Cove River 31 5.6 Insects and Spiders 32 5.7 Introduced Animals 32
6. THE BIRDS OF LANE COVE 6.1 Birds in the Environment 33 6.2 The Impact of Settlement on Birds 33 6.3 Birds in Lane Cove 36
7. THE ABORIGINES OF LANE COVE 7.1 The Local Tribes 40 7.2 Aboriginal Survival in the Environment of Lane Cove 40
8. EUROPEAN IMPACTS ON LOCAL BUSHLAND 8.1 Early Impacts 43 8.2 Continuing Problems 43 8.3 Repairing the Damage and Reducing the Impacts 47
3 The Natural Environment of Lane Cove
9. WEED INVASION – A SPECIAL PROBLEM 9.1 The Nature and Extent of the Problem 50 9.2 How Weed Invasion Occurs 50 9.3 Keeping Weeds out of the Bush 52 9.4 Restoring the Bush 52 9.5 Bush Regeneration 53 9.6 Identifying Weeds 55
10. THE LANE COVE – AN URBAN RIVER SYSTEM 10.1 Description 59 10.2 How People Have Used the River System 59 10.3 Reducing Adverse Impacts on Waterways 66
REFERENCES Further Reading 72
APPENDICES 1 Native Plants of Lane Cove Municipality 74 2 Native Plants found at Riverview 1881 –1908 86 3 Fungi of Lane Cove Municipality 88 4 Bushland Weeds of Lane Cove Municipality 89 5 Catchment Vegetation Maps 98 6 Animals of Lane Cove 105 7 Birds of Lane Cove 110
115 INDEX
4 Introduction
1. INTRODUCTION Lane Cove is a relatively small municipality of 1,056 hectares on the Lower North Shore (Map 1), almost completely contained within the catchment of the Lane Cove River (the east side of Greenwich drains to Berrys Creek and the Parramatta River). It is bounded on the east by the Pacific Highway, also the eastern edge of the catchment, and on the west and south by the river itself. Mowbray Road serves as the boundary to the north. 163 hectares of the total area is zoned as Open Space, of which 74 hectares is classified as bushland (Map 2), as at 1989 (some areas have been added to public open space since). This represents only 7% of the Municipality and less than half of the total open space. Thus it is a very precious resource, fortunately at present augmented by further bushland areas in public or private ownership which are not zoned as open space. Many residents who live on the edge of reserves maintain parts of their property close to the bush in a natural state, increasing total bushland and wildlife habitat. This volume is a direct off-shoot of a previous publication specifically designed for educational use. In 1991, Lane Cove Council, with the assistance of the Department of Planning’s Metropolitan Greenspace Program, produced an Environmental Education Package for Lane Cove schools. This Package was designed to assist teachers, particularly at primary level, interpret the natural environment of their local area. It consisted of a variety of readily available resource materials such as books, posters, leaflets and videos and was accompanied by a specially written Teachers’ Guide .
5 The Natural Environment of Lane Cove
The Natural Environment of Lane Cove: A Teachers’ Guide provided background information on each element of the local natural environment, as well as student activities and worksheets on each topic, tree lists and a map for each school site, other plant lists and a bird list. The production of such a comprehensive set of materials for classroom use and provision of these packages to local schools was a pioneering initiative for local government in promoting awareness of the local environment amongst its children. Lane Cove Council has been committed to bushland preservation and protection for over 20 years. Their commitment to this project thus reflects a long history of concern for the natural environment of Lane Cove. Council believed it important that the children of Lane Cove both understand and appreciate their local environment. Whilst the importance of environmental education in schools had been recognised in the 1989 Environmental Education Curriculum document, there was a significant shortage of locally based information and materials for teachers to translate this document into meaningful local experiences for children. The Environmental Education package was designed to meet this need. However, it soon became obvious that the information about Lane Cove’s natural environment contained in the Teachers’ Guide should be more readily available. This present volume represents the information component of the Teachers’ Guide , with the addition of detailed reference listings on the plants, animals, birds and fish of the municipality to further extend its value as an information base for general use. For more detailed information on each area covered, consult the references for each chapter listed before the Appendices. For the existence of such a wealth of collected data specific to the Lane Cove environment we owe a debt of gratitude to people who, over the years, have been so interested in the area as to collect a variety of information allowing us now a wide view of its natural components. We thus appreciate the work of people such as Tom Dixon of St Ignatius College, who encouraged their birdwatchers and compiled years of their data, Van Klaphake who has worked in our bushland for many years acquiring detailed knowledge of its plants and animals, bush regenerators who have lived in Lane Cove observing and caring for our bush, and researchers at Macquarie University and elsewhere who have built up knowledge of the river and its aquatic life. The major gap remaining in our knowledge is that we lack a true picture of the state of our animal populations, particularly our mammals. Thus this is an important area for future study.
6 Introduction
7 The Natural Environment of Lane Cove
2. THE BARE ESSENTIALS This chapter outlines the main features of the non-living, or inorganic, part of the natural environment of Lane Cove which provides the framework for its plants, animals, birds and insects and which has heavily influenced the way they have evolved.
2.1 Climate Sydney is located on the east coast of the continent, in a temperate zone (between the tropics and the colder sub-arctic regions). This means it experiences moderate temperatures year round and moderate year round rainfall from moisture laden winds blowing onshore from the Pacific Ocean. The climate of Lane Cove is similar to that of general metropolitan Sydney. This records an average rainfall of more than 1200mm, the wettest months being January to July, with less rainfall in late winter and spring. Extremes of temperature are infrequent: average maximum summer temperature is around 24°C and the average minimum 18°C Average winter temperatures are: maximum 16°C, minimum 7°C. However, the municipality generally slopes to the south and west from its boundary on the Pacific Highway ridge. It is thus exposed to weather which comes into Sydney from the south and west: the cold southerlies and westerlies in winter and the hot, dry westerlies and ‘southerly busters’ in summer. Yet, in any area where there are variations in topography of hills and valleys, there are significant differences in aspect and resulting microclimate. Protected valleys have more moderate temperatures than exposed ridges, south facing slopes are cooler and moister than north facing slopes, west facing slopes are drier as well as colder in winter, hotter in summer than east facing slopes.
2.2 Topography The municipality consists of a series of alternating ridges and creek valleys in the lower Lane Cove River Valley. Its eastern boundary, the north-south tending ridgeline of the Pacific Highway, is the edge of the Lane Cove River catchment and the highest part of the municipality (90-100m above sea level). From here the land slopes west and south to the river which forms the western and southern boundary. Tributary creeks have cut into the sides of the main river valley to form the series of often steep-sided ridges and valleys which run from the Pacific Highway ridge down to the river, illustrated opposite on Map 3. Above Figtree Bridge, Stringybark Creek and the former Stoney Creek (in the valley which Blackman Park now occupies) flow directly into the river. Below Figtree Bridge the shoreline is much more deeply indented with bays into which the creeks drain ie. Tannery Creek into Bums Bay, Tambourine Creek into Tambourine Bay, Gore Creek into a little bay next to Woodford Bay and Berrys Creek into Gore Cove. All the bays along this part of the river are, like the many other bays around Sydney Harbour, the result of flooding of the lower parts of the tributary creeks when the sea level rose after the last ice age. The spurs between were then left jutting out into the river as peninsulas.
2.3 Geology and Soils The Lane Cove River has carved its valley into the extensive plateau on the northern side of Sydney Harbour, known as the Hornsby Plateau. The Lane Cove, along with Middle Harbour to the east and Berowra Creek and Cowan Creek to the north, and all their tributary creeks, have left little of the original flat plateau surface. Only the ridges which now form the divides between these river systems survive. The Hornsby Plateau is made up of a series of almost horizontal layers of sedimentary rock formations, mainly of sandstones and shales. These layers are slightly tipped on an angle sloping downwards from the coast inland. The lowest layers of the plateau observable at the surface are the Narrabeen series of sandstones but they are only visible at the coast before dipping underground.
8 The Bare Essentials
9 The Natural Environment of Lane Cove
Above the Narrabeen sandstones is a thick layer of Hawkesbury sandstones. The topmost, and thinnest, layer is Wianamatta shales, much like the icing on the cake of the bulk of Hawkesbury sandstones. However, as the rivers and creeks have cut deeply and widely into the plateau, there is little of the ‘icing’ left. Thus the shales are found only on the ridge tops while the sandstone is found on the valley slopes down to the creeks and rivers, as shown on Map 4. In the process of cutting their valleys, these creeks have often left spectacular cliffs and outcrops in the sandstone, one of the distinctive features of Sydney’s northside scenery. The two major rock types in Lane Cove, sandstone and shale, give rise to distinctly different types of soils. Sandstones produce sandy, stony soils which do not hold water or nutrients well and dry out easily. As these soils are on the slopes they also tend to be shallow where rain washes the material further down the slope. Sandstones are also associated with more rugged topography: steep slopes, cliffs and rock outcrops at the surface. Such topography results from the way sandstone on valley slopes both is undercut by water which seeps to the base of the rock layer, and weathers vertically along joint lines in the rock, eventually breaking away in large chunks along these vertical joint lines. Shale produces deeper and more fertile clay soils, which also hold water more easily. Being also on the flatter land of the ridges, these were the soils first used by farmers on the North Shore. As shale weathers and breaks down more evenly, the topography associated with the shales is marked by smoother, less steep slopes on the valley sides, and an almost flat grade on the ridges. Where elements of the two rock types mix, a more intermediate soil is present. This soil is stony but deeper than the sandstone soils and a little more fertile. It can occur where there are alternating beds of sandstone and shale in a transition zone between the Hawkesbury Sandstone and the Wianamatta Shale or where the clay soils from the ridge have moved downslope to sandstone areas. The cross-section below illustrates the changes in soils and topography which occur with differences in the underlying geology. A comparison of Maps 4 and 5 also reveals the clear relationships between geology and soils. There are pockets of different soils. On the flatter areas along the Lane Cove River north of Figtree Bridge and along some of the creeks are alluvial soils (sediments deposited by the river). In addition, a number of areas no longer have natural soils evident as they have been filled eg. Blackman Park, Burns Bay Reserve, Gore Creek Reserve and the golf course.
10 The Value of Bushland
3. THE VALUE OF BUSHLAND
3.1 General Values of Urban Bushland All urban bushland (bushland in, or adjacent to, urban areas) is important for a variety of reasons outlined below (adapted from National Trust, 1988). Lane Cove bushland also has some special values, discussed later.
Scenic Heritage The Australian bushland has special characteristics of colour, smell, texture which give it a uniquely Australian quality. The Australian natural landscape is distinctive and recognisable and part of our natural and cultural heritage.
Scientific Values The Australian landscape is ancient and complex and its scientific values barely researched. The topography of the Sydney Basin is very varied and consequently it supports a remarkable range of flora and fauna. Rare plants and animals still exist in the bushland scattered though the city. The geological history of the urban area may also be illustrated in its bushland remnants. At the very least, the original rocks and soils of the area can be seen in the bushland. It may also contain volcanic intrusions, craters, caves, rock weathering formations, cliffs and features such as monoclines. Rock formations and their different soils also contribute to the enormous variety in vegetation.
Historic Landscape The natural history of an urban area is exemplified by its remaining native flora and flora. The different combinations of individual plants within each locality are the result of thousands of years of evolution and adaptation to the characteristics and conditions of that area. The remnants are all that is left to show us what existed in our suburbs prior to European settlement. Local urban bushland also has considerable archaeological importance. It contains artefacts and relics which may vividly illustrate the occupation of the area over centuries. The bushland is a vital link with generations of the original inhabitants, the Australian Aborigines, and their way of life. As written accounts were not kept by the Aborigines, middens, rock shelters, axe-grinding grooves, rock engravings and paintings in remaining bushland are all that may survive of the period prior to 1788. Urban bushland can also contain evidence of early European settlement with stone roadways, walls, bridges, wells and steps often being revealed when weeds (which invaded these areas after abandonment) are cleared. Other aspects of cultural history found in bushland are tree stumps left from logging operations, remains of early homesteads, terracing, old dams and even abandoned tools.
Wildlife Corridors and Habitat The range of vegetation strata (levels from ground cover to tree canopy) in bushland provides important wildlife habitat. Many species of birds and animals arc able to survive ncar, and even in, our suburbs only because of the shelter and food provided by the native vegetation. Urban bushland also acts as wildlife corridors allowing migrating species to ‘filter through’ large cities. Even a small area of bushland may be an important link in the chain of bushland reserves forming a wildlife corridor. Narrow foreshore reserves often serve such a purpose, as well as providing roosting and nesting sites for waterbirds.
11 The Natural Environment of Lane Cove
‘Green Space’ Much of our urban bushland exists as remnant ‘fingers’ along the valleys where it was once too difficult to build. These fingers are now important as open space areas which separate identifiable suburbs and bring the natural environment close to many people. Even weed infested, degraded bushland can serve this purpose and be valued by local residents. Yet residents and local Councils arc recognising the value of good quality bushland with Councils now prepared to devote increasing funds to bush regeneration work. Bushland also makes the urban environment more pleasant by modifying air temperatures, wind velocity and air pollution levels. It holds the soil and absorbs the rain thus reducing the speed and volume of stormwater run-off and consequent problems of flooding, It can act as a screen between residential and industrial areas and help reduce noise levels eg. along busy roads.
Education Resource Over 80% of the people of NSW lives in urban areas, particularly in the cities of Newcastle, Sydney and Wollongong. Small natural areas in these highly built up areas are an important education resource from pre- school to tertiary level. The bushland provides for fieldwork in the natural sciences as well for outdoor activity programmes in physical and personal development. Local urban bushland also has high educational values for the general public. Natural areas within our cities provide experiences not available to most urban dwellers throughout the world. An understanding of the ‘natural’ world developed by urban dwellers in their own local environment helps develop appreciation and respect for national parks, nature reserves and other areas of high conservation value throughout the country.
Recreation Resource Bushland areas, depending on their size, can provide for a variety of recreational activities from the more ‘passive’ to the very ‘active’. Children have traditionally loved the opportunities for exploration, adventure and creative games provided by their local bush. Adults can enjoy bird-watching, bushwalking, picnicking, rock-climbing, abseiling and orienteering. Bushwalking, in particular, is becoming increasingly popular with state and local governments devoting funds to the development of walking tracks, and schools adopting it as a sporting activity.
3.2 State Policy on Bushland Prior to 1986 there was no recognition of bushland as an urban land use in its own right. Land was zoned as ‘open space’ but this gave no protection to bushland as it included playing fields, ovals and developed parks. Bush could be cleared for such purposes while remaining open space. Bushland conservation groups lobbied for some years to have urban bushland areas separately recognised and protected. For example, the Union of Lane Cove Valley Conservationists (an umbrella group for all the locally based conservation groups in the Lane Cove Valley) drafted a Regional Environmental Planning Policy aimed at protection of the bushland of the Lane Cove Valley, which was submitted to the then Department of Environment and Planning. In 1986 the State Government officially recognised the values of the urban bushland of all areas in a State Environmental Planning Policy (SEPP). SEPP 19 – Bushland in Urban Areas , gazetted October, 1986, is aimed at preserving the quality of those areas of bushland reserved for public open space. It demands that councils carefully consider the environmental impact of development proposals affecting urban bushland areas and provides that no further areas of bushland reserved for public open space should be alienated to other uses.
3.3 Special Values of Lane Cove Bushland The bushland of Lane Cove holds all the general values, although some, such as the recreation activities, are limited due to the small size of the reserves. Its fingers separate and define the various parts of Lane Cove and bring the bush close to many residents. It is certainly habitat for the remaining wildlife and provides links, especially along the river, to the bigger chunks of bushland further up the Lane Cove Valley. If used
12 The Value of Bushland wisely, it can be an important educational resource for local schools and an exciting place to explore for local children. Historically, our bush contains remnants of both Aboriginal and European settlement. There are caves and rock overhangs around the shoreline once used by the Aborigines for shelter, often with middens nearby. We also have some paintings and.carvings in our reserve areas. Of European settlement there are remnants in a number of reserves. There are terracing and stone steps in different parts of Tennyson Park. The dam on Stringybark Creek was constructed late last century and the channelling of the entrance to the creek created early this century for the paper mills located here on the creek. In Tambourine Bay Park there is a well, once important for the whole district, and there are ruts worn in the rock by the iron wheels of bullock carts in Gore Creek Reserve. Convict chains were still in Gore Creek Reserve until the 1940’s and pottery fragments are often found. Large remnants discovered should not be disturbed. Instead, the historian/archivist at Lane Cove Municipal Library should be informed so that their historical importance can be determined and recorded. Small fragments can be taken in for inspection. Lane Cove bushland also has some special values found only in some bushland areas. Many of the rivers and waterways dissecting the eastern part of Sydney are lined with grey-green slopes of Sydney’s eucalypt bushland. Lane Cove is a waterside municipality with well over 50% of its boundary lying along the Lane Cove River. It is thus fortunate to share this distinctive scenery of blue waters and wooded slopes, sandstone outcrops crowned by twisted pink limbs of the Sydney Red Gum, mysterious stands of mangroves and lively long-legged waterbirds. This bush along the foreshores complements the water in many ways: aesthetically it is a backdrop to the waterways and it provides for water-oriented recreation especially picnicking and boating. It also provides nesting and night roosting sites for the mud-wading waterbirds and it preserves places along the shoreline where the Aborigines spent much of their time, gathering food. The Lane Cove Council logo uses just these aspects, the winding river, the green bushland slopes and the distinctive pink trunks of the Sydney Red Gum so common in our bush, to symbolise the special character of this municipality. Located so close to the centre of a large city, this area is fortunate in retaining bushland, both along the river foreshore and along its tributary creeks. This new logo (below) was adopted in 1988. Prior to this time the logo featured the old Figtree Bridge built over the Lane Cove River from Linley Point to Hunters Hill in 1885. At the time, this bridge, along with the old Gladesville Bridge and the Iron Cove Bridge, also built in the 1880’s, was the only link to the city centre by road for the whole North Shore. It was also the only bridge anywhere across the Lane Cove River linking the North Shore with Ryde and areas west of the river. Thus the Figtree Bridge was a very important transport link for Lane Cove Municipality when it was incorporated in 1895 and adopted a logo (at right). It was also a feature on the river well known to the many people who visited the recreation areas along the river by boat and ferry (see Chapter 10 for more details).
13 The Natural Environment of Lane Cove
4. VEGETATION COMMUNITIES OF LANE COVE
4.1 Naming Vegetation Communities Communities are named in several different ways: 1. The most commonly used terms are very broad descriptions of the vegetation type, such as ‘heath’ or ‘rainforest’. ‘Sclerophyll’ is frequently used in these broad descriptions. It refers to vegetation with ‘hard dry leaves’ such as eucalypts. 2. These general terms can be more specifically defined by referring to the dominant (ie. most common) plant species in the community. This is usually limited to two or three species. For example, a common association in Lane Cove is Smoothbarked Apple – Sydney Peppermint. 3. A community can also be named by its structural characteristics ie. height of the tallest plant layer and density of its leaf cover. This gives rise to terms such as ‘open woodland’, ‘low shrubland’ or ‘closed forest’. This classification, devised by Specht, is shown in the table below.
Classification of Australian Vegetation by Structure (Sprecht, In Gibson and Anderson, 1981)
Foliage projective cover of tallest stratum
Life form of 100–70% 70–50% 50–30% 30–10% <10% tallest stratum (4)† (3 + ) (3 –1) (2) (1)
Trees* >30 m (T)†Tall closed-forest Tall forest (Tall open-forest) ‡ (Tall woodland) ‡ — Trees* 10–30 m (M)Closed-forest Forest Open-forest Woodland Open-woodland Trees* <10 m (L) Low closed-forest Low forest Low open-forest Low woodland Low open-woodland
Shrubs* >2 m (S) Closed-shrub Scrub Open-scrub Tall shrubland Tall open-shrubland Shrubs 0.25–2 m Sclerophyllous (Z) Closed-heathland Heathland Open-heathland Shrubland Open-shrubland Non-sclerophyllous (C) — — Low-shrubland Low-shrubland Low open-shrubland Shrubs <.25 m Sclerophyllous (D) — — — Dwarf open-heathland Dwarf open-heathland (fell-field) (fell-field) Non-sclerophyllous (W) — – – Dwarf shrubland Dwarf open-shrubland
Hummock grasses (H) — — — Hummock grasssland Open hummock grassland
Herbaceous layer Graminoids (G) Closed (tussock) (Tussock) (Tussock) Open (tussock) Very open (tussock) grassland grassland grassland grassland grassland Sedges (Y) Closed-sedgeland Sedgeland Sedgeland Open-sedgeland Very open-sedgeland Herbs (X) Closed-herbland Herbland Herbland Open-herbland Very open-herbland Ferns (F) Closed-fernland Fernland Fernland — —
* A tree is defined as a woody plant usually with a single stem; a shrub is a woody plant usually with many stems arising at or near the base. † Symbols and numbers given in parentheses may be used to describe the formation, e.g tall closed forest — T4, hummock grassland — H2. ‡ Senescent phases of Tall forest.
Table from H. Recher, D. Lunney & I. Dunn, A Natural Legacy, Pergamon, 1986.
All three ways of naming communities are commonly used in reference to vegetation, depending on the purpose of those referring to the community. For example, the Forestry Commission generally uses the dominant species as their interest is in the particular species of trees in an area. The description of the vegetation communities of Lane Cove in this chapter is based on the broad descriptive categories but also refers to dominant species in distinguishing various communities within the broad categories as well as some of their structural characteristics. The major community types originally present in Lane Cove were wetlands, dry sclerophyll forest (open woodland or forest), heath, and wet sclerophyll forest (tall forest). Within these broad types there were a
14 Vegetation Communities of Lane Cove number of variations of different major species as a result of slightly different conditions. Despite the depredation of settlement, there still remain examples of most of these communities in Lane Cove. Plants of these natural vegetation communities of Lane Cove demonstrate quite distinctive characteristics as a result of the particular environments and conditions in which they grow.
4.2 Factors Affecting Vegetation Communities A large and obvious component of the natural environment is its vegetation. Due to the wide variety of influences interacting to produce vegetation, it can vary enormously from place to place, not only in the actual plants, or species, present, but also in the ways the individual species are grouped together to form communities. Vegetation can even vary greatly within small areas as pockets of different conditions produce different groupings of plants responding to the varied conditions.
For example, although Lane Cove is a relatively small area with the same general climate, it has a varied topography and variation in soils, both of which act to create different conditions and different communities. Although we have lost considerable portions of some of our vegetation communities to settlement, others still exist in bushland reserves and other patches of bush. Walking through these reserves, we can frequently observe the way the vegetation changes as local conditions which affect it change. Often conditions change gradually and the vegetation communities grade from one type into another without sharp, definable boundaries. Where they grade into one another, species typical of both communities are present, for example as conditions gradually get moister, drier, cooler or hotter. Sometimes, however, there is a sharp break or boundary between communities. A most obvious example of this in mountain areas is ‘the treeline’ , or the break between the forests of the slopes below and the alpine grasses above, which occurs where it becomes too cold for the trees to survive. In some mountain valleys it can act in reverse with the trees above and grasses on the floor of the valley where the cold air settles in a ‘lake’ and it is colder than the slopes above. Other sharp changes in conditions occur with a sharp change in rock type and accompanying soils and at the edges of estuaries, rivers or lakes. In the latter there is often not just one change in conditions (particularly in the amount of moisture and/or salt) but several over a short distance from the water, creating zones of vegetation with each change. This zonation pattern, as illustrated below, can be seen in many places around Sydney, including the Lane Cove River just north of Blackman Park (although the seagrasses would not be present).
15 The Natural Environment of Lane Cove
In the rest of the bushland areas of Lane Cove the natural vegetation has distinct patterns which result from the particular combination of soils, topography and aspect. The protected and moist gullies with pockets of accumulated deep, fertile soils carry a wet sclerophyll forest of tall eucalypts with an understorey of rainforest plants. Moving up onto the sandstone slopes the soils become thin, sandy and dry and the vegetation changes to open dry sclerophyll forest with a shrubby flowering understorey. Where the top of the ridge is also sandstone and exposed and dry, the forest becomes drier and more open towards the top until it changes to a heath in the most exposed areas. By contrast, where the sandstone of the slopes gives way to a clay capping on the ridge, the forest becomes taller, moister and more closed as it becomes the wet sclerophyll forest with mainly grassy understorey of the ridge.
16 Vegetation Communities of Lane Cove
4.3 Wetlands and Swamps
Conditions In Lane Cove, wetlands occur in distinctive zones bordering the river where there is very moist soil, usually with periodic inundation by the tides or creek flows (see diagram on previous page). The nature of the communities and their particular species varies with the height and distance from the water (which determines moisture levels in the soil) and the amount of freshwater input from creeks (determining the salinity of the soil). Associated with bodies of freshwater are a different type of wetland with different species to those which tolerate the salt water along the river. There are also small swamps in patches of poor drainage in bushland areas.
Communities and Species Mangroves occur in the zone closest to the water with the taller Grey Mangrove, Avicennia marina , next to the water and the shorter River Mangrove, Aegiceras corniculatum , on the inland side where there is better aeration in the soil (it does not have the pneumatophores of the Grey Mangrove). Both mangroves have thick, tough leaves with mechanisms to excrete the salt they take in with their water. They both also bear seeds which have swollen and begun to grow before they are shed, a mechanism to allow quick establishment in the soft mud. Salt marsh areas behind the mangroves have very high salt concentrations as evaporation of the high tide water leaves the salt behind. Thus these areas support only the various grasses and sedges which have adaptations to high salt levels. Casuarinas Inland and a little upslope from the saltmarsh, where it is less salty, is the zone of Swamp Oak, Casuarina glauca , sometimes with Paperbarks. Freshwater wetlands occur in Lane Cove mainly where artificial dams have created small bodies of fresh water. These carry water plants such as Fruit or ‘nut’ of Pondweed and Duckweed, as well as swamp species Casuatina littoralis such as Bullrushes, Typha australis , around the edge. Swamps may occur in areas with poor drainage and plants in such areas must adapt to waterlogging ie. Juncus ptismatocarpus lack of aeration in the soil, and often to quite acid conditions in the soil.
Remnants Mangroves are found along much of the shoreline, especially upstream of Figtree Bridge. Excellent examples of the full range of communities in a zonation pattern are found along the River Walk to the North of Blackman Park and in Tambourine Bay on the east side of the creek. A small freshwater wetland is found on the lake formed by the dam on Stringy Bark Creek There are some patches of swamp related to poor drainage in Warraroon Reserve above the stone bridge.
17 The Natural Environment of Lane Cove
4.4 Wet Sclerophyll Forest
Conditions These are eucalypt forests in moister conditions and generally with reasonably deep, fertile soils, either on the ridges with clay soils or in the more protected gullies where there is a build-up of alluvium. These differences in location produce two different communities. There is often confusion between ‘rainforest’ and the vegetation of the moist gullies. In Lane Cove the communities in the moist gullies are ‘sclerophyll’ because their major trees are eucalypts. The understorey in these areas often contains species which have rainforest characteristics but this does not mean the area is a rainforest.
Communities The association of the clay ridges was Blue Gum with Blackbutt where it is drier, and also with Turpentine. In the moist gullies the community is dominated by Turpentine, Blackbutt and Red Mahogany with ‘rainforest’ understorey species including Coachwood, Lillypilly, Cheese Tree and Pittosporum.
Plant Characteristics Wet Sclerophyll Forest Plants Wet sclerophyll, or tall open, forest is found in conditions between those of rainforest and those of the dry scIerophyIl forest. Thus the plant characteristics lie between the two extremes. The dominant trees are
18 Vegetation Communities of Lane Cove eucalypts with their leathery leaves but many of the rainforest understorey plants with the bigger, softer and greener leaves are found below. However, the trees are taller and straighter with denser canopies than in the dry sclerophyll as there is plenty of moisture and the soils are fertile. Tall straight trunks result from denser growth of plants and less light. This is found at its greatest extreme in a rainforest where the competition for light forces trees to grow very tall and straight with few side branches and a small but dense canopy head. At the other extreme, the openness of vegetation in a woodland, such as the dry sclerophyll, allows trees to twist in various directions and develop numerous side branches.
SOME COMMON LANE COVE NATIVE EXAMPLES
Ceratopetalum gummiferum Christmas Bush Eucalyptus pilularis Blackbutt Eucalyptus saligna Sydney Blue Gum Omalanthus populifolius Bleeding Heart Tree Syncarpia glomulifera Turpentine Eucalyptus pilularis
Rainforest Plants Lane Cove has no actual rainforest but it has quite a number of areas where the major trees are eucalypts (hence ‘sclerophyll’ forest) with an understorey of ‘rainforest’ plants. Rainforest plants live in a sheltered environment, in valleys under the taller trees, where there is shelter, warm temperatures and plenty of moisture. They do not have to conserve moisture: frequently they have to be able to shed it quickly so that it doesn’t weigh the plant down. Thus these plants tend to have broad, glossy deep green leaves which are often soft to touch. They may have a downward sloping point at the tip, a ‘drip tip’ for shedding water and a leaf shape which channels the water to this tip. These plants also often have quite dense canopies (foliage cover) as there is plenty of moisture for a lot of leaves. This canopy increases the shade below so that there is often little growing on the ground below these plants, apart from ferns. Most plants flower most brightly in the sun. As the rainforest plants live in shady environments, their flowers tend to be small and white to cream colours. However, they do then bear berries or fruits which may be luscious, fleshy and varied in colour. The berries shine amongst the deep foliage to attract birds to eat the berries and disperse the seed.
SOME COMMON LANE COVE NATIVE EXAMPLES (Found as understorey in wet sclerophyll forest)
Acmena smithii Lilly Pilly Backhousia myrtifolia Grey Myrtle Cyathea australis Rough Tree Fern Cyathea cooperi Tree Fern Elaeocarpus reticulatus Blueberry Ash Ficus rubiginosa Port Jackson Fig Glochidion ferdinandi Cheese Tree Pitiosporum revolutum Yellow Pittosporum Piuosporum undulatum Mock Orange Smilax australis Lawyer Vine Acmena smithii Tristaniopsis laurina Water Gum
19 The Natural Environment of Lane Cove
Rainforest plants are generally killed outright by fire. Fires will burn the edges of these wet areas but rarely extend far into their moist environment. Thus these plants have not developed adaptations to survive fire.
Remnants There is a small vestige of the clay ridge Blue Gum and Blackbutt association in the upper part of Stringy Bark Creek in, and just downstream of, Stringy Bark Reserve, as well as in the very upper part of Bushland Park near Ronald Avenue. The moist gully association can be seen in the middle section of Bushland Park.
4.5 Dry Sclerophyll Forest:
Conditions Dry sclerophyll forest is open eucalypt forest on the dry, infertile sandstone soils of the valley slopes. Thus it has many plants with adaptations to dry conditions.
Plant Characteristics ‘Sclerophyll’ means having hard, leathery leaves, such as eucalypts have. Dry sclerophyll forest plants exhibit characteristics which contrast directly with rainforest plants in almost every way as they live in an environment where water is scarce and must be conserved. Thus the leaves are not only hard and leathery but may be small or narrow to reduce water loss from transpiration. They may also have a waxy coating for the same reason. Leaf colour is a dull drab olive green giving the typical look of the Australian bush. In the natural forest trees are not tall and their canopy, or foliage cover, is often quite open as their sandstone soils lack both the water and fertility for growing dense leaf cover or tall trees. Thus they let plenty of light and sun through to lower levels allowing the growth of many understorey plants. Sydney sandstone vegetation is quite remarkable for the variety (diversity) of plants which have developed in such an inhospitable environment. The understorey plants carry a wonderful variety of bright flowers, also an indication of the openness of their environment where the sun can reach them. These forests were frequently burnt and the plants have developed a variety of mechanisms to survive fire while some have come to depend on the fire occurring to reproduce or grow successfully. Plants such as eucalypts have normally dormant (epicormic) buds below the surface of their bark. Those parts of the trunk and branches which are not damaged by a fire can sprout new growth from these buds. They may also use this mechanism after other forms of damage such as a severe storm or insect/fungal attack. Many of the trees have either a thick bark or a white reflective bark to protect against the heat of fire or their climatic situation. There are many shrubs in these dry sclerophyll areas which are killed above the ground by a fire but their roots survive. These shrubs then resprout at ground level from the lignotubers. Yet other plants need a fire to effectively spread their seeds or open the hard casing to let the seed germinate. Banksia plants are killed by a fire but the seed pods on their cones only open properly with the strong heat of a fire to release plenty of seeds for new plants. As the new plants do not grow under the shade of a parent plant, it fits neatly that the fire kills the parent plant. Acacias (wattles) produce seed with a very hard seed coat for protection while it remains in the soil for years till the right conditions come for it to germinate and grow. A fire is required to crack open this hard seed coat and the fire also provides the ‘right’ conditions of open ground with plenty of sun and an ash bed with nutrients for plant growth. Many other small flowering plants also require these conditions to germinate and grow.
