DOCSLIB.ORG

Annual Report 2008-2009 Annexure 3

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Annual Report 2008-2009 Annexure 3 Annual Report 2008-2009 Woollahra Municipal Council Annexure 3 State of the Environment Report Woollahra State of the Environment Report 2008/2009 Version date: 30 November 2009 This report has been compiled by Justin Shupe, Sustainability Projects Officer, Woollahra Municipal Council. Council staff, Government agencies and members of the community are acknowledged for their invaluable contributions of information and assistance. Woollahra apologises for any errors or exclusions and welcomes comments for future State of the Environment Reports undertaken. The environmental indicator data included within in this report contains the most up-to-date result. Council is currently awaiting some data from external agencies and will update the report as soon as this information becomes available. Woollahra Municipal council 536 New South Head Road Double Bay NSW 2028 November 2009 Woollahra State of the Environment Report 2008/2009 Table of Contents 1. Introduction ...............................................................................................................................................3 1.1 What is state of the environment reporting?..........................................................................3 1.2 A guide to reading Woollahra’s State of the Environment....................................................4 2. Land and coastline ....................................................................................................................................5 2.1 State of the Land and Coastline.............................................................................................6 2.2 Pressures impacting on the Land and Coastline ..................................................................12 2.3 Responding to Land and Coastline Pressures......................................................................14 2.4 Future actions ......................................................................................................................19 3. Water........................................................................................................................................................20 3.1 State of water.......................................................................................................................20 3.2 Pressures impacting on water ..............................................................................................25 3.3 Responding to water pressures ............................................................................................25 3.4 Future actions ......................................................................................................................29 4. Biodiversity ..............................................................................................................................................30 4.1 State of biodiversity.............................................................................................................30 4.2 Pressures impacting biodiversity.........................................................................................38 4.3 Responding to biodiversity..................................................................................................39 4.4 Future actions ......................................................................................................................41 5. Air.............................................................................................................................................................42 5.1 State of air............................................................................................................................42 5.2 Pressures on the air..............................................................................................................47 5.3 Responding to air pressures.................................................................................................47 5.4 Future actions ......................................................................................................................53 6. Noise .........................................................................................................................................................54 6.1 State of noise .......................................................................................................................54 6.2 Pressures of noise ................................................................................................................55 6.3 Responding of noise pressures ............................................................................................55 6.4 Future actions ......................................................................................................................55 7. Waste ........................................................................................................................................................57 7.1 State of waste.......................................................................................................................57 7.2 Pressures on waste...............................................................................................................58 7.3 Responding to waste pressures............................................................................................58 7.4 Future actions ......................................................................................................................60 8. Heritage....................................................................................................................................................61 8.1 State of heritage...................................................................................................................61 8.2 Pressures on heritage ...........................................................................................................62 8.3 Responding to heritage pressures ........................................................................................63 8.4 Future actions ......................................................................................................................64 9. Sustainable Woollahra............................................................................................................................66 9.1 Community values...............................................................................................................66 9.2 Funding Sustainability.........................................................................................................66 