City of Melville Eastern Reserves Strategic Management Plan 2015-2020

May 2015

Final

Executive Summary The Eastern Reserves are located in the suburbs of Bateman and Bullcreek in the east of the City of Melville. The three reserves (George Welby Park, Tom Firth Park and Ron Carroll Reserve) include 8.14 hectares of bushland that has been has been moderately isolated from other terrestrial bushland remnants for approximately 30 years.

These reserves were rated moderately in terms of their overall value in the NAAMP. Of the four ratings, George Welby Park and Ron Carroll Reserve were in the second highest tier. Tom Firth Park was in the third highest tier.

Of the 17 assets targeted for monitoring and management, the 3 assets of regional, state and/or national significance were: • 1 ecological community • Bassendean Vegetation Complex – Central and South • 2 plants • Melaleuca thymoides • Beaufortia elegans

The vegetation is regionally significant, with less than 30% of the Bassendean Central and South vegetation complex remaining uncleared.

The 159 native plant species recorded onsite represent approximately one third of the 434 species recorded in the City of Melville. Of these: • 1 shrub (Melaleuca thymoides) of regional significance is at moderate risk of local extinction as it occurs in low to moderate numbers; • 1 shrub (Beaufortia elegans) of regional significance is in low to moderate numbers, and is susceptible to local extinction from high frequency fires; and • 3 trees (Banksia attenuata, Slender Banksia and Banksia menziesii and Banksia ilicifolia, Holly-leaved Banksia) are not regionally significant but in relatively low numbers and susceptible to dieback and at moderate risk of local extinction.

The 20 native animal species (3 bats, 2 reptiles and 15 birds) recorded onsite represent one twelfth of the 240 species recorded in the City of Melville, but the inventory for the Eastern Reserves is not comprehensive.

Of the 44 threats considered for targeted monitoring and management, the very high impact threats onsite were: • 5 weeds (Asparagus asparagoides Bridal Creeper, Rubus species Blackberry, Schinus terebinthifolius Brazilian Pepper, very large tree weeds, and perennial clumping grasses); • 1 feral animal (Felis catus cats); • Dieback (Phytophthora cinnamomi); and • climate change (extremely high temperatures and low rainfall).

A discussion is provided on changes in assets and threats between 2005 and 2014, but a comprehensive audit of key performance indicators, and many leading and lagging indicators was not possible as quantitative data collection has not been previously standardised by the City of Melville for bushland management. Between 2005 and 2014: • 33 threats were prevented, unchanged, or decreased; • 1 threats increased (high temperatures associated with climate change); • 10 threats could not be assessed for changes; • 15 assets were maintained; and • 3 assets could not be assessed for changes.

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Applying the principles established in the City of Melville’s Natural Areas Asset Management Plan, this strategic reserve plan establishes 53 objectives for threats in order to meet the 19 goals for assets for the period 2015-2020. These are to be implemented through operational reserve plans, guidelines and procedures, and the outcomes and effectiveness of management reviewed using quantitative data.

The major priorities for management of the bushland in the Eastern Reserves should be: • Increasing the numbers of Melaleuca thymoides shrubs (in particular in George Welby Park); • Increasing the numbers of Banksia attenuata and Banksia ilicifolia trees; • Confirming the numbers of Beaufortia elegans shrubs; • Reducing the length of informal tracks (particularly in the north-east of Ron Carroll Reserve); • Eliminating the very high impact weeds in low numbers (Blackberry Rubus laudatus, Bridal Creeper Asparagus asparagoides, Brazilian Pepper Schinus terebinthifolius, and very large weed trees); • Containing non-local plantings (particularly Acacia iteaphylla, Acacia longifolia, Acacia podalyriifolia, Banksia prionotes, Grevillea crithmifolia, Grevillea olivacea and Melaleuca nesophila); and • Managing the impacts of Phytophthora cinnamomi dieback.

The density of very large potentially hollow forming habitat trees in the Eastern Reserves is less than half the average of 14 habitat trees per hectare recorded across 24 reserves containing a total of 72.3 hectares of bushland. The additional 19 very large native trees in the parkland portion of George Welby Park therefore provide significant supplementary numbers, and whilst outside the scope of bushland management there are opportunities to further increase the numbers of Melaleuca preissiana (which can develop into very large trees) in this parkland area.

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Recommended Reference

The recommended reference for this document is:

Waters, A (2015) Eastern Reserves Strategic Management Plan 2015-2020, Woodgis Environmental Assessment and Management for the City of Melville, Perth.

Acknowledgements

Woodgis Environmental Assessment and Management would like to acknowledge the contribution of the following personnel from the City of Melville during preparation of the strategic management plan: • Kellie Motteram, Environmental Officer; • Blair Bloomfield, Environmental Maintenance Supervisor; and • Errol Allen, Team Leader - Environmental Maintenance.

Acronyms and Definitions

ANZECC Australian and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council DBH diameter at breast height DEC (WA) Department of Environment and Conservation DEP (WA) Department of Environmental Protection DPaW (WA) Department of Parks and Wildlife EPBC Act Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act FCT Floristic Community Type ha hectares Melville City (rather than suburb) unless specifically stated otherwise NAAMP Natural Areas Asset Management Plan PEC Priority Ecological Community (as defined and listed by DPaW) WAPC Western Australian Planning Commission

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Table of Contents

Executive Summary ...... 1 Recommended Reference ...... 3 Acknowledgements ...... 3 Acronyms and Definitions ...... 3 Table of Contents ...... 4 Figures ...... 5 Tables ...... 5 1 Introduction ...... 7 1.1 Background ...... 7 1.2 Objectives ...... 10 1.3 Scope ...... 10 2 Assets ...... 11 2.1 Overview ...... 11 2.1 Reserve Assets ...... 13 2.1.1 Bush Forever ...... 13 2.1.1 Ecological Linkages ...... 14 2.2 Site Assets ...... 17 2.2.1 Ecological Communities ...... 17 2.2.2 Fauna Habitat ...... 21 2.2.3 Wetlands ...... 23 2.2.4 Heritage ...... 24 2.2.4 Community Interest ...... 24 2.2.5 Reference ...... 25 2.3 Species ...... 26 2.3.1 Native Flora ...... 26 2.3.1 Native Fauna ...... 31 3.1 Physical Disturbance ...... 36 3.2 Fire ...... 37 3.3 Weeds ...... 38 3.4 Habitat Loss ...... 40 3.5 Feral Animals ...... 42 3.6 Diseases and Pathogens ...... 44 3.7 Stormwater ...... 45 3.8 Reticulation ...... 45 3.10 Climate Change ...... 46 4 Management ...... 48 4.1 Review of Management 2005-2014 ...... 48 4.1.1 Key Performance Indicators ...... 48 4.1.2 Leading Indicators ...... 49

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4.1.3 Lagging Indicators ...... 49 4.2 Management Objectives 2015-2020 ...... 50 4.2.1 Key Performance Indicators ...... 50 4.2.2 Leading Indicators ...... 54 4.2.3 Lagging Indicators ...... 55 References ...... 56 Appendix 1 Flora Inventory ...... 60 Appendix 2 Fauna Inventory ...... 65 Appendix 3 Weed Distributions ...... 66

Figures Figure 1 Context of Strategic Reserve Plans in relation to other documents ...... 7 Figure 2 Documents used to Maintain/Enhance Assets by Managing Threats ...... 8 Figure 3: Location of Reserves included in Plan ...... 10 Figure 4 Assessment of Assets in Natural Areas ...... 11 Figure 5 Aerial Photo of the Eastern Reserves 1974 ...... 14 Figure 6 Aerial Photo of the Eastern Reserves 1981 ...... 15 Figure 7 Aerial Photo of the Eastern Reserves 1985 ...... 15 Figure 8 Remnant Vegetation within 2 km of Eastern Reserves ...... 16 Figure 9: Vegetation Associations ...... 17 Figure 10: Historical Clearing of the Eastern Reserves ...... 18 Figure 11: Vegetation in 1985 ...... 18 Figure 12: Vegetation in 1974 ...... 18 Figure 13: Vegetation in 1965 ...... 18 Figure 14: Vegetation in 1953 ...... 18 Figure 15: Areas of High Native Plant Cover 2014 ...... 20 Figure 16 Changes in Density of Perennial Vegetation 1990-2012 ...... 20 Figure 17: Distribution of Native Habitat Trees in 2014 ...... 21 Figure 18: Distribution of Jarrah and Marri Trees in 2014 ...... 23 Figure 19 Community Interest Sites ...... 24 Figure 20: Banksia trees Distribution 2014 ...... 27 Figure 21: Melaleuca thymoides Distribution 2014 ...... 28 Figure 22 Assessment of Threats in Natural Areas ...... 35 Figure 23 Location of Physical Disturbances ...... 36 Figure 24 Fires 2005 to 2014 ...... 37 Figure 25: Cover of All Weeds Combined ...... 40 Figure 26: Bare Ground ...... 41 Figure 27 Interpretation of Extent of Dieback Infestation in 2014 ...... 44 Figure 28: Stormwater Inflows ...... 45 Figure 29 Infrastructure Locations 2014 ...... 48 Figure 30: Very High Impact Weeds (excluding grasses) ...... 66 Figure 31: High Impact Weeds (shrubs and trees) ...... 66 Figure 32: High Impact Weeds (geophytes) ...... 66 Figure 33: Very High Impact Perennial Clumping Grasses ...... 66 Figure 34: High Impact Annual Clumping Grasses ...... 66 Figure 35: High Impact Perennial Running Grasses ...... 66 Figure 36: Medium Impact Perennial Weeds ...... 66 Figure 37: Low Impact Annual Weeds ...... 66

Tables Table 1: Reserve Extents ...... 10 Table 2 Groups of Assets generally most susceptible to Threats ...... 12 Eastern Reserves Strategic Plan page 5

Table 3: Extents of Vegetation Associations ...... 17 Table 4 Ecological Community Sites ...... 19 Table 5 Ecological Community Indices ...... 21 Table 6 Numbers of Very Large Native Trees by Species ...... 22 Table 7 Numbers of Very Large Trees per Hectare in Melville Reserves ...... 22 Table 8 Fauna Habitat Sites Indices ...... 23 Table 9 Community Interest Sites 2014 ...... 24 Table 10 Revegetation Objectives ...... 25 Table 11 Community Interest Site Indices ...... 25 Table 12 Plant Indices ...... 26 Table 13: Number of Banksia Trees in City of Melville Reserves ...... 27 Table 14: Native Coastal Plain plants considered weeds in the Eastern Reserves .. 30 Table 15 Mammal Species Indices ...... 31 Table 16 Mammal Species to be Monitored ...... 31 Table 17 Mammal Habitat Considerations for Revegetation ...... 32 Table 18 Reptile Indices ...... 32 Table 19 Reptile Habitat Considerations for Revegetation ...... 32 Table 20 Bird Indices ...... 33 Table 21 Minimum Thresholds for Bird Presence in Bushland ...... 34 Table 22 Bird Habitat Considerations for Revegetation ...... 34 Table 23 Physical Disturbance Indices ...... 36 Table 24 Fire Indices ...... 37 Table 25 Number of Weed Species in Each Impact Category ...... 38 Table 26 Weed Indices ...... 38 Table 27 Number of Plants in 2014 of Selected Weeds ...... 39 Table 28 Cover of All Weeds Combined ...... 40 Table 29 Bare Ground Cover ...... 41 Table 30 Habitat Loss Indices ...... 41 Table 31 Feral Animal Records ...... 42 Table 32 Feral Animal Indices ...... 43 Table 33 Other Feral Animals to be Monitored ...... 43 Table 34 Disease and Pathogen Indices ...... 44 Table 35 Reticulation Indices ...... 45 Table 36 Acid Sulfate Soil Indices ...... 46 Table 37 Average Monthly Maximum Temperatures 2005-2014 ...... 46 Table 38 Monthly Rainfall 2005-2014 ...... 47 Table 39 Extreme Weather Events ...... 47 Table 40 Infrastructure Extents / Numbers ...... 48 Table 41 Leading Indicators ...... 49 Table 42 Lagging Indicators ...... 49 Table 43 Application of Bushfire Management Guidelines ...... 50 Table 44 Application of Environmental Weed Management Document ...... 51 Table 45 Application of Revegetation Management Document ...... 52 Table 46 Application of Management of Feral Animals Document ...... 53 Table 47 Application of Guidelines for Disease and Pathogens ...... 53 Table 48 Application of Friends Group Manual ...... 53 Table 49 Tiered Objectives for Threats and Associated Leading Indicators ...... 54 Table 50 Objectives for Weed Species in the Eastern Reserves ...... 54 Table 51 Objectives for all other Threats in the Eastern Reserves ...... 54 Table 52 Tiered Goals for Assets and Associated Lagging Indicators ...... 55 Table 53 Goals for Species ...... 55 Table 54 Goals for Sites ...... 55 Table 55 Native Flora Inventory ...... 60 Table 56 Weed Inventory ...... 63 Table 57 Fauna Inventory ...... 65 Table 58 Feral Animal Inventory ...... 65

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1 Introduction 1.1 Background The Eastern Reserves Strategic Management Plan updates and expands upon the: • George Welby Park Management Plan (City of Melville, 2006). • Ron Carroll Reserve Management Plan (City of Melville, 2005)

In accordance with the City of Melville’s Natural Areas Asset Management Plan (NAAMP) framework, the Strategic Reserve Plan forms part of the integrated set of documents shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1 Context of Strategic Reserve Plans in relation to other documents

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The Strategy Reserve Plan is structured with the major headings of assets and threats in accordance with the NAAMP framework, whereby assets are maintained or enhanced by the management of threats (using the strategies and guidelines) as summarised in Figure 2.

Priorities Threats impacting on Techniques for Protection from Threats assets and therefore for Management of Threats subject to Management

BIODIVERSITY ASSETS THREATS STRATEGIES AND GUIDELINES

tormwater Management Strategy Bush Bush Forever Reserves Ecological Community Sites Wetland Sites Heritage Sites Community Interest Sites Reference Sites Native SpeciesFlora Native Fauna Species PathSign, and Barrier Guidelines Bushfire Strategy Weed Control Strategy & Guidelines Revegetation Strategy & Guidelines Feral Animal Strategy and Guidelines Diseases and Pathogen Guidelines S Reticulation Guidelines SulfateAcid Soils Guidelines Community Engagement

X X X X X X Physical Disturbance X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X Fire X X X X X X X X X X X X Weeds X X X X X X X X X Habitat Loss X X X X X X X Feral Animals X X X

X X X X X X X X Diseases & Pathogens X X X

X X X X X X X Stormwater X X

X Reticulation X

X X X X X X Acid Sulfate Soils X

X X X X X Climate Change X X Figure 2 Documents used to Maintain/Enhance Assets by Managing Threats Red = Strategy intended to Prevent, Eliminate, Contain or Manage impacts from threat Orange = Strategy or Guideline to Manage secondary impacts from threats

Guidelines and procedures were to largely pre-empt strategic reserve plans, to ensure efficiency and consistency in benchmarking and monitoring expected outcomes. The City of Melville has begun to develop the guidelines and procedures required but they do not yet fully apply the framework for ranking/prioritising assets and threats, nor document all management and monitoring techniques.

Historically management plans have focused on developing flora and fauna inventories to identify reserves of greatest significance within the City of Melville. Under the NAAMP framework, the focus is moving to risk assessment and prioritisation of management objectives within reserves, and it is envisaged that future plans will focus to a greater degree on reviewing the outcomes and effectiveness of management strategies and guidelines.