Communities The lower slopes which have more moisture, more shade and more soil washed down from above support a community dominated by Smoothbarked Apple (or Sydney Red Gum) and Sydney Peppermint, sometimes
20 Vegetation Communities of Lane Cove
SOME COMMON LANE COVE NATIVE EXAMPLES Acacia floribunda Sally Wattle Acacia longifolia Sydney Golden Wattle Acacia parramauensis Wattle Allocasuarina littoralis Black She-Oak Allocasuarina torulosa Forest She-Oak Angophora bakeri Narrow-Leafed Apple Angophora costata Sydney Red Gum Angophora floribunda Rough Barked Apple Banksia ericifolia Heath Banksia Banksia integrifolia. Coast Banksia Banksia marginata Silver Banksia Banksia serrata Old Man Banksia Crowea saligna Pink Waxflower Eucalyptus globoidea White Stringybark Eucalyptus gummifera Red Bloodwood Eucalyptus haemastoma Scribbly Gum Eucalyptus paniculata Grey Ironbark Eucalyptus piperita Sydney Peppermint Eucalyptus punctata Grey Gum Epacris longiflora Native Fuschia Grevillea linearifolia White Spider Rower Hakea dactyloides Hakea Lambertia formosa Mountain Devil Epacris longitlora Persoonia levis Broad-leaved Geebung with Blackbutts where the soil is deeper. The upper slopes communities which tend to be hotter and drier with least soil accumulation, sometimes called transition to heath, are dominated by Scribbly Gum, Narrow- leaved Apple and Red Bloodwood.
Remnants The lower slopes community is our major remnant plant community in Lane Cove as these were in the gullies left undeveloped due to their slope. This community can be found in most of the reserves. There is less of the upper slopes community but there are some patches north of Epping Road, east of Pindaroo Place.
Hakea sericea Hakea dactyloides
4.6 Heath
Conditions Heath is found in the harshest environmental conditions ie. where it is most exposed and driest with the shallowest, least fertile soils. Thus heath faces environmental conditions even more extreme than the dry sclerophyll forest. It is found on the lower exposed sandstone ridge tops where the soils are extremely thin
21 The Natural Environment of Lane Cove and very poor, often only in pockets on shelves of sandstone. The plants have developed a number of characteristics to survive these very harsh conditions of exposure to heat and drying winds, lack of soils and nutrients and lack of moisture in the soil.
Plant Characteristics With the lack of moisture and nutrients, heath has very few trees. It consists mainly of a dense shrub layer up to two metres high. The dense compact growth of the shrubs reduces exposure of the ground and individual plants to wind and sun and creates a cooler, more humid microclimate. The leaves have varied mechanisms to also reduce water loss through transpiration. Many heath plants have very small leaves or needle-like leaves and some rely on very hard leathery leaves. Others have fine hairs on the underside of the leaf to create a layer of still air around the stomata (the “holes” through which the plant loses its water in transpiration). To find water and survive in shallow soils many have a wide spreading shallow root system and others store moisture in an underground stem, or lignotuber. The lignotuber also provides for regrowth after a fire has destroyed the plant. As a dry area community, heath has always experienced fire and its plants have various adaptations to survive occasional fires. Fire can even be important to clear away dense but old growth and allow new plants to germinate and grow. However, very frequent fire can expose these areas to erosion and loss of the few soils and nutrients they have. Heath tends to grow in one relatively even height layer. With such exposure to the sun, the plants have also developed a wide array of bright flowers.
SOME COMMON LANE COVE NATIVE EXAMPLES
Banksia ericifolia Heath-leaved Banksia Banksia marginata Silver Banksia Kunzea ambigua Kunzea
Banksia ericifolia
Communities Our remaining heath is a tall heath type (to 2m) with small trees and shrubs including Banksias, Tea Trees and Kunzea.
Remnants Heath is usually found on the most exposed parts of the upper slopes and ends of the ridges on sandstone, although pockets can be found on sandstone shelves in dry sclerophyll forest. There is very little remaining in Lane Cove as the ridges and upper slopes are mainly developed, but some can be seen on Manns Point, Greenwich around the grassy picnic reserve and lookout, and there are small pockets amongst the upper slopes dry sclerophyll forest.
4.7 Missing Communities The major missing communities are heath and the Blue Gum High Forest of the ridges now covered by development. This forest consisted dominantly of Blue Gum and Blackbutt in differing proportions according to aspect and other factors. The ground below these tall forests appears to have been mainly grasses and ferns. The major existing remnants of this type of vegetation, once covering the ridges of the North Shore,
22 Vegetation Communities of Lane Cove are the Dalrymple-Hay State Forest at St Ives, the Cumberland State Forest at West Pennant Hills and the Ludovic Blackwood Sanctuary at Beecroft. Also largely missing from Lane Cove is another clay soil community – that of Red Stringybark, Grey Gum, and Turpentine, There is a remnant of this community in Twin Road Forest in East Ryde. Stands of Forest Oak were also once found on the clay ridges of the upper North Shore but Lane Cove does not have any of this community now, if it did originally. Most of the trees of the clay ridges were valuable timber species and the major economic activity on the North Shore for at least the first forty years of settlement was timber cutting in its forests. For example, much of our Turpentine became the piles for Sydney’s wharves as it was found to be resistant to marine borer and the Forest Oak provided the shingles for the roofs of many settlers houses. Timber-cutting then gradually gave way to farming and the grand forests disappeared. However, although the communities have gone, there are still existing individual trees of the species which comprised these communities, including a number in the grounds of schools located on the ridges.
4.8 Changing Communities In the areas of remaining native vegetation in Lane Cove there are many areas where the communities have changed since settlement brought changes to some of the conditions which affect them. There have been two major changes: 1. The change of areas from true dry sclerophyll with typical dry sclerophyll understorey plants (many of the lovely flowering plants of the Sydney sandstone flora) to areas which have the dry sclerophyll trees, such as Smooth-barked Apple, with wet sclerophyll understorey of ‘rainforest’ species. Dry sclerophyll forest seems to be acquiring wet sclerophyll understorey for two reasons: * In many locations stormwater from developed areas flows directly into dry sclerophyll bush slopes from pipes, off roads etc bringing much greater amounts of moisture than were present previously. * The bush now rarely experiences fire. This enables some species, such as Pittosporum, which are normally killed by fire and used to grow in the wetter areas which were not burnt, to expand into the drier areas. These ‘rainforest’ type species have a much denser canopy than the dry sclerophyll species and they then shade out the usual species of these areas. With the increased shade, conditions become moister encouraging still more ‘wet’ species to grow. Thus many dry sclerophyll understorey species, including both flowering shrubs and herbs, are becoming rarer in Lane Cove, as well as disappearing entirely from some reserves. 2. Along the river foreshore communities have changed as sedge marsh and reed beds have given way to mangroves. This has occurred as settlement has provided very favourable conditions for the growth of mangroves. Settlement has put into the river great quantities of silt, eroded from roads and cleared land, and nutrients. Thus mangroves have grown on new mudflats along the river’s edge as well as taking over former saltmarsh areas. This happened in the mouth of Stoney Creek (now Blackman Park) which, in the 1880s was still the wide, open mouth of a creek with a few clumps of reeds and mangroves. By the time it was designated as a rubbish tip in the 1950’s the whole area was filled with mangroves. Change from saltmarsh to mangroves has occurred extensively opposite on the Ryde shore in Buffalo Creek and Kittys Creek. Most of the rest of our foreshores where silt has Acacia longifolia , accumulated, have acquired far Sydney Golden Wattle, more extensive stands or fringes named for its long, narrow leaves, or foliage of mangroves than they carried in 1788.
23 The Natural Environment of Lane Cove
NATIVE MAMMALS KNOWN TO OCCUR IN KU-RING-GAI CHASE BANTRY BAY AND THE LANE COVE VALLEY, 1978
Ku-ring-gai Bantry Lane Cove Scientific Name Common Name Chase Bay Valley
MARSUPALIA Dasyuridae Antechinus stuenii Stuart's marsupial mouse + + +
Paramedilae Parameles nasuta Long-nosed bandicoot + + + Isoodon obesulus Short-nosed bandicoot +
Phalangeridae Trichosaurus vutpecula Brush-tailed possum + + +
Burramyidea Cercartetus nanus Pygmy possum + Aerobates pygmaeus Feather-tail glider +
Petauridae Petaurus breviceps Sugar Glider + + Pseudocheirus peregrinus Ringtailed possum + + +
Macropodidae Wallabia bicolor Swamp wallaby + + Macropus rufogriseus Red-necked wallaby + (i)
Phascolarchidaae Phascolaretos cinereus Koala +
RODENTIA Muridae Rattus fuscipes Southern bush rat + + Rattus lutreolus Eastern swamp rat + (ii) Hydromys chrysogaster Eastern water rat + Pseydomys novaehollandiae New Holland mouse +
MONOTREMATA Tachyglossidae Tachyglossus aculeatus Spiny anteater (Echidna) + + +
Ornithorhynchidae Ornithorhynchus anatinus Platypus + (iii)
TOTAL CONFIRMED SPECIES 17 7 6
(data from all available sources) (Order as In Kirsch and Calaby, 1977, based on Ride, 1970) Notes (i) may be escapees (ii) first record for Ku-ring-gai: Sept., 1977, A.B. Rose, N.P.W.S. (iii) actually in Muogamurra Reserve, adjacent to Ku-ring-gai Chase Table from: Sarah Stephens, The Impact of Man on the Mammals and Birds of the Lane Cove River Valley , Centre for Environmental Studies, Macquarie University, 1978.
24 The Animals of Lane Cove
5. THE ANIMALS OF LANE COVE
5.1 Wildlife in the City Animals are the least frequently seen part of the natural environment and, for this reason, often the most exciting when we do see them. Many people, especially children, enjoy finding and observing animals of all sizes from the industrious ant to a speeding kangaroo or a cuddly koala. We tend to believe that cities have no wildlife left apart from insects and birds. Yet the recent NSW Urban Wildlife Survey found considerably more than this in many urban areas, if we just stop to observe it. The most obvious component of the wildlife is the birds, dealt with in a separate chapter, but there are other animals which have survived development. Some prefer their native bushland habitats, highlighting the importance of our bushland remnants. A few have adapted to suburbia so well that they are more common there than in their natural habitat. No study has yet been done to determine the currently existing species and population numbers of mammals, reptiles and amphibians specifically in Lane Cove. Such studies are difficult to undertake as, unlike plants, animals do not stay in one place. In addition, many of our animals, particularly the mammals, are hard to find because they are nocturnal and most of the survivors are those which are small or have been best able to hide from their many predators. The information in this chapter represents the best estimate based on available information in the absence of such a study. The poor known or assumed status of most of the animals listed in this chapter and in Appendices 6.1 – 6.3 illustrates the enormous impact of the loss of habitat to settlement and predation by introduced animals. These lists do not include those animals which became extinct in the area some years ago. For further information on the Urban Wildlife Survey and other general remarks on wildlife in the suburbs, see Urban Wildlife of NSW .
5.2 The Mammals of Lane Cove Of all our wildlife, mammals have been the most severely affected by the spread of settlement. In areas such as Lane Cove where the remaining bushland is long and narrow, most larger mammals cannot survive as there is both insufficient area to support them and too much pressure from surrounding suburbs and their people. Yet those which have survived, mainly tree dwellers or smaller bush dwellers, are quite common well supported by the remnant bush and gardens of our suburbs. As clearing and settlement, first for farms then for suburbs, began in this area over 170 years ago, Lane Cove long ago lost the large familiar mammals such as kangaroos, wallabies and koalas. The platypus could not survive when streams became muddy and polluted by stormwater outfalls and detergents which destroy the waterproofing of their fur. Ground dwelling native cats and bandicoots also gradually disappeared as bushland areas constricted. Today bushland of the Lane Cove Valley has far fewer species of mammals than Ku-ring-gai Chase (an area with a very similar natural environment), even in the larger areas of bushland in the upper part of the Valley (see table opposite). In Lane Cove Municipality there would be few bandicoots and echidnas left. However, our mixture of bushland pockets and plentifully treed gardens suits possums and bats very well and they are frequently seen and heard in the evenings. The major native survivors in all animal groups are those which are small and well camouflaged so that they can hide from predators, or are protected from predators by spikey armour (echidna) or by living in trees (possums, bats and sugar gliders). The major enemies of the native animals are introduced and feral animals, particularly foxes and cats. To find most native animals requires keen observation of the signs of their presence. Our native mammals are mainly nocturnal but the various signs of animal presence can often be
25 The Natural Environment of Lane Cove seen on walks eg. nests, droppings, sounds. In the evening possums and bats can often be seen around the house and garden and animals may occasionally be spotted in the bush if observers are very quiet. All three major groups of Australian mammals, monotremes, marsupials and placental mammals are represented in Lane Cove. Animals known to be, or possibly, still present in Lane Cove are listed in each grouping with an indication of their status as known.
Monotremes Echidna (Spiny anteater) Tachyglossus aculaetus Unlikely Echidnas are ant and termite eaters. They are mainly diurnal but often also active at night. At any danger they roll into a ball, presenting only their spiky armour. They have distinctive cylindrical droppings which are large and full of ant shells – a good sign to look for as indicating their presence.
Marsupials Stuart’s Marsupial Mouse Antechinus stuartii Unlikely (Brown Antechinus) Long-nosed Bandicoot Perameles nasuta Unlikely Sugar Glider Petaurus breviceps Predicted Feathertail Glider Acrobates pygmaeus Unlikely Ring-tailed Possum Pseudocheirus peregrinus Common Brush-tailed Possum Trichosurus vulpecula Common Eastern Pygmy Possum Cercartetus nanus Unlikely Feathertail Glider
Marsupial mice are mouse size but very different. They have slender tails and short broad feet. They also have a mouth full of sharp teeth (house mice have chisel-like gnawing teeth) as they are carnivores eating insects and lizards. They are nocturnal and live on the ground, often in hollow logs or under debris. Bandicoots live on the ground digging small conical holes with their forelimbs. They then explore the hole with their pointed snout to eat earthworms and insects. They are nocturnal and live in a well-hidden nest during the day but the holes they dig in search of food can be found. They have not been sighted for many years in Lane Cove and may not be present any more. The Brush-tail Possum is the most common local possum and they are active at night in trees (and house ceilings). They are vegetarian, eating fruits, buds, bark and eucalypt leaves. They are territorial and solitary, often having noisy disputes over territory. Ring-tail Possums also live in trees and are active at night, using their ‘prehensile’ tails to grip braches almost like a 5th leg. They sometimes make nests, called dreys, which can be seen in the bushland in the dense but fine leafed foliage of trees such as Banksia ericifolia and Kunzea ambigua . Although they are territorial, they are much more sociable than brushtails and sometimes share nests. Their diet is similar to the Brush-tail. Unlike the Brush-tail, they rarely nest in houses. If possums are heard thumping across the roof at night, they can be located by quietly searching the area they were last heard in with a torch. Their eyes glow brightly in the torchlight when located. Gliders are possums with a membrane of fur-covered skin stretched from the hand to the feet to enable them to glide from tree to tree. They are both small and hard to find with the Feather-tail particularly small and secretive. The Sugar Glider is nocturnal and eats gum (sugars) exuded from eucalypts and acacias (wattles) as well as flowers, fruits and insects. They are social animals and often live in groups of up to seven or eight.
Brushtails are larger than Ringtails with a thick, dark bushy tail. The Ringtail has a tapering tail, the end third of which is white.
26 The Animals of Lane Cove
BATS AND GLIDERS
There are three groups of possums and some species in each group are gliding possums. There are two groups of bats: large fruit-eating bats and small insect eating bats. All bats fly. There are some important ways bats and gliding possums are the same and important ways they are different.
SIMILARITIES
1. They are mammals: warm-blooded, furry, giving birth to baby young which suck their mother's milk. 2. They feed at night. 3. Most have only one young each year. 4. All species are protected in NSW. 5. Their survival is threatened from loss of habitat due to clearing of trees and forests. 6. They do not harm people or spread disease.
DIFFERENCES
BATS GLIDERS
1. Bats are placental mammals. Gliders are marsupial mammals.
2. Bats are the only mammal which can truly fly They only glide short distances between trees. and whose major means of movement is flight.
3. Wing is a thin membrane from shoulder to tips They have a skin flap stretched between the of specially elongated forearms and forearms outer edge of the hand and the ankle. and fingers which are enclosed in the wing and make it move.
4. Wings are flapped in flight and long The flap is held outstretched as they first leap, distances can be covered. then glide.
Sugar Glider
Grey-headed Flying Fox
27 The Natural Environment of Lane Cove
Placental Mammals
Fruit Bats or Megabats Grey-headed Flying Fox Pteropus poliocephalus Common Little Red Flying Fox Pteropus scapulatus Predicted
Microbats Gould’s Long-eared Bat Nyctophilus gouldii Occasional Lesser Long-eared Bat Nyctophilus geoffroyi Common Gould’s Wattled Bat Chalinolobus gouldii Common White-striped Mastiff Bat Tadarida australis Occasional
Bats are the only mammals which can fly, unlike the possums which only glide short distances between trees (see the table on the previous page for other similarities and differences). Megabats, also known as Fruit Bats (after their eating habits) or Flying Foxes (after their appearance) are larger bats with large eyes and a long ‘dog-like’ snout. They do not echo-locate (use a type of sound radar for navigation) but have very good vision with their large eyes. They live in large colonies (eg. at Gordon) and at night disperse to feed on fruits and blossoms. They have a bad reputation with orchardists for decimating valuable fruit crops. However, their preferred food is eucalypt blossom and native fruits and berries, especially from rainforest species. They only raid orchards when natural food sources are scarce. Microbats are also nocturnal but they are small, with small eyes and they use ultrasonic pulses for navigation (echolocation) and to catch insects, their major food source. There may also be native rats in Lane Cove but they have not been found in any recent survey.
5.3 The Reptiles of Lane Cove Reptiles are a fascinating group of animals, variously ignored, maligned or feared. Yet they are a common component of urban wildlife, more frequently and easily seen than the mammals. Many reptiles, which include lizards, snakes and turtles, have a number of interesting body adaptations which allow them to live in a variety of harsh and difficult environments. Such adaptations include a skin which seems dry and leathery but is actually a series of tiny interlocking scales which both protects them against predators and conserves water. This skin is relatively inflexible so that it is shed each year to allow for growth, or more frequently by young animals. The following describes the various groups of reptiles and lists those found in Lane Cove.
Lizards Lizards are the largest group of reptiles. They are distinguished by having: * legs * a fleshy whole tongue (although it is forked in goannas) * a tail as long, or longer, than the body * an external ear opening * food mainly insects with some leaves and flowers; large lizards also eat small snakes, frogs and nestling birds (which they tear and grind, unlike snakes which swallow whole) There are five different families of lizards: goannas, skinks, geckoes, dragons and legless lizards.
GOANNAS Lace Monitor Varanus varius Unlikely Sand Goanna Varanus gouldii Unlikely
28 The Animals of Lane Cove
Goannas, or monitor lizards, are diurnal and some of the group, up to 2 metres long, are the largest lizards in Australia. The 30 species of monitor lizards in Australia represents three-quarters of the world’s total. They have well developed limbs and claws with a long neck and tail and coarse skin. The long neck enables them to draw back a long way before making a quick dart at their prey.
SKINKS Garden Skink L. guichenoti Common Three-Toed Skink Saiphos equalis Common Fence Skink Cryptoblepharus virgatus Occasional Copper-tailed Skink Ctenotus taeniolatus Rare Cunningham’s Skink Egernia cunninghamii Predicted White’s Skink Egernia whuii Predicted Skink Lamphropholis delicata Common Weasel Skink L. mustelina Common Red-Throated Skink Leilopismaplatynota Rare Eastern Water Skink Sphenomorphus quoyii Common Yellow-bellied Skink S. tenuis Occasional Blue-tongue Eastern Blue-tongue Tiliqua scinoides Occasional Lizard
Skinks are the largest group of reptiles in Australia. They are generally fairly smooth-scaled, often appearing shiny. Most are active during the day and have short, well developed legs and a short, round body. Small skinks are very agile and dart into cover when alarmed. Larger skinks rely more on threatening poses, such as baring a brightly coloured mouth, enlarging the neck area or making hissing noises.
GECKOES Wood Gecko Diplodactylus vittalus Unlikely Leseur’s Velvet Gecko Oedural eseurii Rare Southern Leaf-tailed Gecko Phyllurus plalurus Occasional Thick-tailed Gecko Underwoodisaurus milii Predicted Leaf-tailed Gecko Geckoes are small lizards, usually nocturnal, sheltering beneath logs and stones or under loose bark on trees during the day. Their feet may be clawed or have circular pads enabling them to climb smooth surfaces and cling to the underside of tree limbs, rocks etc. The tail of some species looks like the head. The tail can be discarded if the gecko is attacked, and a new one grown.
DRAGONS Jacky Lizard Amphibolurus muricatus Predicted Bearded Dragon Amphibolurus barbatus Unlikely Eastern Water Dragon Physignathus leseurii Occasional Dragons generally have a rough scaly skin and crests or frills around the neck and head which are often used, together with a brightly coloured mouth, in a threatening display. They are active during the day and generally on the ground but many are capable of climbing and swimming.
LEGLESS LIZARDS Burton’s Legless Lizard Lialis burtonis Rare Common Scaly-Foot Pygopus lepidopus Unlikely
This is a small group of lizards unique to Australia with no forelimbs and the hindIimbs reduced to a flap. They look very like snakes but can be distinguished from them by a number of features including a broad fleshy tongue (snake tongues are forked) and uniform scales round the body (snakes have broad scales on the belly).
29 The Natural Environment of Lane Cove
Snakes The outstanding difference between lizards and snakes is in the structure of the lower jaw which allows an amazing amount of distension for the snake to swallow animals larger than its own head whole. With no limbs the rest of the body has no bony structure to constrict the passage of large meals down the body. Other distinctive features of snakes are: * A thin forked tongue which darts in and out to take particles from the air to test – its sense of smell. * Small finely pointed teeth to grip their prey (not for cutting or chewing). * Smooth sinuous movement with the entire body following the same path, enabling it to creep up on its prey without disturbing it. The movement occurs through a series of waves of muscles which lift small sections of the body and push it along. * A tendency to hibernate in winter. Most snakes are not venomous to adult humans. Even if they are venomous they prefer to escape rather than attack. They will bite if injured or startled, cornered or taunted. If snakes are encountered they are best just observed and allowed to move or escape as they wish. There are four major groups of snakes:
BLIND SNAKES Blind Snake Rhamphotyphlops nigrescens Rare (formerly Typhelina nigrescens) Blind Snakes live mainly below ground and under rocks and are very similar to earthworms in appearance. They eat termites and ants and their eggs.
PYTHONS Diamond Python Morelia spilotes ssp. spilotes Predicted Pythons are non-venomous but with powerful bodies which twist around their prey to choke it. Their tail is prehensile (used for gripping). There are only a small number of python species in Australia, mostly in northern Australia but they include Australia’s largest snakes (up to 6 metres long).
COLUBRID SNAKES Common Tree Snake Dendralaphis punctulatus Predicted These are harmless snakes which have either no fangs or rear fangs so positioned it is difficult to inflict a bite on humans. They also have a prehensile tail. Although common in other parts of the world, there are only a few species in Australia.
ELAPID SNAKES Red-bellied Black Snake *Common Death Adder Acanthopis antarticus Predicted Golden-Crowned Snake Cacophis squamulosus Unlikely Yellow-Faced Whip Snake Demansia psammophis Predicted Red-Naped Snake Furina diadema Unlikely *Black-Bellied Swamp Snake Hemiaspis signata Unlikely *Eastern Tiger Snake Notechis scutatus Predicted *Red-Bellied Black Snake Pseudechis porphryiachus Occasional Elapid snakes have front fangs which are well positioned for injecting venom. They are the largest group of snakes in Australia. Although most are not dangerous, some of them are amongst the world’s deadliest snakes. Those which are dangerous amongst the Lane Cove snakes above are marked with a *.
30 The Animals of Lane Cove
Turtles Turtles are predominantly aquatic. In Australia they fall into two main groups: the long necks and the short necks. Both appear similar with a retractable neck and webbed, clawed feet which can all be withdrawn into the shell in times of danger. They spend most of their time in the water but may be found crossing dry country to get from one swamp to another. There is only one species of turtle in Lane Cove: Long-Necked Tortoise Chelodina longicollis Rare
5.4. The Amphibians of Lane Cove There are approximately 200 species of frogs in Australia, of which 9 are found in Lane Cove. All frogs have the same basic body shape but they vary in other ways, particularly in size and colour patterns. As colour for camouflage is an important protection, frog colour frequently relates to habitat. Many of the NSW tree frogs are green with pale white or yellow underbelly and the ground frogs are brown, black or putty colour. There are two major families of frogs which have different characteristics, discussed below. Both families are represented in Lane Cove.
Leptodactylidae (Myobactrachidae) – Ground Dwellers The ground dwelling frogs have skins which are rougher and may have raised bumps. They do not have suction caps as they do not climb but live on, or below, the ground. Their colours are duller earth colours but many have distinctive striped or spotted patterns. Common Eastern Froglet Ranidella signifera Occasional Giant Burrowing Frog Helsioporus australiacus Unlikely Eastern Banjo Frog Limnodynastes durnerillii Common Striped Marsh Frog Limnodynastesperonii Occasional Red-Crowned Toadlet Pseudophyrne australis Unlikely
Hylidae – Tree Dwelling Frogs Frogs of this group are distinctive for their smooth skins and small suction caps on their fingers and toes which allow them to climb trees and stick to vertical surfaces or upside down. Although these frogs need water for breeding, they are often found well away from water, even in homes and garages. Leseur’s Frog Litoria leseurii Predicted Peron’s Tree Frog Litoria peronii Unlikely Leaf Green Tree Frog Litoriaphyllochroa Predicted Verreaux’s Tree Frog Litoria verreauxii Unlikely
Tree Frog 5.5 Fish of the Lane Cove River Over 50 species of fish were found in the Lane Cove River in a 1977 study (see Appendix 6.4). Yet the Lane Cove River bordering Lane Cove Municipality provides two different environments for aquatic life which affects the number and type of fish found there. Below Figtree Bridge the river is estuarine ie. its salinity is close to that of seawater and it includes the variety of marine microenvironments required to support a diversity of marine life, including a diversity of fish species. There is deep water, shallows with mudflats and sea grasses, rocky shores and mangrove flats. This section of the river thus supports a range of fish species and is important as a nursery area for juvenile fish such as flathead, Whiting, sand mullet, leatherjacket and silver biddy. Above the Figtree Bridge area is a more riverine environment as the freshwater component of the water increases. Species in this section must be euryhaline (able to tolerate both fresh and salt water) and diversity,
31 The Natural Environment of Lane Cove or the number of different species, drops as does abundance (the total number of fish). Here the most common species are the flat-tail mullet and the sea mullet. Prawns and various types of shellfish have also been common in the river in the past but are less common today.
5.6 Insects and Spiders Butterflies are the only part of the invertebrate world appreciated by most people. The rest are generally despised as a nuisance when they invade our homes and gardens or regarded with terror as the deadliness of the funnel-web and red-back spiders is transferred to all other spider species. Recent documentary and television programmes have shown us what an amazing world of invertebrates exists around us. Many have evolved complex behaviour patterns and relationships with plants or other animals. They play a very important role in the health of natural systems in many different ways from the pollination of plants to the breaking down of plant and animal remains. Insect populations out of control are an indication of imbalance in natural cycles, usually induced by the activities of people. Actual species found in Lane Cove are not detailed in this section but there are many varieties of butterflies, moths, beetles and spiders to be found, as well as grasshoppers, ladybirds, cicadas, flies, wasps, praying mantids, crickets, dragonflies and bugs (insects which suck). There are also termites, ants, cockroaches and various other insects on the ground and in the leaf litter. See references for works which provide detail to help identify many of these creatures which can be found anywhere there are earth and plants. Praying Mantis
5.7 Introduced Animals Introduced animals have become very prevalent in urban bushland reserves, in the same way as introduced plants (weeds or feral plants) have taken over the vegetation in many areas. At the same time as we have disturbed the native animals and reduced their habitat, we have also introduced a number of animals which can outcompcte the natives. However, the damage which feral animals are doing to our wildlife is less easy to see than the damaging effects of weeds. Native mammals are mainly nocturnal and all the animals are shy and tend to hide, even when they are present. How difficult it is to then assess how great the damage is to their numbers in any given area! The major impact of introduced herbivores is to compete with natives for food supply and habitat. Some species reproduce so prolifically that they can quickly outstrip native populations and place great demands on food resources. Carnivorous species, on the other hand, such as cats and faxes, prey directly on native wildlife and there is likely to be a direct correlation between the numbers of these animals present in a reserve and the damage done to wildlife. Even well-fed domestic cats hunt instinctively and will proudly bring home their latest ‘kill’, often a native bird or small animal. (Cat owners should always have a bell on their cat’s collar and keep their cats inside at night when they Fox do much of their hunting and native mammals are active).
INTRODUCED SPECIES IN LANE COVE Black Rat Rattus rattus Occasional Brown Rat Rattus lutreolus Occasional House Mouse Mus musculus Occasional Rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus Predicted Fox Vulpes vulpes Common Feral/Stray cat Felis catus Occasional
32 The Birds of Lane Cove
6. THE BIRDS OF LANE COVE
6.1. Birds in the Environment Birds are an important part of the natural environment, playing a vital role in various parts of the functioning of ecosystems. Yet, people tend to value birds because they like them. They are pretty, or little and cute, or make delightful sounds, or behave in interesting ways we can observe. We like to watch flocks of birds wheeling and swooping across the sky, go and feed the ducks on the pond in the park with the children or stop and listen to the variety of their calls in some quiet bushland. They have inspired poets, artists and musicians, as well as producing in many people over the ages, the deep desire to fly. On the other hand, birds may not be appreciated when they eat a farmers’ fruit or grain crop or when cockatoos and parrots attack the timber on our deck. Yet, whether loved or hated, birds are so often seen in terms of what they do, or don’t do, for us, or to us. Due to their mobility, and the fact that they visit our gardens, they are not often considered as part of a functioning ecosystem in the bushland and the impact of our settlement on the birdlife is rarely realised. Birds both play their part in the operation of the ecosystem, and are dependant on it. Birds serve their function primarily through the food they eat, be it insects, nectar, seeds or berries. The insect eaters are extremely important in controlling the numbers of various insects. Without the birds to prey on them, populations of insects can explode and wreak terrible havoc on crops and native vegetation. Practices of the past which have ignored the role of birds have resulted in significant destruction of both. For example, it is thought that slaughter of the locust-eating Australian Bustard last century has significantly contributed to the continuous cycle of locust plagues we now experience. It is also thought that overclearing of bird habitat contributed to the defoliation of New England forests by Christmas Beetle and subsequent dieback of the forests. Other insect-eaters are the currawongs, which devour regular plagues of stick insects in the forests of South- eastern Australia, and silvereyes which eat large quantities of aphids. Insect control in your garden by birds can be a good reason for not keeping a cat, or at least putting a bell on it, so that the birds will visit. Like bees, honeyeaters perform a very important role in pollination of flowers by taking the pollen with them from flower to flower. Cross-pollination from a variety of species is important to the long-term health of vegetation, Many birds eat the seeds of plants while some birds prefer the berry fruit which many plants bear, especially the plants of wetter areas. The birds then distribute the undigested seeds in their travels and this ensures continued survival of the plant in many places. (In the case of birds eating the berries of weed plants, this mechanism of dispersal is unfavourable to the bush but should encourage us to remove the weed plants.)
6.2. The Impact of Settlement on Birds Despite their mobility birds, like other animals,live in, and are adapted to, particular habitats. We tend to associate birds with the tree tops but although many do live in this environment, others are ground dwellers, both nesting and feeding there. Some spend most of their time in the air or on the water while others wander on mudflats during the day and roost in nearby trees only at night. Many small birds like shrub habitat in which they have plenty of protection and cover – they have neither the wing power to be constantly flying up to the tree-tops, nor the desire to compete with the larger birds there. Thus birds occupy different niches in the environment and many species can live in the one area with different sources of food and different living spaces. Each species is dependant on its particular environment. Any change in birds’ surroundings means a change in both the species mix and the numbers in each. The disappearance or appearance of trees, bush, grass and shrubs determine whether birds survive, increase or withdraw.
33 The Natural Environment of Lane Cove
FOOD NICHES Birds occupy, and gather their food from, different parts of the environment to more efficiently use resources and minimise competition between species.
Birds of the air gather insects, birds in and around the tree canopy look for insects, seeds or nectar while others gather these in the shrub layer, birds on the ground search for insects or grass seeds, waders gather small aquatic animals on the mudflats and swimming birds dive for fish.
