Dreeite Nature Conservation Reserve

Management Statement

Land Stewardship & Biodiversity Department of Sustainability and Environment

May 2005 This Management Statement has been written by Hugh Robertson and James Fitzsimons for the Department of Sustainability and Environment, .

This Statement fulfils obligations by the State of Victoria to the Commonwealth of , which provided financial assistance for the purchase of this reserve under the National Reserve System program of the Natural Heritage Trust.

©The State of Victoria Department of Sustainability and Environment 2005

This publication is copyright. No part may be reproduced by any process except in accordance with the provisions of the Copyright Act 1968.

ISBN 1 74152 140 8

Disclaimer: This publication may be of assistance to you but the State of Victoria and its employees do not guarantee that the publication is without flaw of any kind or is wholly appropriate for your particular purposes and therefore disclaims all liability for any error, loss or other consequence which may arise from you relying on any information in this publication.

Cover: Permanent surrounded by Stony Knoll Shrubland, Dreeite Nature Conservation Reserve (Photo: James Fitzsimons). Dreeite Nature Conservation Reserve

Objectives This Management Statement for the Dreeite Nature Conservation Reserve outlines the reserve’s natural values and the directions for its management in the short to long term.

The overall operational management objective is: Maintain, and enhance where appropriate, the condition of the reserve while allowing natural processes of regeneration, disturbance and succession to occur and actively initiating these processes where required.

Background and Context Reason for purchase Since the implementation of the National Reserve System Program (NRS) in 1992, all Australian states and territories have been working toward the development of a comprehensive, adequate and representative (CAR) system of protected areas.

In a systematic process to increase the reservation levels of Victoria’s most threatened ecosystems, the Department of Sustainability and Environment’s conservation land purchase program aims to acquire areas of private land containing high quality samples of such ecosystems for addition to the reserve system.

A strategic assessment of high quality sites containing threatened ecosystems on the Victorian Volcanic Plain Bioregion was completed in 1999 (Ross 1999). Among a number of sites identified as suitable for voluntary purchase and addition to the protected area estate, the Stony Knoll Shrubland and at Dreeite were purchased due to their good condition and position within a larger area containing this vegetation type.

The purchase was assisted with funding from the National Reserve System Program of the Commonwealth Government’s Natural Heritage Trust (Project No. N457).

The Dreeite Stony Knoll Shrubland and wetlands fall within the Victorian Volcanic Plain IBRA 5.1 bioregion (Environment Australia 2000) and the Corangamite East Local Landscape Zone (Ross et al. 2003).

Location The Dreeite Nature Conservation Reserve (Dreeite NCR) of 54.05 ha is located off Hay’s Road approximately 2 km NNE of Dreeite and approximately 4.5 km from the eastern shoreline of Corangamite (Figure 1). It consists of: Crown Allotment 2001, Parish of Cundare. Purchase of the Dreeite property was completed on 9 July 2004. The land was transferred to the Crown on 29 July 2004 and assigned to Parks Victoria for management on 21 January 2005.

Reservation Status The Dreeite NCR is temporarily reserved for the “preservation of an area of ecological significance” under the Crown Land (Reserves) Act 1978 and managed as a Nature Conservation Reserve.

1 Dreeite Nature Conservation Reserve

The generic management objectives for Nature Conservation Reserves as defined by Parks Victoria (2003) are: Nature conservation reserves a) conserve and protect species, communities and habitats of indigenous plants, animals and other organisms; b) provide for research and study of the natural environment of the reserve where this is consistent with a) and there is minimal impact on the reserve; c) provide opportunities for appropriate enjoyment and recreation and education by the public where this does not conflict with a); d) protect Aboriginal cultural sites and places; and e) protect historic features in specific reserves where noted.

Nature Conservation Reserves are consistent with IUCN Protected Area Category Ia: Strict Nature Reserve (NRE 1996).

As the purchased land was originally freehold, no Land Conservation Council (LCC), Environment Conservation Council (ECC) or Victorian Environmental Assessment Council (VEAC) recommendations apply.

