brigalow belt south bioregion - Department of Environment and ...

Brigalow Belt South, NSW 

Bioregional Conservation Assessment Scoping Report 

NSW 

National 

Parks and 

Wildlife 

Service

BRIGALOW BELT 

SOUTH BIOREGION 

SCOPING REPORT 

BRIGALOW BELT SOUTH BIOREGION 

A project undertaken for the 

NSW Biodiversity Strategy

For more information and for information on access to data contact the: 

Western Regional Assessments Unit, NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service 

PO Box 2111 

DUBBO NSW 2830 

Ph: (02) 6841 9200 

Fax: (02) 6841 9222 

www.npws.nsw.gov.au 

© Crown copyright [May 2002] 

New South Wales Government 

ISBN 07313 68738 

This project has been funded by the NSW Biodiversity Strategy and coordinated by 

Western Regional Assessments Unit, NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service 

Contributors include: 

Tania Laity, NSW NPWS 

Ed Knowles, NSW NPWS 

Stephen Thornton, NSW NPWS 

Liz Mazzer, NSW NPWS 

Andrew Knight, NSW NPWS 

Gethin Morgan, QLD Environmental Protection Agency 

Henry Nix, Centre for Resource and Environment, Australian National University 

Heidi Henry, NSW NPWS 

Michael Pennay, NSW NPWS 

Peter Christie, NSW NPWS 

Brent Marchant, NSW NPWS 

Steve Wall, NSW NPWS 

Anne Kerle 

Allison Manning, Editor 

Disclaimer: 

While every reasonable effort has been made to ensure that this document is correct at the time 

of printing, the State of New South Wales, its agents and employees, do not assume any 

responsibility and shall have no liability, consequential or otherwise, of any kind, arising from the 

use of or reliance on any of the information contained in this document.

CONTENTS 

Project Aim..................................................................................................................................................... 1 

Project Objectives......................................................................................................................................... 1 

Methods 1 

Key results1 

Implications for biodiversity conservation management ......................................................................... 2 

1 THE SCOPING PROJECT .................................................................................. 1 

1.1 Aims......................................................................................................................... 1 

1.2 Objectives ................................................................................................................ 1 

1.3 Timing and funding.................................................................................................. 2 

1.4 Project management................................................................................................. 2 

2 BACKGROUND .................................................................................................... 3 

2.1 Bioregionalisation .................................................................................................... 3 

2.2 New South Wales Biodiversity Strategy.................................................................. 5 

2.3 Integrated Biodiversity Conservation and Assessment (IBCA) .............................. 5 

2.4 Bioregional assessment and conservation in western New South Wales ................ 7 

2.4.1 Brigalow Belt South Bioregion – Western Regional Assessments.............................................. 7 

3 BRIGALOW BELT SOUTH BIOREGION OVERVIEW................................ 8 

3.1 Naming conventions ................................................................................................ 8 

3.2 Brigalow Belt South Bioregion (Australia and Queensland)................................... 9 

3.3 Brigalow Belt South study area ............................................................................. 10 

3.3.1 Provinces.................................................................................................................................... 11 

3.4 Tenure .................................................................................................................... 14 

3.4.1 NPWS Estate ............................................................................................................................. 14 

3.4.2 State Forests of NSW estate....................................................................................................... 16 

3.4.3 Other Crown Lands.................................................................................................................... 17 

3.5 Administrative boundaries and roles of administrative bodies / organisations ..... 19 

3.5.1 New South Wales State Government......................................................................................... 19 

3.5.2 National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) ........................................................................... 19 

3.5.3 State Forests of NSW (SFNSW)................................................................................................ 20 

3.5.4 Department of Land and Water Conservation (DLWC) ............................................................ 21 

3.5.5 Rural Lands Protection Boards (RLPBs)................................................................................... 22 

3.5.6 Regional Vegetation Committees (RVCs)................................................................................. 22 

3.5.7 Catchment Management Boards (CMBs).................................................................................. 22 

3.5.8 Local Government ..................................................................................................................... 23 

3.5.9 Local Aboriginal Land Councils (LALCs) ................................................................................ 24 

4 ABIOTIC DATA.................................................................................................. 27 

4.1 Current knowledge................................................................................................. 27 

4.1.1 Climate....................................................................................................................................... 27 

4.1.2 Geology and geomorphology..................................................................................................... 28 

4.1.3 Soils ........................................................................................................................................... 28 

4.1.4 Topography................................................................................................................................ 31 

4.1.5 Hydrology.................................................................................................................................. 31 

4.2 Basic analysis / gaps .............................................................................................. 38 

4.2.1 Bioregional stratification ........................................................................................................... 38 

4.2.2 Stratification based on regional and state-wide abiotic data (STRAT5)................................... 39 

4.2.3 Land capability .......................................................................................................................... 39

4.2.4 DLWC soils ............................................................................................................................... 42 

4.2.5 Soils of the brigalow lands......................................................................................................... 42 

4.2.6 MDBC soil landforms................................................................................................................ 42 

4.2.7 Landforms.................................................................................................................................. 42 

4.2.8 Geology...................................................................................................................................... 43 

4.3 Recommendations.................................................................................................. 46 

5 FAUNA.................................................................................................................. 47 


5.2 Basic analyses / gaps.............................................................................................. 49 

5.2.1 Systematic fauna site gap analysis............................................................................................. 56 


6 FLORA.................................................................................................................. 60 



6.2.1 Systematic flora site gap analysis ..............................................................................................66 


7 OTHER BIOTA ................................................................................................... 69 


7.1.1 Invertebrates .............................................................................................................................. 69 

7.1.2 Fish ............................................................................................................................................ 69 



8 VEGETATION .................................................................................................... 71 



8.2.1 Clearing native vegetation ......................................................................................................... 82 


9 ECOSYSTEMS .................................................................................................... 90 


9.1.1 Endangered and threatened ecological communities ................................................................. 90 



10 ECOLOGICAL PROCESSES............................................................................ 94 


10.1.1 Nutrient cycling and soil formation ........................................................................................... 94 

10.1.2 Hydrological regimes................................................................................................................. 94 

10.1.3 Threatening processes................................................................................................................ 95 

10.1.4 Province by province threats.................................................................................................... 105 

10.2 Basic analyses / gaps............................................................................................ 107 

10.3 Recommendations................................................................................................ 108 

11 ABORIGINAL CULTURAL HERITAGE ..................................................... 109 

11.1 Current knowledge............................................................................................... 109 



12 WILDERNESS................................................................................................... 112 




13 BIODIVERSITY................................................................................................ 114 


13.1.1 Genetic diversity...................................................................................................................... 116 

13.1.2 Species diversity ...................................................................................................................... 116 

13.1.3 Ecosystem diversity ................................................................................................................. 117

13.1.4 Landscape diversity ................................................................................................................. 117 

13.2 Basic analysis / gaps ............................................................................................ 117 


14 CONSERVATION ASSESSMENT AND PLANNING ................................. 119 

14.1 Conservation assessment and planning framework ............................................. 120 

14.1.1 Conservation assessment and planning framework ................................................................. 120 

14.1.2 Technical framework ............................................................................................................... 120 

14.1.3 GIS and decision support and other tools ................................................................................ 122 


14.2.1 Basic ecological principles ...................................................................................................... 123 

14.2.2 Preliminary identification of landscapes of significance ......................................................... 124 


15 CONSERVATION CRITERIA, TARGETS, AND The ECOLOGICAL 

BOTTOM LINE................................................................................................. 126 

15.1 Existing conservation criteria and targets ............................................................ 127 

15.1.1 IUCN criterion......................................................................................................................... 127 

15.1.2 Nationally agreed criteria for the establishment of a CAR reserve system for forests in Australia 

(JANIS) (Commonwealth of Australia, 1997)......................................................................... 127 

15.1.3 DLWC criteria for vegetation retention and catchment management...................................... 128 

15.1.4 Framework for terrestrial biodiversity targets in the Murray-Darling Basin (MDBC)............ 128 

15.1.5 National objectives and targets for biodiversity conservation 2001-2005 (NOTBC).............. 130 

15.2 Development of conservation criteria for the BBS.............................................. 131 

15.2.1 Conservation principles and criteria for the BBS (Modified JANIS) ...................................... 131 

15.2.2 Criteria for BBS for vegetation retention and restoration........................................................ 133 


16 CONSULTATION AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT ........................ 135 


16.2 Basic analysis / gaps ............................................................................................ 136 


17 LIST OF RECOMMENDATIONS.................................................................. 137 

Abiotic data...................................................................................................................... 137 

Fauna................................................................................................................................ 138 

Flora ................................................................................................................................. 139 

Other biota ....................................................................................................................... 139 

Vegetation ........................................................................................................................ 140 

Ecosystems....................................................................................................................... 141 

Ecological processes ........................................................................................................ 141 

Aboriginal cultural heritage ............................................................................................. 141 

Wilderness........................................................................................................................ 142 

Biodiversity...................................................................................................................... 143 

Conservation assessment and planning............................................................................ 143 

Conservation criteria, targets and the ecological bottom line.......................................... 143 

Consultation and community involvement ...................................................................... 144 

18 SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS...................................................... 145 

Develop consistent natural resource and biodiversity database for BBS including:.................................... 145 

Undertake comprehensive conservation assessment ................................................................................... 146 

Development of CAR reserve system and integrated landscape framework in western and central NSW . 146 

Cultural knowledge of biodiversity recorded .............................................................................................. 146 

Community consultation and involvement.................................................................................................. 146 

19 REFERENCES / FURTHER READING ........................................................ 147

TABLES 

Chapter 3 

Table 3.1 Key to provinces of the BBS (Morgan and Terrey 1992) ............................ 11 

Table 3.2 NPWS Estate within each province and percentage of province reserved.... 15 

Table 3.3 NPWS Estate in BBS..................................................................................... 16 

Table 3.4 Flora Reserves and Flora Preserves within BBS ........................................... 17 

Table 3.5 BBS tenure (DLWC CLID data & NPWS and SFNSW Estate Layers) ....... 18 

Table 3.6 Areas of land managed by Rural Land Protection Boards in the BBS.......... 19 

Table 3.7 NPWS administrative areas ........................................................................... 20 

Table 3.8 Local Government Areas within the BBS ..................................................... 24 

Table 3.9 Local Aboriginal Land Councils intersecting the BBS ................................. 25 

Chapter 4 

Table 4.1 Soil type by province within BBS ................................................................. 30 

Table 4.2 Catchments intersecting the BBS................................................................... 31 

Table 4.3 Identified wetlands, types and area within BBS ............................................ 32 

Table 4.4 Wetlands by province within the BBS........................................................... 33 

Table 4.5 Summary of land capability classes............................................................... 40 

Table 4.6 Land capability classes by province within BBS........................................... 41 

Table 4.7 Landforms within Goonoo SF and Pilliga forests.......................................... 43 

Table 4.8 Area of lithology by tenure within the BBS (MDBC and CLID).................. 44 

Table 4.9 Percent lithology within each province of BBS (MDBC) ............................. 45 

Chapter 5 

Table 5.1 Number of Wildlife Atlas fauna records by 1:100 000 mapsheet for BBS ... 49 

Table 5.2 Threatened and treaty fauna species recorded in BBS................................... 52 

Table 5.3 Species presumed extinct in New South Wales recorded within the BBS .... 55 

Table 5.4 Threatened and / or treaty fauna species predicted to occur within the BBS 55 

Table 5.5 Fauna species recorded within 50km buffer of BBS in Queensland not 

previously recorded in BBS ........................................................................... 56 

Table 5.6 Systematic fauna surveys within the BBS recorded on Wildlife Atlas ......... 57 

Chapter 6 

Table 6.1 Number of Wildlife Atlas flora records by 1:100 000 mapsheet for BBS..... 61 

Table 6.2 Threatened and ROTAP flora species recorded in BBS................................ 63 

Table 6.3 Threatened flora species predicted to occur (but not recorded) within the BBS 

........................................................................................................................ 66 

Table 6.4 Systematic flora surveys within the BBS....................................................... 66

Chapter 7 

Table 7.1 Fish recorded in the Namoi, Gwydir and Macquarie River Catchments....... 69 

Chapter 8 

Table 8.1 Plant communities by province for BBS ....................................................... 71 

Table 8.2 Existing vegetation mapping datasets within the BBS .................................. 75 

Table 8.3 Percentage of woody vegetation remaining across bioregion according to land 

tenure and province........................................................................................ 76 

Table 8.4 Level of woody vegetation fragmentation ..................................................... 77 

Table 8.5 Woody and non-woody vegetation by lithology in the BBS ......................... 81 

Chapter 10 

Table 10.1 Exotic fauna recorded within the BBS........................................................... 99 

Table 10.2 Number of native and introduced flora species within each survey ............ 100 

Table 10.3 Most frequently found exotic flora species in surveys ................................ 101 

Table 10.4 Weeds of national significance predicted to occur in BBS in the future ..... 101 

Table 10.5 Declared noxious weeds recorded within the BBS...................................... 102 

Chapter 13 

Table 13.1 Levels of biodiversity surrogacy.................................................................. 116 

Chapter 16 

Table 15.1 Extent and protection of the world’s major biomes..................................... 127 

Table 15.2 Landscape framework for assigning terrestrial biodiversity targets within the 

Murray-Darling Basin.................................................................................. 129 

Table 15.3 JANIS biodiversity criteria and modified JANIS for the BBS .................... 132

FIGURES 

Chapter 1 

Figure 1.1 BBS scoping exercise - project management................................................... 2 

Chapter 4 

Figure 4.1 Main features of an artesian basin ................................................................. 34 

Figure 4.2 Land capability in BBS.................................................................................. 41 

Chapter 6 

Figure 5.1 Number of fauna records in woody and non-woody vegetation in BBS ....... 51 

Figure 5.2 Number of fauna records by land capability class for BBS........................... 51 

Figure 5.3 Trend line of number of fauna sites by stratum area...................................... 57 

Chapter 6 

Figure 6.1 Number of flora records by land capability class for BBS ............................ 63 

Figure 6.2 Trend line of number of flora sites by stratum area....................................... 67 

Chapter 8 

Figure 8.1 Area of woody vegetation fragments by remnant size on private land within 

the BBS .......................................................................................................... 78 

Figure 8.2 Area of woody vegetation fragments by remnant size on public land within 

the BBS .......................................................................................................... 78 

Figure 8.3 Woody vegetation by land capability on private land.................................... 79 

Figure 8.4 Vegetation in relation to ruggedness and inherent land use potential in BBS80 

Figure 8.5 Number of strata (Strat5) by percent of strata covered by woody vegetation82 

Figure 8.6 Clearing applications received per year in BBS ............................................ 83 

Figure 8.7 Percentage of clearing applications granted in BBS...................................... 84 

Figure 8.8 Percent of total area of clearing by degree of clearing in BBS 1995-2000 ... 85 

Figure 8.9 Percent of total area cleared by vegetation structure in BBS 1995-2000 ...... 85 

Figure 8.10 Percent of total area cleared by purpose of clearing in BBS 1995-2000....... 86 

Figure 8.11 Percent of total area cleared by Local Government Area within BBS 1995- 

2000................................................................................................................ 86 

Figure 8.12 Percent of total area cleared by province 1995-2000..................................... 87 

Figure 8.13 Percentage of each province cleared 1995-2000............................................ 87 

Chapter 14 

Figure 14.1 The bioregional conservation assessment and planning framework............ 121 

Chapter 15 

Figure 15.1 Application of various conservation criteria and how they interact ............ 131

ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS 

ABBBS .......................................................Australian Bird and Bat Banding Scheme 

ABS ........................................................................Australian Bureau of Statistics 

AM ..................................................................................The Australian Museum 

ANCA .........................................................Australian Nature Conservation Agency 

ANPWS ............................................. Australian National Parks and Wildlife Service 

ANZECC .......... Australian and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council 

APASE ........Association for the Promotion and Advancement of Science Education 

API ..................................................................... Aerial photograph interpretation 

BA .................................................................................................Birds Australia 

BBS ............................................. Brigalow Belt South Bioregion (NSW Section) 

BBS (Aus).......................................Brigalow Belt South Bioregion (Whole Bioregion) 

BBS (Qld) ............................................... Brigalow Belt South Bioregion (Qld Section) 

BREC ...........................................................Brisbane Region Environment Council 

BRS ................................................................................ Bureau of Rural Sciences 

CAMBA ....................................................China Australia Migratory Bird Agreement 

CAR ................................................Comprehensive Adequate and Representative 

CLID ............................................................... Crown Lands Information Database 

CMB .......................................................................Catchment Management Board 

CRA ............................................................ Comprehensive Regional Assessment 

CSIRO ...................Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation 

DEM ..................................................................................Digital Elevation Model 

DEST ........................................Department of Environment Sports and Territories 

DLG .........................................................NSW Department of Local Government 

DLWC .......................................NSW Department of Land and Water Conservation 

DRP .................................................................. Darling Riverine Plains Bioregion 

DUAP .......................................... NSW Department of Urban Affairs and Planning 

DWR ........................................Department of Water Resources New South Wales 

EA .................................................................................... Environment Australia 

EPA ........................................................ NSW Environment Protection Authority 

EPBC Act................ Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act, 1999 

ERIN .................................................Environment Resource Information Network 

ESD ...........................................................Ecologically Sustainable Development 

GAB ....................................................................................... Great Artesian Basin 

GABCC .................................................... Great Artesian Basin Consultative Council 

GIS .................................................................Geographical Information Systems 

IAP ............................................................................Interim Assessment Process 

IBCA ...................................Integrated Biodiversity Conservation and Assessment 

IBRA ...................................... Interim Biogeographic Regionalisation of Australia 

IUCN World Conservation Union (International Union for Conservation of Nature) 

JAMBA ....................................................Japan Australia Migratory Bird Agreement 

JANIS Joint ANZECC / MCFFA National Forest Policy Statement Implementation 

Subcommittee 

LEP ..................................................................................Local Environment Plan 

LIC .................................................................................Land Information Centre 

MCFFA .......................... Ministerial Council on Forestry, Fisheries and Aquaculture 

MDBC ................................................................ Murray Darling Basin Commission 

MDBMC .....................................................Murray-Darling Basin Ministerial Council

NHT .....................................................................................Natural Heritage Trust 

NIE .........................................................................National Index of Ecosystems 

NPWS ..................................................... NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service 

NRS ................................................................................ National Reserve System 

NRSCP ............................................National Reserves System Cooperative Program 

NWCMC ........................................... North West Catchment Management Committee 

NWI ........................................................................National Wilderness Inventory 

NVC Act ..................................................... Native Vegetation Conservation Act, 1997 

PWP ..................................................................................... Public Watering Place 

RACAC ........................................... Resource and Conservation Assessment Council 

RACD ................................................Resource and Conservation Division (DUAP) 

RBG ....................................................................................Royal Botanic Gardens 

RLPB .........................................................................Rural Lands Protection Board 

ROTAP ..............................................................Rare or Threatened Australian Plants 

RPM ............................................................Resource Policy and Management Ltd 

RVC ..................................................................... Regional Vegetation Committee 

RVMP ..........................................................Regional Vegetation Management Plan 

SBS ....................................................................NSW State Biodiversity Strategy 

SF ......................................................................................................State Forest 

SFNSW ...................................................................................... State Forests of NSW 

Strat5 ...................... Stratification Based on Regional and Statewide Data for BBS 

SWP ...................................................................................... Stock Watering Point 

SWS ..........................................................................South West Slopes Bioregion 

TPO .................................................................................. Tree Preservation Order 

TSC Act ...................................................Threatened Species Conservation Act, 1995 

TSN ...........................................................................Threatened Species Network 

TSR ....................................................................................Travelling Stock Route 

VCA ..............................................................Voluntary Conservation Agreements 

WLA ........................................................................NPWS Atlas of NSW Wildlife 

WRA .......................................................................Western Regional Assessments

PROJECT SUMMARY 

Project Aim 

The aim of the Brigalow Belt South Scoping Project was : 

To review existing information and to prepare a framework and strategy 

for a bioregional conservation assessment of the BBS bioregion in 2001 to 

2004. 

Project Objectives 

The objectives of the project were: 

to undertake a data audit and gap analysis; 

to develop a detailed framework and strategy plan for the Brigalow Belt South 

bioregional survey and conservation assessment; and 

to undertake a preliminary identification of probable sites of significant biodiversity. 

Methods 

Scoping project addresses the following questions: 

What is the biodiversity (including genetic, species, populations and ecosystems) of 

the bioregion? 

What is the current conservation status of the bioregion’s biodiversity? 

How does this status compare with pre-clearing biodiversity status? 

Key results 

The key results identified by this scoping project are: 

that there is a lack of consistent datasets for the bioregion in New South Wales 

including for vegetation (extant and pre-clearing), fauna, geology, woody vegetation, 

land capability and tenure; 

that approximately 2.5% of the bioregion is reserved under National Parks and 

Wildlife Service estate; 

that approximately 11% of the bioregion is dedicated under New South Wales State 

Forest tenure; 

that approximately 50% of the remaining woody vegetation within the Brigalow Belt 

South Bioregion is on National Parks and Wildlife Service and State Forests of New 

South Wales estate, with the other 50% of the remaining woody vegetation being 

highly fragmented across the bioregion; 

that existing reserve system predominantly occurs on rugged country on lands of 

medium to low land capability; 

that there is more fauna, flora and vegetation data available relating to public lands 

with low land capability and areas of woody vegetation than to other parts of the 

bioregion;

that there are no wetlands within the Brigalow Belt South bioregion which are 

reserved within National Parks and Wildlife Service estate. However, 12% of all 

wetlands within the bioregion occur on crown land. The greatest area of wetlands 

within the bioregion occurs in Northern Outwash province; and 

that the development of a conservation assessment and technical framework for the 

BBS to guide future data collection, analysis and conservation planning within the 

bioregion. 

Implications for biodiversity conservation management 

This project established a framework: 

to provide information to regional planning bodies or groups to assist in addressing 

conservation issues. For example, through the development of Regional Vegetation 

Management Plans, River Management Plans, Threatened Species Recovery plans; 

and 

to enable priorities to be developed for the future development of a comprehensive 

adequate and representative (CAR) reserve system and protected area network to be 

identified.

1 THE SCOPING 

1.1 Aims 

PROJECT 

Brigalow Belt South Scoping Report 

The aim of this project was to review existing information and to prepare a framework 

and strategy for a bioregional conservation assessment of the Brigalow Belt South 

bioregion from 2001 to 2004. 

This report includes: 

a data audit and gap analysis; 

a detailed framework and strategy for the Brigalow Belt South bioregional survey and 

conservation assessment; and 

preliminary identification of probable sites of significant biodiversity and ecology. 

1.2 Objectives 

The information from the scoping project and later, the full assessment, will be provided to 

regional planning bodies and groups for use in the development of plans such as Regional 

Vegetation Management Plans (RVMPs), River Management Plans (RMPs), Threatened 

Species Recovery Plans. In addition it will enable priorities for the future development of a 

CAR reserve system and a protected area network including voluntary conservation 

measures on other lands to be identified. 

This scoping project aims to identify all current relevant data and further data required for 

comprehensive conservation assessment and planning within the BBS. The project will 

include information about the bioregion’s biodiversity, conservation status and a 

comparison of the current status with pre-clearing biodiversity status. 

Other factors which need to be taken into account when undertaking this project are natural 

long-term fluctuations in ecosystem processes (eg major drought, extended wet periods, 

major wildfires) and population dynamics, compounded by anthropogenic activity. 

1

1.3 Timing and funding 


The original project proposal to the NSW Biodiversity Strategy (SBS) Integrated 

Biodiversity Conservation Assessment (IBCA) Program required approximately $1.3m 

for a full bioregional assessment. Due to reduced funding (ie now $110 000), however, 

the project does not have the resources required to adequately undertake a comprehensive 

survey and assessment across the whole bioregion, thus a Scoping Project was approved 

by the IBCA Working Group and Biodiversity Strategy Implementation Group. The 

reduced scale of the project still meets the SBS requirement of commencing bioregional 

assessments and will provide a framework and strategy to assist the ongoing bioregional 

assessment process. The project commenced in October 1999. 

Collection of datasets for this project was undertaken prior to December 2002. Datasets 

produced after this date are not included in this report. 

1.4 Project management 

The project management structure for the Brigalow Belt South Scoping Project is shown 

in Figure 1.1. The project was managed by the NPWS Western Directorate - Western 

Regional Assessments Unit. 

The project was supervised by and linked closely to the Darling Riverine Plains 

Conservation Assessment project by that Project Manager. 

A Project Officer was employed to undertake this project. 

A small technical working group was established by the Project Manager. This working 

group is currently linked to the Darling Riverine Plains Technical Working Group and its 

future depends on the WRA Stage 2, however, it should retain links with the SBS 

projects. 

Manager, Western 

Regional Assessments 

Unit 

Brigalow Belt Project 

Officer 

Sub-group of 

Darling Riverine 

Plains Technical 

Working Group 


Plains Biodiversity 

Conservation 

Project 

Figure 1.1 BBS scoping exercise - project management 


Plains Project 

Technical Working 

Group 

2

2 BACKGROUND 

2.1 Bioregionalisation 


In general, a bioregion can be viewed as a territory of land or water, the boundaries of 

which are defined not only by geographical or physical attributes, but encapsulate 

ecosystems, ecological processes and human communities, regardless of political 

boundaries. 

The Global Biodiversity Strategy (Reid et al, 1992) describes a bioregion as being; 

large enough to maintain the integrity of its biological communities, habitats and 

ecosystems, 

having cultural identity and a sense of home to its local residents; 

containing a mosaic of land uses; and 

having components which are dynamic and interactive. 

Whilst technically different entities, bioregion, region and biogeographic region are all 

used interchangeably. If using the Interim Biogeographic Regionalisation of Australia 

(IBRA) the correct terminology would be biogeographic region (Thackway and Cresswell 

1995). 

A cooperative project between the Commonwealth, State and Territory conservation 

agencies to develop a national index of ecosystems (NIE) was initiated in the mid-1980s 

by the Australian Nature Conservation Agency (ANCA). This process established 

methodologies for classifying environments or ecosystems as a basis for developing a 

national system of protected areas for Australia (ANPWS, 1988). 

The NIE was incorporated into the Environmental Resource and Information Network 

(ERIN) in 1989, where implementation of the NIE was developed using geographical 

information systems (GIS) to classify numerically physical environmental attributes. 

Through a number of workshops, a national framework for developing environmental 

regions was developed for use in national and regional conservation assessment and 

planning, including planning a national system of protected areas (Thackway, 1992). 

The Prime Minister, in his 1992 Environmental Statement (Keating, 1992), provided the 

initial resources to establish progressively a comprehensive, adequate and representative 

(CAR) system of protected areas across Australia by the year 2000. The bulk of this 

funding was administered by ANCA for the National Reserves System Cooperative 

Program (NRSCP). The Commonwealth, State and Territory stakeholders involved 

3


determined that an agreed national biogeographic regionalisation specific to the NRSCP 

was needed. That need led to the development of the Interim Biogeographic 

Regionalisation of Australia (IBRA) (Thackway and Cresswell, 1995). The interim 

nature of IBRA indicates that there is continuing scope for boundary adjustment as further 

information on each bioregion becomes available. 

The IBRA established a national framework for the National Reserve System (NRS) 

Program. The endorsement of this document by the Commonwealth, and all States and 

Territories in 1995 established 80 biogeographical regions throughout Australia (map 1). 

Bioregionalisation has been accepted and used at a variety of policy, management and 

scientific levels, for conservation assessment and planning. As part of the Australian and 

New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council (ANZECC), the Commonwealth 

Government developed the National Strategy for the Conservation of Australia's 

Biological Diversity (1996), which established a national framework for a bioregional 

planning approach, with the goal of "protecting biological diversity and maintain[ing] 

ecological processes and systems". 

The establishment of the National Reserve System, administered by Environment 

Australia (EA), and funded by the Natural Heritage Trust (NHT) meets the requirement 

under the National Strategy for the Conservation of Australia's Biological Diversity to 

“establish a comprehensive, adequate and representative system of ecologically viable 

protected areas integrated with the sympathetic management of all other areas, including 

agricultural and other resource production systems”. 

Whilst this has been a significant policy development for biological conservation and 

bioregional planning over recent years, it should be noted that conservation and 

bioregional planning occurs, and has been doing so, across many levels and scales 

concurrently in Australia. It is important to acknowledge the role and legitimacy of each 

layer, and the need for bioregional planning to work within this matrix of levels and 

functions to produce a successful and sustainable outcome (Neilson, 1996). 

IBRA bioregions in the western division of New South Wales have been further 

subdivided into provinces by Morgan and Terrey (1992) based on groupings of 

landsystems on the basis of functional and geological differences within each bioregion. 

Provinces within the BBS are described in section 3.3.1. 

4

2.2 New South Wales Biodiversity Strategy 


The New South Wales State Biodiversity Strategy (SBS) is the New South Wales 

Government’s commitment to the National Strategy for the Conservation of Australia’s 

Biological Diversity. The national strategy calls for the State and Territory Governments 

to develop complementary biodiversity strategies. The goal of the SBS is “to protect the 

native biological diversity of New South Wales and maintain ecological processes and 

systems” (NPWS, 1999). 

SBS is based on the ideals of ecologically sustainable development (ESD), as set out in 

the Protection of the Environment Administration Act, 1991. ESD aims for the effective 

integration of economic, ecological and social considerations in decision-making 

processes. One of the three key principles of ESD is to protect biological diversity and 

maintain essential ecological processes and life-support systems. 

The core objectives of the above principle are summarised as: 

to ensure the survival and evolutionary development of species, populations and 

communities of plants, animals and microorganisms native to New South Wales; 

to strengthen management of biodiversity on a bioregional basis while using 

catchment-level networks to focus on specific actions such as the integration of 

biodiversity conservation and natural resource management; 

to identify and combat the threats to biodiversity in a timely manner; 

to build on existing initiatives to conserve biodiversity involving community groups, 

industry, Government and Aboriginal communities and strengthen actions which gain 

the support of these groups for biodiversity conservation; and 

to increase understanding of ecological systems and processes through scientific 

research, survey and monitoring, drawing on the knowledge and values of Aboriginal 

and local communities. 

The New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) is the lead agency for 

the SBS and a whole-of-Government approach is facilitated through the interagency 

Biodiversity Strategy Implementation Group. 

2.3 Integrated Biodiversity Conservation and Assessment (IBCA) 

Priority Action 13 of the SBS aims to “adopt a standardised, integrated, whole-of 

Government approach to the collection, analysis and distribution of biodiversity data for 

use in assessing the conservation significance of land areas throughout New South 

Wales” (NPWS, 1999). This action calls for assessments to be made on a bioregional 

basis with the aim of providing biodiversity information for all tenures, with a priority 

being the systematic and cost-effective collection of information, enabling gaps in 

information to be identified and addressed. 

IBCA recognises that there are many existing and planned projects throughout New South 

Wales which are also collecting and generating data required by the IBCA assessments. 

5


The IBCA approach seeks to use all available data and to fill gaps in data collection to 

ensure the development of comprehensive datalayers. 

The SBS defines the primary objective of bioregional conservation assessments as 

identifying areas and features of high biodiversity significance and providing 

recommendations for appropriate conservation measures. These recommendations will 

then be used to make informed land management decisions by the following mechanisms: 

Native Vegetation Conservation Act, 1997 (NVC Act). The Regional Vegetation 

Committees (RVCs) empowered by the NVC Act will use ecosystem-based 

biodiversity information to develop Regional Vegetation Management Plans 

(RVMPs); 

catchment management under the Catchment Management Act, 1989 and the 

Catchment Management Regulation, 1999; 

voluntary participation by landholders via Land for Wildlife, Wildlife Refuges and 

Voluntary Conservation Agreements (VCAs); 

River Management Plans under the Water Management Act, 2000; 

Farming for the Future programs run cooperatively between NPWS, NSW 

Agriculture, Department of Land and Water Conservation (DLWC) and NSW 

Farmers Federation; 

Bushcare regional planning as outlined by NHT; 

CAR reserve system planning; 

Local and Regional Environmental Plans under the Environmental Planning and 

Assessment Act, 1979; and 

Recovery Planning for threatened species and endangered ecological communities and 

Threat Abatement Planning under the Threatened Species Conservation Act, 1995 

(TSC Act). 

The IBCA priority actions are overseen by the interagency IBCA Working Group and 

projects are managed by NPWS, DLWC and The Australian Museum (AM). SBS - 

funded projects relating to Priority Action 13 of the SBS are listed in Appendix 19. 

6


2.4 Bioregional assessment and conservation in western New South 

Wales 

Various bioregional assessments have been attempted in western New South Wales to 

date. An outline of the Brigalow Belt South Regional Assessment Stages 1 and 2 is given 

below. Other regional assessments undertaken in New South Wales are listed in appendix 

16. These projects demonstrate the different approaches to bioregional assessment and 

highlight the need for good baseline datasets with coverage across whole bioregions. 

2.4.1 Brigalow Belt South Bioregion – Western Regional Assessments 

A number of regional assessment projects are currently underway in the BBS. These are: 

WRA BBS - Stage 1 – 1999 to 2000 - Stage 1 of the Western Regional Assessment 

(WRA) of the Brigalow Belt South bioregion involved preliminary assessments of 

flora, fauna, wood resources, cultural heritage and socio-economic attributes of the 

bioregion. This project aimed to provide scientific information on which to base a 

Forest Agreement, as well as providing information for the use of other regional 

planning groups such as RVCs and CMBs (Beckers and Binns, 2000). This project 

focussed only on that portion of the BBS bioregion south of Narrabri and largely 

within the Goonoo and Pilliga State Forests. 

WRA BBS - Stage 2 – 2000 to 2002 - Stage 2 of the WRA of the Brigalow Belt South 

bioregion will implement some biodiversity, environmental, and socio-economic 

assessments recommended in the Stage 1 reports, but will not include a 

comprehensive biodiversity assessment. The Stage 2 assessment is focussed mainly 

on forest and woodland ecosystems within the BBS bioregion. 

Information from these projects has been added to this report to clarify the biodiversity 

assessment requirements of the biodiversity strategy. A technical framework is proposed 

which identifies work to be undertaken as part of the WRA or SBS. 

7


3 BRIGALOW BELT 

SOUTH BIOREGION 

OVERVIEW 

This section provides an overview of current knowledge of the biodiversity of the BBS 


3.1 Naming conventions 

The Brigalow Belt South bioregion lies partly in New South Wales (approx. 20%), with 

the majority in Queensland (approx. 80%) (Thackway and Cresswell, 1995) (Map 1). For 

the purpose of this report, the New South Wales section of the Brigalow Belt South 

bioregion is referred to as ‘BBS’, ‘the bioregion’ or ‘Brigalow Belt South’ depending on 

the context. Where reference is made to the Queensland section of the Brigalow Belt 

South bioregion it will be made explicit by referring to this area as ‘BBS (Qld)’. Where 

reference is made to the entire Brigalow Belt South bioregion it will be made explicit by 

referring to it as ‘BBS (Aus)’. The boundaries of IBRA regions within Australia have 

been revised while this scoping report was being written (Environment Australia, 2001f). 

The revised boundary of the BBS will not be used for the purposes of this report. Both the 

BBS boundary IBRA Version 4 (used in this report) and the new BBS boundary IBRA 

Version 5 are shown in Map 48. However, the revised boundary of the BBS should be 

used in any future conservation assessments of the bioregion. 

This report will use the following style for names of flora and fauna: 

birds, mammals (excluding bat species), invertebrates, and fish – common name 

followed by scientific name when first used, then common name only used 

throughout; and 

reptiles, amphibians, bats and all flora – scientific name followed by common 

name (where available) when first used, then scientific name only used throughout. 

8


3.2 Brigalow Belt South Bioregion (Australia and Queensland) 

The Brigalow Belt South bioregion, BBS (Aus), covers an area of 279 496 km 2 , the sixth 

largest of the 80 bioregions in Australia. The bioregional boundary was defined by 

Thackway and Cresswell, (1995), on the basis of Jurassic and younger deposits of the 

Great Artesian Basin (GAB) and Cainozoic deposits and elevated Tertiary basalt flows. 

The Australian State of the Environment Report 1996 (DEST, 1996) estimates that 64% 

of the BBS (Aus) bioregion had been cleared, 16% was affected by intensive production, 

9% was used for forestry on public lands, 2% covered by protected areas, with 

approximately 28 areas either being mined or with potential to be mined in the future. 

BBS (Qld) is defined by the major extent of Acacia harpophylla (brigalow) and 

Eucalyptus populnea (poplar box) open forests and woodlands on sediments of the GAB 

which forms forest and woodlands on clay soils. The vegetation of the bioregion is much 

more varied than the name would suggest with Acacia harpophylla the dominant species 

in only nine of the 20 provinces described for BBS (Qld). Landsystems and ecosystems 

by province are described in Appendix 18. Large areas of the BBS (Qld) are covered by 

ecosystems such as eucalypt open forests and woodlands, other Acacia open forests and 

woodlands, grasslands, dry rainforests, cypress pine open forest and woodlands, 

Casuarina open forests and woodlands and riparian communities (Young et al, 1999; 

Johnson, 1984). In New South Wales the dominance of Acacia harpophylla as the 

primary vegetation alliance is further reduced with more southern influences in plant 

communities evident. Acacia harpophylla is present in only three of the seven provinces 

in New South Wales and then not as a dominant species (Morgan and Terrey, 1992). 

Work in Queensland (Young et al, 1999) notes that 200 broad regional ecosystems have 

been defined from land system mapping for the BBS (Qld). Forty-six of these regional 

ecosystems are threatened, including 20 that are considered endangered, and 26 

considered of conservation concern (based on JANIS criteria as outlined in 

Commonwealth of Australia, 1997). Within western New South Wales the semievergreen 

vine thicket, bluegrass grassland, and brigalow ecosystems of Northern New 

South Wales are listed as nationally endangered under the Environment Protection and 

Biodiversity Conservation Act, 1999 (EPBC Act) (Environment Australia, 2001a; TSN, 

2000; QLD EPA, 1999). The status of these ecosystems is shown in Appendix 18. 

Broadscale clearing, altered fire regimes and pressures from the introduction of exotic 

species are common to many of these regional ecosystems. These pressures are ongoing. 

The Brisbane Region Environment Council (BREC) has compiled figures on tree clearing 

within the BBS (Qld). The figures show that between 1991 and 1999, 8 373 km 2 of native 

vegetation have been cleared – mostly for pasture – representing 31% of the total clearing 

for all of Queensland during this period (BREC, 2000). 

Many vegetation remnants within the Brigalow Belt are either on land unsuitable for 

agriculture or are highly degraded with reduced tree and shrub cover (Environment 

Australia, 2001a). As in New South Wales, there is a very low representation of the more 

productive landscapes in the formal reserve system within BBS (Qld). Whilst small-scale 

targeted surveys have been undertaken, there has been no systematic flora and fauna 

survey for the entire bioregion. Targeted surveys of flora and fauna species in Queensland 

have found a substantial reduction in population in some species, for example, Cadellia 

9


pentastylis (ooline), or even probable extinction in the case of a burrowing lizard, Lerista 

allanae (Sattler and Williams eds, 1999). 

Several fauna species which once occupied the Brigalow Belt are either now nationally 

extinct or regionally extinct. Nationally extinct species include paradise parrot (Psephotus 

pulcherrimus), white-footed rabbit-rat (Conilurus albipes), and Darling Downs hopping 

mouse (Notomys mordax). The brush-tailed bettong (Bettongia penicillata) is extinct in 

all mainland states except Western Australia. Regionally extinct species include bilby 

(Macrotis lagotis), eastern quoll (Dasyurus viverrinus), and long-nosed bandicoot 

(Perameles nasuta) (Environment Australia, 2001a). 

There are 13 wetlands, covering a total area of 238 000 ha, within the BBS (Qld) which 

are listed as nationally important (QLD EPA, 1999). One such wetland, Goran Lake, 

occurs within the NSW portion of the bioregion. 

Thackway and Cresswell (1995) list the land use pressures, limiting factors and 

constraints to conservation planning within the BBS (Aus) as cropping, grazing, clearing, 

the extinction of critical weight range mammals, feral animals, feral rabbits, forestry, 

mineral potential, salination, and weeds. 

3.3 Brigalow Belt South study area 

NPWS has administrative responsibility only within the New South Wales portion of the 

bioregion and this report will focus on that portion. In New South Wales the bioregion 

covers 52 409 sq km which is 18.7% of the BBS (Aus) and 6.5% of New South Wales. 

2.6% of the New South Wales portion of the bioregion is reserved for conservation. 

The 1997 New South Wales State of the Environment Report (EPA, 1997a) estimated that 

a total of 32% of the BBS had been cleared, and 26.7% had been thinned from the 1780s 

to 1990s. The 2000 New South Wales State of the Environment Report (EPA, 2000) 

estimated that approximately 60.9% of native vegetation within the bioregion had been 

cleared since European settlement. These figures refer to clearing and thinning of 

vegetation of >15% canopy cover and therefore do not include some woodland and 

grassland communities. Comparing figures from these reports suggests that approximately 

2.2% of the bioregion has been cleared during the period between 1997 and 2000. 

However, these figures were derived using different methodology and as such 

discrepancies may occur. An account of clearing for the BBS possibly more accurate, 

would be that given in section 8.2.1 (clearing of native vegetation). 

The 2000 New South Wales State of the Environment Report estimated clearing rates 

during 1995 to 1997 as being 1 500ha / year and acquisitions for the New South Wales 

reserve system between 1996 and 1999 being 4 055ha for the bioregion. No figures 

regarding long-term average clearing rates are available for the bioregion. 

Morgan and Terrey (1992) describe the BBS as the Northern Sandstones, which is 

dominated by the Mesozoic sediments that comprise the south-eastern extremity of the 

GAB. These north-west dipping beds form a generally undulating landscape with some 

low hills and a few higher areas overlain by Tertiary lava flows. Sandstone dominated 

areas, due to their lower fertility soils and hence low suitability to agriculture, have the 

bulk of the remaining native forest – the two main contiguous blocks being Pilliga State 

10


Forests / Pilliga Nature Reserve and Goonoo State Forest / Coolbaggie Nature Reserve. 

The steeper basaltic areas are dominated by native forest also due to their low suitability 

for agriculture. The more gently undulating areas and alluvial areas have been widely 

cleared due to their high land capability. This is especially evident in the Northern 

Outwash and Liverpool Plains provinces (map 11) (section 3.3.1). 

The bioregion covers a large longitudinal and latitudinal climatic range, and lies within an 

ecological gradient or ecotone between dry inland bioregions and wetter coastal 

bioregions. Consequently the area is environmentally heterogeneous, and potentially rich 

in biodiversity. 

Morgan and Terrey (1992) state that, due to BBS containing a major intake area and 

aquifer beds for the GAB in NSW, the main conservation objective for this bioregion 

would be to protect these intake areas to avoid contamination of groundwater. 

In order to formulate principles and criteria for conservation values, the first priority is to 

determine the attributes that distinguish the BBS from other regions, including the 

inherent characteristics of the biophysical environment, and the region’s land use history, 

noting that the former in part influences the latter. The area has a significant cultural 

history which needs to be reflected in any conservation assessment (RACD, 2000a). 

3.3.1 Provinces 

Morgan and Terrey (1992) defined the bioregion as the northern sandstones region and 

then further subdivided the bioregion into seven provinces (map 11), each having a 

distinctive suite and pattern of landforms, soils and vegetation. The provinces are largely 

identified by their dominant geomorphological patterns as outlined in Table 3.1. 

Table 3.1 Key to provinces of the BBS (Morgan and Terrey 1992) 

Geology / Lithology Landform / Soils Province 

Alluvials and colluvials Gently sloping fans, grey clays 1. Northern Outwash 

dominant 

Plains, black earths 2. Liverpool Plains 

Plains, deep sandy texture -contrast soils 3. Pilliga Outwash 

Basalt dominant 

High ranges 

4. Liverpool Range 

Undulating, sandstone in valleys 5. Northern Basalt 

Mesozoic sediments Coarse sediments, sandy soils 6. Pilliga 

dominant Fine to medium sediments, red loams 7. Talbragar Valley 

Provinces can be a useful tool in subdividing bioregions into more manageable units for 

conservation and assessment purposes. Provinces within the BBS and their associated 

vegetation are described and summarised below (RACD, 2000a; Morgan and Terrey, 

1992). 

Northern Outwash 

This province contains low red rises and a series of alluvial fans between Narrabri and the 

Queensland border on the western side of the bioregion. The fans have been formed by 

tributaries draining the sandstone and basalt areas to the east. The coarser red soils may be 

intake areas for the GAB. Some scalding is present. The native vegetation is dominated 

by grasslands and open woodlands. These continue to be cleared extensively and 

developed for cropping. 

11


Liverpool Plains 

This province lies between Narrabri and Quirindi in the central eastern portion of the 

bioregion and is made up of extensive black soil plains punctuated by low sedimentary 

and volcanic hills. The grasslands and open woodlands on the alluvial plains and foot 

slopes of the hills have been mainly cleared and are used for cropping. The southern parts 

of this province, in addition to the Liverpool Range Province and the eastern parts of the 

Pilliga Province make up the Oxley Geological Basin. Major intake areas for its aquifers 

are the sedimentary hills within this province. Important sources of groundwater include 

the alluvials of the Namoi River and its larger tributaries. 

Unusual areas within the Liverpool Plains province include an area of rugged Permian 

volcanics near Boggabri. This is a restricted geological formation with vegetation cover 

similar to that in the sedimentary areas. The province contains Lake Goran, which is a 

seasonal swamp originally covered by Austrostipa aristiglumis (plains grass). 

Pilliga Outwash 

This is a gently undulating plain of deep sandy soils formed by outwash from the 

sandstone hills to the east. Some of the more productive soils around the margins of this 

province have been cleared for agriculture but most of the higher areas remain covered by 

State forests. The remnant native forests are predominantly found on coarser soils in 

higher areas. This province is the most poorly reserved of all the BBS provinces with 

only 0.1% covered by NPWS estate (Table 3.2). 

Liverpool Range 

This province is in the south-east of the bioregion and encompasses the basalt plateau and 

slopes of the Liverpool Ranges. The higher rainfall of the plateau supports tall eucalypt 

forests that have been partly cleared and logged. The slopes on the southern side, within 

the Hunter River catchment have been cleared extensively and developed for pasture, but 

on the northern slopes the forests are mostly still present. The Liverpool Range province 

is the primary catchment for the aquifers of the Oxley Geological Basin and forms the 

headwaters of the Namoi and Hunter Rivers. 

Northern Basalts 

Lying between Narrabri and Yetman in the north east of the bioregion, this province has a 

gently undulating landscape resulting from erosion of the basalt layer to expose the 

underlying sandstone. The soils are rich and have been heavily cultivated. Almost no 

native vegetation remains except along waterways, and some small remnants on stony 

basalt hills and sandstone. 

Pilliga 

This is the largest of the seven provinces within this bioregion, stretching from Dubbo to 

Narrabri. It contains extensive sandstone hills with areas of higher basalt peaks and has 

predominantly sandy soils. Much of the forest has been cleared, but there are large areas 

of State forest, especially on lands with rockier and shallower soils. This province is the 

major intake area of aquifer for the GAB in New South Wales. Seven percent of its area is 

reserved, which is the highest percentage of all the provinces in the bioregion. The Pilliga 

12


province contains all or part of Pilliga, Binnaway, Weetalibah, and Coolbaggie Nature 

Reserves, and Warrumbungle, and Goulburn River National Parks (Table 3.2). 

Talbragar Valley 

This is the smallest of the seven provinces and includes the Talbragar River valley and 

land to the southern border of the bioregion. The finer sediments of this province provide 

rich soils which have largely been cleared for cultivation and grazing. Native vegetation 

only remains on the rocky sandstone hills formed by the inliers of the coarse Pilliga 

Sandstone. 

More detailed information regarding vegetation within each province is provided in the 

vegetation section of this report. 

13


Table 3.2 shows the national parks and nature reserves that occur within each province 

and the percentage of each province reserved. 

3.4 Tenure 

3.4.1 NPWS Estate 

There is an area of approximately 132 500 ha of NPWS estate that lies within or is 

intersected by the BBS (map 36). This figure represents the combined area of five 

national parks, 13 nature reserves and three ungazetted areas and accounts for 2.6% of the 

total area of the bioregion (Table 3.3) lists nature reserves, national parks and ungazetted 

NPWS estate within or which intersect the BBS, their area within the BBS and their 

protected area management category under the International Union for the Conservation 

of Nature (IUCN). 

Manobalai Nature Reserve has been excluded from calculations. It has only one hectare 

within the BBS, which could be an inaccuracy due to the scale of mapping. 

14


Table 3.2 NPWS Estate within each province and percentage of province reserved 

Province Area of 

Province 

(ha) 






Pilliga 


NPWS Estate Area of Estate 

Within BBS (ha) 

Careunga Nature Reserve 469 

Kirramingly Nature Reserve (ungazetted) 1 329 

% of 

Province 

Reserved 

701 355 1 798 0.3% 

Mount Kaputar National Park 1 252 

940 197 1 252 0.1% 

Brigalow Park Nature Reserve 202 

Land adjacent to Claremont Nature Reserve 202 

Land adjacent to Brigalow Park Nature Reserve 52 

535 097 456 0.1% 

Cedar Brush Nature Reserve 190 

Coolah Tops National Park 10 578 

Towarri National Park 3 352 

Wingen Maid Nature Reserve 54 

523 105 14 174 2.7% 

Arakoola Nature Reserve 1 662 

Gamilaroi Nature Reserve 113 

Planchonella Nature Reserve 717 

611 268 2 492 0.4% 

Binnaway Nature Reserve 3 699 

Coolbaggie Nature Reserve 1 793 

Goulburn River National Park 2 012 

Pilliga Nature Reserve 80 239 

Warrumbungle National Park 23 198 

Weetalibah Nature Reserve 613 

1 734 198 111 554 6.4% 

Dapper Nature Reserve 753 

Wongarbon Nature Reserve 99 

205 346 852 0.4% 

15

Table 3.3 NPWS Estate in BBS 


National Parks Estate Hectares % within Protected Areas Management Category Under IUCN 

Within BBS BBS 

Pilliga Nature Reserve 80 239 100% Ia – strict nature reserve managed mainly for science 

Warrumbungle National Park 23 198 100% II – national park managed for ecosystem protection 

and recreation 

Coolah Tops National Park 10 578 100% II – national park managed for ecosystem protection 


Binnaway Nature Reserve 3 699 100% Ia – strict nature reserve managed mainly for science 

Towarri National Park 3 352 70% II – national park managed for ecosystem protection 


Goulburn River National Park 2 012 3% II – national park managed for ecosystem protection 


Coolbaggie Nature Reserve 1 793 100% Ia – strict nature reserve managed mainly for science 

Arakoola Nature Reserve 1 662 52% Ia – strict nature reserve managed mainly for science 

Mount Kaputar National Park 1 252 3% II – national park managed for ecosystem protection 


Dapper Nature Reserve 753 75% Ia – strict nature reserve managed mainly for science 

Planchonella Nature Reserve 717 100% IV – habitat / species management area managed for 

conservation through management intervention 

Weetalibah Nature Reserve 613 100% Ia – strict nature reserve managed mainly for science 

Careunga Nature Reserve 469 100% Ia – strict nature reserve managed mainly for science 

Brigalow Park Nature Reserve 202 100% IV – habitat / species management area managed for 


Cedar Brush Nature Reserve 190 100% Ia – strict nature reserve managed mainly for science 

Gamilaroi Nature Reserve 113 100% IV – habitat / species management area managed for 


Wongarbon Nature Reserve 99 100% IV – habitat / species management area managed for 


Wingen Maid Nature Reserve 54 5% Ia – strict nature reserve managed mainly for science 

Kirramingly Nature Reserve (ungazetted) 1 329 100% not assigned 

Land adjoining Claremont Nature 

Reserve 

202 100% not assigned 

Land adjoining Brigalow Park Nature 

Reserve 

51 100% not assigned 

Total area of NPWS estate within BBS 132 577 

3.4.2 State Forests of NSW estate 

Lands dedicated as flora reserves which lie within the BBS are listed in Table 3.4. These 

lands cover approximately 5 237 ha, which is 0.1% of the bioregion. The objective of 

management for Flora Reserves is the preservation of native flora. Of the 13 Flora 

reserves and preserves within the BBS, five flora reserves Lanes Mill, Bunal, Warung 

Tops, Yarindury, and Yearinan Flora Reserves have been exempted from mining and are 

therefore equivalent to IUCN I-IV. Timber harvesting and grazing by domestic stock are 

not permitted in flora reserves unless specified in a working plan. 