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The NAAMP provides a framework for consistently prioritising assets and threats between reserves, and a format for plans, and that also facilitates community involvement in managing specific reserves: • During the preparation of strategic reserve plans, the community can assist in: • the identification and benchmarking of assets and threats; and • quantifying objectives for threats and goals for assets (e.g. specific number of very high value plants of a species to be established onsite). • During the life of strategic plans, the community can assist in: • the identification and delineation of additional assets (including revegetation sites) and threats; • the monitoring of assets and threats; and • on-grounds works in the context of specific and measurable goals.

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1.2 Objectives Under the framework of the NAAMP, the objectives of this and all City of Melville Strategic Reserve Plan/s are to: • document: • the extent and/or abundance and condition of assets; • the present and potential level and extent of impacts of threats; • any changes evident in the assets and threats over time; • reserve-specific risk-based management priorities; • management strategies relevant to the specific reserve; and • discuss: • reserve-specific application of strategies and make reserve specific recommendation regarding the implementation of strategies.

1.3 Scope The scope of this report was the 8.14 ha of bushland in the 11.04 ha of reserves listed in Table 1.

Table 1: Reserve Extents Reserve Name Reserves Reserve Area Bushland Area George Welby Park Reserve 35082 4.90 ha 2.00 ha Tom Firth Park Reserve 41226 0.56 ha 0.56 ha Ron Carroll Reserve Reserve 32453 5.58 ha 5.58 ha

These reserves are located in the suburbs of Bateman and Bullcreek in the east of the City of Melville, as shown in Figure 3.

Figure 3: Location of Reserves included in Plan

These reserves were rated moderately in terms of their overall value in the NAAMP. Of the four ratings, George Welby Park and Ron Carroll Reserve were in the second highest tier. Tom Firth Park was in the third highest tier.

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2 Assets 2.1 Overview The City of Melville has committed to a strategic goal to ‘contribute to the maintenance and enhancement of biodiversity for the preservation of our natural flora and fauna’.

The NAAMP documents the regional context for climate, soils, landforms, flora and fauna; and establishes a framework by which biodiversity is: • defined as assets at three scales: • Reserves (usually defined by cadastral boundaries); • Sites (management units such as a vegetation type that may encompass either a part or the entirety of a reserve); or • Species (a group of organisms capable of interbreeding freely with each other but not with members of other species). • prioritised for either maintenance and enhancement (or confirmation if its status onsite is uncertain, or monitoring if a reserve is not critical habitat) in terms of: • Values (assessed with reference to local regional, state, national and international significance) as shown in Figure 4.

Figure 4 Assessment of Assets in Natural Areas

The values of assets are reviewed periodically as they will occasionally change (e.g. the significance of an occurrence of a species may be downgraded if it is recorded in more reserves over time with additional targeted surveys). A change in the value of an asset is applicable to that asset in all natural areas in the City of Melville, including in reserves with current endorsed strategic reserve management plans.

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To provide foci for management and monitoring, a strategic risk assessment was undertaken in the 2013 NAAMP (Waters A. , 2013) to identify assets with elevated susceptibility to threats.

Assets are used as indices where they are significant and/or vulnerable to loss or degradation without targeted action. Vulnerable assets were determined on the basis of the characteristics summarised in Table 2.

Table 2 Groups of Assets generally most susceptible to Threats Assets Threats Sites Fauna Species Flora Species Physical Ground dwelling and/or All shrubs, and All sites Disturbance burrowing reptiles herbaceous species Fire Trees and shrubs that All ground dwelling species are killed by fire and All sites (non-burrowing, non-climbing regenerate only from and non-flying species) seed stored on the plant Weeds Ground dwelling and/or All shrubs, and All sites burrowing reptiles herbaceous species Habitat Loss Ecological Community Listed as Threatened or Listed as Threatened or listed as Threatened or Priority by DPaW Priority by DPaW Priority by DPaW Present in few reserves or Present in few reserves Present in few reserves few individuals in a reserve or few individuals in a reserve Cannot persist in urban or ‘small’ bushland areas

Hollow dependent species Feral Animals Cats and foxes - All species - Rabbits Revegetation sites - - Bees - Hollow dependent species All herbaceous species Diseases & All sites No species Wide range of species Pathogens Stormwater All wetland dependent All wetland dependent All wetlands species species Reticulation Reptiles that are either All shrubs, and All sites ground dwelling and/or herbaceous species burrowing Acid Sulfate Soils All wetland dependent All wetland dependent

species species Climate Change Long-lived shallow rooted All wetland dependent All wetlands and associated with species saturated soils

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2.1 Reserve Assets 2.1.1 Bush Forever Bush Forever Sites are properties listed as containing regionally significant bushland by the Government of Western Australia (2000). Bush Forever is not subject to ongoing revision and therefore the Bush Forever status of reserves is expected to remained unchanged for the foreseeable future. However under the NAAMP, Bush Forever status is considered in terms of: • prioritising management resources between reserves, and • managing sites and species within reserves to ensure reserves continue to meet the Bush Forever criteria for which they were listed.

None of the Eastern Reserves were listed by the Government of Western Australia (2000) as Bush Forever Sites using the following criteria: • Representation of ecological communities Areas that as a suite represent the range of ecological communities and the places in which these communities merge • Diversity Areas with a high diversity of flora and/or fauna species or communities in close association • Rarity Areas containing rare or threatened communities or species, or species of restricted distribution • Maintaining ecological processes or natural systems Maintenance of ecological processes or natural systems at a regional or national scale • Scientific or evolutionary importance Areas containing evidence of evolutionary processes either as fossilised material or as relict species and areas containing unusual or important geomorphological or geological sites; Areas of recognised scientific and educational interest as reference sites or as examples of the important environmental processes at work • General criteria for the protection of wetland, steamline and estuarine fringing vegetation and coastal vegetation Conservation category wetlands areas including fringing vegetation and associated upland vegetation. Coastal vegetation within the accepted coastal management zone • Criteria not relevant to determination of regional significance, but which may be applied when evaluating areas having similar values Attributes which taken alone do not establish regional significance, but which can add to the value of bushland and enhance it contribution to Bush Forever

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2.1.1 Ecological Linkages Ecological linkages can increase the effective size of flora populations, and increase available habitat for individual animals, and help maintain genetic diversity for animals and plants by providing connections between groups of animals and plants in isolated bushland remnants.

The management of linkages is outside of the scope of Strategic Reserve Plans and is dealt with through processes such as: • land use planning processes; • the City of Melville’s Green Plan (Alan Tingay and Associates, 1998); • the City of Melville Streetscape Strategy; and • the City of Melville Public Open Space Strategy.

Under the NAAMP, linkages are considered in terms of: • prioritising management resources between reserves, and • determining whether species can persist onsite in the long term.

None of the Eastern Reserves were included in any Regional Linkages in Bush Forever (Government of Western Australia, 2000) or Perth Biodiversity Plan Regional Linkages. George Welby Park and Tom Firth Park (but not Ron Carroll Reserve) were included in the north-south ‘Kwinana Freeway’ Regional Greenway 80 (Alan Tingay and Associates, 1998).

The bushland of the Eastern Reserves has been moderately isolated from other terrestrial bushland remnants for approximately 30 years. The three Eastern Reserves were part of a single larger continuous bushland area until about 1975, Tom Firth and George Welby Parks remained linked by continuous remnant vegetation until about 1980 and Ron Carroll Reserve was reduced to its present size in about 1984. Aerial photography from 1974, 1981 and 1985 is shown in Figure 5, Figure 6 and Figure 7 respectively.

Figure 5 Aerial Photo of the Eastern Reserves 1974

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Figure 6 Aerial Photo of the Eastern Reserves 1981

Figure 7 Aerial Photo of the Eastern Reserves 1985

There is approximately 6% native vegetation in the circle extending 2 km out from the centre of Eastern Reserves as shown, using Department of Agriculture vegetation boundaries, in Figure 8.

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Figure 8 Remnant Vegetation within 2 km of Eastern Reserves

The total of 6% native cover in this area has implications for the long term persistence and management of some flora and fauna species onsite (see Section 2.3 and Section 4).

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2.2 Site Assets 2.2.1 Ecological Communities The four vegetation associations, on which management will be based in the Eastern Reserves, are detailed in Flora And Vegetation Surveys City of Melville Eastern Reserves (Waters A. , 2015), and shown in Figure 9.

Figure 9: Vegetation Associations

The flora recorded in each reserve is documented in Appendix 2. The distribution of within and between reserves in part reflect topography / soil moisture. A general indication of this pattern is shown in Table 3.

Table 3: Extents of Vegetation Associations George Ron Dominant / Typical Tom Firth Associations Welby Carrol Total species Park Park Reserve Banksia attenuata / Banksia attenuata Banksia menziesii Banksia menziesii 0.73 1.97 0.56 3.26 woodland Corymbia calophylla Eucalyptus marginata Dasypogon bromeliifolius Drier Lyginia barbata Mixed herbland 1.97 1.97 Patersonia occidentalis Scholtzia involucrata Melaleuca Hypocalymma angustifolia

thymoides Kunzea glabrescens 0.77 0.77 Shrubland Melaleuca thymoides Xanthorrhoea preissii

Wetter Melaleuca Hypocalymma angustifolia preissiana 1.23 1.08 2.31 Melaleuca preissiana woodland Total 1.95 5.79 0.56 8.30

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The vegetation association boundaries have also been influenced by historical clearing. The areas that were unequivocally cleared in aerial photos at some point between 1953 and 2014 are shown in Figure 10 (noting that additional modification such as grazing and tree cutting is also likely to have occurred outside these areas). Some of this clearing is evident in Figure 11, Figure 12, Figure 13 and Figure 14.

Figure 10: Historical Clearing of the Eastern Reserves

Figure 11: Vegetation in 1985 Figure 13: Vegetation in 1965

Figure 12: Vegetation in 1974 Figure 14: Vegetation in 1953 Eastern Reserves Strategic Plan page 18

The vegetation association boundaries in Figure 9 should be used as a guide rather than rigidly applied in the management of the site as: • vegetation has been significantly modified, over the last 60 years; • vegetation boundaries changed (e.g. at the southern end of George Welby Park), over the last 60 years likely due to a combination of earthworks and climate change; • the mixed herblands on the slopes either side of the low sand dune of Banksia woodland in Ron Carroll Reserve exhibit differences in dominant species but a detailed flora inventory of areas within the herbland would be required to determine whether significant differences exist between or within the areas (preferably an analysis would be undertaken based on a number of 100 m2 quadrats, that would be permanently marked for later use as reference sites); and • the herblands in Ron Carroll Reserve contain scattered shrubs (such as Scholtzia involucrata) and with increasing time since fire may transform into low shrublands.

Assets are prioritised on the basis of their highest level of significance when they are assessed against multiple datasets. The significance of vegetation can be assessed in terms of several classifications: • Vegetation Complexes are a regional classification for the Swan Coastal Plain, Darling Scarp and Darling Plateau mapped by Heddle et al. (1980) on the basis of combinations of plants communities, soils and landforms. Plant communities may occur in more than one soil-landform combination but the relative proportions of plant communities vary between these (Government of Western Australia, 2000). • Floristic Community Types (FCTs) are a regional classification for the Swan Coastal Plain and Darling Scarp defined in terms of groups of co-occurring plants by Gibson et al. (1995) and the DEP (1996). Whilst FCTs are distributed in more of a mosaic than vegetation complexes, the classifications are equivalent in dividing the region into a roughly equal number of classes. There are some associations between FCTs and vegetation complexes (i.e. some FCTs tend to occur in particular complexes), but there is no hierarchical relationship between them. No FCTs were inferred for the Eastern Reserves because there were no detailed reference sites or species inventories to compare species presence/absence between vegetation associations. • Vegetation Types are a local classification in the City of Melville mapped by Ecoscape (2006) in terms of dominant overstorey species. The general descriptions of vegetation types were applied to avoid issues with minor discrepancies in interpretation of boundaries and the mixed herbland that was recorded as a shrubland on shallow soil by Ecoscape (2006) was re-assigned to an upland Banksia community as was no evidence of shallow limestone.

The ecological communities for which objectives apply are listed in Table 4.

Table 4 Ecological Community Sites Vegetation Vegetation Floristic Vegetation Types Association Complex Community Types Banksia attenuata / Banksia and Allocasuarina species on Banksia menziesii upland areas / woodland Bassendean - Eucalyptus and Banksia species on Central and upland areas

Mixed herbland South Low Significance High Multiple occurrences in Melville Not Determined Significance Eucalyptus species on upland areas Melaleuca thymoides Vegetation Shrubland Low Significance Complex with Multiple occurrences in Melville 10-30% Stout Paperbark woodlands Melaleuca preissiana uncleared woodland Low Significance Multiple occurrences in Melville Eastern Reserves Strategic Plan page 19

The areas of high native plant cover (<25% weeds, <25% bare ground and >15 m from very large weed trees) in 2014 is shown in Figure 15.

Figure 15: Areas of High Native Plant Cover 2014

Land Monitor data (Furby, Zhu, Wu, & Wallace, 2013) that indicates the density of perennial vegetation can provide context for examining changes in ecological communities, although it is not used as an indicator because it doesn’t distinguish between native plants and weeds, and is influenced by fire and drought. The changes in the density of perennial vegetation between 1990 and 2012 are shown in Figure 16.

Figure 16 Changes in Density of Perennial Vegetation 1990-2012

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Figure 16 is based on changes in the brightness of pixels 25 m x 25 m in satellite images, and is not diagnostic. The decrease in density in Ron Carroll Reserve is likely to be the result of fire, and the increase in Tom Firth Park a result of regrowth/plantings after partial clearing of the park in the mid-1980s.

The ecological communities for which objectives apply are listed in Table 4.

Table 5 Ecological Community Indices High Native High Native Assets Values Ecological Community Sites Plant Cover Plant Cover 2005-2014 2005 2014 Bassendean – Central and South Vegetation High Complex Vegetation • Banksia attenuata/Banksia menziesii woodland Change Not Complex No Data 85% • Mixed herbland Assessable with 10-30% • Melaleuca thymoides Shrubland uncleared • Melaleuca preissiana woodland

2.2.2 Fauna Habitat Very large trees are important habitat sites for a number of resident and migratory birds and bats onsite: • many birds rely on tree hollows (Birdlife Australia, 2013); • roost sites (in tree hollows and under flaking/rough bark) are a critical habitat requirement for bats (Hosken, 1996); and • The size of trees is one of the critical factors in determining the likelihood of hollow formation in trees (Gibbons & Lindenmayer, 2002).

The locations of the very large dead trees and live native trees (trunk diameter at breast height greater than 50 cm) are shown in Figure 17.

Figure 17: Distribution of Native Habitat Trees in 2014

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The numbers of very large trees by species are listed in Table 6.

Table 6 Numbers of Very Large Native Trees by Species George George Ron Carrol Tom Firth Species Welby Park Welby Park Reserve Park Total (Bushland) (Parkland) (Bushland) (Bushland) Allocasuarina fraseriana 3 3

Corymbia calophylla 2 2 4

Eucalyptus gomphocephala 4 3 7

Eucalyptus marginata 1 1 Live Melaleuca preissiana 11 14 9 34

Nuytsia floribunda 1 1

Total Native Habitat Trees 17 19 16 50

Eucalyptus marginata 3 3 Melaleuca preissiana 1 1 Dead Total Dead Habitat Trees 3 1 4 Total Habitat Trees 20 19 17 54

The density of very large trees per hectare in bushland areas in the Eastern Reserves is compared to other group of reserves in Table 7.

Table 7 Numbers of Very Large Trees per Hectare in Melville Reserves Very South- North- Large Eastern Eastern Bullcreek West Estuarine Heathcote Kings Trees Reserves1 Reserves1 Reserves1 Reserves1 Reserves1 Reserve1 Park2 Live Native 6 10 12 17 18 4 11 Dead <1 1 0 2 3 0 4 Total 6 11 13 19 21 4 15 1: DBH > 50 cm (strategic reserve management plans) 2: DBH > 45 cm (Beard, 1967).