The Crown Land (Reserves) (Nature Conservation Reserve) Regulations 2004 will apply to activities in this reserve when it is listed under the Schedule of the Regulations.

Natural Values and Condition Refer to Figure 2 for the location of threatened species recorded in the Atlas of Victorian Wildlife and the Flora Information System1.

Vegetation Types Although the Dreeite NCR and surrounding region are mapped as containing Stony Rises Woodland (Figure 2), ground-truthing has revealed that Stony Knoll Shrubland Ecological Vegetation Class (EVC) dominates most of the reserve2 (Ross 1999). Stony Knoll Shrubland is considered endangered in the Victorian Volcanic Plain bioregion (Taylor et al. 2003), and patches of the size present in the Dreeite area are very rare (Ross 1999). Dreeite NCR also contains areas of wetland habitat supporting aquatic vegetation (Peterson pers. comm. 2003)3. Wetland habitat at sites close to Dreeite NCR is mapped as Plains Sedgy Wetland EVC and Plains Grassy Wetland EVC (Figure 2). The reserve also contains some small areas dominated by exotic pasture grasses and herbs that are of low conservation value. The condition of the vegetation in the reserve was assessed in March 2003 using the DSE Habitat Hectares method, and is considered to be in medium-good condition (scored 59/1004).

1 Note this does not necessarily represent records for all threatened species on the reserve. Only those recorded in the DSE flora and fauna databases are displayed. 2 Note that as of October 2004, <5 ha of Stony Rises Woodland EVC had been mapped at Dreeite NCR within the EVC_CMP100 geospatial data layer. Stony Rises Woodland was previously known as Stony Rises Herb-rich Woodland. 3 Wetlands on Dreeite NCR are mapped as Semi-permanent saline wetlands within the WETLAND_1994 geospatial data layer (Figure 2). 4 The original Habitat Hectares score of 48/100 was converted to 59/100 following guidelines for treeless EVCs.

2 Dreeite Nature Conservation Reserve

Ecological Management of Stony Rises Woodland and Wetlands The Stony Knoll Shrubland in Dreeite NCR is in good condition and does not require active management at present. Although the understorey vegetation supported a number of exotic herbs and grasses they do not pose a significant risk to the conservation values of the shrubland.

Wetland habitat in Dreeite NCR is susceptible to degradation from stock entering the wetlands and may require fencing. Altered water regimes and the establishment of aquatic pest plants may also impact on the wetlands. There is evidence of past rock removal from wetland and grassland areas, which may have altered the structure of the habitat and adversely affected native flora and fauna.

Control of plant biomass, particularly of exotic pasture grass species, may be considered desirable to provide habitat for native flora and fauna. Ecological burning is often used as a management tool to control exotic pasture species and promote the regeneration of indigenous flora. However, due to the high fuel loads associated with the shrubs and trees in Dreeite NCR and on adjacent private property, ecological burning is not recommended.

Dreeite NCR has been grazed by sheep historically, but more recently cattle have utilised the property. Although grazing may have caused degradation to wetland vegetation, strategic grazing may be required to remove the biomass of plants, particularly exotic plants, with stocking rates adjusted to suit climatic conditions and/or pest plant abundance. Whilst the use of sheep for grazing is more desirable due to their lesser impact on the ecosystem, cattle grazing is the main landuse in the area and thus may be the only practical option.

Management objectives and targets (short-long term) - Actively manage the Dreeite NCR using some of the management options described above to maintain the condition, species diversity and structural heterogeneity of the vegetation. - Limit stock access to wetland and saltmarsh areas of Dreeite NCR through establishment of internal fencing and liaison with adjoining landholders. - Monitor outcomes of management actions and adapt management regimes as the need arises. - Encourage ongoing research by universities and other scientific institutions into optimal management techniques for maintaining and enhancing Stony Knoll Shrubland biodiversity.