There is an area of approximately 584 000 ha of land dedicated as State forest which lie 

within or is intersected by the BBS (map 36). This figure represents the summed area of 

87 State forests and accounts for 11.1% of the total area of the bioregion. A list of State 

forests in the BBS is included as appendix 1. To date State Forests within the BBS have 

not been assigned IUCN categories. However, parts of these forests are likely to qualify 

for IUCN categories of I-IV under future Forest Management Zoning and initiatives 

associated with habitat or species management. 

16


Table 3.4 Flora Reserves and Flora Preserves within BBS 

3.4.3 Other Crown Lands 

Flora Reserve Hectares Intersecting BBS 

Gilgai FR 2 496 

Lanes Mill FR 732 

Norfolk Falls FR 640 

Mogriguy FP 399 

Jemmys Creek FR 321 

Bunal FR 182 

Wittenbra FR 83 

Sand Monkey FR 80 

Yarindury FR 60 

Warung Tops FR 60 

Wambadule South FP 56 

Ginee Belah FR 48 

Yearinan FR 43 

Currayall FP 37 

TOTAL 5 237 

The available data on Crown lands (map 4) (from CLID, the DLWCs Crown Lands 

Information Database) at the time of writing is not particularly accurate either spatially or 

by attributes. This is due to the fact that there is considerable spatial overlap between 

classes (Table 3.5). For example, a given patch of land may be classified as both Crown 

licence and Crown reserve, Crown lease or Crown other and there has been a lack of data 

verification and updating of CLID. There are also inconsistencies in the data. For 

example, Crown licences sometimes coincide with other crown classes (such as Crown 

licence on Crown reserve) but not always (Crown licence on unknown tenure) and when 

there is coincidence in some cases there is only a partial overlap. 

When all of the Crown Land classes are merged and treated as a spatial layer with no 

overlap (Unclassified Crown Land), they cover 873 599 ha (16.6% of BBS). When 

combined with the SFNSW and NPWS estate, the figure for public tenure in BBS is 

1 598 698 ha (30.4% of BBS). When this figure is subtracted from the total area of the 

BBS, 3 651 848 ha remains (69.6% of BBS). This tenure other than Crown tenure has 

been termed “freehold” for simplicity, but there will certainly be a small percentage of 

other tenures for which spatial data is not available at this time. 

17


Table 3.5 BBS tenure (DLWC CLID data & NPWS and SFNSW Estate Layers) 

Tenure Groups Tenure Hectares % of BBS 

Area of BBS 5 250 546 100.0 

Crown Crown Lease 609 326 11.6 

Crown Reserve 189 024 3.6 

Crown Licence 106 155 2.0 

Crown Easements 3 081 0.1 

Crown Other 10 438 0.2 

Sum of Crown (not spatially unique) 918 024 17.5 

Merged Crown (spatially unique) 873 599 16.6 

All Public Tenure Merged Public Tenure (spatially unique), includes 

SFNSW and NPWS Estate 

1 596 176 30.4 

SFNSW Estate Includes flora reserves 590 000 11.2 

NPWS Estate Includes estate owned but not gazetted as 

national park or nature reserve 

132 577 2.6 

Freehold Freehold (not Crown) 3 654 370 69.6 

NB: All figures in the above table have been calculated from available spatial data using a 

projection of AMG Zone 55 and AGD66 Datum. 

Convertible leasehold land 

Convertible leasehold land is Crown land that may be converted to freehold after a joint 

assessment of conservation values by DLWC and NPWS. There is currently limited 

spatial information on the status of convertible and non-convertible leasehold lands within 

the BBS. Approximately 120 000 hectares (about 20% of the total area of Crown leases in 

BBS) of convertible leasehold land has been identified within the BBS. 

Vacant Crown land 

There are no spatial data available to indicate the amount or spatial arrangement of vacant 

Crown land in the BBS. 

Special cases of Crown easements 

Approximately 3 081ha has been mapped as Crown easements (Table 3.5). The subclasses 

in this group are: 

easement over non-Crown land; 

electricity transmission; 

transportation access; 

fuel (gas, oil) / water / sewerage / drainage; and 

other purpose. 

18


Travelling Stock Routes 

Of the Crown reserve figure quoted in Table 3.6, 76 555 ha are travelling stock routes 

(TSRs). This figure is indicative only as the data used to derive it require updating. A 

better representation of the area of TSRs within the BBS can be estimated by the data 

given in Table 3.6 which shows the total area of managed land for each Rural Lands 

Protection Board (RLPB) and the percentage of their area within the BBS. Twenty one 

percent of the total area of all RLPBs which intersect the BBS falls within the bioregion. 

This area of 56 170 ha equates to approximately 1% of the entire bioregion. 

Table 3.6 Areas of land managed by Rural Land Protection Boards in the BBS 

RLPB Total Area TSRs, 

PWPs and SWPs 

Managed 

(ha) 

Area of 

Jurisdiction Within 

BBS 

(ha) 

% Area Of Jurisdiction Within BBS 

Coonabarabran 4 000 1 242 619 95.1% 

Narrabri 38 346 863 078 69.3% 

Tamworth 13 816 896 008 52.3% 

Northern Slopes 39 646 706 636 43.0% 

Dubbo 18 500 585 287 34.2% 

Mudgee – Merriwa 3 039 369 384 26.5% 

Moree 32 500 411 677 25.7% 

Walgett 63 833 94 163 3.7% 

Coonamble 50 000 13 511 1.2% 

Hunter 3 780 68 132 0.7% 

TOTALS 267 460 5 250 495 % total area of jurisdiction of all 

RLPBs in BBS=21% 

TSRs are of important value as habitat corridors, and even though they are subject to edge 

effects due to their predominantly linear nature and general proximity to roads, are often a 

haven for rare plants due to their reduced grazing interval and frequency when compared 

with freehold land. TSRs are also important as they are often a key source of plants, 

seeds, seeds or other parts of plants which are able to produce an individual plant, for use 

in rehabilitation and restoration of vegetation. 

3.5 Administrative boundaries and roles of administrative bodies / 

organisations 

The following information shows the bodies or organisations which have land 

management jurisdiction within the BBS and are responsible for the administration of 

landscape related issues. 

3.5.1 New South Wales State Government 

Five State Government electorates intersect the BBS. These are Dubbo, Northern 

Tablelands, Tamworth, Barwon and Upper Hunter. Barwon and Upper Hunter together 

occupy 86% of the bioregion. (Map 9) 

3.5.2 National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) 

The NPWS is the government agency responsible for developing and maintaining the 

parks and reserve system, and conserving natural and cultural heritage, in the state of New 

South Wales. 

19


The BBS sits on the boundary between three of the four NPWS Directorates; Northern, 

Central and Western. The majority (84%), however, sits in Western Directorate, with 

Northern and Central Directorates having responsibility for 11% and 5% respectively of 

the bioregion respectively. Any bioregional assessment of the BBS will be managed from 

the Western Directorate office in Dubbo. (Map 3 shows NPWS Directorates and Regions) 

The NPWS Directorates are subdivided into Regions and Areas as shown in Table 3.7. 

Table 3.7 NPWS administrative areas 

Directorate Region Area 

Central Blue Mountains Mudgee 

Central Coast-Hunter Range Hunter Range 

Northern Northern Tablelands Glen Innes West 

Walcha 

Hunter Upper Hunter 

Western Northern Plains Narrabri 

Coonabarabran 

Central West Lachlan 

Macquarie 

The functions of the NPWS are (NPWS, 2001g): 

“to conserve protected native animals and plants throughout NSW 

to protect and manage Aboriginal sites, objects and places of special significance to 

Aboriginal people 

to promote community awareness, understanding and appreciation of the conservation 

of nature and our cultural heritage 

to investigate and acquire land for the state’s network of parks and reserves so that it 

conserves a complete range of the natural environments of NSW 

to manage historic places within parks and reserves and to acquire historic places of 

significance 

to manage parks and reserves – and their culturally significant features – for 

enjoyment and conservation 

to identify, protect and manage wilderness throughout the state.” 

These functions are further detailed under the National Parks and Wildlife Act, 1974 Part 

2, Division 1. 

3.5.3 State Forests of NSW (SFNSW) 

BBS is intersected by nine SFNSW Management Areas. They are Inverell, Pilliga, 

Attunga, Dubbo, Gunnedah, Gilgandra, Mudgee, Cessnock and Warung. For the 

purposes of this report Attunga can be considered outside the bioregion as there is only an 

insignificant overlap probably caused by digitising of boundaries at different scales. 

20


Dubbo, Gilgandra, Pilliga and Inverell management areas along the north and east of the 

BBS are probably the most important areas for biological diversity, natural and cultural 

values (Map 5). 

The objectives of SFNSW outlined in the Forestry Act, 1916 (NSW) are: 

to conserve and utilise the timber on Crown-timber lands and land owned by SFNSW 

or otherwise under its control or management to the best advantage of the State; 

to provide adequate supplies of timber from Crown-timber lands and land owned by 

SFNSW or otherwise under its control or management for building, commercial, 

industrial, agricultural, mining and domestic purposes; 

to preserve and improve, in accordance with good forestry practice, the soil resources 

and water catchment capabilities of Crown-timber lands and land owned by SFNSW 

or otherwise under its control or management; 

to encourage the use of timber derived from trees grown in the State; 

consistent with the use of State forests for the purposes of forestry and of flora 

reserves for the preservation of the native flora thereon: 

(i) to promote and encourage their use as a recreation; and 

(ii) to conserve birds and animals thereon; and 

to provide natural resource environmental services (whether within or outside of New 

South Wales). 

3.5.4 Department of Land and Water Conservation (DLWC) 

There are three separate DLWC administrative regions intersecting the BBS. They are 

Barwon in the north, Central West in the south-west and Hunter in the south-east that 

corresponds generally to the Liverpool Range Province within BBS. (Map 7) 

DLWC is responsible for integration of the management of land, water, soil, vegetation 

and coastal resources of New South Wales. 

The functions of DLWC include (DLWC, 2000c): 

“developing policies on resource use and management; 

maintaining databases on the condition of the State’s land, soil, water and vegetation; 

managing assets such as Crown land across the State; including the Crown reserve 

system, dams and fishing ports 

providing expertise with management of the coast, estuaries and floodplains; 

managing the country towns water supply and sewerage scheme; 

managing the planning and sharing of water across the State; and 

providing survey and mapping services (the geographic information infrastructure), 

ensuring the fundamental interests and rights in land of individuals.” 

21

3.5.5 Rural Lands Protection Boards (RLPBs) 


The BBS intersects with ten RLPB areas, with nine of these contributing most to the BBS 

area including Dubbo, Mudgee-Merriwa, Hunter, Tamworth, Coonabarabran, Walgett, 

Narrabri, Moree, and Northern Slopes. The remaining RLPB (Coonamble) only 

contributes a very small area on the mid-western boundary of the BBS (Map 2). 

RLPBs main responsibilities are: 

the care, control, and management of crown lands dedicated for the purposes of 

travelling stock.; 

managing the control of rabbits, wild dogs, feral pigs, and other pests such as foxes 

and feral cats; and 

animal health service to owners of commercial herd and flock animals. 

3.5.6 Regional Vegetation Committees (RVCs) 

The BBS is intersected by eight RVCs and one proposed committee (Map 6). These 

committees are Hunter Valley (not appointed), Narrabri – Coonabarabran – Coolah, 

Inverell-Yallaroi, Liverpool Plains, Moree, North-Western Slopes (not appointed), 

Walgett and Lower Macquarie - Castlereagh. 

RVCs are responsible for producing Regional Vegetation Management Plans (RVMPs), a 

way for communities to develop their own localised plans to deal with the native 

vegetation issues most effecting their region. For example, native vegetation 

conservation, viability of agricultural production, dryland salinity or the conservation of 

native species (NSW Govt., 1999). RVCs are governed by the NVC Act and are 

coordinated through DLWC. 

As of June 2001, none of the RVCs within the BBS bioregion had finalised their RVMP. 

However, several RVCs which have RVMPs in various stages of development include: 

Walgett; 

Inverell – Yallaroi; 

Liverpool Plains; 

Moree; and 

Narrabri – Coonabarabran – Coolah. 

3.5.7 Catchment Management Boards (CMBs) 

18 CMBs replace 43 of the 45 previous Catchment Management Committees and the five 

regional catchment committees within New South Wales. Four CMBs and one Catchment 

Management Trust have jurisdiction within the BBS bioregion (map 10). These are 

Namoi Catchment Management Board, Border Rivers Catchment Management Board, 

Gwydir Catchment Management Board, Central West Catchment Management Board, 

and Hunter Catchment Management Trust. 

22


Board members are drawn from representatives from the community, industry and 

Government including nature conservation interests, primary producers/natural resource 

users, local government, Aboriginal interests, and State Government. 

The roles of CMBs include (DLWC, 2000a): 

“To identify the opportunities, problems and threats associated with the use of natural 

resources to support rural production and protection and enhancement of the 

environment; 

to identify the first order objectives and targets, within the overall legislative and 

policy framework, for the use and management of the region’s natural resources; 

to develop management options, strategies and actions to address the identified 

objectives and targets; 

to assist in developing a greater understanding within the community of the issues 

identified and action required to support rural production and enhance the 

environment; and 

to initiate proposals for projects and assess against the targets, all projects submitted 

for funding under Commonwealth and State natural resource management grant 

programs.” 

3.5.8 Local Government 

There are 20 local Government areas intersecting with the BBS. Table 3.8 shows the 

local Government areas (LGAs) which intersect the BBS, their area and the percent of the 

BBS which they cover. The main LGAs intersecting the BBS are Narrabri, 

Coonabarabran and Moree Plains (map 8). 

Examples of local government’s role in biodiversity conservation include: 

local environment plans (LEPs) which are the principal legal document for controlling 

development at the council level. The zoning provisions establish permissibility of 

uses and standards regulate the extent of development (DUAP, 2001); 

tree preservation orders (TPO) which are being used by Councils as a method of 

controlling vegetation clearing. For example, Gunnedah Shire Council has for a 

number of years been one of the few rural Councils that extended a TPO to cover the 

rural areas of the Shire. TPOs generally apply to urban areas within a local 

government area. The Gunnedah TPO has now been incorporated into Council’s Local 

Environment Plan (LEP) which was gazetted in 1998, giving the TPO even greater 

statutory power; 

Gunnedah Council is also developing a Koala Management Plan in part of the Shire. 

(ALGA, 2000); and 

SBS has helped to develop and trial Local Biodiversity Strategies which could be 

promoted through this project. 

23


Many councils are involved in management of roadsides for protection of vegetation 

corridors. For example, Coonabarabran Shire has prepared a roadside assessment and 

vegetation management plan which has been issued as a development control plan for 

the Shire. Dubbo Shire is also currently (August 2001) undertaking a roadside 

assessment and vegetation management plan. 

Table 3.8 Local Government Areas within the BBS 

Local Government Total Area Hectares within BBS % of BBS 

Area 

(ha) 

(ha) 

Narrabri 1 309 700 930 285 17.7% 

Coonabarabran 746 730 744 513 14.2% 

Moree Plains 1 786 993 621 183 11.8% 

Gunnedah 504 641 450 808 8.6% 

Coolah 480 622 404 272 7.7% 

Yallaroi 536 333 390 140 7.4% 

Gilgandra 486 318 351 183 6.7% 

Merriwa 351 283 263 355 5.0% 

Dubbo 343 122 256 914 4.9% 

Quirindi 305 971 223 617 4.3% 

Murrurundi 246 632 152 199 2.9% 

Inverell 856 409 116 801 2.2% 

Coonamble 998 862 90 799 1.7% 

Scone 402 301 79 882 1.5% 

Walgett 2 228 333 64 624 1.2% 

Wellington 413 292 52 778 1.0% 

Narromine 524 831 47 848 0.9% 

Mudgee 555 243 5 913 0.1% 

Muswellbrook 344 068 2 681 0.1% 

Parry 475 898 751


Table 3.9 Local Aboriginal Land Councils intersecting the BBS 

LALC Area Within The BBS (ha) % Within BBS % of BBS Covered by LALC 

Coonabarabran 606 773 100% 12% 

Coonamble 29 897 4% 1% 

Dubbo 387 458 70% 7% 

Gilgandra 547 046 80% 10% 

Moree 709 389 70% 14% 

Narrabri 438 843 87% 8% 

Narromine 42 962 26% 1% 

Nungaroo 113 289 28% 2% 

Pilliga 325 472 95% 6% 

Red Chief 473 794 84% 9% 

Toomelah 479 896 53% 9% 

Walgett 77 000 6% 1% 

Walhallow 498 013 99% 10% 

Wanaruah 219 343 15% 4% 

Wee Waa 96 144 27% 2% 

Weilwan 94 656 50% 2% 

Unincorporated 98 505 14% 2% 

The functions of a Local Aboriginal Land Council as set out in Section 12 of the 

Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983 are: 

(a) “in accordance with any regulations, to acquire land and to hold or dispose of, or 

otherwise deal with, land vested in or acquired by the Council, and 

(a1) to negotiate the acquisition by the Council or by the Council and one or 

more other Local Aboriginal Land Councils of lands of cultural 

significance to Aboriginals that are listed in Schedule 14 to the National 

Parks and Wildlife Act, 1974 and the lease of those lands to the Minister 

administering that Act, and 

(a2) to submit proposals to the Director-General of National Parks and Wildlife 

for the listing in that Schedule of other lands of cultural significance to 

Aboriginals that are reserved or dedicated under the National Parks and 

Wildlife Act, 1974, and 

(a3) to negotiate the lease by the Council or by the Council and one or more 

other Local Aboriginal Land Councils of lands to which section 36A 

applies to the Minister administering the National Parks and Wildlife Act, 

1974, and 

(b) to make applications in writing to the New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council 

for the acquisition by the New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council of land on 

behalf of or to be vested in the Local Aboriginal Land Council, and 

(c) to make applications in writing to the New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council 

for the granting of funds to be applied solely to the payment of the administrative 

costs and expenses of the Local Aboriginal Land Council, and 

(d) to implement the wishes of its members (as decided at a meeting of the Council) 

with respect to: 

(i) the acquisition, management, use, control and disposal of land, and 

(ii) the acquisition, establishment and operation of enterprises, and 

25


(e) to consider applications to prospect or mine for minerals on its land and to make 

recommendations to the New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council, and 

(f) to make claims to Crown lands, and 

(g) to upgrade and extend residential accommodation for Aborigines in its area, and 

(h) to protect the interests of Aborigines in its area in relation to the acquisition, 

management, use, control and disposal of its land, and 

(i) to negotiate with persons desiring to use, occupy or gain access to any part of its 

land, and 

(j) with the consent of the parties concerned, to conciliate disputes between individual 

Aborigines or groups of Aborigines in its area, and 

(k) such other functions as are conferred or imposed on it by or under this or any other 

Act.” 

26

4 ABIOTIC DATA 

4.1 Current knowledge 


Appendix 9 shows all current datasets (biotic and abiotic), their custodianship, scale, 

source, and the percentage of the BBS bioregion covered by each. 

4.1.1 Climate 

In an analysis of the BBS (RACD, 2000a), climatic data for six meteorological stations 

were included. The east-west axis of the bioregion is represented by Gilgandra in the west 

(31 o 72'S, 148 o 66'E; elevation 285m; 107 years of records) to Murrurundi in the east 

(31 o 77'S, 150084'E; elevation 466m; 126 years of records). Along the north-south axis the 

stations are Dubbo to the south (32 o 21'S, 148 o 57'E; elevation 275m; 126 years of records), 

Narrabri in the centre (30 o 34'S, 149 o 75'E; elevation 212m; 105 years of records) and in 

the north, Texas (28 o 85'S, 151 o 17'E; elevation 284m; 99 years of records) and 

Goondiwindi (28 o 55'S, 150 o 31'E; elevation 217m; 112 years of records). 

In addition to considering the variation in weather patterns across the year using longterm 

station data it is also essential to examine the microclimatic variation across the 

landscape by including topographic features in the analysis. The bioclimatic surfaces 

(derived from base data supplied by Australian National University) (Maps 13 and 14) 

indicate the range of microclimates and the consequent potential variation in the 

distribution and occurrence of plant and animal species across the bioregion. 

Rainfall 

Located within the eastern sub-humid region of Australia, the BBS (Aus) includes a large 

proportion of the country with an annual rainfall of 500 - 750 mm from Carnarvon Range 

in central Queensland to Dubbo in New South Wales. 

In the bioregion annual mean rainfall varies from about 550 mm in the west at Gilgandra 

to 823 mm on the eastern edge of the bioregion at Murrurundi. On the north - south 

gradient, annual mean rainfall is 587 mm in Dubbo, 651 mm at Narrabri and 659 mm at 

Texas on the Queensland border. Substantial rainfalls can occur at any time of the year 

but there is a peak in summer and a smaller peak in winter. The dominance of the summer 

rainfall decreases to the south, with the exception of Murrurundi on the higher altitudes of 

the south east. At Dubbo, the distribution of rainfall throughout the year is relatively even 

with a low in April. The bioclimatic surface for rainfall (Map 12) illustrates the variation 

in relation to topography (orographic variation), most notably the areas of higher rainfall 

around the Liverpool Ranges in the south east and the higher outcrops of the 

Warrumbungles (RACD, 2000a). 

27


Temperature 

Temperatures vary with altitude throughout the bioregion and have a large daily variation. 

The variation with altitude is clearly demonstrated by the bioclimatic surface for 

temperature (Map 13). Like the rainfall, the Liverpool and Warrumbungle Ranges have 

lower annual mean temperatures than the rest of the bioregion, as do some of the isolated 

volcanic peaks between the two ranges. 

Monthly mean temperatures range from a maximum of 33 o C in January to a minimum of 

3 o C in July but daily maxima can reach 45 o C and stay above 40 o C for several days. 

Minimum temperatures can be as low as -9 o C. Frosts are common with up to 100 days of 

frost each winter possible in the southern areas. Occasional snowfalls occur on the 

tablelands (RACD, 2000a). 

4.1.2 Geology and geomorphology 

The BBS is underlain by ancient fractured crystalline rocks covered by sedimentary layers 

deposited during the Triassic and Jurassic periods. In the Miocene epoch the area was 

subjected to igneous activity and subsequent movements of the earth’s crust (NWCMC, 

1996). 

The Mesozoic sediments that dominate the Brigalow Belt are the south-eastern extremity 

of the Great Artesian Basin (GAB) (Map 21). These sandstone beds form a generally 

undulating to low hilly landscape with some higher areas covered by Tertiary lava flows 

(Morgan and Terrey 1992). 

In the south western portion of the bioregion, the sedimentary deposits are the sandstones 

and mudstones of the Purlewaugh Beds of the lower and middle Jurassic period and the 

quartz Pilliga Sandstones of the upper Jurassic period. The Pilliga Sandstone are the 

major intake bed for the GAB. During this period of sedimentary deposition, the GAB to 

the west and north-west was subsiding and forming vast lakes. The landscape was then 

gradually eroded and uplifted and became one of worn sandstone ridges and mesas, 

surrounded by vertical cliffs and isolated by deep broad river valleys which were slowly 

being eroded away. 

The volcanic activity in the Tertiary period then covered the whole area with vast lava 

flows and associated volcanic formations. The subsequent 13 million years of weathering 

reduced these vast flows to a few resistant volcanic formations – Liverpool Range, 

Warrumbungle Range and Nandewar Range (in the Nandewar bioregion) and many small 

conical hills. This weathering of the basalt ranges has produced the rich alluvium which 

has become the fertile floodplains now used extensively for cropping (Fairley, 1991). 

Soils 

The long history of erosion of the landscape of the bioregion has resulted in the 

development of a variety of soils types (map 16). North of Narrabri most of the bioregion 

has coarsely cracking grey and brown clays with some deep black cracking clays and redbrown 

earths in the north east. South of Narrabri there are four predominant soil types: 

28


deep black cracking clays over most of the low elevation eastern half with shallow 

black self mulching clays on the Liverpool Ranges; 

massive red and yellow earths in most of the western half; 

areas of red brown earths and loams along the Castlereagh and Talbragar Rivers; 


shallow loams in the Warrumbungle Ranges. 

The soils which developed directly on the basic igneous rocks such as basalt and tuff are 

generally finer textured with uniform to gradational profiles. These range from 

kraznozems and chocolate soils in the wetter parts to euchrozems and red, grey and black 

cracking clays on the drier western slopes. Over the Pilliga Sandstones there are mostly 

poor sandy or gravelly soils, sandy loams, duplex clays and sand or yellow earths, which 

are often skeletal. Along the major rivers the soils are deep black, grey or red clays and 

fertile, fine to medium textured soils on levees and more recent alluvium (Banks 1995, 

1998 in RACD, 2000a). 

Deep, highly fertile black earths have developed on the basic alluvia and colluvia on the 

wide valleys below the basaltic ranges, including the Liverpool Plains. These are 

interspersed with red earths, red brown earths, solodics and sometimes euchrozems on the 

sandstone outcrops. On the riverine plains of the west of the bioregion the soils have been 

derived from the Quaternary alluvia and have formed moderately fertile deep grey and 

brown cracking clays. 

Soils landscapes have been mapped for four areas within the bioregion: the 1:250 000 

Dubbo map sheet (Murphy and Lawrie, 1998), the Singleton 1:250 000 map sheet (Kovac 

and Lawrie, 1991), the 1:100 000 Blackville map sheet (Banks, 1998) and the 1:100 000 

Curlewis map sheet (Banks, 1995). Draft digital data only is available for the Narromine 

1:250 000 map sheet and mapping for the Boggabri 1:100 000 map sheet is currently 

underway (May, 2001). These data have not been included in any analysis in this report 

due to their limited coverage and being incomplete in digital format. 

The distributions of soil types and lithology across the landscape are briefly included in 

the province descriptions outlined previously. 0 below shows soil types by province and 

the percentage of each province covered by each soil type. These figures show that the 

dominant soil types for the Liverpool Plains and Northern Basalts provinces are deep 

black cracking clays, for the Liverpool Range province they are shallow black self 

mulching and deep black cracking clays, for the Northern Outwash province they are 

coarsely cracking grey and brown clays, for the Pilliga province they are massive red and 

yellow earths, and for the Pilliga Outwash and Talbragar Valley provinces they are 

massive red and yellow earths and massive red brown earths. 

29


Table 4.1 Soil type by province within BBS 

(Source: 1:2 000 000 soils mapping) 

Province Soil Type Area (ha) % Province 





Pilliga 



Deep black cracking clays 617 055 66% 

Yellow and red texture contrast soils 132 332 14% 

Massive red and yellow earths 73 601 8% 

Red-brown earths 56 335 6% 

Shallow loams 25 471 3% 

Coarsely cracking grey and brown clays 18 688 2% 

Deep structured red clay loams 9 059 1% 

Shallow black self-mulching clays 7 645 0.8% 

Shallow black self-mulching clays 263 404 50% 



Yellow and red texture contrast soils 6 207 1.2% 

Stony sandy loams 6 021 1.2% 

Massive red and yellow earths 4 302 0.8% 

Red-brown earths 369 0.1% 






Shallow loams 3 146 0.5% 

Stony sandy loams 422 0.1% 







Deep alluvial loams 85 943 5% 


Shallow black self-mulching clays 66 553 4% 

Shallow loams 41 460 2% 

Yellow and red texture contrast soils 14 180 0.8% 

Deep friable red and brown clays 13 465 0.8% 

Coarsely cracking grey and brown clays 2 552 0.1% 




Scalded red texture contrast soils 4 706 1% 

Deep black cracking clays 2 200 0.4% 



Deep alluvial loams 35 174 17% 




30

4.1.3 Topography 


Elevation within the BBS varies from 1 240 m above sea level in the east to 100 m above 

sea level in the west. The highest country is the Liverpool Range, a western extension of 

the Great Dividing Range that crosses the area from east to west south of Tamworth and 

Coonabarabran and joins the Warrumbungle Range in otherwise gently undulating and 

flat country. A digital elevation model (DEM) (25m LIC data) for the bioregion (map 17) 

demonstrates the variation in topography over the bioregion. 

The Liverpool range is rugged on the northern edge with slopes up to 45 degrees and 

altitude from 600 to 1 200 m above sea level. The southern edge of the range has a more 

moderate slope of approximately 7 degrees. 

The Warrumbungles range from approximately 1 100m above sea level to approximately 

480m above sea level with slopes ranging from approximately 12 degrees on the northern 

side to 6 degrees in the south. 

Map 43 was derived from the DEM and shows slope classes throughout the BBS. The 

majority of the bioregion has a slope of 0-10 degrees, with hillier areas such as the 

Warrumbungles, the Liverpool range and the lower slopes of Mount Kaputar having 

slopes up to 55 degrees. 

4.1.4 Hydrology 

River catchments which intersect the BBS are the Namoi, Castlereagh, Macintyre, 

Macquarie, Gwydir and Hunter. The area of these catchments, and the percentage of each 

which intersect the BBS are shown in Table 4.2. Identified wetland types, number of each 

wetland type and area of identified wetlands within these catchments which intersect with 

the BBS are shown in Table 4.3. Map 14 shows catchment areas and identified wetlands 

within the 50km buffer of the BBS. The identified wetlands data layer used in this report 

was the Murray-Darling Basin Commission (MDBC) Wetlands GIS of the Murray 

Darling Basin (Kingsford et al, 1999). This data layer mapped wetlands greater than 5 ha 

at 1:250 000 scale and consequently wetlands smaller than 5 ha are not included in this 

report. Appendix 17 lists identified streams within all catchments in the BBS. 

Table 4.2 Catchments intersecting the BBS 

Catchment Area Catchment Area Area Intersecting with % Catchment Area % of BBS Covered by 

(ha) 

BBS (ha) 

Within BBS 

Catchment 

Namoi River 4 205 447 2 116 364 50% 40% 

Castlereagh River 1 742 205 889 136 51% 17% 

Macintyre River 2 424 432 703 323 29% 13% 

Macquarie River 7 476 966 625 647 8% 12% 

Gwydir River 2 660 999 568 450 21% 11% 

Hunter River 2 150 122 347 558 16% 7% 

Of the six catchments which intersect the BBS, the Namoi River catchment covers by far 

the greatest area of the bioregion (40%) and contains the largest number and area of 

identified wetlands of all catchments within the BBS. 

31


No identified wetlands within the BBS fall within NPWS or NSWSF estate, and only 12% 

of these wetlands lie within Crown reserves. This figure was derived from overlaying the 

DLWC Crown Lands Information Database (CLID) layer on the wetlands layer. The total 

area of identified wetlands within the BBS is approximately 24 000 ha and includes 219 

floodplain wetlands, reservoirs, and lakes. 64% of all wetlands in the BBS consist of a 

total of 116 floodplain wetlands, with five freshwater lakes accounting for 30% of the 

area of wetland in the BBS and 98 reservoirs accounting for 6% of the total area of 

wetlands in the BBS. Freshwater lakes in the BBS include Goran Lake in the Namoi 

River catchment, which covers an area of 6 800 ha, and is the largest freshwater lake in 

the bioregion. Other lakes in the BBS include Yarrie Lake, also in the Namoi catchment 

and covering an area of 61ha, and Old Harbour Lagoon in the Macquarie catchment, 

covering an area of 130ha (Map 14). 

Wetlands are important ecosystems (NPWS, 2001g) as they: 

provide breeding grounds for many animals, particularly fish and waterbirds; 

provide habitats for wildlife and ensure the survival of many threatened species; 

purify water by trapping sediments and nutrients; 

provide protection from floods; 

may be refuges for wildlife in times of drought; and 

help maintain biological diversity. 

Table 4.3 Identified wetlands, types and area within BBS 

(Source: Kingsford et al, 1999) 

Catchment Area Wetland Type No Wetlands Area (ha) % under Crown Reserve 

Namoi River including Reservoir 47 476 2% 

Cockburn River, Manila River, 

Mooki River, and Peel River 

Freshwater Lake 

Floodplain Wetlands 

4 

26 

6 924 

4 676 

1% 

45% 

Namoi Totals 77 12 077 18% 

Macintyre River including Reservoir 4 176 0% 

Barwon River, Boomi River, 

Dumaresq River, and Severn 

River 


Macintyre Totals 

62 

66 

7 255 

7 431 

6% 

6% 

Gwydir River including Reservoir 23 544 0.4% 

Horton River, and Mehi River Floodplain Wetlands 27 3 385 5% 

Gwydir Totals 50 3 929 5% 

Macquarie River including Reservoir 5 95 0% 

Bell River, Bogan River, Bogar 

River, Coolburragundy River, 

Cudgegogn River, Little River, 

Freshwater Lake 


1 

1 

132 

25 

0% 

5% 

and Talbragar River Macquarie Totals 7 252 3% 

Castlereagh River 

Reservoir 19 65 0% 

Castlereagh Totals 19 65 0% 

BBS Totals 219 23 754 12% 

Table 4.4 shows areas of different wetland types within each province of the BBS and the 

percentage wetland cover within each province. 

32


Table 4.4 

(Source: Kingsford et al, 1999) 

Wetlands by province within the BBS 

Province Wetland Type Name of Major 

Wetlands 

Wetland Area (ha) % Province 

Liverpool Plains Freshwater Lake Lake Goran 6 863 0.73% 



Pilliga 



Reservoir 271 0.03% 

TOTALS 7 134 0.76% 

Floodplain Wetlands 2 648 0.43% 


TOTALS 2 771 0.45% 



TOTALS 8 599 1.23% 

Floodplain Wetlands 25 0.001% 

Freshwater Lake Old Harbour Lagoon 132 0.008% 


TOTALS 245 0.014% 


Freshwater Lake Yarrie Lake 61 0.01% 


TOTALS 4 998 0.93% 


TOTALS 7 0.003% 

Great Artesian Basin 

The GAB covers approximately 1.7 million km 2 (approximately one fifth of the continent) 

and covers the majority of Queensland, and parts of the Northern Territory, South 

Australia and New South Wales (GABCC, 1998; DNR, 2001)). The BBS lies within the 

Surat Basin (sub-basin of GAB) in the south east of the GAB and covers only a small 

section of the basin. The major aquifers of the GAB which fall within the BBS are the 

Upper and Lower Pilliga Sandstone Aquifers (GABCC, 1998). Depth of sediments in the 

GAB within the majority of the BBS vary between 0 and 1 200 m, with one area up to 

1 800 m deep along the New South Wales – Queensland border. Groundwater within the 

GAB flows from areas of higher topography (such as the recharge zones within the BBS) 

towards lower areas or discharge zones (springs) to the west of the bioregion (GABCC, 

1998). Figure 4.1 below shows the main features of an artesian basin. In this context, the 

BBS lies in the recharge zone shown in this diagram. 

Groundwater within the recharge zones moves very slowly at approximately 5m per 

annum with the oldest water in the GAB being dated at close to 2 million years old 

(GABCC, 1998). Due to utilisation of groundwater from the GAB, there has been a drop 

in artesian water pressure and flows. Consequently, decreased discharges from artesian 

springs leads to decreased biodiversity in these areas. 

Wastage of water from bores is another issue relating to the GAB as up to 90% of bore 

discharge is lost from uncontrolled bores or evaporation from bore drains (GABCC, 

1998). Water quality in the GAB is also an issue in the recharge zones such as those 

within the BBS where land use can potentially contaminate groundwater in these areas. 

33

(GABCC, 1998) 

Figure 4.1 Main features of an artesian basin 


Macintyre River Catchment 

The Macintyre River catchment forms part of the larger Border Rivers catchment. The 

Bogabilla Weir, constructed in 1992 on the Macintyre River has a capacity of 5 400 ML 

and is used to store and re-regulate river flows for irrigation. Other weirs on the 

Macintyre River include the Boomi River Weir, which diverts water to Boomi and the 

Goondiwindi Weir which has a capacity of 1 660 ML and is used to supply town water 

(DWR, 1995). 

The Macintyre River has an average annual flow of 760 GL and contributes 

approximately 60% of flow in the Border Rivers. The consumptive use of water in the 

Macintyre is estimated at 209 GL / year. The average salinity for the Macintyre River is 

450 EC and no change is predicted in this value for the next 100 years (MDBMC, 1999). 

Wetlands within the Macintyre River catchment mostly occur downstream of the BBS, 

past Bogabilla and include the Telephone / Malgarai, Rainbow, Maynes, and Boobera 

Lagoons, Whalan Creek and the Morella Watercourse (DWR, 1995). 

Gwydir River Catchment 

The major water storage in the Gwydir River catchment is Copeton Dam which was built 

in the early 1970s and is located upstream of the bioregion. The total capacity of this dam 

is 1.3 million ML, however, water supplies in the Gwydir River are over-allocated and the 

dam rarely holds sufficient water to meet demands (EPA, 1997b). Many irrigators have 

built large off-river storages to extract water from the Gwydir during high flow periods 

(EPA, 1997b). Natural median flow in the Gwydir River above Moree is 520 000 

ML/year with the nominal irrigation allocation over 530 000ML/year (EPA, 1997b). 

Water extraction, river regulation and land management practices in the Gwydir 

catchment have had a major effect on river ecosystem health and water quality. Water 

34


quality problems within the Gwydir catchment include streambank and gully erosion, 

turbidity and sedimentation, high nutrient levels and blue-green algal blooms, 

contamination with agricultural chemicals, rising salinity, lower water temperatures due to 

cold water releases from Copeton Dam and heavy metals contamination from disused 

mine sites (EPA, 1997b). 

Average salinity at 1999 for the Gwydir River was 560 EC and a moderate rise in salinity 

to 600 EC is predicted by 2020. The 800 EC threshold is exceeded approximately 14% of 

the time on the Gwydir River at Pallamallawa. The critical threshold level of 1 500 EC, 

where wetland and ecosystem health is degraded, is currently exceeded infrequently but is 

expected to be exceeded 8% of the time by 2100. The Warialda Creek, a tributary of the 

Gwydir River within the BBS, exceeds the 800 EC threshold approximately 52% of the 

time, the 1 500 EC threshold 33% of the time, and is predicted to exceed the 1 500 EC 

threshold 40% of the time by 2100 (MDBMC, 1999). 

Endosulphan levels above the level recommended by ANZECC for ecosystem protection 

have been recorded in the catchment within and downstream of cotton growing areas. 

Other chemicals, such as DDT are commonly detected in sediments of the Gwydir River 

system (EPA, 1997b). 

The Gwydir wetlands, on the floodplain of the Gwydir River, are listed as nationally 

significant in the Directory of Important Wetlands of Australia (EA, 2001e) and a part of 

the wetland is listed as a Ramsar site (internationally significant wetland). Although these 

wetlands are outside the BBS, they are downstream of the bioregion and, as such, land 

and water use within the BBS portion of the catchment will affect the ecological integrity 

of these ecosystems. 

Riparian vegetation of the upper Gwydir River provides important habitat for birds listed 

under the TSC Act including regent honeyeater (Xanthomyza phrygia), and swift parrot 

(Lathamus discolor). The freshwater tortoise Elseya sp. (Namoi River elseya) is listed as 

vulnerable under the TSC Act and is only recorded from a small number of sites in the 

upper reaches of the Namoi and Gwydir Rivers upstream of the BBS (Johnson, 2001a). 

Fish species recorded within the Gwydir River catchment are listed in Table 7.1. 

Namoi River Catchment 

The major storage on the Namoi River is Lake Keepit Dam which was erected in 1960 

and is located upstream of the Bioregion. Two other dams have since been built on the 

tributaries to the Namoi River (Chaffey Dam on the Peel River, and Split Rock Dam on 

the Manilla River), both upstream of the Bioregion. The total capacity of these dams is 

approximately 880 000 ML (EPA, 1997b). 

Natural river flows have been changed seasonally due to river regulation within the 

catchment. Winter and spring flows are now captured and released in summer for 

irrigation. Flow variability has also been reduced below dams in the main streams due to 

constant minimum flow releases in non-irrigation seasons, and long periods of medium to 

high flow releases at other times (EPA, 1997b). 

Change in flows has been detrimental to habitats within the catchment. Other issues 

within the catchment were identified in 1997 by the North West Catchment Management 

35


Committee as including dryland salinity, water quality, soil degradation, water supply, 

floodplain management, stream bank erosion and declining native vegetation. High levels 

of phosphorus are present in the Keepit and Split Rock dams, and blue-green algae 

blooms occur in winter and summer in Chaffey Dam. High levels of turbidity are 

common and may be exacerbated by domestic stock trampling streambanks and by 

European carp (EPA, 1997b). 

Surface water within the catchment generally has low salinities and is generally suitable 

for irrigation. However, Mooki River is a significant source of salts as is Native Dog 

Creek which drains Lake Goran (EPA, 1997b). Average salinities to 1999 for the Namoi 

River were 680 EC at the end of the system and 634 EC at Boggabri. A threshold of 800 

EC is the upper salinity limit for drinking water desirability and some yield reductions in 

irrigated crops can occur at this level. This level is exceeded 20% of the time on the 

Namoi River at Boggabri (MDBMC, 1999). Salt loads in the Namoi River are predicted 

to rise to 1050 EC by 2020 (MDBMC, 1999). 

Agricultural chemicals such as endosulfan (used for cotton and some grain crops), 

atrazine and other agricultural chemicals have been detected in the Namoi River at levels 

higher that those recommended in the ANZECC criteria for protection of aquatic 

ecosystems. Groundwater is also affected, with some chemicals including atrazine 

detected (EPA, 1997b). 

Lake Goran is the only wetland within the BBS which is listed in the Directory of 

Important Wetlands in Australia as a nationally important wetland. Lake Goran is located 

largely on private land and is used for opportunistic cropping, irrigation, some grazing 

when dry, and recreational uses such as fishing and swimming when full. Due to its large 

size, Lake Goran is a potential drought refuge when other wetlands in western New South 

Wales are dry and as such provides habitat for a large number of waterbirds. These 

include freckled duck (Stictonetta naevosa) which is listed as vulnerable under the TSC 

Act and white-bellied sea-eagle (Haliaeetus leucogaster) which is listed under the China- 

Australia Migratory Bird Agreement (CAMBA) (Green & Dunkerly, 1992; EA, 2001e). 

Riparian vegetation of the upper Namoi River provides important habitat for birds listed 

under the TSC Act including the regent honeyeater and swift parrot. Baradine Creek is 

important breeding habitat for square-tailed kite (Lophoictinia isura) and the creeks of the 

Pilliga State Forests and surrounding landscapes provide important habitat for TSC Act 

species such as the regent honeyeater, glossy-black cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus lathami) 

and turquoise parrot (Neophema pulchella). It is also possible that the tributaries of the 

Namoi River in the Liverpool Range provide important habitat for the barking owl (Ninox 

connivens). The freshwater tortoise Elseya sp. (Namoi River elseya) is listed as vulnerable 

under the TSC Act and is only recorded from a small number of sites in the upper reaches 

of the Namoi and Gwydir Rivers upstream of the BBS (Johnson, 2001a). 

Fish species recorded within the Namoi River catchment are listed in Table 7.1. 

Castlereagh River Catchment 

No major storages are located within this catchment, however there are six weirs 

including Timor Dam which has a capacity of 920 ML. Irrigation is minor within the 

catchment and surface water use rarely exceeds 1 500 ML / year. While flows are not 

significantly disrupted early ending of low flows may occur (EPA, 1997b). 

36


Average salinity for the middle reaches of the Castlereagh River at Coonamble is 640 EC 

and this is expected to rise to 760 EC by 2020. The threshold of 800 EC is currently 

exceeded approximately 30% of the time and is predicted to be exceeded 32% of the time 

by 2020. The critical threshold of 1 500 EC is predicted to occur approximately 20% of 

the time at present and is predicted to exceed this threshold 21% of the time by 2020 

(MDBMC, 1999). 

Regular aerial spraying of insecticides on irrigated crops is not undertaken within this 

catchment and consequently runoff in the catchment does not contain these chemicals. 

Turbidity levels are high in the upper catchment and high phosphorus levels have been 

recorded. Erosion in areas with a greater slope within the catchment is occurring which 

may lead to sedimentation and increased turbidity within wetlands further downstream 

(EPA, 1997b). 

Riparian vegetation in the upper Castlereagh River is important habitat for TSC Act 

species such as the regent honeyeater, painted honeyeater (Grantiella picta) and the swift 

parrot. The creeks of Goonoo State Forest and the surrounding landscape provide 

important habitat for the regent honeyeater, glossy black-cockatoo and the turquoise 

parrot which are all listed on the TSC Act. The upper Castlereagh River and adjacent 

vegetation is important habitat for TSC Act species such as koala (Phascolarctos 

cinereus), squirrel glider (Petaurus norfolcensis), and spotted-tail quoll (Dasyurus 

maculatus) (Johnson, 2001b). 

Macquarie River Catchment 

The major storage within the Macquarie River catchment is Burrendong Dam, built in 

1967. Other major storages within the catchment include Windamere Dam above 

Burrendong Dam. Total capacity of these storages is approximately 2 million ML (EPA, 

1997b). In addition to these dams, seven town and industrial water supply dams are 

located in the catchment (EPA, 1997b). The majority of these storages are upstream of 

the BBS. 

Natural median flows at Narromine, directly downstream of the BBS are 

940 000 ML/year. A total of 622 000 ML/year makes up nominal irrigation allocations 

below the two major dams. Approximately 70% of all flows in the Macquarie catchment 

are regulated by Burrendong Dam. This has reduced flood heights and frequency of small 

to medium floods in the floodplains of the catchment (EPA, 1997b). 

Issues within the Macquarie River catchment include river regulation and extraction and 

subsequent reduction of flooding frequency and extent, erosion and sedimentation, 

turbidity, restriction of native fish passage, European carp, willow infestation, reduced 

water temperature and oxygen levels below Burrendong Dam which may be affecting 

spawning in native fish populations, salinity levels in the headwaters (including the 

Talbragar, Cudgegong, Bell and Little Rivers) due to limestone outcrops, and agricultural 

chemical contamination which largely corresponds to the spraying calendar for cotton 

(EPA, 1997b). 

Average salinity in the Macquarie River at the end of the valley is currently 623 EC and is 

expected to rise to 1 284 EC by 2020. The Macquarie River at Narromine exceeds the 

threshold level of 800 EC approximately 10% of the time and is predicted to be exceeded 

37


30% of the time by 2020. The critical threshold of 1 500 EC is currently exceeded less 

than 5% of the time at Narromine and is predicted to exceed this threshold 10% of the 

time by 2020 (MDMC, 1999). 

The Macquarie Marshes are listed as a nationally and internationally important wetland on 

the Directory of Important Wetlands in Australia and under the Ramsar Convention. 

These wetlands lie downstream of the bioregion and hence land and water use within the 

BBS portion of the catchment will affect water quality and the ecological integrity of this 

system. 

Riparian vegetation in the upper Macquarie River is important habitat for TSC Act species 

such as the regent honeyeater, painted honeyeater and the swift parrot. The upper 

Macquarie River and adjacent vegetation is important habitat for TSC Act species such as 

koala, squirrel glider, spotted-tail quoll, and Litoria castanea (yellow-spotted tree frog) 

which has been recorded from the Winburndale Rivulet near Bathurst in the upper 

Macquarie catchment (Johnson, 2001b). 

Fish species recorded within the Macquarie River catchment are listed in Table 7.1. 

4.2 Basic analysis / gaps 

4.2.1 Bioregional stratification 

Why stratify? 

To stratify means to arrange the different parts of the whole in separate layers or groups. 

In relation to this report, stratification can be defined as the process whereby similar 

attribute variables are grouped together into “strata” of similar environmental 

characteristics. Stratification is a useful and necessary tool which can assist in gaining an 

understanding of environmental variation for an area. Stratification can also be used to 

assist in selection of survey sites, gap analysis and to extrapolate information. The IBRA 

regions and provinces referred to in this report are a coarse form of nested stratification. 

Stratification can be used to check bioregional and province boundaries at a finer scale. 

Stratification based on state-wide abiotic data 

Pressey et al 2000, carried out a State-wide bioregional stratification (metadata statement, 

appendix 2), which combines New South Wales administrative division boundaries and 

climatic limit, provinces, geology, and ruggedness to result in 85 strata across the BBS. 

The BBS portion of this stratification may be used to identify gaps in sampling for fauna, 

flora and cultural heritage values as they relate to biodiversity. Note that the cell 

resolution of this stratification is relatively coarse (1 000 m x 1 000 m cell size), 

compared to the currently available DEM from LIC (25m x 25m cell size). This is 

because the input data have been derived from State-wide datasets. Because of this 

coarseness, an updated stratification (appendix 3) has been carried out to analyse data 

gaps. It is this new draft stratification (described below) that has been used in all analyses 

for this report and any mention of stratification refers to the new stratification unless the 

text explicitly refers to the work of Pressey et al (2000). 

38


4.2.2 Stratification based on regional and state-wide abiotic data (STRAT5) 

Finer scale stratification has been undertaken for this report using a combination of three 

datasets: 

merged soils (derived from MDBC soil landform mapping and gap-filled by DLWC 

soils at 1:2 million scale); 

average annual rainfall (three classes based on natural breaks); and 

average annual temperature (three classes based on natural breaks). 

Natural breaks used in the above classifications were determined by GIS where natural 

gaps occur within these datasets. 

The resultant grid (250m cell resolution) has 184 strata with a key to the values of each 

input grid. More refined datalayers can be added to this stratification as required, 

however, Strat5 is presented in appendix 3 as an example to show variability across the 

BBS. 

For more information on this process see appendix 3, ‘Stratification for Brigalow Belt 

South Scoping Exercise’. This exercise is preliminary only and as additional information 

becomes available such as more detailed and / or bioregion-wide datasets, then more 

accurate stratification exercises may be undertaken across the bioregion. 

This stratification, however, is based on limited data and as such future conservation 

assessments should use the most current and comprehensive datasets available to 

undertake stratifications across the BBS. 

4.2.3 Land capability 

Table 4.5 shows definitions of land capability classes and their suitability for land 

management practices as outlined by the Soil Conservation Service of NSW. 

One percent of the BBS is neither covered by DLWC land capability nor NPWS or 

SFNSW estate. DLWC land capability mapping has been undertaken mostly for Crown 

land and freehold land (map 15). Therefore no land capability classifications were 

assigned to the majority of SFNSW or NPWS estate at the time of mapping (between 

1986 and 1989). Therefore, no complete figures can be determined for level of 

reservation by land capability class within the BBS. New estate has been dedicated since 

1989 and all figures relating to land capability following in this report (excluding Table 

4.6) are calculated by first excluding NPWS and SFNSW estate mapping. 

39


Table 4.5 Summary of land capability classes 

(Source NSW Soil Conservation Service) 

Land Classification and Soil Conservation Practices Capability and Interpretation 

Class 1 No special soil conservation works or practices High Land capable of being regularly 

necessary 

cultivated 

Class 2 Soil conservation practices such as strip 

cropping, conservation tillage and adequate 

crop rotations 

Class 3 Structural soil conservation works such as 

diversion banks, graded banks and waterways, 

together with soil conservation practices as in 

class 2 

Class 4 Soil conservation practices such as pasture Medium Land not capable of being regularly 

improvement, stock control, application of 

cultivated but suitable for grazing 

fertiliser and minimal cultivation for the 

establishment or re-establishment of 

permanent pasture 

with occasional cultivation 

Class 5 Structural soil conservation works such as 

absorption banks, diversion banks and contour 

ripping, together with the practices as in class 

4 

Class 6 Soil conservation practices including limitation 

Land not capable of being cultivated 

of stock, broadcasting of seed and fertiliser, 

prevention of fire and destruction of vermin. 

This class may require some structural works 

but suitable for grazing 

Class 7 Land best protected by green timber Low Other lands 

Class 8 Cliffs, lakes or swamps and other lands 

incapable of sustaining agricultural or pastoral 

production 

Figure 4.2 and Table 4.6 show that where land capability is mapped within the BBS, land 

capabilities of two and three are the most abundant. These two classes fall into the group 

referred to as “capable of being regularly cultivated” (refer to Table 4.5). In addition to 

the eight land capability classes, the DLWC land capability mapping program also 

mapped areas such as flood irrigation, national park, nature reserve, State forest, forest 

reserve, mining / quarrying, trig reserve, and urban areas. These areas were not assigned 

a land capability class and are shaded out due to the historical nature of this data (these 

data are over ten years old and as such figures may have changed considerably). 

Table 4.6 was compiled by overlaying land capability mapping with NPWS and SFNSW 

estate mapping, and the DLWC’s CLID layer to determine Crown and freehold coverage. 

Discrepancies between values for NPWS and SFNSW estate in Table 4.6 are possibly due 

to the land capability mapping being outdated (it was undertaken between 1986 and 

1989), whereas the NPWS and SFNSW estate mapping is current and a number of 

reserves have been dedicated in the BBS since 1989. 