The density of habitat trees in the Eastern Reserves is less than half the average of 14 habitat trees per hectare (13 live native and 1 dead tree per hectare) recorded across 24 reserves containing a total of 72.3 hectares of bushland.

The additional 19 very large native trees in the parkland portion of George Welby Park therefore provide significant supplementary numbers, and whilst outside the scope of bushland management there are opportunities to further increase the numbers of Melaleuca preissiana (which can develop into very large trees) in this parkland area.

This low density of habitat trees appears to reflect previous clearing of the reserves as there are considerable numbers of trees that are capable of attaining a diameter at breast height greater than 50 cm (but yet to reach sufficient age to be of this size), with 78 Eucalyptus marginata, Jarrah and 46 Corymbia calophylla, Marri onsite. Figure 18 shows the distribution of Jarrah and Marri trees in 2014, with most of these trees requiring many decades of additional growth to develop into very large trees and potentially form hollows.

There are opportunities to further increase the number of habitat trees in the long term by increasing the numbers of Jarrah and Marri trees in the bushland of the Eastern Reserves, especially: • for Jarrah trees in George Welby Park (with one live Jarrah Tree); • for Jarrah and Marri trees in Tom Firth Park (with two live Marri and one live Jarrah tree); and • for Jarrah and Marri trees in the eastern mixed herbland in Ron Carroll Reserve.

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Figure 18: Distribution of Jarrah and Marri Trees in 2014

The fauna habitat for which objectives apply are listed in Table 8, which reflects that the number of very large trees was not previously benchmarked for the Eastern Reserves, and that there was no evidence of significant changes 2005-2014.

Table 8 Fauna Habitat Sites Indices Trees / Hectare Trees / Hectare Assets Values Habitat Sites 2005 2014 2005-2014 Maintained Medium Live Native Tree 3 No Data (assumed Very Large Trees Dead Tree <1 unchanged)

2.2.3 Wetlands Wetlands are defined in Schedule 5 of the Environmental Protection Act 1986 as areas ‘of seasonally, intermittently or permanently waterlogged or inundated land, whether natural or otherwise, and includes a lake, swamp, marsh, spring, dampland, tidal flat or estuary’.

The Eastern Reserves contain no wetland sites identified in the DPaW’s Geomorphic Wetlands Swan Coastal Plain dataset, based on the mapping of Hill et al. (1996).

The reserves do contain damplands as the watertable is less than 5 metres from the surface over the entirety of George Welby Park and Ron Carroll Reserve, and much of Tom Firth Park (Waters A. , 2013) and Melaleuca preissiana, Modong, which occurs in George Welby Park and Ron Carroll Reserve, typically grows in winter-wet depressions (Powell, 2009).

There are no wetland indices for the Eastern Reserves as there: • are no open waterbodies in which to measure water levels; and • is no ongoing groundwater data available for the vicinity for assessing changes in the depth to the watertable.

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2.2.4 Heritage There are no heritage indices for the Eastern Reserves as there were no heritage sites listed on: • The National Heritage List; • WA Aboriginal Sites Register; • the WA Heritage Register; or • the City of Melville’s Municipal Heritage Inventory.

2.2.4 Community Interest Revegetation sites can be a focus for community interest as these are visible manifestations of natural area management, and the public is often directly involved their proposal or implementation. Community interest sites are listed in Table 9 and shown in Figure 19.

Table 9 Community Interest Sites 2014 George Welby Ron Carroll Tom Firth Community Interest Sites Total Park Reserve Park Local Native Plantings 0.00 ha 0.02 ha 0.00 ha 0.00 ha Closed Tracks 435 m2 280 m2 65 m2 780 m2 Bird / Bat Boxes 0 0 0 0

Figure 19 Community Interest Sites

Eastern Reserves Strategic Plan page 24

Revegetation sites (plantings) are areas in which plantings have been undertaken and are currently being intensively managed and had not been assessed against the completion criteria, at which point they stop being treated as revegetation sites. No plantings/closed tracks in Figure 19 have been assessed against criteria in Table 10.

Table 10 Revegetation Objectives Revegetation Category Objectives Establishment of individual • Plants > 5 years old plants or artificial hollows • Hollows used by target species • A minimum number of plants or artificial hollows Rehabilitation • Plants > 5 years old Reinstating self-sustaining and • Gaps between native plants < 1 m x 1 m functional ecosystems based on • Weed cover < 25% and bare ground <25% in any 100 m2 area (in local species, but not aspiring to which a rectangle with a minimum side of 2 m can fit) fully replace all of the original • A number of shrubs/trees (the number varying between sites) components of an ecosystem. • Diversity criteria generally not set Restoration of vegetation • Diversity and density measurements benchmarked against Reinstating the composition, reference site structure, function and dynamics of pre-existing indigenous ecosystems

The community interest sites for which objectives apply are listed in Table 11.

Table 11 Community Interest Site Indices Completion Completion Assets Values Community Interest Sites Criteria Met Criteria Met 2005-2014 1995-2004 2005-2014 Medium Local Native Plantings Change Not No data No data Revegetation Sites Closed Tracks Assessable

Generally, additional planting areas are explicitly defined in operational plans, rather than strategic reserve plans which indicate broad priorities (within and between ecological communities, and between species) and document the effectiveness of revegetation (changes in weed and native plant cover, and bare ground). This framework facilitates the identification and delineation of additional revegetation sites with community input during the life of the strategic plans, prioritising sites using: • the values of assets (with a focus on ecological communities and native species); • objectives relating to the extent of ecological communities to be enhanced; and • threats identified in the strategic plans.

2.2.5 Reference Reference sites provide opportunities for long-term monitoring and research.

There are currently no reference indices for the Eastern Reserves as no reference sites have been established. However, a number of medium value Local Flora Reference Sites can be established in Ron Carroll Reserve if 100 m2 quadrats are used to determine whether significant differences exist between or within the mixed herblands on the slopes either side of the low sand dune (see Section 2.2.1), and these are permanently demarcated onsite.

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2.3 Species 2.3.1 Native Flora The Eastern Reserves support 159 native plants, approximately one third of the 434 species recorded in the natural area reserves in the City of Melville. The flora diversity is 53, 141 and 56 native plant species in George Welby Park, Ron Carrol Reserve and Tom Firth Park respectively.

The flora inventory (which is estimated to include more than 80% of species present) is included in Table 55 in Appendix 1. The species listed, are characterised in terms of typical preferred soil conditions (dry, moist and/or wet) as: • soil moisture is the dominant factor in determining plant distributions across the Eastern Reserves (with the Banksia attenuata / Banksia menziesii woodlands being dry sites and the Melaleuca preissiana woodlands being wet); • there were no detailed reference sites, nor species inventories for vegetation associations available; and • the vegetation association boundaries should be used as a guide rather than rigidly applied in the management of the site, given that the vegetation has been significantly modified, over the last 60 years.

Plants in the Eastern Reserves are to be managed as meta-populations (disjunct but nearby stands functioning as a single population due to occasional interbreeding through dispersal of seed or pollen) not as a series of independent populations: • nearby populations (within scales of 5-20 km) can contribute to each other’s vigour through interbreeding for at least for some species (Young, Broadhurst, Byrne, Coastes, & Yates, 2005); and • 53% of plants are recorded in at least two of the reserves and 28% of plants are recorded in all three reserves (and the occurrence of species across multiple sites is likely to increase with more comprehensive surveys).

As meta-populations: • consolidation of a plant subpopulation in one of the Eastern Reserves should contribute to the overall viability of the subpopulations of that species in the other two reserves. • a population of a plant species is to be managed as a single asset across the three reserves, with presence of subpopulations in each reserve monitored.

The indices for plants are listed in Table 12.

Table 12 Plant Indices Status Status Assets Values Plants 2005 2014 2005-2014 High Assumed 50 shrubs RC 1 species Melaleuca thymoides Population at north/south edge of Present 1 shrub GW Maintained the natural distribution Appears Well-represented in Melville Assumed Present 1 species Beaufortia elegans reserves Present Moderate Maintained Numbers Low 2 trees GW Banksia attenuata Well-represented in Melville 9 trees RC Slender Banksia reserves, but in low abundance in 17 trees TF Eastern Reserves 3 trees GW Banksia ilicifolia Assumed 3 species 11 trees RC Holly-leaved Banksia Present Maintained 2 trees TF 11 trees GW Banksia menziesii 110 trees RC Firewood Banksia 31 trees TF GW = George Welby Park RC = Ron Carroll Reserve TF = Tom Firth Park Eastern Reserves Strategic Plan page 26

Plants at Moderate Risk of Local Extinction Banksia trees (Figure 20): • Banksia ilicifolia, Holly-leaved Banksia: • is susceptible to dieback; and • is at significant risk of local extinction in Kings Park due to low abundance (Crosti, Dixon, Ladd, & Yates, 2007). • Banksia attenuata, Slender Banksia and Banksia menziesii, Firewood Banksia: • are both susceptible to dieback; • have both declined in Kings Park over a 60 year period due to post dispersal seed predation and seasonal deaths (Crosti, Dixon, Ladd, & Yates, 2007); and • are both in lower densities in long isolated small urban bushland remnants (within 30 km of the Perth CBD on Bassendean or Spearwood soils), with high fire frequencies and declining water tables possibly amongst the contributing factors (Ramalho, 2012).

Figure 20: Banksia trees Distribution 2014

In comparison to other City of Melville reserves, the number of Banksia menziesii is relatively high, Banksia attenuata is low, and Banksia ilicifolia is low compared to other reserves in the Bassendean dunes (the South-Eastern and Bullcreek Reserves) (Table 13).

Table 13: Number of Banksia Trees in City of Melville Reserves

Species - Eastern - West

reserves) South Reserves (7 reserves) Eastern Reserves (3 reserves) Bullcreek Reserves (7 North Reserves (3 reserves) Estuarine Reserves (3 reserves) Heathcote Reserve (1 reserve) Total (24 reserves) Banksia attenuata 481 28 22 >26* 98 7 662 Banksia grandis 6 0 5 13 1 0 25 Banksia ilicifolia 129 16 22 1 0 0 168 Banksia littoralis 23 0 0 0 0 0 23 Banksia menziesii 549 152 78 >74* 177 40 1,070 Banksia prionotes 0# 0# 0 0 168 0 168 Total 1,188 196 127 114 444 47 2,116 All trees counted except where * indicates only trees with trunk >30 cm diameter counted # managed as weeds in these reserves

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Melaleuca thymoides (Figure 21): • is at the northern edge of its recorded distribution on the Swan Coastal Plain in the City of Melville (with the one record north from 1902 in Claremont in 1902 (DPaW, 2015)) but there are multiple populations in the City of Melville and to the immediate south Bibra Lake and Yangebup Lake; • in the City of Melville, is recorded in the Bull Creek Reserves, Douglas Freeman Reserve, George Welby Park, Ken Hurst Park, Peter Ellis Park, Phillip Jane Park, Piney Lakes Reserve, Quenda Wetland, Rob Weir Park and Ron Carroll Reserve; • in Ron Carroll Reserve in 2014, most of the 51 plants confirmed are juvenile (without any fruit) and most appear to be about 5 years old (having germinated after the 2010 fire); • in George Welby Park in 2014, only 1 plant was confirmed; • prefers sandy soils and generally recorded near the coast, mainly in heathlands and shrublands but also in woodlands and open forests (Brophy, Craven, & Doran, 2013); • can occur in winter-wet depressions (DPaW, 2014); • resprouts after fire (DPaW, 2015); and • can be propagated from seed (Wrigley & Fagg, 1993).

Figure 21: Melaleuca thymoides Distribution 2014

Significant Plants Not Mapped Beaufortia elegans: • is at the southern edge of its recorded distribution on the Swan Coastal Plain in the City of Melville, with the three records south being a 2009 record from Bertram approximately 20 km south, a 1963 record from Thomsons Lake 7 km south, and 1978 and 1996 records from Yangebup Lake 4 km south (DPaW, 2015). The extent of land clearing in the area reduces the potential for many large populations to exist south of the Eastern Reserves; • in the City of Melville, is recorded in the Ken Hurst Park, Piney Lakes Reserve, Rob Weir Park and Ron Carroll Reserve; • is susceptible to local extinct from high frequency fires as plants store seeds in canopy and are killed by 100% fire scorch (Waters A. , 2013); • requires to be surveyed when in flower to ensure confidence in identifications and numbers counted; • occurs on white, grey or yellow sand, often over laterite, and on plains, winter-wet depressions (DPaW, 2014); and • is propagated from seed and cutting (Wrigley & Fagg, 1993).

Eastern Reserves Strategic Plan page 28

Plants Extinct or Not Confirmed Onsite No attempt was made in 2014 to confirm the presence of all species previously recorded in the Eastern Reserves, as the focus of this rapid flora assessment was to develop more comprehensive inventories.

Native Species to be Managed as Weeds A number of species native to Western Australia have been planted, some of which do not naturally occur onsite. Detailed planting records were not available and a comprehensive audit of plantings was not conducted, but it is noted that introducing different forms of species, as well as non-local species, can also result in negative impacts in terms of hybridization and competition, especially for significant isolated populations for native species targeted for monitoring and management.

Some Australian species can be readily identified as not naturally occurring in the Swan Coastal Plain (e.g. Acacia iteaphylla, Acacia podalyriifolia, Callistemon viminalis, Casuarina cunninghamiana, Corymbia citriodora, Eucalyptus conferruminata, Corymbia maculata, Eucalyptus grandis, Eucalyptus platypus, Hibbertia scandens and Melaleuca armillaris).

The species that naturally occur on the Swan Coastal Plain, that are considered weeds in the Eastern Reserves are listed in Table 14.

It is not known whether the occurrence of Eucalyptus gomphocephala, Tuart, in George Welby Park is natural. It typically grows in near-coastal shrublands in deep sand from Jurien Bay to Ludlow (Dixon, 2011), but scattered populations have been recorded as occurring as far inland as Riverton, Belmont, Guildford and Ravenswood (Powell, 2009). It should be neither be planted nor treated as a weed at this point in time.