Settlement by people clears away large areas of bush almost completely, thus removing the habitat for many birds until gardens and other vegetation are re-established. Settlement also has considerable impact on the bird habitat of the remaining bushland, particularly along its edges. These impacts may be: * Use of pesticides and herbicides on gardens, road verges, ovals etc where ground dwellers feed. * Clearing of shrubs to create a ‘park’ with mown grass under scattered larger trees. * Noise * Predation by cats * Changes in fire patterns making vegetation more, or less, dense, than individual birds prefer. * Invasion by weeds which reduces the native food sources and changes the density of vegetation growth, making the habitat unsuitable. The birds most likely to be eliminated by the destruction of large areas for settlement are the largest birds as they have the largest range (area over which they move in search of food) eg. eagles, and those whose habitat has disappeared altogether eg. in Lane Cove, those which lived only in the forests of the shale ridges. The birds most likely to be affected by the kinds of habitat changes listed above which occur in remaining bushland, are the smaller birds and the ground and shrub dwellers. Birds introduced by settlement also compete with native birds for food and habitat, sometimes taking over certain niches. Introduced birds also tend to thrive in the more disturbed areas such as built-up areas, gardens, weed patches etc. Common mynas, starlings and house sparrows now make up 75% of the bird population in some suburban areas, as illustrated on the next page. However, settlement can also benefit some native birds with greater availability of food and by providing more of certain types of habitat such as cleared and grassed areas, ponds and lakes. Currawongs appear to have dramaticaly increased their numbers due to the availablity of winter food berries of introduced plants such as lantana, privet, pyracantha and camphor laurel. However currawongs then prey on the nestlings of smaller birds. With increased currawong populations, this has probably meant large losses in the numbers of the smaller species over the last 20 years.
34 The Birds of Lane Cove
BIRDS IN THE URBAN ENVIRONMENT
common starling Sturnus vulgaris before development
striated pardalote Pardalotus striatus density of birds: 6/ha number of species: 13
red-rumped parrot Psephotus haematonotus woodland is cleared Australian magpie new suburb is built Gymnorhina tibicen
density of brids: 2/ha number of species: 7
suburb two years old house sparrow gardens established Passer domesticus growth to maturity
pied currawong Stepera graculina
established suburb 20 years old house sparrow native species density of birds: 6/ha number of species: 10 introduced species house sparrow
The illustration above demonstrates the impacts that settlement has on bird populations, with a significant initial decrease in bird species and in total numbers of birds, but with a recovery over a period of time as gardens are planted, trees grow and the habitat diversifies. However, the variety of species in the study represented here (in Wagga Wagga, NSW) did not recover to pre-settlement levels and most of the increase in total numbers of birds was of the introduced house sparrow:
* Study by D.N. Jones "Temporal changes in the suburban avifauna of an inland city", Aust Wildl. Res . 8: 109-19.
Illustration from A Natural Legacy: Ecology in Australia , eds H. F. Recher, D. Lunney & I. Dunn, Pergamon, 1986.
35 The Natural Environment of Lane Cove
6.3. Birds in Lane Cove Australia has about 700 different species of birds including about 500 land birds, 100 swamp and sea birds (the rest are migratory birds and rare visitors). 158 species of birds have been identified in the Lane Cove Valley below De Burghs Bridge. Not all of these would be found in Lane Cove (especially the freshwater species living above the weir in the State Recreation Area). In addition, some of them have been sighted only very rarely. Many are migrant species which fly long distances to arrive for the spring and summer months whilst others visit the area occasionally. Appendix 7 is a comprehensive list of the birds of Lane Cove. It may not include every bird ever seen in Lane Cove but does include those likely to be seen, even if rarely, as well as a guide to the most common habitat for each bird. This listing is able to draw on detailed works available specifically on birds of Lane Cove. Far more is known of the species and status of our birds than of our animals particularly through the long-term records of several birdwatching clubs. A 1978 Macquarie University study by Sarah Stephens (see references) using available bird watching records, compared the effects of settlement on bird species and populations in areas with with different levels of development. This study found that, although actual species varied a little due to different habitats, there was little difference between the total number of species present in the Lane Cove Valley and in Ku-ring-gai Chase where there are larger areas of bush less affected by settlement. There was also little difference in the abundance of the various species with similar proportions of the total number of species found to be common, uncommon or rare in the two areas. The study also reported changes which had been observed in birds of the Lane Cove Valley over the previous 30 years. There had been major increases in 9 species (3 of which are introduced), major decreases in 19 species and extinction of 3 species. However, it is difficult to be accurate with bird studies. Often areas closest to settlement have records of more birds than areas further away simply because there are more bird watchers making observations. It does not necessarily reflect the true differences in birds of those areas. Lane Cove has a variety of different habitats for birds including gardens, woodland and forests, open grasslands, mangroves, estuarine mudflats and a freshwater darn. To understand the world of birds it is useful to consider them as part of various broad groupings based partly on their habitat or their characteristics and partly on what they” eat and the way they obtain their food. The birds listed here are all the Lane Cove birds in each group which are relatively common or likely to be seen in gardens, on bushwalks or around the shoreline. Introduced birds are indicated by *.
Water Birds Aerial Birds : usually seen flying over water or resting around the shoreline, includes albatrosses, petrels, gulls, gannets, terns, shearwaters and frigate birds. Silver Gull Crested Tern Swimming Birds : usually seen swimming or perched near water. They all have short legs with at least some webbing between the toes. They include penguins, cormorants, shags, phalaropes, grebes, ducks, swans and geese. Australian Pelican Pied Cormorant Little Pied Cormorant Little Pied Little Black Cormorant Cormorant Black Duck Mallard Grey Teal Chestnut Teal Pelican
36 The Birds of Lane Cove
Wading Birds: usually seen on beaches, mudflats, islands and around swamps and lakes. They have long necks, legs and bills for wading in shallow water and poking around the mudflats for their food. They include egrets, herons, bitterns, storks, cranes, oystercatchers, stilts, curlews, godwits, plovers and snipe. White-faced Heron White Egret White Ibis Royal Spoonbill Spurwing (Masked) Plover
Reed Birds : usually secretive and hard to see but quite vocal and obviously heard in reed and swamp areas. They include crakes, rails, ganninules and the reed-warbler. Dusky Moorhen
BIRD BODY DESIGN There are many different types of birds living in all different parts of the environment from high in the air to low on the ground or in the water. Thus they are able to use many different sources of food and spaces to live without competing with each other. Their bodies display many features which adapt them to best live in their particular habitat, or be able to efficiently obtain their food.
The bills and the legs and feet of birds are parts of their bodies with these special design features.
Short stubby but strong bill for collecting insects from Strong hooked bill Bill with strong upper leaves and under bark Webbed feet for for tearing meat swimming and lower sections for cracking seed
Strong legs and a flat foot for walking Curved toes with one toe opposite to others for clutching onto branches
Long curved bill for collecting honey Long legs and bill for wading and out of flowers Large bill for catching fish finding food in mud or shallow water
Heads and feet drawings mainly from Brian Shadwick, Skills Through Science Vol. 2, Science Press, 1988.
37 The Natural Environment of Lane Cove
Land Birds Ground Birds : a) birds which feed on the ground and never, or very seldom, perch on trees. These are mainly birds of the open plains so there are very few in Lane Cove – only the Painted Button-Quail which is not common. b) birds which feed and spend much time on the ground but also perch in bushes and trees. These include pittas, thrushes, scrub-birds, bristlebirds, wagtails, larks, pipits, whipbirds, wedgebills, babblers, quail- thrush, grasswrens, scrubwrens, whitefaces, chats, starlings, mud-nest builders, magpies and lyrebirds. White-browed Scrubwren Willie Wagtail Eastern Whipbird Red-browed Firetail *Indian (Common) Myna
Magpielark (Peewee or Mudlark) Black-backed Magpie Grass Birds : usually seen in long grass, including quail, emu- wrens, cisticolas, grass-birds, fairy-wrens and grasswrens. *Spice Finch (Nutmeg Mannikin) Red-browed Firetail *House Sparrow *Common Starling Aerial Birds : swifts and swallows which spend much of their time in the air. White-Throated Needletail Welcome Swallow Tree Martin Birds of Prey (daytime): eagles, hawks, falcons and kites. Nankeen Kestrel Little Falcon Nocturnal Birds of Prey : owls, Tawny Frogmouth frogmouth and nightjars. Boobook Owl Tawny Frogmouth Large ‘Bush Birds : usually seen active or perching in trees. Although they may obtain food on the ground, most of their time is spent in the trees. They often eat small reptiles, animals and birds, as well as insects. Pied Currawong Australian Raven Grey Butcherbird Currawong Black-backed Magpie
38 The Birds of Lane Cove
Medium-sized ‘Bush’ Birds : usually seen perching in trees. Although some feed on the ground, they spend most of their time in the trees. *Domestic Pigeon Crested Pigeon *Spotted Turtle Dove Sulphur Crested Cockatoo Galah Crimson Rosella Eastern Rosella Rainbow Lorikeet Fan-tailed Cuckoo Indian Koel Sacred Kingfisher Kookaburra Dollar Bird Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike Red Wattlebird Little Wattlebird Noisy Friarbird Noisy Miner Kookaburra Olive-backed Oriole Spangled Drongo
Small ‘Bush’ Birds who spend most of their time in the trees.
*Red-whiskered Bulbul Superb Blue Wren Superb Blu Wren *Eastern Yellow Robin Golden Whistler Rufous Whistler Grey Shrike-thrush Black-faced Monarch Leaden FIycatcher Grey Fantail Rufous Fantail Brown Thornbill Striated Thornbill White-cheeked Honeyeater Yellow-faced Honeyeater White-plumed Honeyeater New Holland Honeyeater Eastern Spinebill Grey-breasted Silvereye MistIetoebird Spotted Pardalote
Spotted Pardelote
39 The Natural Environment of Lane Cove
7. THE ABORIGINES OF LANE COVE
7.1 The Local Tribes Aboriginal people were grouped according to their language and dialect. In the Sydney region there were three major language groups: Kuring-gai in the north, Dharawal in the south and Dharug in the west (the central area between the Harbour and Botany Bay, east of Parramatta, is disputed by academics ie. whether the aborigines here spoke a dialect of Dharug or Kuring-gai). The major groups, or tribes, were divided into sub-groups, or clans, sometimes speaking different dialects of the main language. The names of the clans were formed by adding “gal” to the name of the area where they lived. Kuring-gai was spoken at least in the area from the Lane Cove River to the coast, Port Jackson to Botany Bay. Near the harbour, in the areas of the present Lane Cove and North Sydney, were the sub-group Cammeraigal” who were renowned as powerful warriors. The following are excerpts from the writings of two of the officers on the First Fleet pertaining to the Cammeraigal:
Those who live on the north shore of Port Jackson are called Cam-mer-raygal, that part of the harbour being distinguished by the name Cam-mer-ray. Of this last family, or tribe, the selllers had heard Ben-nil-long and other natives speak (long before they were other wise known) as of a very powerful people who could oblige them to all end wherever and whenever they directed. They were afterwards found to be the most numerous tribe yet discovered. It so happened they were also the most robust and muscular. To the tribe of Cam-mer-ray also belonged the exclusive and extraordinary privilege of exacting a tooth from the natives of other tribes inhabiting the sea-coast, or of all as were within their authority. The exercise of this privilege places these people in a particular point of view and there is no doubt of their decided superiority. (David Collins, Account of the English Colony in NSW , 1798)
Whenever he (Bennilong) recounted his battles, “poized his lance, and showed how fields were won,” the most violent exclamations of rage and vengeance against his competitors in arms, those of the tribe called Cam-ee-ra-gal in particular, would burst from him. And he never failed at such times to solicit the governor to accompany him, with a body of soldiers, in order that he might exterminate this hated name. (Watkin Tench, A Complete Account of the Settlement of Port Jackson , 1793) The clan was both the basic landowning unit possessing sacred sites within a specified territory and the basic economic unit which hunted and gathered food for its members within that territory. It consisted of a few related families numbering up to 50 or 60 people. However, the whole group did not necessarily stay together all the time. Families would separate and go different ways to find food but the whole group could be quickly gathered in the case of a dispute with a neighbouring clan, where a local surfeit of food was found or for ceremonial purposes.
7.2 Aboriginal Survival in the Environment of Lane Cove Almost everything the Cammeraigal used, wore or ate had to be found in their territory of North Sydney/Lane Cove. They made their own tools, weapons, canoes, nets and carry baskets from the materials found in the bush. They ate only what they could find in the bush or the harbour and river and they slept under the sandstone rock overhangs which abound in the area, or, where there was no suitable overhang, in a simple lean-to made of branches covered with sheets of bark. Note that the Retirement Village next to Lane Cove Public School is NOT named after the local Aboriginal tribe. The Kamilaroi were located in northern inland NSW.
40 The Aborigines of Lane Cove
The only item which the Aborigines of eastern Sydney seem to have obtained from outside their own territories in the time prior to European settlement was stone suitable for hatchets. This came from the Nepean River by trade or ceremonial gift exchange. Apart from hatchets, stone tools were rare in coastal areas at this time. Shell was used instead of stone for cutting and scraping. However, more plentiful stone tools have been found in archaeological sites in coastal areas dating from over one thousand years ago. This indicates that the local Aborigines adapted over a period of time to their environment, substituting the local resource for their more traditional, but locally hard to get, stone. All the groups living along the coast and estuaries depended on the sea as the basis of their livelihood. The Cammeraigal utilised those resources edging their territory: the harbour and the river. They called the river we know as Lane Cove, “Turrumburra”, which has been said to mean ‘the second waterway on the right facing the setting sun’, an obvious meaning sitting in a canoe on the harbour but has not been confirmed as correct. Both the men and the women fished from canoes – the men with spears and the women with hooks and lines. Turtles were caught and shellfish were an important part of the diet, gathered mainly by the women from the rocks edging the water and from the mud and sandflats in the river. They ate a variety of shellfish, notably rock and mud oysters, mussels, cockles, crabs and turbans. By the time the Europeans arrived, centuries of collecting shellfish, then gathering for a fire and a meal nearby, had resulted in large accumulations of the discarded shells in middens along the shoreline, sometimes out in the open and sometimes next to a rock shelter. There was so much of this shell that it was able to be collected by the new settlers and used for lime in mortar for building. Despite this collection, middens can still be found in bush areas along the water’s edge. However, in winter when fish and shellfish were scarce or in stormy weather when they were difficult to catch or collect, the Cammeraigal depended more on their land-based resources. These were found in three major environmental zones: * the wet sclerophyll forest and rainforest vegetation of the moist creek gullies rich in fruits such as figs, lillypilly, native grape and apple berries. * the dry sclerophyll forest and heath of the sandstone slopes and lower exposed ridges which provided sweet nectar from Banksia, Grevillea and waratah flowers, fruits such as brush cherry, native currant and geebungs and small animals such as bandicoots, bush rats, possums and native mice. * the tall forests of the shale ridges under which grew bracken fern and grasses. The bracken fern root was an important source of carbohydrate in the winter while the open grassy areas under the trees attracted larger mammals such as kangaroos and wallabies and made them easier to hunt. Birds from all zones, including waterbirds of the shoreline areas were also part of the Cammeraigal diet. The Aborigines major tool for manipulating their environment to enhance the food supply it provided, or to make hunting easier, was fire. Of the three major zones (above) those burnt would have been the sandstone slopes and the grasses under the tall forests. The moist gullies along the creeks are too wet to burn and many of the plants which grow there are sensitive to fire ie. they are killed by a fire and do not have the regenerative techniques of plants in the drier zones. The sandstone areas were burnt to trap animals and possibly to get better crops of the fruits from new growth. The Cammeraigal were described by Governor Phillip as frequently burning in dry weather to catch rats and other animals. Another First Fleet officer, Captain Hunter, commented that; “...two thirds of the trees in the woods were very much scorched with fire”. Most of the sandstone areas would have been burnt on an irregular basis with anyone area experiencing fire as frequently as five to seven years apart and others as much as fifteen years apart. Thus at anyone time the bushland was an irregular mosaic of burnt and unburnt areas providing for a variety of stages of growth of plant systems and habitat for animals, some of whom prefer open areas and others prefer plenty of shelter in the dense growth of areas unburnt for some time. On the ridges, the grasses under the tall forests were probably burnt to keep them free of shrubs.
41 The Natural Environment of Lane Cove
The local tribes used the ridges for travel (as we do) and probably preferred them clear of shrubs which made travel difficult. Shrub invasion would also eliminate the bracken fern they depended on in winter. Captain Hunter commented: We have also had much reason to believe, that those fires were intended to clear that part of the country through which they have frequent occasion to travel, of the brush or underwood, from which they, being naked, suffer very much inconvenience. They probably also burnt to encourage new grass growth to attract kangaroos and wallabies, thus making hunting easier because they would know where to find them. The strong ties of Aborigines to the environment on which they so depended is illustrated in their cultural life, the stories of the dreamtime and their art., which strongly feature elements of the natural world around them. The North Shore of Sydney originally had many Aboriginal art works because, with so much sandstone area, it has many caves and shelters in which drawings could be done and an abundance of flat sandstone ledges and cliff-tops for carvings, also known as engravings. Much of this art has been lost through past ignorance as houses and other buildings spread over the Aborigines’ lands. In other places there are no buildings but it is 200 years since the Aborigines were here and the carvings have been eroded away by the weather and can no longer be seen. The Aborigines dealt with this problem by regularly recutting important engravings. Paintings have survived better because they are more protected from the weather in caves and shelters. Preservation of the remnants of Aboriginal art raises some difficult questions. It has been suggested that the carvings which have become very faint should be re-engraved today so that they can be preserved. Others say this cannot be done because it would not necessarily be done in the same way as the carving was originally done and would destroy ‘the original’. Another way of protecting the carvings is to erect a shelter over them but this is expensive, would invite vandalism of the shelters and the carvings, and would affect the feeling of the bush environment in which they were created. As often happens in such cases, nothing has been done and many carvings can no longer be found on the rocks while others can only be seen by using special techniques.
Engravings recorded in the 1890s (from files of Lane Cove Library, original source unknown)
Note: Only selected aspects of the life of the Aborigines of Lane Cove have been covered here, notably those relating to their use of the environment. Other aspects of the life of Sydney Aborigines, as well as more detail on tools, weapons and fishing methods are covered in the various reference works given for this chapter.
42 European Impacts on Local Bushland
8. EUROPEAN IMPACTS ON LOCAL BUSHLAND
8.1 Early Impacts European settlement of the North Shore has had some major and obvious impacts on its bushland which we can do little about as they happened in the past. These include: * Clearing of almost all of the vegetation communities of the shale ridge tops because these were the flat, fertile areas most suitable for farms and, later, for suburban development. There are now very few examples left of this type of vegetation on the North Shore for us to see what it was like and only a tiny vestige in Lane Cove. * Loss of many animal species from the Lane Cove Valley and, especially from Lane Cove. A 1978 Macquarie University study showed that, of 17 species of mammals found in Ku-ring-gai Chase, 11 were missing from the Lane Cove Valley which would once have been present (see the table in Ch. 5). In addition, this study did not include kangaroos or native cats which are reported to have also once been in the Lane Cove Valley. As the areas of bushland in Lane Cove Municipality are relatively small some of the mammals still found in the upper parts of the Valley, such as echidnas and bandicoots, may now have disappeared from Lane Cove. * Logging of the remaining bushland for large timber trees and for firewood. Cutting out the most valuable timber species may have altered the balance of species in some areas ie. the less valuable trees would now be much more common than previously. * Alteration of burning practices, or the fire regime, which has resulted in changes in the nature of the vegetation communities in much of the remaining bushland. As described in the previous chapter, Aborigines burnt much of the bush on a regular basis. European settlement disrupted this pattern and the eventual result was much worse bushfires than had been induced by the Aborigines because fuel was able to build up to a much greater level. In addition, the lack of fire with which the vegetation had evolved over thousands of years has resulted in changes in the composition of the vegetation communities. In particular there has been loss** of some of the ground flowering plants and shrubs in the dry sclerophyll forest which liked the open conditions maintained by fires. There has also been expansion of plants, such as Pittosporum which is normally a moist gully plant, into areas where it could not expand previously, because it would have been killed by the fires. In non-urban bushland, such as national parks, fires do occur accidentally and fires are sometimes deliberately started to reduce the summer fire hazard and/or for ecological reasons. However, fragments of bushland within urban areas, such as in Lane Cove, are generally too small to set fire to without endangering the houses which surround them. Any fires which start are usually put out as quickly as possible.
8.2 Continuing Problems Bushland in, or close to, urban areas which has managed, usually by fortunate chance or the dedication of some individuals, to survive development is today still under a lot of pressure just because it is close to the built up areas. The worst pressures are felt along the boundary of a bushland reserve. Thus the longer the boundary, in proportion to the area of the reserve, the worse the impacts on that reserve. Unfortunately, all Lane Cove’s reserves are long and thin as they are on the steeper slopes along creek lines by-passed by development. The causes of the pressure on bushland, and the impacts which result, need to be recognised and, where possible, remedial action taken to ameliorate the impacts so that we can protect those little bits of bush we have left. Threats to these remnants come from many sources.
** This refers to loss within a local area. It does not necessarily mean general extinction.
43 The Natural Environment of Lane Cove
Alienation and Fragmentation Bushland has always been ‘land-in-waiting’: potential development sites waiting for city expansion to make the fortunes of its owners and developers, The red brick cancer of urban sprawl continually eats away at the bushland areas in, and adjacent to, existing suburbs. Just when an expanding population needs that bushland even more, it is lost forever to development. Bushland has also traditionally been seen as ‘free’ land for all kinds of other uses which then destroy its value as bush. Such alienation includes: * Use of bushland valleys as ‘service corridors’ in which to place sewerage pipes, electricity transmission lines and freeways. In Lane Cove we have sewerage pipes down or across many of the reserves along the creeks (this has had particularly disastrous consequences ~ see Ch. 9.2). There is a high voltage transmission along the Lane Cove River as far as Blackman Park with accompanying sub-station on the Lane Cove side and a transfer station on the Ryde side from which the line proceeds to the city underground. For 25 years it was also planned to put a major freeway down the Lane Cove River from the vicinity of Channel Ten at North Ryde to Figtree Bridge at Hunters Hill. This would have obliterated much of the narrow strip of bushland on the Ryde-Hunters Hill side of the river, as well as destroying the peaceful values of any bush on the Lane Cove side. This part of the Lane Cove Valley Freeway has now been dropped from RTA planning. * Giving pieces of bushland reserves to ‘worthy’ community uses such scout halls and guide huts. We have scout halls in Warraroon Reserve, Aquatic Reserve, Longueville and in Greendale Reserve, Greenwich. * Leasing land to recreational uses such as a golf club or bowling club. This occurred because such recreation fitted into the ‘Open Space’ zoning in which bushland was included. At least some of Lane Cove golf course was created by filling a bushland valley. In the early 1970ls it was proposed to extend the golf course further into the bushland of what is now Bushland Park. Lane Cove’s Bushland and Conservation Society had its origins in the fight to save this bush from such development. Also, Macquarie University Rowing Club has its boatshed on foreshore bushland reserve at Tambourine Bay. * Filling of valleys or wetland areas (often as a way of getting rid of unwanted rubbish), then converting to sports fields or grassed parks, as has occurred at Blackman Park, Gore Creek and Burns Bay. Fragmentation of bushland occurs as development spreads and leaves only small isolated pockets of bush. Larger blocks of bush divided by a road or a service corridor suffer similar problems. As the harmful effects on bush are felt around its edges, the more edges which are introduced, the more animals and plants which are lost.
Inappropriate Use There are a number of activities for which people frequently use the bush but which cause a lot of damage. These activities are inappropriate in the very small areas of bush within the urban areas yet, because they are close, they are the areas most likely to be affected. Dumping: Bushland is seen as not really belonging to anybody, or at best, it belongs to ‘the government’. Thus it is used as a dumping ground by those too lazy or too cheap to dispose of their unwanted rubbish properly. Dumping old car bodies and general household rubbish is a frequent and obvious misuse of the bush and industrial dumping is also only too frequent. In Lane Cove a major dumping of used car tyres over a cliff caused enormous and expensive problems for Council recently in getting them removed.
44 European Impacts on Local Bushland
However, the most frequent form of dumping is of garden refuse and lawn clippings. Some people dispose of this material in the bush because it is easy to throw it over the back fence or wheel it across the road in a wheelbarrow. Others may feel they are doing the bush a favour by providing it with ‘compost’, In other cases it is not the homeowner doing the dumping but the person hired to do the lawn mowing and paid to dispose of the clippings (properly!). Yet this form of dumping causes some of the worst problems we now have in bushland and some of the worst degradation. These problems are further explored in the next chapter. 4-Wheel Drives and Bikes: The use of vehicles can cause immense damage even when they are driven on established tracks or fire trails. Walking tracks which are intended for light pedestrian traffic are often unable to withstand the impact of trail bikes or BMX bikes and severe erosion may result with tracks becoming unusable by walkers. In Lane Cove bushland, trail bikes have been frequent users of the River Walk to the north of Blackman Park. This is only a narrow strip of bushland and the area has sensitive wetland areas which are easily damaged by bikes. Use of the area by bikes is also dangerous to walkers and the noise is certainly likely to destroy their peaceful walk. Horse Riding: Horse riding is a more peaceful activity than use of vehicles but, unfortunately, can also cause considerable damage in bushland unless carried out on properly constructed trails. Seedlings may be trampled, larger plants damaged, rocks dislodged and tracks eroded, especially on any slope. This tends not to be a problem in Lane Cove as there are few people with land on which to keep horses. Encroachment: Land owners on the edge of reserves may encroach on the reserve are by mowing I to keep it tidy’, for extending the garden, building a barbecue area, incinerator, cubby house, part of the swimming pool, or perhaps a boathouse, in the case of a foreshore reserve. Every small piece lost or altered reduces animal habitat and the variety of plant species. Stealing: Some people still regard bush as public property for the taking – an idea which stems from the past when using the resources of the bush was necessary for survival. However, this is not the case today. Removal of bush rock for garden landscaping deprives small animals of shelter and removes part of the landscape of the bush. Taking ‘dead’ logs and branches also robs small animals of shelter while flower picking diminishes the beauty of the bush for others and means there will be fewer seeds for new plants.
45 The Natural Environment of Lane Cove
Cubby-houses: Nailing planks onto trees will damage the trees. Likewise, cubbies at ground level in or near bushes can cause damage through wear and tear of a lot of use in one small area. Use of bush materials to make the cubby obviously destroys trees and plants. Illegal tree lopping: The issue of views from peoples homes is a perennial problem in an area such as Lane Cove where so many people can look out over water and such views are regarded as a valuable property asset. Requests are made of Council to lop the trees on their reserves to maintain views and occasionally the less scrupulous will go into reserves and lop, or even cut down, trees themselves. Cutting down or lopping of trees on a public reserve is punishable by heavy fines for those convicted. Yet frequently, if the offenders had waited a little, their problem may have been solved without drastic action. Many of our native trees such as Eucalypts and Angophoras are open canopied (their branches and leaves are relatively sparse) and, although they block views for a few years when young, they will grow higher allowing sight line through the branches which then frame and enhance the view. Many neighbours disputes would also be solved if such open-canopied trees were planted in locations where a tree is desired but it could affect a view, and those with the view exercised some patience. There are, however, situations where a potential water or city skyline view is completely blocked by intervening bushland. This simply has to be regarded as a worthy view in its own right. Individual property owners cannot expect the removal of trees on reserves, which belong to everyone, for the sake of their private views, particularly if the views did not exist when they bought the house.
Pets and Feral Animals Introduced animals are yet another threat to our bushland. These affect the wildlife which we don’t often see. Thus we often do not realise the effect the non-native animals are having on the natives. Although we long ago lost the larger mammals such as koalas, kangaroos and wallabies from Lane Cove bushland, we still have many possums, blue-tongue and other lizards, native rodents and birds. However, many of these can easily fall prey to either feral animals or domestic pets, especially cats. In Lane Cove bushland areas there are feral (or wild) cats, foxes and probably rabbits. The cats and faxes have to prey on the native wildlife to live while the rabbits compete with the natives for living space, or habitat. Lane Cove River State Recreation Area with its plentiful grassy river flats for food and bushland for burrows supports a large population of rabbits. Even well-fed domestic pets are a problem. It is instinctive for cats to hunt and they will even bring back their prize of a bird or mouse (they don’t distinguish between native mice and the imported house variety) proudly to their owners. Dogs on walks through the bush can scare the native wildlife and even hurt them with an overabundance of enthusiasm.
Stormwater and Drainage One of the biggest problems faced by bushland next to suburbs is the water falling on those housing areas, from rain or from hoses, which then drains into and through the bush via stormwater drains. Bushland which lies along creeks downslope of the housing as we have in Lane Cove, is particularly vulnerable.
46 European Impacts on Local Bushland
Stormwater is picked up from all ‘hard’ surfaces ie. roads, footpaths, paved areas and roofs. ‘Soft’ vegetated areas, on the other hand, absorb water, filter it and let it percolate down through the soil to the creeks relatively slowly. Stormwater pipes usually disgorge into the nearest creek but, if there is no creek, the flow is directed straight into the bush. This stormwater impacts the bush and the creeks in a number of ways: Flooding and Erosion: Storm water increases flooding and erosion of creek banks after heavy rain because a much greater volume of water is going into the creek than prior to development. If there is no creek, the stream of stormwater can cause erosion and gullying of the slope it passes over. Weed Invasion: Where drains disgorge onto a normally dry bushland slope, which usually supports a dry sclerophyll sandstone vegetation, the natural vegetation cannot cope with the increased water and dies. Weeds then flourish in this moister environment with the seeds also brought in by the storm water. Siltation: As any bare soil surfaces are eroded in rain, the soil is taken with the stormwater and deposited in the creeks, obliterating former rockpools and other features, or further downstream and deposited in the bays and the river, creating ugly mudflats (discussed further in Chapter 10). Pollution: Storm water also brings other undesirable clements into the bush and the creeks: nutrients (especially nitrogen and phosphorus) leached from road base materials, from the fertilisers put on lawns and gardens and from the dog excreta in the streets, soaps and detergents from carwashing, oil leaked onto streets from cars and all sorts of litter. The problems of litter, oil and detergents are obvious but the nutrients are also a great problem. Excess nutrients in water cause algal blooms while additional nutrients in the soils of the bush favours weeds and wet sclerophyll/rainforest vegetation to the detriment of the dry sclerophyll bushland.
Construction Works Poor planning of development on the edge of bushland and poor construction practices often result in considerable unnecessary damage. This includes physical damage to the trees and bushes, changed soil levels around trees, unstable earth banks left open to erosion and weed invasion and inadequate provision for stormwater drainage. Construction of service roads and fire trails also opens areas in the heart of the bush to weed invasion and soil erosion.
Altered Fire Regimes Patterns of fire in the bush substantially different to the patterns with which the vegetation evolved has an impact on the bush which can be significant ecologically, yet go unnoticed by the casual observer. Fires more frequent than the plants are adapted to will kill many species as they will not have matured sufficiently to produce viable seed. Fires less frequent allow the vegetation to grow very densely, encouraging particular species at the expense of those which need the open bush and sunlight to grow and flower.
Weed Invasion This is one of the greatest threats to our bushland and is dealt with separately in the next chapter.
8.3 Repairing the Damage and Reducing the Impacts Unfortunately the effects of some of the problems described above are irreversible. For example, we cannot change the size and shape of our reserves to make them more viable and less vulnerable. However, there are a number of problems we can do something about.
Alienation and Fragmentation Most bushland which has already been alienated cannot be retrieved (except some leased lands which have not been cleared). However, we can, as citizens, strongly resist the alienation of any further bushland to uses which destroy its bushland values or fragmentation by allowing it to be used as a service corridor. It is too easy to let it go in a piecemeal fashion – a little bit here and a little bit there until there is nothing left. We
47 The Natural Environment of Lane Cove must also resist the argument that it is degraded and ‘might as well be developed’. Most degraded bushland can be restored. In the same way, landowners with a boundary along bushland should be encouraged to appreciate it as a public asset and the values it offers as bushland rather than trying to ‘improve’ it into an extension of their garden or using it as a refuse dump. A little bit· taken along the back of a lot of houses adds up to a large area of bush alienated, fewer places for animals to live, and for people to walk.
Inappropriate Uses There is one simple solution to dumping – DON’T! If everyone disposed of their own messes, including garden rubbish, properly and legally there would be no problem. Dumping in bushland is completely antisocial and thrusts the cost of these individuals’ garbage disposal onto the other ratepayers of the municipality. In addition, this costs far more than it would have originally as it is often time consuming and difficult to get at and may involve special pick-up arrangements. As already discussed, use of vehicles, bikes or horses in the bush is not appropriate in the small reserves we have. Trail bikes and vehicles are simply not permitted in the bush, and if any are observed the Council Ranger (see under ‘Lane Cove Council’ at front of white pages) should be rung immediately with details so that he can take action. It is very difficult for Council to stop this type of damage without the watchful help of local citizens. Preventing wilful and unauthorised lopping of trees is also very difficult without the help of locals as the lopper virtually has to ‘be caught in the act’. Residents who live near the bush should regard themselves as ‘honorary rangers’ and if they observe anyone damaging the bush, the Bushland Management Officer or the Ranger should be rung immediately at Council on 9911 3555. (Ranger after hours: 0434 568 604). Encouraging appreciation of bush as a view in its own right, or as framing a view, is also important.