40

1400000 

1200000 

1000000 

800000 

600000 

400000 

200000 

0 

Land Capability in BBS 


1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 

Land Capable of Being Cultivated Land not Capable of Being 

Cultivated - Suitable for Grazing 

Other Lands 

Land Capability Class 

Figure 4.2 Land capability in BBS 

NSW Soil Conservation Service (DLWC) (1 = most suitable for agriculture, 8 = least suitable) 

Due to figures for Crown and freehold land in Table 4.6 being derived from the DLWC 

CLID layer, which requires updating, and due to the discrepancies described above for 

NPWS and SFNSW estate, the data in Table 4.6 can only be considered indicative. 

Land 

Capability 

Class 

Table 4.6 Land capability classes by province within BBS 

Pilliga Talbragar 

Valley 

Pilliga 

Outwash 

Liverpool 

Plains 

Northern 

Outwash 

Liverpool 

Range 

Northern 

Basalts 

Total % 

Bioregion 

1 3 634 2 327 103 0 273 282 0 3 030 282 376 5 

2 244 656 29 370 75 569 433 569 335 094 19 196 138 434 1 275 888 25 

3 274 479 72 960 6 167 249 493 54 024 142 784 266 257 1 066 164 21 

4 283 340 49 329 151 148 55 669 13 304 62 190 80 958 695 938 13 

5 156 329 24 211 5 099 27 106 134 62 047 10 658 285 584 6 

6 227 967 14 698 86 779 49 288 14 661 124 842 58 501 576 736 11 

7 131 076 5 554 10 691 22 060 17 85 961 12 065 267 424 5 

8 23 212 217 1 926 7 358 1 325 15 969 3 202 53 209 1 

National 

Park 

25 210 0 0 1 252 0 13 930 0 40 392 0.8 

Nature 

Reserve 

86 344 852 202 0 1 798 244 2 492 91 932 1.8 

State Forest 287 633 3 654 192 575 31 328 730 9 178 37 744 562 842 11 

Flood 

Irrigation 

1 767 0 4 531 0 7 498 0 0 13 796 0.3 

Forest 

Reserve 

0 0 0 0 0 751 0 751 < 0.1 

Mining or 

Quarrying 

76 0 0 0 0 0 0 76 < 0.1 

Trig. 

Reserve 

143 0 0 0 0 0 0 143 < 0.1 

Urban 1 329 2 161 377 1 692 1 253 148 325 7 285 0.1 

41

4.2.4 DLWC soils 


There is complete soil coverage of the BBS mapped at a broad scale reconnaissance level 

resolution (1:2 000 000). This mapping was carried out by DLWC and was current in 

1988. This dataset shows the spatial arrangement of 12 broad soil groupings as outlined in 

appendix 4 and in map 16. 

Soil landscape mapping has been undertaken for only four areas within the BBS (Dubbo, 

Singleton and Blackville 1:25 000 mapsheets, and the Curlewis 1:100 000 mapsheet). 

Digital data are available for the Narromine 1:250 000 mapsheet and mapping for 

Boggabri is currently underway. Soil landscape mapping integrates soil and topographic 

constraints so that information can be derived form this mapping regarding limitations to 

urban and rural development. Due to limited coverage of soil landscape mapping within 

the BBS, it was not used in the stratification exercise. 

4.2.5 Soils of the brigalow lands 

Isbell (1962) mapped soils and vegetation of the brigalow lands within New South Wales 

and Queensland. From this mapping approximately 251 000ha or 5% of all areas 

identified as having soils which support a brigalow dominant vegetation fall within New 

South Wales, with approximately 100 300ha or 2% of all identified areas falling within 

the BBS. This area represents approximately 2% of the BBS bioregion in New South 

Wales. 

4.2.6 MDBC soil landforms 

A map of soil landforms of the Murray-Darling Basin (Map 20) was compiled as part of 

the Murray-Darling Basin Soil Information Strategy (MDBSIS) and is designed to 

provide information on soils for natural resource management and planning at the CMB 

level or over broader regions, and therefore is appropriate for use in bioregional planning. 

The layer contains information on each soil-landform class including lithofacies 

description, relief category and proportions of dominant principal profile forms; reliability 

and data quality statistics. The soil landforms data are derived from an integration of state 

soil databases, lithology and relief information. A rule-based method was used to fill in 

areas lacking adequate soil information. Appendices 5 and 6 ‘Soil Landforms and Relief 

of the Murray-Darling Basin Dataset description’ show information on this layer. 

4.2.7 Landforms 

Landform mapping was undertaken for the Pilliga group of State forests and Goonoo 

State Forest as part of the cultural heritage field survey undertaken during the Cultural 

Heritage Assessment of the Brigalow Belt South Bioregion (NPWS, 2000j). This survey 

identified seven landform types within Goonoo State Forest and 12 within the Pilliga 

forests. These landforms are outlined in Table 4.7 below. 

42


Table 4.7 Landforms within Goonoo SF and Pilliga forests 

(NPWS, 2000j) 

Landform % Pilliga State Forests % Goonoo SF 

Alluvium: modern channels and floodplains 4.0 5.6 

Alluvium terraces 2.9 

sequence of terraces / alluvial plains 4.2 

2 sequences of terraces / alluvial plains 41.9 

3 sequences of terraces / alluvial plains 0.2 

Paleochannels: abandoned channels 0.1 

Sand Monkeys 4.0 

Claypans 0.3 

Aeolian 0.1 

Aeolian sand sheets 0.9 

Gilgai 0.2 0.02 

Colluvial slopes 12.1 26.7 

Soil mantled slopes – shale, sandstone, conglomerate 30.4 57.7 

Rocky Ground 3.0 6.2 

4.2.8 Geology 

The best base information currently available to NPWS is a layer of lithology at a broad 

scale reconnaissance level (1:250 000) compiled by the MDBC from standard geological 

mapping by Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) mapping and others which covers 

93% of the BBS, missing most of the Liverpool Range province (map 21). The dataset 

was compiled from existing geological, metallogenic and surficial geology maps supplied 

by the DMR, Victorian Department of Natural Resources and Environment, and the 

Australian Geological Survey Organisation. Table 4.8 shows the area of each lithology 

grouping within specific tenures and the percentage of the bioregion covered by each 

group. Table 4.9 shows the provinces and percentage of these covered by each lithology 

grouping. A table showing the groups is also included as appendix 7 (sorted by area 

within BBS). 

The DMR has produced a preliminary combined map of geology as part of the WRA BBS 

Stage 2 projects. This datalayer is currently available for use only for these WRA 

projects. 

43


Table 4.8 Area of lithology by tenure within the BBS (MDBC and CLID) 

Lithology Group Crown Land State Forest NPWS Estate Freehold % BBS 

(ha) 

(ha) 

(ha) (ha) 

Cainozoic alluvium 420 061 196 493 1 033 1 705 104 44.2% 

Cainozoic colluvial surfaces 1 244 0 0 5 975 0.1% 

Cainozoic duricrusts 1 0 0 17 < 0.01% 

Cainozoic lacustrine sediments 141 0 0 8


Table 4.9 Percent lithology within each province of BBS (MDBC) 

Lithology Group Pilliga Talbragar 

Valley 

Pilliga 

Outwash 

Liverpool 

Plains 

Northern 

Outwash 

Liverpool 

Range 

Northern 

Basalts 

45 

% BBS 

Cainozoic alluvium 14.98 11.54 97.12 67.66 96.43 1.88 32.28 44.24 

Jurassic coarse-grained 

sediments 

64.28 14.23 2.69 1.81 0.11 2.25 22.43 25.24 

Cainozoic volcanics 8.42 7.08 0 3.68 0.64 36.22 25.71 10.41 

Jurassic fine-grained 

sediments 

5.63 15.2 0 1.45 0.98 0 16.91 4.81 

Triassic fine-grained 

sediments 

2.87 33.35 0 0 0 0 0.03 2.25 

Jurassic volcanics 1.23 0 0 9.49 0 0 0 2.1 

Triassic coarse-grained 

sediments 

0.01 2.21 0 8.74 0 0.11 0.33 1.71 

Permian fine-grained 

sediments 

0 0 0 3.59 0 0.04 0 0.65 

Cainozoic residual and 

aeolian sands 

0.15 0 0.16 1.33 1.82 0 0.43 0.6 

Permian coarse-grained 

sediments 

0.02 7.35 0 0.09 0 0 0 0.31 

Carboniferous 

metasediments 

0 0 0 0.99 0 0.04 0.86 0.28 

Permian volcanics 0 0.06 0 1.12 0 0.11 0 0.21 

Cainozoic colluvial surfaces

4.3 Recommendations 


The following recommendations (R) are made to allow for further abiotic data to be 

gathered for the BBS. These data are to be used as baselines or surrogates for modelling 

and predicting biodiversity and conservation significance of the bioregion. 

The Western Data Audit and Gap Analysis (RACD, 1999) recommended that abiotic base 

data layers be developed for use in regional planning some of which have been included 

below as recommendations for this Scoping Report: 

R1. Develop and improve BBS bioregion natural resource database including: 

a current tenure and administrative layer including producing an updated, 

spatially accurate and reliably attributed crown land layer for the BBS and 

other bioregions for which regional assessments are being considered; 

up-to-date and uniform geology and soils layers (some work is currently being 

undertaken under WRA BBS Stage 2) including reclassifying the MDBC Soil 

Landform Layer to produce a more detailed soil landform map for the BBS; 

up-to-date and uniform metallic minerals, industrial minerals and construction 

material occurrences (some work is currently being undertaken under WRA 

BBS Stage 2); 

up-to-date and uniform construction materials occurrences; 

up-to-date and uniform wood resources information (some work is currently 

being undertaken under WRA BBS Stage 2); 

current and historical land use; 

disturbance history; 

ground water and surface water quality and quantity; 

salinity and flood mapping; and 

land capability mapping to be updated to include SFNSW and NPWS estate to 

be used in analysis of area, representativeness, and distribution of each land 

capability class within the existing reserve system of the BBS. 

R2. Data be made available for use within Catchment Management Boards and Trusts, 

Regional Vegetation Committees, River Management Committees, local Councils 

and Local Aboriginal Land Councils; and 

R3. Province boundaries to be reviewed in light of Strat 5 or future stratifications as 

further knowledge becomes available. 

46

5 FAUNA 



The vertebrate fauna of the BBS is characterised by a high mixing of species, showing 

both coastal and inland origins with a minor tropical element. The tree-dependent 

mammals are of a coastal origin, while the terrestrial species are generally of an inland 

origin. There is some endemism, for example Pilliga mouse (Pseudomys pilligaensis). 

The reptile and frog fauna are mostly of inland origins, though with strong coastal 

elements and some endemism, for example the Oedura monilis (ocellated velvet gecko). 

The bird fauna is also comprised of roughly equal numbers of species that have coastal 

and inland origins (RACD, 2000b). 

A summary of the findings of the Preliminary Fauna Survey – Brigalow Belt South 

Bioregional Assessment (Stage 1) report (RACD, 2000b), is outlined below. This survey 

is the most comprehensive fauna survey in the BBS so far and systematically sampled 54 

fauna sites on SFNSW and NPWS estate within the BBS south of Narrabri 

(predominantly in Goonoo and Pilliga groups of forests). The findings included: 

twenty-two threatened species listed under the TSC Act were detected; 

fourteen forest types, most of commercial logging interest, were assessed for 

vertebrate species; 

probably the densest population of the threatened greater long-eared bat in New South 

Wales exists in the box ironbark forests of the BBS; 

many of the species found were of conservation concern because of habitat loss, 

declining populations and geographic isolation/extremes (listed in appendix 12); 

this bioregion has already experienced high levels of species decline, with 14 extinct 

mammals, and 118 species currently found to be regionally significant (in terms of 

species decline), 51 of which were detected during this survey. This is largely a result 

of widespread land clearing, agricultural and forestry practices; 

12 species of frog, 39 reptiles, 155 birds, 17 non-flying native mammals, 16 bats and 

10 introduced species were detected, giving a total of 239 native species. About 6 500 

new records were collected for the NPWS Atlas of NSW Wildlife database, an 

increase in records of about 50% on the existing database for the bioregion. This 

result is similar to levels detected on the Sydney Basin CRA, with about one quarter 

of the effort. This result suggests that the diversity of fauna is still high in many of the 

areas surveyed; 

47


wooded habitats, which were found to be important for the diversity of vertebrates in 

the bioregion, were Eucalyptus crebra (narrow-leaf ironbark) and Eucalyptus fibrosa 

(broad-leaf ironbark) forests, box woodlands, gully zones and heathy scrubs; 

two major habitat components were identified as important for the maintenance of 

present levels of diversity. These are large, mature trees and shrubby understoreys. 

Both are highly susceptible to logging disturbance; and 

this survey was restricted to the largest and probably most diverse of the Brigalow 

Belt South remnants. There is a strong need to expand the scope of this inventory as 

baseline information is currently lacking from most ecosystems that are still found in 

the bioregion. Less than half of the habitats in the Pilliga alone were sampled. Most 

of these were sampled at low intensity and therefore data collected is not sufficiently 

comprehensive to correlate results over each habitat type. 

Other systematic fauna surveys which have been undertaken within the BBS include the 

Vertebrate Fauna Survey of Coolah Tops (NPWS, 1998), the Fauna Survey of Cypress / 

Ironbark Forests of North-West New South Wales (Date and Paull, 1999) and Nocturnal 

Forest Birds and Arboreal Marsupials of Coolah Tops (Kavanagh, 1995). Results of 

these surveys are summarised below: 

Coolah Tops Vertebrate Fauna Survey - seven threatened species were recorded, fauna 

communities were found to differ between the broad landscapes types of plateau 

forest, slopes woodland, riparian forest and swamp (NPWS, 1998); 

Cypress / Ironbark Survey – three threatened reptiles, eight threatened birds, 12 

threatened mammals (four bats, eight others), and 19 feral species were recorded. 

Microhabitat utilisation, distribution of species assemblages and habitat and 

disturbance associations were analysed for each taxonomic group (Date and Paull, 

1999); and 

Coolah Tops Nocturnal Birds and Arboreal Mammal Survey – 2 threatened birds were 

recorded. Associations between fauna and the major forest communities of Coolah 

Tops were analysed (Kavanagh, 1995). 

Other fauna data for the BBS are available through the NPWS Atlas of NSW Wildlife 

database, records from the Australian Museum (AM), CSIRO, the Australian Bird and Bat 

Banding Scheme (ABBBS), and Birds Australia (BA). A compiled list of all threatened 

and treaty species recorded within the BBS is shown in Table 5.2. Appendix 11 shows all 

validated fauna species records from the above-mentioned sources which have been 

recorded within the BBS. The list in appendix 11 does not include threatened or treaty 

species. 

The Warrumbungles population of brush-tailed rock-wallaby (Petrogale penicillata) 

which is located within the BBS is listed as an endangered population under the TSC Act. 

48

5.2 Basic analyses / gaps 


Maps 22-31 show the number of fauna records recorded in the Atlas of NSW Wildlife per 

1:50 000 mapsheet. It can be seen from these maps that there is clearly a sampling bias 

for amphibians, mammals and reptiles towards Pilliga state forests and Coolah Tops 

National Park, with mapsheets centered on these two areas having more Atlas records 

relative to the other mapsheets in the BBS. This is indicative of the focus of survey effort 

on these areas by SFNSW and others. Threatened fauna species records listed under 

Schedules one and two of the TSC Act also show a bias towards Pilliga state forests and 

Warrumbungle National Park (map 22). Table 5.1 shows the number of wildlife atlas 

records by 1:100 000 mapsheet which fall within the 50km buffer of the BBS. 

Table 5.1 Number of Wildlife Atlas fauna records by 1:100 000 mapsheet for BBS 

No of Species 

Records 

Number of Mapsheets Name and Number of 1:100 000 Mapsheet 

0-250 21 8738 – Bunna Bunna 

9140 – Texas 

8638 – Collarenebri 

8433 – Dandaloo 

8637 – Pilliga 

8536 – Coonamble 

8832 – Mudgee 

8432 – Tullamore 

8534 – Bundemar 

8939 – Croppa Creek 

8740 – Burrenbar 

8733 – Cobbora 

8437 – Carinda 

8938 – Gravesend 

8535 – Gulargambone 

8840 – Boomi 

8737 – Wee Waa 

8838 – Bellata 

8537 – Walgett 

9139 – Ashford 

8438 – Cumborah 

251-500 13 8732 – Euchareena 

8940 – Goondiwindi 

8935 – Curlewis 

9035 – Tamworth 

9136 – Bendemeer 

9038 – Bingara 

9034 – Murrurundi 

8936 – Boggabri 

8632 – Wellington 

8835 – Tambar Springs 

9039 – Yallaroi 

8739 – Bunarba 

9040 – Yetman 

49



Records 

Number of Mapsheets Name and Number of 1:100 000 Mapsheet 

501-1500 15 8837 – Narrabri 

8839 – Moree 

9138 – Inverell 

8435 – Mt Harris 

8734 – Mendooran 

9036 – Manilla 

9033 – Muswellbrook 

8937 – Horton 

9135 – Nundle 

8735 – Coonabarabran 

8836 – Baan Baa 

9134 – Ellerston 

9037 – Cobbadah 

8533 – Narromine 

8636 – Gwabegar 

1501-2500 15 8932 – Mt Pomany 

8434 – Warren 

9132 – Cessnock 

9137 – Bundarra 

8736 – Baradine 

9133 – Camberwell 

8634 – Gilgandra 

8833 – Gulgong 

9032 – Howes Valley 

8635 – Tenandra 

8933 – Merriwa 

8538 – Dungalear 

8532 – Peak Hill 

8834 – Coolah 

8934 – Blackville 

2501-11000 2 8633 – Dubbo 

8436 – Quambone 

Bird records are reasonably dense throughout the portion of the BBS below Narrabri, 

especially around Pilliga and Goonoo State Forests and Warrumbungle and Coolah Tops 

National Parks. 

50

Number of Records 

16,000 

14,000 

12,000 

10,000 


Figure 5.1 Number of fauna records in woody and non-woody vegetation in BBS 

Figure 5.1 shows number of fauna records (Wildlife Atlas records) which fall within the 

woody and non-woody vegetation as classified by the M305 datalayer. This figure shows 

that there is a clear bias for fauna records in areas with woody vegetation. 65% of these 

fauna records for the BBS fall within woody vegetation as classified by the M305 

datalayer. 

Figure 5.2 shows the number of fauna records (Wildlife Atlas records) which fall within 

each land capability class. This figure clearly indicates a strong bias for fauna records 

within State forest, national parks and nature reserves within the BBS. 

Number of systematic sites 

8,000 

6,000 

4,000 

2,000 

0 

5000 

0 

Fauna species records within woody and non-woody vegetation 

1 

amphibians reptiles mammals birds totals 

Birds 

Frogs 

Mammals 

Reptiles 

2 

3 

Fauna sites by land capability 

4 

5 

6 

Land capability class 

7 

8 

flood irrigation 

National Park 

State Forest 

urban 

mining or quarrying 

Figure 5.2 Number of fauna records by land capability class for BBS 

woody 

non-w oody 

51


The Atlas of NSW Wildlife (WLA), ABBBS, CSIRO, AM, BA, and the Brigalow Belt 

Stage 1 fauna survey (BBS) datasets show that 56 species of native fauna listed as 

vulnerable or endangered under Schedules one and two of the TSC Act, 27 species listed 

as threatened or near threatened under the Action Plan for Australian Birds 2000 (Garnett 

and Crowley, 2000), and 20 birds listed on the Japan Australia Migratory Bird Agreement 

(JAMBA) and / or the China Australia Migratory Bird Agreement (CAMBA) have been 

recorded in the BBS. Table 5.2 lists these species. Appendix 11 is a list of all NSW 

Wildlife Atlas, BA, AM, Brigalow Belt South Bioregional Fauna Survey Stage 1, CSIRO, 

and the ABBBS fauna records for species not listed under the TSC Act nor listed under the 

JAMBA and / or CAMBA. 

Table 5.2 Threatened and treaty fauna species recorded in BBS 

Common Name Scientific Name Legal Status / Total 

Dataset 

Conservation Status Records In 

BBS 

swift parrot 

(winter migrant) 

Lathamus discolor *E (EC2b) 3 AM (1), WLA (1), BA (1) 

regent honeyeater Xanthomyza phrygia *E (EC2b) 685 ABBBS (3) AM (24), WLA 

(653), BA (5) 

squatter pigeon 

(southern extremity of range) 

Geophaps scripta E (NTa) 1 BA 

booroolong frog Litoria booroolongensis E 43 AM 

red goshawk (southern 

extremity of range) 

Erythrotriorchis radiatus E (VD1) 1 WLA 

plains-wanderer Pedionomus torquatus E (EC2b) 2 AM (1), BA (1) 

malleefowl Leipoa ocellata E (VA1ce + VA2bce) 86 BBS (6), AM (10), WLA 

(53), BA (17) 

five-clawed worm-skink Anomalopus mackayi E 3 AM (3), WLA (2) 

cotton pygmy-goose Nettapus 

E (NTc) 3 WLA 

(southern extremity of range) coromandelianus 

bush thick-knee (curlew) Burhinus grallarius E (NTc) 9 BBS (1), AM (4), CSIRO 

(1), WLA (3) 

black-striped wallaby Macropus dorsalis E 195 BBS (1), WLA (194) 

black-necked stork 

Ephippiorhynchus E 4 WLA (2). BA (2) 


asiaticus 

Australian bustard Ardeotis australis E (NTc) 9 AM (2), WLA (7) 

border thick-tailed gecko Underwoodisaurus 

sphyrurus 

*V 3 AM (2), WLA (1) 

superb parrot 

Polytelis swainsonii *V (VC2b) 77 ABBBS (7), WLA (62), BA 


(9) 

brush-tailed rock-wallaby Petrogale penicillata *V 33 AM (3), CSIRO (2), WLA 

(28) 

Pilliga mouse Pseudomys pilligaensis *V 258 BBS (18), AM (3), WLA 

(237) 

painted snipe Rostratula benghalensis V (CAMBA) 5 AM (2), WLA (3) 

yellow-bellied sheathtail-bat Saccolaimus flaviventris V 12 BBS (3), AM (2), WLA (7) 

turquoise parrot Neophema pulchella V (NTa) 440 BBS (38), AM (10), WLA 

(297), BA (95) 

stripe-faced dunnart Sminthopsis macroura V 17 AM (13), WLA (4) 

squirrel glider Petaurus norfolcensis V 25 BBS (7), AM (4), WLA 

(14) 

square-tailed kite Lophoictinia isura V 38 BBS (3), AM (2), WLA 

(29), BA (4) 

spotted-tailed quoll Dasyurus maculatus V 7 AM (5), WLA (2) 

rufous bettong Aepyprymnus rufescens V 1 WLA 

red-tailed tropicbird 

(vagrant – western extremity 

of range in north east new 

south wales) 

Phaethon rubricauda V 5 AM (1), WLA (3), BA (1) 

powerful owl Ninox strenua V 5 WLA 

52



Dataset 


BBS 

pink cockatoo Cacatua leadbeateri V 20 ABBBS (17), BA (3) 

pied honeyeater 

(eastern extremity of range) 

Certhionyx variegatus V 1 WLA 

pale-headed snake Hoplocephalus 

V 31 BBS (2), AM (24), WLA 

bitorquatus 

(5) 

painted honeyeater Grantiella picta V (NTc) 35 AM (6), WLA (23), BA (6) 

masked owl Tyto novaehollandiae V 20 BBS (2), WLA (17), BA (1) 

magpie goose Anseranas semipalmata V 16 WLA 

little pied bat Chalinolobus picatus V 12 BBS (4), AM (1), WLA (7) 

large pied bat Chalinolobus dwyeri V 56 BBS (24), WLA (32) 

koala Phascolarctos cinereus V 500 BBS (55), AM (4), CSIRO 

(1), WLA (440) 

grey falcon Falco hypoleucos V (NTd) 8 AM (2), WLA (1), BA (5) 

greater long-eared bat Nyctophilus timoriensis V 202 BBS (101), AM (2), WLA 

(99) 

greater broad-nosed bat Scoteanax rueppellii V 3 WLA 

great pipistrelle Falsistrellus tasmaniensis V 8 WLA 

red-tailed black-cockatoo Calyptorhynchus banksii V 10 WLA (6), BA (4) 

glossy black-cockatooo Calyptorhynchus lathami V (NTc) 2507 BBS (55), AM (9), WLA 

(2365), BA (78) 

Gilbert’s whistler Pachycephala inornata V 6 BBS (1), WLA (3), BA (2) 

freckled duck Stictonetta naevosa V 310 BBS (2), AM (1), WLA 

(307) 

Eastern Pygmy-possum Cercartetus nanus V 38 BBS (3), WLA (35) 

eastern grass owl Tyto capensis V 17 WLA (5), BA (12) 

eastern cave bat Vespadelus troughtoni V 4 BBS (2), WLA (2) 

common planigale Planigale maculata V 5 AM 

brolga Grus rubicunda V 3 BBS (1), WLA (2) 

blue-billed duck Oxyura australis V 3 AM (2), BA (1) 

parma wallaby Macropus parma V 5 WLA 

black-breasted buzzard Hamirostra melanosternon V 5 BBS (1), WLA (3), BA (1) 

black bittern 

(vagrant) 

Ixobrychus flavicollis V 1 WLA 

barking owl Ninox connivens V (NTa) 89 BBS (13), BA (13), AM 

(6), WLA (57) 

australasian bittern Botaurus poiciloptilus V (VC2a) 6 BBS (1), WLA (2), BA (3) 

grey-headed flying-fox Pteropus poliocephalus V 2 AM 

little bittern 

(vagrant) 

Ixobrychus minutus NTc 1 BA 

Leeuwin’s rail Rallus pectoralis NTC 2 WLA 

brown treecreeper Climacteris picumnus NTc 634 BBS (28), AM (8), WLA 

(200), BA (398) 

speckled warbler Chthonicola sagittata NTc 428 ABBBS (20), AM (5), 

CSIRO (2), WLA (216), 

BA (185) 

black-chinned honeyeater Melithreptus gularis NTc 25 CSIRO (1), WLA (3), BA 

(21) 

hooded robin Melanodryas cucullata NTc 361 BBS (7), AM (22), WLA 

(60), BA (262) 

diamond firetail Stagonopleura guttata NTc 290 BBS (3), ABBS (2), AM 

(5), WLA (79), BA (201) 

crested bellbird Oreoica gutturalis NTa 58 BBS (17), AM (6), WLA 

(21), BA (14) 

grey-crowned babbler Pomatostomus temporalis NTa 509 BBS (58), AM (30), WLA 

(239), BA (182) 

Latham’s snipe Gallinago hardwickii JAMBA & CAMBA 13 AM (2), WLA (6), BA (5) 

red-necked stint 

(vagrant) 

Calidris ruficollis JAMBA & CAMBA 2 BA 

lesser golden plover 


Pluvialis dominica JAMBA & CAMBA 1 BA 

common sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos JAMBA & CAMBA 1 BA 

53



Dataset 


BBS 

(vagrant) 

white-tailed tropicbird 

(vagrant) 

Phaethon lepturus JAMBA & CAMBA 2 AM (1), BA (1) 

red knot 


Calidris canutus JAMBA & CAMBA 1 BA 

curlew sandpiper 

(vagrant) 

Calidris ferruginea JAMBA & CAMBA 1 BA 

sharp-tailed sandpiper 


Calidris acuminata JAMBA & CAMBA 42 WLA (37), BA (5) 

marsh sandpiper 

(vagrant) 

Tringa stagnatilis JAMBA & CAMBA 2 WLA (1), BA (1) 

common greenshank 


Tringa nebularia JAMBA & CAMBA 2 BA 

great egret 


Ardea alba JAMBA & CAMBA 59 AM (3), WLA (6), BA (50) 

fork-tailed swift Apus pacificus JAMBA & CAMBA 76 BBS (1), WLA (68), BA (7) 

cattle egret 


Ardea ibis JAMBA & CAMBA 10 WLA (5), BA (5) 

little curlew Numenius minutus JAMBA & CAMBA 2 WLA 

ruff 

Philomachus pugnax JAMBA & CAMBA 1 WLA 

(vagrant) 

Latham’s snipe Gallinago hardwickii JAMBA & CAMBA 8 AM (2), WLA (6) 

citrine wagtail Motacilla citreola JAMBA & CAMBA 1 WLA 

white-throated needletail Hirundapus caudacutus CAMBA 638 BBS (30), WLA (628), BA 

(80) 

white-bellied sea-eagle 


Haliaeetus leucogaster CAMBA 6 WLA (5), BA (1) 

glossy ibis Plegadis falcinellus CAMBA 5 AM (7), WLA (57), BA (16) 

Key 

*E Nationally endangered under the TSC Act and Environment and Biodiversity Conservation Act, 1999 

E Endangered in New South Wales under TSC Act 

*V Nationally vulnerable under the TSC Act and Environment and Biodiversity Conservation Act, 1999 

V Vulnerable in New South Wales under TSC Act 

NTa Near Threatened due to a reduced area of occupancy and / or extent of occurrence: taxa that have disappeared from 

over 50% of their former area of occupancy and / or extent of occurrence and are at risk of further decline (Garnett & 

Crowley, 2000) 

NTc Near Threatened due to decline in abundance: taxa that have experienced a significant and continuing decline in 

abundance in over 50% of their former area of occupancy and / or extent of occurrence (Garnett & Crowley, 2000) 

NTd Near Threatened due to small populations: Taxa with populations smaller than 3 000 mature individuals, or of unknown 

population size but suspected to be small (Garnett & Crowley, 2000) 

VA1b Vulnerable: taxa with population reduction in the form of an observed, estimated, inferred or suspected reduction of at 

least 20% over the last 10 years or three generations whichever is the longer, based on an index of abundance 

appropriate for the taxon. (Garnett & Crowley, 2000) 

VA1ce Vulnerable: taxa with population reduction in the form of an observed, estimated, inferred or suspected reduction of at 

least 20% over the last 10 years or three generations whichever is the longer, based on either a decline in area of 

occupancy, extent of occurrence and / or quality of habitat; or the effects of introduced taxa, hybridisation, pathogens, 

pollutants, competitors or parasites. (Garnett & Crowley, 2000) 

VA2bce Vulnerable: taxa with a population reduction in the form of a reduction of at least 20%, projected or suspected to be met 

within the next ten years or three generations, whichever is the longer based on an index of abundance appropriate for 

the taxon; or a decline in area of occupancy, extent of occurrence and / or quality of habitat; or the effects of introduced 

taxa, hybridisation, pathogens, pollutants, competitors or parasites (Garnett & Crowley, 2000) 

VC2a Vulnerable: taxa with a population estimated to number less that 10 000 mature individuals and suffering a continuing 

decline, observed, projected or inferred, in numbers of mature individuals and population structure in the form of severely 

fragmented (ie no sub-population estimated to contain more than 1 000 mature individuals). (Garnett & Crowley, 2000) 

VC2b Vulnerable: taxa with a population estimated to number less that 10 000 mature individuals and suffering a continuing 

decline, observed, projected or inferred, in numbers of mature individuals and population structure in the form of all 

individuals in a single population (Garnett & Crowley, 2000) 

VD1 Vulnerable: Taxa with a population estimated to number less than 1 000 mature individuals (Garnett & Crowley, 2000) 

EC2b Endangered: taxa with a population estimated to number less that 2 500 mature individuals and suffering a continuing 

decline, observed, projected or inferred, in numbers of mature individuals and population structure in the form of all 

individuals in a single population (Garnett & Crowley, 2000) 

ED Endangered: taxa with a population estimated to number less than 250 individuals (Garnett & Crowley, 2000) 

CAMBA China Australia Migratory Bird Agreement Species 

JAMBA Japan Australia Migratory Bird Agreement Species 

54


Appendix 12 lists regionally significant species for the BBS bioregion as identified by 

RACD, 2000b. 

Table 5.3 lists 11 fauna species considered Presumed Extinct under Schedule 1 of the TSC 

Act which have been recorded within the BBS. 

Table 5.3 Species presumed extinct in New South Wales recorded within the BBS 

Common Name Scientific Name Records 

In BBS 

Source (Date) 

bilby Macrotis lagotis 6 AM (1788), WLA (1932,1908,1899) 

western quoll Dasyurus geoffroii 1 WLA (1840) 

western barred bandicoot Perameles bougainville 1 WLA (1841) 

brush-tailed bettong Bettongia penicillata 1 WLA (1863) 

burrowing bettong Bettongia lesueur 1 WLA (1985) 

eastern hare-wallaby Lagorchestes leporides 1 WLA (1863) 

bridled nailtail wallaby Onychogalea fraenata 1 WLA (1840) 

white-footed rabbit-rat Conilurus albipes 2 WLA (1840) 

greater stick-nest rat Leporillus conditor 2 WLA (1995) 

gold’s mouse Pseudomys gouldii 2 WLA (1840, 1850) 

plains rat Pseudomys australis 1 WLA (1932) 

Table 5.4 lists threatened or treaty fauna predicted to occur in suitable habitats within the 

BBS. These species were predicted using the Bioclim Program which analyses potential 

habitat for species. 

Table 5.4 

(Bioclim) 

Threatened and / or treaty fauna species predicted to occur within the BBS 

Common Name Scientific Name Legal Status 

yellow-spotted tree frog Litoria castanea *E 

green and golden bell frog Litoria aurea E 

eastern quoll Dasyurus viverrinus E 

yellow-bellied glider Petaurus australis V 

western blue-tongued lizard Tiliqua occipitalis V 

pink robin Petroica rodinogaster V 

osprey Pandion haliaetus V 

large-footed mouse-eared bat Myotis adversus V 

bell's (Namoi River) elseya Elseya belli V 

common bent-wing bat Miniopterus schreibersii V 

collared whip-snake Demansia torquata V 

brush-tailed phascogale Phascogale tapoatafa V 

sanderling Calidris alba V (JAMBA and CAMBA) 

Mongolian plover Charadrius mongolus V (JAMBA and CAMBA) 

great knot Calidris tenuirostris V (JAMBA and CAMBA) 

black-tailed godwit Limosa limosa V (JAMBA) 

white-winged black tern Chlidonias leucopterus CAMBA 

ruddy turnstone Arenaria interpres CAMBA 

caspian tern Sterna caspia CAMBA 

Table 5.5 shows species recorded in the QLD equivalent of the NSW Wildlife Atlas that 

have not previously been recorded in the BBS. A 50km buffer was used around the BBS 

to obtain this list. Where the buffer extended into QLD, approximately 50% of the area 

covered part of the BBS (Qld) while the remainder covered other bioregions. The green 

55


tree frog was predicted to occur within the BBS, however, there were no records for the 

bioregion. This species was recorded in QLD within the 50km buffer of the BBS. 

Table 5.5 Fauna species recorded within 50km buffer of BBS in Queensland not 

previously recorded in BBS 

Common Name Scientific Name Legal No Date 

Status Records Recorded 

paradise parrot Psephotus pulcherrimus E 1 1950 

oriental plover Charadrius veredus P 1 1982 

white-throated honeyeater Melithreptus albogularis P 1 1996 

Paradelma orientalis P 22 1996 

broad-banded sand swimmer Eremiascincus richardsonii P 2 1996 

fire-tailed skink Morethia taeniopleura P 3 1996 

varied triller Lalage leucomela P 1 1994 

green tree frog Litoria caerulea P 9 1996 

5.2.1 Systematic fauna site gap analysis 

Systematic fauna survey is limited in extent throughout the bioregion to some remaining 

forest blocks, namely parts of the Pilliga and Goonoo groups of State forests, Pilliga 

Nature Reserve (mapped as part of BBS stage 1), Coolah Tops National Park and Bebo 

State Forest (map 19). 

Three systematic fauna surveys have been recorded on the Atlas of NSW Wildlife which 

occur within the BBS. Table 5.6 lists these surveys, their locations, number of sites and 

standards used. 

Figure 5.3 shows the number of sites per area of stratum, and identifies the strata 

identification number for each point on the graph. A trend line was plotted which shows 

that in general the number of sites per stratum increases with an increase in strata size. 

Again, the dataset used to formulate this figure was small, and as such only gives an 

indication of trends in this respect. Figure 5.3 also shows that survey activity was highly 

unbalanced, but is likely to also reflect the percentage of retained natural vegetation per 

stratum. Appendix 14 lists all strata, their area and the number of systematic fauna and 

flora survey sites within each. 

56


Table 5.6 Systematic fauna surveys within the BBS recorded on Wildlife Atlas 

Survey No Sites in Locations Survey 

BBS 

Dates 

CRA Coolah Tops 24 Coolah Tops National March 

Park 

1998 

Fauna Survey of 

the Cypress / 

Ironbark Forests 

of North-West 

New South Wales 

(State Forest 

Fauna Impact 

Statement) 

BBS Stage 1 

(WRA) 

No. sites per strata 

25 

20 

15 

10 

5 

0 

45 (23 sites 

within BBS) 

54 

(36 Pilliga, 

18 Goonoo) 

Pilliga, Goonoo, Euligal, 

Etoo, Minnon, Quegobla, 

Yarrigan, Wittenbra, 

Baradine, Yaminbah, 

Rutley, Jacks Creek, 

Moema, Bobbiwaa, 

Killarney, Irrigappa, Terry 

Hie Hie, Warialda, Bebo, 

Kerringle, Campbell, 

Leard, Kelvin, Goran, 

Trinkey, Yalcorgin, 

Breelong, Eura, Beni 

State Forests 

Pilliga and Goonoo 

Groups of Forests 

1993 to 

1995 

1999 to 

2000 

Standards used Reference 

2ha (100m X200m) 

plots 

diurnal bird surveys, 

herpetofauna and 

frogs, spotlighting 

arboreal mammals, 

harp trapping, hair 

tubing (some sites), owl 

call playback, some 

Elliott trapping 

Trend line of number of fauna sites by stratum 

area 

4 

44 

12 3 

6 

14 

27 

5 

47 

45 sites each with 6 

200m X 60m transects 

were surveyed for 

vertebrate fauna and 

habitat floristics and 

structure. Active 

searches, spotlighting, 

playbacks, pit, Elliott 

and cage trapping, hair 

tube, scat collection 

and opportunistic 

sightings 

2ha (100m X 200m) 

sites 

Anabat surveys, 

nocturnal playbacks, 

bird counts, habitat 

searches, harp and 

Elliott traps, hair tubes, 

bat echolocation, stag 

watch, trip lining, scat 

collection, frog 

searches. 

0 100000 200000 300000 400000 500000 

Area of Strata (ha) 

Figure 5.3 Trend line of number of fauna sites by stratum area 

(Source: Surveys listed in Table 5.6 and Strat5) 

7 

11 

1 71 

19 

92 

3 

NPWS 

(1998) 

Date and 

Paull 

(1999) 

RACD 

(2000b) 

57



The following recommendations aim to improve the knowledge of the distribution, habitat 

requirements and conservation status of fauna and to allow for a comprehensive 

bioregional conservation assessment to be undertaken. They aim at gathering data for use 

in the assessment of conservation values of the BBS. 

It is recommended that: 

R4. a fauna list, including a list of species of priority for conservation effort, for the 

BBS be prepared and reviewed for accuracy / completeness by experts; 

R5. survey effort / comprehensiveness be improved across the BBS to include open 

woodlands and “non-woody” vegetation types for example, wetlands, grasslands, 

shrublands and include further systematic and targeted surveys of priority fauna 

across all tenures within the BBS to ensure all habitats are adequately sampled. 

Targetted species could include hollow-dependant species, honeyeaters, parrots, 

small terrestrial mammals, cave and forest bats, and indicator and / or keystone 

species; 

R6. species assemblages be defined for the BBS using pattern analysis using PATN 

software (Belbin, 1987) (software package for the manipulation, analysis and 

display of patterns in data) and correlations be made where possible between 

individual species or species assemblages and the vegetation communities of the 

bioregion as data becomes available; 

R7. profiles be compiled of priority fauna species and their response to disturbance. 

These species may include fauna species of conservation concern because of 

habitat loss, declining populations and geographic isolation / extremes and / or 

species listed under the TSC Act; 

R8. monitoring sites be established throughout BBS to generate year-round / allseasons 

perspective; 

R9. areas of high conservation value with respect to fauna be identified including core 

habitat areas; 

R10. information be gathered about current status and limiting factors for threatened 

species to assist in defining recovery objectives and management strategies for 

regionally significant and threatened species; 

R11. fauna modelling be considered for species which have suitable records and / or 

autecological knowledge available and that this be developed further as 

information becomes available; 

R12. any vegetation mapping carried out as part of a bioregional assessment should 

collect information on the spatial arrangement and extent of large, mature to 

senescing trees and shrubby understoreys as an habitat component for fauna; and 

R13. autecological studies of priority fauna be carried out whereby ecology, habitat 

requirements, and population dynamics etc of a single species or group of species 

are investigated. 

58


Current limitations to modelling include that many data layers which could be used in 

modelling do not cover the entire bioregion, or are not at a compatible scale to be useful at 

the bioregion level. Many data sets for the BBS require updating and validation to ensure 

that the end product of any modelling exercise is meaningful or useful. 

59

6 FLORA 



The key results and products of the Vegetation Survey and Mapping, Stage 1 Report for 

the Brigalow Belt South Bioregion (Beckers and Binns, 2000) are outlined below: 

a diverse range of plants and vegetation occurs within the BBS with more than 1 850 

native plant species recorded to date, including 16 threatened species and 17 protected 

species. Plot data collected from each area surveyed within the bioregion during the 

Brigalow Belt Stage 1 project contained species that were unique to the dataset. The 

large forest areas of the Pilliga and Goonoo State Forests were found to have low 

weed levels when compared to information from surveys conducted across other 

broad areas; and 

vegetation overstorey types of Eucalyptus populnea / Eucalyptus pilligaensis (which 

occur within west Pilliga) and Eucalyptus nubila (which occurs within Goonoo, 

Lincoln, Eura and Breelong State Forests) were found to be poorly represented in 

existing national parks and nature reserves. The rare, threatened or highly cleared and 

modified vegetation overstorey types; containing, Cadellia pentastylis, semievergreen 

vine thicket, Corymbia tessellaris, Austrostipa aristiglumis, Eucalyptus 

viridis, Eucalyptus dumosa, Acacia harpophylla, Eucalyptus melliodora, Eucalyptus 

conica, Eucalyptus camaldulensis were also found to have low levels of reservation. 

This study focussed on SFNSW and NPWS estate in the part of the BBS south of 

Narrabri. 

Other flora data for the BBS are available through the NPWS Atlas of NSW Wildlife, and 

the Royal Botanic Gardens (RBG). A compiled list of all threatened flora species listed 

under Schedules one and two of the TSC Act and Rare or Threatened Australian Plants 

(ROTAP) (Briggs and Leigh, 1996) recorded on these databases and the above survey are 

shown in Table 6.2. 

Appendix 13 lists all native species other than ROTAP or TSC Act species recorded 

within the BBS from the above-mentioned sources. 

60



Maps 32-35 show number flora records recorded in the Atlas of NSW Wildlife per 

1:50 000 mapsheet. It can be seen from these maps that there is a sampling bias for 

SFNSW and NPWS estate in the north east of the bioregion and Pilliga group of State 

Forests and Pilliga Nature Reserve. This is indicative of the focus of survey effort on 

these areas by SFNSW and others. 

Table 6.1 shows the number of wildlife atlas flora records by 1:100 000 mapsheet which 

lie within the BBS (including 50km buffer). 

Table 6.1 Number of Wildlife Atlas flora records by 1:100 000 mapsheet for BBS 


Records 

No of 1:100 000 Mapsheets Name and Number of 1:100 000 Mapsheet 

0-250 25 8734 – Mendooran 

9037 – Cobbadah 

8832 – Mudgee 

8732 – Euchareena 

9140 – Texas 

8835 – Tambar Springs 

8438 – Cumborah 

8933 – Merriwa 

8632 – Wellington 

8534 – Bundemar 

8536 – Coonamble 

9035 – Tamworth 

8636 – Gwabegar 

8434 – Warren 

8932 – Mt Pomany 

9132 – Cessnock 

8934 – Blackville 

8740 – Burrenbar 

8432 – Tullamore 

9038 – Bingara 

8538 – Gungalear 

8537 – Walgett 

8733 – Cobbora 

8436 – Quambone 

8634 – Gilgandra 

251-500 22 8833 – Gulgong 

8535 – Gulargambone 

8735 – Coonabarabran 


8738 – Bunna Bunna 

8834 – Coolah 

8433 – Dandaloo 

9139 – Ashford 

8638 – Collarenebri 

8936 – Boggabri 

8840 – Boomi 

61


Records 


No of 1:100 000 Mapsheets Name and Number of 1:100 000 Mapsheet 

8437 – Carinda 

8836 – Baan Baa 

9034 – Murrurundi 

8739 – Bunarba 

8637 – Pilliga 

8838 – Bellata 

8435 – Mt Harris 

8633 – Dubbo 

8737 – Wee Waa 

9039 – Yallaroi 

8935 – Curlewis 

501-1500 17 9033 – Muswellbrook 

8839 – Moree 

9032 – Howes Valley 

8939 – Croppa Creek 

9040 – Yetman 

9137 – Bundarra 

9136 – Bendemeer 

8837 – Narrabri 

9036 – Manilla 

8635 – Tenandra 

8533 – Narromine 

8940 – Goondiwindi 


9135 – Nundle 

8736 – Baradine 

8937 – Horton 

9133 – Camberwell 

1501-3500 2 9134 – Ellerston 

8532 – Peak Hill 

59% of all flora records in the NSW Wildlife Atlas fall within the woody vegetation layer 

of the M305. 

Figure 6.1 shows the number of flora records (Wildlife Atlas records) which fall within 

each land capability class. This figure indicates a strong bias for flora records within 

NPWS estate within the BBS. 

62

Number of systematic sites 

3000 

2500 

2000 

1500 

1000 

500 

0 

1 

Systematic flora sites by land capability 

2 

3 

4 

5 

Land capability class 


Figure 6.1 Number of flora records by land capability class for BBS 

The BBS Stage 1 Vegetation Survey and Mapping Project (Beckers and Binns, 2000), the 

Royal Botanic Gardens (RBG), and the Wildlife Atlas (WLA) datasets show 57 species of 

native flora listed as vulnerable or endangered under Schedules one and two of the TSC 

Act, 36 ROTAP species and a further 20 flora species listed as protected under Schedule 

13 of the National Parks and Wildlife Act, 1974 recorded within the BBS. Table 6.2 lists 

these species by family, common and scientific name, their legal or conservation status, 

the number of records within the BBS and which dataset in which they are recorded. 

Table 6.2 Threatened and ROTAP flora species recorded in BBS 

Family Common Name Scientific Name Status Records in Source (no. 

BBS records) 

Platyzomataceae Platyzoma microphyllum E1 1 RBG 

Sterculiaceae Rulingia procumbens *V 3 011 BBS (5), RBG (6), 

WLA (3 000) 

Rhamnaceae Pomaderris queenslandica E1 4 BBS (2), RBG (2), 

Euphorbiaceae Bertya sp. Coolabah-Cobar *V 4 BBS (2), RBG (2) 

Euphorbiaceae Monotaxis macrophylla E1 1 BBS 

Brassicaceae spiny peppercress Lepidium aschersonii *V 2 803 RBG (3), WLA (2 

800) 

Brassicaceae Lepidium hyssopifolium *E 2 BBS 

Brassicaceae winged peppercress Lepidium monoplocoides *E 2 BBS 

Myrtaceae Homoranthus darwinioides *V 6 RBG (1), WLA (5) 

Myrtaceae Homoranthus prolixus V 1 RBG 

Rutaceae Philotheca ericifolia *V 18 BBS (7), WLA (11) 

Rutaceae Zieria ingramii *E1 66 RBG (13), WLA (53) 

Surianaceae ooline Cadellia pentastylis *V 138 BBS (23), RBG (15), 

WLA (100) 

Fabaceae Acacia jucunda E1 3 RBG 

Fabaceae creeping tick-trefoil Desmodium campylocaulon E1 5 WLA 

Fabaceae Indigofera efoliata *E 10 RBG (8), WLA (2) 

Fabaceae Pultenaea pedunculata E1 1 RBG 

Fabaceae slender darling pea Swainsona murrayana *V 8 BBS (1), RBG (3), 

WLA (4) 

6 

7 

8 

urban 

NPWS Estate 

State Forest 

63



BBS records) 

Polygalaceae Polygala linariifolia E1 6 BBS 

Santalaceae Thesium australe *V 7 BBS (2), RBG (3), 

WLA (2) 

Asteraceae Calotis glandulosa 

*V 1 WLA 

(northern extent of range) 

Goodeniaceae Goodenia macbarronii *V 688 BBS (31), RBG (7), 

WLA (650) 

Asclepiadaceae Cynanchum elegans E1 1 WLA 

Asclepiadaceae Tylophora linearis E1 1 RBG 

Lamiaceae Prostanthera cryptandroides V 3 RBG 

Orchidaceae Diurus tricolor V 4 BBS (2), RBG (1), 

WLA (1) 

Orchidaceae Pterostylis cobarensis 

(eastern extent of range) 

V 1 RBG 

Cyperaceae Cyperus conicus E1 3 BBS (1), RBG (2) 

Poaceae Bothriochloa biloba *V 348 BBS (10), RBG (38), 

WLA (300) 

Poaceae bluegrass Dichanthium setosum *V 8 BBS (1), RBG (2), 

WLA (5) 

Poaceae finger panic grass Digitaria porrecta *E 27 RBG (2), WLA (25) 

Scrophulariaceae Euphrasia collina 2EC- 3 BBS 

Myrtaceae Eucalyptus conjuncta 2K 6 RBG 

Poaceae porcupine grass Triodia scariosa 2K 1 WLA 

Proteaceae Persoonia terminalis 2R 8 BBS 

Dilleniaceae Hibbertia kaputarensis 2RC- 1 RBG 

Thymelaeaceae Pimelea ciliolaris 2RC- 2 RBG (1), WLA (1) 

Rutaceae scaly phebalium Phebalium squamulosum 2RC- 16 BBS (10), WLA (6) 

Rutaceae Asterolasia hexapetala 2RC- 75 RBG (5), WLA (70) 

Fabaceae Acacia forsythii 2RC- 8 RBG (6), WLA (2) 

Lamiaceae Prostanthera cruciflora 2RC- 1 RBG 

Lamiaceae Westringia glabra 

(western extent of range) 

2RC- 1 RBG 

Rutaceae desert phebalium Phebalium glandulosum 2VCi 3 BBS (2), WLA (1) 

Proteaceae Persoonia cuspidifera 3K 106 BBS (95), RBG (7), 

WLA (4) 

Orchidaceae Diuris tricolor 3K 2 BBS 

Asteraceae Ozothamnus adnatus 3KC- 9 BBS (1), WLA (8) 

Sapindaceae Dodonaea macrossanii 3R 3 BBS (1), RBG (1), 

WLA (1) 

Poaceae Homopholis belsonii 3R 258 BBS (6), RBG (2), 

WLA (250) 

Myrtaceae Callistemon shiressii 


3RC- 1 WLA 

Rutaceae Eriostemon ericifolius 3RC- 5 RBG 

Asteraceae Senecio macranthus 3RC- 2 RBG (1), WLA (1) 

Scrophulariaceae Derwentia arenaria 3RC- 7 BBS (6), RBG (1) 

Orchidaceae Prasophyllum campestre 3RC- 4 RBG 

Orchidaceae Pterostylis longicurva 3RC- 3 WLA 

Orchidaceae long-tailed greenhood Pterostylis woollsii 3RC- 1 BBS 

Cyperaceae Eleocharis blakeana 3RC- 5 BBS (2), WLA (3) 

Rhamnaceae Australian anchor plant Discaria pubescens 3RCa 37 BBS (1), RBG (1), 

WLA (35) 

Euphorbiaceae Pseudanthus 

divaricatissimum 

3RCa 4 BBS (2), WLA (2) 

Myrtaceae Eucalyptus nandewarica 3RCa 3 RBG 

64



BBS records) 

Rutaceae club-leaved phebalium Phebalium obcordatum 3RCa 4 BBS (1), RBG (1), 

WLA (2) 

Rutaceae Phebalium viridiflorum 3RCa 2 RBG 

Sapindaceae Dodonaea rhombifolia 3RCa 6 RBG (1), WLA (5) 

Fabaceae Acacia barringtonensis 


3RCa 1 RBG 

Asteraceae Brachyscome gracilis 3RCa 1 BBS 

Rubiaceae Asperula charophyton 3RCa 10 RBG (4), WLA (6) 

Lomandraceae Lomandra patens 3RCa 2 BBS (1), WLA (1) 

Rutaceae Zieria odorifera 3RCi 10 RBG 

Adiantaceae common maidenhair Adiantum aethiopicum P13 24 BBS (21), WLA (3) 

Adiantaceae giant maidenhair Adiantum formosum P13 8 BBS (6), WLA (2) 

Adiantaceae rough maidenhair Adiantum hispidulum P13 1 WLA 

Cyatheaceae rough treefern Cyathea australis P13 2 BBS 

Casuarinaceae river oak Casuarina cunninghamiana P13 166 BBS (33), WLA 

ssp cunninghamiana 

(133) 

Proteaceae Xylomelum 

cunninghamianum 

P13 7 BS (3), WLA (4) 

Proteaceae Xylomelum pyriforme P13 101 BBS (1), WLA (100) 

Rutaceae Boronia anethifolia P13 6 BBS (3), WLA (3) 

Rutaceae Boronia bipinnata P13 37 BBS (36), WLA (1) 

Rutaceae Boronia glabra P13 143 BBS (131), WLA 

(12) 

Rutaceae Sydney boronia Boronia ledifolia P13 4 BBS (3), WLA (1) 

Rutaceae small-leaved boronia Boronia microphylla P13 2 BBS (1), WLA (1) 

Rutaceae Boronia warrumbunglensis P13 3 BBS 

Rutaceae Philotheca myoporoides ssp 

epilosus 

P13 1 RBG 


Apiaceae flannel flower Actinotus helianthi P13 103 BBS (87), WLA (16) 

Orchidaceae tiger orchid Cymbidium canaliculatum P13 40 BBS (24), WLA (16) 

Orchidaceae hyacinth orchid Dipodium hamiltonianum P13 5 BBS (3), RBG (1), 

WLA (1) 

Orchidaceae hyacinth orchid Dipodium punctatum P13 4 BBS (3), WLA (1) 

Orchidaceae hyacinth orchid Dipodium roseum P13 4 BBS 

Orchidaceae rock lily Dendrobium speciosum P13 1 WLA 

Key 

*E Nationally endangered under the TSC Act and Environment and Biodiversity Conservation Act, 1999 

E Endangered in New South Wales under TSC Act 

*V Nationally vulnerable under the TSC Act and Environment and Biodiversity Conservation Act, 1999 

V Vulnerable in New South Wales under TSC Act 

P13 Protected Under National Parks and Wildlife Act, 1974 

2EC- 2- Distribution up to 100km, E – endangered, C –conserved, - conservation status unknown 

2K 2- Distribution up to 100km, K – Poorly Known 

2R 2- Distribution up to 100km, R- rare 

2VCi 2- Distribution up to 100km, V – vulnerable, C – conserved, - conservation status unknown 

3K 3- Distribution > 100km, K – Poorly Known 

3KC- 3- Distribution > 100km, K – Poorly Known, C – conserved, - conservation status unknown 

3R 3- Distribution > 100km, R- rare 

3RC- 3- Distribution > 100km, R- rare, C – conserved, - conservation status unknown 

3RCa 3- Distribution > 100km, R- rare, C – conserved, a – adequately conserved 

3RCi 3- Distribution > 100km, R- rare, C – conserved, i – inadequately conserved 

Table 6.3 shows threatened flora species predicted to occur (but not recorded) within 

suitable habitat within the BBS. These species were predicted using the Bioclim Program 

which analyses potential distribution of species within suitable habitat from climatic 

variables only. 