9.3 Environmental Education ....................................................................................................68 9.4 Sustainable schools..............................................................................................................70 9.5 Future actions ......................................................................................................................74 10. References ................................................................................................................................................75 1 Woollahra State of the Environment Report 2008/2009 11. Appendix A - Some activities that may cause contamination..............................................................78 12. Appendix B - Flora and fauna lists ........................................................................................................79 2 Woollahra State of the Environment Report 2008/2009 1. Introduction 1.1 What is state of the environment reporting? State of the Environment (SoE) reporting is a statutory requirement under the Local Government Act 1993 (LG Act). Every council in New South Wales (NSW) is required to prepare a SoE report as a part of its annual reporting obligations. The SoE report provides information on the activities undertaken by council, State Authorities and the community to preserve and enhance the environment during the twelve month reporting period. The Local Government Act 1993 requires that a comprehensive SoE report is to be prepared the year following a full council election, with a supplementary report prepared for the years between. The 2008/2009 SoE report is a comprehensive report. Council’s last comprehensive SoE report was prepared for the 2003/2004 reporting period. Council’s next comprehensive report will be prepared in 2013 for the 2012/2013 reporting period. The Local Government (General) Regulation 1999 requires that comprehensive SoE reports are to: • include relevant background information • apply relevant environmental indicators • report on all major environmental impacts and related activities, and • identify data gaps and actions required to obtain that information. The response actions included in the past three supplementary reports have been incorporated into the 2008/2009 comprehensive report for each environmental sector. SoE reporting enables councils to report on the state of the environment in their local area and the progress of environmental activities undertaken during the reporting period. The report contains a number of outcomes, some of which are quantifiable and may be attributed to council’s activities over the reporting period. A summary of the outcomes for the 2008/2009 reporting period is presented in section 1.3 of this report. The outcomes are provided in greater detail in each chapter. Woollahra council is one of the many stakeholders involved in the management
Load more

Recommended publications
  • December 8-10Am Fancy, and My Camera Thank Goodness Because the Subsequent Years Produced None Or Hardly Any Orchids
    W: https://austplants.com.au/Southern-Tablelands E: [email protected] ACN 002 680 408 N E W S L E T T E R D E C E M B E R 2020 ROTARY MARKETS PLANT SALE dentata; occasional specimens of Dampiera stricta also provided blue colour. This was held a few weeks back and was our first plant sale in just over The tall sedge, Lepidosperma neesii was widespread and very 12 months. It also turned out to be our most lucrative sale with the profit healthy looking. We saw one burnt specimen of Melaleuca making its way into four figures. From the moment we had the ‘tent’ in hypericifolia which can display red ‘bottlebrush’ flowers; no flowers place we were besieged by buyers who seemed to know what they on this specimen - just some leaves and some seed pods to wanted. In the Riversdale sale last year, a number of buyers had been identify it. attracted by the display of the large ‘billy buttons - Pycnosorus The new growth did not make some plant identifications easier. globosus. While we had a few of those at the recent sale, they did not We are generally used to identifying species when they are mature attract much attention. It is likely of course that the success of the sale specimens. With re-growth, floral parts are often missing thus is at least partly related to the current situation in society; there is some leaving a vital clue out of the picture. belief that people want to get out and do things once again.
    [Show full text]
  • The Native Vegetation of the Nattai and Bargo Reserves
    The Native Vegetation of the Nattai and Bargo Reserves Project funded under the Central Directorate Parks and Wildlife Division Biodiversity Data Priorities Program Conservation Assessment and Data Unit Conservation Programs and Planning Branch, Metropolitan Environmental Protection and Regulation Division Department of Environment and Conservation ACKNOWLEDGMENTS CADU (Central) Manager Special thanks to: Julie Ravallion Nattai NP Area staff for providing general assistance as well as their knowledge of the CADU (Central) Bioregional Data Group area, especially: Raf Pedroza and Adrian Coordinator Johnstone. Daniel Connolly Citation CADU (Central) Flora Project Officer DEC (2004) The Native Vegetation of the Nattai Nathan Kearnes and Bargo Reserves. Unpublished Report. Department of Environment and Conservation, CADU (Central) GIS, Data Management and Hurstville. Database Coordinator This report was funded by the Central Peter Ewin Directorate Parks and Wildlife Division, Biodiversity Survey Priorities Program. Logistics and Survey Planning All photographs are held by DEC. To obtain a Nathan Kearnes copy please contact the Bioregional Data Group Coordinator, DEC Hurstville Field Surveyors David Thomas Cover Photos Teresa James Nathan Kearnes Feature Photo (Daniel Connolly) Daniel Connolly White-striped Freetail-bat (Michael Todd), Rock Peter Ewin Plate-Heath Mallee (DEC) Black Crevice-skink (David O’Connor) Aerial Photo Interpretation Tall Moist Blue Gum Forest (DEC) Ian Roberts (Nattai and Bargo, this report; Rainforest (DEC) Woronora, 2003; Western Sydney, 1999) Short-beaked Echidna (D. O’Connor) Bob Wilson (Warragamba, 2003) Grey Gum (Daniel Connolly) Pintech (Pty Ltd) Red-crowned Toadlet (Dave Hunter) Data Analysis ISBN 07313 6851 7 Nathan Kearnes Daniel Connolly Report Writing and Map Production Nathan Kearnes Daniel Connolly EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This report describes the distribution and composition of the native vegetation within and immediately surrounding Nattai National Park, Nattai State Conservation Area and Bargo State Conservation Area.
