A PRELIMINARY ECOLOGICAL SURVEY

OF

WOODSHED AND SAWMILL PADDOCKS

ON

WEILMORINGLE STATION

WEILMORINGLE NSW

Prepared by A Preliminary Ecological Survey of Woodshed & Sawmill Paddocks on Weilmoringle Station, Weilmoringle

CONTENTS

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ...... 4

1. BACKGROUND...... 6

2. PROPERTY LOCATION AND PROPOSED IPA...... 7

3. METHODOLOGY ...... 8

4. ECOLOGICAL VALUES ...... 9

4.1. FLORA ...... 10 4.2. FAUNA ...... 20

5. CULTURAL VALUES...... 27

5.1. FLORA ...... 28 5.2. FAUNA ...... 41

6. MANAGEMENT OPTIONS...... 42

REFERENCES ...... 46

APPENDICES ...... 48

APPENDIX 1 ECOLOGICAL SURVEY DATA FORM ...... 49

APPENDIX 2.1 ECOLOGICAL SURVEY – SITE WEIL 1 DATA ...... 50 APPENDIX 2.2 ECOLOGICAL SURVEY – SITE WEIL 2 DATA ...... 52 APPENDIX 2.3 ECOLOGICAL SURVEY – SITE WEIL 3 DATA ...... 54 APPENDIX 2.4 ECOLOGICAL SURVEY – SITE WEIL 4 DATA ...... 56 APPENDIX 2.5 ECOLOGICAL SURVEY – SITE WEIL 5 DATA ...... 58 APPENDIX 2.6 ECOLOGICAL SURVEY – SITE WEIL 6 DATA ...... 60 APPENDIX 2.7 ECOLOGICAL SURVEY – SITE WEIL 7 DATA ...... 62 APPENDIX 2.8 ECOLOGICAL SURVEY – SITE WEIL 8 DATA ...... 64 APPENDIX 2.9 ECOLOGICAL SURVEY – SITE WEIL 9 DATA ...... 66 APPENDIX 2.10 ECOLOGICAL SURVEY – SITE WEIL 10 DATA ...... 68 APPENDIX 2.11 ECOLOGICAL SURVEY – SITE WEIL 11 DATA ...... 70

APPENDIX 3 ECOLOGICAL SURVEY – WOOLSHED PADDOCK...... 72

APPENDIX 4 SUMMARY OF NFRPC VEGETATION COMMUNITIES FOUND IN PROPOSED IPA ON WEILMORINGLE STATION...... 73

Prepare by NGALINA for The Weilmoringle Land Holding Company Page 3 A Preliminary Ecological Survey of Woodshed & Sawmill Paddocks on Weilmoringle Station, Weilmoringle

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The Weilmoringle Land Holding Company (WLHC) as part of its Property Management Plan (PMP) proposed to set aside part of the property as a wildlife sanctuary. As a first step towards the establishment of a Wildlife Sanctuary, the WLHC Board have sort funding from the Commonwealth Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts (DEWHA) for the declaration of a portion of the property as an Indigenous Protected Area (IPA). This ecological report has been prepared to support this endeavour.

The initial proposal was for the IPA to cover Woolshed and Sawmill Paddocks, a total of 2889 hectares or 16.88% of the total property area. A summary of the ecological finding are as follows:

Flora:  6 of the 11 vegetation communities mapped by NFPRPC (2004a) are present in the proposed IPA.

 Two vegetation communities (Coolibah / Black Box Woodland and Brigalow / Gidgee Woodland/Shrubland) listed under NSW State TSC Act (1995) are considered present in the IPA and all Brigalow is also listed under The Commonwealth EP&BC Act (1999) as a threatened ecological community.

 With the exception of the areas mapped as Barren on the NFPRC vegetation map, all of the proposed IPA can be regarded as forming part of an endangered ecological community within the requirements of NSW and Commonwealth threatened species legislation.

 Wade (1992) vegetation mapping shows a large “Sandy Mound” in Woolshed, Front and Back Smith Paddocks. This Sandy Mound is important for the diverse range of plants and habitats it contains as well as the important cultural area of Gooramon Swamp.

 Summer rains and the absence of fire may be important factors in presence of Brigalow in the region. There is some evidence that indicate fire has not been a management tool used by either the traditional Murrawarri or the graziers that followed them. This has important farm management implications.

 Particular attention should be paid to the cryptogram layer for maintaining landscape stability and function; layer was absence from sandhill survey sites and poor in some others, indicating overgrazing and areas likely to be susceptible to land degradation.

 54 separate plant species identified in IPA should be seen as a representative sample; there is a need for surveying over all seasons and climate events.

 2 exotic weeds and 2 “native weeds” identified in IPA; of these Noogoora Burr (Xanthium occidentale), Black Roly Poly (Sclerolaena muricata) and Galvanised Burr (Sclerolaena birchii) pose the most serious problems to pasture management and will require on-going monitoring and active weed management.

 3 species listed as “woody weeds” present in sandhill survey site pose some problems.

 2 species with restricted distribution were identified in the IPA; Pale-leaf Mistletoe (Amyema maidenii) and Sandhill Rice-flower (Pimelea penicillaris)

 3 species listed under the NSW TSC Act are either present or highly likely to be present in the IPA; Narrow-leafed Bumble (Capparis loranthifolia var. loranthifolia), Desert Cow-Vine (Ipomoea diamantinensis) and Slender Darling Pea (Swainsona murrayana). Prepare by NGALINA for The Weilmoringle Land Holding Company Page 4 A Preliminary Ecological Survey of Woodshed & Sawmill Paddocks on Weilmoringle Station, Weilmoringle

Fauna:  It is recommended that a more thorough fauna survey be undertaken involving specialist ecologists and biologists with equipment and expertise in ornithologist (birds), herpetologist (reptiles), bats and marsupials and small mammals.

 Major Mitchell (Cacatua leadbeateri) only threatened species observed in IPA, although members of the Weilmoringle Community report the possible sighting of a wallaby resembling Bridled Nailtail Wallaby (Onychogalea fraenata) on other part of the property.

 2 marsupial threatened species are likely to be present on the property and are possible candidates for a re-establishment/protected breeding programme; Kultarr (Antechinomys laniger) and Stripe-faced Dunnart (Sminthopsis macroura). A further 5 species, extinct to NSW could also be considered.

 More specific expert advice and assistance in this regard should be sought from either the Western Plains Zoo or the Australian Museum or the CSIRO.

Cultural Values:  Of 116 plant species identified by Dykes et al. (2006a) as having a Murrawarri cultural value, at least 35 and possibly 37 were found in the IPA.

 Gidgee (common in the IPA) is an important plant species for the Murrawarri People as some Elders regard it as the plant that defines themselves and their people’s country; the Murrawarri are the “Gidgee People” or “the People of the Gidgee Country”.

 Ring Gidgee is a special type of Gidgee and is much prized for tool-making; it was also one of select group of plants traded across southern NSW; the knowledge of its identification is restricted to senior Murrawarri men.

 Of the 29 plant species identified by Dykes et al. (2006a) as having an exceptional value to the Murrawarri, at least 9 and possibly 11 were found in the IPA

 4 plants found in the IPA have special significance to some Murrawarri people and provide real tangible connection to country for these people.

 Areas of 4 of the 5 class categories as mapped by Dykes et al. (2006a) are within IPA.

Recommendations:  Increase the IPA to include the all of the Sandy Mound and Gooramon Swamp.  Undertake smaller scale vegetation mapping to map small patches of Gidgee and Brigalow.  More comprehensive plant species surveying over all seasons and climatic events.  Particular emphasis paid to identifying the presence and location of species listed in Tables 2 and 3, species listed as having exceptional value status for the Murrawarri People and species identified as being Murrawarri food and medicine plants.  Fire is a threatening process to Brigalow and it use on the property rigidly managed.  Use selective stock grazing rather than fire to manage fuel levels in the IPA.  Maintain paddock perimeter fire breaks.  Undertake a more thorough fauna survey of the IPA  A senior Murrawarri man should survey IPA to identify any Ring Gidgee plants.  Rotate traditional hunting activities across the whole of the property.  Remove domestic stock from IPA and undertake appropriate perimeter fencing.  Implement feral pest control measures for goats, pigs, rabbits, foxes and cats.  Monitor and control were needed weed species.  Use IPA rangers to undertake further surveys and provide a range of ecological and cultural training.  Seek more expert advice on a wildlife sanctuary and/or reestablishment programme.

Prepare by NGALINA for The Weilmoringle Land Holding Company Page 5 A Preliminary Ecological Survey of Woodshed & Sawmill Paddocks on Weilmoringle Station, Weilmoringle

1. BACKGROUND

The Weilmoringle Land Holding Company (WLHC) has a 3 year lease of Weilmoringle Station from the Indigenous Land Corporation (ILC) over which period the Company hopes to prove it can successfully manage the property so it can achieve the full hand back of the property in June 2009.

The WLHC has produced a Property Management Plan (PMP) for Weilmoringle Station1. In the PMP, as an important component of Activity 2, Murrawarri Culture and Environmental Preservation Stream, it was envisaged that part of the property would eventually be set aside for the establishment of a Wildlife Sanctuary.

As a first step towards the establishment of a Wildlife Sanctuary, the WLHC Board have sort funding from the Commonwealth Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts (DEWHA) for the declaration of a portion of the property as an Indigenous Protected Area (IPA).

The WLHC Board initially has proposed to nominate Woolshed and Sawmill Paddocks on Weilmoringle Station as an Indigenous Protected Area (IPA) (see Figure 1). Before the paddocks can declared an IPA, there must be extensive consultation with the members of the Company to ensure there is broad agreement on the Board’s course of action. As part of the consultation process with the Company’s members, the WLHC has contracted Ngalina2 to undertake two activities, required as part of IPA consultation process:

1. To conduct 3 two day habitat and species workshops to ascertain what flora and fauna is situated in the following paddocks and locations on the property:

a) \Woolshed Paddock b) Sawmill Paddock

2. Produce a report that includes the following:

A. A list of the flora both native and introduced that is situated in the above paddocks including photos. B. A list of fauna both native and introduced that is situated in the above paddocks including photos. C. A list of endangered flora and fauna on these selected paddocks D. A list of native animals and flora that has been extinct and endangered of becoming extinct from the property. E. Recommendations on how to manage these sections of the property to control feral animals

This report is a summary of the results of those workshops and other ecological and cultural research undertaken by Ngalina for the WLHC. It also includes the information asked for in Point 2 as well recommendation for the future management of the proposed IPA.

1 Dykes and Hooper (2005) 2 Ngalina is the registered trading name for Peter and Sharon Dykes Prepare by NGALINA for The Weilmoringle Land Holding Company Page 6 A Preliminary Ecological Survey of Woodshed & Sawmill Paddocks on Weilmoringle Station, Weilmoringle

2. PROPERTY LOCATION AND PROPOSED IPA

“Weilmoringle” is an aggregation of 17,063ha approximately 110kms north of Brewarrina, 81kms south-west or Goodooga or 160kms north of Bourke. The individual properties comprising include:

Name WLL Lot DP No Area (Ha) “Weilmoringle” 7558 6769 823885 7,920 “Orana” 7559 3844 766287 9,134 Total area 17,114

The property is subdivided into 14 significant paddocks as shown in Figure 1 below. Grazing has been excluded in the past from woolshed paddock, with the remaining 13 grazing paddocks with being used from sheep and cattle grazing.3

Figure 1 – Infrastructure on Weilmoringle Station

Middle Paddock 2229

Strip ÊÚ 534

Bore Paddock 2373 Dicks West Ram 253 Burbon Dam 977 1860 ÊÚ

k e re C Ram Tank r ba ur B 1212 Ration 76 210 %U Sawmill 1817 ÊÚ Back

eek Smith Boundary Fence C Co in House Creeks jerry icke Internal Fences P 233 Ñ Ñ 1212 Rivers Front Crown Reserve Bore Drai ns Smith Ñ Burial sites Internal Roads %U 218 %U ÊÚ Bores Power U %U Dams Wool shed 1072

359

r e iv R %U a o g ul C Front Colin 1985

Total area of Woodshed Paddock 1072 hectares 6.26% of total property area Total area of Sawmill Paddock 1817 hectares 10.62% of total property area Total proposed IPA area 2889 hectares 16.88% of total property area

3 Dykes and Hooper (2005) p.32 Prepare by NGALINA for The Weilmoringle Land Holding Company Page 7 A Preliminary Ecological Survey of Woodshed & Sawmill Paddocks on Weilmoringle Station, Weilmoringle

3. METHODOLOGY

Peter Dykes from Ngalina conducted three workshops on the following dates:

 8th and 9th November 2008  22nd and 23rd November 2008  2nd to 4th December 2008

Members of the WLHC Board and other Company members and their children attended the workshops. The first 2 workshops were held at the Weilmoringle Station Homestead and were involved with explaining ecological terms, familiarising people with plants and animals, identifying cultural values and protocols and looking at IPA options for the property. The third workshop was fielded based looking over selected sites in the Woolshed and Sawmill Paddocks, examining and documenting the ecological values identified at each site.

Peter was grateful for the assistance of Aunty Josie Byno and Aunty Vera Nixon, senior Murrawarri Knowledge Holders for providing cultural advice and helping facilitate the workshops. Also Fred Hooper and Kylie Gibbons provided invaluable support and assistance with the project.

Above - Fred, Aunty Josie and Aunty Vera at Site “Weil 11” assessing the area.

At the third workshop an Ecological Survey Data Form (See Appendix 1) was used to collect information on 11 sites in Woolshed and Sawmill Paddocks. The results plus a photo for each site are shown in Appendix 2. During the early evening and just after sunset on 2 of three workshop nights, night spotting was done in Woolshed Paddock, by driving around the selected sites and recording what animals were observed. The results are shown in Appendix 3.

In the preparation of this report Ngalina has researched all readily available ecological and cultural reports, maps and electronic data sets covering Weilmoringle and the surrounding area. Using this information and the data collected during the workshops, Ngalina discusses in Sections 3 and 4 the ecological and cultural values identified (Points 2 (A) to (D) of Contract Terms) in the proposed IPA that the WLHC will have to consider.

Section 5 discusses options (Points 2 (E) of Contract Terms) available for the future management of the proposed IPA.

Prepare by NGALINA for The Weilmoringle Land Holding Company Page 8 A Preliminary Ecological Survey of Woodshed & Sawmill Paddocks on Weilmoringle Station, Weilmoringle

4. ECOLOGICAL VALUES

In assessing the ecological values of the proposed IPA the authors have relied heavily upon the ecological studies undertaken by The Northern Floodplain Regional Planning Committee (NFPRPC) (2004), Wade (1992), Ayres, et al. (1996) plus numerous plant and animal identification reference texts4

Also as previous stated the authors with the assistance of members of the WLHC conducted 12 point source surveys of selected sites throughout the proposed IPA. Figure 2 show the location of the 12 sites with the results should in Appendix 2. The surveys tended to concentrate on the flora component, although some useful observations were made with regard to fauna issues.

Figure 2 – Survey Sites on Weilmoringle Station

Middle Paddock North

Middle Paddock South Strip Bore

Dicks West Ram NW

Burban Dam West Ram & N West Ram Weil-11 & South Ram Tank North Weil-10 Ration Weil-09 & Ram Tank South Sawmill Back Smith Weil-01 Front & Smith Weil-08 & Colin Horse & Weil-04 Weil-02 Legend & & Weil-03 Weil-05 Woolshed & Weilmoringle Survey Sites & Weil-06 & Weilmoringle Station Boundary & Weil-07 Weilmoringle Station Paddocks Front Colin West

Front Colin East

4 For a complete list refer to Bibliography section of report Prepare by NGALINA for The Weilmoringle Land Holding Company Page 9 A Preliminary Ecological Survey of Woodshed & Sawmill Paddocks on Weilmoringle Station, Weilmoringle

4.1. FLORA

Vegetation Communities: The Northern Floodplains Regional Planning Committee (NFPRPC) has mapped the native vegetation of the Brewarrina Shire into 30 broad vegetation communities of which 11 are present on Weilmoringle Station. Of these 6 vegetation communities are present in the proposed IPA (see Figure 3 below), namely:

Barren Black Box / Coolibah Coolibah / Other Gidgee Leopard / Gidgee /Saltbush Poplar Box / Coolibah

A full description of the floristic and structure, taken from NFPRPC report, of each of the 6 vegetation communities is included in Appendix 4 of this report.

