Targeted Survey of Pterostylis Gibbosa (Illawarra Greenhood) for the Calderwood Urban Development Project

Targeted survey of Pterostylis gibbosa (Illawarra Greenhood) for the Calderwood Urban Development Project

Prepared for Lend Lease

September 2012

Calderwood - Pterostylis gibbosa targeted survey

DOCUMENT TRACKING

ITEM DETAIL Targeted survey of Pterostylis gibbosa (Illawarra Greenhood) for the Calderwood Urban Project Name Development Project Project Number 12WOLECO-0027 O:\Synergy\Projects\12WOLECO\12WOLECO-0027 Calderwood – Statement of Commitment Orchid File location Surveys\Report\Draft Reports

Brendan Dowd Project Manager Phone: (02) 42012202 Suite 204, Level 2, 62 Moore St, Austinmer, NSW 2515. Prepared by Lachlan Copeland Approved by Brendan Dowd Status Draft Version Number 1 Last saved on 31 May 201721 September 2012 Calderwood Study Area (top left and bottom right) and Pterostylis gibbosa from Croom Cover photos Regional sporting Complex (Photos: L. Copeland)

This report should be cited as ‘Eco Logical Australia 2012 ‘Targeted survey of Pterostylis gibbosa (Illawarra Greenhood) for the Calderwood Urban Development Project’. Prepared for Lend Lease.’

Disclaimer This document may only be used for the purpose for which it was commissioned and in accordance with the contract between Eco Logical Australia Pty Ltd and Lend Lease. The scope of services was defined in consultation with Lend Lease, by time and budgetary constraints imposed by the client, and the availability of reports and other data on the subject area. Changes to available information, legislation and schedules are made on an ongoing basis and readers should obtain up to date information. Eco Logical Australia Pty Ltd accepts no liability or responsibility whatsoever for or in respect of any use of or reliance upon this report and its supporting material by any third party. Information provided is not intended to be a substitute for site specific assessment or legal advice in relation to any matter. Unauthorised use of this report in any form is prohibited.

Calderwood - Pterostylis gibbosa targeted survey

Contents

Executive Summary ...... 1

1 Introduction ...... 2 1.1 Taxonomy of Pterostylis gibbosa...... 2 1.2 Distribution, ecology and habitat of Pterostylis gibbosa ...... 2 1.3 Aim of the current study ...... 2 1.4 Description of the study area ...... 5

2 Methodology ...... 5 2.1 Site inspection of known population near Albion Park ...... 5 2.2 Survey methodology employed in the Calderwood Study Area ...... 5

3 Results ...... 8 3.1 Site 1 ...... 8 3.2 Site 2 ...... 8 3.3 Site 3 ...... 13 3.4 Site 4 ...... 13

4 Conclusion ...... 13

5 References ...... 18

Calderwood - Pterostylis gibbosa targeted survey

List of Figures

Figure 1: Regional setting of Calderwood Urban Development Project Study Area ...... 4

Figure 2: Calderwood Urban Development Project Study Area with remnant sites of vegetation targeted during the current study...... 6

Figure 3: Aerial photograph of Site 1 showing the tracks walked/searched during the current study….10

Figure 4: Aerial photograph of Site 2 showing the tracks walked/searched during the current study. .... 12

Figure 5: Aerial photograph of Site 3 showing the tracks walked/searched during the current study. 1715

Figure 6: Aerial photograph of Site 4 showing the tracks walked/searched during the current study. .... 17

C a l d e r w ood - Pterostylis gibbosa targeted survey

Executive Summary

This report has been prepared by Eco Logical Australia for Lend Lease and refers to the Calderwood Urban Development Project which lies just to the north-west of Albion Park in the NSW Illawarra region.