    [Show full text]
  • Wells Crossing to Iluka Road
    Upgrading the Pacific Highway Warrell Creek to Urunga Environmental assessment Volume 2 – Working paper 1 Flora and fauna January 2010 Working paper 1 –Flora and fauna assessment 7. References Adam, P. 1995, Urbanisation and Transport. Pp. 55 - 75 in Conserving Biodiversity: Threats and Solutions, Ed. Bradstock, R. A., Auld, T. D., Keith, D. A., Kingsford, R. T., Lunney, D. & Siversten, D. P. Surrey Beatty and Sons & NPWS, Chipping Norton. Allison, F. R. & Hoye, G. A. 1995, Eastern Little Freetail Bat. In The Mammals of Australia (ed. by Strahan, R.). Australian Museum/ Reed Publications, Sydney. Anderson, J. R. 1993, ‘State of the Rivers’ Project – Report 2. Implementation Manual, A Report to Department of Primary Industries, Queensland. Andrews, A. 1990, Fragmentation of habitat by roads and utility corridors: a review in Aust. Zool. 26, pp 130 - 141. ANPC (2004). Guidelines for the Translocation of Threatened Plants in Australia. 2nd Edition. Australian Network for Plant Conservation. ANSWW 2007. Atlas of NSW Wildlife: Department of Environment and Conservation (NPWS). ANZECC/ARMCANZ (2000), ‘Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water Quality’. Australian and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council and Agriculture and Resource Management Council of Australia and New Zealand. Ausroads (2001). Road Runoff and Drainage: Environmental Impacts and Management Options. Auld, B.A. & Medd, R.W. 1987, Weeds - an illustrated botanical guide to the weeds of Australia, Inkata Press: Sydney. Bali, R. (2005). Discussion Paper – Compensating for Edge Effects. Unpublished report prepared for the Roads and Traffic Authority, Sydney. Benwell, A. S. (2003). Yelgun to Chinderah Highway Upgrade Three Year Monitoring Report on Translocations of Threatened and Rare Rainforest Plant Species.
    [Show full text]
  • Native Plants of Sydney Harbour National Park: Historical Records and Species Lists, and Their Value for Conservation Monitoring
    Native plants of Sydney Harbour National Park: historical records and species lists, and their value for conservation monitoring Doug Benson National Herbarium of New South Wales, Royal Botanic Gardens, Mrs Macquaries Rd, Sydney 2000 AUSTRALIA [email protected] Abstract: Sydney Harbour National Park (lat 33° 53’S; long 151° 13’E), protects significant vegetation on the harbour foreshores close to Sydney City CBD; its floristic abundance and landscape beauty has been acknowledged since the writings of the First Fleet in 1788. Surprisingly, although historical plant collections were made as early as1802, and localised surveys have listed species for parts of the Park since the 1960s, a detailed survey of the flora of whole Park is still needed. This paper provides the first definitive list of the c.400 native flora species for Sydney Harbour National Park (total area 390 ha) showing occurrence on the seven terrestrial sub-regions or precincts (North Head, South Head, Dobroyd Head, Middle Head, Chowder Head, Bradleys Head and Nielsen Park). The list is based on historical species lists, records from the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage (formerly Dept of Environment, Climate Change and Water) Atlas, National Herbarium of New South Wales specimen details, and some additional fieldwork. 131 species have only been recorded from a single precinct site and many are not substantiated with a recent herbarium specimen (though there are historical specimens from the general area for many). Species reported in the sources but for which no current or historic specimen exists are listed separately as being of questionable/non-local status.
