Castlereagh Biodiversity and Natural Heritage Conservation Master Plan February 2011 TCM SERVICES Copyright text © Penrith Lakes Development Corporation Pty Ltd 2011. Copyright illustrations by C. Lawrie Penrith Lakes Development Corporation Pty Ltd 2011. Copyright photographs remains with the contributors. Disclaimer The information contained in this document remains confidential as between Total Catchment Management Services (the Consultant) and Penrith Lakes Development Corporation (PLDC) (the Client). It has been prepared at the specific request of PLDC for internal design purposes only, acknowledging that there is no liability whatsoever arising from the reliance or use of information or advice. Notwithstanding the above, to the maximum extent permitted by law, the Consultant will not be liable to the Client or any other person (whether under the law of contract, tort, statute or otherwise) for any loss, claim, demand, cost, expense or damage arising in any way out of or in connection with, or as a result of reliance by any person on the information contained in this document (or due to any inaccuracy, error or omission in such information); or any other written or oral communication in respect of the historical or intended business dealings between the Consultant and the Client. Also notwithstanding all of the above, the Consultant’s maximum liability to the Client is limited to the aggregate amount of fees payable for services under the Terms and Conditions between the Consultant and the Client. Any information or advice provided in this document is provided having regard to the prevailing environmental conditions at the time of giving that information or advice. The relevance and accuracy of that information or advice may be materially affected by a change in the environmental conditions after the date that information or advice was provided. The Consultant takes no responsibility and incurs no liability for any losses arising from any person’s reliance on that information or advice where there has been a material change in environmental conditions from the time of provision of that information or advice. 2 Preface The Castlereagh Natural Heritage and Biodiversity Master Plan provides short and longer term directions for rehabilitating and managing the 1935 ha open cut sand and gravel extraction site located just north of Penrith - the Penrith Lakes Scheme. Consistent with its legal requirements and obligations, the Penrith Lakes Development Corporation (PLDC) will draw upon the Master Plan and its underpinning data bases to plan and deliver cost-effective and sustainable rehabili- tation during its remaining years on-site. The Master Plan draws upon science and best practice as well as expert and local knowledge. It integrates these and applies Ecologically Sustainable Development and Total Catchment Management principles to provide detailed policy, and strategic and practical directions for developing stable soils with resilient long term vegetative cover. Relevant Cumberland Plain Endangered Ecological Communities to be re-established on the newly created landforms are also identified along with highly detailed information on plant species, birds and animals. The most appropriate of these hardy trees, shrubs, grasses and other herbs when established will act to improve local biodiversity and deliver wider sustainability benefits across the site and beyond. It is PLDC’s vision that their initial plantings will continue to be enhanced by those who follow. Continuing appropriate management at Castlereagh will engender additional resilience across the site benefiting biodiversity and reducing medium and long term maintenance needs. The Master Plan acknowledges the significant challenges in seeking to provide a foundation for resilient ecosystems: vegetative cover appropriate to end-uses together with suitable habitat for local fauna and migratory birds attracted to lake systems. Key outcomes and benchmarks are identified and have been assessed as reasonably achievable. Adaptive development and monitoring of the evolving lakes and landforms will be required and conservation and enhancment of the remnant riverbank and the escarpment native vegetation. All are outlined within the Master Plan. These approaches will not only contribute to success at Castlereagh but could also assist with rehabilitation planning and practice for local and regional native flora and fauna conservation. The Master Plan has evolved from the foundational work by Dr Jocelyn Powell that was originally outlined in the report “Ecological Considerations for Plant Communities and Land Rehabilitation for the Penrith Lakes Scheme” (TCM Services 2005). Since that time, much of the high quality research has resulted in the development of data