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Table 14: Native Coastal Plain plants considered weeds in the Eastern Reserves

Invalid

(City of Species Invalid Comments Bassendean Confirmed Previously Melville, 2005) Dune s in Ron Carroll Reserve source specified. source specified. Plantings Generally absent from recorded as weed • Naturally grows on coastal sand dunes (Dixon, 2011). • Found on and near shoreline dunes and limestone Acacia sands (Rippey & Rowland, 2004).    cyclops • Recorded (immediately) to the west, but not in/around the Eastern Reserves in 1978 (Bridgewater & Wheeler, 1980). • Naturally grows on primary to tertiary coastal sand Acacia  NP  dunes and limestone outcrops (Dixon, 2011). rostellifera • Prefers calcareous dunes (Rippey & Rowland, 2004). • In the Perth Region natural distribution restricted to calcareous dunes (Dixon, 2011). • Naturally occurred along the Swan Estuary downstream from Freshwater Bay (Powell, 2009) with Blackwall Reach possibly being one of the most easterly Agonis    occurrences (Government of Western Australia, 2000). flexuosa • Not recorded in the vicinity of the Eastern Reserves in 1978 (Bridgewater & Wheeler, 1980). • Has the ability to completely alter the structure of communities it invades, and it is currently being removed from Kings Park (Keighery, 2013). • In the Perth Region is largely confined to the interzone Banksia    between Tuart and Jarrah, and Point Walter is one of prionotes the southernmost occurrences in Perth (Powell, 2009). • In the Perth Region it occurs on swamp clay-based Callitris soils on eastern side of Swan Coastal Plain, with  NP  pyramidalis unusual records at Mt Henry at base of limestone hill and at Salter Point (Powell, 2009). • Naturally grows on limestone soils (Rippey & Rowland, Grevillea 2004).   crithmifolia • Obvious plantings in George Welby Park and Ron Carroll Reserve. • Planted along one path in Ron Carroll Reserve • Grows in deep, black or grey winter-wet sand in low, Grevillea swampy areas (Olde & Marriot, 1995)    obtusifolia • Endemic to Swan Coastal Plain and ‘significant populations’ in Bush Forever area (Waters A. , 2014) • Confirmed in Ken Hurst Park (Waters A. , 2014) • Naturally occurs in Perth Region along coast and off- Melaleuca   shore islands, particularly in areas of emergent huegelii limestone or shallow soil over limestone (Dixon, 2011). • The natural range of this species in the Perth Region is Chamelaucium on the coastal Quindalup dunes (Keighery, 2013).   uncinatum • Has the ability to completely alter the structure of communities it invades (Keighery, 2013). • Common on secondary or sheltered primary coastal sand dunes or limestone areas, and off-shore islands (Dixon, 2011). • In the Perth Region occurs on sand dunes, in woodland and Tuart forest (Powell, 2009). Spyridium  NP • Only recorded in north-east of the City of Melville, and globulosum not in/around the Eastern Reserves in 1978 (Bridgewater & Wheeler, 1980). • Only 1 plant in George Welby and 1 plant in Tom Firth Park, both near park edges, suggest they were established as plantings NP = Not Present In Ron Carroll Reserve, Present in George Welby Park and/or Tom Firth Park

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2.3.1 Native Fauna The native fauna recorded in 2014 in the Eastern Reserves is listed in Table 57 in Appendix 2. The 20 native animal species (3 bats, 2 reptiles and 15 birds) recorded to date onsite represent one twelve of the 240 species recorded in the City of Melville, but the inventory for the Eastern Reserves is not comprehensive.

Mammals The Eastern Reserves are a single management and monitoring unit for bats given their home ranges significantly exceed the size of the individual reserves.

The 3 native mammals confirmed in the Eastern Reserves in 2014 (360 environmental, 2014) are listed in Table 57 in Appendix 2 with the 1 indicator species, for which persistence of a population onsite is the focus of management and monitoring, is listed in Table 15.

Table 15 Mammal Species Indices Status Status Values Mammals Assets 2005 2014 Low Confirmed 1 species Bushland dependent resident species Vespadelus regulus Assumed Present Maintained Small Home Range recorded in more Southern Forest Bat Present Eastern (no than 2 Melville reserves Reserves change)

The Vespadelus regulus, the Southern Forest Bats, present are expected to be predominately dependent upon the Eastern Reserves (possibly in conjunction with the Bullcreek and South-Eastern Reserves) as this species has a home range less than 10 hectares and tends to avoid very small remnants, corridors and open areas (Churchill, 2008). They are highly manoeuvrable, flying very close to vegetation, entering gaps in understorey (Churchill, 2008). They feed exclusively on insects caught whilst flying (none are taken from the ground or foliage) between the tree canopy and undergrowth (Strahan, 1998). Most foraging is at less than half the canopy height (Churchill, 2008).

The persistence onsite of suitable feeding and breeding habitat, rather than individual bats, is the focus of management of the bat listed in Table 16.

Table 16 Mammal Species to be Monitored Last Values Mammals Status Confirmed Low Chalinolobus gouldii Resident – Bushland dependent species recorded in 2014 Gould’s Wattled Bat Large Home Range more than 2 Melville reserves

The Chalinolobus gouldii, Gould’s Wattled Bat, population present is expected to be partially dependent upon the Eastern Reserve as it has a has a large home range and can regularly forage 5 to 10 km from roosts (Churchill, 2008). They feed on insects caught whilst flying between 1 and 20 metres off the ground (Strahan, 1998), along gaps in vegetation and just below tree canopies (Churchill, 2008). Gould’s Wattled Bats, have a strong preference for roosting in large live trees (although they will also utilise dead trees and buildings where preferred habitat is not available) (Webala, 2010).

The third bat species, Nyctophilus geoffroyi, Lesser Long-eared Bat, is widespread and urbanised. It roosts in a range of habitats including buildings, under the bark of trees, in tree hollows and Fairy Martin nests, and has a large home range, regularly forage 6 to 12 km from roosts (Churchill, 2008). This species therefore is not targeted for management or monitoring.

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The mammal habitats to be considered in revegetation are listed in Table 17.

Table 17 Mammal Habitat Considerations for Revegetation Mammals Habitat Requirements Diet Vespadelus regulus Very large trees (for roosting hollows) Invertebrates Southern Forest Bat Understorey of variable density Chalinolobus gouldii Very large live trees (for roosting hollows) Invertebrates Gould’s Wattled Bat Vegetation 1 – 20 m high (for foraging) Nyctophilus geoffroyi No special requirements - urbanised Invertebrates Lesser Long-eared Bat

Isoodon obesulus fusciventer, the Quenda, is not present and Tom Firth and George Welby Parks are smaller than the minimum size requirement of 5 hectares for sustaining a population suggested by Hussey & Mawson (2004). However, there appeared to be Quenda diggings in both these reserves in 2014. This was not commented upon in the 2014 fauna survey report (360 environmental, 2014) but a local resident indicated that Quenda had colonised the sites for a short period after the clearing of the Fiona Stanley Hospital Site less than 1 kilometre away.

Reptiles and Amphibians Each reserve is a separate management and monitoring unit for reptiles and amphibians. Each reserve is likely to support independent resident populations without the potential for unassisted re-colonisation if extinction occurs in an individual reserve. Urban areas are likely to be effective barriers to movement of reptiles between reserves. Most reptile species are sedentary and of low mobility, suggesting that they may have limited capacity to move between patches of habitat isolated by clearing or land-use (Wilson & Valentine, 2009).

The 1 native reptile confirmed in the Eastern Reserves in 2014 (360 environmental, 2014) and 1 native reptile confirmed by Woodgis (Waters A. , 2015) during the flora survey are listed in Table 57 in Appendix 2 and this indicator species also listed in Table 18.

Table 18 Reptile Indices Status Status Assets Values Reptiles 2005 2014 2005-2014 Confirmed Present in 1 species Assumed Present Lialis burtonis George Welby Park Maintained Low in George Welby Burton’s Legless Lizard (360 environmental, (no Bushland dependent Park 2014) change) species and recorded 1 species in >2 Melville Assumed Present Confirmed Present in Tiliqua rugosa rugosa Maintained Reserves in Ron Carroll Ron Carroll Reserve Bobtail (no Reserve (Waters A. , 2015) change)

The persistence of all reptile populations in individual reserves is the focus of management and monitoring as all are sedentary resident species. The critical habitats for indicator reptiles are summarised in Table 19.

Table 19 Reptile Habitat Considerations for Revegetation Reptile Habitat Description Diet Low vegetation. Lialis burtoni Shelters beneath rocks, logs, bark and leaf litter. Reptiles Burton’s Legless Lizard Very common in Perth region. Invertebrates, Home range 2-2.7 ha Flowers and, Fruit Tiliqua rugosa rugosa Variety of vegetation types (including gardens) (including some Bobtail Shelters beneath dead vegetation and in burrows weeds), Slugs, Snails, Carrion Source: Bush, Maryan, Browne-Cooper, & Robinson (2000). Eastern Reserves Strategic Plan page 32

Birds The Eastern Reserves are a single management and monitoring unit for birds: • In urban environments areas of low overall habitat cover, the degree of connectivity may influence species richness to a greater extent than small differences in patch size, and species persistence may depend upon the occurrence of several populations and dispersal between them (Wilson & Valentine, 2009). The Eastern Reserves are small and moderately isolated, with approximately 6% bushland cover in a circle with a 2 km radius. The threshold core habitat requirement for the most sensitive bird species on the Swan Coastal Plain is 60% total vegetation cover within an area defined this area (Brown, Davis, Sonneman, & Kinloch, 2009).

The 15 native bushland birds confirmed in the Eastern Reserves in 2014 (360 environmental, 2014) are listed in Table 57 in Appendix 2, with the 5 indicator species listed in Table 20.

Table 20 Bird Indices Status Status Assets Values Birds 2005 2014 2005-2014 Low Anthochaera lunulata Bushland dependent species Western Wattlebird recorded in more than 2 Melville Hirundo nigricans reserves Tree Martin Confirmed 5 species Pardalotus striatus Assumed Present Maintained Striated Pardalote Present Eastern (no Phylidonyris novaehollandiae Reserves change) New Holland Honeyeater Purpureicephalus spurius Red-capped Parrot

360 environmental (2014) did not comment on whether any birds were confirmed or likely to breed onsite. The Tree Martin and the Red-capped Parrot both: • partially migrate from the Perth metropolitan area (Van Delft, 1997) and the data does not indicate whether they are present onsite during their breeding seasons (August to December); • require tree hollows for breeding (of which there are relatively few in the Eastern Reserves); and • may require larger and more connected remnants for breeding.

Western Wattlebirds and New Holland Honeyeaters are at the lower end of sensitivity to habitat loss and fragmentation due to urbanisation, of the bushland dependent birds in Perth and (Davis, Gole, & Dale Roberts, 2012).

Striated Pardalotes appear to be more sensitive to vegetation in the immediate landscape (1 km) than the wider landscape (2 km) suggesting that this species not require very large areas of vegetation, and whilst grouped as a tree rather than bushland dependent bird there are indications that the quality of the bushland (mature well-established trees with undisturbed ground cover) increases the likelihood of occurrence (Davis, Gole, & Dale Roberts, 2012).

Eastern Reserves Strategic Plan page 33

The threshold values below which birds appear to be lost from bushland, based on modelling of observations from 121 remnants in the Perth Metropolitan Area, are compared with the Eastern Reserves in Table 21 (noting that the modelling did not indicate a threshold for all species).

Table 21 Minimum Thresholds for Bird Presence in Bushland Area of Total vegetation Bushland size Native vegetation continuous cover within threshold cover within Trees 2 km Birds 2 km threshold threshold (Ron Carroll (Eastern Reserves (Eastern (Eastern Reserves Reserve approx. 6%) Reserves Not calculated) 5.58 ha) Not calculated) Anthochaera lunulata - - - 13.0 ha Western Wattlebird Phylidonyris novaehollandiae 7% - - - New Holland Honeyeater Hirundo nigricans - - 9.8 ha - Tree Martin Purpureicephalus spurius 23% 34% 16.0 ha - Red-capped Parrot Pardalotus striatus - - - - Striated Pardalote Red indicates reserves do not exceed minimum threshold

The critical habitats for birds to be considered in revegetation are summarised in Table 22.

Table 22 Bird Habitat Considerations for Revegetation Habitat Diet

Bird Breeds Onsite Trees Only Hollows Bushland Seed/Plants Invertebrates Nectar Vertebrates Comments Anthochaera lunulata, Shrubs and trees for foraging, ? X X Western Wattlebird perching and nesting. Flowering Phylidonyris novaehollandiae, plants such as Banksia, Eucalyptus, ? X X New Holland Honeyeater Grevillea, Hakea, Melaleuca Hirundo nigricans, Dense shrubs important for ? X X X Tree Martin protection and nest sites as well as Pardalotus striatus, some open areas for foraging ? X X X Striated Pardalote Purpureicephalus spurius, Very large trees or nest boxes if ? X X X Red-capped Parrot breeding onsite

Invertebrates There have been no systematic surveys for invertebrates in bushland in the City of Melville, and no records exist for invertebrates in the Eastern Reserves.

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3 Threats 3.1 Overview The NAAMP identified the ten most significant threats to natural areas in the City of Melville and details the impacts they can have. These threats (with the exception of stormwater and reticulation, which are specific to small bushland remnants in an urban environment) align with the major biodiversity threatening processes identified in the comprehensive technical review ‘Biodiversity values and threatening processes of the Gnangara groundwater system - Report for the Gnangara Sustainability Strategy and the Department of Environment and Conservation’ (Wilson & Valentine, 2009).

The significance of threats can be assessed in a similar manner to that used for assets as indicated in Figure 22.

Figure 22 Assessment of Threats in Natural Areas

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3.1 Physical Disturbance Historic and current physical disturbance is shown in Figure 23.

Figure 23 Location of Physical Disturbances

Table 23 shows that no changes can be quantified for physical disturbances.

Table 23 Physical Disturbance Indices Physical Disturbances Disturbances Impacts Threats Disturbance 1995-2004 2005-2014 Minimal High (but pruning Contained Potential to substantially beneath power (low change ecosystem Clearing for utilities lines can occur in frequency of structure, composition or George Welby occurrence) function Park) Change Trampling 780 m2 Not Assessable Medium 2 Sediment/Erosion No Data 0 m Potential to moderately change ecosystem Less than 1 time structure, composition or Rubbish Dumping per year in each Contained function reserve Tree Poisoning, (low Illegal Clearing, 0 frequency of Firewood Collection occurrence) Medium Less than 1 time Potentially costly Vandalism per year in each remediation reserve

Eastern Reserves Strategic Plan page 36

3.2 Fire An individual fire may not necessarily be a threat to the biodiversity, as the flora and fauna of the region has evolved in the context of, adapted to, and in part depends upon, fire. However modified fire regimes (characterised in terms of intensity, frequency, season and scale), especially in the context of external factors such as habitat fragmentation and climate change can lead to the decline and/or local extinction of species.

The two fire scenarios that were identified in the NAAMP as potential triggers for local extinctions of vulnerable species were: • Large Fires (a fire burning more than one third of a reserve); and • Repeat Fires (fires burning the same portions of a reserve within eight years).

Fires visible on aerial photographs from 2005 until 2014 are shown in Figure 24. Fire frequency was not documented in either the previous Ron Carroll Reserve Management Plan (City of Melville, 2005) or the George Welby Park Management Plan (City of Melville, 2006). One fire was noted for the summer of 2002/03 that started in the southwest of Ron Carroll Reserve burning through to the northeast corner (City of Melville, 2005).

Figure 24 Fires 2005 to 2014

Table 24 reflects that there was no evidence of large or repeat fires from 2005-2014 (although the fire in Ron Carroll Reserve in 2010 was calculated as burning approximately 29% of the reserve).

Table 24 Fire Indices Extent of Fires Extent of Fires Impacts Fires Threats 1995-2004 2005-2014 High Potential for local extinctions of Large fires 0 ha ground dwelling species 2 threats High No data Prevented Potential for local extinctions of trees Repeated 0 ha and shrubs that regenerate only from fires seed stored on the plant

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3.3 Weeds The 100 weed species recorded in the Eastern Reserves are listed in Appendix 1. Most weeds were rated as High or Low Impact, as shown in Table 25.

Table 25 Number of Weed Species in Each Impact Category George Welby Ron Carroll Tom Firth Impact Total Park Reserve Park Very High 1 5 1 6 High 11 35 5 42 Medium 6 9 1 10 Low 11 40 2 42 Total 29 85 8 100

Weed distributions were partially mapped in the Ron Carroll Reserve in 2005 and methods for surveying weeds were not standardised by the City of Melville until the review of the Natural Areas Asset Management Plan (Waters A. , 2013).

The extents of weeds in 2014 (based on presence at 87 reference points in a grid with 30 metre spacing - with each point representing approximately 1.1% of the total of the bushland) are listed in Table 26, with distributions mapped in Appendix 3.