As part of Lend Lease’s ecological Statement of Commitments (no. 37), a targeted survey was required to determine if any populations of the Endangered Pterostylis gibbosa (Illawarra Greenhood) occurred within suitable habitat in the Calderwood Study Area. Remnant woodland/forest patches thought to be potentially suitable for the orchid were searched by two field ecologists from Eco Logical Australia, both of whom were familiar with the species having just seen plants in flower in the Croom Regional Sporting Complex. Despite a thorough search of several remnants no orchids were found and it was concluded that all habitat within the study area was too highly degraded (very weedy and heavily grazed) to support any plants of Pterostylis gibbosa.

C a l d e r w ood - Pterostylis gibbosa targeted survey

1 Introduction

1.1 TAXONOMY OF PTEROSTYLIS GIBBOSA Pterostylis gibbosa R.Br., commonly referred to as the Illawarra Greenhood, is a perennial herb in the Orchidaceae family. The species was described in 1810 by Robert Brown based on collections made in 1803/04 from “Port Jackson” (an area now generally thought of as the broader Sydney region).

Pterostylis gibbosa is part of a group of Pterostylis species generally referred to as the “rufa group” which is characterised by the multiple red-green flowers with downward-pointing lateral sepals. In 2001, the Polish botanist Szlachetko split off the rufa group into a new genus called Oligochaetochilus (Szlachetko 2001) and this new generic concept was later followed by the leading orchidologists at the Australian National Herbarium in Canberra (e.g. Jones et al. 2002; Jones 2006). Since then, the split of Pterostylis into multiple genera has not been widely followed by Australian taxonomists and the National Herbarium of New South Wales still treats the greenhoods as a single, large genus i.e. Pterostylis.

The species is still listed as Pterostylis gibbosa under the schedules of the NSW Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 (TSC Act) and the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). For this reason the species will be referred to as Pterostylis gibbosa throughout this report even though there are still several references in the literature to the species as Oligochaetochilus gibbosus.

1.2 DISTRIBUTION, ECOLOGY AND HABITAT OF PTEROSTYLIS GIBBOSA Pterostylis gibbosa is currently known from three widespread locations in NSW: the Milbrodale district of the Hunter Valley approximately 70 km west-north-west of Newcastle, the Illawarra region on the NSW Central/South Coast, and a few kilometres south of Nowra.

The Illawarra plants occur at a few populations near Yallah and Albion Park and these populations comprise the bulk of the known individuals (NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service 2002). The species is a deciduous, perennial herb which produces a single flowering stem with up to 7 flowers (Bishop 2000).

Like many ground orchids, not all plants flower in any given year although the plants are usually still visible above the ground as a basal rosette of pale green leaves (Jones 2006). While the Milbrodale plants occur in shallow, sandy soil amongst sandstone outcrops, the southern populations generally occur on flat ground on loamy soils in woodland dominated by various Eucalyptus spp. and a variety of grasses and forbs. The Albion Park and Yallah plants often occur beneath small paperbark trees (Melaleuca decora).

1.3 AIM OF THE CURRENT STUDY A significant portion of the Calderwood Valley, located just to the north-west of Albion Park, is currently proposed to be subdivided and developed as part of the Calderwood Urban Development Project (see Figure 1). As part of the environmental studies relating to the proposed development, Eco Logical Australia (2010) suggested that areas of suitable habitat should be searched for individuals of Pterostylis gibbosa during the flowering period when the species is most easily detected. As part of the concept plan put forward by (Delfin) Lend Lease, a statement of commitment (no. 37) stated that:

Calderwood - Pterostylis gibbosa targeted survey

“A detailed survey will be carried out in an appropriate season for Pterostylis gibbosa (Illawarra Greenhood) prior to any works commencing within potential habitat for that species. Potential habitat for the species is the Moist Box - Red Gum Foothills Forest and Coastal Grassy Red Gum Forest – Woollybutt – Melaleuca. Following the detailed survey work, any specific mitigation measures determined as required are to be addressed in the relevant detailed application(s).”

This report presents the results of a targeted survey for Pterostylis gibbosa in the Calderwood Study Area carried out by Eco Logical Australia in 2012. This survey, conducted in mid-September when the species was known to be flowering, satisfies the commitment made by (Delfin) Lend Lease to search for Pterostylis gibbosa in areas of suitable habitat as defined by Eco Logical Australia (2010) in the original environmental assessment.