Flora Dreeite NCR supports the Stony Knoll Shrubland EVC dominated by Tree Violet Hymenanthera dentata, with sparse Blackwood Acacia melanoxylon and Black Wattle Acacia mearnsii, while the permanent and semi-permanent wetlands support sedge, and other aquatic vegetation communities (Peterson pers. comm. 2003).

Refer to Appendix 1 for flora records from Dreeite NCR and adjoining areas.

3 Dreeite Nature Conservation Reserve

Management objectives and targets (short-medium term) - Record flora in the Parks Victoria Environmental Information System and the DSE Flora Information System (FIS), and encourage seasonal survey programs.

Fauna Dreeite NCR contains permanent wetlands, rocky outcrops, and extensive areas of Stony Knoll Shrubland, which provide diverse habitat for fauna. The reserve provides known habitat for the nationally significant5 Corangamite Water Skink Eulamprus tympanum marnieae and Growling Grass Frog Litoria raniformis, and a number of threatened water bird species. Major threats to the Corangamite Water Skink are habitat loss and fragmentation, degradation of remaining habitat (e.g. through weed invasion) and the impacts of introduced animals, including predation (Robertson 1998). Dreeite NCR is one of only 14 sites where the Corangamite Water Skink has been observed over the past four years, increasing the number of reserved sites to seven (Peterson pers. comm. 2003). Five other species of frogs, including the green morph of Southern Brown Tree Frog Litoria ewingii have also been recorded in Dreeite NCR (Peterson 2003). Dreeite NCR has also been identified as a potential site for the reintroduction of the critically endangered Eastern Barred Bandicoot Perameles gunnii (Peterson pers. comm 2003).

Significant bird species recorded in Dreeite NCR include Brolga Grus rubicunda, Lewin’s Rail Rallus pectoralis, Freckled Duck Stictonetta naevosa, Australasian Shoveler Anas rhynchotis, Latham’s Snipe Gallinago hardwickii and Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybridus (Peterson pers. comm. 2003).

Refer to Appendix 2 for fauna records from Dreeite NCR.

Management objectives and targets (short-medium term) - Record fauna in the Parks Victoria Environmental Information System and the Atlas of Victorian Wildlife, and encourage seasonal survey programs.

Biosites6 Three Biosites are recorded near Dreeite NCR, these are: - Site # 637 ‘/Dreeite Rd’ (State significance) (Located approximately 1 km north of the Dreeite NCR) - Site # 718 ‘Beeac-Dreeite Road - BROLGA 101’ (National Significance) (Located approximately 3 km southeast of Dreeite NCR) - Site # 653 ‘Pipe Clay Lake’ (State significance) (Located approximately 3 km northeast of Dreeite NCR)

Refer to Appendix 3 for further details.

5 Threat status for flora and fauna follows DSE (2003, 2005) 6 ‘Biosites’ are sites of biological conservation significance and their location and details are maintained on a register by the Department of Sustainability and Environment.

4 Dreeite Nature Conservation Reserve

Landscape context Dreeite NCR represents one of the largest areas of Stony Knoll Shrubland reserved for conservation in the region. The surrounding landscape is characterised by undulating stony rises, small freshwater and saline wetlands, and large saline including a number of lakes included in the Ramsar site (NRE 2002). Dreeite NCR is bordered to the west by Hay’s Road and bordered to the north, east and south by private property, most of which also contains Stony Knoll Shrubland and wetlands (Figure 4). Given the significance of habitat on adjoining and nearby property, options to expand or enhance the existing reserve, through land purchase or covenanting should be investigated.

Other nearby reserves in the bioregion include Lake Cundare and Wildlife Reserves, and the , Cundare, Beeac Swamp and Cundare Pool Lake Reserves (Figure 3). Grazing is the predominant land use in the area (Ross et al. 2003).