Given that most of the remaining 5 vegetation communities found on Weilmoringle Station are restricted to particular parts of the property (Lignum and Grassland to Colin Horse Paddock; Brigalow, Poplar Box / Gidgee and Poplar Box / Pine / Other to western end of the property) the selected IPA area has a reasonable good sample of the vegetation communities present over most Weilmoringle Station.

Figure 3 – NFPRC Vegetation Communities on Weilmoringle Station5

5 Derived from NFPRPC (2004b) Prepare by NGALINA for The Weilmoringle Land Holding Company Page 10 A Preliminary Ecological Survey of Woodshed & Sawmill Paddocks on Weilmoringle Station, Weilmoringle

Two ecological communities listed as an Endangered Ecological Community under the NSW Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 (TSA) were present on Weilmoringle Station.

1. Coolibah / Black Box Woodland of the northern riverine plains in the Darling Riverine Plains and Brigalow Belt South Bioregions.

Exactly what constitutes Coolibah / Black Box Woodland is subject to determination. Terry Mazzer Regional Ecologist, Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Dubbo (now DECC) has previously indicated that the interpretation by DNR Far West Regional vegetation assessment staff was to regard any vegetation community where either Coolibah (Eucalyptus coolibah) or Black Box (Eucalyptus largiflorens) was the dominant or co-dominant canopy species as meeting the requirement under the listing for Coolibah / Black Box Woodland. Terry was confident most patches of Black Box / Coolibah and Coolibah / Other as mapped by NFPRPC met the TSA listing requirements for Coolibah / Black Box Woodland. Terry was less confident to make the same ascertain with regard to Poplar Box / Coolibah, requiring an on-side inspection before determination.6 On this basis survey sites Weil 2, 4, 6, 8, and part of 9 can be regarded as meeting the definition as Coolibah / Black Box Woodland.

2. Brigalow / Gidgee Woodland/Shrubland in the Mulga Lands and Darling Riverine Plains Bioregions.

Also all Brigalow (Acacia harpophylla either as the dominant and co-dominant species) is listed under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 as an Endangered Ecological Community regardless of its bioregion location. In discussion with Terry Mazzer, the intent and effect of the above two listings is to ensure that Brigalow (Acacia harpophylla) whether it is found as “pure stands” or as small patches or clumps within other communities is protected under threatened species legislation7. Two vegetation communities as mapped by NFPRPC found in the proposed IPA are affected by the State and Commonwealth Brigalow listings, namely:

 Gidgee  Leopard / Gidgee / Saltbush

Survey sites Weil 5, 6, 9 and 10 can be regarded as meeting the definition for either NSW or Commonwealth listing as Brigalow / Gidgee Woodland/Shrubland and/or as Brigalow.

In summary, with the exception of the areas mapped as Barren on the NFPRC vegetation map, all of the proposed IPA can be regarded as forming part of an Endangered Ecological Community within the requirements of NSW and Commonwealth Threatened Species legislation.

Wade (1992) vegetation mapping while much older and more restricted and specific (Wade was mapping the Brigalow Outlier between the Culgoa and Warrego Rivers) is of interest because it identifies ecological features not shown as clearly in the latter NFPRPC vegetation mapping.

Map unit number 11 (Sandy Mound) is a particularly interesting unit because Wade’s mapping has it only occurring in significant numbers and area size along the northern sections of the Culgoa River. Sandy Mounds are important because of the diverse plants that grow on them (when comparing with floodplain country – map unit 8) and the habitat potential they offer for small mammals. They are also important for their cultural values (see Section 5); the large Sandy Mound shown in Figure 4 located below “Weilmoringle” contains the feature known locally as “Gooramon Swamp”. Gooramon Swamp is an important site to the Murrawarri People; there is significant evidence that people used the swamp and the surrounding sandhill for eons and it also is a significant post contact contemporary site.

6 Personal comment to consultant 8/12/05 7 Personal comment to consultant 8/12/05 Prepare by NGALINA for The Weilmoringle Land Holding Company Page 11 A Preliminary Ecological Survey of Woodshed & Sawmill Paddocks on Weilmoringle Station, Weilmoringle

Figure 4 – Wade’s Vegetation Communities in the Weilmoringle Area8

Legend9: Each mapped unit is labelled with a number corresponding to a vegetation type. The brigalow vegetation (and occasionally other types) is subdivided into modification classes denoted by a letter (A to F)

No. Type Name Description 2. Brigalow – Gidgee: Brigalow (Acacia harpophylla) and Gidgee (Acacia cambagei) woodland. The two species co-dominant or alternating in dominance. 3. Gidgee: Gidgee (Acacia cambagei) dominant woodland. 6. Pine – Ironwood: Open woodland communities dominated by varying mixtures of White Cypress Pine (Callitris glaucophylla), Ironwood (Acacia excelsa) Poplar Box (Eucalyptus populnea), Bull Oak (Casuarina luehmannii) and Belah (Casuarina cristata) 8. Floodplain: Grassland or low shrubland to open woodland with Coolibah (Eucalyptus coolabah) and Black Box (Eucalyptus largiflorens) 11. Sandy Mound: A varied vegetation community common to sandy mounds on the edge of the floodplain. The more common tree species are Ironwood (Acacia excelsa), Poplar Box (Eucalyptus populnea), Gidgee (Acacia cambagei), White (Atalaya hemiglauca) and Rosewood (Alectryon oleifolius)

Modification Classes:

A Unmodified, or little modified B Regrowth with similar density to class A C: Thinned and/or regrowth of lower density then A

8 Wade (1992) a scanned portion of Wade’s vegetation map around Weilmoringle area. 9 Abbreviated legend taken from Wade (1992) vegetation map. Prepare by NGALINA for The Weilmoringle Land Holding Company Page 12 A Preliminary Ecological Survey of Woodshed & Sawmill Paddocks on Weilmoringle Station, Weilmoringle

The Gooramon Swamp and the associated sandhill (Sandy Mound) are clearly seen in satellite imagery of Weilmoringle Station where it forms a distinctive green/purple/blue patch in Woolshed, Front and Back Smith Paddocks (See Figure 5).

Figure 5 – Satellite Imagery of Weilmoringle Station

Wade (1992) also makes some very interesting observations with regard to the Brigalow Outlier:

“The occurrence of extensive communities of Brigalow north-east of Bourke is anomalous in many respects...... The communities near Bourke are much further west than the major “Brigalow Belt” and in a region of much lower rainfall.

The Brigalow communities under scrutiny occupy a very specific position in the landscape. They occur in the region between two tributaries of the Darling River, the Culgoa River and the Warrego River. The Brigalow vegetation is found on level to slightly undulating plains, either side of a low range of cretaceous sediments. The soil types of the plains vary from light textured soft red earths which occur near the range to alluvial clays adjacent to the current floodplains. This broad range of soil types suggests that soil type is not a major factor determining where Brigalow occur.”

Wade draws on a number of studies to show that “summer rainfall appears to be important as Brigalow grows actively in summer and is dormant in winter months. The Brigalow Outlier is in the transition zone between summer and winter rainfall dominance. This is one reason that extensive communities do not occur further south where there is less summer rain.”10

10 Wade (1992) pp30 - 31 Prepare by NGALINA for The Weilmoringle Land Holding Company Page 13 A Preliminary Ecological Survey of Woodshed & Sawmill Paddocks on Weilmoringle Station, Weilmoringle

Wade also draws on past fire regimes studies which show that fire history is important in “that Brigalow was the only forest type outside the rainforest, which did not depend on or evolve according to regular fire events. As with relict rainforest, fire was not a factor in the evolution or perpetuation of this community. Also most genera common to Brigalow communities were also found in rainforests.

It could be that the position in the landscape occupied by Brigalow was partly determined by fire paths in the area. This facet of Brigalow ecology has important implications for future management of this resource.”11

The above fire regime observation for Brigalow was also observed in the point source surveying conducted in the proposed IPA on Weilmoringle Station. None of the 11 sites surveyed showed any evidence of previous fires (there were no fire scars on trees, or blacken or burnt logs). This indicates that fire has not been a management tool used by either the traditional Murrawarri or the graziers that followed them.

Finally it is worth discussing a particularly important but overlook component of most vegetation communities in the arid rangelands of Australia, the cryptogram or “biological soil crusts”.

The Cryptogram Layer or “biological soil crusts are important components of the ground flora in the dry areas of the world. They are formed by an intimate relationship between a rich assortment of lichens, bryophytes (mosses and liverworts), cyanobacteria (blue-green algae), green algae and fungi and the uppermost layers of the soil. This crust is more than just a group of organisms growing on the soil. The integrity of the crust is inextricably linked with these organisms, and its survival depends on the survival of the organisms and vice versa.”12

Eldridge and Tozer note that “biological soil crusts are widespread across western NSW...... particularly where the rain falls mainly in winter and the soils are rich in calcium carbonate. At the broad landscape scale, crusts respond to rainfall and calcium carbonate levels in the soil. At a local scale, the cover and type of crusts depends on vegetation cover, the physical and chemical properties of the soil, and microtopography.”13

Eldridge and Tozer identify 6 broad associations of landforms, soils and vegetation in Western NSW in which biological soils crusts (Cryptogram Layer) exists. Two of these are relevant to Weilmoringle Station and the IPA, namely:-

1. Sandplains with Mulga Woodland in the far northwest – characterised by sandplains dominated by scattered Mulga (Acacia aneura), dense shrubs (Eremophila, Dodonaea and Senna) and sparse pastures. 2. Active and relict drainage systems – characterised by in the north by areas of grey and brown cracking clays supporting Brigalow (Acacia harpophylla), Coolibah (Eucalyptus coolabah) and Gidgee (Acacia cambagei).

The Cryptogram Layer is important for reducing water and wind erosion; regulating infiltration of water into the soil; enhancing soil nutrition; and providing valuable niches for plant seedling and invertebrate fauna. In Australian rangelands the layer is critical in maintaining landscape stability, particularly in drought periods when vegetation cover is depleted or entirely missing, it can be used as an environmental indicator of over grazing and degradation.

Six survey sites showed evidence of a cryptogram layer; sites Weil 1, 2, 5, 6, 9 and 11, although it should have been present in some form at all of the sites. Particularly disturbing is that there was no cryptogram layer observed at the 2 sandplain sites; Weil 4 and 10. This could mean that these areas have been heavily affected by grazing and susceptible to further land degradation.

11 Wade (19920 pp30 - 31 12 Eldridge and Tozer (1997) pp. 1 13 Eldridge and Tozer (1997) pp. 2 Prepare by NGALINA for The Weilmoringle Land Holding Company Page 14 A Preliminary Ecological Survey of Woodshed & Sawmill Paddocks on Weilmoringle Station, Weilmoringle

Plant Species: A total of 54 separate plant species were identified from the 11 sites surveyed (see Table 1). Because fieldwork was restricted to early summer, this list should be taken as a representative sample only and not a definitive species listing. Sampling would need to be undertaken throughout the year over all four seasons to get a more comprehensive species listing.

Of the species listed, two are exotic species Camel melon (Citrullus lanatus) and Noogoora Burr (Xanthium occidentale). Noogoora Burr (observed at site Weil 3 – dam in Woodshed Paddock) is the most serious, being a proclaimed noxious weed in all Australian states. The WLHC will need to take immediate active to control this species as the nature of the “burr” enables easy dispersal of the plant by both cattle and sheep. Camel melon is the wild form of the cultivated watermelon and does not pose a serious weed problem (note it has been recorded as a “cultural plant” for the Murrawarri, refer Section 5).

Two other plants although native exhibit, also “weed” characteristics, these being Black Roly Poly (Sclerolaena muricata) and Galvanised Burr (Sclerolaena birchii). Cunningham et al (1992) records that Black Roly Poly (Sclerolaena muricata) is “a very common plant found over extensive areas and a ready pioneer of country on which the pasture has been weaken by over grazing, flooding, trampling or other cause; often very abundant on stock routes.”14 In the NSW Western Division the species is often used by many graziers as an “indicator species” of poor pasture management or to highlight potential pasture management problems. It will in drought become very abundant in over grazed paddocks and require active management to control. Black Roly Poly was observed at 4 of the 11 survey sites (sites Weil 1, 7, 8 and 9).

Cunningham et al (1992) notes that Galvanised Burr (Sclerolaena birchii) “in the field benefits from good winter rains followed by rain in spring or early summer which can lead to dense stands in favourable situations. This is particularly so in areas on which vegetation has been removed by overgrazing, drought, trampling or other causes.”15 Like Black Roly Poly, Galvanised Burr is also used by many graziers in the NSW Western Division as an “indicator species” of poor pasture management or to highlight potential pasture management problems. Galvanised Burr was observed at 7 of the 11 survey sites (sites Weil 4 5, 6, 7, 8, 10 and 11).

While both Black Roly Poly and Galvanised Burr were not found in dense stands or in quantities that would require immediate action, the WLHC would do well to monitor their presence in the IPA and on the property as a whole.

Three species listed under Woody Weeds; Budda (Eremophila mitchellii), Hopbush (Dodonaea viscose) and Turpentine (Eremophila sturtii) were recorded at 6 survey sites (site Weil 2, 5, 6, 9, 10 and 11). However in all but two sites the shrub density was recorded at less 5% (most at less than 2%). Of the other two sites only one site, Weil 10, recorded a high shrub density level (30%). It can be argued that the shrub density (30%) at this site (Weil 10) while very high in comparison to other sites on the IPA, is common with most sandhill vegetation communities.

Table 2 below lists plant species with a restricted distribution predicted to occur in the IPA on Weilmoringle Station. This list was derived from the Table 3 for each of the 6 NFPRPC vegetation communities present in the IPA. Two species listed in Table 2 were recorded at 4 survey sites, Pale-leaf Mistletoe (Amyema maidenii) and Sandhill Rice-flower (Pimelea penicillaris).

Pale-leaf Mistletoe (Amyema maidenii) has two subspecies. The main differences between the subspecies being Amyema maidenii subsp. maidenii grows on Mulga (Acacia aneura) and Dead Finish (Acacia tetragonophylla) and has broad leaves (10-22 mm wide), while Amyema maidenii subsp. angustifolium grows on Gidgee (Acacia cambagei) and Brigalow (Acacia harpophylla) and has narrow leaves (5-10 mm wide).

14 Cunningham et al (1992) pp 256 15 Cunningham et al (19920 pp 249 Prepare by NGALINA for The Weilmoringle Land Holding Company Page 15 A Preliminary Ecological Survey of Woodshed & Sawmill Paddocks on Weilmoringle Station, Weilmoringle

Table 1 – Plant Species Recorded in the IPA on Weilmoringle Station

Common Name Scientific Name Form Black Box Eucalyptus largiflorens T Black Roly Poly+ Sclerolaena muricata GC Bladder saltbush Atriplex vesicaria GC Brigalow## Acacia harpophylla T Budda^ Eremophila mitchellii S Camel melon* Citrullus lanatus GC Climbing Saltbush Einadia nutans GC Coolibah Eucalyptus coolabah T Copperburr Sclerolaena spp. GC Cottonbush Maireana brevifolia GC Cypress Pine Callitris glaucophylla T Daises species unknown GC Fairy Grass Sporobolus caroli GC Fleshy Mistletoe Amyema miraculosum subsp. boormanii S Galvanised Burr+ Sclerolaena birchii GC Gidgee Acacia cambagei S/T Golden Goosefoot Chenopodium auricomum GC Grey Copperburr Sclerolaena diacantha GC Hopbush^ Dodonaea viscosa S Ironwood Acacia excelsa subsp. augusta S/T Lambs Tails Ptilotus exaltatus GC Leafless Cherry Exocarpos aphyllus S Leopardwood Flindersia maculosa T Lignum Muehlenbeckia florulenta GC Milky Weed Chamaesyce drummondii GC Noogoora Burr* Xanthium occidentale GC Napan Capparis lasiantha GC Nardoo Marsilea drummondii GC Native Orange Capparis mitchellii S/T Neverfail Eragrostis setifolia GC Nightshade Solanum spp. GC Northern Mistletoe Lysiana subfalcata subsp. subfalcata S Old Man Saltbush Atriplex nummularia GC Pale-leaf Mistletoe# Amyema maidenii S Pigweed Portulaca oleracea GC Plains Bluebell Wahlenbergia spp. GC Plains Flower-daisy Ixiolaena brevicompta GC Pop Saltbush Atriplex holocarpa GC Purple Lovegrass Eragrostis lacunaria GC Quinine Alstonia constricta S/T Ruby Saltbush Enchylaena tomentosa GC Saltbushes species unknown GC Sandhill Rice-flower# Pimelea penicillaris GC

Prepare by NGALINA for The Weilmoringle Land Holding Company Page 16 A Preliminary Ecological Survey of Woodshed & Sawmill Paddocks on Weilmoringle Station, Weilmoringle

Common Name Scientific Name Form Sedge Cyperus gilesii GC Silky Copperburr Sclerolaena eriacantha GC Small Burr Grass Tragus australianus GC Spear Grass Austrostipa spp. GC Turpentine^ Eremophila sturtii S Warrior Bush Apophyllum anomalum S Western Boobialla Myoporum montanum S Whitewood Atalaya hemiglauca S/T Wilga Geijera parviflora S Windmill Grass Chloris truncata GC Yellow daisy species unknown GC

* Indicates an exotic species + Indicates a native species known to have “weed” characteristics ^ Indicates native species often categorised as a “woody weed” # Indicates a species with a restricted distribution as NFPRPC (2004) ## Indicates a species listed under the NSW Threatened Species Conservation Act (1995) and/or the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (1999).