Pets and Feral Animals Cats are not compatible with native wildlife. However, as many people enjoy having a cat they should endeavour to protect the wildlife by putting a collar with a bell on their cat. It is difficult for the cat to catch its prey when the prey is warned by a tinkling bell. Even those who do not live near the bush have birds coming into the garden which need protection. One of worst offences against wildlife is to dispose of unwanted kittens by dumping them in local bushland. They become feral cats and live only by killing the native animals.
Stormwater and Drainage There are two types of problems associated with stormwater: those of the location and design of stormwater outlets which cause volumes of water to flow over bush slopes,and those of the contents of the stormwater. The first are largely a councilor government responsibility as discussed below. The second group, which impact more on the quality of the water and our waterways, are the responsibility of all members of the community. This second group are discussed in Ch. 10.3. There are a number of things councils can do to ameliorate the impact of stormwater outlets in the bushland: * Install pipes to carry the water right down to the creek or river so that the water is not flowing through the bush. * Install detention basins to catch the water and let it flow out more slowly through a ‘low-flow’ pipe thereby preventing the erosion caused by heavy flows. Lane Cove Council installed two such basins in Warraroon Reserve in 1990 where stormwater discharge from roads along the western boundary was causing gullying and erosion and killing trees. * Direct the flow into appropriate locations by the use of rock walls or other structures. This was done in another location in Warraroon Reserve in 1991, where major storm water pipes collected water from roads and houses and disgorged it straight into the reserve in three adjacent locations.
48 European Impacts on Local Bushland
* Where heavy flow is unavoidable but causing erosion, the banks can be lined with stone. If placed irregularly this both breaks up the flow of the water and looks more natural. In 1990 this was been done at the end of Mars Road, West Lane Cove, where torrents of stormwater from the road and part of the industrial area had dug a deep gully down the hill towards the river. * Incorporate much better stormwater drainage design for all new developments which takes into account possible impacts on bushland.
Weeds The problem of weed invasion and the solutions are dealt with in the next chapter.
BUSH UNDER SIEGE!
Our fragments of bush line the creeks of the municipality, hemmed in by housing on the slopes and ridges and subject to all manner of abuses from above.
49 The Natural Environment of Lane Cove
9. WEED INVASION – A SPECIAL PROBLEM
9.1 The Nature and Extent of the Problem The biggest continuing threat to the survival of our bushland reserves as bush is the invasion and takeover of the native plant communities by exotic (non-native) plants. Unwanted plants in a reserve are called weeds whether they are exotic ie. from countries outside Australia, or Australian natives which come from another part of Australia and therefore do not belong. However, the worst problems for our reserves are caused by the various exotic plants, many of which, once they take hold in an area of bush, can expand and dominate the natives very quickly. Weed invasion generally starts around the edges of reserves (the ‘edge effect’ described in chapter 8, again!) and along the creeks. As there is very little of Lane Cove’s reserves that is not along an edge or a creek, all of our reserve area has been, are being, or could be, affected by weeds. Weed invasion is insidious in that it starts in a small way but, unless attended to, it can soon affect large areas without us noticing it happening until it is too late. Growth of plants such as Lantana is particularly vigorous in wet weather, Once weeds dominate an area of bush, it is time-consuming, laborious and expensive to remove them sensitively and restore the bush. Reserves which become dominated by weeds lose values in many ways. Native plant species are lost, sometimes permanently from that area unless replanted. With the loss of native plants the birds and animals which depend on them for food and particular types of shelter are lost from that area, or considerably reduced in numbers. For people, the reserves no longer provide pleasant recreation opportunities. Weeds usually form impenetrable thickets, especially the very common weeds of Privet and Lantana, preventing access and blocking walking tracks. Even where tracks are still accessible, a walk though a jungle of Privet or Lantana is not particularly interesting or pleasant compared to native bush with its variety of plants and animals. It is obviously better to prevent weed invasion in the first place. However, where it has already occurred due to events in the past, it is possible to retrieve the bush and once again make it a haven for native plants and wildlife to live and people to visit and enjoy.
9.2 How Weed Invasion Occurs Plants which are weeds in the bush are also those which threaten the garden. They are plants which, in this climate, in this country thrive and multiply very easily. When their seed or plant cuttings reach the bush, they germinate easily and grow quickly, outcompeting the plants around them to take over. They also have no natural enemies, such as insects or fungal diseases, to attack them and cut them back. They thus thrive just as well in the garden as they do in the bush. There are many exotic garden plants which do not become problems in the bush even though they may have seeds which are dropped there or cuttings dumped. This is because they do not have the strong growth and competitive abilities of the problem plants in this climate. If their seeds do germinate in the bush, they grow only weakly or do not survive at all. The problem plants vary from area to area. This is for several reasons: * Different plants have the competitive edge in different climates where it may be hotter, colder, wetter or drier. * Areas with still or slow moving water bodies, such as dams, lagoons and rivers, have significant problems with water weeds. * Even within suburban Sydney, differences reflect the plants popular in gardens of the area which have overgrown and unwanted parts dumped in the bush. For example, succulents are a particular problem in the coastal areas where they are a popular garden plant to cope with harsher coast conditions.
50 Weed Invasion
Weeds get into the bush in a variety of ways: * Birds , as well as other small animals, love those juicy berries which are produced prolifically on many invasive plants, such as Privet, Camphor Laurel, Lantana and Ochna, After eating the berries they deposit the seed far and wide wherever they next perch on a fence or a tree. Thus it doesn’t matter how far away from the bush a plant or tree with berries is, its seeds can easily be transported there by the birds which are so mobile. * Likewise plants with light seed which is dispersed by the wind can reach the bush from considerable distances away. No part of Lane Cove Municipality is far enough away from the bush to be able to have these plants, or berry plants, without the risk of contributing to weed invasion. * Dumping of garden refuse and clippings is one of the biggest sources of weed invasion. It explains why many of our reserves look dreadful where we pass by, with vines climbing up all over the trees and a multitude of non-native plants happily taking over. Clippings which are dumped tend to be of the most vigorous weeds because they also grow rapidly and invasively in the garden. They are also the type of plant which grows readily from cuttings such as Kikuyu grass, Tradescantia, all manner of vines such as Morning Glory, and all types of succulents. * Stormwater brings many seeds into the bush, picking up anything which has fallen on roads, paths or any other surface which drains into the stormwater system. As the stormwater is discharged into the local creeks or straight into the bush, seeds get an easy ride into the bush. This explains why creeks in bush reserves also usually have significant weed invasion. Once the seeds reach the bush, exactly where they establish and take hold frequently depends on other factors. For example, berries and windblown seed would be dispersed by wind and birds or animals randomly over a reserve. Yet invasion occurs at some locations and not others. There are two major conditions which encourage weeds to establish: * Disturbance ie, clearing of an area, or the leaving of any bare soil surface. Weed species then colonise such cleared or bare surfaces more quickly and vigorously than the natives. In our reserves this has most commonly occurred with the laying of services, especially sewerage. Sewerage had to follow creek lines as it works on gravity and pipes were laid through the bush up to 60 years ago. At the time the impact of ugly pipes on the landscape was recognised and they were placed underground with only the round concrete inspection points, or sometimes an aqueduct across a creek, visible. However, the impact of leaving cleared and bare areas in the bush along the route of construction was not realised and, as a consequence, gas, water, and especially sewerage installations, can be located and followed by the bands or pockets of dense weeds. * Unnaturally high moisture and nutrient levels caused by inflows of stormwater from the suburban areas surrounding the bush. Our native species, especially those of the dry sclerophyll communities, are adapted to low moisture conditions and infertile soils whereas the weed species prefer higher levels of water and nutrients. Increasing moisture and nutrients in a normally dry area frequently results in death of the native species whilst the weeds thrive. As the weed seeds are brought in with the water and nutrients in the stormwater it constitutes an explosive little package just ready to take over.
51 The Natural Environment of Lane Cove
9.3 Keeping Weeds Out of the Bush Anyone who has a garden can assist in preventing more weeds from reaching the bush: * By removing from their garden all invasive plants which have berries or windblown seed and, preferably, the problem vines and creepers, some of which have windblown or waterborne seed. See Making Your Garden Bush Friendly (available from Lane Cove Library) for pictures to identify these plants and advice on eradication. * By not planting any of these same plants or any of the problem vines and creepers. The vines and creepers tend to be uncontrollable in the garden requiring a lot of cutting back and creating a problem of disposal. * By NEVER dumping any garden refuse in the bushland – it is unsightly for those who wish to enjoy the bush and it causes enormous problems. Many plants only become a weed problem when clippings are dumped in the bush and these are able to grow and spread. Likewise lawn clippings causes great problems, smothering natives and spreading grasses through seeds and plant parts. All residential properties receive 24 green waste collections per year, as per the waste calendar. Refer to Lane Cove Council’s website for details or contact Council’s Waste Co-ordinator on 1300 655 006 for a waste canlendar. Specifications for collection include: • A maximum of 3 Green bins per property per collection. • No green waste will be collected in any type other than the 240L green bins. * By ensuring that any gardener, gardening or mowing service or tree lopper guarantees to dispose of the material from the garden properly, such as bagging for the Wednesday pick-up or at an authorised tip, eg. a tip docket can be requested before paying such a contractor.
9.4 Restoring the Bush Bush which has been degraded or damaged by the variety of forces which impinge on it can be repaired and restored with commitment of sufficient time, effort and money. Local Councils and Government Authorities are increasingly devoting funds to such restoration work and requiring land developers with bushland to both set aside part of their land in the development as native bush and to pay for its restoration.
The first regeneration work done in Lane Cove was by volunteers at Greenwich Point in 1967, In the early 1970’s in what is now Bushland Park, just after it was saved from being buried under fill and turned into a golf course, major regeneration work was done by members of the new Lane Cove Bushland and Conservation Society. This area was an excellent example of the problems and extensive weeding necessary due to invasion along the line of a sewer pipe installation down the creek, yet also of how such an area could be returned to pleasant and viable bushland using regeneration techniques. Volunteers from the Bushland Society also worked in a number of other reserves at this time. Lane Cove Council was then the first Council in Sydney to recognise the value of bushland by employing bush regeneration teams. This reflects the strength of community response to bushland issues since the 1970s with the Bushland and Conservation Society enjoying continued strong support. Lantana Today Lane Cove Council employs a number of people specifically on restoration work, as well as contracting regeneration work’ to private firms. Developers can also
52 Weed Invasion be required to have work done. As part of the redevelopment a few years ago of an industrial site on Stringy Bark Creek the owners, S.C. Johnson, have been required to allocate funds over a 10 year period for the restoration of the bushland area on their site between Stringybark Creek and the Epping Highway. Volunteer groups have again started to work in their local bush under the guidance of experienced regenerators. In the Lane Cove Valley, above De Burgh’s Bridge, the Water Board is spending a large sum over 4 years from the environmental levy paid with water rates, to restore bushland areas along the Lane Cove River and tributary creeks affected by the installation of sewerage lines several decades ago. In restoring a piece of bushland some, or all, of the following may be necessary: * Clearing out of dumped rubbish of all descriptions, often those items difficult to dispose of by regular means eg. cars, mattresses, vehicle tyres. * Clearing loads of silt out of the creek. Such silt comes from erosion of bare surfaces in developed or developing areas or from eroding creek banks. The silt fills in the beautiful rockpools and obscures other lovely sandstone features. * Attending to problems of stormwater inflow where this is causing erosion or damaging bush and promoting weed invasion. * Clearing and replanting of patches where no native plants remain and natural germination does not occur due to lack of good seed in the soil. * Weeding the bush by a method known as bush regeneration.
9.5 Bush Regeneration Bush Regeneration techniques were first developed by two sisters, Eileen and Joan Bradley, in Ashton Park, Mosman in the 1960’s and became known as the Bradley method of bush regeneration (see Bradley, 1988). It was adopted by the National Trust in its reserves in the early 1970’s and the techniques are used by the many bush regeneration teams now working in bushland around Sydney. Some groups, including the National Trust, have modified aspects of the method and other groups follow the original Bradley method closely but the essential aims and techniques remain similar. The Bradleys developed their method and techniques in response to the ineffectiveness of methods of weed control in bushland used at the time, especially by local councils – the ‘slash and bum’ methods. Large areas of weeds would be cleared and either taken away or burnt on the spot. Sometimes the clearings were, then planted with native trees and sometimes they were not. The result of all this activity was a regrowth of weeds a few months later, often worse than previously, whilst the planted areas were unable to survive without a lot of maintenance. Thus the essential aim of bush regeneration is to return bush to a stable weed-free state requiring only very low maintenance to maintain that state (eg. inspection once every six months to a year to remove any new seedlings from bird dropped seeds). This is accomplished by weeding the bush in a very low disturbance way, mainly using hand tools such trowel, secateurs, pliers and knife. The weeds are carefully taken out from amongst the natives with minimum disturbance to the natives or to the soil and soil litter which contain the seeds from which new natives can grow to replace the weeds which have been pulled out. For more detail on bush regeneration and its methods, see Buchanan, 1989 (in references).
53 The Natural Environment of Lane Cove
NATIVES OR NOT?
Pittosporum undulatum (Mock Orange), Broad-leaf Privet and Lillypilly may easily be mistaken for each other as they have similar glossy green leaves and live in similar environments of moist shady areas.
Lillypilly (native) Tree with leaves glossy dark green above, paler green below; small creamy flowers Broad-leaf Privet (WEED) in summer; large fleshy-white pink or lilac berries; smooth greyish bark. Tree with large dark green leaves; dense sprays of strong smelling white flowers in early summer, grape-like clusters of small purple-black berries, smooth grey bark with raised pores giving a bumpy look.
Tree with longish, bright green glossy leaves with wavy edges and blisters from leaf miner attack on underside; orange berries; medium size white flowers with a sweet smell like orange blossom.
Pittosporum (native)
A very invasive exotic creeper, known as TRADESCANTIA (Wandering Jew), looks very similar to an innocent native creeper, called COMMELINA . Tradescantia is generally well known to most gardeners as it climbs over and smothers almost anything in the garden with its thick blanket of fleshy stems and leaves, just as it does in the bush. However, the pretty native look-alike is not invasive but will form a pleasant ground cover. Look particularly for the bright blue flowers to distinguish the Commelina.
Tradescantia has fleshy, glossy green leaves and stems, deep green in full shade but lighter in the sun. Leaves feel cold to touch. Flowers are small and white at the ends of the long trailing stems.
Commelina’s leaves are mid green, not glossy and are daintier and more pointed than on Tradescantia. Distance between nodes (places where leaves join the stem) is longer. Stems are sometimes purple. Tradescantia Small flowers are bright blue with 3 (WEED) separate petals. Commelina (native)
54 Weed Invasion
Formerly even larger trees were taken out by hand but this was very laborious and most bush regenerators now accept the use of glyphosate herbicide (eg. ‘Round-up’, known as ‘Zero’ in more dilute form), carefully and in moderation, to kill them. Once the weeds are removed, patience is required to wait for germination of this seed and growth ie. natural regeneration. Where no natural regeneration occurs, due perhaps to previous removal of topsoil, or filling over it, or to increased water in the soil rotting the seeds, planting Kikuyu Grass may be necessary. However, if planting is required, it is with plants grown from seed from the plants already growing in that reserve and will include a variety of species from smaller shrubs up to the trees.
9.6 Identifying Weeds The main weeds of Lane Cove bushland are listed in Appendix 4. Some of the worst weeds of these are illustrated and easily identified by colour photographs in the booklet Making Your Garden Bush Friendly , or on the poster Bush Enemies (sec references). The best times to identify most weeds are in spring/early summer when they are in flower or in late summer and autumn when they bear distinctive fruits. Care must also be taken to correctly identify a number of the weed species which have native look-alikes before pulling them out. The natives, Lilly Pilly and Pittosporum, are sometimes mistaken for the weed, Broadleaf Privet. Likewise, the native creeper, Commelina, is often mistaken for the invasive weed, Tradescantia (Wandering Jew). Opposite is a guide to distinguishing the natives from the weed species. There are a number of easily accessible locations in the various parts of Lane Cove where a variety of weeds, and their effects on the native vegetation struggling to survive beneath the invasive blanket are readily observed. These sites are all “classic” examples of either weed invasion in and/ along a creek where weed seeds, water and nutrients have come down from the suburban area and/ or along edges of bushland used as dumping grounds for garden rubbish which then spreads. Most noticeable (and disastrous for the bush) at all sites is infestation of vines over everything from rocks and rubbish to the tall trees. Such vines smother and kill the natives if not removed soon enough. Balloon Vine Central Lane Cove: The main gully of Lane Cove Golf Course, easily accessed via Longueville Road and Richardson Street West. Weeds can be viewed from the access paths around the gully and between holes. The golf course was created by filling a bushland valley — the whole floor of the valley in some parts, or one side. This has destroyed much of the original environment as well as severely impacting the bits that are
55 The Natural Environment of Lane Cove
left. The fill has eroded into the stream below and by providing a lot of bare dirt has provided areas for weeds to invade. Obvious weeds in the gully are Morning Glory, Balloon Vine, Small-Leaf Privet and Broadleaf Privet, Tradescantia, Lantana, Madeira Vine and Camphor Laurel. There is also some Bamboo and Pyracantha and Willow Trees. The Plant with very large starshaped leaves is Castor-Oil Plant. Native trees can be seen struggling to survive amongst this smothering blanket of weeds although there are also a number of dead trees which have not survived the fill and general disturbance to their environment. The problems of weeds invading along watercourses where it is damp and there are plenty of nutrients is evident here. On the upper slope on the east side of the track on the cast side of the gully is a different mix of weeds with Cotoneaster, Cassia, Lantana, Chinese Privet and assorted other garden plants. Under much of the weed on this slope is a sandstone cliff sporting ferns which could be an attractive feature of the golf course. North Lane Cove: The edge of Mowbray Park near Mowbray Public School. Start at the end of Hatfield Street past the point where the road turns into Hart Street. Continue downhill and turn left and follow a trail at the back of the houses. The first part of the trail which separates the houses from the bushland reserve has been constructed at least partly with fill. Downslope there is a massive infestation of Morning Glory smothering almost everything. Notice that these houses have not oriented their yards or their living spaces to the bush outlook. Rather as you walk along the trail there are incinerators and things people prefer out of sight sitting on the public land beyond their boundary lines – perhaps an indication of their attitude to these bush areas.
56 Weed Invasion
Continue along the trail to a small park and follow the trail as it continues behind the houses beyond the park for approx. 75 metres. The same picture exists right along this “edge”: a band of weeds including Small-leaf Privet, Cotoneaster, Lantana, Crofton Weed, Cassia, Blackberry with a few other assorted garden plants such as a Banana Tree and a Flame Tree and various soft leaved low weeds such as Cobblers Peg. Return to the park and cross to Vim Street, turn right and go down to the end of the street. The bush off the end of Vim Street is Mowbray Park but on this edge only a few natives are visible. Instead there is a typical pile of dumped rubbish, bricks etc and dumped garden rubbish including lawn clippings, as well as the weeds Broadleaf Privet, Cassia, Crofton Weed and Mulberry trees. On nearby Willandra Street there are Camphor Laurels (including a very large one) opposite the back boundary of the school.
Lane Cove West: along the downslope side of Moore Street
Here masses of Balloon Vine are smothering all the other vegetation but there are also Broadleaf Privet, Lantana, Tradescantia, Cotoneaster, Cassia, Bamboo, Arrowhead Vine, Fishbone Fern, Camphor Laurel, and a few other garden plants such as Mulberry and Ivy. The reasons for this invasion are obvious from all the piles of garden refuse across the road from almost every house. The people of this street have kept their yard tidy by dumping their refuse on our bush! The further problem of all this is that over time the seeds and vines keep moving downhill into the good bush below. Perhaps people who dump on the bush don’t deserve to live overlooking lovely bush valleys? Greenwich: The entrance to Gore Creek Reserve on St Vincents Road off River Road Not far past its intersection with Gore Street, the road curves to the right and a gully can be seen on the right smothered in Morning Glory. Walking down the hill, the gully amply illustrates the way that weeds thrive in the moist gully environment where there are also nutrients from the stormwater with seeds, and sometimes cuttings, washed down from gardens higher up the creek. Yet, even on the high side of the road here (normally weeds don’t like steep dry slopes) are plenty of weeds amongst the natives and, just past the last house, the influence of gardens can be seen in the Cobblers Peg great number of seedlings taking off from some well established trees with leaves which look like large Rhus leaves. Also very obvious on the high side of the road are Pittosporum, a native which used to be found in the gullies. Where the slopes are not now burnt (fires kill Pittosporum) it is invading up into these drier areas. After identifying the tree, notice the way its dense canopy creates a ‘closed-in’ effect which stops most of the usual native ground level plants from growing. In this area Balloon Vine competes with Morning Glory for the honours of the largest takeover and there are
57 The Natural Environment of Lane Cove also Lantana, Small-Leafed Privet, Wandering Jew, Ginger Lily and Madeira Vine (look for the Iambs tails starting to form in late summer), Cotoneaster, Camphor Laurel and Asparagus Fern as well as a few Elephants Ears in the creek. The willows also do not belong but they do not spread the way the problem weeds do. Should the Gore Creek Reserve entrance be cleared of its weeds, an alternative, though not as dramatic, site is at the end of Hinklcr Road, reached via Kings Langley Road, where a band of weeds separates a small grassed area from the bush below. The major weed is Lantana but there is also Fishbone Fern, Ginger Lily, Small-Leafed Privet, Cassia, Crofton Weed, Tradescantia, Asparagus Fern, Arrowhead Vine, Camphor Laurel and Black-eyed Susan.
Dandelion
Morning Glory
58 The Lane Cove – An Urban River System
10. THE LANE COVE – AN URBAN RIVER SYSTEM
10.1 Description The headwaters of the Lane Cove River rise in high ground near Hornsby. With its tributaries it drains a catchment of 93 square kilometres. Much of the catchment is developed for residential purposes, housing a population of 210,000 persons (1980). It also contains small areas developed for light industry and some large undeveloped areas of native bush and other vegetation (eg. grassed picnic areas of Lane Cove River State Recreation Area). Of the river’s total length of some 25 kilometres, the upper half is freshwater, impounded by a weir near Fullers Bridge. The lower half is saline and tidal. The Lane Cove River is the largest tributary of the Parramatta River, which it joins at Woolwich. The river is joined by a large number of tributary creeks along its length. These drain the various corners of the catchment in a typical dendritic pattern (so named after the dendrites, or nerves, in the body but also resembling the branches of a tree). The erosive work of the river and these tributaries has created the rugged ridge and valley topography of the entire catchment area. Although there are some large chunks of undeveloped bushland in the upper catchment, by far the greatest part of the catchment is developed. This creates many problems for the creeks and the river, discussed in 10.3. For many aspects and issues pertaining to the river we must look outside just the local area to understand what is happening and to devise solutions to problems. For example, much of the pollution in the river along our boundary and the silt deposited in our bays and our part of the river comes from much further upstream.
10.2 How People Have Used the River System
Aborigines The Aborigines used the Lane Cove River as a major source of their food, particularly a variety of fish and shellfish. It was probably also a travel route, rather than just a barrier to be crossed, and they were skilled in making and using their canoes. The creeks provided the Aborigines with their fresh water for drinking.
Exploration Some of the earliest exploration of the North Shore was via the river. In February, 1788 a survey party led by Captain Hunter took depth soundings along the lower river as far as the present Figtree Bridge. In 1789 there was exploration further up the river as far as the head of navigation which was not far from the present De Burghs Bridge. Our evidence for such exploration comes from the naval charts of the time which show the river upstream sufficiently accurately to indicate explorers actually reached this far (see next page). However the twists and bends of the river above Linley Point seem to be shown more accurately in the 1790’s than the lower portion of the river, downstream of Linley Point, was to be shown for nearly 100 years. All of the early maps of the river (here and in the nest pages) display significant distortion of the size and shape of the bays, coves and peninsulas of the lower river until the survey of 1888. We can only speculate whether such inaccuracy was due to poor mapping techniques or to the fact that as an isolated, mainly unsettled area, Lane Cove was not important enough to map accurately. Early European settlers relied almost exclusively on the river as a transport route. The North Shore was very wild and undeveloped for many decades and traversing the area with all its valleys was extremely difficult, except along the main ridge (now the Pacific Highway but originally called the Lane Cove Road). Even on this main ridge the “road” was a frequently impassable track until the 1850s and not much better for the next 30 years. Thus the river was a major mode of transport route for most of the 19th century.
59 The Natural Environment of Lane Cove
EXPLORING THE RIVER
Above is part of a chart of Port Jackson drawn between 1788 and 1792 by Lt. William Bradley, a naval officer on the First Fleet. Bradley explored the harbour with Captain John Hunter who also drew charts of their surveys. Their charts were the first ever drawn of the harbour and show the first explorations of most parts of its coves and rivers. From the charts can be seen how far the Lane Cove was explored in the first few years of the colony.
Timber There were many valuable timbers in the forests of the North Shore, especially the tall forests of the ridges, and one of its earliest economic activities was timber-getting. Sometime between 1805 and 1809 a government ‘sawing establishment’ was established in what is now West Killara. Convicts cut the timber from the substantial forests of the area and it was taken down a track (now Fiddens Wharf Road) to be loaded onto boats and sent into the town. By 1819 the timber which the government was interested in had diminished in this area and the government activities moved further up the catchment to the Epping/Eastwood area from which the timber was taken down to the Parramatta for transport. However, there was still a lot of timber to cut for various purposes and boats continued to ply the liver laden with timber for several decades. Much of it was loaded from the old government wharf at West Killara, which
60 The Lane Cove – An Urban River System
MAPPING THE RIVER
Survey of Port Jackson 1822
Survey of Port Jackson 1857
Survey of Port Jackson 1888
Using the charts of the lower river in this chapter, compare the way the features along the river are drawn with a present map of Lane Cove. Look at the bays: Tambourine Bay, Burns Bay, Woodford Bay and Gore Creek’s cove; and the peninsulas: Linley Point, Riverview, Longueville, Northwood and Greenwich. (Remember that the mouth of Gore Creek was filled this century.)
61 The Natural Environment of Lane Cove came to be known as ‘Fidden’s Wharf’, after Joseph Fidden whose boat carried much trade on the river for many years. There was still a procession of boats laden with firewood to be seen coming down the river in the 1850’s bringing timber cut from the Field of Mars Common which stretched along the west side of the valley from Boronia Park to Cheltenham in an area of approx 6,000 acres (2430 ha.).
Farming As the farmers replaced the timber-getters, many settlers came to farm the various alluviall1ats all along the river right upstream to the present De Burghs Bridge area. These farms relied on river transport to get goods in and out especially the bigger farms, such as those around the present Fullers Bridge where the produce from prolific citrus and pear orchards had to be got to market. For many years farmers on the ridge also found it quicker to bring their goods down to the wharves on the river, rather than make the journey on the Lane Cove Road, then have to take the punt at North Sydney.
Industry When the farms began to decline around the beginning of this century the demands of industry for river transport increased. In fact, many early industries in Lane Cove located near the water due to the availability of the river for transport. The earliest of these were the tanneries, producing belts and other leather products, established from about 1859 on the creek running into Burns Bay, which became known as ‘Tannery Creek’. Another factory, manufacturing wood pipes, was also located on Burns Bay. A tannery and boiling down works was established on a bend of the river next to the present Epping Road Bridge in about 1882. By 1894 this had been replaced by a cornflour factory (which has grown and expanded over almost 100 years and still occupies the site, albeit under different ownership). Both factories relied on the river to cheaply transport raw materials to the site and finished products out as there was virtually no access overland apart from rough tracks. In 1912 paper board mills were established on Stringy Bark Creek and the lower part of the creek and its entrance were modified to create direct boat access right into the mills. The mills were destroyed by a bushfire in 1928, ironically because the fire had cut road access and neither the harbour’s fire tender nor fire engines loaded on punts could get upriver past Figtree Bridge because it was low tide and the silted river was too shallow. Other industry followed in Stringy Bark Creek: Robert Corbett chemical industries, later taken over by CSR. However, for these industries, and the cornflour mills, the advent of motorised lorries and road links which enable transport of raw materials and products ‘door-to-door’ without unloading, together with almost complete silting up of the channel in some places, gradually spelt the end of industrial river transport above Figtree Bridge. However, one major industry, which began in Greenwich in 1903, is still very much tied to its water transport: the oil storage and distribution depot established by John Fell and Co., now owned by Shell.
Passenger Transport For the first 40 – 50 years of the colony, settlement was sparse and scattered around an extensive harbour. Water transport was vital with the lack of adequate roads and bridges yet there were not enough settlers in anyone place to support conventional ferry services. Thus there were many watermen plying the harbour with small boats transporting passengers one, or a few at a time, to individual destinations. The official rate for such a trip in 1841 to the wharf at Woodford Street, Longueville was four shillings and sixpence. By the 1850s the population of Lane Cove and Hunters Hill was sufficient for the Joubert family of Hunters Hill to establish a regular ferry service from the city to the lower Lane Cove River. The Jouberts ran this service until 1906 when they sold it to the Balmain New Ferry Company and, with several other changes of ownership, there is still a ferry service on the lower river today. In the 1890s the fare on the ferry was one shilling single and over many years the service called at up to nine wharves from Greenwich to Figtree which became the terminus when the first Figtree Bridge was built in
62 The Lane Cove – An Urban River System
1884 (the wharf was located where the southern end of the new Figtree Bridge now stands), With the prevalence of cars today, restricted services call at Greenwich, Northwood, Woolwich and the Alexandra St. Wharf, Hunters Hill, thus still providing a pleasant and leisurely way to reach the city for residents of Lane Cove and Hunters Hill, even if not reaching as far up the Lane Cove River Ferry, S.S. Northcote river as previously, nor as frequently. A private ferry service also ran to and from Longueville twice per day until early 1991 but even it had to cease operation for lack of customers with more people working varied hours rather than the old “9 – 5”. In 1908 some leading citizens of Lane Cove and Hunters Hill decided to open up the river above Figtree with a motor launch service to carry passengers, mail, livestock and merchandise. The Upper Lane Cove Ferry Service ran a feeder service from the steamferry terminus at Figtree to Fiddens Wharf at Killara, calling at about eight wharves on the Lane Cove, Ryde and Chatswood banks on the way. Although this service used flat bottomed launches, they still began to have trouble getting right up the river. Eventually the service was sold in 1918 to the owners of ‘Fairyland’, a picnic grounds on the river opposite Mowbray Park. The students of St. Ignatius College at Riverview also relied on the river for transport, almost exclusively, for many years. The first students attended in 1880 and from that time would arrive and depart by boat and the school’s own wharf. The countryside between the school and the centre of Lane Cove was very rugged and the river was much more convenient access to the school for students coming from a variety of locations. Special ferries would also be chartered by St. Ignatius and St. Joseph’s College (Hunters Hill) to transport footballers and barrackers between the colleges and from the colleges to other parts of Sydney for ‘away’ games.
Recreation In the 1880s a small boat took passengers on excursions up the river from the ferry terminus at Figtree. From this grew extensive use of the river for recreation. At the turn of the century the Lane Cove River was highly regarded as a beauty spot and became increasingly popular especially as a “poor man’s” recreation spot. It was described most fulsomely in newspaper articles of the 1890s and early this century (see next page). This recreation was based on row boating and picnicking. Picnickers could reach the river by ferry services which came from various parts of Sydney on weekends and public holidays and either visit one of the two major ‘pleasure grounds’ on the river or hire rowboats from Figtree and row up river, Slopping at the many little reserves and picnic spots along the way. A favourite trip for the energetic was to row right up to the Blue Hole, the head of navigation of the river, close to the present De Burghs Bridge. After the weir was built and the Lane Cove River National Park opened in 1938 rowboats could only go as far as the weir but the Park provided greatly increased opportunities for picnics along the banks of the river. There were two more developed picnic areas, known as pleasure grounds, with various facilities and organised activities, such as refreshment rooms, dances in an open air dance hall and equipment for rides. ‘The Avenue’ pleasure grounds was located in what is now the foreshore areas and playing fields of Hunters Hill High School while ‘Fairyland’ (initially known as ‘The Rest’) was located further upstream opposite eastern Mowbray Park. Despite the difficulties for boats navigating the river at low tide, Fairyland would be crowded with launches from all over Sydney on holidays, as illustrated opposite, and the proprietors also ran their own boat to Figtree to meet the steam ferries. Picnic based recreation continues to be an important foreshore use but picnickers now gct to the picnic spots by car. However, the parts of the river with suitable picnic spots are in two distinct sections: downstream of Figtree Bridge where the Lane Cove side, in particular, has a number of nicely developed reserves, and the
63 The Natural Environment of Lane Cove
“A VERITABLE FAIRYLAND”
80 to 100 years ago the Lane Cove River was becoming very popular as a beauty spot and a good place for recreation such as picnicking and boating. People would catch the ferry as far as possible: to Figtree, or even as far as Killara (from 1909 to about 1916). They then hired a rowboat to go further up river. Here are some descriptions of the river written in the newspapers at the time about trips up the river: “Indeed it is doubtful whether there is any river more picturesque than that of the Lane Cove River from the bend which conceals the Parramatta to the point where it becomes a tiny streamlet, dancing and leaping among the grey masses of rock and time-worn boulders which seek to impede its course.” “It has taken us but an hour, and the distance, by the varied scenes which break at every corner and turn, give one the feeling of having travelled a full score of miles. It is a place for a landscape artist to rave about, it is a place for a poet to dream himself into ecstasies over.” The river was described as a “veritable fairyland” with “visitors being struck with the wealth of beauty spots and the diversified character of the scenery”. About halfway up the river from Figtree: “The Rest is the first place reached where a halt may be made for a cup of tea. ....Here are moored half-a-dozen row boats, and there are parties of young people scattered about in groups reclining here and there on the sward enjoying the soft serenity of it all. It is a long pull, but if the tide is taken both ways is not so laborious a task as it looks.” “On you wind, free for a day in Nature’s own domain...A suggestion here and there of rock-faced precipices lends its touch of variety and mild romance; while, especially at high tide, the more commonplace mangroves add their quota of rural effect.” From near the present Fullers Bridge: “the banks for the space of a few miles are lined with fruit trees, the overhanging branches often touch the glassy water and you may pick fruit without even getting out of the boat”, Past the orchards: “The scene now changes and becomes fairy-like indeed, trees dropping their boughs in the crystal stream, and bulrushes, waratahs and Christmas bushes extending to the water’s edge.”