Threatening Processes Pest plants Pest plants are considered a moderate threat to the conservation values of the Dreeite NCR. A ‘Habitat Hectares’ assessment of Dreeite NCR (March 2003) noted the reserve is moderately impacted by weeds. Weed cover is generally high in areas where there are no shrubs present. Ongoing pest plant control is recommended to control pasture grasses (e.g. Bromus spp. and Vulpia spp.) and other weed species that have the ability to alter the structure of the vegetation and pose a threat to species reliant on the ecosystem. Hemlock Conium maculatum and Thistles (Sonchus spp. and Cirsium spp.) have been observed in the reserve.

Management objectives and targets (short-long term) - Control the establishment and spread of pest plants, particularly exotic pasture grasses, and encourage the establishment of native plant species in their place through grazing and other management techniques. - Liaise with Corangamite Shire and surrounding landowners to ensure control of environmental weeds that occur along Hay’s Road adjoining Dreeite NCR, to prevent their spread into the reserve.

Pest animals Foxes are present throughout the district, but the impact of predation on native fauna in the reserve is unknown. However, they may pose a significant threat to small mammals, ground nesting or feeding birds, and reptiles, including the Corangamite Water Skink (Robertson 1998). Rabbits are likely to be present in Dreeite NCR but the impact of rabbits in the reserve is also undetermined.

Management objectives and targets (short-long term) - Control foxes to maintain habitat values of the reserve for small mammals, reptiles and other ground-dwelling fauna. - Maintain rabbit numbers at less than 5 per spotlight km.

5 Dreeite Nature Conservation Reserve

Physical Assets No dams occur in Dreeite NCR, although the permanent and temporary wetlands may provide stock access to water. Alternative arrangements to provide stock access to water may be necessary to protect the wetlands from degradation. All boundary fencing at the reserve is in a serviceable condition, and there are no internal fences. A gate situated along Hay’s Road provides access to Dreeite NCR (Figure 1).

Management objectives and targets (short-medium term) - Consider fencing off the permanent and temporary wetlands in Dreeite NCR to protect the wetlands from degradation by stock. Alternative arrangements to provide stock access to water will need to be investigated if grazing is used for management. - Survey the existing fencing at Dreeite NCR, and liaise with adjoining landowners to ensure boundary fences are maintained in a stock-proof condition.

Heritage Values, Condition and Risk There are no recorded places of heritage value and there is no evidence of places with heritage value.

Management objectives and targets (short-medium term) - If sites are of heritage value are identified in Dreeite NCR, assess their condition and establish management objectives.

Indigenous Values, Condition and Risk A fish trap adjacent to the permanent wetland, and non-local rock, which were identified in Dreeite NCR following site inspection are likely to be of indigenous significance (J. Clarke pers. comm. 2004). The potential for more places or objects of indigenous value to be present was considered high. Rock removal, stock trampling and general site disturbance are identified as risks to the indigenous values of these features.

Management objectives and targets (short-long term) - Respect the aspirations and rights of the Kirrae wurrong and Framlingham Aboriginal Trust in managing the reserve in accordance with relevant legislation and Parks Victoria’s operational policies. - Work together with the Kirrae wurrong with Framlingham Aboriginal Trust to survey Dreeite NCR to identify the location of Indigenous sites, places and objects. - If sites, places and objects are identified, assess their condition and seek guidance from these communities on future management.

Visitor Services, Condition and Risk There is currently no level of visitor services for Dreeite NCR (classified as “Very Basic”). The provisional future level of service will be “Very Basic” (no facilities). Access is currently restricted to pedestrian access off Hay’s Road, via Beeac-Dreeite

6 Dreeite Nature Conservation Reserve

Road. While there is no data available, visitor numbers to the Dreeite wetland NCR are likely to be low (0-5000 p.a.) as the reserve has only been recently purchased.

Management objectives and targets (short-long term) - Retain “Very Basic” level of service; i.e. do not provide built facilities or access roads accessible by the general public. - Maintain existing internal Management Vehicle Only (MVO) tracks where required.

Signage: Provide locality signage for the reserve within two years and maintain it.

Consultation This Management Statement has been prepared in consultation with Rob Wallis, John Clarke and Evan McDowell (Parks Victoria).