bases and many of the reports and draft plans and strategies that now underpin, or are summarily embodied within, the majority of chapters within the Master Plan. Total Catchment Management Services has also been competently assisted with additional research and reporting by Drs Howard Wildman, Peter Mitchell and Jane Aiken and also by Brian Walters, Graeme Phipps, Debra Coulson and Peter Milthorpe. Mrs Cherry Lawrie painted the amazing water colours of the native plants and animals and the scenes at Castlereagh which illustrate the Master Plan. These in turn have been creatively and ably presented within the document’s layout and design by Warwick Jacobson. The high standard of professional work of each of these contributors is acknowledged and appreciated. For my own part, I have been honoured to have worked alongside, led and co-ordinated such an outstanding research, writing and production team while making some contributions along the way. Warranting prime acknowledgement at PLDC is Dani Drewry, who has managed and directed most of the work and whose vision and commitment to the conservation of the cultural and natural heritage at Castlereagh is unparalleled. Her support in directing the development of the Master Plan to such a substantial and important work is particularly acknowledged. Other PLDC staff who have been involved over the years and who are acknowledged are Amanda Walmsley, Justin Russell (previously of Muru Mittigar), Matthew Zollinger and Peter Struck. Sandy Booth Director and Principal Total Catchment Management Services PART 1 Castlereagh Biodiversity & Natural Heritage Conservation Master Plan 3 Contents Part 1—Castlereagh Biodiversity and Natural Heritage Conservation Master Plan 9 1. Introduction 10 1.1 Development at Castlereagh 10 1.2 Deed and Development Applications 10 1.3 Strategic Framework 11 1.4 Broad-based Principles 16 2. Structure Plan 18 2.1 Vision 18 2.2 Structure Plan 18 2.3 Directions from Government 20 3. Role of the Master Plan 22 3.1 Cumberland Plain vegetation – relevant communities 23 3.2 Key Outcomes 24 3.3 Key Challenges 24 3.4 Benchmarks for Castlereagh 26 3.5 Linking vegetation with proposed end-uses 28 3.6 Achieving the Benchmarks 41 Part 2—Establishing effectively functioning and sustainable soils 45 4 Geology, soils and suitability for vegetation 46 4.1 Former soils 46 4.2 Current situation 48 4.3 Recent studies of soil conditions 49 4.4 Potential for soil salinity and sodicity 51 5 Rehabilitating the Soils 54 5.1 Government requirements 54 5.2 Rehabilitating the soils 55 5.3 Practical aspects 58 5.4 Observations on soil development 63 Part 3—Planning the conservation and re-establishment of Cumberland Plain vegetation 71 6 Planning and the theoretical base 72 6.1 Remnant native vegetation and former communities 72 6.2 Aims of conservation and rehabilitation of the vegetation cover 72 6.3 Principles relating to plants and animals 73 6.4 Government requirements 74 6.5 Selection of plant species (theoretical base) 77 6.6 Structure and floristics in relation to end uses 85 7 Development of plant cover on wetlands 86 7.1 Planning for lakes 86 7.2 Natural wetland vegetation communities 87 7.3 Current observations on wetlands at Castlereagh 90 7.4 Developing initial vegetation cover for wetland areas 92 7.5 Developing longer term resilience and biodiversity on wetlands 93 7.6 Community intergrades from wetland to dry land 94 7.7 Planning management of wetlands 94 8 Development of plant cover on dryland landforms 95 8.1 Planning and developing initial dryland vegetation cover 95 8.2 Triggers for natural regeneration 101 8.3 Developing longer term resilience and biodiversity 103 8.4 Value of colonisers as ‘initial plantings’ for wildlife value and biodiversity conservation 104 4 Castlereagh Biodiversity and Natural Heritage Conservation Master Plan February 2011 8.5 Longevity and life-cycle of colonising species 105 8.6 Planting densities for new landforms 106 9 Repairing and enhancing the remnant vegetation 108 9.1 Nepean River riverbank 108 9.2 Other floodplain sites 9.3 Cranebrook Escarpment Reserve 10 Practical aspects 114 10.1 Assisted regeneration 114 10.2 Revegetation 115 10.3 Re-establishing significant and iconic species 119 Part 4—Developing Resources for Fauna 121 11 Invertebrates 122 11.1 Wetland environments 122 11.2 Wetland Habitats 122 11.3 Food webs of wetland species 124 11.4 An initial survey at Castlereagh 130 11.5 Management issues for wetland environments 132 11.6 Terrestrial environments 132 11.7 Terrestrial Habitats 134 11.8 Food webs and the role of terrestrial invertebrates 136 11.9 Predators 139 11.10 Management issues for terrestrial environments 141 11.11 An endangered species - Cumberland Land Snail 141 12 Habitats and resources for fish