Table 26 Weed Indices Impact Species 2005 2014 Threats Arum Lily Asparagus Fern Golden Dodder Lantana Narrowleaf Cottonbush - 0% Prevented One Leaf Cape Tulip Paterson’s Curse Soldiers Very Tamarisk High Willows Madeira Vine X 0% Eradicated Blackberry* - <1% Contained Bridal Creeper - 1% (assumed present Very Large Trees - 1% 2005) Brazilian Pepper - 3% Perennial Clumping Grass X 67% Not Assessable Annual Clumping Grass X <1% Contained Giant Grasses - 0% Prevented High Perennial Running Grass X 2% Contained Clumping Geophytes X 59% Shrubs and Trees X 26% Not Assessable Medium Perennial Weeds X 20% Low Annual Weeds X 94% X = recorded but not mapped - = not recorded

* Blackberry not observed during 2014 survey but a local resident indicated that was because they were hand-pulling plants as they germinated

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The most abundant shrub or tree weed was Banksia prionotes, Acorn Banksia, as indicated in Table 27. Banksia prionotes and Grevillea crithmifolia have both self-seeded adjacent to the areas they were originally planted.

Table 27 Number of Plants in 2014 of Selected Weeds George Welby Ron Carroll Tom Firth Impact Species Total Park Reserve Park Schinus terebinthifolius 0 3 10 13 Very Asparagus asparagoides 0 1 0 1 High very large Eucalyptus species 20 1 2 22 very large Melaleuca quinquenervia 1 1 Acacia iteaphylla 4 14 18

Acacia longifolia 1 3 4

Acacia podalyriifolia 2 2

Agonis flexuosa 3 3

Banksia prionotes 52 52 Banksia media 3 3

Chamelaucium uncinatum 6 5 11 High Eucalyptus species 1 4 27 32 Grevillea crithmifolia 11 16 27

Grevillea obtusifolia 24 24 Grevillea olivacea 1 6 7

Melaleuca nesophila 4 4

Melaleuca quinquenervia 1 1

Spyridium globulosum 1 1 2

Total 44 125 58 174

As a general rule, a site-based approach should be applied to prioritising woody weeds for removal with a focus on shrub and tree weeds in the vicinity of key assets, as well as removing shrub and tree weed species in low numbers.

Eastern Reserves Strategic Plan page 39

3.4 Habitat Loss Habitat loss can be managed and monitored: • between reserves (which is outside of the scope of this plan), and • within reserves (in terms of the extent, quality or continuity of bushland areas).

The distribution of weed cover is shown in Figure 25.

Figure 25: Cover of All Weeds Combined

The extent of bushland in each category of weed is indicated in Table 28.

Table 28 Cover of All Weeds Combined Category George Welby Park Tom Firth Park Ron Carrol Reserve Total 0% 0% 9% 0% 6% 1-5% 36% 45% 57% 44% 6-25% 45% 34% 14% 36% 26-100% 18% 12% 29% 15% Total 100% 100% 100% 100%

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The distribution of bare cover is shown in Figure 26, with relatively bare areas in the centre of Ron Carroll Reserve coinciding with areas burnt in 2010.

Figure 26: Bare Ground

The extent of bushland in each category of bare ground indicated in Table 29.

Table 29 Bare Ground Cover Category George Welby Park Tom Firth Park Ron Carrol Reserve Total 0% 9% 14% 43% 15% 1-5% 41% 57% 57% 53% 6-25% 41% 26% 0% 28% 26-100% 9% 3% 0% 5% Total 100% 100% 100% 100%

The habitat loss indices are listed in Table 30.

Table 30 Habitat Loss Indices % of % of Habitat Impact Reserve Reserve Threat Loss 2005 2014 Medium Process of moderate ecosystem function modification Weed Cover 15% • Reduced natural regeneration > 25% • Increased fire or erosion risk Change Not No Data Low Assessable Process of low ecosystem function modification Bare Ground 5% • Reduced natural regeneration > 25% • Increased fire or erosion risk

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3.5 Feral Animals Documenting feral animal occurrences was not previously standardised by the City of Melville, but as indicated in Table 31 some data has been captured and some assumptions can be made.

Table 31 Feral Animal Records Feral Animal Status 2005 Status 2014 Oryctolagus cuniculus, Rabbits No Data Not Present Vulpes vulpes, Foxes Felis catus, Feral Cats Mammals Mus musculus, House Mice Assumed Present Rattus norvegicus, Brown Rat Assumed Present Rattus rattus, Black Rat Streptopelia chinensis, Spotted Dove Birds Confirmed Present Trichoglossus haematodus, Rainbow Lorikeet Insects Apis mellifera, Feral Honeybee Confirmed Present 2012 Not Present

Oryctolagus cuniculus, rabbits, were not commented on in the 2014 City of Melville Fauna Survey (360 environmental, 2014) but they are assumed absent as: • signs of scats or diggings would have expected to have been opportunistically observed in these small reserves, if rabbits were present; • rabbits have relatively well-defined and small home ranges in the order of 0.2-2 ha (DEPI, 2013); and • most dispersal of rabbits is relatively short distances (DEPI, 2013) and the Eastern Reserves are not contiguous.

Vulpes vulpes, foxes, were not commented on in the 2014 City of Melville Fauna Survey (360 environmental, 2014) but they are assumed absent as there was no evidence (scats, dens etc) in 2014 and they were not recorded in the nearby Bullcreek Reserves in 2013. Due to their small sizes the Eastern Reserves could not sustain foxes, although the reserves could potentially form part of the home range, which in urban areas can be in the order of 30 hectares (Lapidge, Braysher, & Sarre, 2013).

Felis catus, cats, were not commented on in the 2014 City of Melville Fauna Survey (360 environmental, 2014) but it is assumed they frequent the Eastern Reserves. Domestic cats in suburban Canberra catch an average of 10 prey animals per year (with 6% of cats catching five times this) (Grayson & Calver, 2004); and male feral cats may occupy a home range of 10 square kilometres, or larger if food is scarce (DEWHA , 2008).

Mus musculus, House Mice, Rattus rattus, Black Rats and Rattus norvegicus, Brown Rats were not commented on in the 2014 City of Melville Fauna Survey (360 environmental, 2014) but it is assumed that they are present, although their numbers may be low. . House Mice are common in urban bushland remnants in Perth, and were caught every one of twenty two remnants sampled by the Western Australian Museum (How, Harvey, Dell, & Waldock, 1996). In the same survey, Black Rats were caught infrequently and Brown Rats were not captured. House Mice become more abundant in native habitats after fire to take advantage of the significant post-fire seed fall (Clarke, et al., 2000).

The two introduced birds confirmed present in the Eastern Reserves in 2014 were Streptopelia chinensis, the Spotted Dove, and Trichoglossus haematodus, the Rainbow Lorikeet.

In 2012 one Apis mellifera, feral honeybee, beehive was recorded in the west of Ron Carroll Reserve. This was eliminated, and in 2014 no beehives were present in the Eastern Reserves.

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The indices for feral animals are only for those species for which some control is practical and effective. The indices are listed in Table 32, with an occurrence defined as specific sightings of dens, warrens, hives or animals (and as control of feral animals is to be initiated within 10 working days from date of observation – the resighting of a den, warren, hive or animal is recorded as an additional occurrence at 10 working day intervals until the elimination of the occurrence).

Table 32 Feral Animal Indices Occurrences Occurrences Impact Feral Animal Threat 1995 - 2004 2005 - 2014 Oryctolagus cuniculus, Rabbit Assumed Very High Prevented Key Threatening Process Vulpes vulpes, Fox No Data under the EPBC Act 1999 Change Not Felis catus, Feral Cat No Data Assessable High Competition with native 1 beehive in Apis mellifera, Honeybee Eliminated birds for hollows and food 2012 (impact level variable)

The feral animals listed in Table 33, are those which are monitored but for which control can only be effective if undertaken at a regional or sub-regional scale.

Table 33 Other Feral Animals to be Monitored Last Impact Feral Animal Status Confirmed High Streptopelia chinensis, Competition with native birds for hollows Spotted Turtle-Dove Breeding and food (impact level variable) onsite not 2014 Low Trichoglossus haematodus, confirmed Competition with native birds for food Rainbow Lorikeet (impact level variable)

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3.6 Diseases and Pathogens Phytophthora cinnamomi, dieback, is a microscopic water mould that weakens or kills the plants by reducing or stopping the movement of water and nutrients within the plant (Dieback Working Group, 2000), and ‘is one of the major threats to the biodiversity of Western Australia's ecosystems’ (DEC, 2010).

The 10.20 ha known extent of Phytophthora cinnamomi, dieback, is shown in Figure 27.

Figure 27 Interpretation of Extent of Dieback Infestation in 2014

Armillaria luteobubalina, Honey Fungus, is an indigenous parasitic mushroom that is widespread in south west Western Australia that causes decay in roots and stems that can result in the death of the host plant (Shearer, 1994). Whilst no targeted surveys have been undertaken it is assumed to be absent from the Eastern Reserves. • no occurrences of Armillaria luteobubalina have been documented in the City; • there were also no opportunistic observations of patches of dead susceptible plants, or the parasitic mushroom itself; and • it occurs most frequently in coastal dunes, and forests east of the Darling Scarp, and rarely occurs in the acidic sands of the Bassendean Dune system (Shearer, 1994).

The diseases and pathogens for which objectives apply are listed in Table 34.

Table 34 Disease and Pathogen Indices Extent Extent Impact Diseases and Pathogens Threat 2005 2014 Very High Change Phytophthora cinnamomi Key Threatening Process under the EPBC 93% Not Dieback Act 1999 Assessable Medium No Data Native species capable of moderate Armillaria luteobubalina Assumed Assumed modification of structure and composition of Honey Fungus Absent Prevented flora by killing multiple species

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3.7 Stormwater Stormwater is diverted into the north-western corner of the bushland in Ron Carroll Reserve, as shown in Figure 28.

Figure 28: Stormwater Inflows

There are no stormwater water quality indices for which objectives apply in the Eastern Reserves as these only apply in bushland where the stormwater is discharged into an open waterbody. Any erosion/sedimentation associated with the stormwater outlets is monitored as a physical disturbance and would be discussed in Section 3.1 (but there was no erosion/sedimentation associated with this culvert in 2014).

3.8 Reticulation There is reticulated lawn adjacent to bushland in George Welby Park, but there have been no ongoing instances of additional water being applied to the bushland. The indices for reticulation are listed in Table 35, with an occurrence defined as specific sightings of excessive drift or leaking (and this is to be rectified within 5 working days from date of observation – the resighting of overspray or leakage is recorded as an additional occurrence at 5 working day intervals until the elimination of the occurrence).

Table 35 Reticulation Indices Occurrences Occurrences Impact Water Sources Threat 1995 - 2004 2005 - 2014 Low Overspray / leakages from Assumed Alteration of Surface Water No Data No Data reticulation Contained Flows

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3.9 Acid Sulfate Soils Acid Sulfate Soil reactions can potentially occur where: • excavations are dug below the minimum level of the watertable; and/or • groundwater extraction results in oxidation of soils previously permanently saturated by lowering the minimum level of the watertable.

An occurrence of an acid sulfate soils threat is recorded when these activities are undertaken and the risks associated with acid sulphate soil reactions are not managed at the time.

Whilst no historic records are available for excavations and groundwater extraction, there is no evidence of any acid sulphate soil reactions previously occurring in the Eastern Reserves. No excavations or groundwater extraction has occurred in the Eastern Reserves since 2005, as reflected in Table 36.

Table 36 Acid Sulfate Soil Indices Potential Initiation of ASS Occurrences Occurrences Impact Threat Reactions 1995 - 2004 2005 - 2014 Excavations below the Very High minimum level of the 0 An occurrence of could result watertable in the reserve being listed as a No Data Prevented Groundwater extraction contaminated site under the resulting in lowering of 0 Contaminated Sites Act 2003 minimum level watertable

3.10 Climate Change The regional climate is becoming hotter and drier (McHugh & Bourke, 2008): • the annual rainfall in south-west WA has declined by about 10% since the mid-1970s (Hope & Foster, 2005); and • the mean annual temperatures across Western Australia have increased since 1910 by approximately 0.8ºC, with the strongest trend observed since the 1950s (Indian Ocean Climate Initiative, 2009).

The average monthly maximum temperatures and rainfall for nearby Perth Airport in the last 10 years are shown in Table 37 and Table 38.

Table 37 Average Monthly Maximum Temperatures 2005-2014 Year Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Annual 2004 32.4 32.9 30 27.4 21.8 20 18.2 17.9 20.7 23.6 26.2 31.3 25.2 2005 32 31.4 31.2 25.2 23.6 18.2 18.8 18.8 19.5 21.1 25.6 24.7 24.2 2006 29.9 32.2 30.9 23.8 22.9 20.3 19.1 20.6 20.9 24.7 28.1 31.5 25.4 2007 30.4 31.4 30.9 25.7 21.2 19.9 19.7 19.3 20.4 23.2 29 28.4 25.0 2008 33.8 32.7 30 24.3 22.7 19.7 17.9 19.4 20.5 24.1 23.9 28.6 24.8 2009 33.6 32.5 29.5 28.1 24.3 19.1 18 19.1 18.7 24.2 27.4 32 25.5 2010 35 33.1 31.1 25.7 22.2 19.3 18.3 19.5 22.1 25.1 30.3 30.5 26.0 2011 33.7 34.9 32.8 27.9 23.6 19.7 18.4 20.2 20.5 24.4 26.1 30.6 26.1 2012 33.4 31.3 31.6 26.4 23.0 19.3 19.2 20.0 21.4 24.9 26.1 31.4 25.7 2013 32.3 34.6 28.4 28.7 21.7 19.9 18.7 20.3 20.1 24.1 29.5 31.1 25.8 2014 32.9 33.7 30.8 26.9 21.3 19.6 18.4 21.5 22.1 24.9 26.4 29.7 25.7 1944- 2015 31.7 32.0 29.7 25.6 21.8 18.9 17.9 18.6 20.2 22.7 25.9 29.0 24.5 Mean

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Table 38 Monthly Rainfall 2005-2014 Year Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Total 2005 1 2.8 52.8 20.8 153.2 250.2 63.4 119.2 84.8 50.6 15.4 5.8 820 2006 28.2 24 5.8 32.4 43.6 27.8 80.2 124.6 65.6 24.4 19.2 3.8 479.6 2007 20.2 2.8 5.4 70.6 68.6 53.4 193.4 113 97.2 46.6 5.2 16.2 692.6 2008 0 39.6 16.2 135 59.8 170 213.6 19 66.8 33.8 69 5.4 828.2 2009 12.6 5.4 6 6.8 49.6 131.4 145.4 129 93.2 4 32.4 0 615.8 2010 0 0 43.2 23.2 88.6 47.2 144.6 60 27.8 25.2 7.6 16 483.4 2011 43.2 0.4 0 26.2 58.6 143.2 164.6 127.8 102.4 63.4 38.6 67.4 835.8 2012 27.4 19 0 53.2 39.8 134.4 30.6 117.8 103.8 13.8 84.8 24.8 649.4 2013 8.2 1 60.2 7.8 112.2 23 119.2 160.6 172.4 32.4 6.2 1 704.2 2014 0.4 0.0 4.4 18.6 125.2 92.2 139.2 109.6 70.2 34.2 26.6 0.2 620.8 1944- 2015 9.4 14.4 16.2 40.7 99.8 159.1 156.5 117.8 73.6 44.0 26.6 11.1 769.4 Mean

Seven of the ten years from 2005 to 2014 inclusive, were extreme in the lack of rain and/or high temperatures: • one year (2006) with the lowest rainfall on record; • the lowest rainfall recorded for the month of August (2008); and • one year (2011) with the highest annual average maximum temperature on record; • the hottest mean maximum temperatures recorded for the months of March (2011), July (2007), August (2006), November (2010).