    [Show full text]
  • Native Plant Flowering Timetable
    Native Plant Flowering Timetable by Ian Olsen From observations made from Wentworth Falls to Newnes Plateau from 2009 to 2017 Botanical Name Common Name Newnes Retains Flowering & Fruit & both Species Seeds J F M A M J J A S O N D Acacia asparagoides Acacia dealbata Silver Wattle Acacia decurrens Black Wattle Acacia dorothea Dorothy's Wattle Newnes Acacia echinula Hedgehog Wattle Newnes Acacia elata Mountain Cedar Wattle Acacia falciformis Broad-leaved Hickory Acacia floribunda White Sally Acacia hamiltoniana Hamilton's Wattle Newnes Acacia kybeanensis Kybean Wattle Newnes Acacia linifolia White Wattle Acacia longifolia Acacia mearnsii Black Wattle Acacia melanoxylon Blackwood Acacia myrtifolia Red-stemmed Wattle Newnes Acacia obtusifolia Acacia ptychoclada Acacia rubida Red-stemmed Wattle Acacia suaveolens Sweet Wattle Acacia terminalis Sunshine Wattle Acacia ulicifolia Prickly Moses Acrotriche aggregata Red Cluster Heath Actinotus forsythii Pink Flannel Flower Newnes Actinotus helianthi Flannel Flower Alania endlicheri Almaleea incurvata Amperea xiphoclada Astrotricha longifolia Atherosperma moschatum Black Sassafras Atkinsonia ligustrina Baeckea kandos Newnes Baeckea linifolia Weeping Baeckea Baeckea utilis Mountain Baeckea Banksia collina Newnes All months Banksia cunninghamii All months Banksia ericifolia Heath-leaved Banksia All months Banksia marginata Silver Banksia All months Banksia penicillata Newnes All months Banksia serrata Old-man Banksia All months Banksia spinulosa Hairpin Banksia All months Bauera rubioides River Rose
    [Show full text]
  • Keith Et Al.Indd
    Spatial Analysis of Risks Posed by Root Rot Pathogen, Phytophthora cinnamomi: Implications for Disease Management DAVID A. KEITH1,2, KEITH L. MCDOUGALL1,3, CHRISTOPHER C. SIMPSON1 AND JILLIAN L. WALSH1 1 NSW Offi ce of Environment & Heritage, PO Box 1967, Hurstville NSW 2220. 2 Australian Wetlands and Rivers Centre, University of New South Wales, Sydney NSW 2052. 3 Department of Environmental Management & Ecology, La Trobe University, PO Box 821, Wodonga, Victoria 3689. Published on 3 September 2012 at http://escholarship.library.usyd.edu.au/journals/index.php/LIN Keith, D.A., McDougall, K.L., Simpson, C.C. and Walsh, J.L. (2012). Spatial analysis of risks posed by root rot pathogen, Phytophthora cinnamomi: implications for disease management. Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales 134, B147-B179. Phytophthora cinnamomi, a soil-borne pathogen that infects the roots of plants, is listed as a Key Threatening Process under Commonwealth and NSW state biodiversity legislation due to its deleterious effects on native fl ora. In warm temperate eastern Australia, the disease may cause insidious declines in plant species that have slow rates of population turnover, and thereby threaten their long term persistence. Phytophthora cinnamomi has been known to occur in Royal National Park since the 1970s and systematic surveys for the pathogen were carried out a decade ago. Development of effective management strategies to mitigate the impacts of the disease requires information on the spatial distribution of risks posed by the disease. In this study, we use limited disease survey data to identify areas that are most at risk. We propose and apply a simple risk model in which risks of disease impact are proportional to the product of habitat suitability for the pathogen and abundance of susceptible biota.
    [Show full text]
  • Vegetation of the Holsworthy Military Area
    893 Vegetation of the Holsworthy Military Area Kristine French, Belinda Pellow and Meredith Henderson French, K., Pellow, B. and Henderson, M1. (Janet Cosh Herbarium, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522. 1Current address — Biodiversity Survey and Research Division, NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, PO Box 1967, Hurstville, NSW 2220. Address for correspondence: Kristine French, Dept of Biological Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522. email: [email protected]) Vegetation of the Holsworthy Military Area. Cunninghamia 6(4): 893–940 Vegetation in the Holsworthy Military Area located 35 km south-west of Sydney (33°59'S 150°57'E) in the Campbelltown and Liverpool local government areas was surveyed and mapped. The data were analysed using multivariate techniques to identify significantly different floristic groups that identified distinct communities. Eight vegetation communities were identified, four on infertile sandstones and four on more fertile shales and alluviums. On more fertile soils, Melaleuca Thickets, Plateau Forest on Shale, Shale/Sandstone Transition Forests and Riparian Scrub were distinguished. On infertile soils, Gully Forest, Sandstone Woodland, Woodland/Heath Complex and Sedgelands were distinguished. We identified sets of species that characterise each community either because they are unique or because they contribute significantly to the separation of the vegetation community from other similar communities. The Holsworthy Military Area contains relatively undisturbed vegetation with low weed invasion. It is a good representation of continuous vegetation that occurs on the transition between the Woronora Plateau and the Cumberland Plain. The Plateau Forest on Shale is considered to be Cumberland Plains Woodland and together with the Shale/Sandstone Transition Forest, are endangered ecological communities under the NSW Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995.