Calderwood - Pterostylis gibbosa targeted survey

Figure 1: Regional setting of Calderwood Urban Development Project Study Area

Calderwood - Pterostylis gibbosa targeted survey

1.4 DESCRIPTION OF THE STUDY AREA The study area, illustrated in Figure 2, covers approximately 700 ha of mostly cleared land to the north- west of Albion Park in what is known as the Calderwood district. Eco Logical Australia (2010) have suggested that the two remnants of “Lowland Woollybutt-Melaleuca Forest” on the northern side of Calderwood Road provide potential habitat for Pterostylis gibbosa and these two areas are labelled as sites 1 and 2 (east to west) in Figure 2. Two additional remnants were also considered to have some limited habitat potential for the species and these are labelled as sites 3 and 4 (Figure 2). Site 3 was (incorrectly) mapped as “Lowland Woollybutt-Melaleuca Forest” while the large remnant in the south- western side of the study area (Site 4) consists of a variety of vegetation types in relatively steep terrain. All four sites occur on relatively fertile, loamy soil and all have been substantially modified with a long history of grazing and partial clearing.

2 Methodology

2.1 SITE INSPECTION OF K NOWN POPULATION NEAR ALBION P ARK A known population of Pterostylis gibbosa, approximately 3-4 km east-south-east of the study area, was visited on 10th September 2012 to confirm that the species was flowering and therefore easily detectable. This population of approximately 1000 individuals, located in a remnant of Woollybutt- Melaleuca forest on the Croom Regional Sporting Complex, is thought to be the largest of the Illawarra/Nowra populations (NPWS 2002; Alan Stephenson pers. comm.). The flowering of most terrestrial orchids is highly dependent on adequate rainfall in the preceding months and in dry seasons the plants may not flower at all. It was therefore important to verify that the autumn/winter rainfall of 2012 was sufficient to allow the Albion Park plants to flower. The site visit to Croom on 10th September found that the species was in full flower with at least 30 flowering individuals observed within a few square metres (see Plate 1). The timing of the targeted survey of the Calderwood Study Area in the following two days was therefore considered to be ideal as any individuals present at Calderwood would most likely have also been in full flower.

2.2 SURVEY METHODOLOGY EMPLOYED IN THE CALDERWOOD STUDY AREA The four remnants mapped in Figure 2 were all surveyed on either the 10th or 11th September by Lachlan Copeland and Kimberley McCallum of Eco Logical Australia. Lachlan Copeland is an orchidologist with 15 years of experience in searching for, mapping, photographing and reporting on native orchid species. Kimberley McCallum, also an experienced field ecologist, was able to observe the plants flowering at Croom in order to become familiar with the species (both flowering plants and non-flowering rosettes) prior to the targeted surveys at Calderwood. Both ecologists walked a series of parallel transects throughout Sites 1, 2 and 3 (see Figure 2) approximately 10-15 m apart searching for suitable microhabitat (relatively bare ground with a predominantly native ground layer). The intention was to search more thoroughly in suitable microhabitat at a sufficiently slow enough speed to find any flowering or non-flowering individuals of Pterostylis gibbosa. The large remnant labelled as Site 4 in Figure 2 was searched for three hours with a series of random meanders throughout areas thought to be most suitable. Areas mapped as “Moist Box-Red Gum Foothills Forest” were especially targeted as these areas were thought to be potentially suitable following the recommendations of Eco Logical Australia (2010). Both ecologists carried a handheld Garmin GPS with the track function activated in order to be able to record and later overlay their tracks on a series of fine-scale maps.

Calderwood - Pterostylis gibbosa targeted survey

Figure 2: Calderwood Urban Development Project Study Area with remnant sites of vegetation targeted during the current study.

Calderwood - Pterostylis gibbosa targeted survey

Plate 1: Pterostylis gibbosa in flower at Croom Regional Sporting Complex on 10th September 2012. Top: basal rosette of leaves; bottom left: flowering plants; bottom right: single flower.

