Penrith Bush Fire Management Committee Bush Fire Risk ...

PENRITH BUSH FIRE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE DRAFT BUSH FIRE RISK MANAGEMENT PLAN
Environmental / Ecological Assets include:
• natural assets - features or areas such as landscapes, catchments and ecological
communities; and
• cultural assets - areas of prehistoric or historic significance dating from Aboriginal and
European occupation.
2.4.1 Key Environmental/Ecological Assets
(a) Places of Aboriginal Significance
Refer to NPWS for a list of places of Aboriginal significance in the Penrith Council area.
Other sources to be checked include: "Aboriginal Resources Planning Study: City of Penrith"”
Rhoads and Dunnett (1985) and “Cumberland Plain Regional Aboriginal Heritage Strategy:
Stage 1” (NPWS).
Whilst no direct reference is made to any Aboriginal site or place within the text they are
considered during the risk and threat analysis and the results reflect their existence.
(b) Historic Heritage
A full list of adopted heritage items and heritage conservation areas (including maps) can be
found in “Penrith Heritage Conservation LEP 1991” and “Penrith Heritage Study Inventory
1987”.
(c) Threatened Species, Populations, Communities and Critical Habitat
Threatened Flora and Fauna
This Plan has regard for the principles of ESD. An important objective of ESD is to protect
the full range of native species present and to maintain viable regional populations of these
species. Protection must have regard to the activities carried out on the land and measures
to be taken that will influence such activities.
Penrith Flora and Fauna Study 1997 compiles existing information relating to fauna and
flora in the Penrith Council area. The Study also summarises the main activities, including
bushfire management, which could threaten biodiversity and natural habitats in Penrith
Council area, and makes recommendations about how to manage those activities. Appendix
H and I in the Study provide assessment guidelines for considering activities that may affect
biodiversity.
Within the Penrith Council area a diverse range of fauna and flora species are found. A total
of 374 native vertebrate species occur or are likely to occur, comprising 17 fish, 32
amphibians, 46 reptiles, 57 mammals and 222 birds. In addition, 29 introduced fauna species
have been recorded (10 fish, 1 amphibians, 0 reptiles, 6 mammals and 12 birds). 37
threatened fauna species occur or are likely, being about 10% of the total (excluding fish).
These threatened species are reliant on the retention of native vegetation for their continued
existence.
There is a high diversity of native plants in the area with over 500 native species in four
broad vegetation types. This includes 13 plant species listed as Rare or Threatened
(ROTAP) at a national level of which one species is presumed extinct. There are 38 species
which are considered to be of conservation significance in western Sydney and at least
another 139 species which are vulnerable or inadequately conserved in western Sydney.
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