References and Further Reading DSE (2003) Advisory List of Threatened Vertebrate Fauna in Victoria - 2003. Department of Sustainability and Environment, .

DSE (2005) Advisory List of Rare or Threatened Plants in Victoria - 2005. Department of Sustainability and Environment, East Melbourne.

Environment Australia (2000) Revision of the Interim Biogeographic Regionalisation for Australia (IBRA) and Development of Version 5.1 Summary Report. Environment Australia, Canberra. http://www.deh.gov.au/parks/nrs/ibra/version5-1/summary-report/index.html

Peterson, G. N. L. (1999) Distribution and conservation status of the Corangamite Water Skink (Eulamprus tympanum marnieae) on the Victorian Volcanic Plain. Report to the Research Advisory Group of the Grassy Ecosystem Reference Group, Parks Victoria, Melbourne. Department of Zoology, , Bundoora. http://www.deh.gov.au/land/publications/water-skink/

NRE (2002) Western District Lakes Ramsar Site: Strategic Management Plan. Department of Natural Resources and Environment, Melbourne.

NRE (1996) IUCN Categories and Other Key Data for Parks and Conservation Reserves in Victoria. National Parks and Reserves Branch, National Parks Service, Department of Natural Resources and Environment, Melbourne.

Parks Victoria (2003) Conservation Reserves Management Strategy. Parks Victoria, Melbourne.

Robertson, P. (1998) Corangamite Water-Skink (Eulamprus tympanum marineae) Recovery Plan 1998-2003. Biodiversity Group, Environment Australia, Canberra.

7 Dreeite Nature Conservation Reserve

Ross, J. (1999) Identification of priority areas for protection and establishment of protected areas – Victorian Volcanic Plain. Report for Parks, Flora and Fauna, Department of Natural Resources and Environment, Melbourne.

Ross, J., Lowe, K.W., Boyle, C. & Moorrees, A. (2003) Biodiversity Action Planning: Landscape Plans for the Eastern zones in the Victorian Volcanic Plain Bioregion. Department of Sustainability and Environment, Melbourne.

Taylor, R., Wierzbowski, P., Lowe, K.W., Ross, J., Moorrees, A. & Ahern, L. (2003) Biodiversity Action Planning: Strategic Overview for the Victorian Volcanic Plain Bioregion. Department of Sustainability and Environment, Melbourne.

8 Dreeite Nature Conservation Reserve

Appendix 1: Provisional list of vascular flora recorded at Dreeite Nature Conservation Reserve and adjoining areas.

Taxon Common Name Source FFG 12 EPBC Vic Status

Indigenous Species Acacia mearnsii Black Wattle + Acacia melanoxylon Blackwood + Acaena novae-zelandiae Bidgee-widgee + Carex appressa Tall Sedge + Clematis microphylla Small-leaved Clematis + Crassula sieberiana s.l. Sieber Crassula + Daucus glochidiatus Australian Carrot + Dichondra repens Kidney-weed + Einadia nutans subsp. nutans Nodding Saltbush + Epilobium spp. Willow Herb + Geranium spp. Crane's Bill + Melicytus dentatus s.l. Tree Violet + + Oxalis corniculata s.l. Yellow Wood-sorrel + Phragmites australis Common Reed + Rumex brownii Slender Dock + Senecio pinnatifolius Variable Groundsel + Urtica incisa Scrub Nettle +

Introduced Species Acetosella vulgaris Sheep Sorrel + Aira spp. Hair Grass + Arctotheca calendula Cape Weed + Avena barbata Bearded Oat + Briza minor Lesser Quaking-grass + Bromus diandrus Great Brome + Bromus hordeaceus subsp. hordeaceus Soft Brome + Cerastium glomeratum s.l. Common Mouse-ear Chickweed + Cirsium arvense Perennial Thistle + Conium maculatum Hemlock + + Galium aparine Cleavers + Holcus lanatus Yorkshire Fog + Hordeum leporinum Barley-grass + Hypochoeris radicata Cat's Ear + Lycium ferocissimum African Box-thorn + Polycarpon tetraphyllum Four-leaved Allseed + Solanum nigrum sensu Willis (1972) Black Nightshade + Sonchus asper s.l. Rough Sow-thistle + Sonchus oleraceus Common Sow-thistle + Trifolium campestre var. campestre Hop Clover + Trifolium dubium Suckling Clover + Trifolium repens var. repens White Clover + Trifolium subterraneum Subterranean Clover +