Calderwood - Pterostylis gibbosa targeted survey

3 Results

3.1 SITE 1 This remnant patch had a well-developed tree layer of Eucalyptus longifolia (Woollybutt) and Melaleuca decora (Paperbark) ranging from 8-15 m tall with an average projected foliage cover of about 50%. Beneath the tree layer were occasional shrubs of Acacia binervata (Two-veined Hickory), Kunzea ambigua (Tick Bush) and Cassinia quinquefaria (Dogwood) – this 2-5 m shrub layer ranged from absent in most areas to sparse in others with a cover of approximately 10%. The ground layer was relatively dense (ranging from 20-50% cover) and averaged 1-1.5 m in height.

By far the most common species was Sida rhombifolia (Paddy’s Lucerne), an exotic forb common in heavily grazed environments. Other common weeds included Verbena caracasana (Purpletop) and Rubus anglocandicans (Blackberry). A low grass layer of Microlaena stipoides (Meadow Grass) and the introduced Pennisetum clandestinum (Kikuyu) ranged from sparse to dense throughout the site.

Plate 2 presents two photos of this remnant taken during the field survey while Figure 3 illustrates the tracks walked/searched during the current study.

No plants of Pterostylis gibbosa or any other orchid were found in this patch. Accordingly, the species is considered highly unlikely to occur given the long history of grazing and very weedy, highly disturbed understorey. The area may well have once provided good habitat for the Pterostylis gibbosa in the past but is now very poor habitat given the dominance of weeds and heavy grazing.

3.2 SITE 2 This remnant patch had a well-developed tree layer of Woollybutt, Paperbark, Eucalyptus amplifolia (Cabbage Gum) and Eucalyptus tereticornis (Forest Red Gum) ranging from 7-20 m tall with an average projected foliage cover of about 50%. Tall shrubs were absent although a low shrub/forb layer of Paddy’s Lucerne and Nyssanthes erecta (Barb-wire Weed) ranged from 0.4-1 m tall and covered approximately 20% of the ground. The lower ground layer, ranging from 20-50% cover, was dominated by introduced weeds such as Kikuyu, the introduced form of Cynodon dactylon (Couch) and Senecio madagascariensis (Fireweed). Plate 3 presents two photos of this remnant taken during the field survey while Figure 4 illustrates the tracks walked/searched during the current study.

No plants of Pterostylis gibbosa or any other orchid were found in Site 2. Accordingly the species is considered highly unlikely to occur given the long history of grazing and very weedy, highly disturbed understorey. The area may well have once provided good habitat for the Pterostylis gibbosa in the past but is now very poor habitat given the dominance of weeds and heavy grazing. The site also appeared to be grazed more recently than Site 1 to the east.

Calderwood - Pterostylis gibbosa targeted survey

Plate 2: Site 1 north of Calderwood Rd showing Paperbark dominated canopy (top) and the dense, weed dominated understorey (bottom).

Calderwood - Pterostylis gibbosa targeted survey

Figure 3: Aerial photograph of Site 1 showing the tracks walked/searched during the current study

Calderwood - Pterostylis gibbosa targeted survey

Plate 3: Site 2 North of Calderwood Rd showing tree layer (top) and the dense, weed dominated understorey (bottom).

Calderwood - Pterostylis gibbosa targeted survey

Figure 4: Aerial photograph of Site 2 showing the tracks walked/searched during the current study.

Calderwood - Pterostylis gibbosa targeted survey

3.3 SITE 3 Although mapped as a Woollybutt-Paperbark community this heavily grazed patch was in fact dominated by Eucalyptus piperata (Sydney Peppermint) with occasional trees of Eucalyptus globoidea (Stringybark) on the western edge of the remnant.

The tree cover averaged about 50% while the height of the canopy ranged from 15-25 m. There was no shrub layer while the sparse ground layer was dominated by introduced weeds such as Kikuyu, Paddy’s Lucerne, Axonopus sp. (Carpet Grass) and Fireweed. The only common native species was Meadow Grass.