The weather during the period 2005-2014 was hotter and drier than both the long term average and the preceding 10 years, as indicated in Table 39.

Table 39 Extreme Weather Events Number of Number of Impact Extreme Weather Events Years Years Threat (1995-2004) (2005-2014) Total Annual rainfall Very High 1 1 Stable Key Threatening ‘very much below average’ (lowest 10% of records) Process under the Annual mean maximum temperatures 1 6 Increased EPBC Act 1999 ‘very much above average’ (highest 10% of records)

No objectives apply to containing or preventing climate change as extreme weather events as the threat can only be addressed indirectly through management of impacts to assets.

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4 Management 4.1 Review of Management 2005-2014 4.1.1 Key Performance Indicators Key performance indicators measure the degree to which operational reserve plans are implemented. These indicate whether systems are being applied and whether resources are adequate.

An audit was not undertaken for the implementation of the recommendations in the George Welby Park Management Plan (City of Melville, 2006) nor the Ron Carroll Reserve Management Plan (City of Melville, 2005) as many recommendations were not readily auditable as they were generic, ambiguous and/or did not specify precise outcomes.

On-ground works were undertaken including weed control, plantings and feral animal control but most were not fully documented.

Infrastructure in 2014 is summarised in Table 40 and shown in Figure 29.

Table 40 Infrastructure Extents / Numbers Infrastructure Extent / Number 2014 Open Tracks 310 m Signs 4 signs Fences 410 m

Figure 29 Infrastructure Locations 2014

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4.1.2 Leading Indicators Leading indicators, trends in threats, indicate (for the life of a reserve management plan): • whether guidelines and procedures are being effective in meeting objectives of preventing, eliminating, containing and managing impacts from threats; and • provide a feedback mechanism as to whether guidelines and procedures need to be modified.

Trends in threats are categorised in Table 41, with many trends not assessable because the previous management plans preceded the standardisation of quantitative data collection.

Table 41 Leading Indicators Eliminated Contained Total Prevented Not Contained Impacts (no longer (no change or Not Assessable Threat (absent or avoided) (increased) present) decreased) Indices 10 Weeds Excavations 1 Weed Very Groundwater Extraction 1 Weed 4 Weeds Cats 22 High Rabbits Dieback Foxes 1 Weed 2 Weeds 2 Weeds High Large Fires Honeybees 9 Clearing Repeat Fires Rubbish Trampling Sediment Poisoning Medium High Temperatures 1 Weed 10 Honey Fungus Vandalism Total Weed Cover Low Rainfall 1 Weed Low Reticulation 3 Bare Ground Total Threat 19 2 12 1 10 44 Indices

The two feral animals (for which effective control can only be undertaken at a regional or sub- regional scale) and are therefore not indicator species, but were confirmed present in 2014 were: • one high impact bird species (Trichoglossus haematodus, Rainbow Lorikeet); and • one high impact bird species (Streptopelia chinensis, Spotted Turtle-Dove).

4.1.3 Lagging Indicators Lagging indicators, trends in assets, indicate whether strategic goals of maintaining and enhancing assets are being met.

Trends in assets are categorised in Table 42, with many trends not assessable because the previous management plans preceded the standardisation of quantitative data collection. Trends apply only for the life of a reserve management plan and therefore trends were not assessable for assets that have been lost and it was unclear whether they were still present at the time of the last reserve management plan in 2005.

Table 42 Lagging Indicators Total Values Enhanced Maintained Not Maintained Not Assessable Assets Very High 0

High 2 Flora Species 1 Ecological Community Site 3 Live Native Habitat Trees Local Native Plantings Medium 4 Dead Habitat Trees Closed Tracks 3 Flora Species Low 11 8 Fauna Species Total 0 15 0 3 18 Assets

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4.2 Management Objectives 2015-2020 4.2.1 Key Performance Indicators Under the NAAMP, key performance indicators are measures of the degree of implementation of operational reserve plans. Operational reserve plans are internal City of Melville documents that include work schedules for individual reserves based on guidelines and strategies (that establish default management practices).

The City of Melville is at the initial stages of developing and implementing guidelines and strategies. A comprehensive review of these documents is beyond the scope of this reserve management plan but: • most need further clarification to facilitate the auditing of their implementation; and • aspects of the guidelines should be specifically reviewed where recommendations for their application below are not directly associated with specifications in the guidelines.

Sign, Path and Barrier Guidelines The City has yet to develop formal guidelines for sign, paths and barriers specific to natural areas, but there are more general guidelines for Council land.

Recommendations for managing signs, paths and barriers in the Eastern Reserves in the absence of Sign, Path and Barrier Guidelines are to: 1. inspect all signs, paths and barriers for safety in the Eastern Reserves every 5 weeks (given high accessibility to public compared to other City of Melville reserves, and this would coincide with current cycles of reserve inspections); 2. develop a register of inspections (as completing these at the specified frequency is to be a key performance indicator).

Bushfire Strategy The City developed Bushfire Management Guidelines in 2013. Its application to the Eastern Reserves is summarised in Table 43.

Table 43 Application of Bushfire Management Guidelines Guideline Content Recommendations for Onsite Management a. Requiring no change to current access, although tracks do not currently facilitate containment of fires to less than one third of the bushland: • pedestrian paths provide adequate access for firefighting in very small reserves • from the perimeter of the bushland a standard 50 metre firefighting hose (without an extension) can reach 100% Section 3.1 lists George Welby Park of the bushland in all areas in George Welby and Tom and Ron Carroll Reserves as having Firth Parks; 1. and requiring internal firebreaks that • likely rapid detection and response to fires due to the can be utilised by firefighting vehicles proximity to residences and businesses • there is a nearby almost parallel track separating adjoining houses from the majority of the bushland in Ron Carroll Reserve • no bushland area is larger than 6 ha, and the City of Melville’s Local Law requires private landholders to ‘ensure that no area of [private] land within the firebreaks exceeds ten (10) hectares in area a. Do not apply as a general rule as dead woody material is of ecological value. Hazard reduction (if required) for dead Section 4.3.3 refers to hazard native plant material consists of, in order of preference: reduction in form of “removal of dead 2. • cutting material down to ground level branches offering no biological input • removal or mulching where large amount of material that may pose a potential fire threat” exist (but retaining onsite as much coarse woody debris greater than 10 cm diameter for habitat value) Section 4.5.2 and 7.4 provide a. Do not apply - instead use Revegetation Management 3. specifications for environmental document for specifications for when and how to revegetate, restoration post fire rather than use inconsistent specifications

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Weed Control Strategy & Guidelines The City developed an Environmental Weed Management document in 2012. This currently only addresses how to control weeds and the associated contractual details. Its application to the Eastern Reserves is summarised in Table 44.

Table 44 Application of Environmental Weed Management Document Guideline Content Recommendations for Onsite Management 1. Control measures specified a. Apply control measures for weeds as per guidelines No overall prioritisation for weed control but specified in 2013 NAAMP a. Apply framework in revised NAAMP to prioritise works as done 1. update and applied in this in Table 50. management plan No framework for developing weed objectives but specified in 2013 a. Apply framework in revised NAAMP to prioritise works as done 2. NAAMP update and applied in this in Table 50. management plan 3. Does not address potential a. Conduct audit of plantings to determine whether any plantings management of native plants are to be removed on the basis that they are species not introduced to reserves naturally occurring onsite that could comprise ecological integrity by: • behaving like weeds, displacing/compromising existing species; • establishing in such low numbers that are not likely to form long-term viable populations; • compromising opportunities to consolidate populations of species at risk of local extinctions in the Eastern Reserves

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Revegetation Strategy & Guidelines The City developed a Revegetation Management document in 2012. Its application to the Eastern Reserves is summarised in Table 45.

Table 45 Application of Revegetation Management Document Guideline Content Recommendations for Onsite Management Generic discussion of revegetation 1. a. Apply as appropriate techniques a. Preference to be given to species with regionally significant populations onsite and/or at risk of local extinction b. Any additional species to be restricted those known to naturally occur in the Bassendean Central and South No specifications/restrictions on/for Complex (although this may be varied in the future in 2. species used revegetation in reserves of response to managing impacts of climate change and higher overall significance disease) c. Fauna habitat requirements to be included in prioritisation of plant species used in revegetation, as per Table 17, Table 19, and Table 22. No requirement to consider limitations a. Need to consider reserve-specific dieback risk assessment 3. such as Dieback in species selection for revegetation Section 5.5 provides generic discussion a. Use Table 10 as basis for expressing revegetation of completion criteria. No definitive of 4. completion criteria, applying the requirements of revegetation completion criteria, but rehabilitation for revegetation specified in 2013 NAAMP Section 4.1.1 defines provenance but provides no guidance as to how to apply concept. No specification of risk-based framework for maintenance of genetic provenance recognising: • narrow, local and regional a. Source material from as close as possible and from the provenance classes; Bassendean Central and South Complex, with Melaleuca 5. • potential for provenance concerns thymoides sourced only from within the City of Melville being overridden by objectives for b. Document source of planting and seeding material rehabilitation and maintenance of ecological processes when propagules cannot be obtained from with provenance range • information limitations 6. No specification for establishment of a. Establish minimum total numbers of plants in low abundance minimum number of plants at risk of local in Eastern Reserves as per Table 53. extinction. Specifications required in the absence of definitive minimum viable population sizes: • Major negative affects occur across a number of species where populations have fewer than 100 to 200 mature plants (Young, Broadhurst, Byrne, Coastes, & Yates, 2005). • survival rates of Banksia ilicifolia seedlings from populations of less than 20 plants is half that of seedlings from populations of more than 100 plants (Heliyanto, He, Lambers, Veneklaas, & Krauss, 2009) 7. No restrictions on species used for a. Plant only herbs and small shrubs (no trees) under overhead revegetation in vicinity of third party powerlines utilities where there is potential for intermittent site disturbance during maintenance and upgrades.

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Feral Animal Strategy and Guidelines The City developed a Management of Feral Animals in 2011. Its application to the Eastern Reserves is summarised in Table 46.

Table 46 Application of Management of Feral Animals Document Guideline Content Recommendations for Onsite Management 1. Control measures specified a. Apply as appropriate 2. No specifications for time to respond a. Control of foxes, rabbits and bees to be initiated within 10 to observations of feral animals working days from date of observation

Diseases and Pathogen Guidelines The City developed a Guidelines to the Management of Disease and Pathogens in 2011. Its application to the Eastern Reserves are summarised in Table 47.

Table 47 Application of Guidelines for Disease and Pathogens Guideline Content Recommendations for Onsite Management 1. Hygiene protocols specified a. Continue to apply hygiene standards as per guidelines No specification of frequency of 2. a. Map Phytophthora cinnamomi and resurvey every 5 years. Phytophthora cinnamomi surveys 3. No specification of frequency of a. Apply Phosphite every 5 years Phosphite applications a. Commence assessments and repeat every 5 years No specifications for Armillaria (aligning with strategic reserve management plan review) 4. luteobubalina, Honey Fungus, b. Prevent importation of any soil that may contain Armillaria monitoring or management luteobubalina

Stormwater Management Strategy The Stormwater Management Strategy (City of Melville, 1997) in its current form does not apply to the Eastern Reserves.

Reticulation Guidelines The City has yet to develop formal guidelines for assessing and managing reticulation adjacent to bushland. The recommendation for managing reticulation in the Eastern Reserves in the absence of guidelines is to: 1. rectify drift and leaks from irrigation of lawn within 5 working days of being noted.

Acid Sulfate Soils Guidelines The City has yet to develop formal guidelines for assessing and managing acid sulphate soils. The recommendation for managing acid sulphate soils in the Eastern Reserves in the absence of Acid Sulfate Soil Guidelines is to: 1. undertake a risk assessment specifically addressing acid sulphate soils prior to any excavations or groundwater extraction onsite.

Community Engagement Strategy The City currently manages interactions with the community groups in accordance with its Stakeholder Engagement Policy (Policy Number CP-002) and People Places Participation - A Community Plan for the City of Melville 2007-2017 (City of Melville, 2007). The Community Engagement Strategy is to expand upon Friends Group Manual (City of Melville, 2008). The application of the Friends Group Manual to the Eastern Reserves is summarised in Table 48.

Table 48 Application of Friends Group Manual Guideline Content Recommendations for Onsite Management 1. No framework to capture anecdotal a. Document anecdotal information from the public (e.g. information species records) 2. No framework to encourage research a. Engage with stakeholders such as universities to capture or capture research results data and use the reserves for research

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4.2.2 Leading Indicators Leading indicators are associated with changes in the density / abundance / extent / occurrences of threats. The levels of acceptable changes are determined in the framework established in the NAAMP as summarised in Table 49 and applied in Table 50 and Table 51.

Table 49 Tiered Objectives for Threats and Associated Leading Indicators Objective Leading Indicator Applicable When • Prevent introduction to or occurrence of • Threat absent from reserve Prevent • Unplanned Introduction Possible • reduce rate of density / abundance / extent • Large discrepancy between current and potential impact (Eventual complete removal but short term may only • Potential impact high Eliminate reduction of numbers or prevention of seed set • Elimination feasible onsite) • Stop, restrict, or reduce rate of spread or frequency • Moderate discrepancy between current and potential impact Contain of occurrence • Potential but not current impact high • Elimination not feasible • Limit negative impacts on assets • Small discrepancy between current and potential impact Manage • Threat “naturalised” or near maximum extent • No information on density/abundance/extent • Not Applicable • Threat absent from reserve None • Only Planned Introduction Possible

Table 50 Objectives for Weed Species in the Eastern Reserves Objective Impact Weed Species / Group 2014 Extent Comments Tamarisk Paterson’s Curse One Leaf Cape Tulip Narrowleaf Cottonbush Golden Dodder Very High Madeira Vine Prevent 0% Not Present Onsite Lantana Asparagus Fern Soldiers Willows Arum Lily High Giant Grasses Blackberry not observed during 2014 survey but a local resident indicated that was Blackberry <1% because they were hand-pulling plants as they germinated Bridal Creeper 1% 1 plant observed in 2014 Very High 23 trees: Very Large Trees 1% Eliminate initially remove 2 trees in Ron Carroll Reserve and 2 trees in Tom Firth Park 13 trees: Brazilian Pepper 3% initially remove 3 trees in Ron Carroll Reserve and then 10 trees in Tom Firth Park 138 shrubs/trees from 14 species in Table 27. High Trees and Shrubs 26% Staged removal required to coordinate with revegetation Very High Perennial Clumping Grasses 67% Elimination not feasible in short to medium term Clumping Geophytes 59% Contain Trees and Shrubs 26% All species not identified for elimination above High Annual Clumping Grasses <1% Prevent density from increasing Perennial Running Grasses 2% Contain to wet disturbed areas Medium All other perennial weeds 20% Manage Focus in terms of asset protection – revegetation sites Low All other annual weeds 94%

Table 51 Objectives for all other Threats in the Eastern Reserves Objective Impact Threat Comments Acid Sulfate Soil Should not occur as no excavation or groundwater extraction proposed Very Ferals (Foxes) Absent - occasional incursion may occur and remove/eliminate with 10 working days of observations, before High Ferals (Rabbits) they permanently establish Prevent fires that burn more than one third of bushland, in consultation with Department of Fire and Emergency High Fires (large) Prevent Services High Ferals (Bees) Absent – remove/eliminate with 10 working days of observations, before they permanently establish Diseases and Pathogens Assumed absent - never recorded in the Eastern Reserves Medium (Honey Fungus) Apply appropriate hygiene standards for onground works to prevent introduction Trap onsite within 10 working days of sightings Also manage indirectly through revegetation - increase vegetation cover to aid small vertebrates evade Very Ferals (Cats) predation High Vegetation characteristics may be more important to persistence of some native species than cat restrictions Contain around urban bushland (Lilith, Calver, & Garkaklis, 2010) Habitat Loss Limit fragmentation of bushland (e.g. by paths) within reserves High Fire (repeat) Limit fires burning same portion of bushland, in consultation with Department of Fire and Emergency Services Public access adequately limited through use provision of paths and use of soft barriers (such as plantings) Medium Physical Disturbance and hard barriers (such as fences) Diseases and Pathogens Manage impacts directly through Phosphite applications and maintaining unfavourable conditions of closed tree (Dieback) canopy and deep leaf litter to reduce soil temperatures. Global-scale threat - cannot prevent, eliminate or contain by reserve scale actions. Manage through: Very • revegetation if mass plant deaths occur or are likely. High Climate Change • prioritisation of removal of high water use weeds (especially trees and shrubs) • maintenance of soil moisture through maintenance of canopy and thick leaf litter Manage • limit other factors that could interact cumulatively with climate change to result in permanent change (e.g. repeat fires) Regional-scale threat - cannot prevent, eliminate or contain by reserve scale actions. High Ferals (Birds) Install only bird and bat boxes that limit use by ferals Likely ongoing presence due to adjacent urban areas - cannot prevent, eliminate or contain Ferals (Mice) Low Manage indirectly through revegetation to offset seed predation Reticulation Manage through maintenance and operation of reticulation to avoid drift or leaks into bushland

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4.2.3 Lagging Indicators Leading indicators are associated with changes in the density / abundance / extent / occurrences of assets. The levels of acceptable change are determined in the framework established in the NAAMP as summarised in Table 52 and applied in Table 53 and Table 54.

