Flora survey for Hamersley Drive recreation - Environmental ...

FRNP Improvement Project: Culham Inlet to Hamersley Inlet GF Craig– July 2010
Declared Rare and Priority flora
Field surveys carried out in 2009 identified six Declared Rare flora (DRF) - Adenanthos
ellipticus, Eucalyptus burdettiana, Eucalyptus coronata, Kunzea similis subsp. similis,
Stylidium galioides and Verticordia pityrhops - growing on the wave-cut bench on the south
side of East Mt Barren, in the proposed area of disturbance.
Both 2009 and 2010 surveys identified the Priority Two species - Calothamnus
macrocarpus, Gonocarpus hispidus, Hibbertia papillata and Leptospermum confertum occur
between Mylies Creek and Culham Inlet. The Priority Three Microcorys longiflora grows on
West Beach road.
Seven Priority Four species, Acacia argutifolia, Anthocercis fasciculata, Dampiera deltoidea,
Jacksonia compressa, Leucopogon compactus, Melaleuca papillosa and Pimelea
physodes are spread across the survey area. Another four Priority Four’s, Lechenaultia
superba, Hakea hookeriana, Corybas limpidus and Pleurosphascum occidentalis have been
collected near Hamersley Drive or spur roads in the past, but were not found in the
proposed impact area during this survey. The latter two need flowers or fruiting bodies
respectively, to be identified.
In addition, two Significant species, Lepidosperma sp. Fitzgerald River (AS George 9935),
Lepidosperma sp. GFC8831 were found.
Since the first survey (Craig and Hickman 2009), Acacia moirii subsp. dasycarpa and
Lissanthe pleurandroides have been deleted from the Priority flora list.
Threatened Ecological Communities
No listed Threatened or Priority Ecological Communities were found during the field survey,
although a community of ecological significance is located on the wave-cut bench that
extends south of East Mt Barren. These micro-wetlands are sedge-dominated communities
that are fed by freshwater from further upslope. They occur within the Banksia speciosa
vegetation unit and were too subtle to map individually.
Recommendations
The wave-cut bench on the seaward side of East Mt Barren is the one of the most
botanically significant areas in the Fitzgerald River National Park and the south coast. The
following recommendations were made following the 2009 survey of Stage 1:
• keep road verges and spur drains to the absolute minimum width/size allowed by
road design;
• consult an expert in freshwater habitats to assess the ecological value of the
micro-wetlands;
• ensure that sub-surface drainage to and from the micro-wetlands is not impeded
by the road base;
• have an on-site inspection of the wave-cut bench with biologists and surveyor/
road engineer present;
• design a high quality walk trail along the wave-cut bench, linking the carparks at
the east and west ends of East Mt Barren;
• weed invasion and plant disease have the greatest potential to impact the high
biological and conservation value of the FRNP. Road materials (including water)
must come from weed- and disease-free areas, so that they are not imported by
either the material itself or the machinery carting it.
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