Arriving at Fairyland for a day’s outing
64 The Lane Cove – An Urban River System
Lane Cove River State Recreation Area much further upstream. In between, mangroves block most of the shoreline and there is only Blackman Park where the picnic areas are not on the edge, or in view, of the water. Boating also remains a common pastime on the river but today they are frequently motorboats and activity is limited to sightseeing. There are few places to stop a boat and picnic or walk above Figtree as was once popular. Water skiing on the river has become common in recent years but causes a number of problems. The water ski boats come up river and base themselves at one of a number of small beaches along the river upstream of Figtree Bridge (there is one at Blackman Park). However, the river is too narrow to safely ski in a number of places and a skier was killed on the river in the mid-1980s. The constant noise of the power boats adversely impacts the residents who live near this section of river and the boats are detrimental to other, quieter boat uses of the river such as canoeing. Canoeing is perhaps the modern equivalent of the rowboats of days gone by, both above and below the weir. A common trip is to launch the canoe just downstream of Fullers Bridge and paddle downstream with the tide. Rowing Regattas held on the river, mainly associated with the two colleges, also attracted people from all over Sydney and were big events on the river. Today rowing is still an important sport and, in addition to St Josephs and St Ignatius Colleges, Sydney and Macquarie Universities’ rowing clubs and the North Shore Rowing Club are based on the river. The long hulls of boats from all these clubs can frequently be seen practising up and down the liver.
Stormwater Disposal All water which falls on any hard surface such as roads, roofs, carparks and footpaths in the entire catchment of the river ends up in the river. This water, known as urban stormwater, is drained from hard surfaces into storm water drains which go underground to the nearest creek valley where they discharge into the bush or into the creek itself. The problems thus caused for the bushland were discussed in 8.2. This chapter considers the problems caused for the waterways. Whilst it is natural for water falling on a catchment to drain to its river, urban stormwater is highly polluted. As it washes everything off all hard surfaces it contains the substances which fallout from car exhausts and other air pollution, dog faeces, litter, grease and oil, detergents from car washing etc. People often see the nearest stormwater drain as a convenient disposal point for any awkward liquids they have, such as oil from cars and even industrial waste. By doing this they are not just using the drain for disposal, but fouling our waterways which we use for recreation.
Sewage Overflow Sewage from the northern half of Sydney east of Blacktown is taken across the city to North Head for treatment and marine disposal via a major sewerage line, the Northern Ocean Outfall Sewer, known as the NOOS. This crosses the Municipality of Lane Cove passing first under the Lane Cove River in tunnels dug through the sandstone. In Burns Bay and Gore Creek valley viaducts carry the NOOS across the valleys. When it rains, extra water always gets into sewerage systems through cracks in pipes and wrong connection of stormwater pipes to the sewerage lines. The NOOS was built in the 1920s and, whilst designed to accommodate a wet weather flow much greater than normal dry weather flow, it is now running at nearly full capacity in dry weather and cannot accommodate the increased flow in wet weather. Thus the system overflows and the overflow points are on major creeks and rivers, including the Lane Cove River where the NOOS crosses a short distance upstream of Figtree Bridge. Obviously this adds considerably to the pollution load in the river in wet weather when it already carries much polluted urban stormwater. Flushing by the tides eventually disperses the pollution.
65 The Natural Environment of Lane Cove
10.3 Reducing Adverse Impacts on Waterways The major problems experienced by our waterways are: * Flooding and the erosion of creek banks * Pollution of creeks by urban stormwater and pollution of the river and some creeks by sewage and urban stormwater, * Siltation : blocking of creeks and obscuring of their lovely rock features by silt, loss of bays to mudflats and increasing shallowness of the river due to silt deposition. In Lane Cove we receive the results of erosion way up in the catchment as the silt is carried down and deposited in our part of the river. The Lane Cove River near Figtree Bridge, and most of the bays downstream: Burns Bay, Tambourine Bay and Gore Creek’s cove, are significantly affected by the deposition of silt and the build-up of unsightly mudflats. These mudflats are not only unattractive at low tide but they prevent the launching of boats and impede navigation, as well as exacerbating pollution by decreasing the depth of water and the flushing effect of the tides. Dredging is a very expensive operation. Much of the river from Fullers Bridge to near Figtree Bridge was dredged in the 1950’s and 60’s but as a commercial operation to gain the sand which lay beneath the mud. The sand is now gone and a commercial operation will not be possible again. The first of these problems needs to be tackled by government, particularly the local council. As an initial step, Lane Cove Council had a hydrology study of its bushland completed in 1986 to examine the problems associated with stormwater, drainage and creeks in the bushland A number of its recommendations to ameliorate these impacts have since been implemented or constructed. For the other two major problems, it is mainly up to individuals to play their part in the solutions. We all have a responsibility to act in a way which will not create, or worsen, the problems.
Flooding and Erosion of Creek Banks This is largely caused by the much greater flows of water pouring into creeks after rain. Water from hard surfaces is collected by stormwater drains much more quickly than water which falls on soil or vegetation percolates down through the soil and into the creeks. Thus we now have more water hitting bushland slopes and the creeks all at once with great erosive power. The solutions are: * Creation of areas which can hold the collected water after rain (called detention basins) and let it out slowly through small diameter pipes, known as ‘lowflow’ pipes. In developed areas the basins may be carparks, grassed reserves or other open space.
66 The Lane Cove – An Urban River System
Such areas and pipes are being required by Council in new developments but are more difficult to create in older areas. * Lining of creek banks with natural stone where a large flow of water is unavoidable. * Construction of stilling basins in creeks to reduce velocity of water and thus its erosive effect (scour). As the rushing water flows in, it is first stopped as it fills the basin, then slowed by hitting the water body. * Including grass and plantings wherever possible in developed areas rather than hard impervious surfaces. Home owners should consider this factor when planning landscaping and keep paved areas to a minimum eg. driveways with part grassing are preferable to full concrete. For developments requiring plans for exterior areas (units, townhouses, industrial and commercial) Council now considers the balance of ‘hard’ and ‘soft’ surfaces before giving approval.
Pollution from Urban Stormwater Much of the pollution in urban stormwater comes from individual sources which governments can do little to directly control. Rather, it is up to each individual to act in an environmentally responsible way and help protect our waterways. Consider the creeks and waterways beyond your backyard in these ways: * Do not wash cars (or anything else) in driveways or anywhere where the soapy water runs into gutters and storm water drains because this just ends up in the creek, river or bush. Instead, wash the car on the lawn where washing water can be absorbed and the water useful rather than wasted. * Try to ensure your dog does not defecate on roads or footpaths. If it does, a ‘pooper scooper’ and paper bag would be handy to remove the problem to a bin. Doggie ‘do’s’ cause faecal contamination of the water and provide nutrients, thus encouraging weeds in the bush and algal blooms in water. * Be sparing with fertilisers and pesticides in the garden. Rain can wash it off and into drains where it doesn’t do the garden any good and it pollutes the creek or river. * Don’t leave piles of leaves, lawn clippings or other rubbish in the gutters where it can then wash into drains causing blockages and pollution. * Dispose of all difficult liquids, such as unwanted oils, paints, garden chemicals etc. at a licensed Waste Disposal Centre. * Anyone who sees, or knows of someone dumping chemicals, oils, greases or other industrial wastes into stormwater drains, or the sewer is encouraged to ring Lane Cove Council’s Environmental Health Officer on 9911 3626.
Pollution from Sewerage While it would seem that building bigger capacity sewerage lines is a government problem, this is actually an action of last resort as it would be horrendously expensive (sending our water rates skyrocketing) and it would disturb many residential areas. Before embarking on such a scheme we should first make the existing lines work efficiently. At present many homes and other properties have downpipes connected to the sewerage system rather than to the stormwater
Access hole Sewerage Overflow Point
Wastewater and stormwater find their way into the sewerage system causing overflow
Normal sewage level Stormwater and raw sewage overflow causing environmental pollution
67 The Natural Environment of Lane Cove system or drainage pit. This is one of the major causes of extra volume in the sewer line when it rains, thus overflows occur. It is obviously inefficient to have sewerage capacity taken up just with water and then have raw sewage overflowing into creeks and rivers. The solution is to ensure that all downpipes go into the stormwater system. The Water Board is pursuing a program of smoke testing to determine where the problems are, but it would be preferable if homeowners took action themselves. Smoke testing involves putting smoke into the sewer system in the street and seeing where it comes out. If it billows out the top of a downpipe, there is obviously a connection!
Siltation Rain washes soil off any bare surface. No matter where this happens in the municipality it is then carried downhill, through storm water drains to creeks and rivers. The results of 200 years of settlement and clearing are all too clear at low tide with extensive mudflats in the river, especially around Figtree Bridge, and in the bays. In the bays, which were once the open mouths of creeks the process has been the growth of mudflats, followed by colonisation of the flats by mangroves, then sometimes filling over the mangroves to create playing fields or grassed reserves. The last has occurred in Burns Bay Reserve, Blackman Park and Gore Creek Reserve. In Tambourine Bay the mudflats and the mangroves have grown but not been filled. In the filled bays the process has begun all over again with the build up of more mudflats beyond the seawalls of the grassed reserve. The solution is simple in concept but difficult to execute. It is simply to prevent any silt washing off any building, development or landscaping site in the whole of the catchment of the Lane Cove River and to minimise erosion on bush tracks. This requires considerable effort by many people and authorities. Anyone, be they individual, government body, business or developer who clears vegetation, disturbs soil or places fill must be aware of the problem of silt run-off and take steps to prevent it. The adequacy and effectiveness of the prevention measures have to be monitored and steps taken to enforce their usc, if necessary. This role would mainly be taken by local Councils who give approvals for building and inspect building sites.
For more details on many of the issues discussed in this chapter, including, pollution, siltation and the past, present and future uses of the river, sec McLoughlin, 1985.
68 The Lane Cove – An Urban River System
CLEAN CREEKS AND RIVERS BEGIN AT HOME
Report any pollution incidents including dumping of any waste materials, Garage and shed chemicals etc. into Unwanted household or garden stormwater or sewer to chemicals should never be placed Gullies NSW EPA Environment down the sewer or the stormwater Makesure your household gully drains. Check with your Council for Line 131 555. grate (usually outside the kitchen or Gutters and downpipes local disposal depots if you have bathroom) is above ground level so particularly large quantities. Roof gutters and downpipes should rain water doesn’t flow into it. connect to stormwater drains not the sewer; illegal stormwater connections lead to sewer overflows. Fences, gates and retaining walls Choose fence, gate or retaining Fertilisers and pesticides wall designs which take into Minimise use of fertilisers and account water flow. Managing pesticides. These chemicals are the flow of stormwater on your easily washed off the garden by property can avoid damage. stormwater and end up in local creeks.
Lawn care Coring your lawn lets it breathe and aviods compaction. Coring also helps water soak in, reducing runoff.
Garden clippings Start a compost heap. Vegetable scraps, tea leaves and grass clippings make excellent compost which is ideal fertiliser for gardens.
Paved areas Footpaths and streets Keep paved areas to a minimum. If Any rubbish, leaves or dog you are constructing a path or droppings in the street end up in paving a patio or pool surround, stormwater drains causing blockages choose a design or surface which Cars, trucks and or pollution problems. lets stormwater soak in. motor bikes If you do your own oil change don’t Stormwater grates pour oil down the gutter or into the Everyone can help by keeping Washing the car ground. Dispose of the oil in a stormwater grates clear of litter, Wash your car on a grassy area. sealed container in the garbage or leaves and stones. Blocked drains Sudsy water which flows down the in a special Council cleanup. can lead to local flooding. gutter ends up in your local creek. Increased nutrients from detergents cause a lot of problems in our waterways.
69 The Natural Environment of Lane Cove
WHO USED THE RIVER – THEN? In the past the river has been used by a variety of different activities, some only for short periods and some over many years.
Industries Tannery and Boiling Down Works, 1880s, then On edge of river near Epping Road, just Clifford Love Cornflour Mills from 1894 north of footbridge.
Cumberland Paper Board Mills, 1912 –1928, later On Stringybark Creek, southwest side of dam Robert Corbett, then CSR Chemicals, 1930s –1978
A. Radke & Sons Tannery, 1860s –1940 and North side of Tannery Creek, halfway up the Ludowici &Co. Tannery, 1860s –1970s creek
Australian Wood Pipe Co. 1912 –? On Burns Bay Road, south on Mangrovite oval
Rupert Kirk’s soap and candle factories 1831·1842 Southwest corner of Woodford Bay
Salt and copra bond store Manns Point, site of Greenwich Sailing Club
John Fell & Co. oil refinery (northern end) Western foreshore of Gore Cove from Manns Patent Asphaltum Co. (southern end) Point Park north to the reserve later Shell Co. oil depot from 1903
Early Wharves Gore’s Wharf, from the 1820s Greenwich, on eastern shore of Gore Cove Nichol’s Wharf, from the 1820s Northwest corner of Woodford Bay at end of Woodford Street, formerly Nichols Road Kirk’s Wharf, 1831-1840s Middle of south shore of Woodford Bay
Ferry Wharves — Lower River, 1850s – Greenwich Ends of Lower Serpentine Road and Bay Street Woolwich End of The Point Road Northwood End of Northwood Road Longueville Ends of Stuart Street and Wharf Road Hunters Hill End of Alexandra Street, Lane Cove end of Mount Street and Figtree, at location of south end of present bridge
Ferry Wharves - Upper River, 1908 – 1918 Boronia Park End of Princes Street Buffalo Creek End of Park Rd which then extended as a path to the river Lane Cove West End of Penrose Street East Ryde End of Magdala Road West Chatswood End of Willandra St which then extended as a path to the river St Ignatius Wharf Centrally located on the end of Riverview point
Pleasure Grounds ‘The Avenue’ The playing fields of Hunters Hill High School ‘Fairyland’ Upstream from Epping Road Bridge, north side of river, opposite Mowbray Park
On the river itself, the following occurred at various times:
* Boats transporting all the timber cut from the Lane Cove Valley * Fishing * Rowing up the river for picnics * Regattas on the river adjacent to Riverview
70 The Lane Cove – An Urban River System
WHO USES THE RIVER - NOW? Today a variety of activities still use the river but these are more oriented to transport and recreation and less to the commercial activities of the past.
Industries Shell oil storage and distribution depot Western foreshore of Gore Cove from Manns Point north to the reserve
Ferry Wharves - Lower River Greenwich Lower Serpentine Road and end of Bay Street Woolwich Valentia Street Northwood End of Northwood Road Longueville End of Stuart Street Hunters Hill End of Alexandra Street
Swimming Pools Greenwich In the bay between Greenwich Point and Manns Point adjacent to Albert Street Tambourine Bay Eastern end of Tambourine Bay Park
Sailing Clubs Greenwich Manns Point, adjacent to Prospect Street and the end of Bay Street Longueville End of Stuart Street
Rowing Clubs Longueville Aquatic Reserve Tambourine Bay Western foreshore Burns Bay Western foreshore
Boat Launching Ramps Longueville End of Dunois Street Burns Bay End of Kooyong Parade
Picnic Areas There are many parks dotted around the foreshore which are used for picnicking. On the Map. Directory of Lane Cove these are shown as yellow.
Sewer Crossing and Overflow Point The main sewer line crossing Sydney to the outfall from North Head, called the Northern Ocean Outfall Sewer (NOOS for short), crosses the river a little south of The Boreen. It overflows into the river here when there is moderate or heavy rain.
Other Activities * Waterskiing in the stretch of water between Linley Point and Mars Road * Canoeing (anywhere on the river) * Boats moored in all the bays * Stormwater flowing down from the developed areas to the creeks and the river
71 The Natural Environment of Lane Cove
REFERENCES AND FURTHER READING Most of the following references are available in Lane Cove Public Library, either for borrowing, or in the Local Studies section for consultation. Those marked with an ‘ can also be purchased at the Library. General (covering material pertinent to a number of chapters) Lane Cove Municipal Council Plan of Management for Urban Bushland, March 1990. ‘McLoughlin, Lynne The Middle Lane Cove River: A History and a Future, Monograph No.1, Centre for Environmental and Urban Studies, Macquarie University, 1985. Recher, H.F., Lunney, D. & Dunn, I., A Natural Legacy: Ecology in Australia, Pergamon, Sydney, 2 nd edition, 1986. Introduction ‘Project Environment Map and Information Directory, Municipality of Lane Cove. Chapter 2: Geology, Soils and Topography Chapman, GA & Murphy, C.L., Soil Landscapes of the Sydney 1:100,000 Sheet, Soil Conservation Service of NSW, Sydney, 1989. Walker, P.H. A Soil Survey of the County of Cumberland, Sydney Region, NSW Dept of Agriculture, Soil Survey Bulletin No.2, 1960. Chapter 3: Values of Bushland National Trust of Australia (NSW) Urban Bushland Policy, May 1988, Updated, March 1991. NSW Department of Planning Urban Bushland: Management Guidelines, 1991 Chapter 4: Vegetation Communities Baker, M., Corringham, R & Dark, J., Native Plants of the Sydney Region, Three Sisters, 1989. Benson D. & Howell, J. Taken For Granted: The Bushland of Sydney and its Suburbs, Kangaroo Press, 1990 ‘Dove, Don Bushwalks Around Lane Cove, Project Environment, 1989. Fairlie, A. & Moore, P., Native Plants of the Sydney Region - An Identification Guide, S.G.A. P. Kangaroo Press, Sydney, 1989. Harry Howard & Associates, Stringy Bark Valley Landscape Study, February, 1981. ‘Messer, Judy Growing the Native Plants of Lane Cove, Project Environment,. Robinson, Les, Native Trees of Sydney, Gould League, 1988. Robinson, Les, FieId Guide to the Native Plants of Sydney, Kangaroo Press, 1991. Rotherham, E.R., Briggs, B.C., Blaxell, D.F. & Carolin, R.C., Rowers and Plants of NSW and Southern Queensland, Reed, 1982. Chapter 5: Animals of Lane Cove Clyne, D., Wildlife in the Suburbs, Angus & Robertson, 1982. Clyne, D. More Wildlife in the Suburbs, Angus & Robertson, 1984. Griffiths, K. Reptiles of the Sydney Region, Three Sisters, 1987. Hockings, F.D., Friends and Foes of Australian Gardens, Reed, Sydney, 1980. Murray, E., Living with Wildlife, Reed, 1989. Pastorelli, John (ed), Urban Wildlife of NSW, Angus & Robertson, 1990. Stephens. S. The Impact of Man on the Mammals and Birds of the Lane Cove River Valley, Environmental and Urban Studies Report No.34, Macquarie University, 1978. Swan, K. A ReId Guide to the Snakes and Lizards of NSW, Three Sisters, 1991. Tyler, M., Australian Frogs, Viking O’Neal, 1989 Walraven, E. Taronga Zoo’s Guide to the Care of Urban Wildlife, Allen and Unwin, 1990. Chapter 6: Birds of Lane Cove Adams, G.M. , Birdscaping Your Garden, Reed 1984
72 References and Further Reading
Adams, G.M., Foliage Birds, Popular Books, 1984. Dixon, Thomas, The Birds of Riverview, 1980. McDonald, J.D. Birds of Australia, Reed, Revised edition, 1984. Pizzey, G. A Field Guide to the Birds of Australia, Collins, 1980. Pizzey, G., A Garden of Birds, Viking O’Neal, 1988. Simpson, K. & Day, N., Field Guide to the Birds of Australia, Viking O’Neal, 2nd ed’n, 1986. Slater P., P. & R. Slaters’ Field Guide to Australian Birds, Wheldon, 1989. Chapter 7: Aborigines Clark, S. S. & McLoughlin, L.C. “Historical and Biological Evidence for Fire Regimes in the Sydney Region Prior to the Arrival of Europeans: Implications for Future Bushland Management”, Aust. Geographer, Vol 17, No 2, Nov 1986, pp 101-112. Conyers, B. Aboriginal Sites Planning Study, Lane Cove River State Recreation Area Trust, 1991. Kohen, J.L. & Lampert. R. “Hunters and Fishers of the Sydney Region”, Australians to 1788, ed. by D.J. Mulvaney & J.P. White, Fairfax, Syme & Wheldon Associates, 1987. Leiper, G., Mutooroo: Plant Use by Australian Aboriginal People. Low, Tim, Bush Tucker, Angus & Robertson, North Ryde, 1989. NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, Aborigines of NSW The Australian Museum Aborigines of the Sydney Area, Leaflet 23, December, 1978. Turbet, P., Aborigines of the Sydney District before 1788, Kangaroo Press, 1989. Chapters 8 & 9: European Impacts and Weed Invasion Adamson, D., Monaghan, N.M., & Smith, L.w. “Caring for Australian Bushland in Urban Areas”, Agfacts, NSW Department of Agriculture. Bradley, J. Bringing Back the Bush, ed by J. Larking, A Lenning & J. Walker, Landsdowne Press, Sydney, 1988. Buchanan, R. “Edge Disturbance in Natural Areas”, Australian Parks and Recreation, August, 1979. Buchanan, R. Common Weeds of Sydney Bushland, Inkata Press, Sydney, 1988. Buchanan, R. Bush Regeneration: Recovering Australian Landscapes, TAFE Student Learning Publications, 1989. Department of Environment and Planning, Urban Bushland in the Sydney Region, Sydney, 1986. Department of Planning, State Environmental Planning Policy No. 19 - Bushland in Urban Areas, Circular No 813, March 1989. Department of Planning, Urban Bushland: Management Guidelines, Sydney, 1991. *McLoughlin, L. & Rawling, J., Making Your Garden Bush Friendly, McLoughlin-Rawling, 2nd ed, 1991. McLoughlin-Rawling, Bush Enemies, poster, 1991. National Trust of Australia (NSW) Bush Regenerators’ Handbook, ed by P. Wright, 1991. Rawling, J. The Bush Next Door, Brisbane City Council & Greening Australia, 1991. (book and video) Chapter 10: The Lane Cove - an Urban River System Boyden & Partners Hydrology Study of Bushland, for Lane Cove Municipal Council, June 1986. *Russell, E., Lane Cove: A North Shore History 1788 - 1970, Council of the Municipality of Lane Cove, 1970. State Pollution Control Commission Wet Weather Pollution of the Lane Cove River, February, 1980. Water Board, booklets and accompanying videos, 1991 The Water Way Hard Rain Beyond the Bend The Cost of Living
73 The Natural Environment of Lane Cove
APPENDIX 1 – NATIVE PLANTS OF LANE COVE MUNICIPALITY Native plant survey carried out in 1991 by Van Klaphake, Lane Cove Council Bush Regenerator, with assistance from Sandra Coe and other Council and contract bush regenerators.
Plant survey project jointly funded by Lane Cove Municipal Council and the "Save the Bush" Grant Scheme.
