DARLING RIVERINE PLAINS BIOREGION Background Report

16/08/02 Darling Riverine Plains Bioregion Background Report
Mount Murchison
In September 2001 the NPWS acquired the former Mount Murchison property, north-east of
Wilcannia. Mount Murchison consists of the riverine corridor and floodplains of the Darling
River and Darling Riverine Plains Bioregion, extending north into undulating country
associated with the Mulga Lands Bioregion. The property includes 57 km of Darling River
frontage. During heavy rain and flooding, there is a series of lakes, swamps and channels on
the floodplain adjoining the Darling River that fill with water. Jamiesons Billabong in the
south-eastern portion of the property is five kilometres long when full and can hold water for
more than 12 months. The western portion of Mount Murchison also contains part of the
Paroo Overflow, with the confluence of the Paroo River and the Darling River occurring just
west of the property (NPWS 2001d).
Mount Murchison provides habitat for a number of species listed under the TSC Act,
including Australian bustard (Ardeotis australis), blue-billed duck (Oxyura australis), squaretailed
kite (Lophoictinia isura), black-breasted buzzard (Hamirostra melanosternon), redtailed
black-cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus banksii), Major Mitchell's cockatoo (Cacatua
leadbeateri), Chalinolobus picatus (little pied bat), and Grevillea nematophylla (silver-leaved
water tree) (NPWS 2001d).
The main vegetation types on Mount Murchison include Eucalyptus camaldulensis (river red
gum) open forest as a riparian strip along the Darling River, Eucalyptus coolabah (coolibah)
open woodland on the Darling River floodplains, with Maireana pyramidata (black bluebush)
and E. largiflorens (black box) low open shrubland on the adjoining hummocky sandplains.
Off the floodplain, Casuarina pauper (belah) and Flindersia maculosa (leopardwood) tall
open shrubland occurs on level sandplains, while an extensive herbland dominated by
Eragrostis australasica (cane grass) and Muehlenbeckia florulenta (lignum) occurs on the
undulating sandplain of McIntyres Plain at the northern end of the property. In general, the
vegetation on Mount Murchison has been lightly grazed and is in excellent condition (NPWS
2001d).
8.2.2 Other Crown lands Managed For Conservation
Other Crown lands, including Crown reserves, travelling stock reserves, state forests and
leasehold lands, contribute to the conservation of biodiversity. Land area covered by these
leases is indicated in section 1.3.3. Management practices carried out on each of these types
of lands may differ across the bioregion and many of these areas have significant
conservation values because the native vegetation has been retained and there has been
minimal degradation.
Sandgate Flora Reserve
Sandgate Flora Reserve was gazetted in 1977 and is located within the Sandgate State Forest.
The reserve covers 16 ha of Callitris glaucophylla (white cypress pine) – Eucalyptus blakelyi
(Blakely’s red gum) forest. Mining is excluded in the reserve (Forestry Commission of NSW
1989).
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