This remnant has been heavily grazed to the extent that little native cover remains and the ground layer is so heavily modified and degraded that there is very little chance of any orchids being present. Not surprisingly, no plants of Pterostylis gibbosa were recorded. Plate 4 presents two photos of this remnant taken during the field survey while Figure 5 illustrates the tracks walked/searched during the current study.

3.4 SITE 4 This large and diverse remnant on the south-eastern slopes of Johnsons Mountain consists of a range of vegetation types ranging from small strips of rainforest to relatively dry areas of Forest Red Gum.

Three hours were spent searching the site for signs of Pterostylis gibbosa but no flowering plants or rosettes were found. This was not surprising given the highly degraded understory, the long history of grazing, and the steep terrain which is not usually favoured by Pterostylis gibbosa.

Areas mapped as “Moist Box-Red Gum Foothills Forest” were originally thought to have some limited potential for this species (Eco Logical Australia 2010) but the ground layer is so different to the population at Croom that the possibility of Pterostylis gibbosa occurring on site can effectively be ruled out. The species is not known to occur in rainforest while the drier patches of eucalypt woodland in this remnant were all heavily infested with the introduced Lantana camara (Lantana) to the extent that few native plants remain underneath the dense shrub layer. Plate 5 presents two photos of this large remnant taken during the field survey while Figure 6 illustrates the tracks walked/searched during the current study.

4 Conclusion

Although the two northern-most remnants in the study area (Sites 1 and 2) may have originally provided suitable habitat for Pterostylis gibbosa, these areas are now dominated by weeds in the understorey and have been heavily modified by a long history of grazing. It is considered highly unlikely that any plants of Pterostylis gibbosa would be present on site as no areas of suitable microhabitat (relatively open, predominantly native areas) remain. Site 3 has also been very heavily grazed and modified to the extent that no suitable habitat is present. The large remnant southeast of Johnsons Mountain (site 4) is so heavily infested with Lantana that it is also highly unlikely that any plants of Pterostylis gibbosa would be present. In addition, the steep terrain and more fertile soils suggest that this mountainous area would be unlikely to provide suitable habitat for the species.

Calderwood - Pterostylis gibbosa targeted survey

Plate 4: Site 3 South of Calderwood Rd showing tree layer (top), Heavily, grazed understorey (bottom).

Calderwood - Pterostylis gibbosa targeted survey

Figure 5: Aerial photograph of Site 3 showing the tracks walked/searched during the current study.

Calderwood - Pterostylis gibbosa targeted survey

Plate 5: Site 4 south-east of Johnsons Mountain showing a typical patch of Forest Red Gum with a dense infestation of Lantana (top) and the relatively bare ground beneath the Lantana thickets (bottom).

Calderwood - Pterostylis gibbosa targeted survey

Figure 6: Aerial photograph of Site 4 showing the tracks walked/searched during the current study.

Calderwood - Pterostylis gibbosa targeted survey

5 References

Bishop, T. 2000. Field Guide to the Orchids of New South Wales and Victoria. UNSW Press: Sydney.

Eco Logical Australia 2010. Calderwood Urban Development Project – Flora & Fauna Assessment. Unpublished report prepared for Delfin Lend Lease.

Jones, D.L. 2006. A Complete Guide to Native Orchids of Australia including the Island Territories. Reed New Holland: Sydney.

Jones, D.L., Clements, M.A. & Molloy, B.P.J. 2002 ‘A synopsis of the subtribe Pterostylidinae’. Australian Orchid Research 4: 133

NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service 2002 Pterostylis gibbosa (R.Br.) Illawarra Greenhood Orchid Recovery Plan. NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service: Hurstville.

Szlachetko, D.L. (2001) ‘Genera et species Orchidalium 1’. Polish Botanical Journal 46(1): 24

Personal Communications

Alan Stephenson – Conservation Officer of the Australian Native Orchid Society.

Calderwood - Pterostylis gibbosa targeted survey

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