Status for each plant in Lane Cove
Very Common predominant species found easily in much of the area
Common species widespread found easily throughout area
Fairly Common plants/colonies found easily widespread in some without searching parts of area
Occasional plants/colonies not immediately scattered apparent
Uncommon more than 4 plants plants only found or 2 colonies, but by searching in low popUlations
Rare 1-4 plants or 1-2 plants only found small colonies by searching
Unknown previously recorded not seen in 1991 since 1978 survey
74 Appendix 1
NATIVE TREES OF LANE COVE MUNICIPALITY
BOTANIC NANE COMMON NAME FAMILY STATUS IN LANE COVE Acacia binervia Coast Myall Mimosaceae Rare A. floribunda Sally Wattle Mimosaceae Uncommon A. implexa Hickory Mimosaceae Occasional A. irrorata var irrorata Mimosaceae Uncommon A. longifolia Sydney Golden Wattle Mimosaceae Uncommon A. parramattensis Sydney Green Wattle Mimosaceae Uncommon A. parvipinnula Silver Stem Wattle Mimosaceae Occasional Acmena smithii Lillypilly Myrtaceae FairIy common Alectryon subcinerius Native Quince Sapindaceae Rare Allocasuarina littoralis Black She-oak Casuarinaceae Common A. torulosa Forest Oak Casuarinaceae Uncommon Angophora bakeri Narrow-leaved Apple Myrtaceae Uncommon A. costata Sydney Red Gum Myrtaceae Common A. floribunda Rough-bark Apple Myrtaceae Uncommon A. hispida Dwarf Apple Myrtaceae Rare Avicennia marina Grey Mangrove Avicenniaceae Common Backhousia myrtifolia Grey Myrtle Myrtaceae Common Banksia integrifolia Coast Banksia Proteaceae Occasional B. serrata Old Man Banksia Proteaceae FairIy common Callicoma serratifolia Black Wattle Cunoniaceae Occasional Casuarina glauca Swamp Oak Casuarinaceae FairIy common Ceratopetalum apetalum Coachwood Cunoniaceae FairIy common C. gummiferum Christmas Bush Cunoniaceae Occasional Clerodendrum tomentosum Hairy Clerodendrum Verbenaceae Uncommon Cupaniopsis anacardioides Tuckeroo Sapindaceae Uncommon Elaeocarpus reticulatus Blueberry Ash Eleaocarpaceae Fairly common Endiandra sieberi Corkwood Lauraceae Rare Eucalyptus botryoides Southern Mahogany Myrtaceae Rare E. capitellata Brown Stringybark Myrtaceae Rare E. globoidea White Stringybark Myrtaceae Occasional E. gummiifera Red Bloodwood Myrtaceae Occasional E. haemastoma Scribbly Gum Myrtaceae Uncommon E. notabilis Blue Mountain Mahogany Myrtaceae Rare E. paniculata Grey Ironbark Myrtaceae Uncommon E. pilularis Blackbutt Myrtaceae Common E. piperita Sydney peppermint llyrtaceae Common E. punctata Grey Gum Myrtaceae Rare E. racemosa ScribblyGum Myrtaceae Uncommon E. resinifera Red Mahogany Myrtaceae Occasional E. robusta Swamp Mahogany Myrtaceae Rare E. saligna Sydney Blue Gum Myrtaceae Uncommon E. siderophloia Northern Grey Ironbark Myrtaceae Rare Exocarpus cupressiformis Native Cherry Santalaceae Uncommon Ficus obligua Small Leaf Fig Moraceae Rare F. rubiginosa Port Jackson Fig Moraceae Fairly common Glochidion ferdinandi Cheese Tree Euphorbiaceae FairIy common G.f. var pubescens Cheese Tree Euphorbiaceae Uncommon Melaleuca linariifolia Myrtaceae Occasional M. styphelioides Prickly-leaf Paperbark Myrtaceae Rare Myoporum acuminatum Northern Boobialla Myoporaceae Rare Notelaea longifolia Large Mock Olive Oleaceae Common N. 1. var pubescens Mock Olive Oleaceae Uncommon N. ovata Oleaceae Uncommon Pittosporum undulatum Sweet Pittosporum Pittosporaceae Very common
75 The Natural Environment of Lane Cove NATIVE TREES CONTINUED COMMON NANE FAMILY STATUS IN LANE COVE Rapanea howittiana Brush Muttonwood Myrsinaceae Occasional R. variabilis Muttonwood Nyrsinaceae Occasional Rhodamnia rubescens Brush Turpentine Myrtaceae Rare Schizomeria ovata Crab Apple Cuoniaceae Uncommon Syncarpia glomulifera Turpentine Myrtaceae Common Synoum glandulosum Scentless Rosewood Meliaceae Rare Tristaniopsis collina Mountain Water Gum Myrtaceae Occasional T. laurina Water Gum Myrtaceae Occasional Trochocarpa laurina Tree Heath Epacridaceae Uncommon NATIVE MISTLETOES OF LANE COVE MUNICIPALITY
BOTANIC NAME COMMON NAME FAMILY STATUS IN LANE COVE Amyema congener Mistletoe Loranthaceae Occasional Dendrophthoe vitellina Mistletoe Loranthaceae Uncommon Muellerina celastroides Mistletoe Loranthaceae Uncommon M. eucalyptoides Mistletoe Loranthaceae Uncommon NATIVE CLIMBERS AND SCRAMLERS OF LANE COVE MUNICIPALITY
BOTANIC NAME COMMON NAME FAMILY STATUS IN LANE COVE Billardiera scandens Apple Berry Pittosporaceae Fairly common Calystegia sepium Convolvulaceae Occasional Cassytha glabella Devils Twine Cassythaceae Occasional C. paniculata Devils Twine Cassythaceae Common C. pubescens Devils Twine Cassythaceae Fairly common Cayratia clematidea Slender Grape Vitaceae Rare Cissus hypoglauca Fire-leaf Water-vine Vitaceae Common Clematis aristata Travellers Joy Ranunculaceae Uncommon C, glycinoides Old Mans Beard Ranunculaceae Uncommon Comesperma volubile Love Creeper Polygalaceae Rare Convolvulus erubescens Australian Bind-weed Convolvulaceae Uncommon Eustrephus latifolius Wombat Berry Philesiaceae Fairly common Geitonoplesium cymosum Scrambling Lily Philesiaceae Rare Glycine clandestina Twining Glycine Fabaceae Occasional G, microphylla Fabaceae Occasional Hardenbergia violacea Purple Twining-pea Fabaceae Occasional Hibbertia dentata Dilleniaceae Occasional E, scandens Climbing Guinea-flower Dilleniaceae Rare Kennedia rubicunda Dusky Coral-pea Fabaceae Fairly common Marsdenia suaveolans Scented Marsdenia Asclepiadaceae Common Muehlenbeckia gracillima Slender Lignum Polygonaceae Rare Morinda jasminoides Morinda Rubiaceae Uncommon Pandorea pandorana Wonga Vine Bignoniaceae Common Rubus hillii Broadleaf Bramble Rosaceae Rare R, parvifolius Native Raspberry Rosaceae Rare Sarcopetalum harveyanum Pearl Vine Menisperneceae Uncommon Smilax australis Lawyer Vine Smilacaceae Uncommon S, glyciphylla Sweet Sasparilla Smilacaceae Common Stephania japonica Snake Vine Menispermaceae Uncommon Tylophora barbata Bearded Tylophora Asclepiadaceae Uncommon
76 Appendix 1 NATIVE SHRUBS OF LANE COVE MUNICIPALITY BOTANIC NAME COMMON NAME FAMILY STATUS IN LANE COVE Acacia elongata Swamp Wattle Mimosaceae Rare A. faleata Sickle Wattle Mimosaceae Occasional A. hispidula Mimosaceae Rare A. linifolia Flax Wattle Mimosaceae Occasional A. longissima Mimosaceae Uncommon A. myrtifolia Myrtle Wattle Mimosaceae Uncommon A. stricta Hop Wattle Mimosaceae Rare A. suaveolens Sweet Scented Wattle Mimosaceae Occasional A. terminalis Sunshine Wattle Mimosaceae Occasional A. ulicifolia Prickly Moses Mimosaceae Fairly common Acrotriche divaricata Ground Berry Epacridaceae Uncommon Aegiceras corniculatum River Mangrove Myrsinaceae Fairly common Allocasuarina distyla Scrub She-oak Casuarinaceae Rare Amperea xiphoclada Broom Sperge Euphorbiaceae Occasional Astroloma humifusum Cranberry Heath Epacridaceae Rare A. pinifolium Pine Heath Epacridaceae Rare Astrotricha longifolia Long-leaf Star-hair Epacridaceae Uncommon Baeckea diosmifolia Heath Myrtle Myrtaceae Rare B. imbricata Myrtaceae Unknown B. linifolia Swamp Baeckea Myrtaceae Rare Banksia ericifolia Heath Banksia Proteaceae Uncommon B. marginata Silver Banksia Proteaceae Rare B. oblongifolia Proteaceae Occasional B. spinulosa Hairpin Banksia Proteaceae Occasional Bauera rubioides Dog Rose Baueraceae FairIy common Boronia ledifolia Sydney Boronia Rutaceae Uncommon Bossiaea heterophylla Fabaceae Uncommon B. obcordata Spiny Bossiaea Fabaceae Occasional B. scolopendria Fabaceae Rare Brachyloma daphnoides Daphne Heath Epacridaceae Uncommon Breynia oblongifolia Breynia Euphorbiaceae Occasional Bursaria spinosa Boxthorn Pittosporaceae Uncommon Callistenon citrinus Red Bottlebrush Myrtaceae Rare C. linearis Narrowleaved Bottlebrush Myrtaceae Uncommon C. pinifolius Pineleaved Bottlebrush Myrtaceae Rare C. rigidus Stiff Bottlebrush Myrtaceae Unknown Cassinia aureonitens Yellow Cassinia Asteraceae Rare C. uncata Sticky Cassinia Astereceae Unknown Correa reflexa Common Correa Rutaceae Occasional Crowea saligna Crowea Rutaceae Fairly common Cryptandra amara Rhamnaceae Unknown Daviesia ulicifolia Gorse Bitter-pea Fabaceae Unknown Dillwynia retorta Egg and Bacon Fabaceae FairIy common Dodonaea triquetra Common Hop Bush Sapindaceae Common Epacris longiflora Fuchsia Heath Epacridaceae FairIy common E. microphylla Coral Heath Epacridaceae Uncommon E. pulchella Epacridaceae Fairly common E. purpurascens Epacridaceae Rare Eupomatia laurina Bolwarra Eupomatiaceae Rare Gompholobium glabratum Fabaceae Unknown G. latifolium Broad-leaf Wedge-pea Fabaceae Occasional Goodenia ovata Hop Goodenia Goodeniaceae Unknown Grevillea buxifolia Grey Spider-flower Proteaceae Occasional G. linearifolia Proteaceae Fairly common
77 The Natural Environment of Lane Cove NATIVE SHRUBS CONTINUED BOTANIC NAME COMMON NAME FAMILY STATUS IN LANE COV E Grevillea sericea Pink Spider-flower Proteaceae FairIy common Hakea dactyloides Broad-leaf Hakea Proteaceae Fairly common H. gibbosa Proteaceae Rare H. sericea Needle Bush Proteaceae FairIy common H. teretifolia Dagger Hakea Proteaceae Uncommon Helichrysum diosmifolium Pill Flower Asteraceae Occasional Hibbertia empetrifolia Trailing Guinea-flower Dilleniaceae Uncommon H. fasciculata Guinea-flower Dilleniaceae Rare H. linearis Dilleniaceae Occasional H. riparia Erect Guinea-flower Dilleniaceae Rare Hovea linearis Narrow-leaf Hovea Fahaceae Rare H. longifolia Rusty Pod Fabaceae Rare Isopogon anemonifolius Drumsticks Proteaceae Rare I. anethifolius Narrow-leaf Drumsticks Proteaceae Rare Kunzea ambigua Tick Bush Myrtaceae Common Lambertia formosa Mountain Devil Proteaceae Occasional Lasiopetalum ferrugineum Rusty Petals Sterculiaceae Occasional L. parviflorum Small Rusty Petals Sterculiaceae Rare Leptomeria acida Native Currant Santalaceae Uncommon Leptospermum arachnoides Myrtaceae Rare L. polygalifolium Yellow Tea-tree Myrtaceae Occasional L. squarrosum pink Tea-tree Myrtaceae Rare L. trinervium Myrtaceae Fairly common Leucopogon amplexicaulis Epacridaceae Rare L. ericoides Epacridaceae Occasional L. juniperinus Prickly Beard-heath Epacridaceae FairIy common L. lanceolatus Lance-leaf Beard-heath Epacridaceae Uncommon L. microphyllus Small-leaved White-heard Epacridaceae Rare Logania alblflora Loganiaceae Occasional Lomatia silaifolia Crinkle Bush Proteaceae FairIy common Maytenus silvestris Celastraceae Occasional Melaleuca nodosa Myrtaceae Uncommon Micrantheum ericoides Euphorbiaceae FairIy common Mirbelia rubiifolia Fabaceae Rare Monotoca elliptica Tree Broom-heath Epacridaceae Uncommon M. scoparia prickly Broom-heath Epacridaceae Occasional Olearia microphylla Small-leaf Daisy-bush Asteraceae Uncommon O. viscidula Asteraceae Uncommon Omalanthus populifolius Bleedinq Heart Euphorbiaceae Occasional Persoonia lanceolata Lance-leaf Geebung Proteaceae Occasional P. laurina Laurel Geebung Proteaceae Occasional P. levis Broad-leaf Geehunq Proteaceae FairIy common P. linearis Narrow-leaf Geebung Proteaceae Occasional P. pinifolia Pine-leaf Geebung Proteaceae Uncommon Petrophile pulchella Tonesticks Proteaceae Uncommon Phebalium dentatum Rutaceae Occasional Phyllanthus gasstroemii Blunt Spurge Euphorbiaceae Uncommon P. hirtella Thyme Spurge Euphorbiaceae FairIy common Phylotta phylicoides Phylotta Fahaceae Uncommon Pimelea linifolia Slender Rice-flower Thymelaeaceae FairIy common Pittosporum revolutum Yellow Pittosporum Pittosporaceae Occasional Platylobium formosum Handsome Flat-pea Fabaceae FairIy common Platysace lanceolata Lance-leaf platysace Apiaceae FairIy common P. linearifolia Narrow-leaf Platysace Apiaceae Rare Podocarpus spinulosus Podocarpus Podocarpaceae Occasional Polyscias sambucifolia Elderberry Panax Araliaceae Common
78 Appendix 1 NATIVE SHRUBS CONTINUED BOTANIC NAME COMMON NAME FAMILY STATUS IN LANE COVE Pomaderris elliptica Rhamnaceae Occasional P. ferruginea Rusty Pomaderris Rhamnaceae Occasional P. intermedia Rhamnaceae Unknown P. lanigera Wooly Pomaderris Rhamnaceae Uncommon Prostanthera linearis Narrow-leaf Mint-hush Lamiaceae Rare Pultenaea daphnoides Large-leaf Brush-pea Fabaceae FairIy common P. elliptica Fabaceae Occasional P. flexilis Fabaceae Common P. scabra Rough Bush-pea Fabaceae Unknown P. stipularis Fine-Leaf Brush-pea Fabaceae Uncommon P. viscosa Fabaceae Rare Ricinocarpus pinifolius Wedding Bush Euphorbiaceae Rare Senna odorata Caesalpinaceae Rare Solanum lanciniatum Kangaroo Apple Solanaceae Rare Styphelia longifolia Long-leaf Styphelia Epacridaceae Uncommon S. triflora Epacridaceae Rare S. tubiflora Five Red Corners Epacridaceae Rare Tetratheca thymifolia Tremandraceae Rare Trema aspers Native Peach Ulmaceae Rare Viminaria juncea Native Broom Fabaceae Uncommon Woollsia pungens Exacridaceae Occasional Xanthosia pilosa Apiaceae FairIy common Xieria pilosa Hairy Zieria Rutaceae Fairly common Z. smithii Sandfly Zieria Rutaceae Fairly common Xylomelum pyriforme Woody Pear Proteaceae Uncommon
NATIVE LILIES, IRISES AND SIMILAR PLANTS OF LANE COVE MUNICIPALITY BOTANIC NAME COMMON NAME FAMILY STATUS IN LANE COVE Arthropodium milleflorum Pale Vanilla Lily Liliaceae Rare Blandiflora nobilis Christmas Bell Liliaceae Unknown Burchardia umbellata Milkmaids Liliaceae Rare Caesia parviflora Pale Grass Lily Liliaceae Uncommon C. vittata Blue Grass Lily Liliaceae Rare Manella caerulea Paroo Lily Liliaceae Common D. revoluta Spreading Flax Lily Liliaceae Common Haemodorum planifolium Strapleaf Blood-root Haemodoraceae Uncommon Laxmannia gracilis Slender Wire Lily Liliaceae Uncommon Patersonia glabrata Leafy Purple-flag Iridaceae Uncommon P. sericea Dwarf Purple-flag Iridaceae Uncommon Schelhammera undulata Lilac Lily Liliaceae FairIycommon Stylidium lineare Narrow-leaf Triggerplant Stylidiaceae Rare S. productum Triggerplant Stylidiaceae Occasional Thysanotus juncifolius Fringe Lily Liliaceae Rare T. tuberosus Common Fringe Lily Liliaceae Uncommon Tricoryne simplex Rush Lily Liliaceae Uncommon Triglochin striata Streaked Arrow-grass Juncaginaceae FairIy common
79 The Natural Environment of Lane Cove NATIVE HERBS OF LANE COVE MUNICIPALITY BOTANIC NAME COMMON NAME FAMILY STATUS IN LANE COVE Actinotus helianthi Flannel Flower Apiaceae Occasional A. minor Lesser Flannel Flower Apiaceae Occasional Alternanthera denticulata Lesser Joyweed Amaranthaceae Occasional Aneilema biflorum Aneilema Commelinaceae Unknown Apium australe Apiaceae Rare A. prostratum Sea Celery Apiaciae Uncommon Atriplex semibaccata Creeping Saltbush Chenopodiaciae Rare Callitriche muelleri Callitrichaceae Rare C. stagnalis Callitrichaceae Occasional Cardamine paucijuga Brassicaceae Common Centella asiatica Swamp Pennywort Apiaceae Common Centipeda minima Spreading Sneezeweed Asteraceae Rare Chamaesyce drummondii Caustic Weed Euphorbiaceae Rare Chenopodium pumilio Chenopodiaceae Rare Commelina cyanea Scurvy Weed Commelinaceae Common Cotula australis Bachelors Buttons Asteraceae Common C. coronopitolia Water Buttons Asteraceae Rare Dampiera stricta Blue Dampiera Goodeniaceae Uncommon Desmodium varians Slender Tick-trefoil Fabaceae Rare Dichondra repens Kidney Weed Convolvulaceae Fairly common Drosera auriculata Sundew Droseraceae FairIy common D. peltata Pale Sundew Droseraceae Uncommon D. spathulata Common Sundew Droseraceae Rare Einadia hastata Saloop Chenopodiaceae Rare E. trigonos Chenopodiaceae Uncommon Epaltes australis Asteraceae Rare Epilobium billarieranum Smooth Willow-herb Onagraceae Occasional E. hirtigerum Hoary Willow-herb Onagraceae Uncommon Erodium crinitum Blue Crows-foot Geraniaceae Rare Geranium homeanum Cranes Bill Geraniaceae FairIy common Gnaphalium gymnnocephalum Asteraceae Rare Gonocarpus micranthus Creeping Raspwort Haloragaceae Rare G. tetragynus Raspwort Haloragaceae Rare G. teucrioides Raspwort Haloragaceae Fairly common Goodinia dimorpha Goodeniaceae Unknown G. hederacea Ivy Goodenia Goodeniaceae FairIy common G. heterophylla Goodeniaceae Occasional Gratiola pedunculata Brook Lime Scrophulariaceae Unknown Hibiscus trionum Malvaceae Unknown Hydrocotyle acutiloba Pennywort Araliaceae Occasional H. peduncularis Pennywort Araliaceae FairIy common H. sp. Pennywort Araliaceae Rare H. tripartita Pennywort Araliaceae Uncommon Hypericum gramineum Small St Johns Wort Clusiaceae Uncommon H. japonicum Matted St Johns Wort Clusiaceae Rare Isotoma fluviatilis Swamp Isotoma Lobeliaceae Uncommon Lobelia alata Lobeliaceae FairIy common L. dentata Lobeliaceae Rare L. gracilis Lobeliaceae Occasional Lythrum hyssopitolia Purple Loose-strife Lythraeae Occasional Mitrasacme polymorpha Mitreweed Loganaceae Uncommon Opercularia aspera Common Stinkweed Rubiaceae Common O. hispida Stinkweed Rubiaceae Uncommon O. varia Rubiaceae Rare
80 Appendix 1 NATIVE HERBS CONTINUED BOTANIC NAME COMMON NAME FAMILY STATUS IN LANE COVE Oxalis exilis Oxalidaceae FairIy common O. perennans Oxalidaceae Rare 0. radicosa Oxalidaceae Rare Pelargonium indorum Storks Bill Geraniaceae Uncommon Persicaria decipiens Slender Knotweed Polygonaceae Fairly common P. hydropiper Water Pepper Polygonaceae Fairly common P. lapathifolia Pale Knotweed Polygonaceae Uncommon P. praetermissa Polygonaceae Rare P. strigosa Spotted Knotweed Polygonaceae Rare Plectranthus parviflorus Cockspur Flower Lamiaceae Uncommon Polymeria calycina Polymeria Convolvulaceae Rare Pomax umbellata Pornax Rubiaceae FairIy common Poranthera ericifolia Heath-leaved Poranthera Euphorbiaceae Unknown P. microphylla Small Porantbera Euphorbiaceae FairIy common Pratia purpurascens White Root Lobeliaceae Common Prunella vulgaris Self Heal Lamiaceae Rare Pseuderanthemum variabile Acanthaceae Common Pseudognaphalium luteoalbum Jersey Cudweed Asteraceae Uncommon Ranunculus sessiliflorus Ranunculaceae Unknown Rumex brownii Swamp Dock Polygonaceae Fairly common Samolus repens Creeping Brookweed Primulaceae Common Scaevola ramosissima Purple Fan-flower Goodeniaceae Rare Senecio hispidulus Fire Weed Asteraceae Uncommon S. minimus Groundsel Asteraceae Uncommon S. quadridentatus Groundsel Asteraceae Rare Sigesbeckea orientalis Indian Weed Asteraceae Uncommon Solanum americanum Solanaceae Fairly common Stackhousia viminea Slender Stackhousia Stackhousiaceae Rare Tetragonia tetragonoides Warrigal Greens Aizoaceae Uncommon Verbena officinalis Verbenaceae Common Vernonia cinerea Asteraceae Rare Veronica plebeia Creeping Speedwell Scrophulariaceae FairIy common Viola bederacea Native Violet Violaceae Rare Wahlenbergia gracilis Australian Bluebell Campanulaceae FairIy common Xanthosia tridentata Apiaceae FairIy common NATIVE SUCCULENTS OF LANE COVE MUNICIPALITY BOTANIC NAME COMMON NAME FAMILY STATUS IN LANE COVE Carpobrotus glaucescens Pigface Aizoaceae Rare Crassula sieberiana Australian Stonecrop Crassulaceae Uncommon Portulaca oleracea Pig Weed Portulacaceae FairIy common Sarcocornia quinqueflora Samphire Chenopodiaceae Fairly common Suaeda australis Sea Blight Chenopodiaceae FairIy common NATIVE GRASS TREES OF LANE COVE MUNICIPALITY BOTANIC NAME COMMON NAME FAMILY STATUS IN LANE COVE Xantborrboea arborea Grass Tree Xanthorrhoeaceae FairIy common X. media Grass Tree Xanthorrhoeaceae Fairly common
81 The Natural Environment of Lane Cove NATIVE GRASSES OF LANE COVE MUNICIPALITY CONTINUED BOTANIC NAME COMMON NAME FAMILY STATUS IN LANE COVE Agrostis avenacea Blown Grass Poaceae Occasional Anisopogon avenaceus Oat Spear Grass Poaceae Fairly common Aristida ramosa Wire Grass Poaceae Uncommon A. vagans Wire Grass Poaceae Common A. warburgii Wire Grass Poaceae Uncommon Bothriochloa macra Red Grass Poaceae Occasional Cymbopogon refractus Barbwire Grass Poaceae Uncommon Danthonia longifolia Wallaby Grass Poaceae Common D. racemosa Wallaby Grass Poaceae Uncommon D. setacea Wallaby Grass Poaceae Rare D. tenuior Wallaby Grass Poaceae Common Deyeuxia decipiens Poaceae Occasional D. guadriseta Poaceae Occasional Dichelachne crinita Long-hair Plume Grass Poaceae Uncommon D. micrantha Poaceae FairIy common D. rara Poaceae Occasional Digitaria breviglumis Poaceae Rare D. parviflora Poaceae Occasional D. ramularis Poaceae Occasional Echinochloa telmatophila Poaceae Rare Echinopogon caespitosus Tufted Hedgehog Grass Poaceae Common E. ovatus Forest Hedgehog Grass Poaceae Uncommon Entolasia marginata Poaceae Common E. stricta Wiry Panic Poaceae Very common E. whiteana Poaceae FairIy common Eragrostis brownii Poaceae Common E. leptostachya Poaceae Uncommon E. parviflora Poaceae Uncommon E. phillipica Poaceae Rare Hemarthria uncinata Mat Grass Poaceae Occasional Imperata cylindrica Blady Grass Poaceae Very common Isachne globosa Swamp Millet Poaceae Occasional Microlaena stipoides Microlaena Poaceae Very comon Oplismenus aemulus Poaceae Very common 0. imbecillis Poaceae Very common Panicum effusum Hairy Panic Poaceae Rare P. simile Two-colour Panic Poaceae FairIy common Paspalidium radiatum Poaceae Common Paspalum paspalodes Water Couch Poaceae Occasional Phragmites australis Common Reed Poaceae Rare Poa affinis Poaceae Common Sporobolus creber Poaceae Rare S. virginicus Sand Couch Poaceae Occassional stipa pubescens Tall Spear Grass Poaceae Common S. ramosissima Stout Bamboo Grass Poaceae Rare S. rudis Poaceae Occasional Tetrarrhena juncea Wiry Rice Grass Poaceae Common Themeda australis Kangaroo Grass Poaceae Very common Zoysia macrantha Prickly Couch Poaceae Occasional
82 Appendix 1 NATIVE SEDGES, RUSHES AND SIMILAR PLANTS OF LARE COVE MUNICIPALITY BOTANIC NAME COMMON NAME FAMILY STATUS IN LANE COVE Baunea acuta Twig Rush Cyperaceae Uncommon B. articulata Jointed Twig Rush Cyperaceae Rare B. juncea Bare Twig Rush Cyperaceae Occasional B. rubiginosa Soft Twig Rush Cyperaceae Rare Bolboschoenus fluviatillis Marsh Club-rush Cyperaceae Rare Carex appressa Tall Sedge Cyperaceae Rare C. breviculmis Cyperaceae Common C. inversa Cyperaceae Common Caustis flexulosa Curly Sedge Cyperaceae Occasional Centrolepis strigosa Centrolepidaceae Rare Cyathochaeta diandra Cyperaceae Fairly common Cyperus brevifolius Cyperaceae Common C. difformis Variable Flat Sedge Cyperaceae Rare C. gracilis Cyperaceae Common C. imhecillis Cyperaceae Occasional C. laevis Cyperaceae Rare C. leiocaulon Cyperaceae Rare C. mirus Cyperaceae Common C. polystachyos Cyperaceae Common C. sanguinolentus Cyperaceae Occasional C. tenellus Cyperaceae Rare Eleocharis gracilis Spike Rush Cyperaceae Rare Fimbristylis dichotoma Common Fringe-rush Cyperaceae Uncommon F. velata Spike-rush Cyperaceae Rare Gahnia aspera Rough Saw-sedge Cyperaceae Rare G. clarkei Tall Saw-Sedge Cyperaceae Common G. erythrocarpa Cyperaceae Common G. melanocarpa Black-fruit Saw-sedge Cyperaceae Common G. radula Cyperaceae Common Gymnostachys anceps Settlers Flax Araceae Uncommon Isolepis cernua Swamp Club-rush Cyperaceae Uncommon I. hookerana Cyperaceae Unknown I. inundata Cyperaceae Common I. nodosa Cyperaceae Occasional Juncus bufonius Juncaceae Common J. continuus Juncaceae Common J. flavidus Juncaceae Rare J. homalocaulis Juncaceae Common J. krausii Sea Rush Juncaceae Common J. mollis Juncaceae Rare J. pallidus Juncaceae Rare J. planifolius Broad Rush Juncaceae FairIy common J. polyanthemus Juncaceae Rare J. prismatocarpus Branching Rush Juncaceae Occasional J. subsecundus Juncaceae Occasional J. usitatus Common Rush Juncaceae Common J. vaginatus Juncaceae Rare Lepidosperma concavum Sword Sedge Cyperaceae Common L. filiforme Cyperaceae Common L. flexuosum Cyperaceae Uncommon L. laterale Variable Saw Sedge Cyperaceae Common L. lineare Cyperaceae Occasional L. quadrangulatum Cyperaceae Occasional Lepyrodia scariosa Scale Bush Restionaceae FairIy common
83 The Natural Environment of Lane Cove NATIVE SEDGES CONTINUED BOTANIC NAME COMMON NAME FAMILY STATUS IN LANE COVE Lipocarpha microcephala Cyperaceae Rare Lomandra cylindrica Needle Mat-rush Xanthorrhoeaceae Common L. filiformis var coriacea Wattle Mat-rush Xanthorrhoeaceae Common L. filiformis var filiformis Wattle Mat-rush Xanthorrhoeaceae Common L. glauca Pale Mat-rush Xanthorrhoeaceae Occasional L. gracilis Xanthorrhoeaceae Occasional L. longitolia Spiny Headed Mat-rush Xanthorrhoeaceae Very common L. micrantha SmaIl Flowered Mat-rush Xanthorrhoeaceae Rare L. multiflora Many Flowered Mat-rush Xanthorrhoeaceae Common L. obliqua Twisted Mat-rush Xanthorrhoeaceae Common Ftilanthelium deustum Cyperaceae Occasional Schoenus apogon Cmon Bog-rush Cyperaceae Occasional S. maschalinus Cyperaceae Occasional S. melanostachys Black Bog-rush Cyperaceae Common S. villosus Cyperaceae Rare Typha orientalis Cumbungi Typhaceae Occasional
NATIVE ORCHIDS OF LANE COVE MUNICIPALITY BOTANIC NAME COMMON NAME FAMILY STATUS IN LANE COVE Acianthus caudatus Mayfly Orchid Orchidaceae Rare A. exsertus Mosquito Orchid Orchidaceae Uncommon A. fornicatus Pixie Caps Orchidaceae Common Caladenia alba White Caladenia Orchidaceae Occasional C. catenata Pink Fingers Orchidaceae Rare Calochilus campestris Copper Beard Orchid Orchidaceae Rare C. paludosus Red Beard Orchid Orchidaceae Uncommon C. robertsonii Purplish Beard Orchid Orchidaceae Occasional Chiloglottis reflexa Autumn Bird Orchid Orchidaceae Rare C. trapeziformis Ant Orchid Orchidaceae Rare Corybas actonitiflorus Spurred Helmet Orchid Orchidaceae Rare Cryptostylis erecta Bonnet Orchid Orchidaceae Common C. subulata Large Tongue Orchid Orchidaceae Uncommon Cymbidium suave Snake Orchid Orchidaceae Rare Dendrobium linguiforme Tongue Orchid Orchidaceae Rare D. striolatum Streaked Rock Orchid Orchidaceae Rare Dipodium punctatum Hyacinth Orchid Orchidaceae Common Galeola cassythoides Climbing Orchid Orchidaceae Rare Microtis unifolia Onion Orchid Orchidaceae Rare Plectorrhiza tridentata Tangle Orchid Orchidaceae Rare Prasophyllum nigricans Leek Orchid Orchidaceae Rare PterostyIis acuminata Sharp Greenhood Orchidaceae Rare P. concinna Trim Greenhood Orchidaceae Uncommon P. grandiflora Superb Greenhood Orchidaceae Rare P. longifolia Tall Greenhood Orchidaceae Uncommon P. nutans Nodding Greenhood Orchidaceae FairIy common P. pedunculata Little Red Riding Hood Orchidaceae Rare Thelymitra carnea Salmon Sun-orchid Orchidaceae Rare T. pauciflora Slender Sun-orchid Orchidaceae Rare
84 Appendix 1 NATIVE FERNS OF LANE COVE MUNICIPALITY BOTANIC NAME COMMON NAME FAMILY STATUS IN LANE COVE Adiantum aethiopicum Adiantaceae Common A. hispidulum Rough Maidenhair Fern Adiantaceae Common Asplenium australasicum Birds-nest Fern Aspleniaceae Common A. flabellifolium Necklace Fern Aspleniaceae Common Blechnum ambiguum Blechnaceae Uncommon B. camfieldii Blechnaceae Rare B. cartilagineum Gristle Fern Blechnaceae Common B. nudum Fishbone Fern Blechnaceae Uncommon Calochlaena (Culcita) dubia Soft Bracken Dicksoniaceae Very common Cheilanthes distans Cloakfern Adiantaceae Rare C. sieberi Poison Rock Fern Adiantaceae Common Christella dentata Thelypteridaceae Common C. hispidula Thelypteridaceae Rare Cyathea australis Rough Tree Fern Cyatheaceae Common C. cooperi Scaly Tree Fern Cyatheaceae Common C. leichhardtiana Prickly Tree Fern Cyatheaceae Rare Davallia pyxidata Hares Foot Fern Davalliaceae Occasional Diplazium australe Austral Lady Fern Athyriaceae Rare Doodia aspera Rasp Fern Blechnaceae Fairly common D. caudata Small Rasp Fern Blechnaceae Common D. media Blechnaceae Rare Gleichenia dicarpa Pouched Coral Fern Gleicheniaceae Very common G. microphylla Scrambling Coral Fern Gleicheniaceae Rare G. rupestris Gleicheniaceae Occasional Grammitis billardieri Finger Fern Grammitidaceae Rare Histiopteris incisa Bats-wing Fern Dennstaedtiaceae Common Hymenophyllum cupressiforme Common Filmy Fern Hymenophyllaceae Rare Hypolepis muelleri Harsh Ground Fern Dennstaedtiaceae Very common Lastreopsis decomposita Trim Shield Fern Aspidiaceae Rare Lindsaea linearis Screw Fern Lindsaeaceae Common L. microphylla Lacy Wedge Fern Lindsaeaceae Common Ophioglossum lusitanicum Austral Adders Tongue Ophiglossaceae Unknown Pellaea falcata Sickle Fern Adiantaceae Occasional Platycerium bifurcatum Elkhorn Fern Polypodiaceae Common Psilotum nudum Skeleton Fork Fern Psilotaceae Occasional Pteridium esculentum Braken Fern Dennstaedtiaceae Common Pteris tremula Tender Brake Pteridaceae Common Pyrrosia rupestris Rock Felt Fern Polypodiaceae Occasional Schizaea bifida Forked Comb Fern Schizaeaceae Occasional S. dichotoma Branched Comb Fern Schizaeaceae Rare S. rupestris Schizaeaceae Rare Sticherus flabellatus Umbrella Fern Gleicheniaceae Rare Todea barbara King Fern Osmundaceae Common
NATIVE WATER PLANTS OF LANE COVE MUNICIPALITY BOTANIC NAME COMMON NAME FAMILY STATUS IN LANE COVE Ceratophyllum demersum Hornwort Ceratophyllaceae Rare Halophila ovalis Sea Wrack Hydrocharftaceae Rare Lemna minor Lemnaceae Rare Ludwigia peploides Water Primrose Onagraceae Unknown Potamogeton crispus Pondweed Potamogetonaceae Rare P. tricarinitus Floating Pond-weed Potamogetonaceae Rare Zostera capricorni Eel Grass Zosteraceae Uncommon
85 The Natural Environment of Lane Cove
APPENDIX 2 –
PNlanAt liTst fIrVomE "So mPeL of ARivNervTiewS's FlForaO", OUur NAlmDa M AaterT, 1 9R11. IVERVIEW, 1881 –1908 (Magazine of St Ignatius College, Riverview) List for Orchidaceae and Proteaceae put together by Percy E. Williams during the years 1881 to 1908. BOTANIC NAME USED IN 1911 BOTANIC NAME USED IN 1991 PRESENT STATUS IN LANE COVE ORCHIDACEAE Acianthus caudatus Uncommon A. fornicatus Common Caladenia alba Occasional C. carnea Caladenia catenata Uncommon C. caerulea Not seen Caleana major Not seen C. minor Not seen Calochilus campestris Rare C. robertsoni Rare C. paludosus Rare Corysanthes bicalcarata Corybas aconitiflorus Rare C. fimbriata C. fimbiatus Not seen C. unguiculata C. unguiclatus Not seen Cryptostylis erecta Common C. longifolia Cryptostylus subulata Uncommon Crytostylis reniformis Acianthus reniformis Not seen Cymbidium suave Rare Dendrobium cucumerinum Not seen D. speciosum Not seen D. teretifolium Not seen D. tetragonum Not seen Dipodium punctatum Common Diuris aequalis Diuris maculata Not seen D. alba D. punctata var alba Not seen D. aurea Not seen D. bracteata Not seen D. elongata D. punctata Not seen D. maculata Not seen D. pedunculata Not seen D. sulphurea Not seen Eriochilus autumnalis Eriochilus cucullatus Not seen Galeola cassythoides Rare Gastrodia sesamoides Not seen Glossodia major Not seen G. minor Not seen Lyperanthus nigricans Not seen L. suaveolens Not seen Microtis parviflora Rare M. porrifolia Microtis parviflora Orthoceras strictum Not seen Prasophyllum australe Not seen P. patens Not seen P. striatum Not seen Pterostylis concinna Occasional P. curta Not seen P. grandiflora Uncommon P. longifolia Occasional P. nutans Common P. rufa Pterosylis rufum Not seen Sarcochilus tridentatus Plectorrhiza tridentatum Not seen Spiranthes australis Spiranthes sinensis ssp. australis Not seen Thelymitra ixioides Not seen T. longifolia Not seen, probably incorrect iden. T. pauclflora Rare
86 Appendix 2 BOTANIC NAME USED IN 1911 BOTANIC NAME USED IN 1991 PRESENT STATUS IN LANE COVE PROTEACEAE Banksia ericifolia Locally common B. marginata Rare B. serrata Common Conospermum erieifolium Conospermum taxifolium Not seen C. longifolium Not seen C. tenuifolium Not seen Grevillea buxifolia FairIy common G. linearis Grevillea linearifolia Common G. mucronulata Not seen G. punieea Not seen G. sericea Common Hakea acieularis Hakea serieea Common H. dactyloides FairIycommon H. gibbosa Rare B. propinqua Not seen H. pugioniformis Hakea teretifolia Uncommon Isopogon anemonitolius Rare I. Anetbifolius Rare Lambertia formosa Common Lomatia silaifolia Common Persoonia ferruginea Persoonia laurina Occasional P. hirsuta Not seen P. lanceolata Occasional P. linearis FairIy common P. lucida Persoonia linearis x levis P. nutans Not seen P. pinifolia Occasional, local Petrophila pulehella Petrophile pulchella Uncommon Telopea speciosissima Not seen Xylomelum pyriforme Uncommon
List of species common to area as mentioned in main article written in 1911 by Patrick J. Dalton. BOTANIC NAME USED IN 1911 BOTANIC NAME USED IN 1991 PRESENT STATUS IN LANE COVE APIACEAE Aetinotus helianthi Occasional A. minor Common CUNONIACEAE Ceratopetalum gummiferum Common MIMOSACEAE Acacia decurrens Planted A. longifolia Common KYRTACEAE Callistemon linearis Occasional, local Kunzea coritolia Common Leptospermum attenuatum Common L. seoparium Planted Melaleuca leucadendron Melaleuca quinquenervia Planted H. hypericifolia Planted
87 The Natural Environment of Lane Cove
APPENDIX 3 –
This list is baseFd oUn aN surGveyI o fO BuFshl aLndA ParNk bEy th eC SyOdneVy FEun gMai StUudiNes IGCrouIpP inA 199U1, TandY observations by Van Klaphake, Lane Cove Council Bush Regenerator.