65


Table 6.3 Threatened flora species predicted to occur (but not recorded) within the BBS 

(Bioclim) 

Family Common Name Scientific Name Status 

Marsileaceae austral pillwort Pilularia novae-hollandiae E1 

Malvaceae Sida rohlenae E1 

Euphorbiaceae climbing caustic Euphorbia sarcostemmoides E1 

Proteaceae Hakea pulvinifera *E 

Myrtaceae silver-leaved gum Eucalyptus pulverulenta *V 

Fabaceae Swainsona recta *E 

Appendix 14 lists over 300 species of exotic flora which have been recorded within the 

BBS. Data sources were the BBS Stage 1 Vegetation Survey and Mapping Project 

(Beckers and Binns, 2000), the Royal Botanic Gardens database and the Wildlife Atlas 

database. 

6.2.1 Systematic flora site gap analysis 

Table 6.4 lists systematic flora surveys which have been undertaken within the BBS. This 

table also lists survey locations and sampling intensity, plot size and number of plots for 

each survey. These systematic flora surveys have been used in the gap analysis process. 

Table 6.4 Systematic flora surveys within the BBS 

(Beckers and Binns, 2000) 

Location Survey dates Plots in 

Bioregion 

Sampling 

Intensity 

(ha per plot) 

Plot size Reference 

Northern 

Wheatbelt 1986 to 1994 177(958) (c) 

N/A 20m x 20m 

NPWS unpublished 

1994 

Ooline 1988 21(32) (c) 

N/A 20m x 20m Benson 1988 

Pilliga Nature 

Reserve (a) 

1989 to 1990 96 818 20m x 20m 


1990 

Pilliga Nature 

Reserve (a) 

1990 50 1 500 20m x 20m 


1990 

Pilliga State 

State Forests 

Forests 

Warung 

Management 

1993 to 1995 180 2 157 20m x 50m unpublished 1995 

Area 1993 to 1994 50 N/A 20m x 50m Binns 1995 

Coolah Tops 1994 50 260 20m x 50m Binns 1997 

Southern 

Wheatbelt (b) 

1995 0(290) (c) 

N/A 20m x 20m 

Sivertsen and Metcalfe 

1995 

Namoi Riparian 

Zone 1995 to 1996 36(46) (c) 

Binnaway 

N/A 

500 x 20 to 

30m 

DLWC unpublished 

1996 

Nature Reserve 

Weetalibah 

1997 30 123 20m x 20m Porteners 1998(a) 

Nature Reserve 1997 16 38 20m x 20m Porteners 1998(c) 

Dapper Nature 

Lembit and Skelton 

Reserve 1998 10 100 20m x 20m 1998 

Kirramingly 1998 22 68 1012m 2 

Mt Kaputar 

Clarke et al. 1998 

south 1998 4(50) (c) 

260 20m x 20m Porteners 1998(b) 

Towarri 1999 22 114 20m x 20m NPWS unpublished 

66

Location Survey dates Plots in 

Bioregion 

Sampling 

Intensity 

(ha per plot) 


Plot size Reference 

National Park 

Moree 

1999 

Grasslands 1999 48(200) (c) 

Arakoola Nature 

N/A 20m x 20m Hunter and Earl in press 

Reserve 1999 50 63 20m x 20m Hunter in press 

Brigalow Belt 

Beckers and Binns, 

South Stage 1 2000 

Total plots in 

474 1 309 20m x 50m 2000 

bioregion 1 770 

Notes: (a) = Incomplete survey, (b) = Used for comparisons only, (c) = survey overlapped bioregion 

with bracketed data indicating total number of plots in survey, N/A = data not available 

Map 46 shows the locations of these systematic flora sites within the BBS. The majority 

of these sites fall within NPWS or State Forest Estate. 

Figure 6.2 below illustrates that depending on the spatial arrangement of strata, from the 

current flora survey effort, as the size of the stratum increases, so does the number of sites 

and the percent of area of stratum sample will decrease also. This is due to the greater 

number and geographic spread of systematic flora sites (map 46) when compared to 

systematic fauna sites (map 19). Appendix 14 lists all strata, their area and the number of 

systematic fauna and flora survey sites within each. 

350 

300 

250 

200 

150 

100 

50 

0 

Trend line of number of flora sites by strata area 

0 50,000 100,000 150,000 200,000 250,000 300,000 350,000 400,000 450,000 500,000 

Area of Strata (ha) 

Figure 6.2 Trend line of number of flora sites by stratum area 

(Source: Surveys listed in Table 6.4 and Strat5) 

67



The following recommendations aim to improve the knowledge of the distribution, 

ecology and conservation status of native flora within the BBS and to allow for a 

comprehensive bioregional conservation assessment to be undertaken. They aim at 

gathering data for use in the assessment of conservation values of the BBS. 


R14. a flora list, including a list of species of priority for conservation effort, for the 

BBS be prepared and reviewed for accuracy / completeness by experts; 

R15. further systematic plot-based and targetted flora surveys be undertaken on private / 

leasehold lands and areas not identified as “woody” vegetation in the MDBC 

vegetation mapping (for example, wetlands, shrublands, grassland and open 

woodlands), and to fill gaps in information about woody communities linked to 

DLWC vegetation mapping and vegetation survey. Priority flora species for 

targetted surveys may include Threatened, ROTAP or protected species; 

R16. analysis be undertaken of flora data in relation to vegetation mapping for the BBS; 

R17. information be gathered on current status and limiting factors to assist in defining 

recovery objectives for threatened flora; 

R18. conservation requirements be formulated for native flora; 

R19. management strategies be developed for regionally significant and threatened flora 

species; 

R20. modelling be done to predict distribution of potential habitat and critical habitat at 

a local and regional scale for priority species within the BBS including threatened 

species, regionally significant and ROTAP species. Current limitations to 

modelling include that many data layers that could be used in modelling do not 

cover the entire bioregion, or are not at a compatible scale to be useful at the 

bioregion level; 

R21. existing data sets for the BBS be updated and validated to ensure that the end 

product of any modelling exercise is meaningful or useful; 

R22. responses to disturbance be collated for flora species for use in population viability 

analysis and risk assessments and formulation of conservation requirements. 

R23. autecological studies of targeted flora be undertaken whereby ecology, distribution 

etc of a single species or group of species is investigated; 

R24. monitoring sites be established for flora across all tenures in the BBS. It is 

recommended that these monitoring sites be linked to the fauna monitoring sites; 

R25. studies on the distribution and abundance of cryptogam (mosses, liverworts and 

lichens) biodiversity be undertaken; and 

R26. a flora report be produced with datasets and species / community profiles suitable 

for use in conservation planning processes. 

68

7 OTHER BIOTA 


7.1.1 Invertebrates 


Invertebrates have not been considered in this study but should be included in any 

comprehensive assessment as invertebrate species richness forms a major component of 

biodiversity in any region. No comprehensive invertebrate surveys have been undertaken 

across the bioregion. Information is likely to be collected for the bioregion by the 

Australian Museum, and the Department of Agriculture in future assessments. 

7.1.2 Fish 

Fish have not been considered in this study but should be included in any comprehensive 

assessment as they are indicators of catchment and stream health. 

Fish recorded in the Namoi, Gwydir and Macquarie River catchments by the NSW Rivers 

Survey (Harris and Gehrke, 1997) and a previous study in 1975 to 1976 (Llewellyn, 1983) 

are shown in Table 7.1. These river catchments fall partially within the BBS and had 

survey sites within the BBS for the NSW Rivers Survey (1996). This table shows the 

status of all species listed including two species listed as endangered or vulnerable under 

Schedules four and five of the Fisheries Management Act, 1994, 13 unprotected native 

species and seven feral species. 

Table 7.1 Fish recorded in the Namoi, Gwydir and Macquarie River Catchments 

(source Harris and Gehrke, 1997; Llewellyn, 1983) 

Common Name Species Name Catchments Status 

Murray hardyhead Craterocephalus fluviatilis Namoi, Macquarie E 

silver perch Bidyanus bidyanus Namoi, Gwydir, Macquarie V 

olive perchlet Ambassis agassizii Macquarie Native 

flathead gudgeon Philypnodon grandiceps Macquarie Native 

flyspecked hardyhead Craterocephalus stercusmuscarum Namoi Native 

mountain galaxias 

(possibly only in headwaters) 

Galaxias olidus Gwydir, Macquarie Native 

river blackfish 

Gadopsis marmoratus Namoi, Gwydir, Macquarie Native 

(possibly only in headwaters) 

Gudgeon Hypseleotris spp. Namoi, Gwydir, Macquarie Native 

spangled perch Leiopotherapon unicolor Namoi, Gwydir, Macquarie Native 

Murray cod Maccullochella peelii Namoi, Gwydir, Macquarie Native 

golden perch Macquaria ambigua Namoi, Gwydir, Macquarie Native 

crimson-spotted rainbowfish Melanotaenia fluviatilis Namoi, Gwydir, Macquarie Native 

bony herring Nematalosa erebi Namoi, Gwydir, Macquarie Native 

Australian smelt Retropinna semoni Namoi, Gwydir, Macquarie Native 

freshwater catfish Tandanus tandanus Namoi, Gwydir, Macquarie Native 

rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss Macquarie Feral 

69


Common Name Species Name Catchments Status 

brown trout Salmo trutta Macquarie Feral 

brook trout Salvenlinus fontinalis Macquarie Feral 

redfin perch Perca fluviatilis Gwydir, Macquarie Feral 

gold fish Carassius auratus Namoi, Gwydir, Macquarie Feral 

common carp Cyprinus carpio Namoi, Gwydir, Macquarie Feral 

mosquito fish Gambusia holbrooki Namoi, Gwydir, Macquarie Feral 

The Murray hardhead was recorded in both the Macquarie and Namoi River catchments 

during the 1975 / 1976 survey but were not found in 1996 suggesting that a possible 

decline in or absence of this species in these catchments occurred over this 20-year 

period. The silver perch, however, was recorded only from the 1996 survey within the 

Gwydir catchment, in both the 1975 to 1976 and 1996 surveys in the Namoi catchment, 

and only in the 1975 to 1976 survey in the Macquarie catchment. 


No analysis of gaps in data was possible due to insufficient information across the 



The following recommendations are to assist in the development of a comprehensive 

biodiversity assessment of the BBS. 


R27. data collation and an audit be undertaken regarding invertebrates, aquatic 

vertebrates, macroinvertebrates and fish within the BBS; and 

R28. database(s) be established for aquatic vertebrates, aquatic macroinvertebrates, and 

terrestrial invertebrates for use in biodiversity assessments and an evaluation of 

patterns of biological variation within mapped vegetation types be undertaken. 

70

8 VEGETATION 



Thackway and Cresswell (1995) describe the vegetation of BBS as Eucalyptus woodlands 

and open forests of ironbarks, Eucalyptus populnea, Angophora leiocarpa, Callitris 

glaucophylla, bloodwoods, Acacia harpophylla - Casuarina cristata and semi-evergreen 

vine thickets. Benson (1999) describes the vegetation of the BBS as being mainly grassy 

woodland dominated by Eucalyptus albens, Eucalyptus populnea and Eucalyptus 

pilligaensis with several species of ironbarks. Callitris glaucophylla and Eucalyptus 

albens mix with microphyll vine thickets on basalt rises (NPWS, 2000c). 

Woodlands and low open forest or open forests are comprised of Casuarina cristata, 

Allocasuarina leuhmannii and Acacia harpophylla. It was estimated, in 1984, that only 

about 5 000 of the original 250 000 hectares of Acacia harpophylla remain (Pulsford, 

1984). Subsequent clearing has reduced this area further. 

Detailed descriptions are unavailable for all the major plant communities and plant 

alliances within BBS. The brief province descriptions by Morgan and Terrey (1992), 

which list the main species associated with each soil and landform type, provide the most 

complete coverage of the range of plant communities for the BBS. Given that these are 

the only descriptions which cover the whole area they are outlined below. Whilst the 

spatial extent of communities is not recorded, the communities can be readily located in 

the landscape by identifying the portions of the land profile in which they occur. 

Plant communities and their associated landform and / or geology listed by Morgan and 

Terrey (1992) are listed in Table 8.1. 

Table 8.1 

(Morgan and Terrey, 1992) 

Plant communities by province for BBS 

Plant Community 

Eucalyptus populnea (poplar box) woodlands with: 

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 

I. Callitris glaucophylla, Geijera parviflora and 

Eremophila mitchellii on brighter red loam soils 

 

II. Casuarina cristata and Acacia harpophylla on 

lower darker red loam soils 

III. Callitris glaucophylla and Eucalyptus 

melanophloia on inner Gwydir fan 

IV. occasional Casuarina cristata and Geijera 

parviflora in the north and Eucalyptus melliodora 

in the south on finer alluvial soils 

V. Callitris glaucophylla and Allocasuarina 

luehmannii 

 

 

 

 

71


Plant Community 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 

VI. Callitris glaucophylla, Eucalyptus blakelyi, 

Eucalyptus pilligaensis and Eucalyptus 

sideroxylon 

 

Austrostipa aristiglumis (plains grass) grassland with: 

I. Acacia pendula woodland and occasional Atalaya 

hemiglauca and Casuarina cristata on high 

alluvial plains 

II. Dichanthium spp., Panicum spp. and occasional 

Eucalyptus albens and Geijera parviflora, and 

Eucalyptus dealbata on steeper areas 

III. Chloris truncata and Panicum spp. with scattered 

Eucalyptus populnea 

Casuarina cristata (belah) woodland and open forest 

with: 

I. Casuarina cristata woodland and open forest 

II. Eremophila mitchellii and occasional Atalaya 

hemiglauca and Geijera parviflora on low alluvial 

plains 

 

Acacia stenophylla (river cooba) on lower areas 

Eucalyptus camaldulensis (river red gum) on lower 

areas and channels with: 

I. Eucalyptus coolabah 

 

 

 

 

II. Casuarina cunninghamiana 

III. Casuarina cristata, Acacia pendula or Eucalyptus 

populnea on alluvial flats 

Lignum 

I. Muehlenbeckia spp. on low alluvials 

Open forests or woodlands of Eucalyptus albens 

(white box) with: 

I. Callitris glaucophylla and occasional Angophora 

floribunda, Eucalyptus blakelyi, Atalaya 

hemiglauca, Geijera parviflora and/or 

Brachychiton populneus 

II. Eucalyptus melliodora on coarse alluvials 

III. Eucalyptus melanophloia and Eucalyptus conica 

IV. occasional Angophora floribunda on northern 

slopes and footslopes of the Liverpool range 

V. Eucalyptus melliodora and Eucalyptus blakelyi on 

southern slopes and footslopes of the Liverpool 

range 

VI. Eucalyptus melanophloia, Atalaya hemiglauca 

and Allocasuarina luehmannii 

Hill red gum open forest 

I. Eucalyptus dealbata open forest 

Eucalyptus melliodora (yellow box) open forest with: 

I. occasional Eucalyptus moluccana or Eucalyptus 

microcarpa and Brachychiton populneus 

II. Eucalyptus blakelyi 

 

 

 

 

 

 

72


Plant Community 

Open forests or fringing communities 

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 

I. Open forest or fringing communities containing 

mixtures of Acacia harpophylla, Acacia 

homalophylla, Eremophila mitchellii, Geijera 

parviflora, Atalaya hemiglauca, Acacia pendula, 

Grevillea striata, Alectryon oleifolius, Alstonia 

constricta or Casuarina cristata 

 

Tall open forests 

I. Tall open forest of Eucalyptus laevopinea, 

Eucalyptus viminalis, Eucalyptus dalrympleana 

and some Eucalyptus pauciflora on the plateau of 

the Liverpool Range 

Tallowwood, blackbutt, bluegum 

I. Eucalyptus microcorys, Eucalyptus pilularis, 

Eucalyptus deanei on the eastern slopes of the 


Vineforests 

I. Vineforest with Daphnandra sp. and Acmena 

smithii 

Open forest of silver-leaf ironbark with white cypress 

pine 

I. Open forest of Eucalyptus melanophloia with 

Callitris glaucophylla on rocky areas 

Scrubby open forests 

I. Scrubby open forest of Angophora costata, Callitris 

glaucophylla and Eucalyptus blakelyi on midslopes 

Moreton bay ash, poplar box, wilga, rough-barked 

apple, buloke 

I. Corymbia tessellaris, Eucalyptus populnea, Geijera 

parviflora, Angophora floribunda, Allocasuarina 

luehmannii and occasional Atalaya hemiglauca on 

lower slopes 

Eucalyptus pilligaensis (Pilliga box) woodlands with: 

I. Eucalyptus populnea and Eucalyptus moluccana 

or Eucalyptus microcarpa and Allocasuarina 

luehmannii and Alectryon oleifolius in the 

understorey 

II. Eucalyptus melliodora and Eucalyptus blakelyi 

III. Angophora floribunda on sandy alluvials, easterly 

aspect 

IV. Allocasuarina luehmannii, Alectryon oleifolius and 

Geijera parviflora 

Woodlands and open forests of Eucalyptus crebra 

(narrow-leaved ironbark) and Callitris glaucophylla 

(white cypress pine) with: 

I. Eucalyptus nubila, Eucalyptus dealbata and 

occasional Callitris endlicheri, Corymbia 

trachyphloia and Eucalyptus elliptica or 

Eucalyptus dunnii; Eucalyptus sideroxylon and 

Eucalyptus macrorhyncha or Eucalyptus cannonii 

may also occur 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

73


Plant Community 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 

II. Eucalyptus dealbata, Callitris endlicheri and 

occasional Eucalyptus elliptica or Eucalyptus 

dunnii on rugged acid volcanics 

 

III. occasional Allocasuarina luehmannii on lower 

areas 

Blue-leaf ironbark, hill red gum, brown bloodwood, 

white gum and black cypress 

I. Eucalyptus nubila, Eucalyptus dealbata, 

Corymbia trachyphloia, Eucalyptus elliptica or 

Eucalyptus dunnii and Callitris endlicheri with a 

shrubby understorey on rocky areas 

Mallee 

I. Eucalyptus dumosa and Eucalyptus viridis 

Grey box woodlands 

I. Eucalyptus moluccana or Eucalyptus microcarpa 

woodlands with Eucalyptus conica, Eucalyptus 

melliodora and Angophora floribunda on smaller 

tributaries 

Key to provinces: 

1. Northern Outwash 5. Northern Basalts 

2. Liverpool Plains 6. Pilliga 

3. Pilliga Outwash 7. Talbragar Valley 

4. Liverpool Range 

While these descriptions provide a useful indication of the major plant communities 

across the bioregion, they are inadequate for provincial and property scale planning and 

management. They do not include any information about the composition of the 

understorey or groundcover, nor any systematic analysis of the variation in structure or 

floristics of the community, nor do they give any indication of the condition of the 

vegetation in each community or vegetation type. These factors are of critical importance 

when assessing the conservation value of the community and its value as habitat for 

wildlife. The accuracy of these descriptions is also in need of assessment (NPWS, 

2000c). 

Table 8.2 lists existing vegetation mapping datasets within the BBS, their coverage of the 

BBS and the scale of each dataset. The majority of mapping which covers the entire 

bioregion is at a very large scale and not useful for bioregional assessment purposes. 

Finer scale mapping is only available over smaller areas within the BBS. 

 

 

 

74

Dataset 


Table 8.2 Existing vegetation mapping datasets within the BBS 

Scale of 

mapping 

Notes / references 

% of BBS 

covered 

The Vegetation of Australia 1:10 000 000 Beadle (1981) 100% 

AUSLIG Atlas of Australian 

Resources: Vegetation 

1:5 000 000 AUSLIG (1990) 100% 

Murray Darling Basin 

1:100 000 Broad Landsat structural and floristic 

97.5% 

Commission M305 Datalayer (nominal) 

interpretation of woody/non-woody vegetation in 

the Murray-Darling Basin (MDBC 1991). 

Conservation Atlas of Plant Point data used to Specht et al. (1995) not available in electronic 100% 

Communities 

estimate locations 

of vegetation 

communities 

form – published only in hard copy. 

Natural Vegetation of the 

Southern Wheatbelt 

1:250 000 Sivertsen and Metcalfe (1995) 12% 

Coonabarabran Shire 

Vegetation Mapping 

1:50 000 Whitehead (2000) 12% 

Eastern Bushlands Database 1:100 000 Roberts (1992) 22% 

State Forests Forest Type unknown SFNSW Includes RN17, Lindsay typing, Type 10% 

Mapping 

55 

Moree RVC Mapping 1:50 000 Peasley (1999) 12% 

Moree Pre-clearing Layer 1:50 000 Ecology Australia Pty. Ltd. (undated) 12% 

Western Regional Assessment 

Stage 1 Vegetation Mapping 

1:100 000 NPWS (2000c) 3% 

NPWS National Parks Estate varying scales Binnaway Nature Reserve, Arakoola Nature 1% 


Reserve, Towarri National Park, Warrumbungles 

National Park, Weetalibah National Park, Mount 

Kaputar National Park, Kirramingly Nature 

Reserve (all undertaken by NPWS), Coolah 

Tops National Park (undertaken by SFNSW) 


There is considerable variation in the scales used in the vegetation datasets for the BBS. 

The scales range from 1:25 000 to 1:100 000. There is also variation in the level of detail 

in vegetation information recorded. 

From a bioregional perspective, the Murray Darling Basin Project (M305) is currently the 

most useful dataset (although inadequate or inaccurate in parts) from which to draw 

conclusions about distribution of vegetation and communities. It is a digital dataset 

interpreted from Landsat TM imagery. It has a Boolean woody/non-woody layer (raster) 

and a classified structural vegetation layer (vector). The major deficiencies of the dataset 

are: 

the inconsistent recording of vegetation classes within the BBS; 

that the structural vegetation layer has a smaller aerial coverage than the woody / nonwoody 

layer; and 

that the methodology used in collecting woody/non-woody vegetation presence / 

absence records only targeted vegetation with a greater than 20% projected canopy 

cover and greater than 4m stand height. Therefore, communities cannot be identified 

and open woodlands and native grasslands can not be delineated using this dataset. 

75


Of all the vegetation datasets collated during the Bioregional Vegetation Project (NPWS, 

2000c) however, the M305 dataset has the broadest coverage of the BBS with only 

sections of the Pilliga and Liverpool Range Provinces not covered by this dataset. 

However, only the woody layer is used in any analysis due to problematic data of the 

floristic datasets. There is no bioregion-wide coverage of pre-1750 / pre-clearing 

vegetation. Some mapping has been recently prepared by DLWC for Coonabarabran and 

Moree Shires. 

Table 8.3 shows the percentage of woody vegetation remaining across the BBS according 

to land tenure and province. 

Table 8.3 Percentage of woody vegetation remaining across bioregion according to land 

tenure and province 

NPWS Estate 

covers 2.6% of the bioregion; 

85.6% of the estate within the bioregion is covered by woody vegetation, which is equivalent to 

114 738 ha; and 

of the total woody vegetation in the bioregion, 9.2% occurs in NPWS estate. 

NSW State Forests 

covers 11.2% of the bioregion; 

88% of State forest within the bioregion is covered by woody vegetation, which is equivalent to 

505 824 ha; and 

of the total woody vegetation in the bioregion, 40.5% occurs in State forest. 

Provinces 

Province % of BBS 

covered by 

province 

%woody 

veg in 

province 

% of total 

BBS woody 

veg in 

province 

Hectares of 

Woody Veg on 

Private Land in 

High Land 

Capability Class 

Hectares of 

Woody Veg on 

Crown Land in 

High Land 


Total Hectares of 

Woody Veg on 

Private and Crown 

Land in High Land 


Pilliga 33 41 57 17 827 1 499 19 327 

Liverpool 

Plains 

18 9 7 15 410 872 16 282 

Northern 

Basalts 

12 20 10 12 557 1 575 14 132 

Northern 

Outwash 

13 3 1 11 389 1 571 12 960 

Pilliga 

Outwash 

10 40 17 3 057 207 3 264 

Liverpool 

Range 

10 13 5 2 877 104 2 982 

 

NB: 

Talbragar 

Valley 

4 14 2 1 455 248 1 703 

4 447ha not included in calculation for Pilliga Province as Woody Vegetation layer does not cover entire 

Pilliga province 

134 569 ha not included in calculation for Liverpool Range Province as Woody Vegetation layer does not 

cover entire Liverpool Range province 

Total Land 

approximately 24%, or 1 248 956 ha, of the bioregion is currently covered by woody vegetation. 

However, no data regarding the amount of woody vegetation which has been lost from the bioregion 

since European occupation began are available (ie there is no pre-1750 or pre-clearing vegetation map 

of the BBS bioregion) and this is required. However, we do know that there are a number of plant 

communities which are over cleared and possibly threatened. These include ooline, semi-evergreen 

76


vine thicket, carbeen, plains grass, green mallee, white mallee, brigalow, yellow box and fuzzy box 

communities (Benson, 1989, 1991, 1999). 

A measure of remnant size and fragmentation of vegetation can be determined using the 

woody layer. Appendix 8 shows calculations of the number and area of: 

contiguous blocks of woody vegetation above and below one hundred, five hundred 

and one thousand hectares calculated by Spatial Analyst on ArcInfo; and 

contiguous blocks of woody vegetation above and below one hundred, five hundred 

and one thousand hectares using an alternative method whereby blocks are considered 

connected if they are within 56m of one another. The 56m range equals an 8-cell 

buffer around the vegetation and this range was calculated using Spatial Analyst on 

ArcInfo software. 

Appendix 8 contains a more detailed explanation of the methods used to achieve the 

figures presented. 

Table 8.4 Level of woody vegetation fragmentation 

Method 1 Number of Fragments % Fragments Total ha % Area 

< 100 ha 224 487 99.81% 139 197 11.3% 

>100 ha < 500 ha 266 0.12% 56 070 4.6% 

> 500 ha < 1000 ha 70 0.03% 47 926 3.9% 

> 1000 ha 88 0.04% 984 654 80.2% 

Method 2 Number of Fragments % Fragments Total ha % Area 

< 100 ha 80 132 99.56% 94 957 7.6% 

>100 ha < 500 ha 241 0.30% 49 829 4.0% 

> 500 ha < 1000 ha 45 0.06% 32 556 2.6% 

> 1000 ha 70 0.09% 1 065 270 85.7% 

Table 8.4 shows the level of fragmentation of woody vegetation within the Brigalow Belt 

South. Using this method of calculation (method 1 in appendix 8), there are 224 487 

separate fragments of vegetation less than 100 hectares in area. Note that these figures are 

cumulative (ie the total number of fragments under 1000 ha includes those under 500 ha 

and under 100 ha). Using method 2 calculations (appendix 8), there are 80 500 separate 

fragments of vegetation less than 100 hectares in area. Note that these figures are 

cumulative (ie the total number of fragments under 1000 ha includes those under 500 ha 

and under 100 ha). 

Method 2 appears to represent contiguity of vegetation fragments more accurately within 

the BBS (see Appendix 8). However, proportions of fragments in each size class shown in 

Table 8.4 are comparable. 

77

440 812 ha 

51 blocks 

71% 

Private land expanded 


Figure 8.1 Area of woody vegetation fragments by remnant size on private land within the 

BBS 

Figure 8.2 Area of woody vegetation fragments by remnant size on public land within the 

BBS 

15% 

0-100 hectare blocks 101-500 hectare blocks 

501-1000 hectare blocks 1000+ hectare blocks 

Public land expanded 

1 426ha 

625 blocks 

97% 

0.2% 

1% 

2% 

79582 blocks 

8% 

5 989ha 

22 blocks 

12 475 ha 

16 blocks 

26 blocks 602 193ha 

0-100 hectare blocks 101-500 hectare blocks 

501-1000 hectare blocks 1001+ hectare blocks 

94 687ha 

246 blocks 50 864ha 

6% 48 blocks 34 160 ha 

78


Figure 8.1 and Figure 8.2 show the percentage of remnants of different size within the 

BBS by total area on private and public land respectively using method 2 in appendix 8. 

The smallest blocks for both land tenures can only be estimated due to the grid cell size 

used for the analysis (25m x 25m / 0.06ha). 

Figure 8.1 shows that 71% of all woody vegetation on private land consists of fragments 

of greater than 1 000 ha. These consist of 51 fragments with a total area of 440 812 ha, 

the largest being 145 000 ha. Of the remaining 29% of vegetation fragments on private 

land, 15% are less than 100 ha (comprising 79 582 fragments with a total area of 

94 687 ha), 8% are between 101-500 ha (comprising 246 fragments with a total area of 

50 864 ha) and 6% are between 501-1 000 ha (comprising 48 fragments with a total area 

of 34 160 ha). 

Figure 8.2 shows that 97% of all woody vegetation on public land consists of fragments 

of greater than 1 000 ha. These consist of 26 contiguous blocks of woody vegetation, the 

largest being 435 000 ha (and comprising the Pilliga forests). Of the remainder of woody 

vegetation fragments (3%), 2% are between 501-1 000 ha (comprising 16 fragments with 

a total area of 12 745 ha), 1% are between 101-500 ha (comprising 22 fragments with a 

total area of 5 989 ha), and 0.2% are less than 100 ha (comprising 625 fragments with a 

total area of 1 426 ha). 

Both the above-mentioned calculations (methods 1 and 2, appendix 8) show that woody 

vegetation across the BBS is highly fragmented but these figures are preliminary and do 

not consider the condition of the vegetation including understorey condition and do not 

consider native non-woody vegetation cover such as grasslands. Therefore, these figures 

require recalculating when better vegetation mapping is available. Map 47 shows the 

largest contiguous areas of woody vegetation on public and private land, and the areas of 

woody vegetation remaining by area class. 

hectares within BBS 

2500000 

2000000 

1500000 

1000000 

500000 

Woody vegetation by land capability on private land 

0 

High - class 1,2,3 Medium - class 

4,5,6 

land capability class 

w oody (ha) non-w oody (ha) 

Low - class 7,8 

Figure 8.3 Woody vegetation by land capability on private land 

79


Figure 8.3 and map 37 show the relative areas of the remaining woody vegetation in the 

BBS by land capability class. Note that in land capability classes 1 to 3, there is a large 

difference between areas of woody and non-woody vegetation (35:1) on private land 

which points to the extensive clearing for agriculture that has taken place in these most 

fertile areas of the bioregion. Woody vegetation within this group on private land has 

been identified in this report (map 38), as the portion on Crown Licence or Freehold land 

that is likely to be under significant threat of future clearing. Note that the areas of woody 

vegetation used in this analysis constitute approximately 50% of the total area of woody 

vegetation as only that on private land is used in calculations. This can be compared to 

the “Not Mapped” group which largely coincides with SFNSW and NPWS estate within 

the bioregion. In this group there is 3.7 times the amount of woody vegetation as there is 

non-woody vegetation. This is indicative of the under-representation of grasslands, 

shrublands and open woodlands within the public estate. 

% vegetation 

100 

80 

60 

40 

20 

0 

H 

Ruggedness 

M 

Figure 8.4 Vegetation in relation to ruggedness and inherent land use potential in BBS 

(RACD, 2000a) 

Pressey et al (2000) found that native woody vegetation occupies larger percentages of 

land with more rugged terrain and / or lower inherent land use potential. This analysis was 

replicated for the Brigalow Belt South bioregion (Figure 8.4) (RACD, 2000a). Figure 8.4 

shows that within the BBS, woody vegetation remaining tends to mostly occur on lands 

with higher ruggedness and / or lower inherent land use potential. Similar analyses show 

reservations occur mostly on areas of higher ruggedness and / or lower inherent land use 

potential. H, M, and L in Figure 8.4 indicate high, moderate and low classes; columns 

represent each combination of ruggedness and inherent land use potential; percentages of 

land area with woody vegetation in the BBS (RACD, 2000a). 

Table 8.5 shows the area of woody and non-woody vegetation by lithology group using 

the Murray-Darling Basin Commission (MDBC) datalayers. This table shows that the 

majority of lithology groups have significantly more non-woody than woody vegetation 

remaining. The exceptions to this are Jurassic coarse-grained sediments which have a 

slightly higher woody vegetation coverage, Carboniferous metasediments which have 

only a slightly lower woody vegetation coverage and Carboniferous acid volcanics which 

have a significantly higher woody vegetation coverage. 

L 

H 

M 

L 

Inherent 

land use 

potential 

80


Table 8.5 Woody and non-woody vegetation by lithology in the BBS 

Lithology Area Of Non 

Woody 

Vegetation 

(Ha) 

% Coverage Of 

Lithology Group 

By Non Woody 

Vegetation 

Area Of Woody 

Vegetation 

(Ha) 

% Coverage Of 

Lithology Group 

By Woody 

Vegetation 

Cainozoic alluvium 2 052 939 88 268 477 12 

Jurassic coarse-grained sediments 606 200 46 718 562 54 

Jurassic fine-grained sediments 223 313 88 29 455 12 

Cainozoic residual and aeolian sands 22 904 73 8 490 27 

Permian granites 680 77 198 23 

Carboniferous metasediments 8 306 57 6 369 43 

Cainozoic volcanics 434 892 80 111 326 20 

Triassic granites 222 77 68 23 

Silurian – Early Devonian fine-grained 

sediments 

3 769 80 967 20 

Triassic coarse-grained sediments 67 655 76 21 889 24 

Triassic fine-grained sediments 103 545 88 14 749 12 

Cretaceous coarse-grained sediments 4 849 96 205 4 

Permian coarse-grained sediments 11 745 72 4 465 28 

Cainozoic lacustrine sediments 104 72 40 28 

Permian fine-grained sediments 24 803 73 9 183 27 

Carboniferous acid volcanics 94 33 191 67 

Permian volcanics 8 068 72 3 183 28 

Limestones (undifferentiated) 219 98 4 2 

Jurassic volcanics 102 524 93 7 978 7 

Carboniferous granites 301 92 27 8 

Cainozoic colluvial surfaces 7 052 98 144 2 

Ordovician metasediments 2 646 85 463 15 

Ordovician volcanics 1 534 98 32 2 

Silurian – Devonian granites 1 155 83 235 17 

Devonian volcanics 3 223 93 255 7 

Silurian – Devonian basic rocks 52 99 0 1 

Silurian – Early Devonian coarse-grained 

sediments 

1 424 85 253 15 

Cainozoic duricrusts 12 69 5 31 

Figure 8.5 shows that approximately half the strata within the BBS which are included in 

the M305 layer have less than 10% coverage of woody vegetation. 

81

Number of Strata 

90 

80 

70 

60 

50 

40 

30 

20 

10 

0 


Number of strata by percent of strata covered by woody vegetation 

0-10 11-20 21-30 31-40 41-50 51-60 61-70 71-80 81-90 91-100 

Figure 8.5 Number of strata (Strat5) by percent of strata covered by woody vegetation 

Appendix 10 shows the breakdown of tenure by province between SFNSW, NPWS estate 

and other tenure. It also shows how “woody” each tenure and each province is and the 

share of woody vegetation between tenure for each province. It can be seen from these 

data that the percent of woody vegetation is roughly equivalent to the percent of tenure 

available, except in the Northern Outwash province, where there is a greater area of 

"woody" vegetation in SFNSW tenure. This is the least "woody" province and the only 

province where SFNSW manages less tenure than NPWS. 

Appendix 10 is a combination of tenure, province, land capability and woody grids. 

These data can be manipulated to calculate a range of variables affecting woody 

vegetation, for example, the area of tenure presumed to be private land (not Crown land, 

State forest or national park) in Pilliga province with a high land capability and woody 

vegetation (at risk from possible future clearing) equals 17 827 ha. 

8.2.1 Clearing native vegetation 

percentile range 

The Native Vegetation Conservation Act, 1997 (NSW) (NVC Act) provides for an 

assessment and development consent process in relation to the clearing of native 

vegetation. Logging, sivicultural activities and other forestry practices on NSW State 

Forest Estate are not subject to the NVC Act. As the authority responsible for 

administering the NVC Act, the DLWC assesses applications under Part 4 of the 

Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 and makes a determination. Consent 

may be granted, granted with conditions, or refused. DLWC may request advice from 

NPWS in the event that the development is likely to impact on issues of concern to 

NPWS such as threatened species and Aboriginal cultural heritage. DLWC will consider 

any NPWS advice during the assessment process. Number of clearing applications under 

the precursor to the NVC Act, State Environment Planning Policy 46 – Clearing of Native 

Vegetation (SEPP 46), have been included in the following figures and include 

applications from 1995 to 1997. 

82


In summary, the following figures show that clearing increased in the years after the NVC 

Act came into force (after 1997), with the greatest percent of applications granted by area 

in 1997 and the following years. The largest area of development was clearing with 

retention of individual trees or clumps of trees, for the primary purposes of cropping and 

grazing between 1995-2000. The majority of vegetation structures cleared were isolated 

trees, clumps of trees and very sparse trees. The majority of clearing was undertaken 

within the Moree Plains Shire and the Northern Basalts and Northern Outwash provinces. 

Figure 8.6 and Figure 8.7show the area of clearing applications within the BBS from 1995 

to 2000 and the percentage of these granted. Figure 8.6 shows that the total area of land 

cleared increased gradually per year from 1995 to 1997 under SEPP46. The rate of 

clearing under the NVC Act is now declining with an initial large increase occurring in the 

year after the Act came into force in late 1997. 

Area (ha) 

4000 

3000 

2000 

1000 

0 

Area of applications approved, and refused / rejected 1995-2000 

1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 

Total area approved 

Year 

Total area refused / rejected 

Figure 8.6 Clearing applications received per year in BBS 

Figure 8.7 shows the percent of clearing undertaken within the BBS during the period 

1995-2000. Figure 8.8 refers to the degree of clearing by area cleared for this period. 

Approximately 38% of all clearing within the BBS during this period was clearing or 

logging, retaining individual trees or clumps of trees. In addition, 23% of all clearing 

during this period included clearing of isolated trees, and 29% was non-specific clearing. 

The remainder of the clearing undertaken during this period (approximately 10%) 

comprised clearing with retention of 3-20 trees per hectare, clearing of regrowth 

vegetation, logging with retention of 50-60% native vegetation cover, and underscrubbing 

retaining either individual trees, clumps of trees or 70-80% native vegetation. 

83

Percent 

100% 

80% 

60% 

40% 

20% 

0% 


Percentage of clearing applications granted by area 

1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 

Figure 8.7 Percentage of clearing applications granted in BBS 

Figure 8.9 shows the percentage of the area cleared during this period which contained 

each of the vegetation structures. The three dominant vegetation structures cleared during 

this period were isolated trees, clumps of trees, very sparse trees, and mid-dense tussock 

grass. 

Figure 8.10 shows the percentage of the total area cleared within the period 1995 to 2000 

for each specific purpose. Cropping was the predominant purpose (59%) for which land 

was cleared within the BBS, with grazing and a mixture of cropping and grazing 

contributing a further 30% of the total area cleared. The main purposes for clearing within 

the BBS included cropping in 1997 to 2000 and grazing in 1995 to 1996. 

Figure 8.11shows that during the period between 1995 and 2000, Moree Plains Local 

Government Area (LGA) had the largest total area cleared (41.3% of bioregional 

clearing), with Narrabri having 14.3% of the total area, and Murrurundi and 

Coonabarabran LGAs both having 10.2% of the total area cleared within this period. 

Moree Plains LGA had the largest area of clearing in the years 1997 to 2000. 

Figure 8.12shows that during the period between 1995 and 2000, the Northern Basalts and 

the Northern Outwash Provinces contained the greatest total area of clearing during this 

period. The Talbragar Valley Province had the lowest total area cleared within this 

period with 0.5% of the total area cleared. The largest area cleared in 1995 and 1996 was 

in the Pilliga Province, in 1997 and 2000 in the Northern Outwash Province, and in 1998 

and 1999 in the Northern Basalts Province. Figure 8.13 shows the percent of each 

province which was cleared during the period between 1995 and 2000. Again, the 

Northern Basalts and Northern Outwash provinces had the highest percentage of area 

cleared with Talbragar Valley Province having the lowest percentage area cleared during 

this period. 

Year 

84


Figure 8.8 Percent of total area of clearing by degree of clearing in BBS 1995-2000 

Figure 8.9 Percent of total area cleared by vegetation structure in BBS 1995-2000 

85


Figure 8.10 Percent of total area cleared by purpose of clearing in BBS 1995-2000 

Figure 8.11 Percent of total area cleared by Local Government Area within BBS 1995-2000 

86

Percent 


Figure 8.12 Percent of total area cleared by province 1995-2000 

0.40% 

0.35% 

0.30% 

0.25% 

0.20% 

0.15% 

0.10% 

0.05% 

0.00% 

Northern 

Basalts 

Percentage of province cleared 1995-2000 

Northern 

Outw ash 

Liverpool 

Range 

Pilliga 

Outw ash 

Province 

Liverpool 

Plains 

Figure 8.13 Percentage of each province cleared 1995-2000 

Pilliga Talbragar 

Valley 

87



In relation to vegetation which may be considered as a partial and incomplete surrogate 

for biodiversity, the following recommendations are made to allow for a comprehensive 

bioregional conservation assessment to be undertaken. They aim at gathering data for use 

in the assessment of conservation values of the BBS. There is a need to: 

R29. formulate a consistent plant community list for the BBS; 

R30. prepare profiles of key plant communities (listed below) including threats and 

response to disturbance information. This list may be modified as further 

vegetation mapping becomes available. 

The poorly reserved overstorey species are: 

Eucalyptus populnea / Eucalyptus pilligaensis 

Eucalyptus nubila 

The rare, threatened or highly cleared and modified vegetation overstorey types 

are: 

Cadellia pentastylis (TSC Act ) 

semi-evergreen vine thicket (TSC Act) 

Corymbia tessellaris (TSC Act) 

Austrostipa aristiglumis (TSC Act) 

Acacia harpophylla (EPBC Act) 

Eucalyptus viridis 

Eucalyptus dumosa 

Eucalyptus melliodora 

Eucalyptus conica 

Eucalyptus camaldulensis 

R31. complete comprehensive and uniform bioregion-wide vegetation mapping derived 

from structural and floristic data including: 

vegetation mapping for public lands, significant remnants and high quality vegetation 

areas at 1:25 000 and 1:50 000 scale and vegetation mapping of regional vegetation 

using DLWC standards at 1:100 000 scale; 

native ecosystem mapping for all extant forest, native grasslands, wetlands, 

shrublands and woodlands for use in formulation of conservation requirements by 

vegetation communities; 

growth stage mapping to assist in identifying ecologically mature forest, woodlands, 

regrowth areas and other classes; 

88


a vegetation mapping framework to be based on Strat 5 or future, more comprehensive 

stratifications. 

R32. develop a general model of biological variation within mapped vegetation types, in 

relation to environmental and geographical gradients; 

R33. develop a measure of the performance of vegetation mapping and alternative 

native ecosystem derivations as a surrogates for estimating biodiversity value 

within the BBS; 

R34. develop a model or estimation of pre-clearing / pre-1750 vegetation types and 

native ecosystem extent for use in formulation of reservation / retention targets; 

R35. describe and map endangered ecological communities within the BBS; and 

R36. develop a disturbance history layer and detailed map of extant vegetation to be 

used in derivation / mapping of native ecosystems, mapping of growth stage 

mapping, modelling of species / assemblage distributions and pre-1750 / preclearing 

ecosystems. 

89

9 ECOSYSTEMS 


An ecosystem can be defined as a “dynamic complex of plant, animal, fungal, and 

microorganism communities and their associated non-living environment interacting as a 

whole” (Reid et al, 1992). 

The IUCN defines biodiversity as “the variability among living organisms from all 

sources including, inter alia, terrestrial, marine and other aquatic ecosystems and the 

ecological complexes of which they are a part; this includes diversity within species, 

between species and of ecosystems” (IUCN, 2000). 

Ecological community, as defined under the TSC Act, means “an assemblage of species 

occupying a particular area”. 


No current list or mapping of ecosystems in the BBS is available. However, a project 

funded through the State Biodiversity Strategy is currently underway to list and map all 

ecosystems by bioregion across NSW. This project is being developed by National Parks 

and Wildlife Service and is due to be completed in June 2002. 

The Strat5 environmental stratification undertaken as part of this scoping exercise 

demonstrates environmental variability throughout the bioregion (maps 18, 18 a-g). This 

stratification does not include a comprehensive and accurate vegetation layer, an accurate 

or comprehensive geology or lithology layers. Therefore, this stratification is indicative 

only and further mapping is required before ecosystems and ecosystem variability can be 

defined using stratification. 

Some of the following ecological communities are very close to extinction for all practical 

purposes and are in need of targeted restoration, recovery and rehabilitation programs. 

9.1.1 Endangered and threatened ecological communities 

Bluegrass (Dichanthium spp.) dominant grasslands of the Brigalow Belt Bioregions 

(North and South) 

Dichanthium spp dominant grasslands of BBS (Aus) and Brigalow Belt North Bioregion 

are listed as a nationally threatened ecological community under the Environment 

Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act, 1999 (Australia) (EPBC Act). The major 

threat to Dichanthium spp. grasslands is the replacement of native pasture with crops. 

Overgrazing is also considered to threaten this community as it enables the invasion of 

90


weed species, decreasing the value of these grasslands for grazing and hence favouring 

replacement with crops (EA, 2001b). 

Bluegrass grassland communities have been recorded in the Moree Plains area within the 

BBS by Hunter & Earl (1999). 

Brigalow (Acacia harpophylla dominant and co-dominant) 

The Acacia harpophylla (dominant and co-dominant) community is listed nationally as a 

threatened ecological community under the EPBC Act. This community may include codominant 

species such as Casuarina cristata, Eucalyptus populnea, or Eucalyptus 

pilligaensis (EA, 2001c). 

The NSW Scientific Committee has made a preliminary determination to list the Brigalow 

community within the BBS and Darling Riverine Plains (DRP) bioregions as an 

endangered ecological community under the TSC Act. This community is found on the 

rolling downs of the northern parts of the BBS and as an isolated occurrence in the DRP. 

Brigalow in New South Wales has been extensively cleared for agricultural purposes and 

the remnants have often been thinned or modified. Of an estimated potential habitat for 

this community of 115 300ha in New South Wales, approximately 13 500ha (12%) 

remains (NPWS, 2001i). “Surviving remnants of Brigalow are often small linear patches 

along roadsides and the edges of paddocks where threats include ongoing logging for 

fence posts; road widening and invasion by weeds” (NPWS, 2001i). 

Semi-evergreen vine thickets of the Brigalow Belt (North and South) and Nandewar 

Bioregions 

The semi-evergreen vine thickets of the BBS (Aus), Brigalow Belt North and Nandewar 

Bioregions are listed nationally as a threatened ecological community under the EPBC 

Act. The semi-evergreen vine thicket community in BBS and Nandewar Bioregions is 

also listed at a state level as an endangered ecological community under the TSC Act. 

This community largely exists as small fragmented remnants commonly less than 100 ha 

and is under threat from clearing, inappropriate fire regimes, grazing, feral animal 

invasion, and weed invasion (EA, 2001d). One stand of semi-evergreen vine thicket 

occurs in the Planchonella Hill Nature Reserve within the BBS. 

In New South Wales this community consists of vines and deciduous tree species which 

have affinities with species from subtropical rainforests. Common dominant species 

include Cassine angustifolia var. angustifolia (red olive plum), Geijera parvifolia, and 

Notelaea microcarpa var. microcarpa (native olive) with emergents typical of the 

surrounding woodlands for example, Eucalyptus albens, Eucalyptus melanophloia and 

Callitris glaucophylla (NPWS, 2001a). 

Cadellia pentastylis (ooline) community in the Nandewar and Brigalow Belt South 

IBRA Regions 

The Cadellia pentastylis community of the Nandewar and BBS bioregions is listed at a 

state level as an endangered ecological community under the TSC Act. This community is 

defined as a forest dominated or co-dominated by the tree Cadellia pentastylis and may 

include other canopy species such as Eucalyptus albens, Eucalyptus beyeriana, 

Eucalyptus chloroclada (dirty gum), Eucalyptus melanophloia, Eucalyptus populnea, 

91


Eucalyptus viridis or Callitris glaucophylla. Threats to Cadellia pentastylis communities 

include grazing and the accompanying compaction of soil leading to poor recruitment of 

seedlings. Clearing and fragmentation of this community also poses long term threats to 

viability of the community (NPWS, 2001b). 

A recovery plan is currently in preparation by NPWS for this community (Robyn 

Molsher, pers. com. Nov.2001). 

Carbeen open forest community in the Darling Riverine Plains and Brigalow Belt 

South Bioregions 

The Corymbia tessellaris open forest of the DRP and BBS bioregions is listed at a state 

level as an endangered ecological community under the TSC Act and has been recorded in 

the local government areas of Moree Plains and Walgett. This community is found on the 

riverine plains of the Meehi, Gwydir, Macintyre and Barwon Rivers typically on modern 

and older levees on better-drained alluvium above the clay floodplains. Common species 

in this community include Corymbia tessellaris, Callitris glaucophylla, Corymbia 

dolichocarpa (long-fruited bloodwood), Eucalyptus populnea, Eucalyptus camaldulensis, 

Casuarina cristata, and Allocasuarina leuhmannii. Threats to Corymbia tessellaris open 

forest include clearing for agriculture, grazing, fire management practices, and landforming 

for irrigated crops, with remnants and fragmented areas further threatened by 

weed invasion (NPWS, 2001c). 