Form abbreviations: GC Groundcover plant (either grass, small shrub, herb or ford) S Shrub layer plant T Tree (canopy) layer plant S/T Species was present as both a shrub and tree (canopy) layer plant.

Table 2 – Plant Species with Restricted Distribution Recorded and/or Predicted in the IPA on Weilmoringle Station16

Common Name Scientific Name Records Desert Fringe Myrtle Calytrix longiflora R Desert Rice Flower Pimelea simplex subsp. continua P Downy Mother of Misery Cuphonotus andraeanus P Native Lucerne Psoralea graveolens P Pale Leaf Mistletoe Amyema maidenii subsp. angustifolium P Rivercress Rorippa eustylis P Sandhill Rice Flower Pimelea penicillaris R Scrophulariaceae Family Elacholoma hornii P Tall Bottlewashers Enneapogon intermedius P Twining Purslane Calandrinia volubilis P Velvet Lantern-Flower Abutilon leucopetalum P Wild Parsnip, White Parsnip Trachymene ochracea R

Records: P Predicted to occur within the 6 NFPRPC vegetation communities present in the IPA. R Recorded to occur within the 6 NFPRPC vegetation communities present in the IPA.

16 Table derived from Table 3 in NFPRPC (2004) for the 6 vegetation communities identified in IPA Prepare by NGALINA for The Weilmoringle Land Holding Company Page 17 A Preliminary Ecological Survey of Woodshed & Sawmill Paddocks on Weilmoringle Station, Weilmoringle

Pale-leaf Mistletoe was found at 3 survey sites (Weil 5, 6 and 9); at sites Weil 5 and 6 it was growing on Gidgee and at site Weil 9 it was growing on Leopardwood (Flindersia maculosa). While the exact subspecies was not determined there is a very high probability that the subspecies of Pale-leaf Mistletoe recorded during surveying was Amyema maidenii subsp. maidenii. This increases the importance of conserving Gidgee areas.

Sandhill Rice-flower (Pimelea penicillaris) was found at survey site Weil 10, growing in its habitat of red sandy loam soil (sandhill) within its expected range (Bourke and Weilmoringle districts). It can be expected that there are further individual plants growing in Wade’s “Sandy Mound” vegetation community. The presence of Sandhill Rice-flower increases the importance of Gooramon Swamp and the associated sandhill area and the need for it to be conserved.

After a check of the DECC Threatened Species web site database17 and information provided from DECC Western Regional Office, Table 3 below shows eight plant species listed under the NSW Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 in the region around Weilmoringle Station18.

Table 3 – Plant Species Listed Under the NSW Threatened Species Conservation Act (1995) for the Area Around Weilmoringle Station

Known or Common Type of Level of Scientific Name Predicted Name species Threat to Occur

A saltbush Atriplex infrequens Herbs & Forbs Vulnerable Predicted Narrow-leafed Capparis loranthifolia var. Trees Endangered Known Bumble loranthifolia Desert Cow- Ipomoea diamantinensis Herbs & Forbs Endangered Known Vine Winged Lepidium monoplocoides Herbs & Forbs Endangered Predicted Peppercress Squash Bush Osteocarpum Shrubs Endangered Known scleropterum Rice Flower Pimelea elongata Herbs & Forbs Endangered Known Shrub Sida Sida rohlenae Herbs & Forbs Endangered Known Slender Darling Swainsona murrayana Herbs & Forbs Vulnerable Known Pea

Of the species listed in Table 3, three are of interest with regard to the IPA and Weilmoringle Station, Narrow-leafed Bumble (Capparis loranthifolia var. loranthifolia), Desert Cow-Vine (Ipomoea diamantinensis) and Slender Darling Pea (Swainsona murrayana).

Narrow-leafed Bumble (Capparis loranthifolia var. loranthifolia) is a relative of the Bumble Tree or Native Orange (Capparis mitchellii) and both species are similar in appearance with the main differences being in leaf shape and structure, colour of petals, fruit size and shape. Cunningham notes that the species was “recorded only once in the region, from near Weilmoringle in the north – east, where it was growing on a sand ridge in a white cypress pine community.”19 Both species

17 The database was current only to September 2005 18 This is composite listing from the Warrego Plains Provinces A and B; Nebine Plains Provinces A and B; and Culgoa – Bokhara Province 19 Cunningham et al. (1992) pp.337 Prepare by NGALINA for The Weilmoringle Land Holding Company Page 18 A Preliminary Ecological Survey of Woodshed & Sawmill Paddocks on Weilmoringle Station, Weilmoringle grow in similar habitat; on sandy to clay loam soils, although the Bumble Tree is also known to grow on rocky hillsides further west and has a broader range in NSW. Narrow-leafed Bumble is restricted to the north western plains in NSW but is quite common in western Queensland and the Northern Territory. The Bumble Tree was found at two survey sites, Weil 4 and 10 growing in a sandy loam soils. Given that the Narrow-leafed Bumble was collected from near Weilmoringle and that survey sites Weil 4 and 10 shows a remarkable similarity to the description of the collection site mentioned in Cunningham et al (1992), it is therefore highly probably that the species exists on Weilmoringle Station and within the proposed IPA. This view is given further weight when considering that the Murrawarri have a traditional history of recognising and using both species (see Section 5.1).

Desert Cow-Vine (Ipomoea diamantinensis) is member of a genus of plants broadly known as “Morning Glories”. The species is an annual ford with white trumpet-shaped flowers producing an almost globular shaped capsule. Cunningham notes that the species was “recorded for the region only from near Goodooga, in the north-east; growing there in shallow water and mud, on a cracking grey clay soil.”20 Harden reports that the species “grows on clay soils on floodplains; north from near Goodooga.”21 Seven survey sites; Weil 1, 2, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 11 have similar habitat properties (cracking grey floodplain soils) to that required by Desert Cow-Vine. Given the proximity of Weilmoringle Station to Goodooga (about 70km south) and the presence of cracking grey floodplain soils across much of the property there is a high probability that Desert Cow-Vine exist on Weilmoringle Station and within the proposed IPA.

Slender Darling Pea (Swainsona murrayana) is a prostrate ford that ascends to an erect perennial up to 25 cm high. The species is reported by Cunningham to be “an uncommon species which has been found in the Weilmoringle area ..... recorded on a heavy clay soil in a Mitchell Grass community.”22 Harden report the species “often grows with Maireana species (Cottonbushes and Bluebushes) on heavy soils especially in depressions.”23 The species is most likely found in the large area of Grassland mapped by the NFPRPC in Colin Horse Paddock on the east side of the Culgoa River. However there is a very high probability that it could be found in other parts of Weilmoringle Station including the proposed IPA.

Of the remaining five species listed in Table 3, two of the species; saltbush (Atriplex infrequens) and Rice Flower (Pimelea elongata) would be unlikely to occur on Weilmoringle Station. Saltbush (Atriplex infrequens) is confined to the drier regions of the Bourke District.24 Rice Flower (Pimelea elongata) is not recorded in Cunningham et al. (1992) and Harden notes that it grows “on heavy- textured soils with sandy upper layer,”25 which are not found in proposed IPA.

The other three species in Table 3; Winged Peppercress (Lepidium monoplocoides), Squash Bush (Osteocarpum scleropterum) and Shrub Sida (Sida rohlenae); the information on each species and their habitat requirements make it unlikely but not improbably that these species could be found on Weilmoringle Station. Winged Peppercress (Lepidium monoplocoides) is known to be found in Poplar Box (Eucalyptus populnea) communities of which there are three mapped on Weilmoringle Station, but no other habitat information is available. Cunningham reports that a specimen of Squash Bush (Osteocarpum scleropterum) was collected from the Warrego River area, while Ayers notes it “grows in moist areas, along creeks channels on clay soils.”26 Cunningham reports a specimen of Shrub Sida (Sida rohlenae) was “collected only once, from a sandy red soil on a roadside north of Bourke, the seed probably transported from Queensland where the plant appear to be more common.”27

20 Cunningham et al. (1992) pp.557 21 Harden (1993) pp.1:380 22 Cunningham et al. (1992) pp.417 23 Harden (1993) 2nd edn 2:606 24 Ayers et al. (1996) pp. 321 25 Harden (1993) pp. 1:383 - 384 26 Ayers et al. (1996) pp. 335 27 Cunningham et al. (1992) pp. 491 Prepare by NGALINA for The Weilmoringle Land Holding Company Page 19 A Preliminary Ecological Survey of Woodshed & Sawmill Paddocks on Weilmoringle Station, Weilmoringle

4.2. FAUNA

Due to time, equipment and expertise constraints, the fauna component of this survey was only very scantly surveyed. It is recommended that a more thorough fauna survey be undertaken involving specialist ecologists and biologists with equipment and expertise in following fields:

 Ornithologist (birds)  Herpetologist (reptiles)  Bats  Marsupials and small mammals

Table 4 lists a compilation of the results of the fauna observed while undertaking the site surveys, plus the results of the night spotting surveying (site Weil 12).

Above: Lizard observed basking on a Leopardwood Tree at survey site Weil 9.

Although the results are fairly basic, some interesting points should be noted:

 Major Mitchell or Pink Cockatoo (Cacatua leadbeateri) was only threatened species that was observed. Information from Weilmoringle people suggest that it fairly common in the area.

 While the list of identified bird species is small, most sites reported a lot of bird noise, suggesting a systemic approach, including sound recordings to surveying should yield much better results.

 Night spotting in Woolshed paddock revealed quite a lot of small insectivorous bats (Suborder Microchiroptera) again suggesting that a systemic approach using a range of techniques including mist nets should yield much better results.

Continued on page 22

Prepare by NGALINA for The Weilmoringle Land Holding Company Page 20 A Preliminary Ecological Survey of Woodshed & Sawmill Paddocks on Weilmoringle Station, Weilmoringle

Table 4 – Fauna Species Recorded in the IPA on Weilmoringle Station

Common Name Fauna Type Scientific name Bower bird BIRDS Budgie BIRDS Melopsittacus undulatus Crow BIRDS Death Bird BIRDS Emu BIRDS Dromaius novaehollandiae Emu tracks BIRDS Dromaius novaehollandiae Flocks of buggies BIRDS Melopsittacus undulatus Flocks of galahs BIRDS Cacatua roseicapilla Galahs BIRDS Cacatua roseicapilla Happy Jacks BIRDS Struthidea cinerea Honeyeaters BIRDS Kingfisher BIRDS Little Brown Bird BIRDS Lots of bird noise BIRDS Magpie BIRDS Gymnorhina tibicen Major Mitchell# BIRDS Cacatua leadbeateri Owl BIRDS Parrot BIRDS Peewee BIRDS Grallina cyanoleuca Pigeon BIRDS Swallows BIRDS Topknot Pigeon? BIRDS Wedge-tail Eagle BIRDS Aquila audax Echidna MAMMALS Tachyglossus aculeatus Kangaroo MAMMALS Kangaroo tracks MAMMALS Micro Bats MAMMALS Wallaby MAMMALS Cattle & sheep tracks* MAMMALS Cattle tracks* MAMMALS Goats* MAMMALS Pigs tracks* MAMMALS Rabbit diggings* MAMMALS Rabbits* MAMMALS Mussels in dam Other Native Bees Other Goanna REPTILES Lizards REPTILES

* Indicates an exotic species # Indicates a species listed under the NSW Threatened Species Conservation Act (1995) and/or the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (1999).

Prepare by NGALINA for The Weilmoringle Land Holding Company Page 21 A Preliminary Ecological Survey of Woodshed & Sawmill Paddocks on Weilmoringle Station, Weilmoringle

 There was a distinct lack of large marsupials (kangaroos and wallabies) evident over the proposed IPA. The observation was consistent for both day and night surveying. This may be the result of the Woolshed Paddock being over used as a traditional hunting area in preference to other parts of the property.

 The dam at site Weil 3 had some unique fauna – a native bee hive in an old log and according to Aunty Josie and Aunty Vera they harvest freshwater mussels at various times from the dam.

 Evidence of rabbits (sightings and/or diggings) were only observed at two sites; Weil 1 (claypan) and Weil 10 (sandplain)

Of additional interest is the reported sighting by a number of the members of the Weilmoringle community (Aunty Josie, Aunty Vera and Kylie Gibbons) of a peculiar looking wallaby bearing a close resemblance to Bridled Nailtail Wallaby (Onychogalea fraenata). The sightings were not in the proposed IPA, but another area of Weilmoringle Station and if verified would be of national significance as this wallaby which once ranged from the Murray River to Charters Towers is now confined to a small population near Dingo in Central Queensland28. A more thorough fauna survey using a wide range of identification techniques, of the IPA as well as the areas of Weilmoringle Station where the wallaby has been seen is highly recommended.

After a check of the DECC Threatened Species web site database29 and information provided from DECC Western Regional Office, Tables 5 below shows all fauna species listed under the NSW Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 in the region around Weilmoringle Station30.

Of the marsupials listed in Table 5, two would be of interest to the WLHC as possible candidates for a re-establishment/protected breeding programme on Weilmoringle Station, namely;

1. Kultarr (Antechinomys laniger) 2. Stripe-faced Dunnart (Sminthopsis macroura)

Kultarr (Antechinomys laniger) is “predominantly adapted to life on open land, it inhabits desert plains, stony and sandy country where grasses and small bushes constitute the principal vegetation, and Acacia shrubland. It has been found sheltering in logs or stumps, beneath saltbush and spinifex tussocks, and in deep cracks in the soil.”31 While the species is listed as rare and scattered it is not extinct in western NSW and populations can be found within the region which would make any re-establishment/protected breeding programme easy to establish.

Stripe-faced Dunnart (Sminthopsis macroura) inhabits inland central and northern Australia and its preferred habitat is “low shrublands of saltbush and bluebush, and particularly in tussock grassland on clay, sandy or stony soils.”32 Like the Kultarr the species is listed as rare, but it is known to exist in the north-western region of NSW. Again this makes any re-establishment/protected breeding programme easy to establish.

The possibility of either of these species being part of a re-establishment/protected breeding programme on Weilmoringle Station is wholly dependent on the specific habitat requirements of the species being located on the property. More specific expert advice and assistance in this regard should be sought from either the Western Plains Zoo or the Australian Museum.