Abortiporous biennis Laccaria sp. (2 species) Agaricus silvaticus Lactarius aff. camphoratus Agaricus spp. (number of species) Lactarius sp. Agaricus xanthodermus Leotia lubrica Agrocybe sp. Lepiota sp. (many species) Amantia ochrophylla Lepista nuda A. spp. (several species) Leucocoprimus spp. (2 species) A. xanthpcephala Leucopaxillus sp. Anthurus archeri Limacella sp. Antrodia sp, Lycoperdon spp. (few species) Armillaria sp, Lysurus mokusin Armillariella luteobubalina Macroiepiota Armillariella sp. Marasmius elegans Aseroe rubra M. oreades Auricularia polytricha M. spp. (many species) Bolbitius sp. (2 species) Melanomphalia sp. Boletellus sp. Melanophyllum sp. Calocera sp. Micromphale sp. Calvatia sp. Mutinus caninus Campanella sp. Mycena cystidiosa Cantharellus sp. M. epipterygia Chlorophyllum molybdites M. pura Clathrus cibarius M. ssp. (many species) Clitocybe sp. (few species) M. viscido-cruenta Collybia butyracea Neoclitocybe sp. C. sp. (several species) Omphalina spp. (few species) Conocybe sp. (few species) Oudemansiella radicata coprinus disseminatus Panaeolus sp. C. micaceus Pholiota sp. (number of species) C. sp. (few species) Pholiotina sp. cordyeeps sp. Phylloporous hyperion cortinarius austro venetus Piptoporus portentosus C. rotundisporus Pluteus sp. (2 species) C. sp. (many species) Pleurotus nidiformis Craterellus sp. Polyporous ciliatus Crepidotus spp. (few species) P. ssp. (few species) Cyptotrama asprata Psathyrella spp. (number of species) Dermocybe sp. Psilocybe sp. (2 species) Dermoloma sp. Psilocybe subaeruginosa Descolea recedens Pulveroboletus sp. Dictyopanus rhipidium Ramaria sp. Entoloma sp. (number of species) Resupinatus sp. Galerina spp. (few species) Rozites sp. Geastrum sp. Russula spp. (number of species) Gymnopilus pampeanus Scleroderma verrucosum G. sp. (lor 2 species) Simocybe sp. Gyroporus sp. stropharia sp. (2 species) Hebeloma sp. Trametes sp. (2 species) Hygrophorous sp. (10 species) Tricholoma sp. Hypholoma aurantiaca Tuharia sp. Hypholoma fasciculare Tylopilus sp, Inocybe sp. (several species) Xylaria sp,
88 Appendix 4
APPENDIX 4 –
BusUhlaSnd HweeLd sAurvNey Dcar riWed oEut bEy VDanS Kla pOhakFe a sLsisAtedN byE Sa nCdraO CoeV, LEane MCovUe CNounIcCil BIuPsh ALITY Regenerators, in 1988 and updated in 1991. Status of Bushland Weeds
Very common predominant weed species in Lane Cove Common weed widespread throughout Lane Cove Fairly Common weed occurs regularly in Lane Cove Occasional weed scattered throughout Lane Cove Uncommon only a few plants seen Local weed occurs in localised colonies
89 The Natural Environment of Lane Cove BUSHLAND WEEDS OF LANE COVE MUNICIPALITY TREES BOTANIC NAME COMMON NAME STATUS IN LANE COVE LOCATION Acacia decurrens Black Wattle Uncommon Edge of bush Acacia elata Cedar Wattle Uncommon Edge of bush A. mearnsii Black Wattle Uncommon Edge of bush Acer negundo Box Elder Occasional Bush Ailanthus altissima Chinese Tree of Heaven Fairly Common, local Epping Rd near Lane Cove River Brachychiton acerifolius Illawarra Flame Tree Occasional Bush Callitris rhomboidea Port Jackson Pine Uncommon Bush Castanospermum australe Qld.Black Bean Tree Occasional Elizabeth Pde, edge of bush Cinnamomum camphora Camphor Laurel Common Bush Eryiobotrya japonica Loquat Occasional Bush Erythrina crista-galli Cockscomb Tree Common, local Warraroon Reserve, near mangroves E. x sykesii Coral Tree Occasional Edge of bush and creeks Ficus superba Deciduous Fig Uncommon Bush Grevillea robusta Silky Oak Occasional Bush Hymenosporum flavum Native Frangipanni Uncommon Bush Jacaranda mimosifolia Jacaranda Occasional Bush, edge of parks Lagunaria patersonia Norfolk Island Hibiscus Uncommon Bush Ligustrum lucidum Large-Leaved Privet Very Common Bush Lophostemon confertus Brush Box Uncommon Bush, edge of parks Magnolia grandiflora Southern Magnolia Occasional Bush M. x soulangeana Japanese Magnolia Occasional Scattered in bush Melaleuca quinquenervia Broad-Leaved Paperbark Uncommon L.C. Golf Course, weed areas Melia azederach White Cedar Occasional Bush Michelia figo Port Wine Magnolia Occasional Bush Morus alba White Mulberry Occasional Damp places, bush Olea africana Wild Olive Occasional Bush Persea gratissima Avocado Occasional Near bush Podocarpus elatus Plum Pine Uncommon Bush Polyscias elegans Celery Wood Uncommon Bush Populus alba White Poplar Common, local Stringybark Creek bridge area Robinia pseudoacacia Black Locust Tree Common, local Epping Rd near Lane Cove River Salix babylonica Weeping willow Occasional overgrown creeks Sapium sebiferum Chinese Tallow Tree Occasional Small plants scattered in bush Syzygium oleosum Lilly Pilly Occasional Bush Toxicodendron succedaneum Rhus Fairly common Scattered in bush SHRUBS BOTANIC NAME COMMON NAME STATUS IN LANE COVE LOCATION Abutilon grandiflora Uncommon Bush Acacia saligna Occasional Near planted areas Albizia lophantha Crested Wattle Uncommon Near planted areas Ardisia crenata Ardisia Occasional Bush Cassinia arcuata Chinese Shrub Uncommon Near roads Cestrum parqui Chilean Cestrum Occasional Bush Chrysanthemoides monilifera Bitou Bush Fairly common, local Bush Cotoneaster glaucophylla Fairly common, local Bush C. pannosus Uncommon Edge of bush Crataegus monogyna Hawthorn Uncommon Edge of bush Crotalaria semperflorens Rattlepod Uncommon Edge of bush Fatsia japonica Japanese Aralia Occasional Bush Hakea salicifolia Willow-Leaved Hakea Uncommon Edge of bush Ligustrum sinense Small-Leaved Privet Very common Bush Melastoma affine Occasional Bush Ochna serrulata Mickey Mouse Plant Common Bush Phyllanthus tenellus Occasional, local Weed areas
90 Appendix 4 SHRUBS CONTINUED BOTANIC NAME COMMON NAME STATUS IN LANE COVE LOCATION polygala myrtifolia Uncommon, local Edge of bush P. virgata Uncommon Railway at st Leonards, weed areas Psoralea pinnata FairIy common Lane Cove Golf course, weed areas Pyracantha augustifolia Firethorn Uncommon Weed areas P. crenulata Firethorn Occasional Bush Raphiolepis indica Indian Hawthorn Occasional Bush Ricinus Communis Caster oil Plant Fairly common, local Disturbed areas Senecio petasitis Occasional, local Disturbed areas Senna coluteoides Cassia Common, local Bush S. x longifoIia Cassia Occasional Bush Solanum mauritianum Wild Tobacco Tree Common Bush and weed areas Strobilanthes anisophyllus Occasional Bush near houses Teline maderensis Madeira Broom Uncommon Epping Rd T. monspessulana Cape Broom Occasional, local Disturbed areas Tetrapanax papyrifer Rice Paper Plant Occasional Weed areas CLlMBERS AND SCRAMBLERS BOTANIC NAME COMMON NAME STATUS IN LANE COVE LOCATION Acetosa sagittata Potato Weed Common Weed areas and edge of or Turkey Rhubarb bush Anredera cordifoIia Madeira Vine Common Disturbed areas Araujia hortensis White Moth Vine FairIy common Bush Asparagus asparagoides Bridal Creeper Occasional, local Bush, mainly Batten Reserve A. setacuns Climbing asparagus Occasional Bush Bignonia unguis-cati Cat's Claw Creeper Uncommon Bush near gardens Calystegia sepium Large Bindweed Fairly common, local Disturbed areas Cardiospermum grandifIorum Balloon Vine Common, local Disturbed areas Convolvulus arvensis Field Bindweed Uncommon Weed areas Dipogon Iignosus Fairly common, local Disturbed areas Fallopia convolvulus Black Bindweed Uncommon Weed areas Hedera helix English Ivy Occasional Bush Ipomoea indica Blue Morning Glory Common, local Disturbed areas R. cairica Coastal Morning Glory Occasional, local Disturbed areas Jasminum mesnyi Primrose Jasmine Uncommon Bush near houses J. polyanthum Jasmine Occasional, local Edge of bush, behind gar dens Lantana camara Lantana Very common Disturbed areas, bush L. montevidensis Creeping Lantana Uncommon Edge of bush near houses Lonicera japonica Japanese Honeysuckle Common, local Bush and disturbed areas Mandevilla suaveolens Uncommon Bush Monstera deIiciosa Monstera FairIy common Reserves behind houses Parthenocissus quinquefolia Virginia Creeper Occasional, local Disturbed areas Passiflora eduIis Common Passionfruit Occasional Bush P. suberosa Passionfruit Occasional, local Near Epping Rd xMoore St, weed areas Rubus bellobatus Blackberry Common Mainly Blackman Park area, bush R. discolor Blackberry Common Bush Senecio mikanioides Cape Ivy Occasional, local Edge of bush Thunbergia alata Black-Eyed-Susan Uncommon Weed areas
91 The Natural Environment of Lane Cove HERBS BOTANIC NAME COMMON NAME STATUS IN LANE COVE LOCATION Ageratum houstonianum Blue Billygoat Weed Uncommon Damp areas Ageratina adenophora Crofton Weed Very common Danp areas A. riparia Mist Flower Occasional, local Shady, damp areas near creeks Amaranthus hybridus Slim Anaranth Occasional Weed areas A. retrotlexus Redroot AIlaranth Uncommon Rubbish dumping areas A. viridis Green Amaranth Fairly common Weed areas Anagallis arvensis Pimpernel Fairly common Garden beds Arctotheca calendula Cape Weed Occasional Lawns and gardens Argemone ochroleuca Mexican Poppy Uncommon Disturbed areas Asclepias curassavica Redhead Cotton Bush Occasional Weed areas Aster subulatus Bush Starwort Common Weed areas Atriplex hastata Common Foreshores Bergonia sempertlorens Begonia Fairly common Along creek banks Bidens pilosa Cobblers Peg Very common Weed areas B. subalternans Cobblers Peg Occasional, local Weed areas Brassica fruticulosa Twiggy Turnip Common Disturbed areas B. rapa Wild Turnip Uncommon Weed areas Cannnibis sativa Marijuana Occasional Bush and weed areas, usually planted Capsella bursa-pastoris Shepherds Purse Common Weed areas, lawns Cardamlne hirsuta Common Bittercress Common Damp areas Carthamus lanatus Saffron Thistle Occasional Weed areas centaurium erythraea Common Centaury Occasional Weed areas C. tenuiflorum Uncommon Weed areas Cerastium glomeratum Mouse-Eared Chickweed Very common Gardens and lawns Chenopodium ambrosioides Mexican Tea Occasional Weed areas C. album Fat Hen Fairly common Weed areas C. murale Nettle-Leaved Goosefoot Uncommon Weed areas Chondrilla juncea Skeleton Weed Uncommon Weed areas Cichorium intybus Chicory Uncommon Weed areas Cirsium vulgare Spear Thistle Occasional Weed areas Conyza albida Tall Fleabane Very common Weed areas, bush C. bonariense Flax-Leaved Fleabane Very common Weed areas C. canadensis Canadian Fleabane Uncommon Weed areas Coronopus didymus Lesser Swinecress Fairly common Garden areas Crassocephalun crepidioides Thickheads Common, local Weed areas Crepis capillaris Smooth Hawkesbeard Uncommon Weed areas Cuphea hyssopifolia Occasional Along creeks Datura stramonium Common Thorn Apple Uncommon Rubbish dunping and weed areas Dimorphotheca pluvialis Daisy Occasional Weed dllllping areas Echium plantaginium Paterson's Curse Occasional Weed areas E. vulgare Viper's Bugloss Uncommon Weed areas Emex australis Spiny Emex Occasional Weed areas Epilobium ciliatum Occasional Planted and disturbed damp areas Euphorbia depauperata Uncommon Rubbish dunping areas E. peplus Petty Spurge Common Gardens, weed areas E. prostrata Red Caustic Creeper Occasional Footpaths E. supina Caustic Creeper Fairly common Footpaths Facelis retusa Occasional Lawns and gardens Foeniculum Vulgare Fennel Fairly common, local Weed areas Fumaria bastardii Bastard's Fumitory Occasional Weed areas F. capreolata White-Flowered Fumitory Common Weed areas F. muralis Wall Fumitory Common Weed areas Galinsoga parvitlora Potato Weed Occasional Roadsides, weed areas Gnaphalium americanum Cudweed Occassional Nature strips G. calviceps Cudweed Occasional Gardens G. coarctatum Cudweed Very common Lawns, nature strips G. pennsylvanicum Cudweed Fairly common Gardens G. purpureum Cudweed Occasional Nature strips Gomphocarpus fruticosus Narrow-Leaved Cotton Bush Occasional Weed areas Heliotropium amplexicaule Blue Heliotrope Uncommon Weed areas, nature strips
92 Appendix 4 HERBS CONTINUED BOTANIC NAME COMMON NAME STATUS IN LANE COVE LOCATION Hirschfeldia incana Buchan Weed Uncommon Weed areas Hypochoeris microcephala Occasional Weed areas H. radicata Catsear Very common Widespread in gardens and bush Impatiens wallerana Busy Lizzie \ Balsam Fairly common, local Shaded weed areas Lactuca serriola Prickly Lettuce FairIy common, local Weed areas Leontodon taraxacoides Uncommon Weed areas Lepidium africanum Peppercress Occasional Weed areas L. bonariense Peppercress Occasional Weed areas Linum trigynum French Flax Occasional Lawns Lotus angustissimus Bird's Foot Trefoil Common Gardens, lawns Lycopersicon esculentum Tomato Occasional Weed areas Malva neglecta Hallow Uncommon Weed areas M. parviflora Small-Flowered Hallow FairIy common Weed areas Mirabilis japapa Marvel of Peru Occasional Rubbish areas Misopates orontium Lesser Snapdragon Uncommon Weed areas Medicago arabica Spotted Medic FairIy common Lawns M. lupulina Black Hedic FairIy common Lawns M. polymorpha Burr Medic Very common Lawns, gardens M. sativa Lucerne Occasional Weed areas, road edges M. truncatula Barrel Hedic Uncommon Lawns Melilotus indica Hexan Scent FairIy Common, local Weed areas Myosotis sylvatica Forget-Me-Not Uncommon Bush near gardens Nicandra physalodes Apple of Peru Uncommon Rubbish dumping areas Oxalis articulata Wood Sorrel Uncommon Weed areas O. bowiei Bowie Wood Sorrel Uncommon Weed areas O. corniculata Yellow Wood Sorrel Common Gardens, bush edge O. corymbosa Larged-Ieaved Wood Sorrel Common Gardens, weed areas O. incarnata Climbing Oxalis FairIy Common, local Weed areas O. latifolia Fishtail Oxalis Common Gardens, weed areas O. pes-caprae Soursob Common Gardens, weed areas O. purpurea Large-Flowered Wood Sorrel Occasional Lawns Papaver hybridum Rough Poppy Uncommon Weed areas Parietaria judaica Dead Nettle Common, local Disturbed areas or bush Paronychia brasiliana Chilian Whitlow Wort FairIy common Lawns Petrorhagia nanteuilii Proliferous Pink Occasional Lawns and grass areas P. velutina Velvet Pink Fairly Common Lawns and grass areas Physalis peruviana Wild Gooseberry Uncommon Weed areas Phytolacca octandra Ink Weed Occasional Weed areas Plantago coronopifolia Buckshaw Plantain Uncommon Weed areas P. lanceolata Ribwort Very Common Weed areas P. major Large Plantain Occasional Weed areas Polygonum arenastrum Wire Weed Occasional Weed areas Primula malacoides Fairy Primrose Occasional Sunny places along creeks Raphanus raphanistrum Wild Radish Occasional Ranunculus muricatus Rough Seeded Buttercup Uncommon Weed areas Rapistrum rugosum Turnip Weed Uncommon Weed areas Richardia stellaris Field Madder FairIy common Lawns and gardens Rorippa palustris Yellow Cress Uncommon Damp weed areas Rumex conglomeratus Clustered Dock FairIy common Damp areas R. crispus Curled Dock Common Damp areas Sagina apetala Pearlwort Occasional Open danp areas S. procumbens Procumbent Pearlwort Common Damp areas Salpichroa origanifolia Panpas Lily of the Valley Occasional, local Weed areas, near Burns Bay Rd Salvia coccinea Texas Sage Uncommon Rubbish dumping areas S. verbenaca Wild Sage Uncommon Weed areas, Stringybark Creek Senecio madagascariensis Fireweed FairIy common Widespread in bush and Weed areas S. pterophorus African Daisy Uncommon Weed areas S. Vulgaris Common Groundsel Uncommon Gardens, weed areas Silene anglica French Catfly FairIy common Lawns, weed areas Sisimbrium officinale Hedge Mustard FairIy common Weed areas S. orientale Indian Mustard Occasional Roadsides Solanum chenopodiodes Occasional Weed areas
93 The Natural Environment of Lane Cove HERBS CONTINUED BOTANIC NAME COMMON NAME STATUS IN LANE COVE LOCATION S. nigrum Deadly Nightshade Common Weed areas S. nitidibaccatum Uncommon Weed areas S. pseudocapsicum Madeira Winter Cherry Occasional Bush Soliva anthemifolia Bindii Occasional Lawns, weed areas S. pterosperna Bindii Common Lawns Sonchus asper Sow Thistle Fairly common, local Industrial area, weed areas S. oleraceus Common Sow Thistle Very Common Weed areas, gardens Spergularia rubra Uncommon Weed areas, median strips Stachys arvensis Stagger Weed Fairly commonn Gardens and lawns Stellaria media Chick Weed Common Gardens and lawns S. pallida Chick Weed Occasional Weed areas Tagetes minuta Stinking Roger Occasional Weed areas Taraxacum officinale Dandelion Fairly comon Weed areas Tragapogon porritolius Salsify Uncommon, local Industrial area, weed areas Trifolium arvense Haresfoot Clover Common, local Weed areas T. augustifolium Narrow-Leaved Clover Occasional Industrial area, weed areas T. campestre Hop Clover Occasional Lawns T. dubium Yellow Suckling Clover Very Common Lawns T. gloneratum Clustered Clover Common Lawns T. repens lihite Clover Fairly Common Lawns T. subterraneun Subterraneum Clover Occasional Lawns, Weed areas Tropaeolum majus Nasturtium Occasional, local Weed areas Urtica urens Small Nettle Uncommon Weed areas Verbascum virgatun Twiggy Mullen Fairly common, local Mainly weed areas Verbena bonariensis Purple Top Very common Weed areas V. hispida Purple Top Occasional weed areas V. litoralis Occasional Weed areas, edge of bush V. rigida Veined Verbena Uncommon Weed areas Veronica arvensis Wall Speedwell Common Gardens and lawns V. persica Creeping Speedwell Common Gardens and lawns V. sp. Uncommon Lawns Vida augustifolia Narrow-Leaved Vetch Common Gardens and lawns V. hirsuta Hairy Vetch Occasional Gardens and lawns V. sativa Connon Vetch Occasional Weed areas V. tetrasperna Slender Vetch Common Gardens and lawns Xanthiun spinosun Bathurst Burr Uncommon Weed areas X. chinense Noogoora Burr Uncommon Weed areas HERBS WITH RHIZOMES, STOLONS OR ROOTING AT THE NODE BOTANIC NAME COMMON NAME STATUS IN LANE COVE LOCATION Acetosella angiocarpa Sheep Sorrel Uncommon, local Ambrosia psilostachya Perennial Ragweed Fairly Common Lane Cove Golf Course, weed areas Artemisia velotorum Wormwort Occasional, local Epping Rd, weed areas Comnelina sp. Fairly common, local Coreopsis lanceolata Coreopsis Common, local Weed areas CymbaJaria miralis Ivy-leaved Toad Flax Uncommon, local Edge of bush Duchesnea indica Wild Strawberry Occasional, local Edge of bush, weed areas Erigeron karvinskianus Fleabane Common, local Edge of bush Helxine soleirolii Uncommon DilliP Weed Areas Hydrocotyle bonariensis Pennywort Occasional, local Creeks, weed areas Mentha xpiperita Peppernint Occasional, local Creek at Gore creek Reserve Modiola caroliniana Creeping Mallow Common Lawn and weed areas Oenothera atfinis Longflower Evening Primrose Occasional, local Epping Rd on nature strip O. mollissina Smallflower Evening Primrose Fairly common, local Epping Rd on nature strip O. stricta Connon Evening Primrose Occasional, local Epping Rd on nature strip Persicaria capitata Japanese Knotweed Occasional, local Edge of bush, weed areas Ranunculus repens Creeping Buttercup Occasional, local Damp areas Richardia brasiliensis Brazil Calla Lily Common, local Mowbray Rd and industrial areas Solidago canadensis Golden Rod Uncommon Bush near gardens
94 Appendix 4 HERBS WITH RHIZOMES, STOLONS OR ROOTING AT THE NODE CONTINUED BOTANIC NAME COMMON NAME STATUS IN LANE COVE LOCATION Tradescantia albiflora Wandering Jew Very common Bush, edge of bush T. blossfeldiana Uncommon Weed dumping grounds T. sp, Fairly common, local Edge of bush Trifolium repens White Clover FairIy common Lawns Vinca major Blue Periwinkle Uncommon, local Bush Viola odorata Sweet Violet Common, local Edge of bush WATER PLANTS BOTANIC NAME COMMON NAME STATUS IN LANE COVE LOCATION Alternanthera philoxeroides Aligator Weed Common Stringybark Creek only Egeria densa Dense Waterweed Occasional, local Lane Cove Golf Course Eichhornia crassipes Water Hyacinth Common Stringybark Creek below Link Rd Syriophyllum aguaticum Parrot's Feathers Fairly common, local Burns Bay (in creek) Nymphaea mexicana Water Lily Occasional, local Still water, below Link Rd in dam Rorippa nasturtium-aguaticum Water Cress Occasional, local Creeks Sagittaria graminea Common, local Stringybark Creek below Link Rd SEDGES AND RUSHES BOTANIC NAME COMMON NAME STATUS IN LANE COVE LOCATION Cyperus albostriatus Occasional Bush near gardens C. congestus Common Damp Places C. eragrostis Umbrella Sedge Common Damp Places C. esculentus Uncommon West Lane Cove, weed areas C. flavus Uncommon Lawns C. reflerus Uncommon Lane Cove Golf course, fairways C. rotundus Nut Grass Common Weed areas and gardens C. sesguiflorus Common Lawns and grassy areas C. sp. Uncommon Warraroon Reserve, creek areas Isolepis prolifer Common, local Damp areas I. sepulcralis FairIy common, local Damp areas Juncus articulatus Jointed Rush Fairly common, local Damp areas J. capillaceus Common, local Grassy areas J. capitatus Uncommon Tambourine Bay, damp lawns J. cognatus Common Paths, lawns and footpaths J. imbricatus Uncommon Bushland pathways in Industrial area J. microcephalus Occasional Damp areas GRASSES BOTANIC NAME COMMON NAME STATUS IN LANE COVE LOCATION Agrostis stolonifera Creeping Bent Occasional Weed areas Alra cupaniana Silvery Hair Grass Occasional Lawns Andropogon virginicus Whisky Grass FairIy common, local Weed areas, bush, pathways, roadsides Arrhenatherum elatius Bulbous Oat Grass Uncommon Weed areas Arundo donax Giant Reed Occasional, local Weed and rubbish areas Avena barbata Bearded Oat Very common Weed areas A. sativa Common Oat Uncommon Weed areas A. sterilis Wild Oat Fairly common Epping Rd, roadside Axonopus atfinis Carpet Grass Common Lawns Briza maxima Quaking Grass Very common Weed areas B. minor Shivery Grass Very common Weed areas B. subaristata FairIy common, local Industrial area, lalms and Weed areas Bromus diandrus Great Brome Common Grass areas B. molliformis Soft Brome Common Grass areas
95 The Natural Environment of Lane Cove GRASSES CONTINUED BOTANIC NAME COMMON NAME STATUS IN LANE COVE LOCATION B. uniloides Prairie Grass Common Lawns and weed areas Chloris gayana Rhodes Grass Common, local Lawns and weed areas Cortaderia selloana Pimpas Grass Fairly common, local Weed areas Cynodon dactylon Couch Grass Very common Lawns, edge of bush Dactylis glomerata Cocks Foot Occasional Weed areas Digitaria aequiglumis Occasional, local Damp areas D. ciliaris Summer Grass Very common Gardens and weed areas D. didactyla Qld. Blue Couch Common Lawns, weed areas and edge of bush D. purpurascens Smooth Summer Grass Fairly common, local Paths and weed areas Echinochloa colonum Awnless Barnyard Grass Occasional Weed areas E. crus-galli Barnyard Grass Fairly common Weed areas, dimp places E. utilis Japanese Millet Uncommon Weed areas Ehrharta erecta Panic Veldt Grass Very common Widespread in weed areas and bush E. longiflora Annual Veldt Grass Common, local Weed areas Eragrostis cilianensis Stinkgrass Uncommon Weed areas E. curvula African Love Grass Fairly common, local Bush and weed areas E. mexicana Mexican Love Grass Occasional Weed areas E. pilosa Soft Love Grass Fairly common, local Nature strips E. tenuifolia Occasional, local Nature strips and lawns Eleusine indica Crowsfoot Grass Common Lawns and weed areas E. tristachya Goose Grass Occasional Lawns Holeus lanatus Yorkshire Fog Occasional, local Damp weed areas Hordeum leporinum Barley Grass Occasional Lawns Lolium multiflorum Italian Ryegrass Occasional Weed areas L. perenne Perennial Ryegrass Common Lawns and weed areas Panieum maximum Guinea Grass Occasional, local Grassed areas, roadsides Parapholis incurva Uncommon Edge of estuaries Paspalum dilatatum Paspalum Common Bush, lawns and weed areas P. guadrifarium Uncommon, local Wood st, grassy areas P. arvillei Vasey Grass Common, local Weed areas Pennisetum clandestinum Kikuyu Very Common Lawns, weed areas and edge of bush P. macrourum African Feather Grass Common, local Lane Cove West, weed areas P. setaceum Fountain Grass Uncommon Manns Point, Epping Rd , weed areas P. villosum Feather Grass UnCommon Nature strips Phalaris aguatica Toowoomba Canary Grass Uncommon Weed areas P. canariensis Canary Grass Uncommon Roadsides P. minor Lesser Canary Grass Uncommon Damp areas Phyllostachys sp. Bamboo Fairly common, local Rubbish dumping areas Poa annua Winter Grass Very common Gardens and lawns Polypogon XAgropyron littoralis Occasional Damp weed areas P. monspeliensis Annual Beard Grass UnCommon Damp places, Industrial area Rhyncheletrum repens Natal Red Grass FairIy Commonn, local Weed areas Setaria genieulata Slender Pigeon Grass Common Bush and weed areas S. glauca Pale Pigeon Grass Fairly common Weed areas S. italica Indian Millet Uncommon Weed areas S. palmifolia Palm Grass Common, local Bush and weed areas S. poiretiana Palm Grass Occasional, local Bush Sorghum halepense Johnson Grass Uncommon Weed areas Sporobolus atricanus Parramatta Grass Common Bush, lawns and weed areas Stenotaphrum secundatum Buffalo Grass Common Edge of bush and lawns Triticum aestivum Wheat Uncommon Roadsides Vulpia bromoides FairIy common Lawns and weed areas V. myuros Occasional Lawns and weed areas
96 Appendix 4 LILIES, IRISES & SIMILAR PLANTS BOTANIC NAME COMMON NAME STATUS IN LANE COVE LOCATION Agapanthus africanus Agapanthus Occasional Weed dumping areas Alocasia macrorrhizos Cunjevoi Lily Fairly Common Creeks and damp areas Alstroemeria psittacina Peruvian Lily Occasional, local Weed areas Arum italicum Uncommon Edge of bush Asparagus densiflorus Asparagus Fern Common Bush and weed areas Canna indica Canna Lily Common, local Stringybark Creek dan Chlorophytum comosum Spider Plant Common, local Bush and weed areas Clivia miniata Clivia Occasional, local Weed dumping areas Colocasia esculenta Taro Occasional, local Damp areas C. indica Black-Stemmed Taro Fairly common, local Creeks and damp areas Crocosmia x crocoslliiflora Crocosnia Common, local Weed areas, along creeks Dietes vegata Occasional Edge of bush Epidendrum o'brienianum Crucifix Orchid Uncommon Rubbish dumping areas Freesia refracta Freesia Occasional Rubbish dumping areas Gladiolus undulatus Gladioli Occasional Dumping areas Hedychium gardnerianum Flowering Ginger Common, local Bush, damp areas Leucojum aestivun Snow Drops Uncommon Edge of gardens, dumping areas Lilium formosanum Formosan Lily Fairly common, local Lane Cove Golf course, edge of bush Nothoscordum inodorum Onion Weed Common Gardens and weed areas Romulea rosea Onion Grass Common Lawns Sisyrinchium iridifolium Occasional Lawns S. micranthun Scour Weed Fairly common Lawns Zantedeschia aethiopica Arum Lily Occasional, local Damp weed areas
FERNS, PALMS & SIMILAR PLANTS BOTANIC NAME COMMON NAME STATUS IN LANE COVE LOCATION Archontophoenix cunninghamia Bangalow Palm Uncommon Bush Arecastrum romanasifolium Queen Palm Occasional Bush Cyrtomium falcatul Fern Uncommon Damp places Dennstaedtia davallioides Fern Uncommon, local Bushland Park, shady areas Livistona australis Cabbage PaIm Uncommonn Bush Musa paradisiaca Banana Occasional Weed dumping areas Nephrolepis cordifolia Fishbone Fern Common, local Edge of bush Pellaea viridis Green Cliff Fern Occasional Bush Phoenix canariensis False Date Palm Occasional Bush Fteris umbrosa Uncommon Bushland Park near creeks P. vittata Fairly common, local Mainly Epping Rd, damp areas Strelitzia reginae Strelitzia Occasional Bush
SUCCULENTS BOTANIC NAME COMMON NAME STATUS IN LANE COVE LOCATION Cakile edentula Sea Rocket Uncommon Industrial area, disturbed ground Crassula multicava Pride of London Occasional Weed and dumping areass Kalanchoe pinnata Ressurection Plant Occasional Weed and dumping areas K. tubiflora Mother of Millions Occasional Weed and dumping areas Sedum praeltum Air Plant Occasional Weed and dumping areas
97 The Natural Environment of Lane Cove
APPENDIX 5 –
Vegetation communCitiesA mTapCs arHe bMasedE onN thTe v eVgetEatioGn sEurvTeyA maTpsI OprepNare dM by:APS
* Manidis Roberts, Plan of Management of Urban Bushland, prepared for Lane Cove Municipal Council, 1989.
Heath
Low open forest Banksia serrata, Allocasuarina littoralis Closed scrub Leptospermum sp. Tall shruhland Kunzea ambigua, Eucalyptus haemastoma
Dry sclerophyll forest - upper slopes to shale parent rock
Open forest Eucalyptus piperita, E. capitellata, E. racemosa
Dry sclerophyll forest - upper slopes to sandstone parent rock
Low woodland Angophora bakeri, Eucalyptus gummiferum Low woodland Angophora bakeri, Eucalyptus haemastoma
Dry sclerophyll forest - lower slopes
Open forest Angophora costata, Eucalyptus piperita, E. gummifera Woodland Eucalyptus pilularis, Banksia integrifolia Woodland Angophora costata Woodland Eucalyptus piperita, Casuarina glauca, Ficus rubiginosa Tall shrubland Allocasuarina torulosa
Wet sclerophyll forest - shale parent rock
Open forest Eucalyptus saligna, E. pilularis Low closed forest Pittosporum undulatum
Wet sclerophyll forest - sandstone parent rock
Closed forest Eucalyptus saligna, Elaeocarpus reticulatus Closed forest Syncarpia glomulifera, Angophora costata Open forest Eucalyptus pilularis, Syncarpia glomulifera Open forest Eucalyptus pilularis, Angophora costata Open forest Angophora costata, Syncarpia glomulifera Open forest Ficus rubiginosa, Acmena smithii, Banksia integrifolia Woodland Eucalyptus saligna, Angophora costata Low closed forest Acmena smithii, Pittosporum undulatum, Eucalyptus piperita Low closed forest Backhousia myrtifolia Low closed forest Acmena smithii, Ceratopetalum apetalum Low open forest Acmena smithll
Wetlands and mangroves
Low woodland Casuarina glauca Closed scrub Melaleuca linariifolia Closed scrub Avicennia marina Tall shrubland Casuarina glauca, Allocasuarina littoralis Grassland Juncus sp.
98 Appendix 5
99 The Natural Environment of Lane Cove
100 Appendix 5
101 The Natural Environment of Lane Cove
102 Appendix 5
103 The Natural Environment of Lane Cove
104 Appendix 6
APPENDIX 6 - ANIMALS OF LANE COVE Lists for mammals, reptiles and amphibians are based on the survey carried out for: * Travers Morgan pty Ltd, Lane Cove West Link Road Environmental Impact Statement , 1985.
This report also used information from the following studies of the Lane Cove River valley:
* Fox, A. and Associates, Plan of Management for Bushland Reserves. Part 1; Resources Review . Willoughby Municipal Council, 1984.
* Lembit, R, The Lower Stringy Bark Creek Valley. A submission by the Lane Cove Bushland and Conservation Society, 1985.
* Stephens, S, The Impact of Man on Mammals and Birds of the Lane Cove River Valley. Macquarie University Environmental and Urban Studies Report No 34, 1978.
The assumed status is based on data compiled in various references and on observations by Lane Cove Bush Regenerators. However, until a proper survey is carried out in the Municipality, the extent of the animal populations will remain unknown.
Assumed Status Common seen or heard frequently Occasional seen or heard occasionally Rare only 1-2 individuals seen in recent years Predicted not seen recently, but habitat still present Unlikely presumed extinct in Lane Cove
The fish list is based on the following studies:
* Hiddleton, MJ. Infiltration of NSW Waters by the Goby that Ate California . NSW State Fisheries.