Native vegetation on cracking clay soils of the Liverpool Plains 

Native vegetation on cracking clay soils of the Liverpool Plains has been listed as an 

endangered ecological community under the TSC Act. This community is found in the 

BBS and Nandewar bioregions. This community is often dominated by Austrostipa 

aristiglumis (plains grass), Queensland bluegrass, or Panicum queenslandicum (coolibah 

grass) but may include shrubs and trees which are generally sparse but may be locally 

common. This community has been found in the local government areas of 

Coonabarabran, Gunnedah, Murrurundi, Narrabri, Parry and Quirindi, predominantly now 

occurring only on TSRs. All these local government areas intersect the BBS. Threats to 

this community include weed invasion, salinity, erosion of cultivated areas and 

subsequent deposition of sediment and plant propagules during flood events (NPWS, 

2001d). 

White box-yellow box woodland 

The New South Wales Scientific Committee has made a preliminary determination to list 

white box-yellow box woodland as an endangered ecological community under the TSC 

Act. This community includes woodlands dominated by Eucalyptus albens, Eucalyptus 

melliodora and / or Eucalyptus blakelyi with grass and herbs dominating the ground 

cover. This community has been reduced by clearing for cropping and pasture 

improvement. The white box-yellow box woodland occurs within the New South Wales 

North Coast, New England Tableland, Nandewar, BBS, Sydney Basin, South Eastern 

Highlands, and New South Wales South Western Slopes bioregions. Threats to this 

community include further clearing, deterioration of remnant condition, degradation of 

landscapes in which the remnants occur, and loss of connectivity between remnants 

(NPWS, 2001k). 

92



It is expected that further endangered ecological communities are likely to be identified or 

nominated in the near future and as further information such as detailed vegetation and 

abiotic mapping becomes available. 


The following recommendations are made to assist in the definition and mapping of 

ecosystems and to allow for a comprehensive bioregional conservation assessment to be 

undertaken. They aim at gathering data for use in the assessment of conservation values 

of the BBS. 


R37. ecosystems be defined and mapped at a useable resolution across the whole of the 

BBS to assist conservation assessment and reservation or restoration of the 

endangered ecological communities. Definition of ecosystems within the BBS 

should take into account work currently being undertaken by NPWS for the State 

Biodiversity Strategy project. This should include a review and analysis of 

ecosystems derived from the ecosystems project and their applicability to 

conservation assessments within the BBS; and 

R38. further endangered ecological communities be defined and mapped as information 

becomes available. 

93

10 ECOLOGICAL 

PROCESSES 


The State Biodiversity Strategy requires the maintenance of ecological processes. Some 

processes relevant to the BBS are outlined below. 


10.1.1 Nutrient cycling and soil formation 

Nutrients essential for the growth of plants include potassium, nitrogen, magnesium, 

calcium, iron and phosphorus. Nutrients are cycled through an ecosystem by various 

mechanisms including animals eating plants and depositing faeces, rain and groundwater 

flows washing nutrients from one place to another, wind and water erosion of soils 

transporting nutrients, soil fauna (such as microbes and invertebrates) and nutrients being 

taken up by plants followed by subsequent decomposition and return of nutrients to the 

soil. These processes ensure cycling of nutrients through the system. Fluctuation or 

disruption of nutrient cycles may be caused by factors such as removal of vegetation, 

bushfire and drought (APASE, 2001). 

Soil formation processes involve the continuous breaking down of rock material through 

physical, chemical and biological mechanisms. The formation of soil is affected by 

parent material, living organisms (for example fungi, burrowing insects, animals and 

humans), climate, topography and time. Soil formation processes may take a very long 

time. They type of parent material determines the properties of the resultant soil. Soil 

formation processes can be disrupted by erosion, clearing and agriculture. Deep rooted 

trees and shrubs act as nutrient “pumps” for weathering substrates up to 10-20m below 

the surface (Nix, H. pers.com 2001). 

10.1.2 Hydrological regimes 

The Gwydir, Macintyre, Namoi and Macquarie Rivers which fall partially within the BBS 

are regulated rivers. Regulated rivers are those rivers which “have large dams supplying 

irrigation water (and some town and industrial water) for substantial distances 

downstream. Downstream tributary inflows are typically supplemented during the 

irrigation season, resulting in fairly stable and unnaturally high water levels. River flow is 

substantially reduced during the non-irrigation or low-irrigation seasons. At any time of 

year in periods which would normally have high or very high flow, flows may be 

substantially reduced by the trapping of water in a large dam” (EPA, 2001). 

94


Environmental flows rules are being used to improve this through River Management 

Committees. 

The majority of Castlereagh River (south of its junction with Greenbah Creek) and all 

other streams within the Castlereagh catchment, Talbragar River (within the Macquarie 

catchment), Horton River (Gwydir catchment), Mooki River, Bohena Creek, Baradine 

Creek and Coxs Creek (Namoi catchment) are classified as unregulated rivers (EPA, 

2001). Unregulated or uncontrolled streams are those streams where “flow patterns are 

largely natural. Flows can occur in these streams from local runoff. They are typically 

ephemeral (flowing only during floods and freshes). Frequently, they open into or flow 

through wetlands and billabongs” (EPA, 2001). 

Pian Creek (Namoi catchment) is classified as a controlled river with reduced flow (EPA, 

2001). Controlled rivers with reduced flows include (EPA, 2001): 

1. “River reaches downstream of the major regulated sections where the water is 

extracted or diverted. Flow is generally reduced throughout the year. Water is 

delivered from the main stream for stock, domestic, some irrigation, and town water 

supplies several times a year. 

2. Sections of rivers immediately below town water supply dams, where water is 

diverted directly from the dam. Flows can be substantially reduced throughout the 

year, though special environmental releases may be possible”. 

The BBS includes a number of aquifers (major recharge areas) in the Great Artesian Basin 

(see section 4.1.5). The majority of the bioregion is categorised as either over-extracted 

in terms of groundwater or with an extraction level of between 70 and 100% of the 

sustainable yield. The remainder of the bioregion is unclassified (unincorporated) with an 

abstraction of greater than 30% of sustainable yield. (EPA, 2000). 

Contamination of groundwater by pesticides has been recorded in the lower Namoi Valley 

and the Liverpool Plains area. Monitoring of pesticides in groundwater is limited and 

further sampling and monitoring is required to assess accurately levels of contamination 

(EPA, 2000). 

Flow alterations to streams across New South Wales have had major effects on the pattern 

of natural flows in the majority of waterways. Impacts flow alteration include reduction 

of habitat due to change in area, frequency and duration of flooding of floodplains and 

terminal wetlands, increased flows causing more permanent flooding of wetlands, riparian 

zone degradation, increased habitat for invasive species, and loss or disruption of 

ecological function (NSW, 2001j). 

Further information on hydrological processes and environmental effects of changes to 

these processes within the BBS is outlined in section 4.1.5. 

10.1.3 Threatening processes 

Thackway and Cresswell (1995) list the dominant limiting factors and constraints to 

conservation planning and management for the BBS as agriculture (including clearing and 

cropping), feral animals (including, in particular rabbits), forest timber production / 

harvesting, grazing, mining, salinisation and weed invasion. 

95


The BBS is subject to a number of threatening processes within the TSC Act and the 

EPBC Act. Threatening processes listed within the TSC Act and the EPBC Act are those 

processes that threaten, or may have the capability to threaten, the survival or 

evolutionary development of species, populations or ecological communities. 

Listed Threatening Processes 

Clearing of native vegetation 

The NSW Scientific Committee has listed clearing of native vegetation as a key 

threatening process under the TSC Act. Land clearance has also been listed as a key 

threatening process under the EPBC Act. Vegetation clearance results in habitat 

fragmentation and a decline in the quality of habitat for a number of species across a wide 

range of ecosystems (EPA, 2000, NPWS, 2001f). The NSW Scientific Committee 

(NPWS, 2001f) defines clearing as: 

“the destruction of a sufficient proportion of one or more strata (layers) within a 

stand or stands of native vegetation so as to result in the loss, or long term 

modification, of the structure, composition, and ecological function of stand or 

stands. The definition of clearing does not preclude management activities to 

control exotic species, or Australian species growing outside their natural 

geographic range”. 

The EPA (2000) states that “vegetation clearance is the single greatest threat to terrestrial 

biological diversity in New South Wales and is still causing significant biodiversity losses 

in the State”. NPWS (2001f) outlines the effects of clearing on biodiversity as: 

destruction of habitat resulting in loss of local populations of individual species; 

fragmentation; 

expansion of dryland salinity; 

riparian zone degradation; 

increased greenhouse gas emissions; 

increased habitat for invasive species; 

loss of leaf litter layer; 

loss or disruption of ecological function; and 

changes to soil biota. 

Pressey et al (2000) estimate that approximately 60.9% of the BBS has been cleared since 

European settlement. Clearing rates per year in the period 1995 to 1997 were estimated 

by Resource Policy and Management Ltd (1999) to be 1 500 ha per year within the BBS. 

Clearing rates between 1995 and 2000 estimated using figures from the NVC Act clearing 

applications database are approximately 1 340 ha per year within the BBS (see 

section 8.2.1 for more detailed information). Many threatened flora and fauna species, 

and ecological communities occurring in the BBS are under threat from clearing. 

96


Endangered ecological communities which occur within the BBS that are considered 

under threat by clearing of native vegetation include Cadellia pentastylis (ooline), carbeen 

open forest, and semi-evergreen vine thicket. The Warrumbungles population of the 

brush-tailed rock wallaby, an endangered population, is also under threat from clearing. 

Threatened species found within the BBS which are further threatened by clearing include 

13 species of mammals, 3 species of reptiles, 27 species of birds, and 8 species of plants 

(NPWS, 2001f). 

High frequency fire 

Schedule three of the TSC Act lists “High frequency fire resulting in the disruption of life 

cycle processes in plants and animals and loss of vegetation structure and composition” as 

a key threatening process. The NSW Scientific Committee defines high frequency fire as 

“two or more successive fires close enough together in time to interfere with or limit the 

ability of plants or animals to recruit new individuals into a population, or for plants to 

build up a seedbank sufficient in size to maintain the population through the next fire” 

(NPWS, 2000d). 

Threatened species recorded within the BBS which are threatened by high frequency fires 

include Cynanchum elegans (a rainforest vine), glossy black-cockatoo, malleefowl, rufous 

bettong, black-striped wallaby, spotted-tailed quoll, parma wallaby, eastern pygmypossum, 

and squirrel glider (NPWS, 2000d). 

Species not listed as threatened which have been recorded within the BBS that could 

become threatened by high frequency fires include Acrobates pygmaeus (feathertail 

glider), Isoodon macrourus (northern brown bandicoot), Pseudocheirus peregrinus 

(common ringtail possum), Antechinus flavipes (yellow-footed antechinus), Perameles 

nasuta (long-nosed bandicoot), and the Petaurus breviceps (sugar glider) (NPWS, 2000d). 

Bushrock removal 

Bushrock removal is listed as a key threatening process under Schedule three of the TSC 

Act. The Scientific Committee defines bushrock removal as “the removal of natural 

surface deposits of rock from rock outcrops or from areas of native vegetation” (ie trees, 

understorey plants, or groundcover) (NPWS, 2000f). Species which shelter in or under 

rocks, use rocks for basking or which grow in rocky areas may be adversely affected by 

the removal of bushrock (NPWS, 2000f). 

Species listed under the TSC Act which have been recorded within the BBS and that are 

adversely affected by the removal of bushrock, include spotted-tailed quoll, and 

Underwoodisaurus sphyrurus (border thick-tailed gecko). Species not listed as threatened 

which are likely to become threatened by the continuance of bushrock removal that have 

been recorded within the BBS include Oedura lesueurii (velvet gecko), Anomalopus 

leuckartii (two-clawed worm-skink), and the mint bush Prostanthera howelliae (NPWS, 

2000f). 

Other organisms which may be threatened by bushrock removal include a number of 

bryophytes (mosses and liverworts), lichens, and invertebrates (NPWS, 2000f). 

97


Anthropogenic climate change 

Anthropogenic climate change is listed as a key threatening process under Schedule three 

of the TSC Act. Climate change, a major ecological driving force, has occurred 

throughout geological history. However, there is evidence to suggest that modification of 

the environment by humans may accelerate the rate of future climate change. As many 

landscapes in New South Wales and in the BBS are highly modified and fragmented, the 

ability of organisms to survive climate change through dispersal will be limited (Brasher 

and Pittock, 1998). 

Species which would be at risk from anthropogenic climate change include isolated and 

specialised species and those with long generation times, limited mobility, narrow 

distributional ranges, specific host relationships and those with large home ranges 

(Hughes and Westoby, 1994). Threatened species which have been recorded within the 

BBS that would be at risk from anthropogenic climate change in New South Wales 

include malleefowl, plains-wanderer, and red-tailed black-cockatoo (NPWS, 2000e). 

Dieback caused by Phytophthora cinnamomi (cinnamon fungus) 

Dieback in plants caused by Phytophthora cinnamomi (cinnamon fungus), a destructive 

root-fungus, is listed as a threatening process under the EPBC Act. Dieback in plants 

caused by Phytophthora cinnamomi is mainly a problem in other bioregions and states or 

territories and it has not been recorded in western New South Wales. The lack of data on 

the fungus is justified due to climatic variables not being suitable in the area, for example, 

not being humid enough (Environment Australia, 1999b) and the cost of undertaking 

extensive mapping of the fungus on a national scale is extreme (Environment Australia, 

1999a). However, several species present in the BBS such as Eucalyptus tereticornis and 

Eucalyptus viminalis have the potential to be adversely affected (Heatwole and Lowman, 

1986). 

Exotic fauna species (listed) 

Predation by European red fox and predation by feral cat are listed as key threatening 

processes under Schedule three of the TSC Act and threatening processes under the EPBC 

Act. Predation by plague minnow is also listed as a key threatening process under the TSC 

Act. The plague minnow preys upon eggs and tadpoles of various frog species including 

Litoria lesueuri (Lesueur’s frog), and Limnodynastes peronii (brown striped frog) which 

have been recorded within the BBS, and the threatened Litoria aurea (green and golden 

bell frog), and Litoria castanea (yellow-spotted tree frog) which are predicted to occur in 

BBS (NPWS, 2000i). 

Competition and land degradation by feral goats and feral rabbits are also listed as 

threatening processes under the EPBC Act. 

Potential Threatening Processes 

Competition from feral honeybees (preliminary determination) 

The NSW Scientific Committee has made a Preliminary Determination to list competition 

from feral honeybees (Apis mellifera) as a key threatening process under the TSC Act. 

Breeding colonies of honeybees compete with native hollow-dependant fauna for tree 

98


hollows. At least 20% of bird species are hollow dependant (Saunders et al, 1982) and all 

native arboreal marsupials use tree hollows and all (excluding koala) are dependent on 

them for shelter and breeding sites (Lindenmayer et al, 1991). Threatened species that 

have been recorded in the BBS and which are likely to be affected by competition from 

feral honeybees include squirrel glider, pink cockatoo, glossy black-cockatoo, and superb 

parrot (NPWS, 2001e). 

Honeybees, both feral and managed, often remove up to 80% of floral resources produced 

which may result in the displacement of native fauna such as honeyeaters and native bees 

which compete for these resources (Paton, 1993, 1996, 2000; Sugden and Pyke, 1991; 

Sugden et al, 1996). 

Apiary however, has an unmeasured impact on biodiversity, although some studies 

(Paton, 1996; Pyke and Blazer, 1985) have shown that where nectar and pollen resources 

are limited in an area, honey bees may have a negative impact on seed set in some species 

of flora (Gibbs and Muirhead, 1998). These studies, however, were not specifically based 

on commercial honeybees as opposed to feral honeybees. Commercial honeybees are 

migratory in that hives are moved from site to site depending on resource availability. 

Commercial honeybees maintain fidelity to one species of plant until otherwise 

“reprogrammed” by the hive to focus on another species, whereas feral honeybees tend to 

move between species (Gibbs and Muirhead, 1998). 

Other Threatening Processes 

Exotic fauna species (listed) 

Table 10.1 lists exotic fauna which have been recorded within the BBS. 

Table 10.1 Exotic fauna recorded within the BBS 

Common Name Scientific Name Records Source 

cattle (feral) Bos taurus 47 BBS (5), WLA (42) 

goat (feral) Capra hircus 137 BBS (13), WLA (124) 

sheep (feral) Ovis aries 20 WLA 

pig (feral) Sus scrofa 183 BBS (30), WLA (153) 

fox (feral) Vulpes vulpes 200 BBS (39), WLA (161) 

dingo and dog (feral) Canis familiaris 21 AM (1), WLA (20) 

cat (feral) Felis catus 25 BBS (1), AM (1), WLA (23) 

brown hare Lepus capensis 32 WLA 

rabbit (feral) Oryctolagus cuniculus 147 BBS (9), WLA (138) 

horse (feral) Equus caballus 6 BBS (3), WLA (3) 

house mouse (introduced) Mus musculus 367 BBS (93), AM (17), WLA (257) 

black rat (introduced) Rattus rattus 40 BBS (6), AM (9), WLA (25) 

house sparrow Passer domesticus 410 ABBS (15), BA (395) 

starling Sturnus vulgaris 803 ABBS (23), CSIRO (2), BA (778) 

European goldfinch Carduelis carduelis 32 AM (1), BA (31) 

rock dove Columba livia 121 BA 

mallard Anas platyrhynchos 5BA 

spotted turtle-dove Streptopelia chinensis 2BA 

skylark Alauda arvensis 1BA 

common blackbird Turdus merula 16 BA 

Eurasian tree sparrow Passer montanus 1BA 

plague minnow (mosquito fish) Gambusia holbrooki Harris & Gehrke, 1997; Llewellyn, 1983 

99


The Barson et al. (2000) identify predation as the main impact of foxes, feral cats, and 

feral dogs. Native fauna affected by these feral animals include endangered and 

vulnerable birds and mammals including brush-tailed rock wallaby, Pilliga mouse, and 

ground-dwelling birds such as malleefowl which have been recorded in the BBS. Foxes 

and feral cats also prey upon reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates (NPWS, 2000h; 

NPWS, 2000g). Other feral animals such as the feral goat, rabbit, and the wild pig may 

cause habitat destruction for many native flora and fauna species, cause land degradation 

or compete with native animals for resources. 

Competition from feral bird species is not considered to have a significant impact on 

native fauna. However, competition for resources such as tree hollows, such as from 

starlings may be a problem in some areas where such resources are scarce. 

Exotic flora species (weeds) 

Weeds can be detrimental to biodiversity by competing vigorously with native plants for 

resources, by affecting microclimates, by increasing susceptibility of native plants to 

disease, and many weeds provide poor habitat value for native fauna species compared 

with native plants. The effects of weed invasion on vegetation communities increases 

with decreasing size of fragments due to edge effects. 

In four out of 17 flora surveys conducted during 1999 – 2000, more than 25% of the 

species found were exotic species. One of these surveys, The Namoi Riparian Zone 

Survey, had almost 55% exotic species. This highlights that from this limited survey 

effort (there are large unsurveyed areas outside public tenure in the Liverpool Range, 

Pilliga and Talbragar Valley provinces), the Liverpool Plains and Northern Outwash 

provinces of the BBS are the most effected by exotic species (Table 10.2) (Beckers and 

Binns, 2000). Common weed species found in these surveys are listed in Table 10.3. 

Table 10.2 Number of native and introduced flora species within each survey 

(from Beckers and Binns, 2000) 

Survey Natives Introduced species % introduced 

Binnaway Nature Reserve 134 1 0.7% 

Coolah Tops 276 31 11.2% 

Dubbo Area 252 37 14.7% 

Goonoo Forests 241 35 14.5% 

Moree Grasslands 328 88 26.8% 

Namoi Riparian Zone 341 186 54.5% 

Narrabri Area 137 19 13.9% 

Northern Wheatbelt 784 104 13.3% 

Ooline Survey 126 6 4.8% 

Pilliga Nature Reserve 533 60 11.3% 

Pilliga State Forests 802 80 10.0% 

Plains Area 383 53 13.8% 

Weetalibah Nature Reserve 120 1 0.8% 

Southern Wheatbelt 473 114 24.1% 

Mt Kaputar South 223 10 4.5% 

Arakoola Nature Reserve 321 82 25.5% 

Towarri National Park 161 21 13.0% 

100


The National Weeds Strategy web site lists weeds of national significance. Two of these 

are believed to be a problem in the Brigalow Belt South, Rubus fruticosus agg. 

(blackberry) and Nassella trichotoma (serrated tussock). 

Table 10.3 Most frequently found exotic flora species in surveys 

(Szigethy-Gyula,2000) 

Family Scientific Name 

Apiaceae Ciclospermum leptophyllum 

Asteraceae Hypochaeris glabra 

Asteraceae Hypochaeris radicata 

Asteraceae Sonchus oleraceus 

Asteraceae Conyza albida 

Asteraceae Conyza bonariensis 

Asteraceae Cirsium vulgare 

Asteraceae Chondrilla juncea 

Asteraceae Lactuca serriola 

Asteraceae Taraxacum officinale 

Brassicaceae Rapistrum rugosum 

Cactaceae Opuntia stricta 

Cactaceae Opuntia stricta var stricta 

Caryophyllaceae Petrorhagia nanteuilii 

Caryophyllaceae Polycarpon tetraphyllum 

Fabaceae (Faboideae) Medicago polymorpha 

Poaceae Hyparrhenia hirta 

Poaceae Bromus catharticus 

Primulaceae Anagallis arvensis 

Verbenaceae Verbena bonariensis 

Based on climatic predictions, using Bioclim program, Table 10.4 lists weeds of national 

significance that may become a problem in BBS in the future. 

Weeds recorded within the BBS which have been declared noxious within various areas 

within the BBS are listed in Table 10.5 (NSW Agriculture, 2001). For information 

regarding number of records of these species and the dataset in which they were recorded 

see Appendix 14. 

Table 10.4 Weeds of national significance predicted to occur in BBS in the future 

(Bioclim) 

Common Name Scientific Name 

athel pine Tamarix aphylla 

bitou bush / boneseed Chrysanthemoides monilifera 

bridal creeper Asparagus asparagoides 

cabomba Cabomba caroliniana 

lantana Lantana camara 

mesquite Prosopis spp. 

parkinsonia Parkinsonia aculeata 

parthenium weed Parthenium hysterophorus 

prickly acacia Acacia nilotica ssp. Indica 

rubber vine Cryptostegia grandiflora 

salvinia Salvinia molesta 

101

Common Name Scientific Name 

serrated tussock Nassella trichotoma 


Table 10.5 Declared noxious weeds recorded within the BBS 

(NSW Agriculture, 2001) 

Common Name Scientific Name Noxious Weed 

Category 

Area Declared 

tiger pear Opuntia aurantiaca W4f CM, G, M, W, MP, N, NB, NW, WL 

prickly pear Opuntia stricta W4f CM, G, M, W, MP, N, NB, NW, WL 

common prickly pear Opuntia stricta var stricta W4f CM, G, M, W, MP, N, NB, NW, WL 

velvet tree pear Opuntia tomentosa W4f CM, G, M, W, MP, N, NB, NW, WL 

St john's wort Hypericum perforatum W2, W3 CM, G, M, W, MP, N, NB, NW, WL 

mother of millions Bryophyllum delagoense W3, W4c G, MP, NB 

sweet briar Rosa rubiginosa W3, W2 CM, M, W, NW, WL 

blackberry Rubus fruticosus W2, W3 CM, G, M, W, N, NB, NW, WL 

tree of heaven Ailanthus altissima W2, W3 G, W, WL 

hemlock Conium maculatum W3, W2 G, M, W, MP, NB, NW 

scotch thistle Onopordum acanthium ssp 

acanthium 

W2 W 

spotted thistle Scolymus maculatus W3 MP 

fireweed Senecio madagascariensis W3 N 

hunter burr Xanthium italicum W3 CM, G, M, W, MP, N, NB, NW, WL 

noogoora burr Xanthium occidentale W3 CM, G, M, W, MP, N, NB, NW, WL 

Californian burr Xanthium orientale W3 CM, G, M, W, MP, N, NB, NW, WL 

Bathurst burr Xanthium spinosum W3 CM, G, M, W, MP, N, NB, NW, WL 

Xanthium strumarium W3 CM, G, M, W, MP, N, NB, NW, WL 

green cestrum Cestrum parqui W2 CM, G, M, W, MP, N, NB, NW, WL 

African boxthorn Lycium ferocissimum W2, W3 CM, G, M, W, MP, N, NB, NW, WL 

golden dodder Cuscuta campestris W2 CM, G, M, W, MP, N, NB, NW, WL 

Paterson’s curse Echium plantagineum W3 G, M, MP, NW 

vipers bugloss Echium vulgare W3 G, M, MP, NW 

blue heliotrope Heliotropium amplexicaule W2, W3 CM, G, M, W, N, NB, WL 

yellow-flowered devil's claw Ibicella lutea W2 WL 

carpetweed Phyla nodiflora W4c G 

mintweed Salvia reflexa W3 CM, W, MP 

spiny burrgrass Cenchrus incertus W3, W2 CM, G, M, W, MP, N, NB, NW, WL 

spiny burrgrass Cenchrus longispinus W3, W2 CM, G, M, W, MP, N, NB, NW, WL 

Johnson grass Sorghum halepense W2, W3 CM, G, M, W, MP, N, NB, NW, WL 

Key 

CM = Castlereagh-Macquarie N = Narromine 

G = Gunnedah NB = Narrabri 

M = Merriwa NW = North-West 

W = Mid-Western WL = Wellington 

MP = Moree Plains 

102


Grazing 

Grazing activities occur predominantly on private land, with grazing also occurring on 

lands administered by the region’s RLPBs. SFNSW also issues annual grazing permits 

which allow cattle access to certain forest areas. 

In 1999, SFNSW issued 33 grazing permits to 30 different graziers in the BBS south of 

Narrabri. Permits sizes range up to 5 000 hectares, with the majority of permit sites falling 

in the 1 000 to 2 000 hectare category (RACD, 2000c). 

Historical grazing by domestic sheep and cattle, the introduction of the goat and rabbit, 

and increased grazing pressure by native macropods has led to a reduction in total plant 

biomass, especially palatable species, and altered vegetation structure (Benson, 1999). 

Continuous long term and / or intensive grazing can result in the following impacts 

(Cullen and Lake, 1995; DEST, 1996; Benson, 1999; EPA, 2000; Kahrimanis et al, 

2001): 

prevention of regeneration of plants resulting in a non-reproductive aging population; 

reduction in seedbank and seedling recruitment rate; 

selective overgrazing of specific species favoured by stock and therefore changes in 

species composition; 

removal of shelter for native fauna species exposing them to predation and weather; 

alteration in nutrient cycling and increase in nutrients; 

compaction of soil resulting in reduced water holding capacity, plant growth rate and 

soil erosion, decreased infiltration, increased runoff, destruction of burrows of native 

fauna and making burrowing difficult; 

reduction in soil biomass including the loss of the living soil crust layer; 

enhanced spread of weeds due to stock distributing weed seeds in their fur, and faeces; 


decreased and or modified composition of litter cover. 

Salinity 

Major river catchments which fall partially within the BBS include the Macquarie, 

Castlereagh and Namoi River catchments. The Namoi River is one of the major 

contributors to salt load of the Barwon-Darling system, with the Mooki River (within the 

BBS) being one of the major contributing tributaries. The Macquarie River system flows 

through the Macquarie Marshes and increasing salt loads in wetland areas where water 

concentrates into pools and evaporates are of concern. The Talbragar and Little River 

subcatchments within the Macquarie catchment have severe salinity problems (DLWC, 

2000b). Both these rivers lie within the BBS. 

Salinity targets for end of catchment and within catchment flows have been set for NSW 

catchments by DLWC (2000b) for 2010. These targets will enable comparisons of 

environmental, economic and social benefits and costs of different management actions. 

Targets will also enable the most cost effective management action to be chosen, the 

103


cumulative impact of actions to be monitored and managed at various sites, and desirable 

salinity outcomes to be quantified (DLWC, 2000b). 

Dryland salinity and the associated severe salting which may occur, cause secondary land 

degradation such as soil structure decline, and subsequent erosion due to decline in soil 

health and structure (EPA, 2000). Salinisation can also cause tree dieback, reduced plant 

growth and habitat loss for native species (EPA, 2000). Downstream effects of dryland 

salinisation on waterways may include increased turbidity and siltation and subsequent 

effects on aquatic fauna and flora (EPA, 2000). 

Timber harvesting on private lands 

In general, the level of private property timber harvesting for commercial purposes in the 

BBS south of Narrabri is relatively small and private property timber supply does not play 

an important role in maintaining the region’s native timber industry. At the start of 2000, 

there was one small mill within the BBS south of Narrabri processing timber exclusively 

sourced from private property. In addition, there are a few small mobile mills using 

private timber from the region. These mobile mills do not operate year round and 

generally only operate to fill specific local orders. There has generally been fairly 

sporadic timber harvesting since European settlement, with only small amounts of 

hardwood, dominated by ironbark, being removed from private land. Harvesting of 

cypress has been more consistent, however, harvesting of this timber has been in decline 

for a number of years (RACD, 2000c). 

Timber harvesting particularly affects native fauna which are tree-dwelling or hollownesting. 

These include species listed under the TSC Act such as the powerful owl, which 

has been recorded within the BBS, and yellow-bellied glider which is predicted to occur 

in the BBS (Garnett 1993). Timber harvesting may also severely disrupt understorey 

vegetation and vegetation structure, which in turn will affect native fauna (Benson, 1999). 

There are currently limited controls on timber harvesting on private lands in NSW. 

Guidelines for private native forestry operations are being developed by DLWC. These 

guidelines should be applied consistently across public and private land according to the 

Montreal Protocol and ecologically sustainable forest management standards. 

Firewood collection 

In New South Wales, the most commonly used tree species for firewood are the box 

species Eucalyptus polyanthemos (red box), Eucalyptus melliodora (yellow box), and the 

redgum species Eucalyptus blakelyi (Blakely’s red gum) and Eucalyptus camaldulensis 

(river red gum) (Driscoll et al, 2000). Most firewood collection in the BBS is undertaken 

in woodland communities. In New South Wales, 76% of all firewood collected is taken 

from fallen timber resources, 19% from standing dead timber and 5% from standing live 

timber (Driscoll et al, 2000). 

Many species which rely directly or indirectly on dead wood are likely to be adversely 

affected by firewood collection. For example, some fungi rely on invertebrates (which 

feed on dead wood) for their dispersal, rates of decay within forests and woodlands are 

affected by disruption of these species, and invertebrate diversity is directly correlated 

with the availability of fallen dead timber (Driscoll et al, 2000). Firewood distribution 

104


also has the potential to distribute invertebrate species outside their natural range and 

hence these may compete with locally indigenous species (Todd and Horwitz, 1990). 

Threatened fauna species that have been recorded in the BBS and which may be affected 

by firewood collection include tiger quoll, squirrel glider, square-tailed kite, bush stone 

curlew, glossy black-cockatoo, turquoise parrot, barking owl, masked owl, regent 

honeyeater, painted honeyeater, Gilbert’s whistler, Hoplocephalus bitorquatus (pale 

headed snake), and Underwoodisaurus sphyrurus (border thick-tailed gecko) (Driscoll et 

al; 2000). 

10.1.4 Province by province threats 

The threats identified in this section are largely derived from Morgan and Terrey (1992), 

with some updating from the Landscape Health project (Environment Australia, 2001h). 

Other threats have been provisionally identified on the basis of interpretations based on 

field experience of the authors. These are outlined below. 

Morgan and Terrey's (1992) work represents a limited bioregional assessment of the state 

prior to the current Western Regional Assessment, and delivers a regional classification of 

the state into provinces based on land systems. Their work proposes 12 natural regions 

made up of 56 provinces which have been identified, mapped and described on the basis 

of a broad range of available information from published reports to individual 

consultation. While the delineation and description of these provinces was a major part of 

the study, it is important to recognise that the assessment of conservation needs was a 

secondary aim and the authors stated that their "Key Areas" would need to be investigated 

to verify their conservation significance. The WRA will address such issues and will 

deliver conservation and industry outcomes through a whole of government process 

similar to that of the CRA/RFA process recently completed for NSW coastal regions. 

Northern Outwash Province 

Cultivation 

This province is being developed rapidly for cropping. Vegetation corresponding to 

darker soils on Tertiary sediments has been almost completely cleared. Small areas occur 

in the far north and as windbreaks around cultivation. Grey clay soil communities have 

also been and continue to be cultivated. These grey soils are also subject to inundation and 

subsequent floodwater scouring. However, these fine soils do not function as aquifer 

intakes to the great artesian basin. The coarser red soils may function as aquifer intakes 

and are subject to scalding. 

Liverpool Plains Province 

Cultivation 

The alluvial deposits of the Namoi River and its larger tributaries have been developed 

extensively. This is problematic as these soils are an important source of groundwater for 

the region. Strip cropping (planting alternate rows of different crops along contours) is 

advocated as the preferred cropping method as it assists in the replenishment of 

groundwater. However, due to the shallow nature of the groundwater, there is still a 

possibility of chemical contamination of this resource. 

105


Timber harvesting 

Morgan and Terrey (1992) recommend that timber harvesting should be restricted to 

regrowth cypress pine within this province. Morgan and Terry (1992) recommend that 

harvesting of hardwoods within all State forests in the province should be ceased 

immediately as these areas are all of high conservation value, especially Leard State 

Forest (which has the largest remaining remnant of Permian sedimentary vegetation), 

Wondoba State Forest and surrounds (a large, partly developed area on Triassic sediments 

and Tertiary basalts) and a small area of Triassic-Jurassic sediments and alkaline soils 

contiguous to the Pilliga East State Forest referred to by Morgan and Terrey (1992) as key 

area 60. 

Clearing for coal mine developments 

Coal and methane potential within the Liverpool Plains province is high, especially in the 

north west of this province. Coal exploration has been intensive in this area and a large 

number of bores have been constructed, predominantly to the east of Pilliga forests 

(Upstream Petroleum Consulting Services, 2000). 

Pilliga Outwash Province 

Grazing 

The finer soils of this province towards the Namoi River have been developed partially 

for grazing. Those areas undeveloped should be retained as unimproved pasture. 

Clearing 

Clearing of native forest has separated Pilliga East and Pilliga West forest blocks. Morgan 

and Terrey (1992) advocate establishment of corridors near Cowan’s Crossing on the 

Barradine-Pilliga Road and between Quegobla and Euligal State Forests. 

Exploration activities for coal seam methane 

Two petroleum exploration licences exist within the Pilliga Outwash Province and 

potential for coal seam methane and conventional gas resource is extremely high 

(Upstream Petroleum Consulting Services, 2000). There is a strong potential for further 

exploration and testing to cause large areas of land within this province to be cleared. 

Liverpool Range Province 

Fragmentation 

The lower slope communities of this province have been fragmented significantly by 

clearing for pasture and cultivation. Reservation of a corridor linking the Liverpool 

Ranges with Trinkey State Forest is an option for conservation. Another option is the 

protection of steeper areas valuable for nature conservation which could form a link 

between the coastal forests and Pilliga forest areas via a corridor running through 

Binnaway Nature Reserve and Warrumbungle National Park. 

Northern Basalts Province 

Clearing and fragmentation 

As this province contains some of the best cropping soils in the state, the vegetation in 

this province has been mostly cleared and cultivated. This is especially the case for the 

106


vegetation on basaltic and sandy colluvium and alluvium and vegetation occurring on 

Tertiary basalts, minor Tertiary sediments and fine grained Mesozoic sediments. 

Eucalyptus camaldulensis and ironbarks occurring on the latter geologies are suffering 

from the effects of dieback. 

Pilliga Province 


Colluvial and alluvial areas, mallee and blue-leaved ironbark communities are not well 

represented within conservation reserves within this province. Therefore, the main threats 

to this province are any activities that would further fragment the colluvial and alluvial 

areas as well as any clearing of mallee and any other under-represented communities 

within the reserve system. As this province is the major aquifer for the Great Artesian 

Basin in New South Wales, clearing of any remaining forest areas should be avoided. 

These areas, such as Goonoo and Pilliga east group of State Forests, occur on the more 

erodible and easily compactable soils. 

Talbragar Valley Province 


This province has been cleared extensively for pasture improvement, cultivation and 

irrigation, especially on the Quaternary alluvials. A threat to this Province is further 

clearing of native forests and woodlands. Any clearing between Goonoo State Forest and 

outlying forests to the south and east (Beni, Yarindury and Cobbora) should be avoided. 

Salinity 

Due to excessive clearing in its upper catchment, the Talbragar River is highly salinised 

and, therefore, further loss of remnant vegetation and biodiversity is a threat. 


No analysis of specific gaps in information about ecological processes in the region was 

undertaken. See section 10.3 for recommendations about information required. 

107



The following recommendations aim at gathering data to use in the assessment of 

conservation values of the BBS, allowing for a comprehensive bioregional conservation 

assessment to be undertaken and assisting in the development of conservation strategies 

for ecosystems. 


R39. ecological processes operating in the BBS be identified and a detailed 

understanding of those processes be developed; 

R40. detailed information be gathered for each province about key threatening 

processes and the effects of those processes; and 

R41. monitoring strategies to measure the effects of the threatening processes and the 

effectiveness of ecosystem management be developed. 

108

11 ABORIGINAL 

CULTURAL 

HERITAGE 


The BBS is intersected by 17 Local Aboriginal Land Councils (LALCs) including the 

Coonabarabran, Coonamble, Dubbo, Gilgandra, Moree, Narrabri, Narromine, Nungaroo, 

Pilliga, Red Chief, Toomelah, Walgett, Walhallow, Wanaruah, Wee Waa, Weilwan, and 

Unincorporated LALCs (Map 39). Other Aboriginal groups’ areas of interest also 

intersect the BBS. 


An Aboriginal cultural heritage assessment was undertaken by NPWS in partnership with 

the Aboriginal community for Pilliga and Goonoo State Forests and the results 

documented (NPWS, 2000j). This study, during Stage 1 of the WRA process, involved 

three projects including Aboriginal consultation, oral history and archival investigation, 

and a cultural heritage field survey. 

The following information was gathered during the Stage 1 project: 

results of the NPWS oral history and archival project highlighted the close linkage 

between the environment and the Aboriginal communities associated with the Goonoo 

and Pilliga State Forests. 

Aboriginal concerns about the impacts on ‘bush tucker’ from land clearing practices 

were frequently voiced. Underlying this is the lack of access to land. Aboriginal 

communities in south eastern Australia generally do not have access to land that is 

commercially valuable including as freehold or leasehold lands (Young et al, 1991). 

Therefore, very little opportunity to be actively involved in land management occurs. 

Therefore, the forests are of great importance to the local Aboriginal people as these 

are areas where they have access and have the opportunity to be involved in land 

management within the BBS (NPWS, 2000j); 

other information gained through the oral history project included an increase in the 

documentation of Aboriginal cultural value of the Pilliga and Goonoo State Forests, 

knowledge of interactions between plant and animal species and their use by the 

Aboriginal people of the area, and increased knowledge of fire ecology of these 

forests; 

109


a sampling approach used in the cultural heritage survey recorded 261 Aboriginal 

sites, and 38 plant species of known traditional use for a representative sample of the 

landforms within the Pilliga and Goonoo forests; and 

landforms of the Pilliga and Goonoo State Forests were mapped extensively as part of 

this project and relationships between landforms and Aboriginal sites were modelled 

and verified. 


There are large gaps in the Aboriginal cultural heritage information for the BBS relating 

to traditional, contemporary and historical knowledge of ecology, biodiversity and 

ecological processes. 


The following recommendations aim to identify and conserve the cultural heritage values 

within the bioregion, and with Aboriginal community participation incorporate traditional 

ecological knowledge of the bioregion into future conservation management plans. 


R42. more cultural heritage surveys be undertaken across all tenures within the BBS; 

R43. information be gathered about the significance to Aboriginal people of 

biodiversity across all tenures in the BBS with appropriate members of local 

Aboriginal communities. Assessment of conservation significance of this 

information be given equal weighting to other measures of assigning significance 

to natural areas. Further, that this information be treated as sensitive where 

appropriate; 

R44. Purcell (2000) recommends that a project involving agencies and stakeholders be 

developed to further assess and compare Aboriginal and formal scientific 

knowledge of plants within the BBS. This is partly being undertaken as part of the 

WRA Stage 2 project for the BBS; 

R45. Aboriginal cultural information at the landscape level and cultural heritage site 

information be prepared for use in conservation assessment by Aboriginal people; 

R46. Aboriginal people have access to specialised expertise to assist them to investigate 

and determine the significance of any given area. Opportunities should be created 

for communities to take part in gathering all scientific. This is particularly 

important for fauna and flora assessments which are of great interest to Aboriginal 

communities (RACD, 2000d); 

R47. a comprehensive assessment of current protective mechanisms for Aboriginal 

sites, existing management practices and an assessment of the adequacy and 

effectiveness of site management; 

R48. a comprehensive strategy for site management be established; 

110


R49. results of flora and fauna surveys be integrated with Aboriginal site and landform 

data and that alternative sampling strategies that incorporate Aboriginal ecological 

values be developed; 

R50. there be opportunities for Aboriginal people to be involved in data gathering and 

conservation assessment and planning; and 

R51. there be further development of comprehensive Aboriginal land use modelling 

based on cultural ecology and geomorphology for the BBS. 

111

12 WILDERNESS 


The Wilderness Act, 1987 defines wilderness as an area of land that: 

(a) is, together with its plant and animal communities, in a state that has not been 

substantially modified by humans and their works or is capable of being restored 

to such a state; 

(b) is of a sufficient size to make its maintenance in such a state feasible; and 

(c) is capable of providing opportunities for solitude and appropriate self-reliant 

recreation. 

As outlined in the Wilderness Act, 1987, wilderness areas are to be managed so as: 

(a) to restore (if applicable) and to protect the unmodified state of the area and its 

plant and animal communities; 

(b) to preserve the capacity of the area to evolve in the absence of significant human 

interference; and 

(c) to permit opportunities for solitude and appropriate self-reliant recreation. 

The NPWS is the agency responsible for managing wilderness areas. 


The wilderness areas declared under the Wilderness Act 1987 that fall within the BBS are 

two small projections of wilderness areas that have been declared for Mount Kaputar 

National Park. It is possible that these areas are within the BBS only because the 

bioregional boundary has been mapped at a very coarse scale of one to three million 

(1:3 000 000). 

Grattai, Nandewar, and Rusden Wilderness Areas totalling approximately 30 000ha cover 

most of Mount Kaputar National Park. Approximately 1 200 ha of this area (parts of 

Nandewar and Rusden Wilderness Areas) lies within the BBS (map 41). 

Two areas in the Pillga Forests have been identified as provisional wilderness by 

Environment Australia (1999c). These areas cover approximately 127 000 hectares and 

include parts of Pilliga Nature Reserve and Denobollie, Pilliga East, Timallallie, 

Wittenbra and Yaminba State Forests (map 40). 

A wilderness determination is proposed to be completed as part of any BBS regional 

forest agreement, and areas with wilderness values will be described futher in 

documentation related to that process. 

112



The National Wilderness Inventory (NWI) (Lesslie and Maslen, 1995) has been 

completed by the Australian Heritage Commission for all of New South Wales. The NWI 

is an index of the relative wilderness value of the landscape at any given point based on a 

combination of the following factors: 

biophysical naturalness (how intact or undisturbed the area is); 

apparent naturalness (aesthetic value); 

remoteness from settlement; and 

remoteness from access. 

Map 45 shows the wilderness values across the BBS as defined by the National 

Wilderness Inventory. Areas identified meet the minimum requirement to be considered a 

wilderness area with a NWI rating of 12 or greater. The minimum area requirement of 

8,000 ha for wilderness to be declared has been ignored for this exercise as all patches 

identified fall within larger forested blocks of Pilliga and Bebo State Forests and Pilliga 

Nature Reserve. 

Any conservation assessment should be aware of the 8 000ha minimum limit for a 

wilderness area to be declared, but should seek to assess wilderness values for areas 

smaller than this for possible protection by other means. 



R52. the outcomes of any bioregional assessment of flora, fauna, vegetation, 

ecosystems and cultural heritage values be used in a bioregional wilderness project 

that seeks to define areas of high wilderness values in the BBS. This project 

should take into consideration the 8 000ha minimum limit for a wilderness area to 

be declared, but should also include, however, the assessment of wilderness values 

for areas smaller than this for possible protection by other means; 

R53. sympathetic management be considered for areas provisionally identified as 

having wilderness value; and 

R54. formal wilderness assessments and declarations be undertaken for areas nominated 

and provisionally identified as having wilderness value within the BBS. This 

process will be separate to the bioregional conservation assessment exercise. 

113

13 BIODIVERSITY 


Biodiversity is defined by the State Biodiversity Strategy (NPWS, 1999) as : 

“the variety of all living organisms, including all species, the genes they 

possess and the ecosystems they form”. 

The Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act, 1999 states that: 

“biodiversity means the variability among living organisms from all sources (including 

terrestrial, marine and other aquatic ecosystems and the ecological complexes of which 

they are part) and includes: 

(a) diversity within species and between species; and 

(b) diversity of ecosystems. “ 

Another definition of biodiversity is given in the Global Biodiversity Strategy (Reid et al, 

1992): 

“the totality of genes, species, and ecosystems in a region” 

The Queensland Nature Conservation Act, 1992 further defines biological diversity as 

“the natural diversity of native wildlife, together with the environmental conditions 

necessary for their survival, and includes-- 

(a) regional diversity, that is, the diversity of the landscape components (including 

landforms, soils, water, climate, wildlife and land uses) of a region, and the 

functional relationships that affect environmental conditions within 

ecosystems; and 

(b) ecosystem diversity, that is, the diversity of the different types of communities 

formed by living organisms and the relations between them; and 

(c) species diversity, that is, the diversity of species; and 

(d) genetic diversity, that is, the diversity of genes within each species”. 

Biodiversity can be measured at each of these scales - genetic, species and ecosystem 

diversity. Genetic diversity refers to the variation of genes within a species. Species 

diversity refers to the variety of species within an area. Species diversity can be measured 

in many ways including the number of species in an area (species ‘richness’), or 

‘taxonomic diversity’ (the diversity of taxonomic groups such as birds, reptiles, 

amphibians, mammals, flora, or microbes within an area) (Reid et al, 1992). Ecosystem 

diversity refers to the variety of habitats or communities within a region and their 

associated ecological processes (NPWS, 1999). 

114


Other expressions or measures of biodiversity are also important. These include the 

relative abundance of species or taxonomic groups, age structure of populations, pattern 

of communities within a region, changes in community composition and structure over 

time, and particular ecological processes such as predation (Reid et al, 1992). 

The State Biodiversity Strategy requires the conservation of biodiversity. This will 

largely depend on a number of landscape factors including vegetation continuity or 

connectivity, size and shape of remaining vegetation remnants, condition of remnant 

vegetation, threats to biodiversity, distribution of species across the landscape and 

viability of populations within the landscape. Any conservation assessment needs to 

provide information on all these factors to allow adequate planning for the maintenance of 

biodiversity. Vegetation regeneration and restoration and recruitment into populations are 

also required to maintain biodiversity within the BBS. 

The aim of any biodiversity conservation exercise should be the conservation of 

biodiversity across the landscape in the foreseeable future. Smart et al (2000) define this 

further as the “persistence and continuation of biodiversity at least at the species level 

over a time span of at least hundreds of years”. 

Surrogates for biodiversity may be used to predict biodiversity for areas which have 

incomplete data coverage such as geographical and / or taxonomic coverage. Surrogates 

used to estimate biodiversity should be based on comprehensive data taken from the 

whole region. The use of surrogates assumes a correlation between the surrogate and the 

scale of biodiversity (gene, species, ecosystem) being assessed (Feria and Watson, 1997). 


Feria and Watson (1997) found that there is a wide variation in the performance of 

surrogates, both between different types of surrogates and different biological groups. 

These authors found that, generally, surrogates derived purely from abiotic environmental 

data were the least accurate as estimates for species biodiversity. The surrogates which 

performed most accurately when used in the north east of New South Wales were those 

which modelled species distribution or distribution of one biological group. 

The level of precision of various types of surrogates and their cost effectiveness are 

shown in Table 13.1 below. This table shows that as the level of precision of surrogates 

increases, the costs increase dramatically and are not cost effective. 

Most information available for the BBS is site-specific, data poor, inconsistent, 

unsystematic, and does not cover all levels of biodiversity. Little is known about species 

or ecosystems in the BBS, and less is known of temporal changes, genetic variation and 

population viability. Measures of biodiversity over time are required to understand how 

conservation actions and threats affect biodiversity. Use of surrogates for biodiversity 

measurement, may be necessary as an interim measure to assess biodiversity within the 

BBS. 

115

(Williams, 1996) 

environmental surrogates 

Table 13.1 Levels of biodiversity surrogacy 

Advantage: 

precision as a 

measure of 

character / 

biological diversity 


A scale of surrogacy for a value 

currency of character diversity 

Advantage: 

cost efficiency and 

units more inclusive 

of ecosystem 

processes 

low ECOSYSTEM richness high 

climate class richness 

terrain class richness 

substrate class richness 

environmental / 

landscape class richness 

assemblage surrogates habitat class richness 

assemblage surrogates 

'community' class richness 

vegetation class richness 

taxonomic surrogates 

higher taxon richness 

SPECIES / subspecies richness 

 

taxonomic/phylogenetic subtree 

richness 

 

high GENE / character richness (currency) low 

13.1.1 Genetic diversity 

At the most basic level, genetic variation is the basis for diversity in all living organisms. 

The loss of biodiversity can and does occur at the genetic level. This is particularly 

noticeable in small remnant populations of organisms that have become isolated through 

habitat destruction. The maintenance of genetic biodiversity is crucial to the long term 

viability of species, but it is often seen as secondary to saving the individuals of the 

species from imminent danger (Smart et al, 2000). Reduced genetic diversity in an 

isolated population can lead to breeding depression and local extinctions. 

Little is known about genetic diversity for almost all species within the BBS. 

13.1.2 Species diversity 

The conservation of individual species is a common objective of programs to halt the loss 

of biodiversity. This is particularly the case with very rare or threatened species. Where a 

particular species suggests that a suite of other species or an environment type may also 

be present, that species is referred to as a ‘keystone’ or ‘indicator’ species. The 

conservation of that species then takes on added significance in that many other elements 

of biodiversity in the wider environment are also theoretically protected. Conservation at 

a species level relies on a depth of knowledge about local species ecology, a depth which 

is lacking for species endemic to Western New South Wales including the BBS (Smart et 

al, 2000). 

Population viability of any species is critical to its conservation. To determine population 

viability it is necessary to understand characteristics of the population such as size, age 

structure, fecundity and mortality rates, genetic diversity and threats. It is also critical to 

know the species’ habitat requirements, particularly across seasons. 

116


The following points should be taken into consideration when undertaking any population 

viability analyses (Burgman et al., 1999): 

all populations face some risk of decline and extinction, simply because they are 

exposed to the vagaries of natural temporal and spatial variation, even in habitat that is 

unaffected by human impacts. These background risks may be approximated by 

simple population models which include environmental and demographic variation; 

to minimise the number of extinctions in the medium term, priorities for conservation 

should reflect the risks faced by different taxa. The allocation of protection measures 

should be guided by an understanding of the kinds of threats that may be mitigated by 

reservation and / or active management; 

disturbance regimes may be modelled in terms of the habitat remaining to the species 

over a given period of time; and 

catastrophes may be implicated in the local extinction of many taxa and conservation 

strategies are developed to minimise the risk of global loss. 

As there is insufficient data available for the BBS about species population (diversity), 

quantitative information based on expert opinion may be used. This is consistent with the 

precautionary principle that “lack of full knowledge should not be used as an excuse for 

postponing action”. (Protection Of The Environment Administration Act 1991 - Section 

6). 

13.1.3 Ecosystem diversity 

Conservation at an ecosystem level aims to ensure the long-term viability of a suite of 

habitats, their species and the ecological processes that link them across an ecologically 

defined region, in this case a bioregion. The aim of conserving an entire ecosystem is to 

conserve all species dependant upon that ecosystem. This is seen as a more practical 

approach to the conservation of biodiversity than understanding and planning for the often 

competing needs of individual species. In addition, an ecosystem based approach may be 

more cost-effective than a species based approach and may better account for energy 

exchange and nutrient cycling (Smart, et al, 2000). The ecosystem approach focuses upon 

ecological processes which affect the links between elements of biodiversity. 

Ecosystems have not been defined in the BBS and, therefore, it is difficult to advance this 

approach. 

13.1.4 Landscape diversity 

The conservation of landscape diversity focuses on the protection of entire landscapes and 

their associated ecosystems. Due to a large proportion of the BBS being cleared 

(estimated 60.9%) it is no longer possible to conserve any landscape in its entirety within 

the bioregion (Pressey et al, 2000). 


