RYDE FLORA and FAUNA STUDY 2007 - City of Ryde - NSW ...

2.3.4 Kittys Creek Catchment Reserves
Biosphere Environmental Consultants Pty Ltd
Ryde Flora and Fauna Survey 2007 16
Kittys Creek arises from Macquarie Hospital and flows eastwards, initially in an
enclosed culvert but emerges as an open watercourse in Pryor Park. From there it
continues to flow as an open channel eastwards through Portius Park, into Kittys
Creek reserve, under Pittwater Road into the Lane Cove River (Figure 5). A northern
branch of Kittys Creek joins into the main creek just west of Pittwater Road; this
northern channel runs through Martin Reserve before merging with the main channel.
The bushland along Kittys Creeks ranges from highly disturbed to increasing native
cover; the eastern sections of Portius Park and Kittys Creek Reserve contain both
some of the least disturbed vegetation communities and some of the most weed
infested areas surveyed in the 2007 Flora and Fauna Study.
2.3.5 Parramatta River - Memorial Park
Memorial Park at Meadowbank is the only reserve in the 2007 Flora and Fauna Study
that faces onto the Parramatta River (Figure 6). Unlike, many of the other reserves
surveyed, Memorial Park has a heavy recreational use with many walkways, viewing
areas, playgrounds and open grassed areas throughout. Native bush areas are confined
to less accessible parts of the park. The park is bounded by the Parramatta River to the
south, Melrose Park to the west, the Northern Railway Easement to the east and
Meadowbank Avenue to the north; thus it is completely isolated from other bushland
areas in the study. However, its location on the Parramatta River means that many
flying species are able to use the bushland as refuge areas, so many native and exotic
birds are evident in the park.
There are no creeks or freshwater areas in the park. The harbor foreshore of Memorial
Park is mangrove-lined and the mangroves extend both east and west beyond the park
to create an extensive river woodland community.