28 Strahan (1983) pp. 205 29 The database was current only to September 2005 30 This is composite listing from the Warrego Plains Provinces A and B; Nebine Plains Provinces A and B; and Culgoa – Bokhara Province 31 Strahan (1983) pp. 73 32 Strahan (1983) pp. 63 Prepare by NGALINA for The Weilmoringle Land Holding Company Page 22 A Preliminary Ecological Survey of Woodshed & Sawmill Paddocks on Weilmoringle Station, Weilmoringle

Table 5 – Animal Species Listed Under the NSW Threatened Species Conservation Act (1995) for the Area Around Weilmoringle Station

Known Type of Level of or Common Name Scientific Name species Threat Predicted to Occur Sloane's Froglet Crinia sloanei Amphibians Vulnerable Known

Greater Long-eared Bat Nyctophilus timoriensis Bats Vulnerable Predicted (south eastern form) Inland Forest Bat Vespadelus Bats Vulnerable Predicted baverstocki Little Pied Bat Chalinolobus picatus Bats Vulnerable Known Yellow-bellied Saccolaimus Bats Vulnerable Known Sheathtail-bat flaviventris

Australasian Bittern Botaurus poiciloptilus Birds Vulnerable Known Australian Bustard Ardeotis australis Birds Endangered Known Barking Owl Ninox connivens Birds Vulnerable Known Black-breasted Buzzard Hamirostra Birds Vulnerable Predicted melanosternon Black-chinned Melithreptus gularis Birds Vulnerable Known Honeyeater (eastern gularis subspecies) Ephippiorhynchus Black-necked Stork asiaticus Birds Endangered Predicted Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa Birds Vulnerable Predicted Blue-billed Duck Oxyura australis Birds Vulnerable Predicted Brolga Grus rubicunda Birds Vulnerable Known Bush Stone-curlew Burhinus grallarius Birds Endangered Known Diamond Firetail Stagonopleura guttata Birds Vulnerable Known Flock Bronzewing Phaps histrionica Birds Endangered Known Freckled Duck Stictonetta naevosa Birds Vulnerable Known Gilbert's Whistler Pachycephala inornata Birds Vulnerable Known Grey Falcon Falco hypoleucos Birds Vulnerable Known Grey-crowned Babbler Pomatostomus Birds Vulnerable Known (eastern subspecies) temporalis temporalis Hall's Babbler Pomatostomus halli Birds Vulnerable Predicted Hooded Robin (south- Melanodryas cucullata Birds Vulnerable Known eastern form) cucullata Painted Honeyeater Grantiella picta Birds Vulnerable Known Painted Snipe Rostratula Birds Endangered Predicted benghalensis Pied Honeyeater Certhionyx variegatus Birds Vulnerable Known Pink Cockatoo Cacatua leadbeateri Birds Vulnerable Known Red-tailed Black- Calyptorhynchus Birds Vulnerable Known Cockatoo banksii Square-tailed Kite Lophoictinia isura Birds Vulnerable Predicted

Prepare by NGALINA for The Weilmoringle Land Holding Company Page 23 A Preliminary Ecological Survey of Woodshed & Sawmill Paddocks on Weilmoringle Station, Weilmoringle

Known Type of Level of or Common Name Scientific Name species Threat Predicted to Occur Squatter Pigeon Geophaps scripta Birds Endangered Predicted Superb Parrot Polytelis swainsonii Birds Vulnerable Known

Koala Phascolarctos cinereus Marsupials Vulnerable Known Kultarr Antechinomys laniger Marsupials Endangered Predicted Stripe-faced Dunnart Sminthopsis macroura Marsupials Vulnerable Known

Five-clawed Worm-skink Anomalopus mackayi Reptiles Endangered Known Leopard Ctenotus Ctenotus pantherinus Reptiles Endangered Predicted ocellifer Woma Aspidites ramsayi Reptiles Vulnerable Predicted

Forrest's Mouse Leggadina forresti Rodents Vulnerable Predicted Sandy Inland Mouse Pseudomys Rodents Vulnerable Predicted hermannsburgensis

There are five marsupial species not listed in Table 5 (presumably because they have all been listed as extinct in the western regions of NSW for over 100 years) that would also be of interest to the WLHC as possible candidates for a re-establishment programme on Weilmoringle Station, namely;

1. Bilby (Macrotis lagotis) 2. Bridled Nailtail Wallaby (Onychogalea fraenata) 3. Brush-tailed Bettong (Bettongia penicillata) 4. Burrowing Bettong (Bettongia lesueur) 5. Western Quoll (Dasyurus geoffroii)

The Bilby (Macrotis lagotis) was “once inhabiting the arid and semi-arid regions throughout most of the Australian mainland south of about latitude 18oS, it is now confined to the deserts of Central Australia, with satellite populations in the Kimberley and Warburton regions of Western Australia and possibly south-western Queensland. Its former habitat consisted of savannah woodland and scrub grassland communities on sands or loams with little stone content.”33 There is substantial cultural evidence that the Murrawarri knew of the Bilby – Oates gives the name “thangku” for the “bilby or rabbit-eared bandicoot”34 and the “sandy mound” area of the proposed IPA comes very close to meeting its habitat requirements. The Bilby was common throughout its range until the 1900’s when there was a “sudden and widespread contraction,….possibly brought on by changing fire regimes and the grazing of rabbits and livestock.35”

As discussed above some of the members of the Weilmoringle community believe that the Bridled Nailtail Wallaby (Onychogalea fraenata) is still present on Weilmoringle Station. Importantly there is cultural evidence that the Murrawarri knew of the wallaby – Oates gives three names for a paddymelon “kuwampila” meaning “paddymelon (a small scrub wallaby)”; “tukanj/thukan” meaning

33 Strahan (1983) pp. 107 34 Oates (1992) pp.35 35 Strahan (1983) pp. 108 Prepare by NGALINA for The Weilmoringle Land Holding Company Page 24 A Preliminary Ecological Survey of Woodshed & Sawmill Paddocks on Weilmoringle Station, Weilmoringle

“pademelon or small animal with a pouch” and “waya” meaning “small animal like a pademelon, now probably extinct”36.

The Brush-tailed Bettong (Bettongia penicillata) was once common across the western plains of NSW where it was “primarily an animal of open forests and woodlands and a common factor in all habitats occupied by the surviving populations is a clumped low understorey of tussock grasses or clumped low woody scrub.”37 The major factor influencing its decline seems to predation by foxes and possibly cats.

The Burrowing Bettong (Bettongia lesueur) like its relative the Brush-tailed Bettong was also common across the western plains of NSW, although today it is restricted to Bernier and Dorre Islands in Shark Bay and the Barrow and Boodie Islands off the Pilbara coast of Western Australia. An important habitat requirement was its burrow – “warrens were constructed in most types of country where the soil was deep enough. Loams were favoured, and in the sandridge deserts, burrows were in the damper low-lying areas.”38 The major factor in its decline seems to be the spread of rabbits which occupied its burrows pushing it out to suffer predation from foxes and cats.

An important point to note in relation to both of the above Bettongs is that there is substantial cultural evidence that the Murrawarri knew of them – Oates gives two names for a “kangaroo rat” “pilpa” and “yakum” and the name “puuyi” for “another kind of kangaroo rat”39. Both Bettongs were often referred as “Rat -Kangaroos” in early literature.

The Western Quoll (Dasyurus geoffroii) was once common across the plains of western and north western NSW, however it is now restricted to the south-western corner of Western Australia. It mainly feeds on small mammals, birds, insects and carrion. Its decline, like other medium-sized marsupials has been attributed to predation and/or competition from foxes and cats as well as habitat modification. Again there is substantial cultural evidence that the Murrawarri knew of the Western Quoll – Oates gives the name “purkiyan” for “native cat” and the name “kiiwii” for “native cat of the Dreamtime who is told about in the story of The Bat and Native Cat.”40

Any undertaking to use any of the above five species as part of a re-establishment/protected breeding programme on Weilmoringle Station is much more complex than that of involving the Kultarr and the Stripe-faced Dunnart because all five species have become extinct in NSW. There would have to quite a lot liaison work with other state government environmental agencies as well as obtaining the required permissions, licences etc and most importantly the funding for such a project.

Again the possibility of any of these species being part of a re-establishment/protected breeding programme is wholly dependent on the specific habitat requirements of the species being located on Weilmoringle Station. More specific expert advice and assistance in this regard should be sought from either the Western Plains Zoo or the Australian Museum or the CSIRO.

36 Oates (1992) pp.35 37 Strahan(1983) pp. 184 38 Strahan (1983) pp. 188 39 Oates (1992) pp.35 40 Oates (1992) pp.36 Prepare by NGALINA for The Weilmoringle Land Holding Company Page 25 A Preliminary Ecological Survey of Woodshed & Sawmill Paddocks on Weilmoringle Station, Weilmoringle

Table 6 shows migratory species (listed under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999) recorded and/or predicted to occur in the six NFPRPC vegetation communities present in the IPA.

Table 6 – Migratory Species Recorded an/or Predicted to Occur in the IPA on Weilmoringle Station41

Common Name Scientific Name Records Rainbow Bee-eater Merops ornatus Predicted Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica Predicted Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa Recorded Cattle Egret Ardea ibis Predicted Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea Predicted Fork-tailed Swift Apus pacificus Predicted Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus Recorded Great Egret Egretta alba Recorded Japanese (Latham’s) Snipe Gallinago hardwicki Predicted Little Curlew Numenius minatus Predicted Marsh Sandpiper Tringa stagnatilis Recorded Painted Snipe Rostratula banghalensis Predicted Rainbow Bee-eater Merops ornatus Recorded Sharp-tailed Sandpiper Calidris acuminata Predicted White-bellied Sea-Eagle Haliaeetus leucogaster Recorded

Above: the dam located in the western end of Woolshed Paddock (site Weil 3).

41 Table derived from Table 2 in NFPRPC (2004) for the 6 vegetation communities identified in IPA Prepare by NGALINA for The Weilmoringle Land Holding Company Page 26 A Preliminary Ecological Survey of Woodshed & Sawmill Paddocks on Weilmoringle Station, Weilmoringle

5. CULTURAL VALUES

In the past ecological studies have concentrated solely on the environmental or “green” values of plants and animal. But for Aboriginal People and certainly for the Murrawarri, the environmental values are simply one aspect of their cultural values which connect them to their country and are the basis of their deep-seated desire to “care for country”.

The Murrawarri have a long cultural tradition of being inter-woven with their landscape. The plants and animals are not just threatened species, endangered ecological communities or woody weeds, but an integral part of their cultural traditions which defines who they are and where they are from.

This section of the report will attempt to explain the importance/values of plants and animals to the Murrawarri and provide a means of quantifying that value in way easily appreciated by both Murrawarri and non-Aboriginal people.

In assessing the cultural values of the plants and animals within the proposed IPA the authors have relied heavily upon the cultural mapping undertaken by Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and particular the work Dykes et al. (2006a)42 as well the personal stories and experiences conveyed to the author by Murrawarri Elders and Knowledge Holders.

Above: Murrawarri Elders and Knowledge Holders at a plant workshop at Narran lake in 2008 discussing their values for the plants and landscape. From the left: Shane Kelly, Josie Byno, Dorothy Kelly, Loreen Coffey Vera Nixon, Peter Dykes, Charlie Brown and Roy Baker.

42 In Dykes et al. (2006a) the Native Title spelling “Moorawarri” is used for the language group name. Prepare by NGALINA for The Weilmoringle Land Holding Company Page 27 A Preliminary Ecological Survey of Woodshed & Sawmill Paddocks on Weilmoringle Station, Weilmoringle

5.1. FLORA

Plant Species: As previously stated DNR undertook a major cultural landscape mapping project in the early 2000’s which resulted in the report by Dykes et al. (2006a). This project documented several language groups, including the Murrawarri, cultural values for plants. It then related the plants having a cultural value to the vegetation mapping being undertaken by DNR.

Table 7 is an abbreviated version of Table 3 (the Murrawarri Language Group) in Dykes et al. (2006a) report and lists plant species identified in the project as having a Murrawarri cultural value as well as the value (use) of each species under 10 broad use categories. A total of 116 separate plant species and 5 fungi species from 77 genera were identified.

Of the 116 plant species, 35 species were found in the proposed IPA. Also an additional 2 species listed in Table 7 were probably found but not correctly identified during surveying in the proposed IPA, namely;

 Ring Gidgee (Acacia cambagei "ringed")  Native Orange - smooth-skin (Capparis loranthifolia var loranthifolia)

The issue with Native Orange - rough-skin(Capparis mitchellii), also known as the Bumble Tree, and its related species Native Orange - smooth-skin (Capparis loranthifolia var loranthifolia), also known as the Narrow-leafed Bumble, was dealt in Section 4.1 (Plant Species). It is worth noting that the Murrawarri clearly identified the two as separate species and that the Narrow-leafed Bumble was known as a women’s plant. Both species also have “exceptional value” status for the Murrawarri (see discussion below).

The issue of Gidgee (Acacia cambagei) and Ring Gidgee (Acacia cambagei "ringed") is slightly more interesting. Gidgee is quite common in Murrawarri country (the floodplains north of the Barwon River between the Bokhara and Warrego Rivers) but there is little if any Gidgee south of the Barwon River and those few patches that exist are within approximately 20 km of the river. Some senior Murrawarri have occasionally referred to their country as “Gidgee Country” and themselves as “Gidgee People” or “the People of the Gidgee Country”.43 Gidgee is an important plant for the Murrawarri for a wide range of reasons. Gidgee was highly prized by the Murrawarri and their neighbours for its strength and durability as a tool/implement making timber. For the Murrawarri their art is not seen on rock shelters like their neighbour the Ngiyampaa, but in their tools, weapons and implements nearly all made of either Gidgee or Mulga (Acacia aneura), another plant common in Murrawarri Country. Botanical Gidgee (Acacia cambagei) has no documented subspecies or variation, but for the Murrawarri there are two separate plants. Ring Gidgee was the equivalent of a master craftsman’s timber, one of the most prized implement timbers for Murrawarri men.44 The knowledge of identifying a Ring Gidgee from a Common Gidgee was a secret known only to senior Murrawarri men. There are several small patches of Gidgee in the IPA, whether there is any Ring Gidgee present will require surveying by a senior Murrawarri man. Finally it is worth noting that both Common Gidgee and Ring Gidgee are part of a small selection of plants whose products were traded south across much of NSW. Both were known to Wiradjuri as well as the Yitta Yita and Mutthi Mutthi whose country bordered the Murray River.45

Continued on page 33

43 Personal comment to author by Uncle Roy Barker, Aunty Josie Byno and Aunty Vera Nixon at a Murrawarri plant workshop held at Weilmoringle during 2008. 44 Both Roy Barker and the late Arthur Hooper (Uncle Musso) regarded Ring Gidgee as the supreme tool making timber, the most prized of Murrawarri implement timbers. 45 Refer plants lists in Dykes et al. (2004) and Dykes et al. (2006b) Prepare by NGALINA for The Weilmoringle Land Holding Company Page 28 A Preliminary Ecological Survey of Woodshed & Sawmill Paddocks on Weilmoringle Station, Weilmoringle

Table 7 – Plant Species Having a Murrawarri Cultural Value46

Common Name/s Scientific Name Ceremonial Decoration Fire Food Habitat Implement Medicinal Seasonal Indicator Shelter Spiritual Assoc. Women’s Use Other Beefwood Grevillea striata 1 1 1 Belah Casuarina cristata 1 1 1 1 Bimble Box, Eucalyptus 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Boxwood, Poplar populnea Box * Black Box * Eucalyptus 1 1 1 1 largiflorens Black Orchid, Native Cymbidium 1 1 Arrowroot canaliculatum Bluebush, Blueberry Maireana spp. 1 1 Bush Boobialla, Western Myoporum 1 1 Boobialla, Native montanum Myrtle * Brigalow * Acacia harpophylla 1 1 1 Broombush Melaleuca uncinata 1 Budda, Sandalwood Eremophila mitchellii 1 1 1 * Bulrushes, Typha spp. 1 1 1 Cumbungi Bush Tomato, Bush Solanum spp. 1 1 1 Potato, Nightshades * Butter Bush, Mallee Pittosporum 1 1 1 Willow, Butterwood phylliraeoides Tree Camel Melon * Citrullus lanatus 1 1 1 Carbeen Eucalyptus 1 tessellaris Claypan Butter Claypan butter 1 Common Reed Phragmites australis 1 1 Coolibah * Eucalyptus coolabah 1 1 1 Crowfoot Erodium crinitum 1 Cypress Pine - Callitris glaucophylla 1 1 1 1 1 White, Native Pine * Dark Sago Weed Plantago 1 drummondii Darling Pea Swainsona greyana 1 Desert Cow Vine Ipomoea 1 diamantinensis

46 Table derived from Table 3 in Dykes et al. (2006a) Prepare by NGALINA for The Weilmoringle Land Holding Company Page 29 A Preliminary Ecological Survey of Woodshed & Sawmill Paddocks on Weilmoringle Station, Weilmoringle