    [Show full text]
  • The Native Vegetation of the Cumberland Plain, Western Sydney: Systematic Classification and Field Identification of Communities
    Tozer, Native vegetation of the Cumberland Plain 1 The native vegetation of the Cumberland Plain, western Sydney: systematic classification and field identification of communities Mark Tozer NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, PO Box 1967 Hurstville 2220, AUSTRALIA phone: (02) 9585 6496, fax.: (02) 9585 6606, e-mail: [email protected] Abstract: Twenty-two vascular plant communities occurring on, and adjacent to the Cumberland Plain and Hornsby Plateau, are defined using a multi-variate analysis of quantitative field survey data. Communities are described using structural features, habitat characteristics and diagnostic species. Diagnostic species are identified using a statistical fidelity measure. The pre–European spatial distribution of communities is estimated using a decision tree approach to derive relationships between community distribution and geological, climatic and topographical variables. Contemporary vegetation cover is estimated from 1:16 000 scale aerial photography (1997/98) and sorted into six categories based on cover of Eucalyptus species. These categories are only approximately related to vegetation condition: high Eucalyptus cover classes are most likely to contain high levels of floristic diversity, but areas with scattered cover or no cover at all may have either high or low diversity. Map accuracy is assessed using independent field samples and is primarily limited by the accuracy of 1:100 000 geological maps. Patterns in overstorey composition were mapped at 1:16 000 scale but were less useful in delineating community boundaries than was hoped because few species are confined to a single community. The extent to which observer bias may influence estimates of the present extent of remnant vegetation is investigated by comparing the interpretations of two observers for a subset of the study area.
    [Show full text]
  • Some Fire Responses of Bushland Plants After the January 1994
    Fire responses of bushland plants after the January 1994 wildfires in northern Sydney P.J.Kubiak P.O. Box 439, Ryde, NSW 1680 AUSTRALIA Abstract: In early January 1994 wildfires burned areas of bushland in northern Sydney (lat 33° 45’ S, long 151° 05’ E) in coastal south-eastern Australia. This paper reports observations of the fire responses for 828 species of bushland plants – 576 native species and 252 exotic species in the Lane Cove River and Narrabeen Lagoon catchment areas. Information recorded includes whether a species was killed by fire or resprouted post-fire, when seedlings were first observed following fire, and the times of first flowering and first fruiting (or spore production) after the fires. The estimated peaks of post-fire flowering or fruiting for a few species are given. It was not practicable to record data in all categories for all of the 828 species due to the logistical challenges involved in recording data across a large area of bushland, over a number of years. The data presented add to the growing body of knowledge on plant fire responses and will assist the management and conservation of bushland in the study areas, as well as the broader Sydney region. Cunninghamia (2009) 11(1): 131–165 Introduction Following a fire, the time taken by plants to flower after germination from seed, is known as the ‘primary juvenile Fire plays an important role in the shaping of Australia’s period’. The time required for resprouting plants to flower terrestrial ecosystems and the work of many researchers has following a fire is called the ‘secondary juvenile period’ (Gill created a rich literature about fire ecology in Australia (e.g.
    [Show full text]
  • Missing Jigsaw Pieces Cooks River Valley
    MISSING JIGSAW PIECES THE BUSHPLANTS of THE COOKS RIVER VALLEY Doug Benson Danie Ondinea Virginia Bear HIS book is about plants, landscapes, Thistory and people. Through photographs, original drawings and a lively text, we hope to present a broader perspective of the natural landscape of the Cooks River Valley. Despite the degradation of the last 200 years the Valley still contains much that is natural and of intrinsic interest and value (our jigsaw pieces).These features are vulnerable and need protection. Councillors, council staff, landscapers, bush regenerators and local people all have a part to play. Missing Jigsaw Pieces describes the main plant communities and illustrates at least sixty of the native plant species. A full list of about 600 species provides information for restoring some of these communities. Why not take this book with you and explore the Valley for yourself! Cover: Sydney Long By Tranquil Waters 1894, oil on canvas, 111.1 x 183.7cm The Art Gallery of New South Wales Missing Jigsaw Pieces The Bushplants of the Cooks River Valley Doug Benson Danie Ondinea Virginia Bear ROYAL BOTANIC GARDENS SYDNEY with assistance from the Cooks River Foreshores Working Group This book is dedicated to Professor George Seddon; his books - integrating botany, geology, history, literature and landscape - and his words on landscape and gardens have provided inspiration and direction for us. Acknowledgements The authors would like to thank the Cooks River Foreshores Working Group and particularly Steve Freeth, Stefanie Pillora (Marrickville Council), Jan Orton (Strathfield Council) and Bart Foley (Dept of Land & Water Conservation) for their comments on the manuscript.