Table 52 Tiered Goals for Assets and Associated Lagging Indicators Goal Lagging Indicator Applicable When Enhance Increase in either Asset can be enhanced and • extent • occurs in only one reserve and/or • density • at risk of local extinction and/or • numbers or • minimal cost (e.g. incorporated in revegetation program) and/or • occurrences • reduces operational costs (e.g. reduces requirements for on-going for threat management) Maintain No decrease in either Asset can be maintained and • extent • Asset occurs in a number of reserves and/or • density • Not a risk of local extinction and/or • numbers or • occurs in only one reserve but insufficient knowledge/resources to enhance • occurrences Confirm Decrease in: Asset significant and • number of assets for which • historic but no recent records in reserve and/or their presence is uncertain • potentially to be in reserve based on habitat and/or proximity of other records Monitor No indices for management Assets that cannot be maintained by actions within City of Melville boundaries or for which no quantifiable indices effectiveness exist and: • for which reserves are not critical component of habitat (e.g. highly mobile/wide roaming and/or infrequent/irregular visitors to the City of Melville) • there is a risk of local extinction from processes that cannot be mitigated by the City of Melville (e.g. climate change, some pathogens)

Table 53 Goals for Species No. of Goal Priority Asset Comments ReservesA Increase the population to 200 plants: High Melaleuca thymoides 9 • from 50 to 100 plants in Ron Carroll Reserve (SW corner suitable for plantings) • from 1 to 100 plants in George Welby Reserve (SW corner suitable for plantings) Enhance Banksia attenuata 38 Increase population of each species to 200 plants: • Susceptible to dieback, and dieback mapping required across all of the Eastern Low Banksia ilicifolia 21 Reserves to target Phosphite treatments, plan plantings and determine whether can Banksia menziesii 39 be retained onsite. Lialis burtonis 3 Reptile expected to persist onsite if standard threat management procedures and Tiliqua rugosa 11 guidelines are effective and implemented. Vespadelus regulus 4 Bat with small home range: maintain habitat in form of very large trees Maintain Low Resident bird that requires tree hollows for breeding onsite. Expected to persist onsite if Pardalotus striatus 10 standard threat management procedures and guidelines are effective and implemented. Anthochaera lunulata 7 Resident birds not requiring tree hollows for breeding. Expected to persist onsite if Phylidonyris novaehollandiae 5 standard threat management procedures and guidelines are effective and implemented. Monitor Low Chalinolobus gouldii 9 Bat with large home range: maintain habitat in form of very large trees Determine the extent and abundance in the Eastern Reserves High Beaufortia elegans 4 Shrub, at southern end of distribution, at elevated risk of local extinction from repeat fires Confirm Purpureicephalus spurius 10 Confirm whether breeding onsite - If breeding then the objective is to maintain population Low (which will require maintaining tree hollows for breeding onsite), if present but migrating Hirundo nigricans 12 then maintain feeding habitat and monitor species. A: City of Melville reserves including the Eastern Reserves

Table 54 Goals for Sites Goal Priority Asset Comments Increase bushland with very high native plant cover from 85% to >87% Bassendean – Central and South Vegetation (2% of bushland = approximately 0.16 ha or 40 m x 40 m). Complex

• Banksia attenuata/Banksia menziesii Restrict plantings to species listed for individual vegetation associations in Table 55 woodland High with preference given to species listed in Table 12. • Mixed herbland

• Melaleuca thymoides Shrubland Priorities are: Melaleuca preissiana woodland • displacing woody weed species that are in low abundance and/or self-seeding Revegetation Sites – existing plantings Revegetate 0.02 ha to the standard of ‘Rehabilitation’ in NAAMP Enhance Revegetate 780 m2 to the standard of ‘Rehabilitation’ in NAAMP. Revegetation Sites – closed tracks Priorities are: • 285 m of tracks in north east corner of Ron Carroll Reserve Record all vascular plant species in, and permanently demarcate twelve 10 x 10 m Medium flora reference sites in Ron Carroll Reserve: • 3 quadrats in western mixed herbland Reference Sites • 3 quadrats in Banksia woodland • 3 quadrats in eastern mixed herbland • 3 quadrats in Melaleuca thymoides shrubland Habitat Sites - very large live native trees Assets that are expected to persist onsite if standard threat management Maintain Medium procedures and guidelines are effective and implemented. Habitat Sites - very large dead trees Confirm NA None No assets in this category Monitor NA None No assets in this category

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Hussey, P., & Mawson, P. (2004). Wildlife Note no. 11 - Requirements for native mammals. Perth: Department of Conservation and Land Management. Indian Ocean Climate Initiative. (2009). How WA’s Climate Has Changed. Perth: Government of Western Australia, Bureau of Meterology, CSIRO. Keighery, G. (2013). Weedy native plants in Western Australia: an annotated checklist. Conservation Science Western Australia, 8(3), 259-275. Lapidge, K., Braysher, M., & Sarre, S. (2013, September 19). feral.org.au. Retrieved from Fox FAQs: http://www.feral.org.au/pest-species/faq/fox-faqs/ Lilith, M., Calver, M., & Garkaklis, M. (2010). Do cat restrictions lead to increased species diversity or abundance of small and medium-sized mammals in remnant urban bushland? Pacific Conservation Biology, 16, 162-172. LRM. (2013, September 19). House Mouse. Retrieved from Northern Territory Department of Land Resource Management: http://www.lrm.nt.gov.au/feral/mouse#.UjvJBhC0zms McHugh, S., & Bourke, S. (2008). Management Area Review of Shallow Groundwater Systems on Gnangara and Jandakot mounds. Perth: Department of Water. Olde, P., & Marriot, N. (1995). The Grevillea Book. Sydney: Kanagroo Press. Powell, R. (2009). Leaf and Branch - Trees and Tall Shrubs of Perth. Perth: DEC. Ramalho, C. (2012). Effects of urbanisation on remnant woodlands - PhD Thesis. Perth: The University of Western Australia. Rippey, E., & Rowland, B. (2004). Coastal Plants - Perth and the South-West Region. Perth: University of Western Australia Press. Shearer, B. (1994). The major plant pathogens occurring in native ecosystems of south-western Australia. Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia,, 77(4), 113-122. Strahan, R. (1998). The Mammals of Australia. Melbourne: New Holland Publishers. Van Delft, R. (1997). Birding Sites Around Perth (2nd Edition ed.). Perth: Birds Australia - Western Australian Group. Waters, A. (2013). Natural Areas Asset Management Plan. report by Woodgis Environmental Assessment and Management for the City of Melville, Western Australia. Waters, A. (2013). Natural Areas Asset Management Plan. report by Woodgis Environmental Assessment and Management for the City of Melville, Western Australia. Waters, A. (2014). Ken Hurst Park Strategic Management Plan 2014-2019. Perth: Woodgis Environmental Assessment and Management for the City of Melville. Waters, A. (2015). Flora And Vegetation Surveys City of Melville Eastern Reserves (George Welby, Ron Carrol And Tom Firth Reserves). Perth: unpublished report by Woodgis Environmental Assessment and Management for the City of Melville. Webala, P. (2010). Bat community structure and habitat use across logging regimes in jarrah eucalypt forests of south-western Australia - PhD Thesis. Perth: Murdoch University. Wilson, B., & Valentine, L. (. (2009). Biodiversity values and threatening processes of the Gnangara groundwater system - Report for the Gnangara Sustainability Strategy and the Department of Environment and Conservation. Perth: Gnangara Sustainability Strategy Taskforce - Department of Water. Wrigley, J., & Fagg, M. (1993). Bottlebrushes, Paperbarks and Tea Trees. Sydney: Angus and Robertson.

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Young, A., Broadhurst, L., Byrne, M., Coastes, D., & Yates, C. (2005). Genetic and Ecological Viability of Plant Populations in Remnant Vegetation. Canberra: Land and Water Australia.

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Appendix 1 Flora Inventory

Table 55 Native Flora Inventory No. of Typical Soil George Welby Park Ron Carroll Reserve Tom Firth Park Eastern Conditions FAMILY Species 1999 2014 Combined 1999 2004 2014 Combined 1999 2014 Combined Reserves Lyginia barbata dry 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 3 ANARTHRIACEAE Lyginia imberbis dry 1 1 1 Homalosciadium moist wet 1 1 1 homalocarpum APIACEAE Platysace compressa dry 1 1 1 Xanthosia huegelii dry 1 1 1 ARALIACEAE Trachymene pilosa dry 1 1 1 1 2 Chamaescilla corymbosa dry 1 1 1 Dichopogon capillipes dry 1 1 1 Laxmannia ramosa subsp. dry moist wet 1 1 1 ramosa Laxmannia squarrosa dry moist wet 1 1 1 1 2 Lomandra brittanii dry 1 1 1 Lomandra caespitosa dry 1 1 1 1 1 1 3 ASPARAGACEAE Lomandra hermaphrodita dry 1 1 1 Lomandra odora moist 1 1 1 Thysanotus arbuscula dry 1 1 1 Thysanotus manglesianus dry 1 1 1 1 2 Thysanotus multiflorus dry 1 1 1 1 2 Thysanotus patersonii dry 1 1 1 Euchiton sphaericus moist 1 1 1 Millotia tenuifolia dry 1 1 1 Pithocarpa pulchella dry moist wet 1 1 1 Podotheca gnaphalioides dry 1 1 1 Quinetia urvillei moist 1 1 1 ASTERACEAE Rhodanthe chlorocephala dry moist 1 1 1 subsp rosea Rhodanthe citrina dry 1 1 1 Senecio pinnatifolius var. moist 1 1 1 maritimus Siloxerus humifusus moist 1 1 1 Waitzia suaveolens dry 1 1 1 CAMPANULACEAE Lobelia tenuior dry moist wet 1 1 1 1 2 Allocasuarina fraseriana dry 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 3 CASUARINACEAE Allocasuarina humilis dry 1 1 1 1 2 CELASTRACEAE Tripterococcus brunonis moist 1 1 1 CENTROLEPIDACEAE Centrolepis aristata moist wet 1 1 1 COLCHICACEAE Burchardia congesta dry 1 1 1 1 2 Crassula colorata var. colorata dry 1 1 1 CRASSULACEAE Crassula decumbens dry 1 1 1 Lepidosperma aff. scabrum dry 1 1 1 Lepidosperma longitudinale wet 1 1 1 1 2 Lepidosperma pubisquameum dry moist 1 1 1 1 2 Lepidosperma squamatum dry moist wet 1 1 1 Mesomelaena pseudostygia dry 1 1 1 CYPERACEAE Schoenus brevisetis moist wet 1 1 1 Schoenus curvifolius dry 1 1 1 1 2 Schoenus efoliatus moist wet 1 1 1 Schoenus grandiflorus moist wet 1 1 1 1 2 Schoenus subfascicularis dry moist wet 1 1 1 1 2 Tetraria octandra dry moist wet 1 1 1 Calectasia narragara dry 1 1 1 DASYPOGONACEAE Dasypogon bromeliifolius dry 1 1 1 1 1 1 3 Hibbertia huegelii dry 1 1 1 1 1 1 3 Hibbertia hypericoides dry 1 1 1 1 2 DILLENIACEAE Hibbertia racemosa dry 1 1 1 1 1 1 3 Hibbertia subvaginata dry 1 1 1 Drosera erythrorhiza subsp. dry 1 1 1 erythrorhiza Drosera glanduligera dry moist wet 1 1 1 DROSERACEAE Drosera macrantha subsp. dry 1 1 1 macrantha Drosera menziesii subsp. moist wet 1 1 1 penicillaris Brachyloma preissii dry 1 1 1 Conostephium pendulum dry 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 3 ERICACEAE Conostephium preissii dry 1 1 1 Leucopogon conostephioides dry 1 1 1 EUPHORBIACEAE Monotaxis occidentalis wet 1 1 1 Acacia applanata dry 1 1 1 1 1 1 3 Acacia huegelii dry 1 1 1 FABACEAE Acacia pulchella dry moist 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 3 Acacia saligna dry moist wet 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 3