Common Name/s Scientific Name Ceremonial Decoration Fire Food Habitat Implement Medicinal Seasonal Indicator Shelter Spiritual Assoc. Women’s Use Other Dillon Bush, Native Nitraria billardierei 1 1 Grape Dogwood, Swamp Eremophila 1 1 1 1 Wilga, Eurah # bignoniiflora Duckweed, Azolla filiculoides 1 Waterweed Emu Bush # Eremophila 1 1 1 1 longifolia Fungus - large oval Native mushroom 1 mushroom Fungus - Mushroom, Native mushroom 1 1 Native Mushroom (edible) (edible) Fungus - red fungus Red tree fungus 1 on tree Ghost Dust Ghost dust 1 Gidgee – Common * Acacia cambagei 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Gidgee – Ring #? Acacia cambagei 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 "ringed" Grass – Canegrass Eragrostis 1 1 1 # australasica Grass - Curly Astrebla lappacea 1 1 Mitchell, Wheat # Grass – Kangaroo # Themeda australis 1 1 Grass - Kerosene Aristida browniana 1 1 1 1 Grass - Mitchell, Astrebla spp. 1 1 1 1 Plains, Budgerigar # Grass - Mulga Thyridolepis 1 1 1 1 mitchelliana Grass - Neverfail Eragrostis setifolia 1 1 Grass, Wire #* Grass – Nut # Cyperus spp. 1 1 1 1 Grass – Spear * Stipa spp. 1 1 1 1 Grass - Spinifex Triodia mitchellii 1 1 1 1 Grass - Spinifex - Triodia mitchellii var 1 1 1 1 gum producing # breviloba Grass - Spinifex - Triodia mitchellii var 1 1 1 1 seed producing # pubivagina Grass - Tall Themeda avenacea 1 1 1 1 Oatgrass, Kangaroo Grass - Wallaby Danthonia spp. 1 1 1 1 Grass - Warrego Paspalidium 1 1 1 1 Summer jubiflorum Grass - Wire Aristida spp. 1 1 1 1

Prepare by NGALINA for The Weilmoringle Land Holding Company Page 30 A Preliminary Ecological Survey of Woodshed & Sawmill Paddocks on Weilmoringle Station, Weilmoringle

Common Name/s Scientific Name Ceremonial Decoration Fire Food Habitat Implement Medicinal Seasonal Indicator Shelter Spiritual Assoc. Women’s Use Other Grey Wattle Acacia salicina 1 1 1 Gruie, Emu Apple, Owenia acidula 1 1 1 Colane # Gunderbluey Wattle, Acacia victoriae 1 1 1 Prickly Wattle # Hopbush #* Dodonaea spp. 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Hopbush - Narrow- Dodonaea viscosa 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 leaf #* subsp. angustissima Ironbark - Silver-leaf Eucalyptus 1 1 1 melanophloia Ironwood * Acacia excelsa 1 1 1 Kurrajong - course- Brachychiton 1 1 1 leafed populneus subsp. trilobus Kurrajong - fine- Brachychiton 1 1 1 leafed populneus subsp. populneus Leafless Cherry * Exocarpos aphyllus 1 1 1 1 Leopardwood #* Flindersia maculosa 1 1 1 Lignum * Muehlenbeckia 1 1 1 florulenta Milk Thistle Lactuca serriola 1 1 Milky Weed * Chamaesyce 1 drummondii Mint Weed, Penny Mentha spp. 1 Royal, River Mint Mulga Acacia aneura 1 1 1 Myall Acacia pendula 1 1 1 1 Nardoo #* Marsilea drummondii 1 Native Banana, Marsdenia australis 1 1 Bush Banana # Native Carrot Daucus glochidiatus 1 Native Lemon Canthium oleifolium 1 Native Lime Eremocitrus glauca 1 1 Native Orange - Capparis mitchellii 1 1 rough-skin #* Native Orange - Capparis 1 1 1 smooth-skin #? loranthifolia var loranthifolia Native Plum, Santalum 1 Sandalwood lanceolatum Native Spinach, Tetragonia 1 Warrigal Spinach tetragonoides

Prepare by NGALINA for The Weilmoringle Land Holding Company Page 31 A Preliminary Ecological Survey of Woodshed & Sawmill Paddocks on Weilmoringle Station, Weilmoringle

Common Name/s Scientific Name Ceremonial Decoration Fire Food Habitat Implement Medicinal Seasonal Indicator Shelter Spiritual Assoc. Women’s Use Other Native Tobacco Nicotiana spp. 1 1 Needlewood Hakea leucoptera 1 1 1 1 1 1 Needlewood - Hakea 1 1 Hooked tephrosperma Nepine #* Capparis lasiantha 1 Old Man's Weed, Centipeda 1 Common cunninghamii Sneezeweed Paddymelon Cucumis spp. 1 1 1 Pigweed * Portulaca oleracea 1 1 1 Pitchuri Duboisia hopwoodii 1 1 1 Punty Bush Senna artemisioides 1 1 1 1 subsp. filifolia Quandong # Santalum 1 1 1 1 acuminatum Quena, Bush Solanum esuriale 1 1 Tomato Quinine Bush #* Alstonia constricta 1 River Cooba, Black Acacia stenophylla 1 1 1 1 1 Wattle River Red Gum, Eucalyptus 1 1 1 1 1 1 Ghost Gum camaldulensis Roly-poly Salsola kali 1 1 Roly-poly * Sclerolaena 1 1 muricata Rosewood Alectryon oleifolius 1 1 Saltbush - Atriplex Atriplex spp. 1 spp * Saltbush – Bladder * Atriplex vesicaria 1 1 Saltbush – Climbing Einadia nutans 1 * Saltbush - Creeping Atriplex semibaccata 1 Saltbush - Mealy Atriplex 1 pseudocampanulata Saltbush - Old Man * Atriplex nummularia 1 1 Saltbush – Pop * Atriplex holocarpa 1 Saltbush – Ruby * Enchylaena 1 tomentosa Saltbush - Spiny-fruit Atriplex spinibractea 1 Saltbush - Thorny, Rhagodia 1 Spiny spinescens

Prepare by NGALINA for The Weilmoringle Land Holding Company Page 32 A Preliminary Ecological Survey of Woodshed & Sawmill Paddocks on Weilmoringle Station, Weilmoringle

Common Name/s Scientific Name Ceremonial Decoration Fire Food Habitat Implement Medicinal Seasonal Indicator Shelter Spiritual Assoc. Women’s Use Other Shamrock Trigonella 1 suavissima Snotty Gobble * Amyema spp. 1 1 Snotty Gobble, Diplatia 1 1 Coolibah Mistletoe # grandibractea Stinging Nettle Urtica incisa 1 Supplejack # Ventilago viminalis 1 1 1 1 Tar Vine Boerhavia diffusa 1 Tea Tree, Swamp Melaleuca 1 1 1 1 1 1 Paperbark trichostachya Turpentine Bush * Eremophila sturtii 1 1 1 Umbrella Mulga, Acacia 1 1 Shrub Mulga brachystachya Warrego Lily, Crinum flaccidum 1 1 Darling Lily, Narran Lily, Bogan Lily Warrior Bush, Black Apophyllum 1 1 Current Bush * anomalum Waterlily Ottelia ovalifolia 1 1 Waterlily Nymphoides crenata 1 1 Western Bloodwood Eucalyptus 1 1 terminalis Whitewood * Atalaya hemiglauca 1 1 1 Wilga #* Geijera parviflora 1 1 1 1 1 1 Yam – Land # Parsonsia 1 eucalyptophylla Yam – Swamp # Triglochin spp. 1 1 Yarran Acacia homalophylla 1 23 8 9 91 52 57 33 4 24 8 2 12 TOTALS FOR EACH USE CATEGORY

# Indicates a species identified in Dykes et al. (2006) as having an “Exceptional Value” status for the Murrawarri People. * Indicates a species found during surveying in the proposed IPA. ? Indicates a species probably found but not correctly identified during surveying in the proposed IPA.

Of the 29 species identified by Dykes et al. (2006a) as having an “exception value” status for the Murrawarri, at least 9 and possibly 11 (allowing for the possibility that both Narrow-leaf Bumble and Ring Gidgee may be present) were found in the proposed IPA.

Prepare by NGALINA for The Weilmoringle Land Holding Company Page 33 A Preliminary Ecological Survey of Woodshed & Sawmill Paddocks on Weilmoringle Station, Weilmoringle

Exceptional value status was defined in Dykes et al. (2006a) as “plants that were very special; plants that nearly everyone present regarded as extremely important in defining themselves and their community within the landscape.”47 The late Les Shillingsworth from Enngonia expressed the concept of exception value very clearly when he said “the Hopbush plants are the very reason for the Enngonia Mission, they are here, we are here. If they weren’t here, we wouldn’t be here either.”48

Of the plants found in the IPA and identified as having exceptional value 4 are worthy of further explanation, namely:

 Leopardwood (Flindersia maculosa)  Nardoo (Marsilea drummondii)  Nepine (Capparis lasiantha)  Quinine (Alstonia constricta)

Leopardwood (Flindersia maculosa) and Quinine (Alstonia constricta) are regarded as two of the most important medicinal plants for the Murrawarri. While Leopardwood has other uses the knowledge of its use as a medicinal plant is fairly widely known among the Murrawarri and it is for this use that Leopardwood is most often associated with. Quinine is used only as a medicinal plant by the Murrawarri and for some members it is regarded as their most important medicinal plant. Vera Nixon at a workshop during 2008 at Weilmoringle described in great detail how she harvested the Quinine plant material and prepared it for use. For her it was the quintessential medicinal plant and an important component in connecting her to her country.49

Above: Kylie Gibbons, Josie Byno and Vera Nixon harvesting Leopardwood plant material during field surveying.

47 Dykes et al. (2006a) pp 37 48 Dykes et al. (2006a) pp37 49 Personal comments to author at workshop. Prepare by NGALINA for The Weilmoringle Land Holding Company Page 34 A Preliminary Ecological Survey of Woodshed & Sawmill Paddocks on Weilmoringle Station, Weilmoringle

Nardoo (Marsilea drummondii) was once one of the most important food plants for the Murrawarri and many of their neighbours. The seed pods on the leaves were collected and then ground up to make flour which was used to make “Jonny Cakes” or damper. Along with grass seeds which were also used to make flour, Nardoo provided the Murrawarri with food for most of year. A few years ago, Shane Kelly, a Murrawarri man living at Weilmoringle found a Nardoo dish in the Woolshed Paddock. For Shane the finding of the dish was a way that he connected himself to his past ancestors and to the way they lived around Weilmoringle. The presence of Nardoo in the same paddock as were the dish was found completes the circle; here is the plant that traditional Murrawarri used and the dish that was used to grind the plant collected from the surrounding area.50

Above: Shane Kelly displaying the nardoo dish he found in Woolshed paddock.

Nepine or Napan (Capparis lasiantha) is another food used by the Murrawarri. During a workshop held at Goodooga over Easter 2008 there were several Napan plants around the old Mission area and they were all producing edible berries. Doris Shillingsworth, Josie Byno, Vera Nixon and several children went collecting. Doris remarked that the plant brought back memories of her childhood growing up on Goodooga Mission, when for weeks around Easter every year she and other Mission kids “would live off Napan”.51 For Doris, Josie and Vera the plant is an important food plant that connects them to past and to their country.

The presence of the above plants and others from the list in Table 7 gives added value to the proposed IPA and provides tangible evidence of the Murrawarri “connection to their country”.

50 Personal comments made to author. 51 Personal comments made to author. Prepare by NGALINA for The Weilmoringle Land Holding Company Page 35 A Preliminary Ecological Survey of Woodshed & Sawmill Paddocks on Weilmoringle Station, Weilmoringle

Vegetation Communities: The DNR project went several steps further with the data from their cultural landscape mapping project. The project related the plant lists for several language groups to the current vegetation mapping being undertaken by the Department and presented the results in a series of “Vegetation Community Tables”.

Table 8 is an abbreviated version of the Table 8 (Murrawarri Plants related to Brewarrina Vegetation mapping) in Dykes et al. (2006a) report and lists plant species identified in the DNR project as having a Murrawarri cultural value related to the vegetation communities used in the Brewarrina Vegetation Map and identified as existing in the proposed IPA.

A “cultural value number” (CVN) is then determined for each vegetation community. This cultural value number represents the total number of plants having a cultural value in each vegetation community map unit. The CVN for each vegetation community varies according to each community’s structure and floristic diversity. The more diverse a community is in structure (canopy, shrub and groundcover layers) and floristics (range and number of plant species) the greater the total number of species to be found in the community and therefore the higher the CVN for that community. Because of these two factors it is inappropriate to compare vegetation communities CVN, i.e. grassland communities will always have lower CVN numbers than woodland communities and much lower CVN numbers than forest communities.

Each vegetation community CVN is then added into the Brewarrina vegetation community map against every entry for the vegetation community map unit. For easy, graphical presentation and data analysis the CVN of the vegetation community map units were re-classified into five classes depending on the relative size of the cultural value numbers for each vegetation community.52 The resultant map is shown in Figure 6 which shows the number of plant species having a Murrawarri cultural value occurring on Weilmoringle Station.

To enable comparison between the Murrawarri landscape map given the Dykes (2006a) report53 and the map for Weilmoringle Station shown in Figure 6 the same category class sizes have been used.

As Figure 6 shows the proposed IPA has significant areas of all 5 Class categories with the exception of Class 4 category (areas with 47 to 57 plants having a Murrawarri cultural value). While it would have been nice to have areas of all 5 class categories represented, the proposed IPA probably the best alternative solution available for Weilmoringle Station.

The presence of significant sized areas of 4 of the 5 class categories (as shown in Figure 6 on page 40) within the proposed IPA gives added value to the proposed IPA and helps reinforce the Murrawarri “connection to their country”.

52 For a detailed explanation of the procedure see Dykes (2006a) pp.38 - 42 53 Dykes et al. (2006a) map 3 Prepare by NGALINA for The Weilmoringle Land Holding Company Page 36 A Preliminary Ecological Survey of Woodshed & Sawmill Paddocks on Weilmoringle Station, Weilmoringle

Table 8 – Plant Species having a Murrawarri Cultural Value Related to the NFPRPC Vegetation Communities in the Proposed IPA54

Common Name/s Scientific Name Barren Gidgee Coolibah Coolibah Black Box / Poplar Box / Leopardwood / Coolibah / Other Gidgee/ Saltbush Gidgee/ Saltbush Belah Casuarina cristata 1 1 Bimble Box, Boxwood, Eucalyptus populnea 1 1 1 1 Poplar Box Black Box Eucalyptus largiflorens 1 1 1 1 Black Orchid, Native Cymbidium canaliculatum 1 1 Arrowroot Bluebush, Blueberry Bush Maireana spp. 1 1 Boobialla, Western Boobialla, Myoporum montanum 1 1 1 1 Native Myrtle Brigalow Acacia harpophylla 1 1 1 1 Broombush Melaleuca uncinata 1 1 Budda, Sandalwood Eremophila mitchellii 1 1 1 1 1 Bulrushes, Cumbungi Typha spp. 1 Bush Tomato, Bush Potato, Solanum spp. 1 Nightshades Butter Bush, Mallee Willow, Pittosporum phylliraeoides 1 1 1 1 Butterwood Tree Carbeen Eucalyptus tessellaris 1 Common Reed Phragmites australis 1 1 Coolibah Eucalyptus coolabah 1 1 1 1 Crowfoot Erodium crinitum 1 1 1 1 Dark Sago Weed Plantago drummondii 1 1 1 1 1 Darling Pea Swainsona greyana 1 1 Desert Cow Vine Ipomoea diamantinensis 1 1 1 Dillon Bush, Native Grape Nitraria billardierei 1 Dogwood, Swamp Wilga, Eremophila bignoniiflora 1 1 Eurah Duckweed, Waterweed Azolla filiculoides 1 1 Emu Bush Eremophila longifolia 1 Gidgee - Common Acacia cambagei 1 1 1 1 Gidgee - Ring Acacia cambagei 1 1 1 1 Grass - Canegrass Eragrostis australasica 1 Grass - Curly Mitchell, Wheat Astrebla lappacea 1 1 1 1 Grass - Kerosene Aristida browniana 1 Grass - Mitchell, Plains, Astrebla spp. 1 1 1 1 Budgerigar

54 Table derived from Table 8 in Dykes et al. (2006a) Prepare by NGALINA for The Weilmoringle Land Holding Company Page 37 A Preliminary Ecological Survey of Woodshed & Sawmill Paddocks on Weilmoringle Station, Weilmoringle