9 Dreeite Nature Conservation Reserve

Taxon Common Name Source FFG 12 EPBC Vic Status

Vicia spp. Vetch + Vulpia spp. Fescue +

Total no. Indigenous spp. 14 4 Total no. Introduced spp. 25 1 Total no. Species 39 5 Key: Threat status follows DSE (2005).

Source: 1 - Victorian Flora Site Database Ref: M00546, Date: 16 December 1997. Site located on property directly adjacent (south) of Dreeite NCR. 2 - Incidental flora observations at Dreeite NCR. Observer: G. Peterson, DPI (Peterson 2003).

10 Dreeite Nature Conservation Reserve

Appendix 2. Provisional list of fauna recorded at Dreeite Nature Conservation Reserve and adjoining areas

Common Name Scientific Name Source Vict FFG EPBC Status Indigenous Species Black Wallaby Wallabia bicolor 1 Corangamite Water Skink Eulamprus tympanum marnieae 2cLE Growling Grass Frog Litoria raniformis 1,2,4 e L V Spotted Marsh Frog Limnodynastes tasmaniensis 2 Southern Brown Tree Frog Litoria ewingii 4 Australasian Grebe Tachybaptus novaehollandiae 3 Brolga Grus rubicunda 4vL Lewin’s Rail Rallus pectoralis 4vL Freckled Duck Stictonetta naevosa 4eL Australasian Shoveler Anas rhynchotis 4v Latham’s Snipe Gallinago harwickii 4n Cladorhynchus leucocephalus 4 Australian Magpie Gymnorhina tibicen 1 Australian White Ibis Threskiornis molucca 3 Black Swan Cygnus atratus 1,3 Black-shouldered Kite Elanus axillaris 2 Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus 3 Brown Falcon Falco berigora 2 Little Eagle Hieraaetus morphnoides 2 Little Grassbird Megalurus gramineus 2 Little Raven Corvus mellori 1,2 Long-billed Corella Cacatua tenuirostris 2 Magpie-lark Grallina cyanoleuca 2 Masked Lapwing Vanellus miles 1,3 Pacific Black Duck Anas superciliosa 1,3 Red-browed Finch Neochmia temporalis 2 Silver Gull Larus novaehollandiae 3 Silvereye Zosterops lateralis 1 Southern Whiteface Aphelocephala leucopsis 2 Superb Fairy-wren Malurus cyaneus 1 Swamp Harrier Circus approximans 1,3 Welcome Swallow Hirundo neoxena 1,2 Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybridus 3,4 n White-eared Honeyeater Lichenostomus leucotis 2 White-fronted Chat Epthianura albifrons 1,2 White-necked Heron Ardea pacifica 3 Willie Wagtail Rhipidura leucophrys 1,2 Yellow-rumped Thornbill Acanthiza chrysorrhoa 1

Introduced Species European Rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus 2 Red Fox Canis vulpes 2 European Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis 1

Key: c (critically endangered in Victoria), e (endangered in Victoria), v (vulnerable in Victoria), n (near threatened in Victoria), L (listed as threatened under the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988), E (nationally endangered). V (nationally vulnerable). Threat status follows DSE (2003).

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Source: 1 - Dreeite NCR site inspection August 2004, Observer: James Fitzsimons. 2 - Victorian Fauna Site Database Ref: A0028602, Date: 06 Nov 1997. Site located approximately 20m west of Dreeite NCR. 3 - Victorian Fauna Site Database Ref: A1782565, Date: 06 Nov 1997. Site located in Dreeite NCR. 4 - Incidental fauna observations from Dreeite NCR. Observer: G. Peterson, DPI (Peterson 2003).