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No. of Typical Soil George Welby Park Ron Carroll Reserve Tom Firth Park Eastern Conditions FAMILY Species 1999 2014 Combined 1999 2004 2014 Combined 1999 2014 Combined Reserves Acacia stenoptera dry moist 1 1 1 1 2 Aotus procumbens wet 1 1 1 Bossiaea eriocarpa dry moist 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 3 Daviesia decurrens dry 1 1 1 Daviesia physodes dry 1 1 1 1 2 Daviesia triflora dry 1 1 1 1 2 Euchilopsis linearis wet 1 1 1 Gastrolobium capitatum dry 1 1 1 Gompholobium tomentosum dry 1 1 1 1 1 1 3 Hardenbergia comptoniana dry 1 1 1 1 2 Hovea pungens dry 1 1 1 1 2 Hovea trisperma dry 1 1 1 1 1 1 3 Jacksonia furcellata dry 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 3 Jacksonia sternbergiana dry 1 1 1 1 2 Dampiera linearis dry 1 1 1 1 1 1 3 Lechenaultia expansa dry moist 1 1 1 GOODENIACEAE Lechenaultia floribunda dry 1 1 1 1 1 1 3 Scaevola repens var. repens dry 1 1 1 1 2 Anigozanthos humilis subsp. dry 1 1 1 humilis Anigozanthos manglesii dry 1 1 1 Conostylis aculeata dry 1 1 1 1 1 1 3 HAEMODORACEAE Conostylis juncea dry 1 1 1 Conostylis setigera dry 1 1 1 Haemodorum spicatum dry 1 1 1 1 2 Phlebocarya ciliata dry moist wet 1 1 1 1 1 1 3 HALORAGACEAE Gonocarpus cordiger moist wet 1 1 1 1 2 Arnocrinum preissii dry 1 1 1 Corynotheca micrantha dry 1 1 1 HEMEROCALLIDACEAE Dianella revoluta dry 1 1 1 Tricoryne elatior dry 1 1 1 IRIDACEAE Patersonia occidentalis dry moist wet 1 1 1 1 1 1 3 LAMIACEAE Hemiandra pungens dry 1 1 1 1 1 1 3 Cassytha racemosa dry moist wet 1 1 1 LAURACEAE Cassytha sp. dry moist wet 1 1 1 1 2 LOGANIACEAE Phyllangium paradoxum moist wet 1 1 1 LORANTHACEAE Nuytsia floribunda dry 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 3 Astartea ?scoparia wet 1 1 1 1 2 Astartea fascicularis wet 1 1 1 Beaufortia elegans dry 1 1 1 Calytrix flavescens dry 1 1 1 1 2 Calytrix fraseri dry 1 1 1 1 2 Corymbia calophylla dry 1 1 1 1 2 Eremaea pauciflora dry 1 1 1 1 2 Eucalyptus marginata subsp. dry 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 3 marginata Hypocalymma angustifolium dry 1 1 1 1 2 MYRTACEAE Hypocalymma robustum dry 1 1 1 1 1 2 Kunzea glabrescens moist wet 1 1 1 Melaleuca lateritia wet 1 1 1 Melaleuca preissiana wet 1 1 1 1 2 Melaleuca seriata dry moist 1 1 1 1 1 1 3 Melaleuca thymoides dry moist 1 1 1 1 2 Pericalymma ellipticum wet 1 1 1 1 2 Regelia ciliata wet 1 1 1 1 2 Regelia inops moist wet 1 1 1 Scholtzia involucrata dry moist wet 1 1 1 1 2 Caladenia flava subsp. flava dry 1 1 1 Diuris corymbosa dry 1 1 1 ORCHIDACEAE Microtis media subsp. media dry moist 1 1 1 1 2 Pterostylis recurva moist 1 1 1 Pterostylis vittata moist 1 1 1 PHYLLANTHACEAE Poranthera microphylla wet 1 1 1 PITTOSPORACEAE Billardiera fusiformis dry 1 1 1 Austrostipa compressa dry 1 1 1 POACEAE Rytidosperma pilosum dry 1 1 1 POLYGALACEAE Comesperma calymega moist 1 1 1 Adenanthos cygnorum subsp. dry moist 1 1 1 1 1 2 cygnorum

PROTEACEAE Adenanthos obovatus wet 1 1 1 Banksia attenuata dry 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 3 Banksia grandis dry 1 1 1

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No. of Typical Soil George Welby Park Ron Carroll Reserve Tom Firth Park Eastern Conditions FAMILY Species 1999 2014 Combined 1999 2004 2014 Combined 1999 2014 Combined Reserves Banksia ilicifolia dry moist 1 1 1 1 1 1 3 Banksia menziesii dry 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 3 Hakea prostrata dry 1 1 1 Hakea varia dry 1 1 1 Petrophile linearis dry 1 1 1 1 1 2 Stirlingia latifolia dry 1 1 1 1 2 Desmocladus fasciculatus dry 1 1 1 Desmocladus flexuosus dry 1 1 1 1 2 RESTIONACEAE Hypolaena exsulca dry moist 1 1 1 1 2 Loxocarya cinerea dry moist 1 1 1 RUBIACEAE Opercularia vaginata dry moist 1 1 1 1 1 1 3 Boronia ramosa subsp. dry moist 1 1 1 RUTACEAE anethifolia Philotheca spicata dry 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 Levenhookia pusilla dry moist 1 1 1 Stylidium brunonianum wet 1 1 1 Stylidium carnosum dry 1 1 1 STYLIDIACEAE Stylidium piliferum dry 1 1 1 Stylidium repens dry moist 1 1 1 1 2 Stylidium schoenoides dry 1 1 1 Pimelea rosea dry 1 1 1 THYMELAEACEAE Pimelea sulphurea dry 1 1 1 Xanthorrhoea brunonis dry 1 1 1 XANTHORRHOEACEAE Xanthorrhoea preissii dry 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 3 ZAMIACEAE Macrozamia riedlei dry 1 1 1 1 2

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Table 56 Weed Inventory

Weed Group / Impact Family Species Common Name Species

George Welby Park 1999 George Welby Park 2014 Welby Park George Combined CarrollRon Reserve 1999 CarrollRon Reserve 2004 CarrollRon Reserve 2014 Ron Carroll Reserve Combined Tom Firth Park 1999 Tom Firth Park 2014 Tom Firth Park Combined Total Reserves

Brazilian Pepper Anacardiaceae Schinus terebinthifolius Brazilian Pepper 1 1 1

Bridal Creeper Asparagaceae Asparagus asparagoides Bridal Creeper 1 1 1 Madeira Vine Basellaceae Anredera cordifolia Madeira Vine 1 1 1 Very High Poaceae Ehrharta calycina Perennial Veld Grass 1 1 1 1 2 Perennial Clumping Poaceae Eragrostis curvula African Love Grass 1 1 1

Grasses Poaceae Piptatherum miliaceum Rice Millet 1 1 1

Poaceae Avena barbata Bearded Oat 1 1 1

Poaceae Avena fatua Wild Oat 1 1 1

Poaceae Bromus diandrus Great Brome 1 1 1

Annual Clumping Poaceae Ehrharta longiflora Annual Veldt Grass 1 1 1 1 2 Grasses Poaceae Lagurus ovatus Hares Tail Grass 1 1 1

Poaceae Lolium rigidum Annual Rye Grass 1 1 1

Poaceae Vulpia myuros Rat's Tail Fescue 1 1 1

Iridaceae Freesia alba x leichtlinii Freesia 1 1 1 1 2

Iridaceae Gladiolus caryophyllaceus Wild Gladiolus 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 3

Clumping Iridaceae Moraea miniata Two-leaf Cape Tulip 1 1 1 Geophytes Iridaceae Watsonia sp. Watsonia 1 1 1

Oxalidaceae Oxalis pes-caprae Soursob 1 1 1 1 2

Poaceae Cenchrus clandestinus Kikuyu Grass 1 1 1 Perennial Running Grasses Poaceae Cynodon dactylon Couch 1 1 1

Casuarinaceae Casuarina cunninghamiana River Oak 1 1 1

Fabaceae Acacia cyclops Coastal Wattle 1 1 1

Flinders Range Fabaceae Acacia iteaphylla 1 1 1 Wattle Queensland Silver Fabaceae Acacia podalyriifolia 1 1 1 Wattle Summer-scented Fabaceae Acacia rostellifera 1 1 1 Wattle Meliaceae Melia azedarach White Cedar 1 1 1

Summer-scented Myrtaceae Acacia rostellifera 1 1 1 High Wattle Myrtaceae Agonis flexuosa Peppermint Tree 1 1 1

Myrtaceae Callistemon viminalis Bottlebrush 1 1 1

Myrtaceae Callitris pyramidalis Swamp Cypress 1 1 1

Myrtaceae Chamelaucium uncinatum Geraldton Wax 1 1 1 1 1 1 3

Myrtaceae Corymbia citriodora Lemon Scented Gum 1 1 1

Myrtaceae Corymbia maculata Spotted Gum 1 1 1

Shrubs and Myrtaceae Eucalyptus conferruminata Bald Island Marlock 1 1 1 Trees Myrtaceae Eucalyptus grandis Rose Gum 1 1 1

Myrtaceae Eucalyptus platypus Moort 1 1 1

Myrtaceae Eucalyptus spathulata Swamp Mallet 1 1 1

Myrtaceae Melaleuca armillaris Bracelet Honeymyrtle 1 1 1

Myrtaceae Melaleuca huegelii Chenille Honeymyrtle 1 1 1 1 2

Myrtaceae Melaleuca nesophila Mindiyed 1 1 1

Southern Plains Proteaceae Banksia media 1 1 1 Banksia Proteaceae Banksia prionotes Acorn Banksia 1 1 1

Proteaceae Grevillea crithmifolia 1 1 1

Proteaceae Grevillea 'Frosty Pink' 1 1 1

Obtuse Leaved Proteaceae Grevillea obtusifolia 1 1 1 Grevillea Proteaceae Grevillea olivacea Olive Grevillea 1 1 1

Rhamnaceae Spyridium globulosum Basket Bush 1 1 1 1 2

Rosaceae Cotoneaster pannosus Cotoneaster 1 1 1

Aizoaceae Carpobrotus edulis Hottentot Fig 1 1 1 1 1 2

Aizoaceae Tetragonia decumbens Sea Spinach 1 1 1

Asteraceae Dimorphotheca ecklonis Cape Marguerite 1 1 1 1 2

Asteraceae Gazania linearis Gazania 1 1 1 1 2

Dilleniaceae Hibbertia scandens Snake Vine 1 1 1 Other Perennial Medium Geraniaceae Pelargonium capitatum Rose Pelargonium 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 3 Weeds Iridaceae Romulea rosea Guildford Grass 1 1 1 1 2 Cut-leaved Evening Onagraceae Oenothera laciniata 1 1 1 Primrose Argentine Evening Onagraceae Oenothera mollissima 1 1 1 Primrose Plantaginaceae Plantago lanceolata English Plantain 1 1 1

Eastern Reserves Strategic Plan page 63

Weed Group / Impact Family Species Common Name Species

George Welby Park 1999 George Welby Park 2014 Welby Park George Combined CarrollRon Reserve 1999 CarrollRon Reserve 2004 CarrollRon Reserve 2014 CarrollRon Reserve Combined Tom Firth Park 1999 Tom Firth Park 2014 Tom Firth Park Combined Total Reserves

Asphodelaceae Asphodelus fistulosus Wild Onion 1 1 1

Asteraceae Arctotheca calendula Cape Weed 1 1 1 1 2

Asteraceae Conyza sumatrensis Fleabane 1 1 1

Asteraceae Cotula turbinata Funnel Weed 1 1 1

Asteraceae Hypochaeris glabra Flat Weed 1 1 1

Asteraceae Hypochaeris radicata Flat Weed 1 1 1

Asteraceae Lactuca serriola Prickly Lettuce 1 1 1 1 2

Asteraceae Leontodon rhagadioloides Cretan Weed 1 1 1

Asteraceae Monoculus monstrosus Stinking Roger 1 1 1

Asteraceae Sonchus asper Common Sowthistle 1 1 1

Asteraceae Sonchus oleraceus Common Sowthistle 1 1 1 1 2

Asteraceae Urospermum picroides False Hawkbit 1 1 1

Asteraceae Ursinia anthemoides Ursinia 1 1 1 1 1 1 3

Brassicaceae Brassica tournefortii Mediterranean Turnip 1 1 1

Brassicaceae Heliophila pusilla 1 1 1

Caryophyllaceae Cerastium glomeratum Chickweed 1 1 1

Caryophyllaceae Petrorhagia dubia 1 1 1

Caryophyllaceae Polycarpon tetraphyllum Fourleaf Allseed 1 1 1

Caryophyllaceae Silene gallica French Catchfly 1 1 1

Cyperaceae Isolepis marginata Coarse Club-rush 1 1 1

Euphorbiaceae Euphorbia peplus Petty Spurge 1 1 1

Geraldton Carnation Low Annual Weeds Euphorbiaceae Euphorbia terracina 1 1 1 1 1 1 3 Weed Fabaceae Lupinus cosentinii Sandplain Lupin 1 1 1 1

Fabaceae Medicago polymorpha Burr Medic 1 1 1

Fabaceae Melilotus indicus Indian Sweet-clover 1 1 1

Fabaceae Trifolium arvense Hare's Foot Clover 1 1 1

Fabaceae Trifolium campestre Hop Clover 1 1 1

Fabaceae Trifolium dubium Suckling Clover 1 1 1

Fabaceae Trifolium glomeratum Cluster Clover 1 1 1

Fabaceae Trifolium repens White Clover 1 1 1

Fabaceae Vicia sativa Common Vetch 1 1 1

Geraniaceae Erodium botrys Long Storksbill 1 1 1

Papaveraceae Fumaria capreolata Whiteflower Fumitory 1 1 1 1 2

Papaveraceae Fumaria muralis Wall Fumitory 1 1 1

Poaceae Aira cupaniana Silvery Hair Grass 1 1 1

Poaceae Briza maxima Blowfly Grass 1 1 1 1 2

Poaceae Briza minor Shivery Grass 1 1 1

Poaceae Hordeum leporinum Barley Grass 1 1 1

Poaceae Poa annua Winter Grass 1 1 1 1 2

Mediterranean Hair Poaceae Rostraria cristata 1 1 1 Grass Primulaceae Lysimachia arvensis Pimpernel 1 1 1

Blackberry Solanaceae Solanum nigrum 1 1 1 1 2 Nightshade

Eastern Reserves Strategic Plan page 64

Appendix 2 Fauna Inventory

“Risk” categories Status categories: Population categories: X = listed as “at risk” of local extinction due to CS 1 = listed under legislation R = Resident sensitivity to urbanisation CS2 = listed as Priority by DPaW. Mb. = Regular breeding migrant Mnb = Regular non-breeding migrant Vis = Visitor Vag = Vagrant E = locally extinct

Table 57 Fauna Inventory George Ron Tom Risk Family Scientific Name Common Name Status Population Welby Carroll Firth category Park Reserve Park Chalinolobus gouldii Gould’s Wattled Bat X R 1 Vespertilionidae Mammals Nyctophilus geoffroyi Lesser Long-eared Bat ?R 1 (vesper bats) Vespedalus regulus Southern Forest Bat X R 1 Pygopodidae Lialis burtonis Burton’s Legless Lizard X R 1 (legless lizards) Reptiles Scincidae Bobtail R 1 (skink lizards) Tiliqua rugosa rugosa Campephagidae Coracina novaehollandiae Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike R 1 (cuckoo-shrikes) Corvidae (ravens and Corvus coronoides Australian Raven R 1 1 1 crows) Artamidae Gymnorhina tibicen Australian Magpie R 1 1 1 (woodswallows) Hirundinidae Hirundo ariel Fairy Martin Vag 1 (swallows) Hirundo nigricans Tree Martin X ?R 1 Anthochaera carunculata Red Wattlebird R 1 1 1 Anthochaera lunulata Western Wattlebird X R 1 Singing Honeyeater R 1 1 1 Birds Meliphagidae Lichenostomus virescens (honeyeaters) Lichmera indistincta Brown Honeyeater X R 1 1 1 Phylidonyris nigra White-cheeked Honeyeater R 1 1 1 Phylidonyris novaehollandiae New Holland Honeyeater X R 1 1 1 Pardalotidae Pardalotus striatus Striated Pardalote X R 1 (pardalotes) Psittacidae Purpureicephalus spurius Red-capped Parrot X ?R 1 1 (lorikeets and parrots) Rhipiduridae Rhipidura leucophrys Willie Wagtail R 1 1 1 (fantails, willie wagtail) Timaliidae (white- Zosterops lateralis Silvereye R 1 eyes)

Table 58 Feral Animal Inventory

George Ron Tom Scientific Name Common Name Population Welby Carroll Firth Park Reserve Park Streptopelia chinensis Spotted Turtle-Dove R 1 Birds Trichoglossus haematodus Rainbow Lorikeet R 1 Mus musculus House Mouse R + + + Rattus norvegicus Brown Rat R + + + Mammals Rattus rattus Black Rat R + + + Felis catus Feral Cat R + + + 1 = confirmed in 2014, + = assumed present

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Appendix 3 Weed Distributions

Figure 30: Very High Impact Weeds (excluding grasses) Figure 34: High Impact Annual Clumping Grasses

Figure 31: High Impact Weeds (shrubs and trees) Figure 35: High Impact Perennial Running Grasses

Figure 32: High Impact Weeds (geophytes) Figure 36: Medium Impact Perennial Weeds

Figure 33: Very High Impact Perennial Clumping Grasses Figure 37: Low Impact Annual Weeds

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