There is inadequate data for the bioregion at present to undertake a comprehensive 

analysis of biodiversity at the genetic, species or ecosystem scales. 

117



To maximise the likelihood of maintaining biodiversity and ecological processes there are 

numerous actions which are required. It is recommended that: 

R55. scientifically rigorous data gathering programs be established and / or continue to 

increase information and understanding of biodiversity of the BBS at the three 

levels – genetic, species and ecosystem; 

R56. polices are developed and implemented to ensure ongoing conservation 

assessment in the bioregion as information available about biodiversity increases; 

R57. a CAR reserve system and protected area network be established to adequately 

conserve biodiversity in the BBS; and 

R58. off-reserve conservation management programs be implemented to assist in 

biodiversity conservation and management in the BBS. These programs will 

require statutory planning committees such as RVCs and CMBs to develop plans 

aimed at landscape restoration, partnership agreements with RLPBs and will aim 

at conserving lands associated with water (such as wetlands, riverine corridors), 

diverse landscapes and ecosystems, and highly productive lands with areas of 

remnant vegetation. 

118


14 CONSERVATION 

ASSESSMENT AND 

PLANNING 

Conservation assessment and planning aims to: 

provide a comprehensive and systematic inventory of biodiversity, and natural and 

cultural values across the landscape; 

determine the conservation status and significance of these values through application 

of conservation criteria; 

identify threats and conservation issues to be addressed; 

suggest potential management options to conserve or enhance the most significant 

areas; and 

implement conservation management. 

Bioregional assessment and planning attempts, on a bioregional basis, to (NPWS, 1999): 

adopt a standardised, integrated, whole of government approach to the collection, 

analysis and distribution of biodiversity data for use in assessing the conservation 

significance of land areas within a bioregion and across New South Wales; 

ensure cooperative, coordinated and cost-effective data collection and dissemination 

on a whole of landscape basis for biodiversity conservation across all land tenures; 

identify areas of conservation significance and to advise on appropriate conservation 

measures; and 

identify measures to conserve species or ecosystem diversity across the landscape. 

Conservation planning for the protection and enhancement of biodiversity must recognise 

the importance of the context within which the range of species in an ecosystem exists 

and the interrelationship of the entities within this ecosystem. 

A major advantage of using a bioregional approach to conservation is the broad 

homogeneity, explicit in the development of bioregions, of environmental patterns and 

ecological processes contained within the bioregion. The ecological boundaries of 

bioregions have a closer relationship with the processes which generally threaten 

biodiversity, such as landscape degradation, erosion and vegetation clearing. A 

disadvantage of using a bioregional approach, however, is the large size of many of the 

119


bioregions and hence the collection of data is expensive and time-consuming especially in 

areas which are quite data poor such as western New South Wales. 

14.1 Conservation assessment and planning framework 

As part of this project, a conservation assessment and planning framework has been 

proposed for ongoing conservation assessment and planning. Figure 14.1 shows this 

proposed framework. 

14.1.1 Conservation assessment and planning framework 

This framework shows that bioregional assessment and planning is a complex process that 

requires involvement of various levels of government, scientific knowledge, suitable tools 

and community understanding, involvement and support to succeed. Adequate time and 

resources need to be devoted to such assessments and their implementation for them to 

effectively secure on-ground conservation outcomes. An outline of the steps involved in 

the bioregional conservation assessment and planning process is shown in Figure 14.1. 

14.1.2 Technical framework 

To assist in the initial and assessment phases of the BBS assessment (Figure 14.1), a 

technical framework which incorporates the recommendations made in this report was 

developed to guide the biodiversity assessment and conservation planning process for the 

BBS (Appendix 20). Appendix 21 lists the steps outlined in the conservation assessment 

and planning framework (Figure 14.1) and project areas described in the technical 

framework relevant to each step in this process. 

The technical framework has not been costed and therefore would need to be developed 

further to include an analysis of timeframes and resources required. Priority tasks have 

been identified. 

The technical framework shows the conservation and assessment priorities at the time of 

writing for the BBS. The framework will need to be modified as more knowledge of the 

biodiversity and conservation values of the bioregion become available. 

The technical framework outlines ten main project areas and related subsets, stating their 

role in the conservation assessment process, indicative data collation and collection 

requirements, indicative outputs, work being undertaken under the current WRA BBS 

Stages 1 and 2, and future work required under the SBS (Appendix 20). 

120

Initial Phase 

Assessment Phase 

Planning and Implementation Phase 

Indicative Timeframes 

1-2 years 

1-2 years 

1-10 years & 10-20 years 

(DRP & BBS are at this stage) 

Information toRVCs, 

CMBs, Local 

Government 

Planning Processes 

Data Audit - Review existing data sets and mapping 

regarding applicability for conservation assessment, 

determine acceptable confidence limits for data 

collection, and framework for collection of data 

Selection of Most 

Appropriate / Applicable 

ExistingDatasetsfor 

Conservation Assessment 

Assessment of Relative 

Conservation Values of 

the Bioregion 


Production of 

New Bioregionwide 

Mapping 

Compilation of Final Mapping 

and DatasetsSuitable for 


Assess Current, Past and 

Potential Threatening 

Processes and Their Affects 

Identify the Conservation Status of 

Landscapes / Areas /Biodiversity Within the 

Bioregionand Management Required 

Sub-divide theBioregioninto Management 

Units eg Remnant Habitats, Corridors, 

Wetlands, Provinces 

Identify Potential Conservation Outcomes 

and Management Requirements for Each 

Management Unit 

Data Collection eg 

Flora and Fauna 

Surveys, Vegetation 

Mapping, Cultural 

Heritage 

Assessment, and 

FurtherAbioticData 

Collection 

Implementation & Monitoring: 

Set Performance Measures / monitoring and feedback into ongoing assessment 

process / Timeframes for Implementation of Outcomes / Recommendations of the 


Develop CAR 

Reserve 

System and 

protected area 

network 

Vegetation 

Management 

Biodiversity 

Conservation 

Figure 14.1 The bioregional conservation assessment and planning framework 

(Adapted from Pressey, 1996 and Smart et al, 2000) 

Cultural 

Heritage 

Conservation 

121 

Community Consultation and Involvement

14.1.3 GIS and decision support and other tools 


Various GIS-based tools are available or being developed to assist conservation 

assessment and planning. These include: 

C-Plan is a GIS-based decision support system which maps options for achieving 

conservation goals within a region, allows users to determine which sites should be 

placed under some form of conservation management, displays these decisions and 

maps the options resulting from these decisions. Irreplaceability of entities of areas 

can be calculated and mapped using this tool. Irreplaceability is defined as the 

likelihood that a certain site will need to be protected to achieve a specified set of 

targets or, conversely, the extent to which options for achieving these targets are 

reduced if the site is not protected (Pressey et al., 1994). Measures of irreplaceability 

may change depending on conservation targets set for a particular entity or area 

(NPWS, 2001h). These tools can be of particular use in assisting identification of 

irreplaceability of conservation entities or areas, measuring how to meet conservation 

targets and spatial configuration of conservation options. 

The GIS and decision support tool (developed initially for Moree Plains RVC by 

Simon Ferrier, NPWS GIS Research and Development Group, and Murray Ellis, 

NPWS Western Directorate, Conservation Assessment and Planning Unit, and entitled 

“Conservation Options for Regional Environments” or “CORE”) could be applied to 

single or multiple datalayers. For example, the vegetation datalayer could be used for 

planning in landuse and management. Further work to develop this system to add to 

C-Plan and other tools is underway. 

Use of such tools should be considered where possible and the knowledge and training 

within various land management bodies and organisations to use these tools needs to be 

improved. Improved datasets will also increase the effectiveness of these tools in 

conjunction with expert knowledge. 

There are many computer-based simulation tools for estimating viable population sizes, 

but these rely on modelled species distribution data and knowledge of species autecology 

(including habitat requirements) as input. It is unlikely that many models will be 

developed for the BBS in the near future due to the shortage and poor quality of baseline 

environmental data, and expert judgement will be needed to develop a greater 

understanding of species distribution, especially for rare or threatened vascular plants, 

which may be inadequately represented in ecosystem-based approaches to conservation. 


This project has documented the current knowledge of biodiversity and natural and 

cultural values known within the BBS. This is a necessary first step in identifying further 

work required for any comprehensive and systematic conservation assessment and future 

conservation planning. 

Current work, including that of this SBS project, that under the RACAC Western 

Regional Assessments, and under various RVCs, and CMBs can still be considered in the 

initial or assessment phases (Figure 14.1). Much of the planning being undertaken within 

RVCs and CMBs is without comprehensive bioregional data or context. Thus, it is 

essential that bioregional conservation assessment is undertaken as a priority to provide a 

122


bioregional landscape context and framework in which regional and local planning and 

implementation can occur. 

14.2.1 Basic ecological principles 

A number of basic ecological principles are important when considering conservation 

assessment and planning across a bioregion and within provinces. Examples of some 

principles are outlined below. 

Size and shape of any vegetation remnant and / or conservation reserve affects its 

effectiveness in terms of conservation of biodiversity. For example, long, linear reserves 

would be less effective than round reserves. This is due to edge effects and relates to the 

surface area to perimeter ratio. Some species of native flora and fauna naturally live on 

edges of woodland and forest communities and can benefit from a large edge to area ratio. 

However, edges are also favoured by many weed and feral animal species which compete 

with native species for habitat (Sheahan, 1998; Lunney and Recher, 1996). Species most 

at risk in developed landscapes are those that require larger areas or non-edge habitat. 

Core habitat areas - Large areas of continuous habitat are important as they can provide 

for protection of a diversity of species, communities and ecosystems (Lunney and Recher, 

1996). These core habitat areas are important refuges for species and communities and 

are generally large areas of vegetation which can be connected via corridors. 

Fragmented ecosystems between core habitat areas can be sites of potential vegetation 

restoration and rehabilitation projects with the aim of extending core areas or developing 

the network of corridors linking these core areas (Sheahan, 1998). 

Small and isolated remnants of habitat throughout the landscape can also be important 

as they may serve as “stepping stones” for colonising species, and roosting and / or 

breeding sites for migratory species or those which are able to forage in surrounding 

modified habitats (Lunney and Recher, 1996). 

Generally in Australia, and particularly in the BBS, many vegetation remnants are 

surrounded by cleared land (Benson, 1999). The size of vegetation remnant ‘islands’ may 

affect the dynamics of the populations and communities which inhabit them. Small 

remnants, like small islands provide habitat for relatively small populations which, due to 

their size, are more susceptible to disturbance and hence local extinction from these areas 

(Sheahan, 1998; Lunney and Recher, 1996). 

Continuity in natural habitat is an important factor for a number of species and 

communities. Many animals have large home ranges and need to move throughout the 

landscape. Many species do this via vegetation corridors, or adjacent fragments and, 

therefore, distance between fragments is also important. Small remnants should ideally be 

clustered so as to provide links to larger core habitat areas or to allow for movement if 

one fragment becomes uninhabitable, for example, following wildfire (Lunney and 

Recher, 1996). In many areas within the BBS riparian and roadside vegetation is the only 

native vegetation remaining and can provide important links between other, larger 

remnants. Sometimes these remnants may be the only remaining stands of a particular 

vegetation community in the region and may provide a valuable source of seed for 

revegetation projects (Sheahan, 1998). 

123


Duplication of habitats within a system of protected areas can provide refuges for species 

if one area of a particular type of habitat is totally decimated by fire, outbreaks of disease 

or another major disturbance (Lunney and Recher, 1996). 

Home ranges of some species are large, while other species may have very specialised 

habitat requirements, or be migratory or only occur in habitats which are in decline 

(Lunney and Recher, 1996). 

14.2.2 Preliminary identification of landscapes of significance 

No comprehensive identification of landscapes of significance is possible based on 

current datasets, however, conservation criteria will be used in any conservation 

assessment to determine areas of conservation value and their significance (section 15). 

A preliminary identification of areas of significant conservation values could include the 

following: 

sites identified by Morgan and Terrey (1992) as areas of high conservation value; 

large core areas of native vegetation and habitat; 

corridors of vegetation linking core areas of vegetation such as riverine corridors and 

TSRs; 

areas of vegetation and ecosystems with naturally restricted distributions; 

areas of core habitat for threatened species, communities and populations under the 

TSC Act; 

remnant native vegetation including grasslands and shrublands; 

vegetation communities not adequately represented within the reserve system in New 

South Wales and / or the BBS which are under threat or depleted; 

all areas of National Wilderness Inventory (NWI) value 12+ as per Map 42. The most 

important component of the NWI for the BBS was “biophysical naturalness”. Areas 

rated as greater than 12 in the NWI have a high level of biophysical naturalness. Map 

42 shows areas within the BBS which have a NWI rating of greater than 12 and an 

area of greater than 8,000ha; 

refugia such as caves, rock outcrops and mountains; 

areas with important cultural value; and 

wetland (permanent and ephemeral) and riparian areas. 

Map 44 illustrates how conservation principles can be considered on a bioregion-wide 

scale for the BBS to create a bioregional landscape framework (conservation strategy for 

the bioregion which will recognise the conservation values and management 

requirements). This map is an example only to illustrate concepts. More information is 

required from the bioregion to be able to undertake more meaningful assessment and 

conservation planning. 

124



Adoption of the following recommendations is required to ensure that a relevant and 

comprehensive assessment of the biodiversity and conservation values of the BBS is 

undertaken. It is recommended that: 

R59. a comprehensive and systematic conservation assessment of the BBS be 

undertaken that follows the proposed conservation assessment and planning 

framework and by determining conservation values of the bioregion and each of 

its provinces. For example, through measures of diversity of land capability, 

vegetation communities, soils, species, habitats; 

R60. the attached technical framework is used to guide further conservation assessment 

work and funding in the BBS in relation to biodiversity conservation; 

R61. the above assessment (R60) be done using GIS-based decision support tools when 

they are refined and when more comprehensive datasets are available; and 

R62. a preliminary bioregional landscape framework be prepared with various options 

for interpreting conservation management including integration of conservation 

and production such as: 

lists and descriptions of priority plant communities and priority conservation areas 

(for example, largest remaining areas of native vegetation, corridors, wetlands and 

rivers) 

identification of areas of priority for restoration and regeneration such as regional 

corridor networks 

identification of other areas of regional significance such as aquifer recharge zones 

and significant catchments for management actions. 

125


15 CONSERVATION 

CRITERIA, 

TARGETS, AND THE 

ECOLOGICAL 

BOTTOM LINE 

Conservation assessment will require the use of various conservation criteria, 

methodologies and tools to assist in determining the relative natural, biodiversity and 

cultural values that occur across the BBS. Once these criteria are chosen, specific targets 

are required to ensure that the conservation targets are measurable and addressed. There 

are a number of existing criteria and targets including those at the national and regional 

level. 

An ecological bottom line is defined by Nix and Mackey (2000) as “the minimum area of 

natural ecosystems to be protected to ensure the conservation of biodiversity and life 

support systems with consideration of social and economic values within these 

constraints”. Nix and Mackey, 2000 state that the advantage of the ecological bottom line 

approach is that it could provide an objective and quantifiable set of boundary conditions 

for ecologically sustainable development. 

Due to the lack of ecological knowledge for most areas within the BBS, the precautionary 

principle should be applied when developing conservation criteria, targets and an 

ecological bottom line for the bioregion. 

The Protection of the Environment Administration Act, 1991 states , “namely, that if there 

are threats of serious or irreversible environmental damage, lack of full scientific certainty 

should not be used as a reason for postponing measures to prevent environmental 

degradation”. 

The Protection of the Environment Administration Act, 1991 also states that “in the 

application of the precautionary principle, public and private decisions should be guided 

by: 

(i) careful evaluation to avoid, wherever practicable, serious or irreversible damage 

to the environment, and 

126


(ii) an assessment of the risk-weighted consequences of various options”. 

15.1 Existing conservation criteria and targets 

15.1.1 IUCN criterion 

The Caracas Action Plan 1992 (IUCN, 1992) which was adopted at the IV th World Parks 

Congress in 1992 recommended that: 

“governments ensure – through international cooperation – that protected 

areas cover at least 10% of each biome by the year 2000.” 

The world’s major biomes and their reservation status were outlined by Green and Paine, 

1997 and are outlined in Table 15.1 below. 

(Green and 

Table 15.1 Extent and protection of the world’s major biomes 

Paine, 1997) 

Biome Protected Area 

Name Area (km 2 ) Number Extent (km 2 ) % Biome 

Protected 

Mixed island systems 3 252 563 1 980 530 676 16.32% 

Subtropical / temperate rain forests / woodlands 3 930 979 977 404 497 10.29% 

Mixed mountain systems 10 633 145 2 766 967 130 9.10% 

Tropical humid forests 10 513 210 1 030 922 453 8.77% 

Tundra communities 22 017 390 171 1 845 188 8.38% 

Tropical grasslands / savannas 4 264 832 100 316 465 7.42% 

Tropical dry forests / woodlands 17 312 538 1 290 1 224 566 7.07% 

Cold-winter deserts 9 250 252 290 546 168 5.90% 

Temperate needle-leaf forests / woodlands 15 682 817 1 492 897 375 5.72% 

Warm deserts / semi-deserts 24 279 843 605 1 173 025 4.83% 

Evergreen Sclerophyllous forests 3 757 144 1 469 164 883 4.39% 

Temperate broad-leaf forests 11 216 659 3 905 403 298 3.60% 

Lake systems 517 695 66 5 814 1.12% 

Temperate grasslands 8 976 591 495 88 127 0.98% 

Total 145 605 658 169 636 9 489 665 6.52% 

15.1.2 Nationally agreed criteria for the establishment of a CAR reserve system for 

forests in Australia (JANIS) 

(Commonwealth of Australia, 1997) 

These nationally agreed criteria aim to define conservation values and to create and 

manage a comprehensive, adequate and representative (CAR) forest reserve system. They 

have been used across Australia largely within forest ecosystems. The JANIS criteria are 

based on three principles including: 

“comprehensiveness – includes the full range of forest communities recognised by an 

agreed national scientific classification at appropriate hierarchical levels; 

adequacy – the maintenance of ecological viability and integrity of populations, 

species and communities; and 

127


representativeness – those sample areas of the forest that are selected for inclusion in 

reserves should reasonably reflect the biotic diversity of the communities.” 

The JANIS biodiversity criteria are used to define conservation values and then to 

develop CAR reserve systems as outlined in Table 15.3 (Commonwealth of Australia, 

1997). In addition to eight main criteria, there are additional specialised criteria for old 

growth forest, wilderness areas and reserve design and management. 

These criteria have not yet been applied to any bioregion in western New South Wales as 

many vegetation types are non-forests (for example, woodlands, open-woodlands, 

shrublands and grasslands). Further work is required to use these criteria and incorporate 

other criteria such as vegetation retention and cultural heritage for western New South 

Wales. These criteria need to be considered a base line from which further detailed 

criteria can be developed. 

15.1.3 DLWC criteria for vegetation retention and catchment management 

Regional Vegetation Management Plans – bioregional vegetation retention targets are 

being set by DLWC and by individual RVCs. These will need to be considered in any 

conservation criteria and targets for the BBS. 

Catchment Management Planning – catchment targets for factors such as biodiversity, 

salinity and water quality are being set by individual CMBs. These management targets 

will need to considered in any conservation criteria and targets for the BBS. 

15.1.4 Framework for terrestrial biodiversity targets in the Murray-Darling Basin 

(MDBC) 

(James and Saunders, 2001) 

This report sets a framework for developing terrestrial biodiversity targets within the 

Murray-Darling Basin based on a landscape context to maintain key ecological processes, 

maintaining or re-establishing viable populations of native species, and the integrity of 

ecological communities (especially vegetation), and controlling threats to biodiversity. 

This framework is summarised in Table 15.2. 

128


Table 15.2 Landscape framework for assigning terrestrial biodiversity targets within the 

Murray-Darling Basin 

(James and Saunders, 2001) 

Landscape Context Factors to Consider When Assigning Priorities for Landscapes 

Landscapes with more than 70% 

cover of original native vegetation Impact of grazing (water remoteness) – threshold based on more than 

5% of a landsystem being more than 3km from any water point 

fragility of landsystem - vulnerability to degradation of biodiversity and 

ecosystem services due to grazing impact, feral animals or invasive 

weeds 

rareness and irreplaceability - eg if an attribute is restricted to one 

location and is less than 20km 2 in area then it receives a higher priority 

than a widespread attribute. 

size of landsystem (total area) – threshold based on absolute size 

being smaller than 20km 2 in extent 

isolation of landsystem – threshold based on landsystem being more 

that 30km from nearest similar landsystem 

Landscapes with between 30 and 

70% cover of original native 

vegetation 

Landscapes with between 10 and 

30% cover of original native 

vegetation 

watertables – are vegetation types or species threatened? 

amount of clearing - thresholds if clearing has reduced vegetation type 

to different levels of its original extent 

rareness and irreplaceability - eg if an attribute is restricted to one 

location and is less than 20km 2 in area then it receives a higher priority 

than a widespread attribute. 

total extent of vegetation community or species range (area) – based 

on total areal extent of an attribute 

fragility of landsystem to degradation - vulnerability to degradation of 

biodiversity and ecosystem services due to grazing impact, feral 

animals or invasive weeds 

watertables– are vegetation types or species threatened? 

amount of clearing - % of original area remaining – threshold level if 

clearing has reduced original native vegetation to less than 30% 

rareness and irreplaceability of biological attributes eg if an attribute is 

restricted to one location and is less than 20km 2 in area then it 

receives a higher priority than a widespread attribute. 

total extent of vegetation community or species range (area) – 

threshold based on total areal extent of biological attribute 

fragility of landsystem to degradation – vulnerability to degradation of 

biodiversity and ecosystem services due to grazing impact, feral 

animals or invasive weeds 

degree of isolation – threshold based on vegetation type being more 

than 10km from its nearest similar vegetation type 

Landscapes with less than 10% 

cover of original native vegetation all threatened species, threatened ecological communities and all 

existing vegetation given priority 1 

goal to restore to 30% cover with suitable representation of different 

known types of vegetation – all existing vegetation retained and 

expanded 

129


15.1.5 National objectives and targets for biodiversity conservation 2001-2005 

(NOTBC) 

(Environment Australia, 2001g) 

The priority actions outlined in these objectives are to: 

“protect and restore native vegetation and terrestrial ecosystems; 

protect and restore freshwater ecosystems; 

protect and restore marine and estuarine ecosystems; 

control invasive species; 

mitigate dryland salinity; 

promote ecologically sustainable grazing; 

minimise impacts of climate change on biodiversity; 

maintain and record indigenous peoples’ ethnobiological knowledge; 

improve scientific knowledge and access to information; and 

introduce institutional reform”. 

In relation to native vegetation and terrestrial ecosystems, these objectives state that, “to 

reverse the decline in the quality and extent of Australia’s native vegetation and 

ecological communities and the ecosystem services they provide”, all jurisdictions 

(meaning all states and territories): 

have measures in place to prevent clearing of ecological communities with an extent 

below 10% of pre-1750 by 2001; 

have measures in place to prevent clearing of ecological communities with an extent 

below 30% of pre-1750 by 2003; 

have programs in place to protect areas of high quality native vegetation by 2005; and 

have clearing controls in place that will have the effect of reducing the national net 

rate of land clearance to zero by 2001. 

These objectives also state that, to “protect a representative sample of Australia’s 

terrestrial ecosystems”: 

“a representative sample of each bioregion is protected within the National Reserve 

System or network of Indigenous Protected Areas or as private land managed for 

conservation under a conservation agreement” by 2005; and 

all jurisdictions shall have in place “native vegetation restoration programs to recover 

ecological communities that are below 10%” of pre-1750 extent or are nationally 

listed as critically endangered. 

130

A summary of how the above criteria interact is shown in Figure 15.1. 

Core Reserves 

IUCN reserves 

I-IV 

Eg NP, reserves, 

FMZ1 

Integrated landscape conservation network 

20-30% Conservation 

Eg formal/core reserves, 

Informal reserves 

other mechanisms 

Informal reserves 

Property 

Agreements 

VCA 

Conservation 

Agreements 

MoU between 

agencies 

Crown reserves 

JANIS 

MDBC 

NOTBC 

Legislation and government policy 


ESFM 

ESLM – Property Planning, 

Landcare, etc 

30-50 % low/moderate intensity use 

eg Forestry, grazing, cropping 

Figure 15.1 Application of various conservation criteria and how they interact 

15.2 Development of conservation criteria for the BBS 

30% development 

15.2.1 Conservation principles and criteria for the BBS (Modified JANIS) 

eg irrigation, urban development 

At present no ecological bottom line has been determined for the BBS bioregion. 

However, Nix and Mackey (2000) note that “…the notional 15% comprehensiveness 

target has no basis in science, except, that for biodiversity conservation, 15% is likely to 

be better than 10% and very much better than 5%. Tree clearing legislation in Queensland 

recognises an important threshold at 30% retention. Theoretical considerations, backed up 

by field experimentation provide strong indications that 40% is a critical threshold.” 

This is explained further by Nix and Mackey, 2000: “At retained percentages less than 

40% the patterning of the cleared / uncleared mosaic becomes critical for biodiversity 

conservation. As retained vegetation classes fall below 40% there is an increasing 

requirement to assess landscape and catchment context, connectivity perimeter / area 

ratios, erodibility factors, riparian components and so on. Where vegetation classes have 

been reduced to less than 40% then any further clearing on individual holdings should be 

subject to broad regional, catchment and property planning controls.” 

To ensure that the JANIS biodiversity criteria are relevant to all ecosystems in western 

New South Wales, Nix and Mackey (2000) have suggested a modified set of criteria 

131


which involves slight changes to the eight JANIS biodiversity criteria (both sets of criteria 

are shown in Table 15.3 below). 

Table 15.3 JANIS biodiversity criteria and modified JANIS for the BBS 

JANIS Biodiversity Criteria 


1. “as a general criterion, 15% of the pre-1750 

distribution of each forest ecosystem should be 

protected in the CAR reserve system with 

flexibility considerations applied according to 

regional circumstances, and recognising that as 

far as possible and practicable, the proportion of 

Dedicated Reserves [comprising IUCN categories 

I-IV] should be maximised. 

2. where forest ecosystems are recognised as 

vulnerable, then at least 60% of their remaining 

extent should be reserved. A vulnerable forest 

ecosystem is one which is: 

(i) approaching a reduction in areal extent of 

70% within a bioregional context and which 

remains subject to threatening processes; or 

(ii) not depleted but subject to continuing and 

significant threatening processes which may 

reduce its extent. 

3. all remaining occurrences of rare and endangered 

forest ecosystems should be reserved or 

protected by other means as far as is practicable. 

4. reserved areas should be replicated across the 

geographic range of the forest ecosystem to 

decrease the likelihood that chance events such 

as wildfire or disease will cause the forest 

ecosystem to decline. 

5. the reserve system should seek to maximise the 

area of high quality habitat for all known elements 

of biodiversity wherever practicable, but with 

particular reference to: 

(i) the special needs of rare, vulnerable or 

endangered species; 

(ii) special groups of organisms, for example 

species with complex habitat requirements, or 

migratory or mobile species; 

(iii) areas of high species diversity, natural 

refugia for flora and fauna, and centres of 

endemism; and 

(iv) those species whose distributions and habitat 

requirements are not well correlated with any 

particular forest ecosystem. 

6. reserves should be large enough to sustain the 

viability, quality and integrity of populations. 

Proposed JANIS Biodiversity Criteria 

(Nix and Mackey, 2000) 

(1A) “in highly fragmented landscapes all remnants 

are valuable and should be protected across all 

land tenures and land uses . The proportion of 

dedicated reserves should be maximised. 

(2A) where ecosystems are recognised as vulnerable 

then the entire remaining extent (ie 100%) should 

be protected through reserves and negotiated 

landholder agreements. A vulnerable ecosystem 

is one which is: 

(i) reduced to less than 30% of its original extent 

within a bioregional context and which remains 

subject to threatening processes; or 

(ii) not depleted, but subject to continuing and 

threatening processes which may reduce its 

extent and/or its functional value for biodiversity 

conservation. 

(3A) where ecosystems are recognised as rare and 

endangered then their entire remaining extent (ie 

100%) should be protected through dedicated 

reserves and should receive priority in 

rehabilitation and restoration programs within an 

integrated landscape management framework. 

(4A) protected areas should be replicated across the 

geographic range of the ecosystem to decrease 

the potential impact of episodic events such as 

wildfire and disease. 

(5A) integrated landscape management systems will 

seek to optimise biodiversity conservation across 

land tenures and land uses by protecting areas of 

highest quality habitat for all known elements of 

biodiversity, but with particular reference to: 

(i) the special needs of rare, vulnerable or 

endangered species 

(ii) special groups of organisms, for example 

species with complex habitat requirements or 

migratory or mobile species 

(iii) areas of high species diversity, natural refugia for 

flora and fauna and centres of endemism 

(iv) those species whose distribution and habitat 

requirements are not well correlated with any 

particular ecosystem (JANIS, 1997) 

(6A) protected areas, in sum, should be large enough 

to sustain the viability, quality and integrity of 

populations. For particular target populations this 

will require prioritisation of both reserve and offreserve 

areas. 

132

JANIS Biodiversity Criteria 


7. to ensure representativeness, the reserve system 

should, as far as possible, sample the full range of 

biological variation within each forest ecosystem, 

by sampling the range of environmental variation 

typical of its geographic range and sampling its 

range of successional stages. 

8. in fragmented landscapes, remnants that 

contribute to sampling the full range of biodiversity 

are vital parts of a forest reserve system. The 

areas should be identified and protected as part of 

the development of integrated regional 

conservation strategies.” 

15.2.2 Criteria for BBS for vegetation retention and restoration 


Proposed JANIS Biodiversity Criteria 

(Nix and Mackey, 2000) 

(7A) the protected area network should sample the full 

range of biological variation through 

environmental space to ensure 

representativeness. When translated back into 

geographic space, further adjustments may be 

necessary to meet the needs of the other 

biodiversity criteria. 

(8A) in highly fragmented landscapes all remnants are 

valuable and should be protected across all land 

tenures and land uses.” 

Since there are eight RVCs, four CMBs and one Catchment Management Trust which 

intersect the BBS, there will be an issue of consistency of criteria and targets across the 

whole bioregion. However, once developed, these criteria should be reviewed to 

determine their scientific integrity and may be incorporated into future conservation 

criteria for the BBS. 

Agreed criteria are required which are suitable for the BBS bioregion for biodiversity 

conservation and identification of biodiversity, natural and cultural values and vegetation 

retention, restoration and reservation. These criteria need to recognise the conditions 

within the BBS and set an ecological bottom line. Agreed conservation criteria and 

adequate datasets, particularly pre-clearing and extant vegetation mapping, are required 

across the bioregion to form the basis of identification of conservation values and inform 

decisions regarding retention, restoration, reservation and conservation. 

These criteria will need to be considered at a province or landscape level within the BBS. 

133



To ensure that national agreed criteria are applied as a minimum requirement and that 

these are modified to suit bioregional conditions, the following recommendations are 

made. It is recommended that: 

R63. a set of western conservation criteria be developed which considers: 

the modified JANIS biodiversity conservation criteria (Nix and Mackey, 2000); 

vegetation restoration targets for vegetation types which have been reduced in extent 

to less than vegetation reservation and retention target levels; 

RVMPs and CMPs management criteria and other relevant conservation criteria and 

targets; and 

cultural biodiversity values determined in consultation with Aboriginal communities. 

R64. once the western conservation criteria are developed, further detailed studies be 

carried out to apply the criteria within the BBS; and 

R65. a CAR reserve system and protected area network (which includes formal reserves 

and informal mechanisms) be developed as part of an integrated landscape 

conservation network across the BBS to adequately conserve biodiversity and 

maintain ecological processes within the BBS. 

134


16 CONSULTATION 

AND COMMUNITY 

INVOLVEMENT 

Consultation and community involvement will be a major ongoing requirement of a 

successful conservation assessment. Subsequent ownership of any implementation 

actions will only occur if the community is fully engaged, have an understanding of the 

process and has the capacity and tools to be involved in the process. 


Organisations and groups likely to be involved in the BBS conservation assessment as 

well as relevant Government agencies include RVCs, CMBs, New South Wales National 

Parks Association, Nature Conservation Council of New South Wales, Landcare groups, 

Wellington / Dubbo Landcare District Steering Committee, Central West Water Quality 

Action Group, Western Alliance of Conservation Groups, North West Natural Resource 

Investment Group, NSW Farmers Association, Aboriginal Land Councils, Dubbo Field 

Naturalists, Friends of Pilliga and Goonoo and other relevant groups. Individual 

landholders also have a critical role in developing a comprehensive bioregional 

assessment for the BBS. Community consultation with Aboriginal communities and 

groups was established during WRA Stage 1 and is continuing. 

One example of a program to involve the community is the Darling Riverine Plains 

Community Based Nature Conservation Planning project (NHT-funded) which aims to 

ensure that the bioregional conservation assessment for the Darling Riverine Plains 

incorporates best practices by providing opportunities for community participation and 

information exchange at all levels. 

The Darling Riverine Plains project featured a high level of involvement and interest by 

private landholders, individuals and community groups regarding the information 

gathering and dissemination components of the project. 

135



Many of these groups have not been involved with bioregional or conservation planning 

or provided with the bioregional context in which their own planning or land management 

activities occur. However, the involvement of many of these groups in such processes as 

RVCs, CMBs, Landcare and NPWS Visions for the New Millennium process means that 

their understanding and later use of information will add value and ownership to any 

conservation assessment undertaken within the BBS. 


Any comprehensive and systematic regional assessment of the BBS must include 

community involvement. Development of a consultation and community involvement 

program will foster free information exchange between all parties and provide a sense of 

ownership in the results and outcomes of the assessment. It is proposed that the BBS 

adopt the methods currently being used as part of the Darling Riverine Plains project as 

outlined above. 


R66. a Community Consultation and Involvement Program be developed which 

includes: 

opportunities for all sectors of the regional community to be involved in data 

gathering (in particular by supporting the community in recording fauna/flora 

distribution in a manner that can be used in the project) and conservation assessment 

and planning; 

consultation with the Aboriginal Community about traditional ecological knowledge 

and significant conservation issues; 

the provision of training, opportunities, access to networks and incentives for 

cooperative partnerships with private landholders, local and State Government, non 

Government organisations, industry and other relevant management authorities to 

assist in the long term management of key areas for the conservation of biodiversity; 


promotion of the adoption of appropriate long term conservation management 

practices, through the Land for Wildlife scheme (eg Land for Wildlife property 

registration and support), wildlife refuges, voluntary conservation agreements, 

Farming For The Future, Bushcare and practices stipulated in the NVC Act and other 

programs. 

136

17 LIST OF 

Abiotic data 


RECOMMENDATIONS 

R1. Develop and improve BBS bioregion natural resource database including: 

a current tenure and administrative layer including producing an updated, spatially 

accurate and reliably attributed crown land layer for the BBS and other bioregions 

for which regional assessments are being considered; 

up-to-date and uniform geology and soils layers (some work is currently being 

undertaken under WRA BBS Stage 2) including reclassifying the MDBC Soil 

Landform Layer to produce a more detailed soil landform map for the BBS; 

up-to-date and uniform metallic minerals, industrial minerals and construction 

material occurrences (some work is currently being undertaken under WRA BBS 

Stage 2); 

up-to-date and uniform construction materials occurrences; 

up-to-date and uniform wood resources information (some work is currently being 

undertaken under WRA BBS Stage 2); 

current and historical land use; 

disturbance history; 

ground water and surface water quality and quantity; 

salinity and flood mapping; and 

land capability mapping to be updated to include SFNSW and NPWS estate to be 

used in analysis of area, representativeness, and distribution of each land capability 

class within the existing reserve system of the BBS. 

R2. Data be made available for use within Catchment Management Boards and Trusts, 

Regional Vegetation Committees, River Management Committees, local Councils and 

Local Aboriginal Land Councils; and 

137


R3. Province boundaries to be reviewed in light of Strat 5 or future stratifications as further 

knowledge becomes available. 

Fauna 

R4. a fauna list, including a list of species of priority for conservation effort, for the BBS be 

prepared and reviewed for accuracy / completeness by experts; 

R5. survey effort / comprehensiveness be improved across the BBS to include open 

woodlands and “non-woody” vegetation types for example, wetlands, grasslands, 

shrublands and include further systematic and targeted surveys of priority fauna across 

all tenures within the BBS to ensure all habitats are adequately sampled. Targetted 

species could include hollow-dependant species, honeyeaters, parrots, small terrestrial 

mammals, cave and forest bats, and indicator and / or keystone species; 

R6. species assemblages be defined for the BBS using pattern analysis using PATN software 

(Belbin, 1987) (software package for the manipulation, analysis and display of patterns 

in data) and correlations be made where possible between individual species or species 

assemblages and the vegetation communities of the bioregion as data becomes available; 

R7. profiles be compiled of priority fauna species and their response to disturbance. These 

species may include fauna species of conservation concern because of habitat loss, 

declining populations and geographic isolation / extremes and / or species listed under 

the TSC Act; 

R8. monitoring sites be established throughout BBS to generate year-round / all-seasons 

perspective; 

R9. areas of high conservation value with respect to fauna be identified including core 

habitat areas; 

R10. information be gathered about current status and limiting factors for threatened species 

to assist in defining recovery objectives and management strategies for regionally 

significant and threatened species; 

R11. fauna modelling be considered for species which have suitable records and / or 

autecological knowledge available and that this be developed further as information 

becomes available; 

R12. any vegetation mapping carried out as part of a bioregional assessment should collect 

information on the spatial arrangement and extent of large, mature to senescing trees 

and shrubby understoreys as an habitat component for fauna; and 

R13. autecological studies of priority fauna be carried out whereby ecology, habitat 

requirements, and population dynamics etc of a single species or group of species are 

investigated. 

138

Flora 


R14. a flora list, including a list of species of priority for conservation effort, for the BBS be 

prepared and reviewed for accuracy / completeness by experts; 

R15. further systematic plot-based and targetted flora surveys be undertaken on private / 

leasehold lands and areas not identified as “woody” vegetation in the MDBC vegetation 

mapping (for example, wetlands, shrublands, grassland and open woodlands), and to fill 

gaps in information about woody communities linked to DLWC vegetation mapping and 

vegetation survey. Priority flora species for targetted surveys may include Threatened, 

ROTAP or protected species; 

R16. analysis be undertaken of flora data in relation to vegetation mapping for the BBS; 

R17. information be gathered on current status and limiting factors to assist in defining 

recovery objectives for threatened flora; 

R18. conservation requirements be formulated for native flora; 

R19. management strategies be developed for regionally significant and threatened flora 

species; 

R20. modelling be done to predict distribution of potential habitat and critical habitat at a 

local and regional scale for priority species within the BBS including threatened species, 

regionally significant and ROTAP species. Current limitations to modelling include that 

many data layers that could be used in modelling do not cover the entire bioregion, or 

are not at a compatible scale to be useful at the bioregion level; 

R21. existing data sets for the BBS be updated and validated to ensure that the end product of 

any modelling exercise is meaningful or useful; 

R22. responses to disturbance be collated for flora species for use in population viability 

analysis and risk assessments and formulation of conservation requirements. 

R23. autecological studies of targeted flora be undertaken whereby ecology, distribution etc 

of a single species or group of species is investigated; 

R24. monitoring sites be established for flora across all tenures in the BBS. It is 

recommended that these monitoring sites be linked to the fauna monitoring sites; 

R25. studies on the distribution and abundance of cryptogam (mosses, liverworts and lichens) 

biodiversity be undertaken; and 

R26. a flora report be produced with datasets and species / community profiles suitable for 

use in conservation planning processes. 

Other biota 

R27. data collation and an audit be undertaken regarding invertebrates, aquatic vertebrates, 

macroinvertebrates and fish within the BBS; and 

139


R28. database(s) be established for aquatic vertebrates, aquatic macroinvertebrates, and 

terrestrial invertebrates for use in biodiversity assessments and an evaluation of patterns 

of biological variation within mapped vegetation types be undertaken. 

Vegetation 

R29. formulate a consistent plant community list for the BBS; 

R30. prepare profiles of key plant communities (listed below) including threats and response 

to disturbance information. This list may be modified as further vegetation mapping 


The poorly reserved overstorey species are: 

Eucalyptus populnea / Eucalyptus pilligaensis 

Eucalyptus nubila 

The rare, threatened or highly cleared and modified vegetation overstorey types are: 

Cadellia pentastylis (TSC Act ) 

semi-evergreen vine thicket (TSC Act) 

Corymbia tessellaris (TSC Act) 

Austrostipa aristiglumis (TSC Act) 

Acacia harpophylla (EPBC Act) 

Eucalyptus viridis 

Eucalyptus dumosa 

Eucalyptus melliodora 

Eucalyptus conica 

Eucalyptus camaldulensis 

R31. complete comprehensive and uniform bioregion-wide vegetation mapping derived from 

structural and floristic data including: 

vegetation mapping for public lands, significant remnants and high quality vegetation areas 

at 1:25 000 and 1:50 000 scale and vegetation mapping of regional vegetation using DLWC 

standards at 1:100 000 scale; 

native ecosystem mapping for all extant forest, native grasslands, wetlands, shrublands and 

woodlands for use in formulation of conservation requirements by vegetation communities; 

growth stage mapping to assist in identifying ecologically mature forest, woodlands, 

regrowth areas and other classes; 

140


a vegetation mapping framework to be based on Strat 5 or future, more comprehensive 

stratifications. 

R32. develop a general model of biological variation within mapped vegetation types, in 

relation to environmental and geographical gradients; 

R33. develop a measure of the performance of vegetation mapping and alternative native 

ecosystem derivations as a surrogates for estimating biodiversity value within the BBS; 

R34. develop a model or estimation of pre-clearing / pre-1750 vegetation types and native 

ecosystem extent for use in formulation of reservation / retention targets; 

R35. describe and map endangered ecological communities within the BBS; and 

R36. develop a disturbance history layer and detailed map of extant vegetation to be used in 

derivation / mapping of native ecosystems, mapping of growth stage mapping, 

modelling of species / assemblage distributions and pre-1750 / pre-clearing ecosystems. 

Ecosystems 

R37. ecosystems be defined and mapped at a useable resolution across the whole of the BBS 

to assist conservation assessment and reservation or restoration of the endangered 

ecological communities. Definition of ecosystems within the BBS should take into 

account work currently being undertaken by NPWS for the State Biodiversity Strategy 

project. This should include a review and analysis of ecosystems derived from the 

ecosystems project and their applicability to conservation assessments within the BBS; 


R38. further endangered ecological communities be defined and mapped as information 


Ecological processes 

R39. ecological processes operating in the BBS be identified and a detailed understanding of 

those processes be developed; 

R40. detailed information be gathered for each province about key threatening processes and 

the effects of those processes; and 

R41. monitoring strategies to measure the effects of the threatening processes and the 

effectiveness of ecosystem management be developed. 

Aboriginal cultural heritage 

R42. more cultural heritage surveys be undertaken across all tenures within the BBS; 

R43. information be gathered about the significance to Aboriginal people of biodiversity 

across all tenures in the BBS with appropriate members of local Aboriginal 

141


communities. Assessment of conservation significance of this information be given 

equal weighting to other measures of assigning significance to natural areas. Further, 

that this information be treated as sensitive where appropriate; 

R44. Purcell (2000) recommends that a project involving agencies and stakeholders be 

developed to further assess and compare Aboriginal and formal scientific knowledge of 

plants within the BBS. This is partly being undertaken as part of the WRA Stage 2 

project for the BBS; 

R45. Aboriginal cultural information at the landscape level and cultural heritage site 

information be prepared for use in conservation assessment by Aboriginal people; 

R46. Aboriginal people have access to specialised expertise to assist them to investigate and 

determine the significance of any given area. Opportunities should be created for 

communities to take part in gathering all scientific. This is particularly important for 

fauna and flora assessments which are of great interest to Aboriginal communities. 

(RACD, 2000d); 

R47. a comprehensive assessment of current protective mechanisms for Aboriginal sites, 

existing management practices and an assessment of the adequacy and effectiveness of 

site management; 

R48. a comprehensive strategy for site management be established; 

R49. results of flora and fauna surveys be integrated with Aboriginal site and landform data 

and that alternative sampling strategies that incorporate Aboriginal ecological values be 

developed; 

R50. there be opportunities for Aboriginal people to be involved in data gathering and 

conservation assessment and planning; and 

R51. there be further development of comprehensive Aboriginal land use modelling based on 

cultural ecology and geomorphology for the BBS. 

Wilderness 

R52. the outcomes of any bioregional assessment of flora, fauna, vegetation, ecosystems and 

cultural heritage values be used in a bioregional wilderness project that seeks to define 

areas of high wilderness values in the BBS. This project should take into consideration 

the 8 000ha minimum limit for a wilderness area to be declared, but should also include, 

however, the assessment of wilderness values for areas smaller than this for possible 

protection by other means; 

R53. sympathetic management be considered for areas provisionally identified as having 

wilderness value; and 

R54. formal wilderness assessments and declarations be undertaken for areas nominated and 

provisionally identified as having wilderness value within the BBS. This process will 

be separate to the bioregional conservation assessment exercise. 

142

Biodiversity 


R55. scientifically rigorous data gathering programs be established and / or continue to 

increase information and understanding of biodiversity of the BBS at the three levels – 

genetic, species and ecosystem; 

R56. polices are developed and implemented to ensure ongoing conservation assessment in 

the bioregion as information available about biodiversity increases; 

R57. a CAR reserve system and protected area network be established to adequately conserve 

biodiversity in the BBS; and 

R58. off-reserve conservation management programs be implemented to assist in biodiversity 

conservation and management in the BBS. These programs will require statutory 

planning committees such as RVCs and CMBs to develop plans aimed at landscape 

restoration, partnership agreements with RLPBs and will aim at conserving lands 

associated with water (such as wetlands, riverine corridors), diverse landscapes and 

ecosystems, and highly productive lands with areas of remnant vegetation. 

Conservation assessment and planning 

R59. a comprehensive and systematic conservation assessment of the BBS be undertaken that 

follows the proposed conservation assessment and planning framework and by 

determining conservation values of the bioregion and each of its provinces. For 

example, through measures of diversity of land capability, vegetation communities, 

soils, species, habitats; 

R60. the attached technical framework is used to guide further conservation assessment work 

and funding in the BBS in relation to biodiversity conservation; 

R61. the above assessment (R60) be done using GIS-based decision support tools when they 

are refined and when more comprehensive datasets are available; and 

R62. a preliminary bioregional landscape framework be prepared with various options for 

interpreting conservation management including integration of conservation and 

production such as: 

lists and descriptions of priority plant communities and priority conservation areas (for 

example, largest remaining areas of native vegetation, corridors, wetlands and rivers) 

identification of areas of priority for restoration and regeneration such as regional corridor 

networks 

identification of other areas of regional significance such as aquifer recharge zones and 

significant catchments for management actions. 

Conservation criteria, targets and the ecological bottom line 

R63. a set of western conservation criteria be developed which incorporate: 

143


the modified JANIS biodiversity conservation criteria (Nix and Mackey, 2000); 

vegetation restoration targets for vegetation types which have been reduced in extent to less 

than vegetation reservation and retention target levels; 

RVMPs and CMPs management criteria and other relevant conservation criteria and targets; 


cultural biodiversity values determined in consultation with Aboriginal communities. 

R64. once the western conservation criteria are developed, further detailed be carried out to 

apply the criteria within the BBS; and 

R65. a CAR reserve system and protected area network (which includes formal reserves and 

informal mechanisms) be developed as part of an integrated landscape conservation 

network across the BBS to adequately conserve biodiversity and maintain ecological 

processes within the BBS. 

Consultation and community involvement 

R66. a Community Consultation and Involvement Program be developed which includes: 

opportunities for all sectors of the regional community to be involved in data gathering (in 

particular by supporting the community in recording fauna/flora distribution in a manner 

that can be used in the project) and conservation assessment and planning; 

consultation with the Aboriginal Community about traditional ecological knowledge and 

significant conservation issues; 

the provision of training, opportunities, access to networks and incentives for cooperative 

partnerships with private landholders, local and State Government, non Government 

organisations, industry and other relevant management authorities to assist in the long term 

management of key areas for the conservation of biodiversity; and 

promotion of the adoption of appropriate long term conservation management practices, 

through the Land for Wildlife scheme (eg Land for Wildlife property registration and 

support), wildlife refuges, voluntary conservation agreements, Farming For The Future, 

Bushcare and practices stipulated in the NVC Act and other programs. 

144

18 SUMMARY OF 


RECOMMENDATIONS 

Develop consistent natural resource and biodiversity database for BBS including: 

Priority 

High Develop and improve natural resource database including tenure, administrative, 

geology, soils, minerals, construction materials, wood resources, landuse, 

disturbance history, water quality and quantity, and land capability (R1); 

High Further vegetation, ecosystem, community, growth stage, disturbance history 

mapping (R12, R29, R31, R34, R36, R35, R37); 

High Improved biodiversity and cultural heritage survey effort across bioregion to 

include woodlands and non-woody vegetation types eg wetlands, grasslands, 

shrublands (R5, R15); 

High Further sampling across all tenures (flora, fauna, cultural heritage) (R5, R15, 

R42, R46); 

Medium Autecological and targeted studies including response to disturbance, limiting 

factors, habitat requirements and threatening processes (R5, R7, R10, R11, R13, 

R15, R17, R18, R19, R22, R23); 

Medium Establishment of monitoring sites and / or management strategies for flora, fauna, 

communities and ecological processes (R8, R18, R24, R39, R41); 

Medium Compile comprehensive and accurate flora, fauna, community and priority species 

lists and profiles for these within the BBS (R4, R7, R14, R26, R30, R35, R38); 

Medium Detailed information gathered on ecological processes including threatening 

processes and their impact on biodiversity (R39, R40); 

Medium Undertake modelling and evaluate and develop surrogates to assist in definition of 

species assemblages, species distribution, ecosystem mapping, biological 

variation and critical habitat within the BBS (R6, R16, R20, R32, R33, R34, 

R37); 

Medium Undertake data collation and audit on fish, macroinvertebrates, aquatic vertebrates 

and invertebrates to create a database for use in biodiversity assessment (R27, 

R28); 

Low Undertake review of province boundaries in light of stratifications (R3); and 

Low Collate distribution and abundance data for cryptogam diversity (R25). 

145


Undertake comprehensive conservation assessment 

Priority 

High Integration of all data (R47, R55, R57, R59, R60); 

High Areas of conservation value and wilderness value and potential 

protection measures identified (R9, R20, R21, R22, R52, R53, R56, 

R59, R62); and 

High Use of Aboriginal cultural information at a landscape level in 

conservation assessment (R43, R45, R51). 

Development of CAR reserve system and integrated landscape framework in western 

and central NSW 

Priority 

High Estimation of pre-clearing vegetation extent for use in formulation of 

reservation / retention targets (R34, R36); 

High Formulation of conservation requirements for flora and fauna (R7, R10, 

R18, R19, R22); 

High Core habitat areas identified (R9, R12); 

High Western conservation criteria be developed and operationalised (R56, 

R61, R63, R65); 

Medium-High Consideration of off-reserve conservation programs (R58, R64); and 

Medium Nominated wilderness areas and areas provisionally identified as 

having wilderness value be assessed within the BBS (R54). 

Cultural knowledge of biodiversity recorded 

Priority 

High Access for Aboriginal people to information and expertise regarding 

site significance and investigation of an area (R43, R46); 

High Overview of protective mechanisms for Aboriginal sites and 

management practices (R47, R48); 

High Integration of flora and fauna surveys with Aboriginal site and 

landform data (R49); 

High Further development of comprehensive Aboriginal land use modelling 

based on cultural ecology and geomorphology (R51); and 

Medium Compare Aboriginal usage of plants with scientific knowledge of 

species (R44). 

Community consultation and involvement 

Priority 

High Ensure information available to planning groups and the Aboriginal 

community (R2; R46, R66); 

Medium Provide opportunities for involvement in data gathering (R43, R44, 

R46, R50, R66); and 

Medium Provide incentives, skills, opportunities to assist in long-term 

management of key areas for conservation (R66). 

146


19 REFERENCES / 

FURTHER READING 

Association for the Promotion and Advancement of Science Education 2001, Nutrient 

Cycles, Association for the Promotion and Advancement of Science Education, Canada, 

online. Available http://www.swifty.com/apase/charlotte/soil7.html (accessed November 

2001). 

Austin, M.P., Cawsey, E.M., Barry, S.C., Grice, D.J., Yialaoglou, M.M., Baker, B.L., and 

Briggs, S.V. 1999, Establishing Priorities for Conservation and Revegetation by 

Predicting Pre-1750 Vegetation. CSIRO, Canberra. 