    [Show full text]
  • The Native Vegetation of Yengo and Parr Reserves and Surrounds
    The Native Vegetation of Yengo and Parr Reserves and Surrounds THE NATIVE VEGETATION OF YENGO AND PARR RESERVES AND SURROUNDS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS For enquiries regarding this report please contact This project was funded by the Central Branch, the Manager, Information and Assessment Parks and Wildlife Group, Biodiversity Survey Section, Metropolitan Branch, Environment Priorities Program Protection and Regulation Group, Department of Environment and Climate Change, Hurstville. This report should be referenced as follows: DECC (2008) The Native Vegetation of Yengo Yengo and Parr Reserves and Surrounds. Department of Environment and Climate Change NSW, Hurstville. Map data is supplied by the Department of Environment and Climate Change. Maps are copyright Department of Environment and Climate Change NSW. They are not guaranteed to be free from error or omission. The Department of Environment and Climate Change and its employees disclaim liability for any act done on the information in the map and any consequences of such acts or omissions. Photographs are copyright Department of Environment and Climate Change or the individual photographer. Thankyou to: The numerous landowners neighbouring the park who provided access through their properties and local knowledge, including John Tullock, Rod Wallace, Jack Broadbent, Jim Donavan, Ross Darby, Merv Payne, P. Trenchev, June McQueen, Dale Segut, Ryan and Leanne Lambert, Tony Harvey, Lawson Stein, Jan Scott and Noeline Smith. Published by: Department of Environment and Climate Change 43 Bridge St, Hurstville NSW 2220 PO Box 1967, Hurstville NSW 1482 Phone (02) 995 5000 (switchboard) www.environment.nsw.gov.au The Department of Environment and Climate Change is pleased to allow this material to be reproduced in whole or in part, provided the meaning is unchanged and its source, publisher and authorship are acknowledged.
    [Show full text]
  • Wetland Biodiversity in Coastal New South Wales: the Wallis Lake Catchment As a Case Study
    View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by Hochschulschriftenserver - Universität Frankfurt am Main Wetland biodiversity in coastal New South Wales: the Wallis Lake catchment as a case study S.J. Griffith1 and R. Wilson2 1Botany – School of Environmental and Rural Science, University of New England, Armidale, NSW 2351, AUSTRALIA, 23 Seddon Place, Flynn, ACT 2615, AUSTRALIA Abstract: The floristic composition and environmental relations of wetland vegetation in the Wallis Lake catchment (32˚ 09’S; 152˚ 20’E), area 1292 km2, on the lower North Coast of NSW are described. The catchment supports wetlands listed as Endangered Ecological Communities (NSW Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995) and plant species of high conservation value. A methodology of air photo interpretation, site-based sampling (114 quadrats) and landscape differentiation was developed. A total of 393 vascular plant taxa were recorded (including 10% exotics). Wetland vegetation formations and subformations including mangrove forest, swamp sclerophyll forest, wet heathland, chenopod shrubland, tussock grassland, sedgeland and rushland are described using numerical classification. 31 plant species of national or regional conservation significance are identified. Four Endangered Ecological Communities are discussed – Coastal Saltmarsh, Swamp Oak Floodplain Forest, Swamp Sclerophyll Forest on Coastal Floodplains, and Freshwater Wetlands on Coastal Floodplains. A key recommendation is the completion of reliable wetland vegetation and soil landscape mapping for all land tenures in the catchment – to assess wetland condition and conservation significance, and representation in formal conservation reserves, thereby directing future priorities for the protection of wetland biodiversity on both public and private lands. The methodology developed can be applied to the survey and conservation of wetland biodiversity in other parts of coastal NSW.
    [Show full text]