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Appendix 3. Biosites listed as occurring near to Dreeite Nature Conservation Reserve (Database accessed on 27 September 2004).

Site # 637 Beeac/Dreeite Rd (located 1 km north of Dreeite NCR) • Significance Level: State • Last Update: 18/08/1998 Date Created: 16/04/1998 Created by: SM01, Colac, South West, Old ID: 04A0303 • Bioregion: Victorian Volcanic Plain • Habitat: Stony Rises • Map References: East side of Lake Corangamite • Boundary Derivation: Site Register map (small scale 1:50 000 to 1:100 000) • Longitude: 38° 09' 14", Latitude 143° 33' 23" • Species Assets: Spiny Peppercress Lepidium aschersonii; Magpie Goose Anseranas semipalmata • Other Assets FFG listed species or community; High biodiversity

Site # 718 Beeac-Dreeite Road - BROLGA 101 (located 3 km SE of Dreeite NCR) • Significance Level: National • Last Update: 7/07/1998, Date Created: 7/07/1998, Created by: SGM, Colac, South West, Old ID: 04A0385 • Bioregion: Victorian Volcanic Plain • Habitat: Swamp • Map References: Northern side of the Beeac-Dreeite Road, just north-west of Lake Beeac • Boundary Derivation: Derived from local knowledge • Alliances: Brolga breeding/flocking site • Longitude: 38° 11' 16", Latitude 143° 34' 54" • Species Asset: Brolga Grus rubicunda • Other Assets: Breeding site; FFG listed species or community

Site # 653 Pipe Clay Lake (located 3 km NE of Dreeite NCR) • Significance Level: State • Last Update: 18/08/1998; Date Created: 15/04/1998; Created by: SGM, Colac, South West, Old ID: 04A0319 • Bioregion: Victorian Volcanic Plain • Habitat: Wetland margins • Map References: South of Cressy • Boundary Derivation: Site Register map (small scale 1:50 000 to 1:100 000) • Alliances: Brolga breeding/flocking site • Longitude: 38° 08' 46", Latitude 143° 35' 26" • Species Asset: Spiny Peppercress Lepidium aschersonii • Other Assets: FFG listed species or community

13 Figure 1: Dreeite Nature Conservation Reserve - Boundaries, Physical Assets and Hydrological Features DreeiteNCR Roads

Wetlands Freshw aterM eadow

Sem i-perm anentSaline

Wetland Gate

d a o R s y a H

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Theatened Species, Wetlands and DreeiteNCR Ecological Vegetation Classes # Threatened flora&fauna Wetlands (1994) M eadow

Shallow M arsh

Sem iSaline

EcologicalVegetation C lasses (EVC) (125)Plains G rassy W etland

(203)Stony R ises W oodland

(647)Plains Sedgy W etland

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Note:Although partsofthe reserve are m apped as Stony R ises W oodland inthe D SE C orporate GeospatialD ataLibrary atD ecem ber2004,Stony Corangam ite KnollS hrubland isthe dom inantEVC . WaterSkink #

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CUNDARE LO C ALITY # Lake C orangam ite Lake R eserve

#

C undare Lake Reserve # CORANGAMITE Lake C undare Wildlife R eserve

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WesternDistrictLakes R am sarS ite # DREEITE # Towns

# BEEAC

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Disclaimer: D ecem ber2004 Thismapis m ade using the bestavailableinformation. N BaseDatafrom D SE G ISCorporateLibrary The creatorsofthis m ap do notw arrantthatitisfree 202Kilom etres © D epartm entofSustainability and E nvironm ent oferrorand do notacceptliabilityforloss arising The StateofVictoria,2004. # from use ofthisproductbeyond itsoriginalpurpose. Figure 4: D reeite Nature C onservation R eserve - A erial photograph (23/11/94)

Including approximate boundary of Dreeite NCR. Extant Stony K noll Shrubland and wetlands also pictured.