Common Name/s Scientific Name Barren Gidgee Coolibah Coolibah Black Box / Poplar Box / Leopardwood / Coolibah / Other Gidgee/ Saltbush Gidgee/ Saltbush Grass - Neverfail Grass, Wire Eragrostis setifolia 1 1 1 1 1 Grass - Nut Cyperus spp. 1 1 Grass - Spear Stipa spp. 1 Grass - Wallaby Danthonia spp. 1 Grass - Warrego Summer Paspalidium jubiflorum 1 Grass - Wire Aristida spp. 1 Grey Wattle Acacia salicina 1 1 Gruie, Emu Apple, Colane Owenia acidula 1 1 1 Gunderbluey Wattle, Prickly Acacia victoriae 1 1 1 Wattle Hopbush Dodonaea spp. 1 1 Hopbush - Narrow-leaf Dodonaea viscosa subsp. 1 1 angustissima Leafless Cherry Exocarpos aphyllus 1 1 1 Leopardwood Flindersia maculosa 1 1 1 1 1 Lignum Muehlenbeckia florulenta 1 1 1 Milk Thistle Lactuca serriola 1 1 1 1 1 Milky Weed Chamaesyce drummondii 1 1 1 1 1 Mint Weed, Penny Royal, Mentha spp. 1 1 River Mint Mulga Acacia aneura 1 Myall Acacia pendula 1 1 1 Nardoo Marsilea drummondii 1 Native Banana, Bush Banana Marsdenia australis 1 Native Carrot Daucus glochidiatus 1 1 1 1 1 Native Orange - rough-skin Capparis mitchellii 1 1 1 1 1 Native Orange - smooth-skin Capparis loranthifolia var 1 1 1 1 1 loranthifolia Native Plum, Sandalwood Santalum lanceolatum 1 1 Native Spinach, Warrigal Tetragonia tetragonoides 1 1 1 Spinach Native Tobacco Nicotiana spp. 1 1 Nepine Capparis lasiantha 1 1 1 Old Man's Weed, Common Centipeda cunninghamii 1 1 1 Sneezeweed Paddymelon Cucumis spp. 1 Pigweed Portulaca oleracea 1 1 1 1 1 1 Quandong Santalum acuminatum 1 Quena, Bush Tomato Solanum esuriale 1 1 1 1 River Cooba, Black Wattle Acacia stenophylla 1 1

Prepare by NGALINA for The Weilmoringle Land Holding Company Page 38 A Preliminary Ecological Survey of Woodshed & Sawmill Paddocks on Weilmoringle Station, Weilmoringle

Common Name/s Scientific Name Barren Gidgee Coolibah Coolibah Black Box / Poplar Box / Leopardwood / Coolibah / Other Gidgee/ Saltbush Gidgee/ Saltbush River Red Gum, Ghost Gum Eucalyptus camaldulensis 1 1

Roly-poly Salsola kali 1 1 1 1 1 1 Roly-poly Sclerolaena muricata 1 1 1 1 1 1 Rosewood Alectryon oleifolius 1 1 1 1 Saltbush - Atriplex spp Atriplex spp. 1 1 1 1 1 1 Saltbush - Bladder Atriplex vesicaria 1 1 1 Saltbush - Climbing Einadia nutans 1 1 1 Saltbush - Creeping Atriplex semibaccata 1 1 1 1 1 Saltbush - Mealy Atriplex 1 1 pseudocampanulata Saltbush - Old Man Atriplex nummularia 1 1 1 1 Saltbush - Pop Atriplex holocarpa 1 1 Saltbush - Ruby Enchylaena tomentosa 1 1 1 Saltbush - Spiny-fruit Atriplex spinibractea 1 1 Saltbush - Thorny, Spiny Rhagodia spinescens 1 1 1 1 Shamrock Trigonella suavissima 1 1 Snotty Gobble Amyema spp. 1 1 1 Snotty Gobble, Coolibah Diplatia grandibractea 1 1 1 1 Mistletoe Stinging Nettle Urtica incisa 1 Tar Vine Boerhavia diffusa 1 1 1 Tea Tree, Swamp Paperbark Melaleuca trichostachya 1 1 Turpentine Bush Eremophila sturtii 1 1 Warrego Lily, Darling Lily, Crinum flaccidum 1 1 Narran Lily, Bogan Lily Warrior Bush, Black Current Apophyllum anomalum 1 1 1 1 1 1 Bush Western Bloodwood Eucalyptus terminalis 1 Whitewood Atalaya hemiglauca 1 1 1 1 Wilga Geijera parviflora 1 1 Yam - Swamp Triglochin procera 1 Yarran Acacia homalophylla 1 1 TOTAL NUMBER OF PLANTS WITH A CULTURAL 12 66 68 39 33 43 VALUE FOR EACH VEGETATION COMMUNITY (CVA)

Prepare by NGALINA for The Weilmoringle Land Holding Company Page 39 A Preliminary Ecological Survey of Woodshed & Sawmill Paddocks on Weilmoringle Station, Weilmoringle

Figure 6 – The Number of Plant Species having a Murrawarri Cultural Value Occurring on Weilmoringle Station55

55 Derived from Dykes et al. (2006d) Prepare by NGALINA for The Weilmoringle Land Holding Company Page 40 A Preliminary Ecological Survey of Woodshed & Sawmill Paddocks on Weilmoringle Station, Weilmoringle

5.2. FAUNA

There has been no comparable survey of Aboriginal cultural values for fauna undertaken like the DNR projects for plants species (Dykes et al. 2006a and Dykes et al. 2006b) anywhere in NSW. Subsequently it is hard to gauge and/or accurately present what the level of Murrawarri fauna cultural values are for the proposed IPA or Weilmoringle Station as whole.

An important recommendation of this report is that the WLHC seek funding to undertake such a survey whenever the appropriate funding opportunities arise. However the following points should be noted.

Several fauna species are totems for various Murrawarri clan groups. Other species even today are important food sources which many Murrawarri People living in the west and northwest of NSW regularly rely on as alternatives to non-Aboriginal foods.

The Woolshed Paddock has been used for quite a number of years by those living at the Wytaliba Community at Weilmoringle as a place to hunt kangaroo, emu and porcupine. Even on the night that the night spotting was undertaken in Woolshed Paddock for this report there were community members out hunting in the paddock.

Lynette Oates in her Murrawarri Dictionary has over 250 individual Murrawarri words for mammals, marsupials, birds, reptiles, fish, insects and other invertebrate animals. There are also a large number of Murrawarri names for animal parts.56 Together this highlights that a wide range of animals have an important part in connecting Murrawarri People to their country.

56 Oates (1992) pp.35 – 46. Prepare by NGALINA for The Weilmoringle Land Holding Company Page 41 A Preliminary Ecological Survey of Woodshed & Sawmill Paddocks on Weilmoringle Station, Weilmoringle

6. MANAGEMENT OPTIONS

Managing the proposed IPA for ecological sustainability is not nearly about ending grazing but having a knowledge based cultural appropriate management regime. For the Weilmoringle IPA management must blend Murrawarri cultural with ecological needs. It is on this basis that the following are suggested management options.

Management Area: The proposed IPA is based on the current paddock network that the WLHC inherited with the ILC purchase of Weilmoringle Station. The present paddock fencing takes no account of ecological and cultural factors: the north-eastern fence in Woolshed paddock runs through the middle of one of Wade (1992) “Sandy Mound” which is also an integral part of the Murrawarri cultural area known as Gooramon Swamp. It is recommended that the Sandy Mound / Gooramon Swamp area be included in the IPA because of its ecological and cultural significance. This would require a fence to come off the existing north-eastern fence in Woolshed paddock and pass through the south- eastern corner of Back Smith Paddock and through half of the Front Smith Paddock as shown in Figure 7 below. The existing fencing within the Recommended IPA should be removed to allow free movement of fauna species and more appropriate cultural access. The recommended IPA would be increased to approx. 3075 ha (7600 ac) or 17.97% of the property area.

Figure 7 – Recommend IPA for Weilmoringle Station

Prepare by NGALINA for The Weilmoringle Land Holding Company Page 42 A Preliminary Ecological Survey of Woodshed & Sawmill Paddocks on Weilmoringle Station, Weilmoringle

Flora: The current vegetation mapping used for this report (NFPRPC 2004a and Wade 1992) was done at a very large scale (1:50,000 or greater), it would help management if a much smaller scale vegetation map of the IPA was completed. This should map out the smaller patches of Brigalow and Gidgee as well as the diverse vegetation types existing on the Sandy Mound. This will enable better management of these vegetation types as well as ensuring management actions comply with State and Commonwealth threatened species legislation.

A more comprehensive flora species survey should also be undertaken in the Recommended IPA as well as over the whole of Weilmoringle Station. The sampling/surveying should occur over a range of seasons and if possible in the immediate period following reasonable flood events or after periods of heavy rains. This type of sampling/surveying will pick up many of the groundcover species that are seasonal (i.e. winter flowering, etc) and/or only occur after heavy rains or flood events. The purpose for the surveying is to get as complete a species list as possible for the IPA and Weilmoringle Station. This will enable better pasture management; identify the full range of threatened species present and aid in better ecological and sustainable farm practices.

Particular emphasis should be paid to identifying the presence and location within the IPA of the following threatened and culturally important species:

 All of the species listed in Tables 2 and 3.  All of the 29 species identified in Dykes et al. (2006a) as having exceptional value status for the Murrawarri People.  All of the species identified as being Murrawarri food and medicine plants in Dykes et al. (2006a).

Both the vegetation mapping and the flora species surveying should be undertaken as part of the employment and training programme which will follow the declaration of the IPA (see Employment and Training Section below).

A significant issue for the IPA is the question of what type of fire regime is appropriate and more importantly ecologically sustainable. The comments by Wade (1992) with regard to Brigalow and fire (see page 13 of this report) raise the possibility that a complete fire exclusion regime may be the most appropriate from an ecological point of view. Weilmoringle Station has several large patches of Brigalow in the western end of the property with smaller patches scattered throughout the property including the recommended IPA. Any uncontrolled fire or even a very well managed fire could easily burn through one of these small scattered patches of Brigalow and destroy it. Should this happen there may be legal consequences for the WLHC and or the person/s who lit the fire or authorised it lighting.

Please Note: Should WLHC deliberately light or cause to be lit a fire that destroys either a small patch/s or a large area of Brigalow than there is the very real possibility that the Company and the Company personal involved will be subject to prosecution under either the NSW State or the Commonwealth Government threatened species legislation.

The identification and mapping of all small patches of Brigalow within the IPA and on Weilmoringle Station is therefore an important property management action.

It is therefore recommended that if ground fuel levels in the IPA reach dangerous levels during summer or any “extreme fire period” that selective stock grazing be allowed to be used to reduce fuel loads. It is also recommended that paddock perimeter fire breaks be regularly maintained. Also if “woody weed” become a problem on the Sandy Mound area of the IPA it is recommended that mechanical methods be used to control the “woody weeds” in rather than fire.

In summary fire should be used extremely cautiously as management tool of “last resort” and only after all ecological factors have taken into account.

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Fauna: It is recommended that a more thorough fauna survey be undertaken involving specialist ecologists and biologists with equipment and expertise in following fields:

 Ornithologist (birds)  Herpetologist (reptiles)  Bats  Marsupials and small mammals

Again it would be preferable for the further fauna surveying to be undertaken as part of the employment and training programme which will follow the declaration of the IPA (see Employment and Training Section below).

A disturbing aspect of the surveying results was the almost complete absence of large kangaroos and wallabies from the IPA (see Appendix 2 - none were observed during day surveying and only 5 were seen during night spotting). Given that Weilmoringle Station does not have regular kangaroo hunters, there was an expectation of observing large numbers of kangaroos and wallabies, particularly after dark. Information provided by the Fred, Kylie, Josie and Vera while surveying, suggests that Woolshed Paddock has been heavily used by members of the Wytaliba Community to hunt for kangaroo and emu, leading to the possibility that the paddock has been “shot out”.

It is recommended that traditional hunting in the IPA be curtailed for several years to allow kangaroo and wallaby numbers to increase. It is also recommended that WLHC institute a system of rotation of traditional hunting around the property’s paddocks so that no single paddock is over hunted.

Cultural Values: There is a very real and urgent need for a senior Murrawarri man to survey the Gidgee areas of not only the IPA but Weilmoringle Station and identify Ring Gidgee trees, before this skill of identifying Ring Gidgee from Common Gidgee is lost. Given that Ring Gidgee was traded from Murrawarri country across most of southern NSW, the Murrawarri People have a moral responsibility to the broad NSW Aboriginal Community to ensure that this cultural knowledge and tradition is not lost.

As stated previously there is a need to identify and locate important cultural plants. Particular attention should be paid to cultural plants that are rare or scarce in the landscape and have high values. With appropriate training this activity could be undertaken by the rangers employed through the IPA programme.

There is also a need to restrict some traditional hunting and gathering activities in the IPA to allow fauna species numbers to recover and ensure that flora species are reproducing. Traditional hunting activities should never be concentrated in one area of Weilmoringle Station rather the emphasis should be to spread the impact of the activities over the whole property. It is important to note that when plant products like berries, fruit etc are harvested that some of the fruit is “left on the tree” to ensure the plant reproduces new individuals. An individual plant should never be totally “stripped” of its fruit unless action is taken to ensure substantial quantities of its seeds are planted in the surrounding area.

The emphasis for traditional hunting and gathering activities should be sustainability over the long term.

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Paddock Management: Stock Grazing – domestic stock grazing should be excluded from the IPA, except where it may be necessary to reduce fuel loads in “extreme fire periods”.

Fencing – the IPA perimeter fence should be composed of “ring-lock” or “hinged-joint” fencing. This will restrict the entry of goats and pigs into the IPA and thereby limit their numbers and the associated damage these species can do to the IPA. However a ring-lock fence also restricts the movement of emus, kangaroo and wallabies. While it is normal with ring-lock to have the “top” wire composed of barbed wire, it is suggested that this be composed of plain wire. Having a top barbed wire on the fence can pose a potential threat to kangaroo and wallabies when they jump over the fence; the barbed wire can leave deep wounds and cuts in an animal which later leads to its death; with plain wire the potential for wounds and cuts is greatly reduced. Emus are unable to scale a ring-lock fence and unless there is some active management, over time the emus “locked in the IPA” will face a loss in genetic diversity. It is suggested that there be regular rotation of new animals via bring in eggs or young birds from outside the IPA and/or capturing, herding and then releasing to the outside, older bids from inside the IPA.

Pest Control – ring-lock perimeter fencing only restricts the entry of large more mature goats and pigs, very young goats and pigs may still enter and breed in the IPA. It is recommended that all watering places in the IPA be fully fenced out so as to regularly “capture” any feral pests. It is also recommended that a policy of ripping rabbit warrens wherever they are found be instigated. Plant pest should be removed either by the use of herbicide or mechanical methods. The use of fire to “burn out” or destroy weeds should highly restricted (see flora section). There should also be an active fox baiting and cat trapping programme in the recommended IPA and on Weilmoringle Station.

Employment and Training: As part of the IPA process, several IPA ranger positions will become available. It is recommended that these employees receive the following training as part of their overall farm management training:

 Plant identification, particularly with relation to plant species known or likely to exist on Weilmoringle Station.  Fauna identification, particularly in relation to bird, mammals and reptiles known or likely to exist on Weilmoringle Station.  Identification of weed species known to be prevalent in the region and methods of control and eradication.  Familiarisation with NSW State and Commonwealth Threatened Species Legislation, particularly as it relates to the management of the IPA and Weilmoringle Station.  Some basic understanding in ecology, habitat requirements for plants and animals and ecosystem function.  Feral pest management.  Appropriate cultural knowledge training on the traditional use of plants and animals including gender-specific cultural knowledge from Senior Murrawarri Elders and knowledge holders.

Wildlife Sanctuary: The establishment of a wildlife sanctuary on either the IPA or Weilmoringle Station requires more expert advice and assistance. It is recommended that the WLHC seek assistance from organisations like the CSIRO, Western Plains Zoo and specialist officers in DECC in helping the Company plan and establish a wildlife sanctuary.

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REFERENCES

Ayres, D., Nash, S., and Baggett, K. (1996) Threatened Species of Western New South Wales. NSW NPWS, Hurstville.

Booth, C. A. (c1980’s) Woody weeds; their ecology and control. NSW Soil Conservation Service, Condobolin.