* Paxton, JR et al, Fishes and Estuarine Pollution; A Seven Year Study of Sydney Harbour . NSW State Fisheries.
* Pulley, K. Lane Cove River Fish Study: Interim Report . Centre for Environmental Studies, Macquarie University, 1977.
* Pulley, K. Lane Cove River Studies: Estuarine Fish Communities: Progress Report . Centre for Environmental Studies, Hacquarie University, 1980.
105 The Natural Environment of Lane Cove 6.1 – MAMMALS OF LANE COVE MUNICIPALITY SCIENTIFIC NAME COMMON NAME ASSUMED STATUS IN LANE COVE
NATIVE SPECIES Monotremes Tachyglossus aculeatus Echidna Unlikely Marsupials Antechinus stuartii Stuart's Marsupial Mouse Unlikely Perameles nasuta Long-nosed Bandicoot Unlikely Isoodon obesulus Southern Brown Bandicoot Unlikely Petaurus breviceps Sugar Glider Predicted Pseudocheirus peregrinus Ring-tailed Possum Common Trichosurus vulpecula Brush-tailed Possum Common Cercatetus nanus Eastern Pygmy Possum Unlikely Acrobates pygmaeus Feather-tailed Glider Unlikely Placentals Pteropus poliocephalus Grey-headed Flying Fox Common P. scapulatus Little Red Flying Fox Predicted Rhinolophus megaphyllus Eastern Horseshoe Bat Unlikely Taphozous flaviventris Yellow-bellied Sheathtail Bat Unlikely Tadarida australis White-striped Mastiff Bat Unlikely Mormopterus loriae Little Northern Mastiff Bat Unlikely M. norfolkensis Eastern Little Mastiff Bat Unlikely Nyctophilus gouldii Gould's Long-eared Bat Occasional N. geoffroyi Lesser Long-eared Bat Common Miniopterus schreibersii Common-bent Wing Bat Predicted Chalinolobus gouldii Gould's Wattled Bat Common C. morio Chocolate Wattled Bat Unlikely Myotis adversus Large-footed Mouse-eared Bat Unlikely Nycticeius rueppellii Greater Broad-nosed Bat Unlikely N. orion Eastern Broad-nosed Bat Unlikely N. greyii Little Broad-nosed Bat Unlikely Pipistrellus tasmaniensis Great Pipstrelle Unlikely Eptesicus pumilus Little Cave Eptesicus Unlikely E. regulus King River Eptesicus Unlikely E. vulturnus Little Forest Eptesicus Unlikely E. sagittula Large Forest Eptesicus Unlikely Hydromys chrysogaster Water Rat Unlikely Pseudomys novaehollandiae New Holland Mouse Unlikely Rattus fuscipes Bush Rat Rare R. lutreolus Swamp Rat Predicted
INTRODUCED SPECIES Placentals Rattus rattus Black Rat Occasional R. norvegicus Brown Rat Occasional Mus musculus House Mouse Occasional Cryctolagus cuniculus Rabbit Predicted Vulpes vulpes Fox Common Felis catus Feral/Stray Cat Occasional
106 Appendix 6 6.2 – REPTILES OF LANE COVE MUNICIPALITY SCIENTIFIC NAME COMMON NAME ASSUMED STATUS IN LANE COVE
TORTOISES Chelodina longicollis Long-necked Tortoise Rare
LIZARDS Diplodactylus vittatus Wood Gecko Unlikely Dedura lesueurii Lesueur’s Velvet Gecko Rare Phyllurus platurus Southern Leaf-tailed Gecko Occasional Underwoodisaurus millii Thick-tailed Gecko Predicted Lialis burtonis Burton’s Legless Lizard Rare Pygopus lepidipodus Common Scaly Foot Unlikely Amphibolurus muricatus Jacky Lizard Predicted Pagona barbarta Bearded Dragon Unlikely Physignanthus lesueurii Eastern Water Dragon Occasional Varanus varius Lace Monitor Unlikely V. gouldii Sand Goanna Unlikely Cryptoblepharus virgatus Fence Skink Occasional Ctenotus taeniolatus Coppertail Skink Rare Egernia cunninghamii Cunningham’s Skink Predicted E. whitii White ’s Skink Predicted Lamphropholis delicata Skink Common L. guichenoti Garden Skink Common Saproscincus IIUstelina Weasel Skink Common S. sp. Occasional Leiolopisma platynota Red-throated Skink Rare Saiphos equalis Three-toed Skink Common Eulamprus guoyii Eastern Water Skink Common E. tenuis Yellow-bellied Skink Occasional Tiliqua casuarinae She-oak Skink Unlikely T. scincoides Eastern Blue-tongue Occasional
SNAKES Rhamphotyphlops nigrescens Blind Snake Rare Morelia spilota spilota Diamond Python Predicted Dendralaphis punctulatus Common Tree Snake Predicted Acanthophis antarticus Common Death Adder Predicted Cacphis squamulosus Golden-crowned Snake Unlikely Demansia psammophis Yellow-faced Whip Snake Predicted Furina diadema Red-naped Snake Unlikely Hemiapsis signata Swamp Snake Unlikely Notechis scutatus Eastern Tiger Snake Predicted Psuedechis porphyriacus Red-bellied Black Snake Occasional Pseudonaja textillis Eastern Brown Snake Unlikely
107 The Natural Environment of Lane Cove 6.3 – AMPHIBIANS OF LANE COVE MUNICIPALITY
SCIENTIFIC NAME COMMON NAME ASSUMED STATUS IN LANE COVE
GROUND DWELLING FROGS Crinia signitera Common Eastern Froglet Occasional Heleioporous australiacus Giant Burrowing Frog Unlikely Limnodynastes dumerillii Eastern Banjo Frog Common L, peronii Striped Marsh Frog Uncommon Pseudophyrne australis Red-crowned Froglet Unlikely
TREE DWELLING FROGS Litoria lesueurii Lesueur’s Frog Predicted L, peronii Peron’s Tree Frog Unlikely L, caerulea Green Tree Frog Predicted L, verreauxii Verreaux’s Tree Frog Unlikely
108 Appendix 6 6.4 – FISH OF THE LANE COVE RIVER
SCIENTIFIC NAME COMMON NAME
Acanthopagnes australis Bream Achylopa nigra Black Sole Ambassis marianus Glass Perchlet Antemarius striatus Striated Frogfish Anguilla reinhardti Long-Finned Eel A. australis Short-Finned Eel Arenogobius frenatus Goby A. bifrenatus Bridled Goby Centropogon australis Eastern Fortescue Chrysophys aurutus Pink Snapper Cnidoglanis macrocephalus Estuary Catfish Dicotylichthys myersi Porcupine Fish Eleotridae spp. Gudgeon Engraulis australis Anchovy Favonigobius tamensis Goby F. exquisitus Goby F. lateralis Long-Finned Goby Galaxidae spp. Minnow Gambusia affinis Mosquito Fish Gerres ovatus Silver Biddy Girella tricuspidita Luderick Hemhalphus ardelio River Garfish Herklotichthys castelnaui Garfish Hyperlophus vittatus Sandy Sprat Liza argentea Flat-Tailed Mullet Meuschenia trachylopis Yellow-Finned Leatherjacket M. treycineti Six-Spined Leatherjacket Monacanthus chinensis Fan-Belly Leatherjacket Monodactylus argenteus Oianond Fish Mugil cephalus Sea Mullet Myxus elongatus Sand Mullet M. petardi Freshwater Mullet Pelates quadrilineatus Trumpeter Petroscrites variabilis Blemy Platycephalus tuscus Dusky Flathead Plotosus lineatus Striped catfish Pomotomus saltator Tailor Pranesus ogilbyi Ogilby’s Hardyhead Pseudogobius olorum Swan-River Goby Pseudomugil signifier Pacific Blue Eye Pseudorhombus arsius Large-Toothed Flounder Retropinnidae spp. Smelt Rhabdosargus sarba Tarwhine Sillago ciliata Sand Whiting S. maculata Trumpeter Whiting Siphamia roseigaster Siphon Fish Sphyraena obtusa Striped Seapike Sygnathidae spp. Pipefish Torquigener hamiltoni Pufferfish Trachurus mccullochi YellowTail Triglidae spp. Gurnard Urlolphus testaceus Common Stingray Velambassis jacksonensis Port Jackson Cardinal Fish
109 The Natural Environment of Lane Cove
APPENDIX 7 – BIRDS OF LANE COVE MUNICIPALITY The bird list is based on the following surveys: * Richard Noske, Bird List : Gore Creek , 1971. * Thomas Dixon, Birds of Riverview , 1980. * Travers Morgan Pty Ltd, Lane Cove West Link Road Environmental Impact Statement , 1985. * Observational records kept by Sandra Coe, Hugo Floriani, Van Klaphake, Agata Pasqualini and Sheila Walkerden.
Residency Resident species which lives and nests in Lane Cove Migratory species which returns regularly to Lane Cove Visitor species which returns irregularly to Lane Cove Escapee aviary escape
Status Common species widespread over Lane Cove Occasional species seen occasionally in Lane Cove Uncommon - regular species uncommon but appears regularly in Lane Cove Uncommon species seen infrequently in Lane Cove Rare only 1 - 2 individuals seen in recent years
110 Appendix 7 NATIVE BIRDS OF LANE COVE MUNICIPALITY GREBES SCIENTIFIC NAME COMMON NAME RESIDENCY STATUS HABITAT Poliocephalus poliocephalus Hoary-headed Grebe Resident Occasional Open water , swamps and slow rivers FISHING BIRDS SCIENTIFIC NAME COMMON NAME RESIDENCY STATUS HABITAT Pelicanus conspicillatu s Australian Pelican Visitor Uncommon River Anhinga melanogaster Darter Visitor Occasional River Phalacrocorax melanoleucos Little Pied Cormorant Resident Common River P. varius Pied Cormorant Visitor Occasional River P. carbo Black Cormorant Visitor Occasional River P. sulcirostris Little Black Cormorant Resident Common River HERONS, IBISES AND ALLIES SCIENTIFIC NAME COMMON NAME RESIDENCY STATUS HABITAT Ardea pacifica White-necked Heron Visitor Occasional Mudflats A. novaehollandiae White-faced Heron Resident Common Mudflats Butorides striatus Mangrove Heron Resident Occasional Mangroves Egrettaalba Great (White) Egret Visitor Occasional Mudflats Nycticorax caledonicus Nankeen Night Heron Resident Occasional Mangroves Threskiornis IKllucca White Ibis Resident Common Mudflats T. spinicollis Straw-necked Ibis Visitor Common Swamps, grasslands Platalea regia Royal Spoonbill Visitor Occasional Mudflats P. flavipes Yellow-billed Spoonbill Visitor Rare Mudflats SWANS, GEESE AND DUCKS SCIENTIFIC NAME COMMON NAME RESIDENCY STATUS HABITAT Anas castanea Chestnut Teal Resident Common Water A. gibberifrons Grey Teal Resident Uncommon Water A. superciliosus Black Duck Resident Common Water Chenonetta jubata Wood Duck Visitor Uncommon Water Nettapus coromandelianus Cotton Pygmy-goose Visitor Rare Water DAYTIME BIRDS OF PREY SCIENTIFIC NAME COMMON NAME RESIDENCY STATUS HABITAT Accipiter fasciatus Brown Goshawk Resident Occasional Grass\woodland A. novaehollandiae Grey Goshawk Visitor Rare Dense woodland Aviceda subcristata Crested Hawk Visitor Rare Wet sclerophyll forest Elanus notatus Black-shouldered Kite Resident Occasional Open woodland Falco berigora Brown Falcon Visitor Common Open country F. cenchroides Nankeen Kestrel Visitor Rare Grass\Woodland F. longipennis Little Falcon Visitor Rare Open woodland F. peregrinus Peregrine Falcon Visitor Rare cliff areas, most habitats Haliaeetus leucogaster White-breasted Sea Eagle Visitor Rare Water, coastal areas Hieraaetus morphnoides Little Eagle Visitor Occasional Forest
111 The Natural Environment of Lane Cove QUAILS, RAILS AND WATERHENS SCIENTIFIC NAME COMMON NAME RESIDENCY STATUS HABITAT Gallinula tenebrosa Dusky Moorhen Resident Common Swamps , reeds and sedges Porphyrio porphyrio Swamp Hen Resident Occasional Mangroves Rallus phillipensis Buff-banded Rail Visitor Rare Swamps, man groves, grasslands Turnlx varia Painted Button-quail Resident Occasional Rocky hillsides , grass understorey WADERS, GULLS AHIl SHOREBIRDS SCIENTIFIC NAME COMMON NAME RESIDENCY STATUS HABITAT Chilidonias hybrida Whiskered Tern Visitor Occasional Inshore coastal waters Larus novaehollandiae Silver Gull Resident Common Water Sterna bergii Crested Tern Visitor Occasional Water S. hirundo Common Tern Migrant\su Rare Water Tringa hypoleucos Common Sandpiper Migrant\su Occasional Shoreline Vanellus miles novaehollandiae Masked Plover Resident Common Open damp grass PIGEONS AND DOVES SCIENTIFIC NAME COMMON NAME RESIDENCY STATUS HABITAT Chalcophaps indica Green-winged Pigeon Visitor Occasional Wet sclerophyll forests Columba leucomela White-headed Pigeon Visitor Uncommon Forest, open areas Ochyphaps lophotes Crested Pigeon Resident Uncommon Grasslands COCKATOOS ANDPARROTS SCIENTIFIC NAME COMMON NAME RESIDENCY STATUS HABITAT Alisterus scapularis King Parrot Migrant\wi Uncommon, Dense forests and regular river edge trees Barnardius zonarius Port Lincoln Parrot Resident Occasional Forests Cacatua galerita Sulphur-crested Cockatoo Visitor Common Forests C. roseicapilla Galah Visitor Common Open country C. sanguinea Little Corella Escapee Rare Forests Calyptorhynchus funereus Yellow-tailed Black Escapee Occasional Eucalypt forests Cockatoo C. lathami Glossy-black Cockatoo Visitor Rare Mountain forests, river margins Glossopsitta pusilla Little Lorikeet Visitor Common Eucalypt forests Platycercus adscitus Pale-headed Rosella Escapee Rare Open forest P. elegans CrimsonRosella Resident Common Eucalypt\wattle forests P. eximius Eastern Rosella Resident Common Openforest\grass land Trichoglossus chlorolepidotus Scaly-breasted Lorikeet Visitor Rare Forests T. haematodus Rainbow Lorikeet Resident Common Forests CUCKOOS SCIENTIFIC NAME COMMON NAME RESIDENCY STATUS HABITAT Chrysococcyz basalis Horsfield's Bronze Cuckoo Migrant\sp Uncommon, Openforest regular C. lucidus lucidus Shining Bronze Cuckoo Visitor Occasional Coastal forest C. lucidus plagosus Golden Bronze Cuckoo Migrant\sp Rare wet Forest Cuculus pallidus Pallid Cuckoo Visitor Rare Open forest C. pyrrhophanus Fan-tailed Cuckoo Migrant\sp &su Common Forest Eudynamys scolopacea Indian Koel Migrant\sp &su Common Dense forest Scythrops novaehollandiae Channel-billed Cuckoo Visitor Uncommon Steep hilly wooded country
112 Appendix 7 OWLS SCIENTIFIC NAME COMMON NAME RESIDENCY STATUS HABITAT Ninox cornivens Barking Owl Visitor Rare Forest N. novaeseelandiae Boobook Owl Resident Uncommon Forest N. strenua Powerful Owl Visitor Occasional Open forest Tyto alba Barn Owl Visitor occasional Open woodland FRODMOUTHS AND NIGHTJARS SCIENTIFIC NAME COMMON NAME RESIDENCY STATUS HABITAT Podaryus strigoides Tawny Frogmouth Resident Uncommon Forest SWIFTS SCIENTIFIC NAME COMMON NAME RESIDENCY STATUS HABITAT Hirundapus caudacutus Spine-tailed swift Migrant\su Common Air KINGFISHERS AND DOLLAR BIRDS SCIENTIFIC NAME COMMON NAME RESIDENCY STATUS HABITAT Dacelo gigas Laughing Kookaburra Resident Common Open forest and clearings Eurystomas orientalis Dollar Bird Migrant\sp &su Uncommon River shoreline Halcyon sancta Sacred Kingfisher Migrant\wi,sp &su Common River shoreline PERCHING BIRDS OR SONGSTERS SCIENTIFIC NAME COMMON NAME RESIDENCY STATUS HABITAT Acanthiza lineata Striated Thornhill Resident Uncommon High branches in woodland A. nana Yellow Thornhill Resident Uncommon Dry forest A. reguloides Buff-tailed Thornhill Resident Open woodland A. pusilla Brown Thornhill Resident Uncommon Shrub layers Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris EasternSpinebill Resident Common Heath, parks and woodlands Anthochaera carunculata Red Wattlebird Resident Common Open flowering forest A. chrysoptera Little Wattlebird Resident Common Open flowering forest Anthus novaeseelandiae Australian pipit Visitor Occasional Grasslands Artarmus cyanopterus Dusky Woodswallow Visitor Common Forests Cecropis ariel Fairy Martin Visitor Common Near water C. nigricans Tree Martin Resident Common Air Cinclorhamphus mathewsi Rufous Songlark Migrant\sp &su Common Open forests , grasslands Cisticola exilis Golden-headed Cisticola Visitor Rare Reed beds Climacteris leucophaea White-throated Resident Occasional Open woodland, Treecreeper forest Colluricincla hamonica Grey Shrike-thrush Resident Uncommon Foreshores Coracina novaehollandiae Black-faced Cuckooshrike Resident Common Open woodland C. papuensis Little Cuckooshrike Resident Uncommon Dry Forest Corvus coronoides Australian Raven Resident Common Open areas (day), forest (night) Cracticus torquatus Grey Butcherbird Resident Common Open forest and urban parks Daphoeno sittachrysoptera Orange Winged Sittella Visitor Resident Open forest Dicaeum hirundinaceum Mistletoe Bird Visitor Uncommon Forest Dicrurus hottentottus Spangled Drongo Migrant\au &wi Uncommon Forest Emblema temporalis Red-browed Firetail Migrant\sp,su Uncommon Grass and fringes &au of woodland Eopsaltria australis Eastern Yellow Robin Resident Common Woodland Falcunculus frontatus Crested Shrike-tit Visitor Common Open woodland Gerygone mouki Brown Warbler Visitor Occasional Woodland G. olivacea White-throated Warbler Visitor Common Open forest
113 The Natural Environment of Lane Cove PERCHERS OR SONGSTERS CONTINUED SCIENTIFIC NAME COMMON NAME RESIDENCY STATUS HABITAT Grallina cyanoleuca Australian Magpie-lark Resident Common Damp grass and foreshore Gymnorhina tibicen Australian Magpie Resident Common Widespread Hirundo neoxena Welcome Swallow Resident Common Air Lalage sueurii White-winged Triller Visitor Uncommon Open forest Lichenostomus chrysops Yellow-faced Honeyeater Migrant\sp Common Flowering eucalypt forest L. melanops Yellow-tufted Honeyeater Visitor Uncommon Open forest L. penicillatus White-plumed Honeyeater Visitor Occasional Flowering forest and gardens Malurus cyaneus Superb Blue Wren Resident Common Gardens, lawns and edge of bush M. lamberti Variegated Wren Resident Rare Edge of bush, lantana Manorina melanocephala Noisy Miner Resident Common Open woodland Melithreptus lunatus White-naped Honeyeater Visitor Occasional Trees Microeca leucophaea Jacky Winter Visitor Common Open forest Monarcha melanopsis Black-faced Monarch Migrant\sp i su Uncommon Dense bushland Myiagra cyanoleuca Satin Flycatcher Migrant\sp i su Occasional Tall trees M. rubecula Leaden Flycatcher Migrant\sp i su Uncommon, Foreshore trees regular Myzomela sanguinolenta Scarlet Honeyeater Visitor Common Woodland, swamps Oriolus sagittatus Olive-backed Oriole Migrant\sp i su Common Open forest Pachycephala pectoralis Golden Whistler Resident Common Foreshore trees P. rufiventris Rufous Whistler Migrant\sp Uncommon, Foreshore regular trees Pardalotus punctatus Spotted Pardalote Resident Common Foreshore forest P. striatus Striated Paradalote Visitor Uncommon Eucalypts Petroica rosea Rose Robin Migrant\wi Uncommon Dry forests and mangroves Philemon cornicultus Noisy Friarbird Migrant\wi i sp Occasional Open flowering forest Phylidonyris niger White-cheeked Honeyeater Visitor Uncommon Heath and open woodland P. novaehollandiae New Holland Honeyeater Visitor Uncommon Woodland, heath and swamps Psophodes olivaceus Eastern Whipbird Resident Uncommon Dense bush Ptilinorhynchus violaceus Satin Bowerbird Visitor Rare Woodland Rhipidura fuliginosa Grey Fantail Resident Common Open forest , woodland R. leucophrys Willie Wagtail Resident Occasional Opengrass , forest R. rufifrons Rufous Fantail Migrant\sp Occasional Dense wet bush Sericornis frontalis White-browed Scrub-wren Resident Common Dense foreshore, gully undergrowth Smicrornis brevirostris Weebill Visitor Rare Forest Sphecotheres viridis Figbird Visitor Uncommon Figtrees Strepera graculina Pied Currawong Resident Common Open forest Zoothera dauma Australian Ground Thrush Visitor Uncommon Forest Zosterops lateralis Eastern Silvereye Resident Common Forests , gardens INTRODUCED BIRDS OF LANE COVE MUNICIPALITY SCIENTIFIC NAME COMMON NAME RESIDENCY STATUS HABITAT Anas platyrhynchos Mallard Resident Occasional Water Columba livia Domestic Pigeon Visitor Occasional Open parks Streptopelia chinensis Spotted Turtledove Resident Occasional Open forest Acridotheres tristis Common Myna Resident Common Widespread Cardeulis cardeulis European Goldfinch Resident Uncollllon Widespread Lonchura punctulata Nutmeg Mannikin Visitor Common Grass and damp areas Passer domesticus House Sparrow Resident Common Near buildings Pycnonotus jocosus Red-whiskered Bulbul Resident Common Forests and gardens Sturnus vulgaris Common Starling Resident Common Widespread Turdus merula Blackbird Resident Uncommon Gardens, dense forest
114 The Birds of Lane Cove
INDEX Aborigines 11-13, 40-43, 57 canoes, use by Aborigines 40-41, 59 acacias 20, 25 cassia 56-58 adaptations catchment 5, 8, 59, 62, 65-66 68 plant 17, 19, 21 cats 24-25, 32, 34, 43, 46, 48 animal 28 cheese Tree 19-20 bird 37 chemical industries 62 aerial birds 36 clay ridges 18, 22 air pollution 12, 65 Clifford Love Cornflour Mills 70 alienation 44, 47 climate 7, 15, 50 alluvial flats 62 coachwood 19 alluvial soils 10 cobblers peg 57 amphibians 31 Collins, David 40 animals 5, 8, 11, 24-32 colubrid snakes 30 eaten by birds 40 Commelina 54-55 food for Aborigines 41-42 competition 18, 34 impact of settlement on 24-25, 44-46 construction 47, 51, 67 prey to introduced animals 46, 48 copra bond store 70 spreading weeds 51 cornflour mills 62, 70 Aquatic Reserve 42, 69 crofton weed 56-58 aspect 16,21 CSR 62, 70 Australian Wood Pipe Co 70 Cumberland Paper Board Mills 70 currawongs 32-34 balloon vine 56-57 Balmain New Ferry Company 66 De Burghs Bridge 36, 59, 62-63 bamboo 56-57 degraded bushland 11, 48 bandicoots 24-26, 41, 43 detention basins 48, 66 banksia 20-21, 25, 41 disturbance to bushland 51, 53, 55-56 bats 24-25, 27-28 diversity berries 18-19, 28,33, 41, 51-52, 54 of fish 31 Berrys Creek 5, 8 of plants 19 bird populations 35 loss of 43 birds 5, 8, 11, 19, 23, 33-39 dogs 46 food for Aborigines 41 dragons 28-29 food for reptiles 28 drainage 17, 46-49, 66, 68 impact of settlement on 24, 33-36 dredging 66 of prey 38 dry sclerophyll forest 15-16, 19-23, 41, 43 prey for introduced animals 46, 48 dry sclerophyll understorey 22 spreading weeds 50-51 dumping 44-45, 48, 52, 55, 57, 67 birdwatching 36 duckweed 17 Blackbutt 19-22 Blackman Park 8, 10, 16-17, 22, 44-45, 65, 68 early maps 59 blind snakes 30 echidnas 24-26, 43 blue gum 19-20, 21 edges of reserves 43, 50 Blue Gum High Forest 21 education 5, 12 Blue Hole 63 elapid snakes 30 boiling down works 62, 70 electricity 44 bracken fern 41-42 elephants ears 58 Bradley, Lt. William 60 engravings 11, 42 Bradley method 53 epicormic buds 19 bullrushes 17 Epping Road bridge 62, 70 Burns Bay 8, 10, 44, 61-62, 66, 68, 70-71 erosion 21,45, 47-49, 53, 66, 68 Burns Bay Reserve 10, 68 eucalypts 13-14, 16, 19-21, 26, 28, 46 bush regeneration 11, 52-53, 55 European settlement 11-13, 41, 43 Bushland Park 19, 44, 52 exotic 50, 54 bushland remnants 11-13, 24, 44 bushwalking 12 faecal contamination 67 Fairyland 63-65, 70 Cammeraigal 40-41 farming 22 camphor laurel 51, 56-58 feral animals 25, 32, 46, 48 canoeing 65, 71 ferry services 63
115 The Natural Environment of Lane Cove fertile soils 18, 21 Lane Cove River 10, 59-71 Fiddens Wharf 60, 62 boundary of Aboriginal groups 40 Field of Mars Common 62 boundary of Municipality 5, 8, 13 Figtree Bridge 7, 10, 13, 17, 31, 44, 59, 62-63, 65-66, 68 fish in 31 fire 19-22, 34, 41, 43, 45, 47, 62 freeway along 44 fire regime 43 restoring bushland along 53 fish 5, 31, 37, 41, 59 transmission line along 44 fishing 42, 70 vegetation zonation along 16 flooding 8, 12, 47, 66 Lane Cove River National Park 65 flying foxes 28 Lane Cove River State Recreation Area 46, 59, 65 forest oak 23 Lane Cove River Valley 8, 23 foreshore reserves 11 Lane Cove Road 60, 62 foxes 25, 28, 32, 46 Lane Cove West 70 fragmentation of bushland 44, 47-48 lantana 50-51, 56-58 freeways 44 lawn clippings 45, 52, 57, 67 frogs 28, 31 leasing 44 Fullers Bridge 59, 62, 64-66 legless lizards 28-29 lignotubers 19 garden refuse 45, 51-52, 57 lilly pilly 19-20, 41, 54-55 geckoes 28-29 Linley Point 13, 59, 61, 71 geological history 11 lizards 25, 28-30, 46 geology 8, 10 logging 11, 43 ginger lily 57-58 Longueville 44, 55, 61, 63, 70-71 gliders 25, 27 Ludowici & Co 70 goannas 28-29 golf course, Lane Cove 10, 44, 52, 55-56 Macquarie University 5, 23, 36, 43-44 madeira vine 53, 56-57 Gore Cove 8, 70-71 mammals 5, 23-25, 27-28, 32, 41, 43, 46 Gore Creek 8, 10, 13, 44, 57-58, 61, 66, 68 mangroves 13, 17, 22, 36, 64-65, 68 Gore Creek Reserve 10, 13, 57-58, 68 Manns Point 21, 70-71 grass birds 38 Mars Road 49, 71 grey gum 21, 23 marsupial mice 25 grey mangrove 17 marsupials 25 Greendale Reserve 44 microbats 28 Greenwich 5, 21, 44, 52, 61-63, 70-71 microclimate 8, 21 middens 11-12, 41 habitat 5, 10-12 moist gullies 16, 18, 41 animal 25, 27, 31-32 monitor lizards 29 birds 33-36 monotremes 25 loss of 43-46 morning glory 51, 56-58 Hakea 21 Mowbray Park 56-57, 63, 65, 70 Hawkesbury sandstone 10 Mowbray Road 5 heath 14-16, 20-21, 41 mudflats 22, 31, 33-34, 36-37, 47, 66, 68 herbicides 34, 55 honeyeaters 33 National Trust 11, 53 Hornsby Plateau 8, 10 niches 33-34 horse riding 45 nitrogen 47 Hunter, Captain John 41-42, 59-60 NOOS 66, 71 Hunters Hill 13, 41-42, 44, 59-60, 63, 65, 70-71 Northern Ocean Outfall Sewer 66, 71 Northwood 61, 63, 70-71 industry 59, 62 nutrients 10, 20-22, 47, 51, 55-57, 67 insects 8, 24-25, 28, 32-34, 37-38, 50 ochna 51 John Fell and Co. 62 Open Space 5, 11-12, 44, 67 Joubert family 63 orchards 28, 62, 64
Kamilaroi 40 Pacific Highway 5, 8, 60 kangaroos 24-25, 41-43, 46 paintings, Aboriginal 11-12, 42 koalas 24-25, 46 paper board mills 62, 70 Kunzea 22, 26 Parramatta River 5, 59 Kuring-gai 40 Patent Asphaltum Co. 70 pesticides 34, 67 lambs tails 53, 57 phosphorus 47 Lane Cove Council 5, 13, 48, 52, 66 picnic areas 59, 65 Lane Cove Municipality 13, 24, 31, 43, 51 picnicking 12-13, 63-64, 71
116 Index pitlosporum 18-19, 22, 43, 55, 57 snakes 28-30 placental mammals 26-28 soap and candle factories 70 platypus 25 soils 8, 10-11, 15-16, 19-20, 21, 47, 51 pleasure grounds 63, 65, 70 Specht 14 pondweed 17 stilling basins 67 Port Jackson 19, 40, 60-61 Stoney Creek 7, 22 possums 24-25, 27-28, 41, 46 stormwater 71 predators 24-25, 28 pollution by 25 privet 50-51, 54-58 problems of 12, 46-49, pythons 30 promoting weed invasion 51, 57, pyracantha 56 solving problems of 48-49, 65-68 Stringybark Creek 8, 13, 17, 20, 53 Radke & Sons 70 rainfall 8 swamp oak 17 rainforest 14, 16, 19-20, 23, 28, 41, 47 swamps 17, 37 rainforest understorey 18 swimming 29, 36-37, 45 rare plants 11, 23 Sydney peppermint 14, 21 rats 28, 41 Sydney red gum 13, 21 recreation 11-12, 36, 44-46, 50, 59, 63-65, 71 red bloodwood 21 Tambourine Bay 8, 13, 17, 44, 61, 66, 68, 71 red mahogany 19 Tambourine Creek 8 red stringybark 22 Tannery Creek 8, 62, 70 reed beds 22 tannery 8, 62, 70 reflective bark 19 tea tree 22 regattas 65, 70 temperature 8 remnants Tench, Watkin 40 Aboriginal art 42 Tennyson Park 13 bushland 11-13, 25, 44 The Avenue 65, 70 vegetation communities 17, 20-22 The Rest 64-65 reptiles 24, 28-29, 38 topography 8, 10-11, 15-16, 59 river mangrove 17 Tradescantia 51, 54-58 river transport 62 tributary creeks 8, 13, 53, 59 River Walk 17, 45 turpentine 19, 22-23 Riverview 5, 36, 61, 63, 70 Robert Corbett 62, 70 Turrumburra 41 rock overhangs 12, 40 turtles 28, 30, 41 rock shelters 11 rowboating 63 Upper Lane Cove Ferry Service 63 rowing 44, 65, 70 urban bushland 11-12, 32 rowing clubs 65 Urban Wildlife Survey 24 Rupert Kirk 70 Ryde 13, 21-22, 44, 63, 70 vegetation communities 14-23, 43 vines and creepers 52 saltmarsh 17, 23 sandstone 10, 13, 16, 20-23, 40-42, 47, 53, 56, 66 walking tracks 12, 45, 50 scientific values 11 wallabies 24-25, 41-42, 46 scribbly gum 21 wandering jew 54-55, 57 seagrasses 16 Warraroon Reserve 17, 44, 48-49 sedge marsh 22 water birds 11, 13, 36 settlement waterborne seed 52 early 11, 13, 59-60, 62 waterskiing 65, 71 impacts on animals 24-25 weed 11, 33-34, 47, 49-58 impacts on birds 33-36 weed invasion 47, 49-51, 53, 55 impacts on bushland 15, 43-47 wet sclerophyll forest 15-16, 18-19, 41 sewage overflow 65 sewerage 44, 51, 53, 66, 68 wet sclerophyll understorey 22 shale 10, 34, 41, 43 wetlands 15, 17 Shell 31, 41, 62, 70-71 wharves 22, 62-63, 70-71 shellfish 32, 41, 59 Wianamatlashale 10 silt 22, 53, 59, 66, 68 wildlife corridor 11 siltation 47, 66, 68 windblown seed 51-52 skinks 28-29 wood pipes 62 smooth barked apple 14, 21 (see also Sydney red gum) Woodford Bay 8, 61, 70
117