Australian Bureau of Statistics 2001, 1996 Census of Population and Housing. Australian 

Bureau of Statistics, Australia, online. Available 

http://www.abs.gov.au/websitedbs/D3110124.NSF/f14a497cbb29f485ca25659b0004039a 

/e7735df420bb5444ca25659b00041e58!OpenDocument (accessed July 2001). 

Australian Local Government Association 2000, Local Government - Managing our 

Native Vegetation: Some Good Examples, February 1999, Australian Local Government 

Association, Australia, online. Available http://www.alga.com.au/bio_examples.htm 

(accessed March 2001). 

Australian National Parks and Wildlife Service 1988, ‘National Index of Ecosystems of 

Australia and Their Representation in Protected Areas’, in Annual Report 1987-88, 

Australian National Parks and Wildlife Service, Canberra, pp 23-24. 

Australian Surveying and Land Information Group (AUSLIG) 1990, Atlas of Australian 

resources, vegetation. Third series, volume 6. Commonwealth of Australia, Canberra. 

Banks, R. G. 1995, Soil Landscapes of the Curlewis 1:100 000 Sheet Report, Department 

of Conservation and Land Management, Sydney. 

Banks, R. G. 1998, Soil Landscapes of the Blackville 1:100 000 Sheet Report, Department 

of Land and Water Conservation, Sydney. 

Barson, M., Randall, L. & Bordas, V. 2000, Landcover Change in Australia. Results of 

the collaborative Bureau of Rural Sciences – State agencies’ Project on Remote Sensing 

of Landcover Change, Bureau of Rural Sciences, Canberra, online. Available 

http://www.brs.gov.au/landandwater/landcov/report.pdf (accessed March 2001). 

147


Beadle, N.C.W. (1981). The vegetation of Australia. Cambridge University Press, 

Cambridge. 

Beckers, D. & Binns, D. 2000, Vegetation Survey and Mapping, Stage 1 Report – 

Brigalow Belt South Bioregion. Resource and Conservation Division, Department of 

Urban Affairs and Planning, NSW. 

Belbin, L. 1987 PATN Manuals. CSIRO Wildlife and Ecology, ACT. 

Benson, J.S. 1989, ‘Establishing priorities for the conservation of rare or threatened plants 

and plant associations in New South Wales’, in The Conservation of Threatened Species 

and Their Habitats, ed. M. Hicks & P. Eiser, Australian Committee of IUCN, Canberra, 

pp17-82 

Benson, J.S. 1991, ‘The Effect of 200 Years of European Settlement on the Vegetation 

and Flora of New South Wales’, Cunninghamia, 2, pp. 343-370. 

Benson, J. S. 1999, “Setting the scene”, the native vegetation of NSW, Background paper 

No 1, Native Vegetation Advisory Council of NSW, Sydney. 

Binns, D.L. 1995, Flora Survey, Warung Management Area, Western Region, NSW. 

Unpublished Report, Research Division, State Forests of New South Wales, Pennant 

Hills. 

Binns, D.L. 1997, ‘Floristics and Vegetation Patterns of Coolah Tops, New South Wales’, 

Cunninghamia, 5(1), pp. 233-274. 

Brasher, R.E. & Pittock A.B. 1998, ‘Australasian Impacts of Climate Change. An 

Assessment of Vulnerability’, in The Regional Impacts of Climate Change. An 

assessment of vulnerability, IPCC Report, R.T. Watson, M.C. Zinyowera, R.H. Moss, & 

D.J. Dokken, Australian Greenhouse Office, Canberra, cited in NPWS, 2000e. 

Breckwoldt, R. (ed.) 1996 Approaches to Bioregional Planning. Part 1: Proceedings of 

the Conference, 30 Oct-1 Nov 1995, Melbourne. Department of the Environment, Sport 

and Territories, Canberra 

Briggs, J.D. & Leigh, J.H. 1996, Rare or Threatened Australian Plants, revised edn. 

CSIRO, Melbourne. 

The Brisbane Region Environment Council 2000, Total Clearing Queensland 1991 – 

1999, The Brisbane Region Environment Council, Queensland, online. Available 

http://brec.ozecol.org/news/current/slats2000.html (accessed April 2001) 

Burgman, M.A., Possingham, H.P., Lynch, A.J.J., Keith, D.A., McCarthy, M.A., Hopper, 

S.D., Drury, W., Passioura, J. & DeVries, R.J. 1999, ‘Appendix 1: A Decision Support 

Protocol for Setting Plant Conservation Target Areas’, in Response to Disturbance of 

Forest Species Upper North East and Lower North East Regions, Environment Australia, 

Resource and Conservation Division, Department of Urban Affairs and Planning, Sydney. 

148


Clarke, P.J., Gardener, M.R., Nano, C.E. & Whalley, R.D.B. 1998, The Vegetation and 

Plant Species of Kirramingly, Division of Botany, University of New England, Armidale. 

Commonwealth of Australia 1997, Nationally agreed criteria for the establishment of a 

comprehensive, adequate and representative reserve system for forests in Australia, A 

report by the Joint ANZECC/MCFFA National Forest Policy Statement Implementation 

Sub-committee (JANIS), Commonwealth of Australia, Canberra. 

Cook, S., Johnson, L. & Rossetto, A. 2000, Occasional Paper No. 32. Tourism 

Expenditure By International Visitors in Regional Australia, 1998. Bureau of Tourism 

Research, Canberra. 

Cullen, P. & Lake, P.S. 1995 ‘Water Resources and Biodiversity’, in Conserving 

Biodiversity: Threats and Solutions, ed. R. A. Bradstock, T.D. Auld, D.A. Keith, R.T. 

Kingsford, D. Lunney, D. & D.P. Sivertsen, Surrey Beatty and Sons, Sydney in 

association with the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, Hurstville, pp. 115-125. 

Date, M. & Paull, D.C. 1999, Fauna Survey of the Cypress / Ironbark Forests of North- 

West New South Wales. Unpublished report. State Forests of NSW. 

Department of Environment Sports and Territories 1996, Australia: State of the 

Environment. CSIRO Publishing. 

Department of Land and Water Conservation 2000a, New Catchment Management 

Boards Website, Department of Land and Water Conservation, Sydney, online. Available 

http://www.dlwc.nsw.gov.au/care/cmb/index.html (Accessed October, 2001). 

Department of Land and Water Conservation 2000b, NSW Salinity Strategy: Salinity 

Targets Supplementary Paper. Department of Land and Water Conservation. 

Department of Land and Water Conservation 2000c, Department of Land and Water 

Conservation Annual Report 1999-2000. Department of Land and Water Conservation, 

Sydney. 

Department of Local Government 2001, Comparative Information on New South Wales 

Local Government Councils 1998/99, NSW Department of Local Government, online. 

Available http://www.dlg.nsw.gov.au/dlg/dlghome/dlg_comp99.asp (accessed June 

2001). 

Department of Natural Resources 2001, The Great Artesian Basin: About the Basin, 

Department of Natural Resources, Queensland, online. Available 

http://www.dnr.qld.gov.au/water/artesian_basin/basin.html (accessed September, 2001). 

Department of Urban Affairs and Planning 2001, Department of Urban Affairs and 

Planning Website, Department of Urban Affairs and Planning, online. Available 

http://www.duap.nsw.gov.au (accessed March 2001). 

Department of Water Resources 1995, Water Resources of the Border Rivers System in 

Northern New South Wales. Department of Water Resources, New South Wales. 

149


Driscoll, D.A., Milovits, G. & Freudenberger, D. 2000, Impact and Use of Firewood in 

Australia. CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems, Canberra. 

Eardley, K. A. 1999, A Foundation for Conservation in the Riverina Bioregion. 

Unpublished Report, NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, Hurstville. 

Ecology Australia Pty Ltd. (undated). The Distribution and Extent of Indigenous 

Vegetation Types in the Moree Plains Shire Prior to Clearing. Unpublished report to the 

NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service. Ecology Australia Pty Ltd, Victoria. 

Environment Australia 1999a Draft Threat Abatement Plan for Dieback Caused by the 

Root-Rot Fungus (Phytophthora cinnamomi). Environment Australia, Canberra. 

Environment Australia 1999b A National Overview of Phytophthora cinnamomi in 

Australia: Supplementary Information to Accompany the Draft National Threat 

Abatement Plan. Environment Australia, Canberra. 

Environment Australia 1999c Wilderness Areas in Central-West New south Wales. A 

report by the Wilderness and Wild Rivers Section, World Heritage and Wilderness 

Branch, Environment Australia. 

Environment Australia 2001a, Belt Forests in Queensland: Natural Heritage Trust 

Endangered Species Program Fact Sheet, Environment Australia, Canberra, online. 

Available. http://www.biodiversity.environment.gov.au/threaten/events/tsday2000/factsheets00/brigalow.html 

(accessed April 2001). 

Environment Australia 2001b, Commonwealth Listing Advice: Bluegrass (Dichanthium 

spp.) dominant grasslands of the Brigalow Belt Bioregions (north and south), 

Environment Australia, Canberra, online. Available. 

http://www.ea.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/communities/bluegrass.html (accessed May 

2001). 

Environment Australia 2001c, Commonwealth Listing Advice: Brigalow (Acacia 

harpophylla dominant and co-dominant), Environment Australia, Canberra, online. 

Available. http://www.ea.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/communities/brigalow.html 

(accessed May 2001). 

Environment Australia 2001d, Commonwealth Listing Advice: Semi-evergreen vine 

thickets of the Brigalow Belt (North and South) and Nandewar Bioregions, Environment 

Australian, Canberra, online. Available. 

http://www.ea.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/communities/sevt.html (accessed May 

2001). 

Environment Australia 2001e, A Directory of Important Wetlands in Australia. Third 

Edition, Environment Australia, Canberra, online. Available. 

http://www.environment.gov.au/wetlands/directory.html (accessed December, 2001). 

Environment Australia 2001f, Revision of the Interim Biogeographic Regionalisation for 

Australia (IBRA) and the Development of Version 5.1. – DRAFT Summary Report. 

National Reserve System, Environment Australia, Canberra. 

150


Environment Australia 2001g, National Objectives and Targets for Biodiversity 

Conservation 2001-2005. Environment Australia, Canberra. 

Environment Australia 2001h, Landscape Health in Australia. Environment Australia, 

Canberra. 

Fairley, A. 1991, A Complete Guide to Warrumbungle National Park. National Book 

Distributors, cited in RACD, 2000a. 

Ferrier, S. & Watson, G. 1997, An evaluation of the effectiveness of environmental 

surrogates and modelling techniques in predicting the distribution of biological diversity. 

Environment Australia, Canberra. 

Garnett, S. 1993, Threatened and Extinct Birds of Australia. RAOU Report No. 82 Royal 

Australian Ornithologists Union and the Australian National Parks and Wildlife Service, 

Melbourne. 

Garnett, S.T. & Crowley, G.M. 2000 The Action Plan for Australian Birds 2000. 

Environment Australia, Canberra. 

Gibbs, D.M.H., & Muirhead, I.F. 1998, The Economic Value and Environmental Impact 

of the Australian Beekeeping Industry, a report prepared for Australian Beekeeping 

Industry, online. Available. http://www.honeybee.com.au/Library/gibsmuir.html 

(accessed June 2001). 

Great Artesian Basin Consultative Council 1998, Great Artesian Basin Resource Study 

Summary, Great Artesian Basin Consultative Council, Brisbane, online. Available. 

http://www.gab.org.au/documents_resources/downloads/res_summ.pdf (accessed October 

2001). 

Green, D. & Dunkerly, G. 1992, Wetlands of the Namoi Valley: progress report. 

Unpublished report. Department of Water Resources Technical Services Division (TS 

92.011). 

Green, M.J.B. & Paine, J.R. 1997 State of the World’s Protected Areas at the End of the 

Twentieth Century. Paper presented at Conference Protected Areas in the 21 st Century: 

From Islands to Networks, Albany, Australia, 14-29 th November 1997. 

Harris, J.H. & Gehrke, C. (eds) 1997, Fish and Rivers in Stress: the NSW Rivers Survey. 

NSW Fisheries Office of Conservation and the Cooperative Research Centre for 

Freshwater Ecology. 

Hartley, S., Powell, R., Chalmers, L. & Fenton, M. 2001, Economic and Social 

Assessment for the Brigalow Belt South: NSW Western Regional Assessments. 

Resources and Conservation Assessment Division, Department of Urban Affairs and 

Planning, Sydney. 

151


Hartley, S. Powell, R., Chalmers, L., Fenton, M. & Parkinson, C. 2000, Economic, Social 

and Non-indigenous Cultural Heritage South Brigalow Region. Resources and 

Conservation Assessment Division, Department of Urban Affairs and Planning, Sydney. 

Heatwole, H. & Lowman, M. 1986, Dieback: Death of an Australian Landscape. Reed 

Books, Sydney 

Hughes, W. & Westoby, M. 1994, ‘Climate Change and Conservation Policies in 

Australia: coping with change that is far away and not yet certain’, Pacific Conservation 

Biology Vol 1, pp. 308-18, cited in NPWS, 2000e. 

Hunter, J.T. in press, Vegetation and Floristics of Arakoola Nature Reserve, Report for 

the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, Hurstville. 

Hunter, J.T. & Earl, J. 1999, Floristic Descriptions of Grasslands of the Moree Plains. 

Report for the Department of Land and Water Conservation and the National Parks and 

Wildlife Service, Sydney. 

Isbell, R.F. 1962, Soils and Vegetation of the Brigalow Lands, Eastern Australia. Soils 

and Land Use Series No. 43. Division of Soils, CSIRO, Melbourne. 

IUCN 1992, Caracas Action Plan. Declarations and Conclusions of the IV th World 

Congress on National Parks and Protected Areas, Caracas, Venezuela, February 1992. 

ICUN Programme on Protected Areas / CNPPA, Gland, Switzerland. 

IUCN 2000, IUCN Guidelines for the Prevention of Biodiversity Loss Caused by Alien 

Invasive Species, IUCN Council, Gland Switzerland, online. Available 

http://www.iucn.org/themes/ssc/pubs/policy/invasivesEng.htm#anchor392619 (accessed 2 

May 2002). 

James, C. & Saunders, D. 2001, A Framework for Terrestrial Biodiversity Targets in the 

Murray-Darling Basin. CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems and Murray-Darling Basin 

Commission, Canberra. 

Johnson, L. 2000, Occasional Paper No. 31. Tourism Expenditure by Domestic Visitors in 

Regional Australia, 1998. Bureau of Tourism Research, Canberra. 

Johnson, R.W. 1984, ‘Flora and Vegetation of the Brigalow Belt’, in ed. A. Bailey, 

Brigalow Belt of Australia, Royal Society of Queensland pp 41-59. 

Johnson, W. 2001a, Some Environmental Values of the Namoi, Gwydir and Border 

Rivers. Unpublished paper, NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, Dubbo. 

Johnson, W. 2001b, Some Environmental Values of the Lachlan and Macquarie Rivers. 

Unpublished paper, NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, Dubbo. 

Kahrimanis, M.J., Carruthers, S., Oppermann, A. & Inns, R. 2001, Biodiversity Plan for 

the South Australian Murray-Darling Basin. Department for Environment and Heritage, 

South Australia. 

152


Kavanagh, R.P. 1995 Nocturnal Forest Birds and Arboreal Marsupials of Coolah Tops, 

Warung Management Area, Western Region. Forest Resources Series No. 28. State 

Forests Research Division, Pennant Hills. 

Keating, P. 1992, Australia's environment: a natural asset: statement on the environment. 

Australian Government Printing Service, Canberra 

Kingsford, R.T., Thomas, R.F. & Knowles, E. 1999, Wetlands GIS of the Murray-Darling 

Basin. NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, Hurstville. 

Kovac, M. & Lawrie, J.W. 1991, Soil Landscapes of the Singleton 1:250,000 Sheet 

Report. Department of Land and Water Conservation, NSW. 

Lembit, R. & Skelton, N. 1998, Vegetation Survey of Copperhannia, Barton, Dapper and 

Boginderra Hills Nature Reserves, Report for the NSW National Parks and Wildlife 

Service, Hurstville. 

Lesslie, R. & Maslen, M. 1995, National Wilderness Inventory Handbook, Australian 

Heritage Commission, Canberra 

Lindenmayer, D.B., Cunningham, R.B., Nix, H.A., Tanton, M.T. & Smith, A.P. 1991, 

‘Predicting the Abundance of Hollow-bearing Trees in Montane Forests of Southeastern 

Australia.’, Australian Journal of Ecology, 16, pp. 91-98, cited in NPWS (2001e). 

Llewellyn, L.C. 1983, The Distribution of Fish in New South Wales. Australian Society 

for Limnology Special Publication No. 7. NSW State Fisheries, Sydney. 

Lunney, D. & Recher, H.F. 1996, ‘The Living Landscape: an Ecological View of National 

Parks and Nature Conservation’ in A Natural Legacy: Ecology in Australia, 2 nd Ed., eds 

H.F. Recher, D. Lunney, & I. Dunn, A.S. Wilson Inc. Australia, pp. 294-328. 

Morgan, G. & Terrey, J. 1992, Nature Conservation in Western New South Wales. A 

report prepared by Landwater Management for the National Parks Association of NSW 

Inc., Sydney. 

Murphy B.W. & Lawrie J.W. 1998, Soil Landscapes of the Dubbo 1:250 000 Sheet 

Report. Department of Land and Water Conservation, NSW. 

Murray Darling Basin Commission 1991, M305 Woody Vegetation Map 1:100 000. 

Murray Darling Basin Commission. 

Murray-Darling Basin Ministerial Council 1999, The Salinity Audit of the Murray- 

Darling Basin. Murray Darling Basin Commission, Canberra. 

National Weeds Strategy Executive Committee 2001, National Weeds Strategy, weeds of 

national significance, National Weeds Strategy Executive Committee, online. Available. 

http://www.weeds.org.au/natsig.htm (accessed April, 2001). 

Neilson, L. 1996, ‘The Many Layers of Planning – Where Does Bioregional Planning 

Sit’. In Approaches to Bioregional Planning Part 1: Proceedings of the Conference 30 

153


Oct-1 Nov 1995, Melbourne. Biodiversity Series, Paper No. 10., R. Breckwoldt ed., 

Department of Environment Sport and Territories, Canberra. 

Nix, H.A. & Mackey, B.G. 2000, Conservation principles and criteria for the Brigalow 

Belt South Bioregion in NSW. Report to NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service. 

NSW Agriculture 2001, Noxious Weeds List, Order 16, New South Wales Government 

Gazette No. 120 3 August 2001, NSW Agriculture, online. Available. 

http://www.agric.nsw.gov.au/reader/weedlist.pdf (accessed November, 2001). 

NSW Environmental Protection Authority 1997a, NSW State of the Environment Report 

1997. NSW Environmental Protection Authority, Sydney, online. Available. 

http://www.epa.nsw.gov.au/soe/97 (accessed July 2001). 

NSW Environmental Protection Authority 1997b, Proposed Interim Environmental 

Objectives for NSW Waters: Inland Rivers. NSW Environmental Protection Authority, 

Sydney. 

NSW Environmental Protection Authority 2000, NSW State of the Environment Report 

2000. Environmental Protection Authority, Sydney, online. Available. 

http://www.epa.nsw.gov.au/soe/2000 (accessed August, 2001). 

NSW Environmental Protection Authority 2001 Water quality and River Flow Interim 

Environmental Objectives Website. NSW Environmental Protection Authority, Sydney, 

online. Available. http://www.epa.nsw.gov.au/ieo/index.htm (accessed November, 2001). 

NSW Government 1999, Native Vegetation – Support package for Regional Vegetation 

Committees. NSW Department of Land and Water Conservation, Sydney. 

NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service 1998, Vertebrate Fauna Survey of Coolah 

Tops. Report compiled by NPWS Sydney CRA Unit for Mudgee Sub-District. 

NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service 1999, NSW Biodiversity Strategy. NSW 

National Parks and Wildlife Service, Hurstville. 

NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service 1999a, State Biodiversity Strategy Project 

Specification, Integrated Biodiversity Conservation and Assessment Program; Darling 

Riverine Plains conservation assessment. (Priority Action 13 – Project 2). Unpublished 

project specification to BSIG, NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service. 

NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service 2000a, Nandewar Bioregional Scoping Study. 

Unpublished draft report, 30 July, 2000. NSW NPWS Northern Directorate, Coffs 

Harbour. 

NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service 2000b, NSW Biodiversity Strategy Project 

Proposal For 2001/02. Project Details. Priority Action 13: Bioregional Planning. South 

West Slopes Bioregional Assessment – An assessment of the conservation status of 

woodland communities on the Upper South West Slopes. Unpublished project proposal, 

NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service. 

154


NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service 2000c, Preliminary Bioregional Vegetation 

Project Brigalow Belt South, Western Regional Assessments (STAGE 1). Resource and 

Conservation Division, Department of Urban Affairs and Planning, NSW. 

NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service 2000d, Threatened Species Conservation Act, 

1995 Final Determination: High frequency fire resulting in the disruption of life cycle 

processes in plants and animals and loss of vegetation structure and composition’. NSW 

National Parks and Wildlife Service, online. Available. 

http://www.npws.nsw.gov.au/news/tscdets/f000324b.htm (accessed July, 2001). 

NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service 2000e, Threatened Species Conservation Act, 

1995 Final Determination: Anthropogenic Climate Change. NSW National Parks and 

Wildlife Service, online. Available 

http://www.npws.nsw.gov.au/news/tscdets/f001103e.htm (accessed July, 2001). 

NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service 2000f, Threatened Species Conservation Act, 

1995 Final Determination: Bushrock Removal. NSW National Parks and Wildlife 

Service, online. Available. http://www.npws.nsw.gov.au/news/tscdets/f991105a.htm 

(accessed July 2001). 

NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service 2000g, Threatened Species Conservation Act, 

1995 Final Determination: Predation by the Feral Cat Felis catus. NSW National Parks 

and Wildlife Service, online. Available. 

http://www.npws.nsw.gov.au/news/tscdets/f000324a.htm (accessed July 2001). 

NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service 2000h, Threatened Species Conservation Act, 

1995 Final Determination: Predation by the European Red Fox Vulpes vulpes. NSW 


http://www.npws.nsw.gov.au/news/tscdets/f980320a.htm (accessed July, 2001). 

NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service 2000i, Threatened Species Conservation Act, 

1995 Final Determination: Predation by Gambusia holbrooki (Plague Minnow). NSW 


http://www.npws.nsw.gov.au/news/tscdets/f990129c.htm (accessed July 2001). 

NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service 2000j, Aboriginal Cultural Heritage 

Assessment Stage 1 Preliminary Report. Resource and Conservation Division, 

Department of Urban Affairs and Planning, NSW. 

NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service 2000k, State Biodiversity Strategy Project 

Specification, Integrated Biodiversity Conservation and Assessment Program; Brigalow 

Belt South conservation assessment – Scoping Project. (Priority Action 13 – Project 2). 

Unpublished project specification to BSIG, NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service. 

NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service 2001a, Threatened Species Conservation Act 

1995 Final Determination: Semi-Evergreen Vine Thicket in the Brigalow Belt South and 

Nandewar Bioregions. NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, online. Available. 

http://www.npws.nsw.gov.au/news/tscdets/f991224c.htm (accessed July 2001). 

155


NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service 2001b, Threatened Species Conservation Act 

1995 Final Determination: Cadellia pentastylis (Ooline) Community in the Nandewar 

and Brigalow Belt South IBRA Regions. NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, 

online. Available. http://www.npws.nsw.gov.au/news/tscdets/f980911b.htm (accessed 

July 2001). 

NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service 2001c, Threatened Species Conservation Act 

1995 Final Determination: Carbeen Open Forest Community in the Darling Riverine 

Plains and Brigalow Belt South Bioregions. NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, 

online. Available. http://www.npws.nsw.gov.au/news/tscdets/f991029a.htm (accessed 

July, 2001). 

NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service 2001d, Threatened Species Conservation Act 

1995 Final Determination: Native Vegetation on Cracking Clay Soils of the Liverpool 

Plains. NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, online. Available. 

http://www.npws.nsw.gov.au/news/tscdets/f011026f.htm (accessed July, 2001). 

NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service 2001e, Threatened Species Conservation Act 

1995 Preliminary Determination: Competition From Feral Honeybees Apis mellifera. 

NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, online. Available. 

http://www.npws.nsw.gov.au/news/tscdets/p010420a.htm (accessed July, 2001). 

NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service 2001f, Threatened Species Conservation Act 

1995 Final Determination: Clearing of Native Vegetation. NSW National Parks and 

Wildlife Service, online. Available. 

http://www.npws.nsw.gov.au/news/tscdets/f010921a.htm (accessed November, 2001). 

NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service 2001g, National Parks and Wildlife Service 

Website. NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, online. Available. 

http://www.npws.nsw.gov.au (accessed April, 2001). 

NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service 2001h, C-Plan Conservation Planning 

Software: User Manual for C-Plan Version 3.06. NSW National Parks and Wildlife 

Service, Armidale. 

NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service 2001i, Threatened Species Conservation Act 

1995 Preliminary Determination: Brigalow within the Brigalow Belt South and Darling 

Riverine Plains Bioregions. NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, online. Available. 

http://www.npws.nsw.gov.au/news/tscdets/p010831b.htm (accessed July, 2001). 

NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service 2001j, Threatened Species Conservation Act, 

1995 Preliminary Determination: Alteration to the natural flow regimes of rivers and 

streams and their floodplains and wetlands. NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, 

online. Available. http://www.npws.nsw.gov.au/news/tscdets/p011012a.htm (accessed 

November, 2001). 

NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service 2001k, Threatened Species Conservation Act, 

1995 Preliminary Determination: White Box – Yellow Box Woodland. NSW National 

Parks and Wildlife Service, online. Available. 

http://www.npws.nsw.gov.au/news/tscdets/p010601g.htm (accessed July, 2001). 

156


North West Catchment Management Committee 1996, Namoi Community Catchment 

Plan – Situation Statement, cited in RACD, 2000a 

Parliament of Australia 1998, The Work Of A Member of Parliament - House of 

Representatives Factsheet No. 15. Parliament of Australia, online. Available. 

http://www.aph.gov.au/house/info/factsht/fs15.htm (accessed November, 2001). 

Paton, D.C. 1993, ‘Honeybees in the Australian Environment: does Apis mellifera disrupt 

of benefit the native biota?’ BioScience, 43, pp. 95-103, cited in NPWS, 2001e. 

Paton D.C. 1996, Overview of feral and managed honeybees in Australia: distribution, 

abundance, extent of interactions with native biota, evidence of impacts and future 

research. Report to Australian Nature Conservation Agency, Canberra cited in Gibbs & 

Muirhead, 1998 and NPWS, 2001e. 

Paton, D.C. 2000, ‘Disruption of Bird-Plant Pollination Systems in Southern Australia. 

Conservation Biology’, 14, pp. 1232-1234, cited in NPWS, 2001e. 

Peasley, B. 1999, Mapping vegetation communities, north-west slopes and plains of New 

South Wales. Unpublished report prepared for the NSW Department of Land and Water 

Conservation, Inverell Resource Centre. 

Porteners, M.F. 1998a, Vegetation Survey of Binnaway Nature Reserve, Report for NSW 


Porteners, M.F. 1998b, Vegetation Survey of Mt Kaputar National Park (Southern 

Portion), Report for the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, Hurstville. 

Porteners, M.F. 1998c, Vegetation Survey of Weetalibah Nature Reserve, Report for the 

NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, Hurstville. 

Powell, R. & Chalmers, L. 1998, The Contribution of Coolah Tops National Park to 

Regional Economic Development. NPWS Environmental Economics Series. NSW 


Powell, R. & Chalmers, L. 2000, The Contribution of Warrumbungle National Park to 

Regional Economic Development. NPWS Environmental Economics Series. NSW 


Pressey, R.L., Johnson, I.R. and Wilson, P.D., 1994. Shades of irreplaceability: towards a 

measure of the contribution of sites to a reservation goal. Biodiversity and Conservation 

3, 242-262. 

Pressey, R.L. 1996, ‘Bioregional Planning for the Conservation of Biodiversity – Putting 

Theory into Practice’, in Approaches to Bioregional Planning. Part 1: Proceedings of the 

Conference, 30 Oct-1 Nov 1995, Melbourne, ed. R. Breckwoldt, Department of the 

Environment, Sport and Territories, Canberra 

157


Pressey, R. L., Hager, T.C., Ryan, K.M, Schwarz, J., Wall, S, Ferrier, S. & Creaser, P.M. 

2000, ‘Using abotic data for conservation assessments over extensive regions: quantitative 

methods applied across New South Wales, Australia’, Biological Conservation, 96 

(2000), pp. 55-82. 

Purcell, P. 2000, ‘Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Field Survey of The Goonoo and Pilliga 

State Forests’, in Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Assessment Stage 1 Preliminary Report, 

NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, 2000j, Resource and Conservation Division, 

Department of Urban Affairs and Planning, NSW. 

Pyke G.H. & Blazer L. 1985, The Effects of the Introduced Honey Bee (Apis mellifera) on 

Australian Native Bees. Occasional Paper No.7. New South Wales National Parks and 

Wildlife Service 

Queensland Environmental Protection Authority 1999, State of the Environment 

Queensland, 1999. Queensland Environmental Protection Authority. 

Reid, W., Barber, C. & Miller, K. 1992, Global Biodiversity Strategy: guidelines for 

action to save, study and use Earth’s biotic wealth sustainably and equitably. World 

Resources Institute, World Conservation Union, and United Nations Environment 

Programme. 

Resource and Conservation Division, Department of Urban Affairs and Planning 1999, 

Western Data Audit and Gap Analysis. Resource and Conservation Division, Department 

of Urban Affairs and Planning, NSW 

Resource and Conservation Division, Department of Urban Affairs and Planning 2000a, 

Preliminary Overview of The Brigalow Belt South Bioregion (Stage 1) Resource and 

Conservation Division, Department of Urban Affairs and Planning, NSW 

Resource and Conservation Division, Department of Urban Affairs and Planning 2000b, 

Preliminary Fauna Survey – Brigalow Belt South Regional Assessment (Stage 1) 

Resource and Conservation Division, Department of Urban Affairs and Planning, NSW 

Resource and Conservation Division, Department of Urban Affairs and Planning 2000c, 

Economic, Social and Non-Indigenous Cultural Heritage for the South Brigalow Region. 

Draft Stage 1. Resource and Conservation Division, Department of Urban Affairs and 

Planning, NSW 

Resource, Policy and Management Ltd 1999, Distribution of Land Clearing Events on a 

Region by Region Basis for the National Carbon Accounting System. Resource, Policy 

and Management Ltd, Canberra. 

Roberts, G. 1992, Vegetation Systems of North East NSW: Mapped from Landsat TM 

imagery. NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, Coffs Harbour. 

Sattler P.S. & Williams R. D (eds) 1999, The Conservation Status of Queensland’s 

Bioregional Ecosystems. Environmental Protection Agency, Brisbane. 

158


Saunders, D.A., Smith, G.T. & Rowley, I. 1982, ‘The Availability and Dimensions of 

Tree Hollows that Provide Nest Sites for Cockatoos in Western Australia’. Australian 

Wildlife Research, 6, pp. 205-216, cited in NPWS 2001e. 

Sheahan, M. (ed) 1996 Veg Notes: Series 2 Managing Native Vegetation – 2.1 The Causes 

of Native Vegetation Decline. Murray Catchment Management Committee & Department 

of Land and Water Conservation, Sydney. 

Sivertson, D. & Metcalfe, L. 1995, ‘Natural Vegetation of the Southern Wheat-belt 

(Forbes and Cargelligo 1:250,000 mapsheets)’, Cunninghamia, 4(1), pp. 103-128. 

Smart, J.M., Knight, A.T. & Robinson, M. 2000, A Conservation Assessment of the Cobar 

Peneplain Biogeographic Region –Methods and Opportunities. NSW National Parks and 

Wildlife Service, Hurstville. 

Specht, R. L., Specht, A., Whelan, M. B. & Hegarty, E. E. 1995, Conservation Atlas of 

Plant Communities in Australia. Centre for Coastal Management, Southern Cross 

University, Lismore. 

Sugden, E.A. & Pyke, G.H. 1991, ‘Effects of Honeybees on Colonies of Exoneura 

asimillima, an Australian Native Bee’, Australian Journal of Ecology, 16, pp. 171-181, 

cited in NPWS 2001e. 

State Electoral Office 2001, State Electoral Office – School Information – Electoral 

Districts. State Electoral Office, NSW, online. Available. 

http://www.seo.nsw.gov.au/framesets/mf_school.htm (accessed October, 2001). 

Sugden, E.A., Thorp, R.W. & Buchmann, S.L. 1996, ‘Honeybee-Native Bee Competition: 

focal point for environmental change and apicultural response in Australia’. Bee World, 

77, pp. 26-44, cited in NPWS 2001e. 

Szigethy-Gyula, J. 2000, Draft Targeted Flora Survey Strategy. Unpublished Report, 

Resource and Conservation Division, Department of Urban Affairs and Planning, NSW 

Taylor-Wood, E. & House, S. 2000, Strategy and Guidelines for Establishing Biodiversity 

Conservation Priorities for the Sydney Basin. Biosis Research, Report produced for 

NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, Hurstville. 

Thackway, R. 1992, Environmental Regionalisation – Establishing a Systematic Basis for 

National and Regional Conservation Assessment and Planning. An Australian workshop 

held in Canberra 11-12 May 1992. Environmental Resources Information Network, 

Australian National Parks and Wildlife Service, Canberra. 

Thackway, R. & Cresswell, I. D. (eds) 1995, An Interim Biogeographic Regionalisation 

for Australia: A Framework for establishing the national system of reserves, Version 4.0. 

Australian Nature Conservation Agency, Canberra. 

Threatened Species Network 2000, The Brigalow Belt Factsheet. Threatened Species 

Network, online. Unavailable. 

http://nccnsw.org.au/member/tsn/projects/QLD/Brigalow.html (accessed May, 2001). 

159


Todd, J.J. & Horwitz, P.H.J. 1990, ‘Spreading Insects Through Firewood Collection in 

Tasmania’, Australian Forestry, 53, pp. 154-159, cited in Driscoll et al. 2000. 

Upstream Petroleum Consulting Services 2000, Assessment of Hydrocarbon Potential: 

Southern Brigalow Bioregion Pilliga, New South Wales. Report prepared for NSW 

Department of Mineral Resources. Resource and Conservation Division, Department of 

Urban Affairs and Planning, NSW. 

Whitehead, J. 2000, Vegetation Communities in the Coonabarabran Shire. 

Coonabarabran Shire Council, Coonabarabran. 

Williams, P. 1996, Measuring Biodiversity Value. World Conservation Union, IUCN, 

Switzerland. 1/96, pp. 12-14 

Young, E., Ross, H., Johnson, J. and Kesteven, J. 1991, Caring for Country: Aborigines 

and Land Management. Australian National Parks and Wildlife Service, Canberra, cited 

in RACD (2000d). 

Young P.A.R., Wilson, B.A., McCosker, J.C., Fensham, R.J., Morgan, G. & Taylor, P.M. 

1999, ‘Brigalow Belt’, in The Conservation Status of Queensland’s Bioregional 

Ecosystems, ed. P.S. Sattler & R.D. Williams, Environmental Protection Agency, 

Brisbane. 

160


Bioregional Conservation Assessment Scoping Report – 

APPENDICES 

NSW 

National 


Wildlife 

Service

APPENDICES 

1 State Forests within the BBS 

2 NSW NPWS metadata framework proforma 

3 Stratification for BBS Scoping Exercise 

4 DLWC Soils 

5 MDBC Soil Landforms 

6 Soil landforms and relief for the MDB dataset description 

7 MDBC Lithology 

8 Woody vegetation within the BBS 

9 Data audit of the BBS 

10 Woody calculations by province and tenure 

11 Native fauna recorded within the BBS (other than Threatened or Treaty 

Species) 

12 Regionally significant fauna 

13 Native flora recorded within the BBS – exclusive of TSC Act and 

ROTAP species 

14 Exotic flora recorded in the BBS 

15 Area of environmental strata Vs number of systematic flora and fauna sites 

16 NSW Bioregional Assessments 

17 Streams by catchment in the BBS 

18 BBS (QLD) Landsystems and ecosystems by province 

19 SBS Projects relating to Priority Action 13 

20 BBS Conservation Assessment draft technical framework 

21 Technical framework program areas relating to Conservation Assessment and 

Planning Framework

APPENDIX 1: STATE FORESTS WITHIN BRIGALOW BELT SOUTH 

BIOREGION 

State Forest Hectares Intersecting BBS State Forest Hectares Intersecting BBS 

Baby 255.3 Kelvin 454.8 

Bailadoran 329.7 Kerringle 6,695.3 

Baradine 10,035.6 Killarney 1,857.8 

Bebo 14,281.6 Leard 8,688.5 

Beni 1,835.9 Lincoln 3,434.9 

Berrygill 2,237.0 Merriwindi 6,583.0 

Bibblewindi 7,395.2 Minnon 2,416.5 

Biddon 3,687.6 Mission 1,265.8 

Black Jack 191.1 Moema 1,996.3 

Bobbiwaa 2,676.0 Mogriguy 398.9 

Boyben 2,571.7 Munmurra 842.2 

Breelong 1,150.6 Orr 6,747.6 

Breeza 1,379.9 Parkhurst 582.4 

Bullala 2,620.8 Pilliga East 187,334.9 

Bullawa Creek 98.7 Pilliga West 72,944.0 

Bunal 1,031.3 Pine Ridge 352.2 

Campbell 382.4 Plagyan 654.4 

Cobbora 3,723.4 Quegobla 6,150.5 

Coomore Creek 4,200.9 Rusden 563.7 

Couradda 361.6 Ruttley 612.6 

Cubbo 5,810.2 Spring Ridge 1,014.5 

Culgoora 1,314.5 Stonehenge 529.6 

Cumbil 7,594.5 Strathmore 390.3 

Curban 197.9 Stuart 125.0 

Curryall 1,079.6 Terry Hie Hie 5,389.9 

Denobollie 6,492.2 Timmallallie 17,821.8 

Deriah 2,239.9 Tinkrameanah 969.0 

Dilly 65.8 Trinkey 10,227.8 

Doona 1,326.9 Turill 1,051.6 

Drillwarrina 1,077.3 Vickery 1,941.9 

Durridgere 1,797.8 Warialda 1,085.2 

Eringanerin 7.8 Warung 2,762.6 

Etoo 5,033.3 Waubebunga 104.4 

Euligal 11,151.5 Wittenbra 12,602.7 

Eumungerie 135.4 Wondoba 1,675.1 

Eura 2,265.8 Yalcogrin 930.0 

Garrawilla 920.7 Yaminba 1,843.5 

Goodiman 406.7 Yarindury 1,434.0 

Goonoo 62,766.7 Yarrigan 3,144.1 

Goran 502.4 Yarrobil 326.9 

Gunyerwarildi 315.5 Yearinan 3,134.4 

Irrigappa 899.2 Yetman 468.6 

Jacks Creek 10,134.2 Total 564,005.0 

Janewindi 473.6

APPENDIX 2: NSW NPWS METADATA FRAMEWORK PROFORMA 

CATEGORY CORE METADATA 

ELEMENT 

Dataset Title Bioregional Strategy for NSW Landscape Layer 

M:\gisd\ssu\IBCA\brigalow belt\Appendix 2 Pressey Landscape Metadata.doc Page 1 of 3 

1 DESCRIPTION 

Custodian New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service (NSW NPWS) 

Contact Address Contact organisation New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service (NSW NPWS). Biodiversity Survey and Research Division 

(BSRD). Systematic Conservation Planning Unit. 

Contact position Manager Systematic Conservation Planning Unit 

Mail address PO Box 402 (87 Faulkner Street) 

Suburb/place/locality Armidale 

State NSW 

Postcode 2350 

Telephone 02 6773 7128 

Facsimile 02 6772 2424 

Electronic mail address Email: bob.pressey@npws.nsw.gov.au 

Description Abstract In the absence of a consistent classification of vegetation types or biophysical environments across New South 

Wales, we divided the State into 1486 “landscapes” . The landscapes have two roles in this study: as surrogates 

for biodiversity and as units that reflect the influence on land use of geology, ruggedness, and administrative and 

climatic constraints. For both roles, we needed a classification system that could be developed across all tenures 

and land uses. 

Theme Geoscience 

Keywords State landscapes 

Project Bioregional Strategy for New South Wales – N201 

Geographic extent NSW 

Bounding coordinates Bottom left – 10500N 79500E 

Top right – 1150500N 1407500E 

Type of feature Grid 

Dataset Currency Beginning date 1992 

Digital Data Capture 

Date 

Ending date 12/1998 

Beginning date 1994 

Ending date 12/1998 

Dataset Status Progress Complete 

Maintenance and update 

frequency 

Unknown 

Dataset Format Software Arcview (Version 3.1)

Map Specifications Number of maps 

Computer operating system 1.1 Windows NT Version 4 

Location of data Systematic Conservation Planning Unit (BSRD) – Armidale. 

Filename D:\NSW_Reserves\Data_Layers\Vulnerability\r3g_prov_nv3 

Dataset size 0.87MB 

Map name(s) and number(s) 

Scale of source map(s) 

Location of original map(s) 

Mapped by 

Map(s) digitised by 

Access Available format types Digital – ARC/INFO (ArcView) 

Available format forms CD-ROM 

Access constraints NSW State Government Conservation Agencies (NPWS, DLWC, EPA) 

Use constraints NSW State Government Conservation Agencies (NPWS, DLWC, EPA) 

Data Quality Lineage The landscape layer for the project was derived from 4 datasets which had previously been acquired or derived 

for the project: 

Divisional boundaries and climatic limit; 

Provinces; 

Geology; and 

Ruggedness. 


Divisional boundaries and climatic limit - New South Wales is divided into three administrative Divisions; 

Eastern, Central and Western. The Western Division is a semi-arid region covering about 40% of the State and 

has been managed differently from land further east since it was established legislatively in 1884 (Hardy, 1969; 

Parliament of New South Wales, 1983). It remains largely in leasehold, not private, tenure. Historically, clearing 

and cropping in the Western Division have been more closely regulated than elsewhere in the State (Pressey, 

1990; Campbell, 1994). This has led to a greater extent of vegetation cover on the western side of some parts of 

the Division’s boundary. 

Within the Western Division, a line can be defined that separates areas in the south and east which are 

climatically suitable for clearing and cropping from areas further inland where applications for clearing and 

dryland cropping are either not submitted or not approved. 

We used these administrative and climatic divisions to break NSW into three broad areas (generically called 

divisions); 

west of the Western Division climatic constraint; 

east of the Western Division climatic constraint, but still within the Western Division; and 

the Central and Eastern Divisions combined. 

Provinces - used the state-wide province layer derived for this project. 

Geology - used the state-wide geology layer derived for this project. 

Ruggedness - the state-wide ruggedness layer acquired for the project was classified into 3 catagories to reflect

Notes Notes 

Positional accuracy 

strong differences in land use and tenure; 

Low ruggedness (0 - 33); 

Moderate ruggedness (34 - 105); and 

High ruggedness (106 - 264). 

The four layers were then combined using the ArcView comand; 

Landscapes = Combine(Divisions, Provinces, Geology, Ruggedness (3 classes)) 


The combining of these four layers produced a state-wide layer of 1486 unique classifications which were refered 

to as landscapes. 

Attribute accuracy Hardy, B., 1969. West of the Darling. Jacaranda Press, Brisbane. 

Parliament of New South Wales, 1983. First Report from the Joint Select Committee of the Legislative Council 

and Legislative Assembly to Enquire into the Western Division of New South Wales. Government Printer, 

Sydney. 

Pressey, R.L., 1990. Clearing and conservation in the Western Division of New South Wales. National Parks 

Journal 34(6), 16-24. 

Campbell, D., 1994. Clearing and cultivation in the Western Division. In: Lunney, D., Hand, S., Reed, P., Butcher, 

D., (Eds.), Future of the Fauna of Western New South Wales. Royal Zoological Society of New South Wales, 

Sydney, pp. 201-205. 

Logical consistency 

Completeness This layer is current and complete as at December 1998. 

Metadata Date Metadata date 10/08/1999 

Metadata Sheet 

Compiled By 

Metadata sheet compiled by Stephen Wall (Project Officer, Systematic Conservation Planning Unit, BSRD, Armidale) 

Further Information Further information Email: stephen.wall@npws.nsw.gov.au 

Ph: (02) 6773 7206

APPENDIX 3: STRATIFICATION FOR BRIGALOW BELT SOUTH 

SCOPING EXERCISE 

1.1 St_soilmerge 

Gridded MDBC soil landforms at 25m 

Grided DLWC 1:2 million scale soils at 25m 

Merged these two grids, giving priority to finer scale MDBC data. NB: This was done to fill the 

gap in the MDBC dataset over 347267 ha of the Liverpool Range Province. 

Image of st_soilmerge showing gap in coverage filled by DLWC Soils at 1:2000000. 

1.2 St_avrain2 

Constrained 250m statewide average annual rainfall grid to BBS 

Reclassified grid cells into 3 classes based on natural breaks 

1. 468 – 600 mm 

2. 601 – 696 mm 

3. 697 – 1056 mm 

Image of st_avrain2 showing 3 classes based on natural breaks. 

M:\gisd\ssu\IBCA\brigalow belt\Appendix 3 Stratification for BBS Scoping Exercise.doc 28/08/02

1.3 St_avtemp2 

Constrained 250m statewide average annual temperature grid to BBS 

Reclassified grid cells into 3 classes based on natural breaks 

1. 105 – 160 (C x 10) ie. 10.5 – 16.0C 

2. 161 – 177 (C x 10) ie. 16.1 – 17.7C 

3. 178 – 194 (C x 10) ie. 17.8 – 19.4C 

Image of st_avtemp2 showing 3 classes based on natural breaks. 

1.4 Strat5 

Created using the ArcGRID command COMBINE with the following syntax: 

Strat5 = combine(st_soilmerge, st_avrain2, st_avtemp2) 

Resultant grid (250m cell resolution) has 184 strata with a key to the values of each input grid. 


METADATA CORE METADATA 

DESCRIPTION 

CATEGORY ELEMENT 

DATASET Title Environmental Stratification 5 

Custodian National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) 

Jurisdiction New South Wales 

DESCRIPTION Abstract Stratification derived to define environmental units 

within the Brigalow Belt South Bioregion. 

Generated by combining three grids, average annual 

temperature, average annual rainfall, (both derived by 

NPWS Head Office, and split into 3 classes based on 

natural breaks) and merged soils 1:2 million and soil 

landforms (50 categories). 

Search Word(s) ECOLOGY landscape 

BOUNDARIES biophysical 

Geographic Extent 

Name(s) 

Brigalow Belt South 

GEN Category IBRA 

GEN Custodial 

Jurisdiction 

New South Wales 

GEN Name Brigalow Belt South 

DATA CURRENCY 

Geographic Extent 

Polygon(s) 

Geographic Bounding 

Box 

North Bounding 

Latitude 

South Bounding 

Latitude 

East Bounding 

Longitude 

West Bounding 

Longitude 

Beginning date 19/01/2001 

Ending date 19/01/2001 

DATASET STATUS Progress Complete 

Maintenance and update 

frequency 

Not planned 


METADATA CORE METADATA 

CATEGORY ELEMENT 

ACCESS Stored Data Format DIGITAL Grid 

Available format types DIGITAL ArcView 

DIGITAL ARC/INFO 

Access constraints None. 

DESCRIPTION 

DATA QUALITY Lineage Three Grids combined using ArcView Spatial Analyst 

Average Annual Rainfall Grid (mm) – 250m cell size, 

Generated by NPWS HO from supplied DEM (250m), 

split into 3 classes using Natural Breaks, 

Average Annual Temperature Grid (degrees Celcius) – 

250m cell size Generated by NPWS HO from supplied 

DEM 

Soil 1:2million – DLWC Broad Soil Classes – 25m cell 

size merged with MDBC Soil Landforms – 25m cell size 

giving priority to the finer scale MDBC data 

Resulting Grid contains 184 classes each representing 

an environmental unit 

Positional accuracy 

Attribute accuracy 

Positional accuracy depends on accuracy of source 

data 

Attribute accuracy depends on the accuracy of the 

combined datasets 


METADATA 

CATEGORY 

DATA QUALITY 

(continued) 

CONTACT 

ADDRESS 

CORE METADATA 

ELEMENT 

Logical consistency Not relevant 

Completeness Not relevant 

DESCRIPTION 

Contact organisation Western Regional Assessment Unit, 

NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service 

Contact position GIS Co -ordinator 

Mail Address 1 211 Macquarie Street 

Mail Address 2 PO Box 2111 

Suburb/Place/ 

Locality 

Dubbo 

State NSW 

Country Australia 

Postcode 2380 

Telephone 02 68419201 

Facsimile 02 68419222 


METADATA 

CATEGORY 

CORE METADATA 

DESCRIPTION 

ELEMENT 

Electronic mail address heidi.henry@npws.nsw.gov.au 

METADATA DATE Metadata date 06/02/02 

ADDITIONAL 

METADATA 

EXTENDED 

DESCRIPTION 

DETAILS 

DATASET 

ENVIRONMENT 

Additional Metadata 

Unknown 

Type of feature Grid cell 

Attribute/Field List Value 

Count 

St_soilmerge_grp 

St_avrain2_grp 

St_avtemp2_grp 

Legend 

Attribute/Field 

Description 

Hectares 

Scale/Resolution 25m grid cell size 

Value – Stratification Number 

Count – no of grid cells (25m) 

St_soilmerge_grp – Soil attribute 

St_avrain2_grp – rainfall classes (mm) 

St_avtemp2_grp – temperature classes (degrees 

celcius) 

Legend – combination of above three attributes for 

display purposes 

Hectares – area of each stratum 

Software ArcView 3.2, spatial analyst 

Computer Operating 

System 

Windows NT 

Dataset Size 450KB 


APPENDIX 4: DLWC SOILS 

There is a complete soil coverage of the BBS mapped at very low resolution (1:2000000). This 

mapping was carried out by DLWC and is current as at 1988. The table below shows the soil classes 

and the surficial extent within BBS. 

Soil Group Hectares in BBS 

Deep black cracking clays 1434478 

Massive red and yellow earths 1274946 

Coarsely cracking grey and brown clays 833362 

Red-brown earths 749342 

Shallow black self-mulching clays 337602 

Yellow and red texture contrast soils 282195 

Deep structured red clay loams 121141 

Deep alluvial loams 121117 

Shallow loams 70077 

Deep friable red and brown clays 13465 

Stony sandy loams 6443 

Scalded red texture contrast soils 4706

APPENDIX 5: MDBC SOIL LANDFORMS 

Soil-Landforms of the Murray-Darling Basin was compiled as part of the Murray-Darling Basin Soil 

Information Strategy (MDBSIS) and is designed to provide information on soils for natural resource 

management and planning at the Catchment Management Committee level or over broader regions. 

This soil landform layer has a nominal scale of 1:250,000 

MDBC Soil Landforms for Brigalow Belt South sorted by area of coverage. 