Brooke, Greg and McGarva, Lori (1998) The glove box guide to plants of the NSW rangelands, NSW Department of Agriculture, Sydney.

Brooker, M. I. H. and Kleinig, D. A. (1999) Field guide to Eucalyptus. 2nd edn, Bloomings Books, Hawthorn

Brown, Ian and Rigby, Nick (eds.) (2001) A landowner’s guide to threatened species of Central West NSW. NPWS, Central West Region, Bathurst.

Cogger, Harold G. (1992) Reptiles and amphibians of Australia. 5th edn Reed books, Chatswood.

Cunningham, G. M., Mulham, W. E., Milthorpe, P. L. and Leigh, J. H. (1992) Plants of western New South Wales, Inkata Press, Sydney.

Dykes, Peter, Parsons, Marlon, Gott, Beth and Hercus, Luise (2004) Southern Mallee Cultural Landscape Mapping Project. Draft report prepared for DIPNR, Murray Region, Buronga.

Dykes, Peter and Hooper, Fred (2005) Property Management Plan for Weilmoringle Station, Unpublished report for Weilmoringle Landholding Company Ltd, Weilmoringle.

Dykes, Peter, Wilson, Jason, Miller, Kat, Donaldson Tamsin & Giacon, John (2006a) Utilising Aboriginal knowledge in western New South Wales plant conservation, DNR Far West Region, Dubbo.

Dykes, Peter, Howard Linton, Sullivan Phillip, Burns Will, Chatfield Joan and Brown, Cathy, (2006b) Integration of cultural education with native vegetation management, DNR Central West Region, Orange.

Eldridge, David and Tozer, Merrin E. (1997) A practical guide to soil Lichens and Bryophytes of Australia’s dry country. NSW Dept. of Land and Water Conservation, Sydney.

Harden, Gwen, J. (1993) Flora of New South Wales, 4 Vols, Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney.

Northern Floodplain Regional Planning Committee (2004a) Vegetation communities of the Northern Floodplains Western New South Wales Book 2: Brewarrina Shire, Northern Floodplain Regional Planning Committee, Walgett NSW.

Oates, Lynette F. (1992) Muruwari Dictionary. Freelance Desktop Publishing, Albury.

Pizzey, Graham and Knight, Frank (1997) The field guide to the birds of Australia. Harper Collins Publishers, Sydney.

Strahan, Ronald (ed.) (1992) The Australian Museum complete book of Australian Mammals. Angus and Robertson, Sydney.

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Wade, Therse (1992) The Brigalow outlier: a resource inventory of the Brigalow vegetation communities west of the Culgoa River. Dept. of Conservation and Land Management (formerly Western Land Commission), Dubbo.

Electronic Data Sets

Dykes, Peter R. (2006c) Draft register of Aboriginal cultural values for plants database, held by DNR Far West Region, Dubbo NSW.

Dykes, Peter R. (2006d) Western Division, NSW GIS data set: Moorawarri plant cultural values, held by DNR Far West Region, Dubbo NSW.

Northern Floodplain Regional Planning Committee (2004b) Present and pre-development vegetation communities of the Brewarrina Shire: GIS data set, Northern Floodplain Regional Planning Committee, Walgett NSW held by DNR Far West Region, Dubbo NSW.

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APPENDICES

APPENDIX 1 ECOLOGICAL SURVEY DATA FORM ...... 49

APPENDIX 2.1 ECOLOGICAL SURVEY – SITE WEIL 1 DATA...... 50

APPENDIX 2.2 ECOLOGICAL SURVEY – SITE WEIL 2 DATA...... 52

APPENDIX 2.3 ECOLOGICAL SURVEY – SITE WEIL 3 DATA...... 54

APPENDIX 2.4 ECOLOGICAL SURVEY – SITE WEIL 4 DATA...... 56

APPENDIX 2.5 ECOLOGICAL SURVEY – SITE WEIL 5 DATA...... 58

APPENDIX 2.6 ECOLOGICAL SURVEY – SITE WEIL 6 DATA...... 60

APPENDIX 2.7 ECOLOGICAL SURVEY – SITE WEIL 7 DATA...... 62

APPENDIX 2.8 ECOLOGICAL SURVEY – SITE WEIL 8 DATA...... 64

APPENDIX 2.9 ECOLOGICAL SURVEY – SITE WEIL 9 DATA...... 66

APPENDIX 2.10 ECOLOGICAL SURVEY – SITE WEIL 10 DATA...... 68

APPENDIX 2.11 ECOLOGICAL SURVEY – SITE WEIL 11 DATA...... 70

APPENDIX 3 ECOLOGICAL SURVEY – WOOLSHED PADDOCK...... 72

APPENDIX 4 SUMMARY OF NFRPC VEGETATION COMMUNITIES FOUND IN PROPOSED IPA ON WEILMORINGLE STATION ...... 73

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APPENDIX 1 ECOLOGICAL SURVEY DATA FORM

Site No. Time Date Surveyors Grid Reference Easting Zone Method Northing Datum Vegetation Type NFRPC Vegetation Community Map Code Aspect Site Description Disturbance Factors Timber Treatment Grazing Level Weed Pests Fire Scars Erosion Evidence Feral Fest Mistletoe Level Soil Soil Type Cryptogram Layer

Overall Comments Vegetation Profile Canopy CANOPY LAYER Canopy Height Density Canopy Species

Shrub SHRUB LAYER Shrub Height Density Shrub Species

GROUNDCOVER Groundcover Species

Fauna Observed BIRDS

MAMMALS

REPTILES

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APPENDIX 2.1 ECOLOGICAL SURVEY – SITE WEIL 1 DATA

Site No. Weil 1Time 6.40 am Date 2/12/2008 Surveyors Peter Dykes, Vera Nixon, Josie Byno, Fred Hooper, Kylie Gibbons Grid Reference Easting 489397 Zone 55J Method Garmin GPS Northing 6763876 Datum GDA 1994 Vegetation Type NFRPC Vegetation Community Barren Map Code BAR Aspect Level Claypan with small mounds of chenopods, scattered Coolibah, large patches of Site Description bare ground Disturbance Factors Timber Treatment Yes Done a long time ago Grazing Level Yes High ‐ possibly used as holding area in shearing periods Weed Pests No Fire Scars No Erosion Evidence Yes Area affected by wind erosion of remaining "mounds" Feral Fest Yes Pigs and rabbits tracks & diggings Mistletoe Level N/A Soil Soil Type Grey cracking clays ‐ floodplain soil Cryptogram Layer yes Only on "mounds", very degraded and sparse

Area subject to some flooding from Culgoa River, fairly degraded area with large Comments patches of bare ground

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Vegetation Profile Canopy CANOPY LAYER No Canopy Height Density Canopy Species Very scattered and isolated trees Black Box Eucalyptus largiflorens Coolibah Eucalyptus coolabah

Shrub SHRUB LAYER No Shrub Height Density Shrub Species

GROUNDCOVER Yes Groundcover Species Only growing on "mounds" Silver Copperburr Sclerolaena diacantha Black Roly Poly Sclerolaena muricata Pigweed Portulaca oleracea Fairy Grass Sporobolus caroli Yellow daisy Small Saltbush Old Man Saltbush Atriplex nummularia

Fauna Observed BIRDS Yes Pigeon Budgie Melopsittacus undulatus Death Bird Emu tracks Dromaius novaehollandiae Major Mitchell Cacatua leadbeateri

MAMMALS Yes Kangaroo tracks Pig tracks Rabbit diggings cattle & sheep tracks

REPTILES

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APPENDIX 2.2 ECOLOGICAL SURVEY – SITE WEIL 2 DATA

Site No. Weil 2Time 8.00 am Date 2/12/2008 Surveyors Peter Dykes, Vera Nixon, Josie Byno, Fred Hooper, Kylie Gibbons Grid Reference Easting 488793 Zone 55J Method Garmin GPS Northing 6763758 Datum GDA 1994 Vegetation Type NFRPC Vegetation Community Black Box / Coolibah Map Code BCO Aspect Level Black Box / Coolibah with very scattered & isolated shrubs, a sub‐shrub layer Site Description (0.5 m) of saltbush, dense to sparse groundcover Disturbance Factors Timber Treatment Yes very minor and done a long time ago Grazing Level Yes low to moderate Weed Pests No Fire Scars No Erosion Evidence Yes very minor wind erosion Feral Fest No Mistletoe Level Yes Low level Soil Soil Type Grey cracking clays ‐ floodplain soil Cryptogram Layer Yes Widespread and in fairly good condition

Comments

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Vegetation Profile Canopy CANOPY LAYER Yes Canopy Height 4 ‐ 6 m 10% Density Canopy Species Coolibah Eucalyptus coolabah Black Box Eucalyptus largiflorens Gidgee Acacia cambagei Whitewood Atalaya hemiglauca

Shrub SHRUB LAYER Yes Shrub Height 2 ‐ 3 m 1%< Density Shrub Species Warrior Bush Apophyllum anomalum Leafless Cherry Exocarpos aphyllus Whitewood Atalaya hemiglauca Gidgee Acacia cambagei Turpentine Eremophila sturtii Budda Eremophila mitchellii

GROUNDCOVER Yes Saltbush layer up to .5 metres above ground Groundcover Species Ruby Saltbush Enchylaena tomentosa Old Man Saltbush Atriplex nummularia Bladder Saltbush Atriplex vesicaria Lignum Muehlenbeckia florulenta Nardoo Marsilea drummondii Pigweed Portulaca oleracea Grey Copperburr Sclerolaena diacantha Pop Saltbush Atriplex holocarpa Nightshade Solanum spp. Neverfail Eragrostis setifolia Windmill Grass Chloris truncata Fairy Grass Sporobolus caroli Small Burr Grass Tragus australianus

Fauna Observed BIRDS Yes Wedge‐tail Eagle Aquila audax Crow Little Brown Bird

MAMMALS

REPTILES

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APPENDIX 2.3 ECOLOGICAL SURVEY – SITE WEIL 3 DATA

Site No. Weil 3Time 5.10 pm Date 2/12/2008 Surveyors Peter Dykes, Vera Nixon, Josie Byno Grid Reference Easting 486646 Zone 55J Method Garmin GPS Northing 6763163 Datum GDA 1994 Vegetation Type NFRPC Vegetation Community Map Code Aspect Site Description Bird observation at dam in back (western end) of Woolshed Paddock Disturbance Factors Timber Treatment Grazing Level Weed Pests Yes Noogoora Burr around edges of dam Fire Scars Erosion Evidence Feral Fest Mistletoe Level Soil Soil Type Cryptogram Layer

Aunty Josie and Aunty Vera both reported that they came to this dam to harvest Comments mussels from it, because they could no longer be obtained in the Culgoa River

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Vegetation Profile Canopy CANOPY LAYER No Canopy Height Density Canopy Species

Shrub SHRUB LAYER Shrub Height Density Shrub Species

GROUNDCOVER Groundcover Species

Fauna Observed BIRDS Yes Magpie (4) Gymnorhina tibicen Crows (>5) Peewee (3) Grallina cyanoleuca Happy Jacks (12) Struthidea cinerea Galahs (>4) Cacatua roseicapilla Honeysuckers (2) Swallows (2) Kingfisher MAMMALS

Other Yes Native Bees Mussels in dam

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APPENDIX 2.4 ECOLOGICAL SURVEY – SITE WEIL 4 DATA

Site No. Weil 4Time 5.20 pm Date 2/12/2008 Surveyors Peter Dykes, Vera Nixon, Josie Byno, Fred Hooper Grid Reference Easting 486197 Zone 55J Method Garmin GPS Northing 6763139 Datum GDA 1994 Vegetation Type NFRPC Vegetation Community Coolibah / Pine Map Code Aspect south east Site Description Pine & Coolibah with shrubs growing on a sandhill, quinine in shrub layer Disturbance Factors Timber Treatment Yes Cypress Pine cut out for building material Grazing Level Yes Low to moderate Weed Pests Yes Low level of Galvanised Burr Fire Scars No Erosion Evidence No Feral Fest Yes Rabbit burrows Mistletoe Level Yes Low Soil Soil Type Red sandy loam sandhill Cryptogram Layer No

Comments Sandhill at back of Woolshed Paddock, low to moderate level of leaf litter

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Vegetation Profile Canopy CANOPY LAYER Yes Canopy Height 8 ‐ 10 m >30% Density Canopy Species Cypress Pine Callitris glaucophylla Bumble or Native Orange Capparis mitchellii Quinine Alstonia constricta Coolibah Eucalyptus coolabah Black Box Eucalyptus largiflorens

Shrub SHRUB LAYER Yes Shrub Height 4 ‐ 6 m 30% Density Shrub Species Quinine Alstonia constricta Western Boobialla Myoporum montanum Ironwood Acacia excela subsp. augusta

GROUNDCOVER Yes Groundcover Species Ruby Saltbush Enchylaena tomentosa Camel melon Citrullus lanatus Fairy Grass Sporobolus caroli Neverfail Eragrostis setifolia Galvanised Burr Sclerolaena birchii Spear Grass Austrostipa spp. Milky Weed Chamaesyce drummondii Saltbush 1 Saltbush 2 Daisy

Fauna Observed BIRDS Yes Bower bird Parrots Buggies Melopsittacus undulatus

MAMMALS Yes Echidna Tachyglossus aculeatus

REPTILES Yes Lizards Goanna

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APPENDIX 2.5 ECOLOGICAL SURVEY – SITE WEIL 5 DATA

Site No. Weil 5Time 6.30 pm Date 2/12/2008 Surveyors Peter Dykes, Vera Nixon, Josie Byno, Fred Hooper Grid Reference Easting 486314 Zone 55J Method Garmin GPS Northing 6762245 Datum GDA 1994 Vegetation Type NFRPC Vegetation Community Gidgee Map Code GID Aspect Level Site Description Gidgee shrubland with scattered & isolated shrubs, chenopod groundcover Disturbance Factors Timber Treatment Yes Gidgee cut for fence posts Grazing Level Yes Moderate Weed Pests Yes Low level of Galvanised Burr Fire Scars No Erosion Evidence No Feral Fest No Mistletoe Level Yes Low to moderate level, mainly on Gidgee Soil Soil Type Red sandy loam soils Cryptogram Layer Yes Fairly widespread & in reasonable condition

Comments Moderate to heavy leaf litter under Gidgee

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Vegetation Profile Canopy CANOPY LAYER Yes Canopy Height 4 ‐ 5 m >30% Density Canopy Species Gidgee Acacia cambagei Growing on Gidgee ‐ Pale‐leaf Mistletoe Amyema maidenii

Shrub SHRUB LAYER Yes Shrub Height 0.5 ‐ 2.5 m 10% Density Shrub Species Turpentine Eremophila sturtii Budda Eremophila mitchellii Wilga Geijera parviflora

GROUNDCOVER Yes Groundcover Species Ruby Saltbush Enchylaena tomentosa Galvanised Burr Sclerolaena birchii Windmill Grass Chloris truncata Fairy Grass Sporobolus caroli Climbing Saltbush Eindia nutans Warrior Bush Apophyllum anomalum Lambs Tails Ptilotus exaltatus Pigweed Portulaca oleracea

Fauna Observed BIRDS Yes Topknot Pigeon? Parrot Emu Dromaius novaehollandiae

MAMMALS

REPTILES

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APPENDIX 2.6 ECOLOGICAL SURVEY – SITE WEIL 6 DATA

Site No. Weil 6Time 7.00 pm Date 2/12/2008 Surveyors Peter Dykes, Vera Nixon, Josie Byno, Fred Hooper, Kylie Gibbons Grid Reference Easting 486949 Zone 55J Method Garmin GPS Northing 6761790 Datum GDA 1994 Vegetation Type NFRPC Vegetation Community Black Box /Coolibah Map Code BCO Aspect Level Black Box / Coolibah open woodland with grassy understorey & a small clump of Site Description Brigalow Disturbance Factors Timber Treatment No Grazing Level Yes Low Weed Pests Yes low level ‐ isolated Galvanised Burr Fire Scars No Erosion Evidence No Feral Fest Yes Pigs signs Mistletoe Level Low On Gidgee Soil Soil Type Grey cracking clays ‐ floodplain soil Cryptogram Layer Yes Very isolated patches scattered around site

Comments Fence line effect observed with neighbour

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Vegetation Profile Canopy CANOPY LAYER Yes Canopy Height 4 ‐ 6 m 10% Density Canopy Species Black Box Eucalyptus largiflorens Coolibah Eucalyptus coolabah Gidgee Acacia cambagei Brigalow ‐ small clump Acacia harpopylla Growing on Gidgee ‐ Pale‐leaf Mistletoe Amyema maidenii

Shrub SHRUB LAYER Yes Shrub Height 1 ‐ 2.5 m 2 ‐ 3% Density Shrub Species On Caringle Property ‐ Homeward Paddock Budda Eremophila mitchellii Turpentine Eremophila sturtii

GROUNDCOVER Yes Groundcover Species Nightshade Solanum spp. Bladder saltbush Atriplex vesicaria Fairy Grass Sporobolus caroli Neverfail Eragrostis setifolia Daisies Ruby Saltbush Enchylaena tomentosa Old Man Saltbush Atriplex nummularia Lignum Muehlenbeckia florulenta Nardoo Marsilea drummondii Galvanised Burr Sclerolaena birchii

Fauna Observed BIRDS Yes Peewee Grallina cyanoleuca

MAMMALS Yes Pig signs

REPTILES

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APPENDIX 2.7 ECOLOGICAL SURVEY – SITE WEIL 7 DATA

Site No. Weil 7 Time 7.30 pm Date 2/12/2008 Surveyors Peter Dykes, Vera Nixon, Josie Byno, Fred Hooper, Kylie Gibbons Grid Reference Easting 487857 Zone 55J Method Garmin GPS Northing 6761181 Datum GDA 1994 Vegetation Type NFRPC Vegetation Community Chenopod Grassland Map Code CHE Aspect Level Site Description Chenopod grassland with the very isolated shrubs Disturbance Factors Timber Treatment No Grazing Level Yes Low to moderate Weed Pests Yes Very low level of Galvanised Burr Fire Scars N/A Erosion Evidence No Feral Fest No Mistletoe Level N/A Soil Soil Type Grey cracking clays ‐ floodplain soil Cryptogram Layer No

Comments A fairly good looking area of chenopod grassland

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Vegetation Profile Canopy CANOPY LAYER No Canopy Height Density Canopy Species

Shrub SHRUB LAYER No Shrub Height Density Shrub Species

GROUNDCOVER Yes Groundcover Species Pop Saltbush Atriplex holocarpa Copperburr Sclerolaena spp. Plains Flover‐daisy Ixiolaena brevicompta Fairy Grass Sporobolus caroli Neverfail Eragrostis setifolia Black Roly Poly Sclerolaena muricata Windmill Grass Chloris truncata Silky Copperburr Sclerolaena eriacantha Galvanised Burr Sclerolaena birchii

Fauna Observed BIRDS

MAMMALS

REPTILES

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APPENDIX 2.8 ECOLOGICAL SURVEY – SITE WEIL 8 DATA

Site No. Weil 8Time 7.30 am Date 3/12/2008 Surveyors Peter Dykes, Vera Nixon, Josie Byno Grid Reference Easting 485188 Zone 55J Method Garmin GPS Northing 6763482 Datum GDA 1994 Vegetation Type NFRPC Vegetation Community Black Box / Coolibah Map Code Aspect Level Site Description Black Box / Coolibah along Pickerjerry Creek Disturbance Factors Timber Treatment No Grazing Level Yes Moderate Weed Pests Yes Moderate level of Galvanised Burr Fire Scars No Erosion Evidence No Feral Fest No Mistletoe Level Yes Low Soil Soil Type Grey cracking clays ‐ floodplain soil Cryptogram Layer No

Comments Open woodland along creek

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Vegetation Profile Canopy CANOPY LAYER Yes Canopy Height 5 ‐ 6 m 20 ‐ 30 % Density Canopy Species Black Box Eucalyptus largiflorens Coolibah Eucalyptus coolabah

Shrub SHRUB LAYER Yes Shrub Height 3 ‐ 4 m 15% Density Shrub Species Wilga Geijera parviflora

GROUNDCOVER Yes Groundcover Species Ruby Saltbush Enchylaena tomentosa Galvanised Burr Sclerolaena birchii Fairy Grass Sporobolus caroli Silver Copperburr Sclerolaena diacantha Old Man Saltbush Atriplex nummularia Black Roly Poly Sclerolaena muricata Cottonbush Maireana brevifolia

Fauna Observed BIRDS Yes Parrots Buggies Melopsittacus undulatus Honeyeaters Galahs Cacatua roseicapilla Lots of bird noise

MAMMALS

REPTILES

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APPENDIX 2.9 ECOLOGICAL SURVEY – SITE WEIL 9 DATA

Site No. Weil 9 Time 10.30 am Date 03/12/2008 Surveyors Peter Dykes, Vera Nixon, Josie Byno, Kylie Gibbons Grid Reference Easting 485974 Zone 55J Method Garmin GPS Northing 6765623 Datum GDA 1994 Vegetation Type NFRPC Vegetation Community Leopardwood / Gidgee / Saltbush Map Code LGS Aspect level Scattered clumps of Leopardwood, isolated Brigalow with isolated shrubs & Site Description saltbush groundcover Disturbance Factors Timber Treatment Yes Very old timber treatment Grazing Level Yes Moderate to high in past years Weed Pests No Fire Scars No Erosion Evidence No Feral Fest Low Pigs Mistletoe Level Yes Moderate to high level, mostly on Leopardwood Soil Soil Type Grey floodplain soils Cryptogram Layer Yes Patchy in places

Open shrubland with chenopods and very sparse grasses (grasses have been Comments heavily grazed)

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Vegetation Profile Canopy CANOPY LAYER Yes Canopy Height 4 ‐ 6 m 10%< Density Canopy Species In scattered small clumps Leopardwood Flindersia maculosa Gidgee ‐ v.isolated Acacia cambagei Coolibah ‐ v.isolated Eucalyptus coolabah Growing on Leopardwood ‐ Pale‐leaf Mistletoe Amyema maidenii Brigalow Acacia harpophylla

Shrub SHRUB LAYER Yes Shrub Height 2 ‐ 3 m 2%< Density Shrub Species Young Leopardwood Flindersia maculosa Turpentine Eremophila sturtii

GROUNDCOVER Yes Groundcover Species Ruby Saltbush Enchylaena tomentosa V.young Leopardwood Flindersia maculosa Silver Copperburr Sclerolaena diacantha Black Roly Poly Sclerolaena muricata Sedge Cyperus gilesii Golden Goosefoot Chenopodium auricomum Napan Capparis lasiantha Fairy Grass ‐ v.sparse Sporobolus caroli Purple Lovegrass ‐ v.sparse Eragrostis lacunaria Windmill Grass ‐ v.sparse Chloris truncata

Fauna Observed BIRDS Yes Parrots Death Bird Lots of bird noise

MAMMALS Yes Pigs tracks Cattle tracks

REPTILES Yes Lizard

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APPENDIX 2.10 ECOLOGICAL SURVEY – SITE WEIL 10 DATA

Site No. Weil 10 Time 6.30 am Date 3/12/2008 Surveyors Peter Dykes, Vera Nixon, Josie Byno Grid Reference Easting 485301 Zone 55J Method Garmin GPS Northing 6767383 Datum GDA 1994 Vegetation Type NFRPC Vegetation Community Map Code Aspect sandhill Gidgee with a dense shrub layer & v. Sparse groundcover growing on red sandy Site Description loam soil Disturbance Factors Timber Treatment Yes Shrub layer has been ringbarked &/or pulled Grazing Level Yes Heavy in past years Weed Pests Yes Moderate to high level of Galvanised Burr Fire Scars No Erosion Evidence No Feral Fest Yes Moderate to high level, rabbit warrens & diggings, goats Mistletoe Level Yes Moderate level on Gidgee & Hopbush Soil Soil Type Red sandy loam sandhill Cryptogram Layer No

Comments Dense shrub layer, grasses v. sparse to absent

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Vegetation Profile Canopy CANOPY LAYER Yes Canopy Height 7 ‐ 10 m 20% Density Canopy Species Gidgee Acacia cambagei Bumble or Native Orange Capparis mitchellii Growing on Gidgee ‐ Northern Mistletoe Lysiana subfalcata subsp. subfalcata

Shrub SHRUB LAYER Yes Shrub Height 2 ‐ 4 m 30% Density Shrub Species Western Boobialla Myoporum montanum Hopbush Dodonaea viscosa Growing on Hopbush ‐ Fleshy Mistletoe Amyema miraculosum subsp. boormanii Ironwood Acacia excela subsp. augusta Sandhill Rice‐flower Pimelea penicillaris Budda Eremophila mitchellii Turpentine Eremophila sturtii Wilga Geijera parviflora

GROUNDCOVER Yes Groundcover Species Galvanised Burr Sclerolaena birchii Ruby Saltbush Enchylaena tomentosa Plains Bluebell Wahlenbergia spp. Golden Goosefoot Chenopodium auricomum

Fauna Observed BIRDS Yes Emu Dromaius novaehollandiae Lots of bird noise

MAMMALS Yes Rabbits Goats

REPTILES

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APPENDIX 2.11 ECOLOGICAL SURVEY – SITE WEIL 11 DATA

Site No. Weil 11 Time 7.00 am Date 4/12/2998 Surveyors Peter Dykes, Vera Nixon, Josie Byno Grid Reference Easting 484612 Zone 55J Method Garmin GPS Northing 6767655 Datum GDA 1994 Vegetation Type NFRPC Vegetation Community Black Box Map Code Aspect slight western slope Black Box on grey clay soils along Burban Creek and Gidgee on red loamy soil on Site Description sandplain Disturbance Factors Timber Treatment Yes Gidgee on plains cut for fence posts, also ringbarking of remainder Grazing Level Yes Heavy in past years Weed Pests Yes Moderate to high level of Galvanised Burr Fire Scars No Erosion Evidence Yes Sheet erosion on sandplain, beginnings of gully erosion on grey clays Feral Fest Yes Rabbits on sandplain Mistletoe Level Yes Very low Soil Soil Type Grey cranking clays along creek & read sandy loams on hillslope Cryptogram Layer No Not present in Black Box, very small degraded patches on sandplain

Area is an ecotone between Gidgee on sandplain and Black Box along Burban Comments Creek

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Vegetation Profile Canopy CANOPY LAYER Yes Canopy Height 4 ‐ 6 m 20% Density Canopy Species Black Box ‐ floodplain Eucalyptus largiflorens Gidgee ‐ sandplain Acacia cambagei

Shrub SHRUB LAYER Yes Shrub Height 2 ‐ 3 m 5%< Density Shrub Species Only on sandplain Wilga Geijera parviflora Budda Eremophila mitchellii Turpentine Eremophila sturtii

GROUNDCOVER Yes Groundcover Species Pigweed Portulaca oleracea Grey Copperburr Sclerolaena diacantha Small Burr Grass ‐ v.sparse Tragus australianus Fairy Grass ‐ v.sparse Sporobolus caroli Galvanised Burr Sclerolaena birchii

Fauna Observed BIRDS Yes Flocks of buggies Melopsittacus undulatus Lots of bird noise

MAMMALS

REPTILES

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APPENDIX 3 ECOLOGICAL SURVEY – WOOLSHED PADDOCK

Site No. Weil 12 Time After dark Date 2 ‐ 3/12/2008 Surveyors Peter Dykes, Vera Nixon, Josie Byno and kids from Weilmoringle Fauna Observed BIRDS Yes At dam in Woolshed paddock (Site Weil 3) Flocks of galahs Cacatua roseicapilla Major Mitchell (2) Cacatua leadbeateri Parrots (lots) Owl Emu (2) Dromaius novaehollandiae

MAMMALS Yes Micro Bats (22 +) Kangaroo (5) Rabbits (3) Wallaby (5)

REPTILES

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APPENDIX 4 SUMMARY OF NFRPC VEGETATION COMMUNITIES FOUND IN PROPOSED IPA ON WEILMORINGLE STATION

Barren

Barren is a land use category indicating little or no vegetation i.e. < 20% canopy cover and very little ground vegetation at the time of the satellite TM imagery used (March 1995 and October 1996). Such areas are typically claypans or scalds, but also include large quarries and opal mining areas. Although barren is listed as a community type it might also be considered a result of land use or natural climatic or soil type process. It is unlikely barren areas would have any perennials except in years of effective high rainfall, or if associated with rehabilitation.

Above: Site Weil 1 is a good example of what areas mapped as Barren looks like.

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Black Box / Coolibah

Black box / coolibah communities have tree, shrub and pasture layers with an overstorey of mostly black box but may include a mix of coolibah. Other tree species include belah, rosewood, myall, whitewood, gidgee, river paperbark and river red gum. Areas adjacent to the Bogan River have extensive belah association. Common shrubs are spotted fuchsia, leafless cherry, nepine, wild orange, budda, northern sandalwood, eurah, river cooba, lignum, and spiny saltbush. Perennial low shrubs that dominate the pasture layer are goathead burr, black roly-poly, ruby saltbush and climbing saltbush. Grasses are dependent on seasons and include Warrego summer grass, neverfail, windmill grass and Mitchell grasses. This is predominantly a floodplain community. With the exception of floodrunners in the Weilmoringle and Enngonia area, black box occurs on higher ground and is the dominant floodplain eucalypt along the southern section of the Bogan River. Black box intergrades with poplar box and gidgee on higher floodplain areas, and with coolibah and river red gum on areas adjacent to rivers.

Above: Site Weil 6 is a good example of what areas mapped as Black Box / Coolibah looks like.

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Coolibah / Other

Coolibah / other communities have tree, shrub and pasture layers with an overstorey of mostly coolibah. This vegetation community is a floodplain community but also occurs along the major river courses and floodrunners in Brewarrina Shire. River red gum is a major component of coolibah / other particularly on the banks and lower levees of the main rivers. In these situations river red gum becomes the dominant overstorey. Coolibah / Other communities may also include other tree species such as river paperbark, belah, gidgee, leopardwood, wilga, mulga, black box, carbeen, poplar box, boonery and whitewood. Common shrubs are nepine, wild orange, eurah, river cooba, spotted fuchsia, budda, spiny saltbush and lignum. The pasture layer is generally dominated by copperburrs, e.g. goathead burr, star copperburr and black roly-poly with box grass, windmill grass and neverfail in depression areas.

Above: Site Weil 8 is a good example of what areas mapped as Coolibah / Other looks like.

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Gidgee

Gidgee is probably the most common non-eucalypt tree species in Brewarrina Shire, especially north of the Barwon River. Where mapped as gidgee it is usually the dominant tree species but poplar box, brigalow, leopardwood, black box and coolibah may be present. Common shrubs are budda, spiny saltbush, ellangowan poison-bush, bush pimelea and turpentine. The pasture layer is generally sparse with copperburrs and annual forbs the most common components.

Above: Site Weil 5 is a good example of what areas mapped as Gidgee looks like.

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Leopardwood / Gidgee / Saltbush

This vegetation community has been mapped out of the “non woody” structural base data, i.e. less than 20% woody canopy cover. Leopardwood / gidgee / saltbush communities have scattered trees, but the community is normally dominated by low shrubs and a pasture layer. Tree and shrub density varies considerably.

Species composition varies according to location in the Brewarrina Shire. Three broad “types” of leopardwood / gidgee / saltbush occur, each with different tree and shrub composition and overlap between locations.

1. Gidgee, leopardwood sometimes poplar box, with spiny saltbush, prickly wattle, flowering lignum, ruby saltbush and copperburrs present. Location: east of the Culgoa, north of the Barwon River.

2. Gidgee, brigalow and leopardwood with ellangowan poison-bush, spiny saltbush and budda and copperburrs. Location: west of Culgoa River.

3. Leopardwood, white wood, sometimes black box and wilga with spiny saltbush, bladder saltbush and old man saltbush. Location: south of Barwon River.

Above: Site Weil 9 is a good example of what areas mapped as Leopardwood / Gidgee / Saltbush looks like.

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Poplar Box / Coolibah

Poplar box / coolibah communities contain tree, shrub and pasture layers. Trees are mainly poplar box and coolibah, although belah, boonery and whitewood may be present. Shrubs include native cherry, nepine, warrior bush, wilga, wild orange and budda. Pasture species are neverfail, Mitchell grass and box grass.

Above: Site Weil 4 is a good example of what areas mapped as Poplar Box / Coolibah looks like.

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