Lithofacies Description Hectares 

Js, Sandstone, mixed sediments 1346819 

Cza, Mixed alluvium, Eastern tributaries 800174 

Cza, Fine colluvium, Eastern tributaries 582133 

Czv, Basalt, trachyte, volcanic sediments 530487 

Jm, Sandstone, shale, mixed sediments 257843 

Cza, Silt, clay, sand, backplain, Carrabear Formation 237099 

Cza, Silt and sand, meander plain, Carrabear Formation 207414 

Cza, Floodplain, Eastern tributaries 173591 

Rm, Siltstone, sandstone, mixed sediments 122815 

Cza, Meander belt, Eastern tributaries 115518 

Jv, Basalt, unsaturated volcanics 106931 

Rs, Sandstone, conglomerate, mixed sediments 85969 

Cza, Loamy colluvium 58895 

Cza, Alluvium, undifferentiated 44846 

Cza, Silty clay, crevasse splay, Bugwah Formation 40436 

Pm, Mixed sediments, shale, conglomerate 31526 

Czs, Sand, gravel, sandstone 31048 

Cza, Sump basins, salinas, Eastern tributaries 23517 

Ps, Conglomerate, sandstone 17424 

Cs, Sandstone, mixed sediments 14741 

Cza, Silty clay, backplain, Bugwah Formation 14130 

Pv, Rhyolite, ignimbrite 11019 

Cza, Silt and clay, meander plain, Marra Creek Formation 7811 

Czr, Colluvium, sand 7507 

Cza, Clay, backplain, Marra Creek Formation 5510 

Ks, Sandstone, lutite 5410 

Dvr, Rhyolite, volcanics 3726 

SDs, Shale, siltstone 3669 

Cza, Alluvial terrace, Eastern tributaries 2764 

Cza, Silt and clay, backplain, Marra Creek Formation 2412 

Os, Sandstone, mixed sediments, siltstone 2343 

SDcl, Sandstone, mixed sediments, conglomerate 1841 

Ov, Basalt, andesite 1593 

Cza, Silt, meander plain, Bugwah Formation 1321 

SDg, Granite, granitoids 890 

Pg, Granite 802 

Ci, Granite, aplite 340 

Cza, Sand, channel 313 

SDls, Limestone 204 

Cza, Silty clay, floodbasin, Marra Creek Formation 186 

Cuv, Volcanic sediments, andesite 167 

Rg, Granite, syenite, adamellite 88 

SDb, Mafic lava, gabbro, andesite 6

APPENDIX 6: SOIL-LANDFORMS AND RELIEF OF THE MURRAY-DARLING 

BASIN DATASET DESCRIPTION 

Citation 

Unique Record ID: ANZCW1201000012 

Title: Soil-Landforms and Relief of the Murray-Darling Basin 

Originator: 

Custodian: Murray-Darling Basin Commission 

Jurisdiction: Australia 

Description 

Abstract: 

Soil-Landforms of the Murray-Darling Basin was compiled as part of the Murray-Darling 

Basin Soil Information Strategy (MDBSIS) and is designed to provide information on soils for 

natural resource management and planning at the Catchment Management Committee level or 

over broader regions. The GIS contains information on each soil-landform class including 

lithofacies description, relief category and proportions of dominant Principal Profile Forms; 

reliability and data quality statistics. The soil-landforms data is derived from an integration of 

state soil databases, lithology and relief information. A rule-based method was used to fill in 

areas lacking adequate soil information. A hard copy map for the soil landforms is available 

and contains the same as the digital data excluding reliability and data quality statistics. The 

soil-landform map, including look-up tables and a relief map are available in digital form. 

Relief data are embedded in the soil landforms GIS in appropriate attributes and look-up table. 

ANZLIC Search Words: 

GEOSCIENCES Geology 

GEOSCIENCES Geomorphology 

SOIL 

SOIL 

Spatial Domain: 

Geographic Extent Name: 

MURRAY-DARLING BASIN,Australia 

Geographic Extent Polygon: 

Long: 130 Lat: -28 

Bounding Coordinates: 

North Bounding Coordinate: -28 

South Bounding Coordinate: -37

Data Currency 

Beginning Date: 

Ending Date: 

Dataset Status 

Progress: Complete 

East Bounding Coordinate: 152 

West Bounding Coordinate: 130 

Maintenance and Update Frequency: As required 

Access 

Stored Data Format: 

Digital: DIGITAL ARC/INFO 

Available Format Type: 

Digital: DIGITAL ARC/INFO 

Access Constraints: 

MDBC copyright conditions apply (see Terms & Conditions) 

Data Quality 

Lineage: 

Source data for this map can be divided into three main categories: soil, lithofacies and 

relief data. Soil data were derived from soil (1:100,000 and 1:250,000; 1959-94), soil 

landscape (1:100,000 and 1:250,000; 1990-97) and land system (1:250,000 and 1:500,000; 

1974-91) maps. A number of the maps were not available in a digital form and were 

digitised for this project. Soil data were statistically extrapolated (1998) in areas of the 

Murray-Darling Basin where existing records were either non-existent or of insufficient 

quality. Lithofacies data were derived from the digital AGSO map, Geology of the Murray- 

Darling Basin (1:1,000,000; 1998), and a digitised Geomorphic Map of the Riverine Plain 

(1:500,000; 1973) combined with statistical lithofacies extrapolations (1998) to increase the 

spatial detail in the Darling alluvial plain.

Relief data were derived (1998) from the GEODATA 9-Second DEM of Australia (250m 

pixel, 1996) as the elevation difference between the nearest ridge up-slope and nearest 

major stream down-slope of each cell. The soil-landforms were created (1998) by 

intersecting classes of lithofacies with relief and attributing soil and quality data. 

Positional Accuracy: 

The Soil-Landforms map is largely a composite product and the positional accuracy 

depends on the source of the lithofacies and DEM data. Based on the scales of the 

lithofacies source data, input horizontal positional accuracy would range from 25m to 

250m. However, as all polygonal input data were rasterised to a 250m cell size for 

processing, the horizontal positional accuracy of the final product would be 250m. The 

positional accuracy metadata for the GEODATA 9-Second DEM is "Not documented." This 

is the source of the vertical positional data for the Soil-Landforms map. 

Attribute Accuracy: 

The accuracy of soil type information is defined through a reliability statement. In 

previously mapped areas the reliability is determined from the scale of mapping and the 

nature of the mapping, ie., whether soil type allocation to polygons was the principal aim of 

the mapping exercise or not. Reliability in areas where soil type was statistically mapped is 

derived from the uncertainty coefficients and model fitting accuracy associated with the 

mapping and the assumption that the maximum reliability would equate to 1:250 000 scale 

soil association mapping. The soil type reliability ratings are provided as a separate 

ARC/INFO coverage named RELIABIL (available with the Soil-Landforms map). Map 

quality statistics attributed to the soil-landform polygons were derived as mean values 

within each polygon. They contain no internal statement of accuracy. 

Logical Consistency: 

The Soil-Landforms coverage was created by the conversion of grid to polygon data within the GIS 

package (ARC/INFO). A visual check of the map was performed to detect flaws in the resulting 

linework and the attributes described in the plotted key. Topological consistency checking ensured 

a logical polygon structure and the allocation of one label per polygon. 

Completeness: 

Due to the nominal 1:250,000 scale of this map and its corresponding conventional minimum 

legible area of 2.5 square km, polygons smaller than this area were not represented. To assist 

interpretation of the plotted map, soil-landform class numbers have been shown on many polygons. 

Space limitations meant that class numbers were only plotted on polygons larger than 100 square 

km. For complete coverage of the Murray-Darling Basin, soil data required extrapolation across 

34% and lithofacies data across 15% of the basin area where existing information was insufficient. 

Extrapolation model reliability was assessed and documented in polygon attributes but field 

verification of these predictions was not possible within the budget, scope and timeframe of the 

project. The data presented for the remainder of the Murray-Darling Basin were derived from 

published surveys. 

Contact Information 

Contact Organisation: Murray-Darling Basin Commission 

Contact Position: Geographic Information Scientist

Postal Address: GPO Box 409 

City: CANBERRA 

State: ACT 

Country: Australia 

Postcode: 2601 

Telephone: 02 6279 0100 

Facsimile: 02 6248 8053 

Electronic Mail Address: gis@mdbc.gov.au 

Metadata Information 

Metadata Date: 2000-07-29 

Metadata Person:Social Change Online

APPENDIX 7: MDBC LITHOLOGY 

Layer of lithology produced by the MDBC which covers 93% of the BBS, missing most of the 

Liverpool Range Province. 

Table showing the lithology groups (sorted by hectares within BBS). 

Lithology Group Hectares in BBS 

Cainozoic alluvium 2322688 

Jurassic coarse-grained sediments 1324999 

Cainozoic volcanics 546373 

Jurassic fine-grained sediments 252802 

Triassic fine-grained sediments 118349 

Jurassic volcanics 110503 

Triassic coarse-grained sediments 89591 

Permian fine-grained sediments 33991 

Cainozoic residual and aeolian sands 31396 

Permian coarse-grained sediments 16253 

Carboniferous metasediments 14857 

Permian volcanics 11261 

Cainozoic colluvial surfaces 7217 

Cretaceous coarse-grained sediments 5053 

Silurian - Early Devonian fine-grained sediments 4752 

Devonian volcanics 3513 

Ordovician metasediments 3145 

Silurian - Early Devonian coarse-grained sediments 1692 

Ordovician volcanics 1583 

Silurian - Devonian granites 1404 

Permian granites 884 

Carboniferous granites 329 

Carboniferous acid volcanics 294 

Triassic granites 293 

Limestones (undifferentiated) 226 

Cainozoic lacustrine sediments 149 

Silurian - Devonian basic rocks 53 

Cainozoic duricrusts 17

APPENDIX 8: Woody Vegetation within Brigalow Belt South 

total regions(all): 224911 total ha: 1227847 

total regions(public): 8741 total ha: 621273 

total regions(private): 216618 total ha: 606546 

100+ hectare blocks 

all public private 

total ha: 1088650 616685 470244 

total blocks: 424 81 403 

under 100 hectare blocks 


total ha: 139197 4588 136302 

total blocks: 224487 8660 216215 



total ha: 1032580 607644 413305 




total ha: 195267 13629 193241 

total blocks: 224753 8691 216487 

1000+ hectare 

blocks 


total ha: 984654 596991 365514 




total ha: 243193 24282 241032 

total blocks: 224823 8706 216557 

NB: Public refers to vegetation occurring on SFNSW or NPWS tenure 

true hectares: 1248986 

cumulative rounding error: 21139 

E:\brent\docs\newwoodycalcs.doc 28/08/02

Woody Vegetation within Brigalow Belt South (expanded regions) 

total regions(all): 80488 total ha: 1242612 

total regions(public): 689 total ha: 622083 

total regions(private): 79927 total ha: 620523 



total ha: 1147655 620657 525836 




total ha: 94957 1426 94687 

total blocks: 80132 625 79582 



total ha: 1097826 614668 474972 




total ha: 144786 7415 145551 

total blocks: 80373 647 79828 

1000+ hectare 

blocks 


total ha: 1065270 602193 440812 




total ha: 177342 19890 179711 

total blocks: 80418 663 79876 

NB: Public refers to vegetation occurring on SFNSW or NPWS tenure 

true hectares: 1248986 

cumulative rounding error: 6374 


Methods used: 

The previous are calculations performed on the MDBC woody / non-woody layer. 

Woody Vegetation within Brigalow Belt South: 

MDBC Woody/Non-Woody grid reclassified so that “woody” cells were assigned a value of 1 and 

all other cells were assigned “No Data” 

Resultant grid had a REGIONGROUP command performed using Spatial Analyst to define 

discrete blocks of vegetation. All cells of equal value within the 8-cell neighbourhood of each cell 

were considered connected if they adjoined either orthogonally or diagonally. 

Regiongrouped grid cut to tenure (public) using the following syntax: 

[tenure grid].con([regiongrouped grid],[tenure grid]) 

Regiongrouped grid cut to “off-tenure” (private) using the following syntax: 

([tenure grid].isnull).con([regiongrouped grid],0.asgrid) 

then values of 0 reclassified to “No Data” 

Blocks of contiguous vegetation were then analysed according to their size and tenure. 

Grids produced named: 

Woodyreg (MDBC woody layer for BBS regiongrouped) 

Woodyregpub (woodyreg cut to public lands ie. SFNSW or NPWS estate) 

Woodyregpri (woodyreg cut to all other tenure) 

Woody Vegetation within Brigalow Belt South (expanded regions): 

MDBC Woody/Non-Woody grid reclassified so that “woody” cells were assigned a value of 1 and 

all other cells were assigned “No Data” 

Resultant grid expanded by one cell using the EXPAND request in Spatial Analyst. 

Expanded grid had a REGIONGROUP command performed using Spatial Analyst to define 

discrete blocks of vegetation. All cells of equal value within the 8-cell neighbourhood of each cell 

were considered connected if they adjoined only orthogonally. 

Expanded regions assigned to original non-expanded woody layer extent using the CON request in 

Spatial Analyst. This resulted in discrete blocks of woody vegetation being considered as the same 

group if they were within 56m of each other. Resultant grid named woodyexp4reg 

woodyexp4reg cut to tenure (public) using the following syntax: 

[tenure grid].con([woodyexp4reg],[tenure grid]) 

woodyexp4reg cut to “off-tenure” (private) using the following syntax: 

([tenure grid].isnull).con([woodyexp4reg],0.asgrid) 

then values of 0 reclassified to “No Data” 

Blocks of contiguous vegetation were then analysed according to their size and tenure. 

Grids produced named: 

Woodyregx4pub (woodyexp4reg cut to public lands ie. SFNSW or NPWS estate) 

Woodyregx4pri (woodyexp4reg cut to all other tenure) 


APPENDIX 9: DATA AUDIT OF THE BRIGALOW BELT SOUTH BIOREGION 

Dataset Data 

Custodian 

Murray Darling Basin 

Commission – Structural 

Vegetation Dataset (M305 

Mapping) 

Coonabarabran Shire 

Vegetation (Whitehead) 

Murray 

Darling 

Basin 

Commission 

John 

Whitehead 

Form Data 

Supplied 

In 

Currency & Lineage of 

Data 

*Date of Imagery(DOI): 

*Date of Mapping (DOM): 

LAN Landsat Imagery/Ground 

Survey 

DOI:1990s 

DOM:1990-1994 

LAN Aerial photos Field survey 

Based on RN17(Research 

Notes No 17 revised 

1989)and M305 mapping 

classifications 

DOI: 1994&1997 

DOM:1998-2000 


Mapping 

(available 

at) 

Description of Data % of BBS 

covered 

by 

dataset 

1: 100 000 Woody and Non-woody 

vegetation across the 

entire Murray Darling 

Basin. Structural 

vegetation data 

including type, density, 

1: 50 000 

Transects in 

100 m 

sections 

NSW NPWS Vegetation 

Mapping 

Eastern Bushlands Database NPWS LAN Landsat Imagery 1: 250 000 

1: 100 000 

Native Vegetation of the 

Northern Wheatbelt (Sivertsen) 

NPWS LAN Aerial Photos, Satellite 

imagery ,DOI: 1970s, 

1980s 

1990s 

DOM: 1970s – 1990s. 

1: 50 000 

(1970s/80s 

mapping) 

growth form. 

Vegetation Community 

name (eg White Cypress 

Ironbark) associations 

(eg Bloodwood, 

Stringybark, Red Gum, 

Oak) and Locations (eg 

sandy and Rocky 

Ridges). 

Broad vegetation 

systems for the eastern 

coast, ranges and 

tablelands. 

Vegetation names and 

communities (eg 

Western Poplar Box 

Woodlands, with a map 

code of P4 West out of 

series 5). 

Towarri Vegetation Community. NPWS Email Aerial Photos DOI: 1994 1: 25 000 Vegetation labels (eg 0.06 

Profiles 

Limited Ground Truthing 

OF1 = Open Forest 1). 

Manobalai NR Vegetation 

NPWS CD Aerial Photos 

1: 25 000 Vegetation community

Dataset Data 

Custodian 

Form Data 

Supplied 

In 


Data 



Goobang National Park NPWS LAN Field Survey, Aerial 

Photos. Data collected 


Mapping 

(available 

at) 


covered 

by 

dataset 

continuously since 1985 grassland with an 

attribute label of 44). 

Also cultivation and land 

continuously since 1985 

Mt Kaputar National Park NPWS LAN Field Survey, Aerial 

Photos. 

Data collected 


Pilliga Nature Reserve NPWS 

Mapping 

State Forest Vegetation 

Mapping 

AMG Zone 55 

State Forest 

Typing: 

Baradine 

Beni 

Bibblewindi 

Biddon 

Breelong 

Breeza 

Campbell 

Coomore 

Creek 

Courallie 

Cubbo 

Culgoora 

Cumbil 

Denobollie 

Doona 

Drillwarrina 

Etoo 

Euligal 

Eumungerie 

Eura 

Garrawilla 

Goonoo 

Goran 

Irrigappa 

Jacks Creek 

Kerringle 

Killarney 

Leard 

Lincoln 

Merriwindi 

Minnon 

Mission 

Moema 

Mogriguy 

Montrose 

Orr 

Pilliga East 

Pilliga West 

Plagyan 

Quegobla 

Ruttley 

Spring Ridge 

Terry Hie Hie 

Timmallallie 

Trinkey 

Vickery 

Warung 

Waubebunga 

Wittenbra 

Yalcogrin 

Yaminba 

Yarindury 

Yarrigan 

Yearinan 

NPWS LAN Field Survey, Aerial 



NPWS Email Aerial Photos, Lindsay 

types;(report compiled in 

1961 by A.D. Lindsay) 

RN17 (Research Notes 

No. 17 revised 1989) 

estimated completion by 

1996. 

1: 50 000 

1: 25 000- 

1: 100 000 

1: 25 000 

1: 100 000 

1: 25 000- 

1: 100 000 

RN17, 

1: 25 000 

Lindsay 

Types. 

use classifications. 


(eg E.fibrosa with an 

attribute of 6/3b). 

Label/Vegetation 

community (eg. Narrowleaved 

Ironbark. 

Cypress & Accac with 

an attribute label of 9. 


community name (eg 

Ironbark complex, with 

an attribute of 1). 

Type (eg: Be;Belah), 

Vegetation League (eg 

Western Box-Ironbark 

league) Description 

(Bimble Box-White 

Cypress Pine). 

Coolah Forest Types SF Email Forest typing (eg 

swamp, 

mountain/manna gum). 

Coolah Logging History Email SF name and number 

and if logged, the year in 

NSW NPWS Vegetation 

Mapping 

Eastern Bushlands Database NPWS LAN Landsat Imagery 1: 250 000 

1: 100 000 

Native Vegetation of the 

Northern Wheatbelt (Sivertsen) 

Towarri Vegetation Community. 

Profiles 

Manobalai NR Vegetation 

Communities. 

NPWS LAN Aerial Photos, Satellite 

imagery ,DOI: 1970s, 

1980s 

1990s 

DOM: 1970s – 1990s. 

NPWS Email Aerial Photos DOI: 1994 


NPWS CD Aerial Photos 

DOI: 1993 


DOM: 

1: 50 000 

(1970s/80s 

mapping) 

which logged. 

Broad vegetation 

systems for the eastern 

coast, ranges and 

tablelands. 

Vegetation names and 

communities (eg 

Western Poplar Box 

Woodlands, with a map 

code of P4 West out of 

series 5). 

1: 25 000 Vegetation labels (eg 

OF1 = Open Forest 1). 

1: 25 000 Vegetation community 

name (eg Narrabeen 

Sheltered Dry Forest) 

with label (eg Q6) and 

Wollemi NP Vegetation 

Communities. 

Dataset Data 

Custodian 

Goulburn River NP Vegetation 

Communities. 

Munghorn Gap NR Vegetation 

Communities. 

Form Data 

Supplied 

In 


Data 



NPWS CD Aerial Photos, 

DOI: 

DOM: 1993 

NPWS CD Aerial Photographs 

Ground Survey 

DOI: 1992 &1993 

DOM:1998/1999 

NPWS CD Aerial Photographs 

Ground Survey 

DOI: 1992 &1993 

DOM:1998/1999 

Weetalibah Nature Reserve NPWS LAN Field Survey, Aerial 

Photos. 



Binnaway Nature Reserve NPWS LAN Field Survey, Aerial 

Photos. 



Kirramingly Nature Reserve NPWS LAN Field Survey, Aerial 

Photos. 



Goobang National Park NPWS LAN Field Survey, Aerial 



Mt Kaputar National Park NPWS LAN Field Survey, Aerial 

Photos. 



Pilliga Nature Reserve NPWS 

Mapping 

WRA Brigalow Belt Stage 1 

Mapping (selected state 

forests and NPWS estate) 

DLWC Barwon Region 


Bunna Bunna Vegetation 

Mapping Data 

NPWS LAN Field Survey, Aerial 



RACD LAN Aerial Photgraph 

Interpretation with ground 

truthing. DOI: 1995-1998 

DOM: 1999-2000 

DLWC Email Aerial Photographs, 

Satellite Imagery, Ground 

Survey 

DOI: 

DOM: 

(Data currency-1998/1999, 

beginning and ending 

date) 


Mapping 

(available 

at) 

1: 25 000 

1: 250 000 


covered 

by 

dataset 

fire regime. 

Community name (eg 

Upper Cudgegong 

Alluvial Reedland) with 

code (eg RL1) and fire 

regime. 


name (eg Box Woodland 

on Basalt) with code (eg 

WL2), fire community 

name (eg Basalt 

Woodland and 

Herbfield) and fire 

regime. 


name (eg Box Woodland 

on Basalt) with code (eg 

WL2), fire community 

name (eg Basalt 

Woodland and 

Herbfield) and fire 

1: 50 000 

1: 25 000- 

1: 100 000 

1: 50 000 

1: 25 000- 

1: 100 000 

1: 10 000 

1: 25 000- 

1: 100 000 

1: 50 000 

1: 25 000- 

1: 100 000 

1: 25 000 

1: 100 000 

1: 25 000- 

1: 100 000 

regime. 


community(eg Red 

stringybark with Narrowleaved 

Ironbark and 

Black Cypress, with an 

attribute of 3) 

Label/vegetation 

community (eg 

E.sideroxylon, with an 


Broad classification of 

vegetation types (eg 

Astrebla Mixed 

grassland with an 


Also cultivation and land 

use classifications. 


(eg E.fibrosa with an 

attribute of 6/3b). 


community (eg. Narrowleaved 

Ironbark. 

Cypress & Accac with 

an attribute label of 9. 


community name (eg 

Ironbark complex, with 

an attribute of 1). 

1:50000 Overstorey Species 

Groupings with 

rainforest or special 

features mapped as 

appropriate. Reliability 

assigned to each 

polygon 


Walgett 

Shire East 

of the 

Barwon 

River 

covered by 

1:50,000 

topographic 

mapsheets 

(or part 

North west Vegetation 

Communities with 

species associations (eg 

Narrow-leaved Ironbark 

with a code of E37 and 

the botanical name E. 

crebra.). Also 

associated landcover 

and landuse descriptors. 

Dataset Data 

Custodian 

Burren Junction Vegetation 

Mapping Data 

Caloona Vegetation Mapping 

Data 

Comeby Chance Vegetation 

Mapping Data 

Graduale Vegetation Mapping 

Data 

Gwabegar Vegetation Mapping 

Data 

Form Data 

Supplied 

In 


Data 





Survey 

DOI: 

DOM: 



date) 



Survey 

DOI: 

DOM: 



date) 



Survey 

DOI: 

DOM: 



date) 



Survey 

DOI: 

DOM: 


beginning and end date) 



Survey 

DOI: 

DOM: 



Pilliga Vegetation Mapping Data DLWC Email Aerial Photographs, 


Survey 

DOI: 

DOM: 




Mapping 

(available 

at) 

thereof). 


Walgett 

Shire East 


Barwon 

River 

covered by 

1: 50 000 

topographic 

mapsheets 

(or part 

thereof). 


Walgett 

Shire East 


Barwon 

River 

covered by 

1: 50 000 

topographic 

mapsheets 

(or part 

thereof) 


Walgett 

Shire East 


Barwon 

River 

covered by 

1: 50 000 

topographic 

mapsheets 

(or part 



Walgett 

Shire East 


Barwon 

River 

covered by 

1:50 000 

topographic 

mapsheets 

(or part 



Walgett 

Shire East 


Barwon 

River 

covered by 

1:50 000 

topographic 

mapsheets 

(or part 



Walgett 

Shire East 


Barwon 

River 

covered by 

1: 50 000 

topographic 

mapsheets 

(or part 



covered 

by 

dataset 




Narrow- leaved Ironbark 





































with a code of E37 & the 

botanical name E. 












and landuse descriptors.

Dataset Data 

Custodian 

Rowena Vegetation Mapping 

Data 

Telleraga Vegetation Mapping 

Data 

Walgett Vegetation Mapping 

Data 

Wee Waa Vegetation Mapping 

Data 

DLWC Hunter Region 


Elderslie Vegetation Mapping 

Data 

Form Data 

Supplied 

In 


Data 





Survey 

DOI: 

DOM: 





Survey 

DOI: 

DOM: 





Survey 

DOI: 

DOM: 





Survey 

DOI: 

DOM: 



DLWC CD Aerial Photos, field 

checking 

DOM: Mapping completed 

since 1994 

Ingar Vegetation Mapping Data DLWC CD Aerial Photos, field 

checking 


since 1994 

Camberwell Vegetation 

Mapping Data 

DLWC CD Aerial Photos with 

reconnaissance ground 

truthing 

DOI: (source information) 

1993 

DOM: 


Mapping 

(available 

at) 


Walgett 

Shire East 


Barwon 

River 

covered by 

1: 50 000 

topographic 

mapsheets 

(or part 



Walgett 

Shire East 


Barwon 

River 

covered by 

1: 50 000 

topographic 

mapsheets 

(or part 



Walgett 

Shire East 


Barwon 

River 

covered by 

1: 50 000 

topographic 

mapsheets 

(or part 



Walgett 

Shire East 


Barwon 

River 

covered by 

1: 50 000 

topographic 

mapsheets 

(or part 



covered 

by 





































1: 25 000 Vegetation Communities 

(eg code-01, tree and 

shrub community-dry 

sclerophyll forest.), 

including regrowth and 

understory. Also 

descriptors of landuse 

and terrain. 















dataset 

0.72

Dataset Data 

Custodian 

Rouchel Brook Vegetation 

Mapping Data 

Glenrock Vegetation Mapping 

Data 

Isis River Vegetation Mapping 

Data 

Muswellbrook Vegetation 

Mapping Data 

Jerrys Plains Vegetation 

Mapping Data 

Towarri Vegetation Mapping 

Data 

Kars Springs Vegetation 

Mapping Data 

Singleton Vegetation Mapping 

Data 

Abotic Layers used in 

Stratification 

Merged Soils Grid 

(St_soilmerge) – see metadata 

statement 

Form Data 

Supplied 

In 


Data 




checking. 


since 1994 


checking. 


since 1994 


Checking. 

DOM: Mapping compteted 

since 1994 

DLWC CD Aerial Photos, with 

reconnaissance ground 

truthing 

DOI: (source information) 

1993 

DOM: 


checking. 


since 1994 


checking. 


since 1994 


checking. 


since 1994 

DLWC CD Landsat 

DOI: 1992 

DOM: 

NPWS Derived by 

WRA GIS 

Derived from MDBC Soil 

Landforms and DLWC 

soils at 1:2million scale 


Mapping 

(available 

at) 


covered 

by 

dataset 



















































1:25 000 Vegetation Communities 







1: 25 000 

1: 100 000 

25 m 

grid cell 

resolution 


Vegetation Communities 








Soil / Surface lithology 

groupings (50 classes in 

BBS) 

100 

(6.61% 

mapped at 

1:2million)

Average annual rainfall 

(st_avrain2) 

Dataset Data 

Custodian 

Average annual temperature 

(st_avtemp2) 

Form Data 

Supplied 

In 

Stratification of BBS (strat5) NPWS Derived by 

WRA GIS 


Data 



NPWS LAN Derived using ANUCLIM- 

BIOCLIM from base data 

supplied by ANU. 

Constrained to BBS 

NPWS LAN Derived using ANUCLIM- 

BIOCLIM from base data 

supplied by ANU. 

Constrained to BBS 

Derived using ArcGRID 

command COMBINE 

using st_soilmerge, 

st_avtemp2 and 

st_avrain2 


Mapping 

(available 

at) 

250 m 

grid cell 

resolution 

250 m 

grid cell 

resolution 

250 m 

grid cell 

resolution 

Other Abotic Base Layers 

Digital Elevation Model LIC LAN 25 m 

grid cell 

resolution 

Roughness of a 5 x 5 cell 

neighbourhood 

Roughness of a 3 x 3 cell 

neighbourhood 

Geology of the Murray-Darling 

Basin - simplified 

lithostratigraphic groupings 

Statewide Landscapes from 

Pressey et. al. 2000 

Land Capability Mapping SCS 

(DLWC) 

NPWS Email Derived from DEM by HO 

GIS 

NPWS Email Derived from DEM by HO 

GIS 

MDBC LAN See metadata. 

DOM: 1996 – 1999 

NPWS CD See metadata. 

DOM: 1994 - 1998 

25 m 

grid cell 

resolution 

25 m 

grid cell 

resolution 


covered 

by 

Each cell represents the 

average annual rainfall 

in mm 

Each cell represents the 

average annual 

temperature in degrees 

centigrade x 10 

Each cell represents a 

stratum (1 – 184) 

Each cell value 

represents the average 

height in meters ASL for 

that cell 


represents the standard 

deviation of the 

elevations of all of the 

cells in the input grid 

(DEM) in the given 

neighbourhood 


represents the standard 

deviation of the 

elevations of all of the 

cells in the input grid 

(DEM) in the given 

neighbourhood 

1:250000 Simplified 

lithostratigraphic units 

such as Cainozoic 

Alluvium, Triassic fine- 

1:250000, 

1000m 

grid cell 

resolution 

grained sediments etc. 

Cells represent a 

lanscape, which is a 

combination of: 

Divisional 

boundaries and 

climatic limit; 

Provinces; 

Geology; and 

Ruggedness. 

85 landscapes occur in 

BBS 

LAN ? 1:100000 Classes 1 – 8 represent 

the suitability of land for 

agricultural activities. 

Other classes mapped 

eg, SFNSW and NPWS 

estate, flood irrigation, 

mining and urban areas. 

dataset 

100 

100 

100 

100 

100 

100 

93.39 

100 

85.78 

(classes 1- 

8)

APPENDIX 10: WOODY CALCULATIONS BY PROVINCE AND TENURE 

Province Tenure Total ha of 

Woody 

Woody as % of 

Woody in Province 

Total ha of 

Tenure in 

Province 

Woody as % of 

Tenure in 

Province 

Woody as % of Woody on Public 

Tenure (ie. Share of Woody 

between SFNSW & NPWS) 

% Share of Public 

Tenure by Area 

Liverpool Plains NPWS 1207 1.4 1306 92.4 4.0 3.9 

(940197 Ha, 9.2%* "woody") Off-Tenure 56487 65.3 906978 6.2 

SFNSW 28870 33.4 31913 90.5 96.0 96.1 

Liverpool Plains Total 86565 

Liverpool Range NPWS 10917 15.9 13204 82.7 81.6 82.7 

(523105 Ha, 13.1% "woody") Off-Tenure 55193 80.5 507131 10.9 

SFNSW 2460 3.6 2770 88.8 18.4 17.3 

Liverpool Range Total 68570 

Northern Basalts NPWS 1114 0.9 1777 62.7 3.1 4.5 

(611268 Ha, 19.8 % "woody") Off-Tenure 84890 70.2 571343 14.9 

SFNSW 34923 28.9 38148 91.5 96.9 95.5 

Northern Basalts Total 120927 

Northern Outwash NPWS 441 2.7 1846 23.9 64.1 84.5 


SFNSW 247 1.5 339 72.9 35.9 15.5 

Northern Outwash Total 16448 

Pilliga NPWS 100822 14.2 115171 87.5 27.7 28.1 


SFNSW 263063 36.9 295056 89.2 72.3 71.9 

Pilliga Total 712469 

Pilliga Outwash NPWS 178 0.1 450 39.4 0.1 0.2 


SFNSW 172403 80.0 190983 90.3 99.9 99.8 

Pilliga Outwash Total 215373 

Talbragar Valley NPWS 871 3.1 917 95.0 15.9 16.1 


SFNSW 4615 16.4 4793 96.3 84.1 83.9 

Talbragar Valley Total 28145 

It can be seen from the above that the % of woody vegetation is roughly equivalent to the % of tenure available, except in the Northern Outwash 

Province, where there is a bias towards "woody" vegetation in SFNSW tenure. This is the least "woody" province and the only province where 

SFNSW manages less tenure than NPWS. 

* Dataset does not cover entire province, woody percentage calculation for that part of province covered only (41%).

APPENDIX 11: NATIVE FAUNA RECORDED WITHIN THE BBS (OTHER THAN 

THREATENED OR TREATY SPECIES) (SEE SECTION 6.2 FOR LIST OF 

THREATENED AND TREATY FAUNA WITHIN THE BBS) 

common name Scientific name Records Source 

green tree frog Litoria caerulea 65 BBS (3), AM (31), WLA (31) 

striped burrowing frog Litoria alboguttata 1WLA 

brown tree frog Litoria ewingii 1AM 

gunther’s frog Litoria latopalmata 265 BBS (23), AM (24), WLA (218) 

lesueur's frog Litoria lesueuri 3 AM (2), WLA (1) 

peron's tree frog Litoria peronii 176 BBS (25), AM (2), WLA (149) 

desert tree frog Litoria rubella 83 BBS (8), AM (7), WLA (68) 

eastern banjo frog Limnodynastes dumerilii 132 AM (40), WLA (92) 

long-thumbed frog Limnodynastes fletcheri 87 BBS (5), AM (21), WLA (61) 

giant banjo frog Limnodynastes interioris 1WLA 

brown-striped frog Limnodynastes peronii 3 BBS (2), WLA (1) 

salmon-striped frog Limnodynastes salmini 63 AM (29), WLA (34) 

ornate burrowing frog Limnodynastes ornatus 61 BBS (14), AM (12), WLA (35) 

spotted grass frog Limnodynastes tasmaniensis 245 BBS (7), AM (141), WLA (97) 

northern banjo frog Limnodynastes terraereginae 57 BBS (14), AM (3), WLA (40) 

common spadefoot toad Neobatrachus sudelli 46 BBS (6), AM (8), WLA (32) 

crucifix toad Notaden bennettii 22 BBS (1), AM (10), WLA (11) 

plains froglet Crinia parinsignifera 50 BBS (1), AM (1), WLA (48) 

common eastern froglet Crinia signifera 774 AM (6), WLA (768) 

sloane's toadlet Crinia sloanei 1WLA 

brown toadlet Pseudophryne bibronii 59 AM (20), WLA (39) 

wrinkled toadlet Uperoleia rugosa 45 BBS (2), AM (2), WLA (41) 

smooth toadlet Uperoleia laevigata 11 AM (7), CSIRO (3), WLA (1) 

tusked frog Adelotus brevis 2AM 

Cyclorana novaehollandiae 1WLA 

water-holding frog Cyclorana platycephala 5 AM (2), WLA (3) 

Cyclorana verrucosa 2WLA 

grey teal Anas gracilis 6434 BBS (2), AM (5), WLA (6193), BA (234) 

pacific black duck Anas superciliosa 3257 BBS (7), AM (5), WLA (2815), BA (430) 

chestnut teal Anas castanea 14 AM (3), WLA (2), BA (9) 

australasian shoveler Anas rhynchotis 19 AM (1), WLA (17), BA (1) 

pink-eared duck Malacorhynchus 

membranaceus 

2171 WLA (2161), BA (10) 

hardhead Aythya australis 58 AM (2), WLA (12), BA (44) 

maned duck Chenonetta jubata 817 BBS (6), ABBBS (1), AM (3), WLA 

(289), BA (518) 

plumed whistling-duck Dendrocygna eytoni 396 WLA, (368), BA (28) 

wandering whistling-duck Dendrocygna arcuata 2 AM (1), BA (1) 

australian owlet-nightjar Aegotheles cristatus 270 BBS (66), AM (6), WLA (138), BA (60) 

spotted nightjar Eurostopodus argus 27 BBS (3), AM (2), WLA (13), BA (9) 

white-throated nightjar Eurostopodus mystacalis 63 BBS (21), AM (2), WLA (38), BA (2) 

tawny frogmouth Podargus strigoides 250 BBS (36), ABBBS (4), AM (4), WLA 

(109), BA (97) 

emu Dromaius novaehollandiae 867 BBS (38), AM (1), WLA (275), BA (211) 

australian brush-turkey Alectura lathami 4 AM (2), BA (2) 

black-winged stilt Himantopus himantopus 59 AM (2), WLA (26), BA (31) 

red-necked avocet Recurvirostra novaehollandiae 1653 WLA (1652), BA (1) 

australian pratincole Stiltia isabella 12 AM (1), WLA (3), BA (8) 

inland dotterel Charadrius australis 2AM 

red-capped plover Charadrius ruficapillus 4BA 

red-kneed dotterel Erythogonys cinctus 14 BBS (1), AM (1), WLA (1), BA (11) 

black-fronted dotterel Elseyornis melanops 134 AM (6), WLA (11), BA (117) 

masked lapwing Vanellus miles 461 BBS (1), AM (11), WLA (39), BA (410) 

banded lapwing Vanellus tricolor 188 AM (8), WLA (102), BA (78) 

little egret Egretta garzetta 9 WLA (3), BA (6)


white-faced heron Egretta novaehollandiae 619 BBS (2), ABBBS (1), AM (2), CSIRO 

(2), WLA (70), BA (542) 

intermediate egret Ardea intermedia 4 AM (1), WLA (3), BA (9) 

pacific heron Ardea pacifica 379 BBS (4), AM (3), WLA (33), BA (339) 

rufous night heron Nycticorax caledonicus 54 BBS (4), AM (3), WLA (16), BA (31) 

royal spoonbill Platalea regia 44 AM (4), WLA (5), BA (35) 

yellow-billed spoonbill Platalea flavipes 312 BBS (1), AM (1), WLA (126), BA (184) 

australian white ibis Threskiornis molucca 172 WLA (47), BA (125) 

straw-necked ibis Threskiornis spinicollis 458 BBS (2), ABBBS (3), CSIRO (9), WLA 

(198), BA (246) 

diamond dove Geopelia cuneata 76 BBS (9), ABBBS (1), AM (3), WLA (42), 

BA (21) 

peaceful dove Geopelia striata 808 AM (8), WLA (286), BA (514) 

bar-shouldered dove Geopelia humeralis 271 BBS (32), ABBBS (2), WLA (136), BA 

(101) 

peaceful dove Geopelia placida 16 BBS 

brown cuckoo-dove Macropygia amboinensis 2 AM (1), WLA (1) 

white-headed pigeon Columba leucomela 1 ABBBS 

crested pigeon Ocyphaps lophotes 1123 BBS (3), ABBBS (2), AM (2), WLA 

(329), BA (787) 

common bronzewing Phaps chalcoptera 868 BBS (84), AM (5), WLA (425), BA (354) 

wonga pigeon Leucosarcia melanoleuca 2 WLA (2), BA (1) 

darter Anhinga melanogaster 40 ABBBS (1) AM (1), WLA (8), BA (30) 

black swan Cygnus atratus 109 ABBBS (1), WLA (37), BA (71) 

gull-billed tern Sterna nilotica 2WLA 

whiskered tern Chlidonias hybridus 34 AM (1), WLA (29), BA (4) 

silver gull Larus novaehollandiae 33 ABBBS (2), WLA (2), BA (29) 

azure kingfisher Alcedo azurea 25 BBS (1), ABBBS (8), WLA (12), BA (4) 

laughing kookaburra Dacelo novaeguineae 1350 BBS (71), ABBBS (9), AM (13), WLA 

(491), BA (766) 

forest kingfisher Todiramphus macleayii 1WLA 

red-backed kingfisher Todiramphus pyrrhopygia 50 AM (2), WLA (7), BA (41) 

sacred kingfisher Todiramphus sanctus 549 BBS (36), ABBBS (45), AM (3), WLA 

(171), BA (294) 

dollarbird Eurystomus orientalis 294 BBS (6), ABBBS (1), AM (3), WLA (78), 

BA (206) 

rainbow bee-eater Merops ornatus 615 BBS (28), ABBBS (20), AM (7), WLA 

(327), BA (233) 

horsfield's bronze-cuckoo Chalcites basalis 201 BBS (28), ABBBS (2), AM (6), WLA 

(65), BA (100) 

shining bronze-cuckoo Chalcites lucidus 137 BBS (20), ABBBS (1), AM (4), WLA 

(40), BA (72) 

black-eared cuckoo Chalcites osculans 56 BBS (13), AM (3), WLA (26), BA (14) 

common koel Eudynamys scolopacea 29 ABBBS (5), WLA (14), BA (10) 

pheasant coucal Centropus phasianinus 4WLA 

pallid cuckoo Cuculus pallidus 182 BBS (2), AM (18), WLA (20), BA (142) 

fan-tailed cuckoo Cacomantis flabelliformis 251 BBS (2), ABBBS (5), CSIRO (2), WLA 

(93), BA (149) 

brush cuckoo Cacomantis variolosus 15 BBS (1), ABBBS (1), WLA (2), BA (11) 

spotted harrier Circus assimilis 88 WLA (15), BA (73) 

swamp harrier Circus approximans 8 WLA (3), BA (5) 

channel-billed cuckoo Scythrops novaehollandiae 88 BBS (4), WLA (34), BA (50) 

grey goshawk Accipiter novaehollandiae 5 AM (1), WLA (3), BA (1) 

collared sparrowhawk Accipiter cirrhocephalus 94 BBS (5), ABBBS (3), AM (2), WLA (14), 

BA (70) 

brown goshawk Accipiter fasciatus 158 BBS (3), ABBBS (8), AM (2), WLA (36), 

BA (109) 

wedge-tailed eagle Aquila audax 456 BBS (6), ABBBS (4), AM (21), WLA 

(135), BA (290) 

whistling kite Haliastur sphenurus 161 BBS (1), AM (39), WLA (16), BA (105) 

black kite Milvus migrans 59 WLA (21), BA (38) 

black-shouldered kite Elanus axillaris 464 AM (9), WLA (59), BA (396)


letter-winged kite Elanus scriptus 7 AM (1), WLA (1), BA (5) 

little eagle Hieraaetus morphnoides 222 BBS (4), ABBBS (1), AM (3), WLA (42), 

BA (172) 

black falcon Falco subniger 18 WLA (11), BA (7) 

brown falcon Falco berigora 418 BBS (2), ABBBS (1), AM (18), CSIRO 

(1), WLA (48), BA (348) 

nankeen kestrel Falco cenchroides 938 ABBBS (3), AM (14), WLA (95), BA 

(826) 

australian hobby Falco longipennis 136 BBS (1), ABBBS (1), AM (3), WLA (25), 

BA (106) 

pacific baza Aviceda subcristata 7WLA 

peregrine falcon Falco peregrinus 167 BBS (3), ABBBS (20), AM (3), WLA 

(61), BA (80) 

king quail Coturnix chinensis 3 WLA (2), BA (1) 

stubble quail Coturnix pectoralis 137 BBS (2), ABBBS (3), AM (27), CSIRO 

(14), WLA (23), BA (68) 

brown quail Coturnix ypsilophora australis 26 ABBBS (1), AM (3), CSIRO (5) WLA 

(17) 

painted button-quail Turnix varia 46 BBS (10), AM (1), WLA (20), BA (15) 

little button-quail Turnix velox 19 AM (8), CSIRO (6), WLA (3), BA (2) 

red-chested button-quail Turnix pyrrhothorax 32 AM (6), CSIRO (10), WLA (9), BA (7) 

musk duck Biziura lobata 14 AM (5), WLA (2), BA (7) 

latham's snipe Gallinago hardwickii 13 AM (2), WLA (6), BA (5) 

buff-banded rail Gallirallus philippensis 7 BBS (1), AM (1), WLA (4), BA (1) 

australian spotted crake 


Porzana fluminea 1WLA 

baillon's crake Porzana pusilla 2 AM (2), BA (1) 

spotless crake Porzana tabuensis 1WLA 

black-tailed native-hen Gallinula ventralis 37 AM (3), WLA (8), BA (26) 

dusky moorhen Gallinula tenebrosa 115 AM (2), WLA (24), BA (89) 

purple swamphen Porphyrio porphyrio 10 WLA (10), BA (17) 

eurasian coot Fulica atra 344 WLA (294), BA (50) 

inland thornbill Acanthiza apicalis 595 BBS (73), ABBBS (6), AM (3), WLA 

(378), BA (135) 

yellow-rumped thornbill Acanthiza chrysorrhoa 978 BBS (12), ABBBS (52), AM (6), WLA 

(381), BA (527) 

striated thornbill Acanthiza lineata 433 BBS (1), ABBBS (14), WLA (353), BA 

(65) 

yellow thornbill Acanthiza nana 1521 BBS (83), ABBBS (25), AM (3), CSIRO 

(12), WLA (1078), BA (320) 

brown thornbill Acanthiza pusilla 267 BBS (7), CSIRO (23), WLA (214), BA 

(23) 

buff-rumped thornbill Acanthiza reguloides 809 BBS (40), ABBBS (23), AM (3), CSIRO 

(4), WLA (501), BA (238) 

chestnut-rumped thornbill Acanthiza uropygialis 252 BBS (30), ABBBS (2), WLA (155), BA 

(65) 

brown gerygone Gerygone mouki 19 WLA (18), BA (1) 

western gerygone Gerygone fusca 321 BBS (68), ABBBS (2), AM (8), CSIRO 

(1), WLA (124), BA (118) 

white-throated gerygone Gerygone olivacea 295 BBS (27), ABBBS (2), AM (4), CSIRO 

(3), WLA (116), BA (143) 

chestnut-rumped hylacola Hylacola pyrrhopygia 77 BBS (19), WLA (46), BA (12) 

speckled warbler Chthionicola sagittatus 39 BBS 

weebill Smicrornis brevirostris 1127 BBS (112), ABBBS (8), AM (14), 

CSIRO (1), WLA (582), BA (410) 

southern whiteface Aphelocephala leucopsis 62 AM (10), WLA (23), BA (29) 

black-faced woodswallow Artamus cinereus 208 ABBBS (1), AM (4), CSIRO (2), WLA 

(34), BA (167) 

little woodswallow Artamus minor 62 WLA (54), BA (8) 

dusky woodswallow Artamus cyanopterus 665 BBS (18), ABBBS (2), AM (7), WLA 

(326), BA (312) 

white-breasted woodswallow Artamus leucorhynchus 83 BBS (2), AM (5), WLA (24), BA (52) 

masked woodswallow Artamus personatus 41 AM (4), WLA (6), BA (31)


white-browed woodswallow Artamus superciliosus 503 AM (14), WLA (286), BA (203) 

ground cuckoo-shrike Coracina maxima 75 AM (6), WLA (33), BA (36) 

black-faced cuckoo-shrike Coracina novaehollandiae 1066 BBS (44), ABBBS (1), AM (11), WLA 

(323), BA (687) 

white-bellied cuckoo-shrike Coracina papuensis 131 BBS (6), AM (6), WLA (20), BA (99) 

cicadabird Coracina tenuirostris 128 BBS (35), WLA (68), BA (25) 

white-winged triller Lalage sueurii 174 BBS (1), ABBBS (3), AM (6), WLA (28), 

BA (136) 

white-throated treecreeper Cormobates leucophaeus 1161 BBS (155), ABBBS (42), AM (4), 

CSIRO (2), WLA (585), BA (373) 

red-browed treecreeper Climacteris erythrops 58 WLA (57), BA (1) 

white-winged chough Corcorax melanorhamphos 1190 BBS (33), ABBBS (2), AM (10), WLA 

(648), BA (497) 

apostlebird Struthidea cinerea 639 BBS (7), ABBBS (1), AM (35), WLA 

(243), BA (353) 

australian raven Corvus coronoides 1136 BBS (29), AM (26), WLA (403), BA 

(678) 

little raven Corvus mellori 83 BBS (9), WLA (62), BA (12) 

little crow Corvus bennetti 8 WLA (1), BA (7) 

torresian crow Corvus orru 7 BBS (1), WLA (2), BA (4) 

pied butcherbird Cracticus nigrogularis 1057 BBS (14), ABBBS (13), AM (8), CSIRO 

(3), WLA (237), BA (782) 

grey butcherbird Cracticus torquatus 867 BBS (95), ABBBS (3), AM (13), CSIRO 

(2), WLA (274), BA (480) 

australian magpie Gymnorhina tibicen 1655 BBS (38), ABBBS (20), AM (38), WLA 

(533), BA (1026) 

grey currawong Strepera versicolor 2BA 

pied currawong Strepera graculina 1479 BBS (109), ABBBS (18), AM (1), 

CSIRO (2), WLA (737), BA (512) 

mistletoebird Dicaeum hirundinaceum 647 BBS (38), ABBBS (33), AM (7), WLA 

(217), BA (352) 

spangled drongo Dicrurus bracteatus 1BA 

australian magpie lark Grallina cyanoleuca 1573 BBS (37), ABBBS (15), AM (12), WLA 

(482), BA (1027) 

richard's pipit Anthus novaeseelandiae 511 ABBBS (9), AM (4), CSIRO (1), WLA 

(55), BA (442) 

singing bushlark Mirafra javanica 125 ABBBS (11), AM (3), WLA (8), BA 

(103) 

tree martin Hirundo nigricans 401 BBS (2), ABBBS (5), AM (2), WLA 

(173), BA (219) 

white-backed swallow Cheramoeca leucosternus 128 BBS (1), AM (1), WLA (20), BA (106) 

welcome swallow Hirundo neoxena 897 BBS (1), ABBBS (106), AM (1), WLA 

(276), BA (513) 

fairy martin Hirundo ariel 365 ABBBS (15), AM (13), CSIRO (1), WLA 

(61), BA (265) 

superb blue wren Malurus cyaneus 2161 BBS (92), ABBBS (220), AM (2), 

CSIRO (8), WLA (1240), BA (599) 

white-winged fairy-wren Malurus leucopterus 73 ABBBS (20), AM (6), WLA (18), BA 

(29) 

variegated wren Malurus lamberti 400 BBS (46), ABBBS (13), WLA (216), BA 

(125) 

white-cheeked honeyeater Phylidonyris nigra 3 WLA (2), BA (1) 

spiny-cheeked honeyeater Acanthagenys rufogularis 1040 BBS (81), ABBBS (30), AM (3), WLA 

(575), BA (351) 

white-browed scrubwren Sericornis frontalis 359 ABBBS (29), AM (1), WLA (201), BA 

(128) 

eastern spinebill Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris 302 BBS (6), ABBBS (25), WLA (125), BA 

(146) 

red wattlebird Anthochaera carunculata 488 BBS (25), AM (6), WLA (355), BA (102) 

blue-faced honeyeater Entomyzon cyanotis 283 BBS (9), ABBBS (5), AM (8), CSIRO 

(1), WLA (83), BA (167) 

yellow-faced honeyeater Lichenostomus chrysops 1120 BBS (50), ABBBS (63), AM (2), CSIRO 

(4), WLA (702), BA (299)


fuscous honeyeater Lichenostomus fuscus 149 BBS (1), ABBBS (10), AM (5), WLA 

(58), BA (75) 

white-eared honeyeater Lichenostomus leucotis 984 BBS (99), ABBBS (44), AM (5), CSIRO 

(5), WLA (537), BA (294) 

yellow-tufted honeyeater Lichenostomus melanops 314 BBS (9), ABBBS (16), AM (1), CSIRO 

(2), WLA (208), BA (78) 

yellow-plumed honeyeater Lichenostomus ornatus 64 BBS (6), ABBBS (2), AM (1), WLA (53), 

BA (2) 

grey-fronted honeyeater Lichenostomus plumulus 3WLA 

white-plumed honeyeater Lichenostomus penicillatus 1762 BBS (30), ABBBS (323), AM (9), 

CSIRO (1), WLA (748), BA (651) 

singing honeyeater Lichenostomus virescens 125 BBS (1), ABBBS (41), WLA (39), BA 

(44) 

brown honeyeater Lichmera indistincta 104 BBS (4), ABBBS (24), WLA (30), BA 

(46) 

lewin's honeyeater Meliphaga lewinii 23 ABBBS (1), WLA (2), BA (20) 

scarlet honeyeater Myzomela sanguinolenta 7 WLA (2), BA (5) 

black honeyeater Certhionyx niger 7 ABBBS (2), AM (2), WLA (3) 

tawny-breasted honeyeater Xanthotis flaviventer 2 ABBBS 

bell miner Manorina melanophrys 2AM 

yellow-throated miner Manorina flavigula 351 BBS (1), ABBBS (3), AM (4), WLA 

(102), BA (241) 

noisy miner Manorina melanocephala 1308 BBS (46), ABBBS (3), AM (13), CSIRO 

(1), WLA (526), BA (719) 

white-naped honeyeater Melithreptus lunatus 260 ABBBS (3), WLA (186), BA (71) 

brown-headed honeyeater Melithreptus brevirostris 650 BBS (36), ABBBS (32), AM (4), CSIRO 

(4), WLA (386), BA (188) 

little friarbird Philemon citreogularis 370 BBS (15), ABBBS (44), AM (18), 

CSIRO (2), WLA (88), BA (203) 

noisy friarbird Philemon corniculatus 1618 BBS (75), ABBBS (15), AM (12), WLA 

(1075), BA (441) 

striped honeyeater Plectorhyncha lanceolata 603 BBS (55), ABBBS (5), AM (8), CSIRO 

(1), WLA (255), BA (279) 

grey shrike-thrush Colluricincla harmonica 1114 BBS (137), ABBBS (12), AM (4), WLA 

(461), BA (500) 

eastern yellow robin Eopsaltria australis 1125 BBS (164), ABBBS (55), AM (5), 

CSIRO (2), WLA (504), BA (395) 

crested shrike-tit Falcunculus frontatus 152 ABBBS (5), AM (1), WLA (39), BA 

(107) 

jacky winter Microeca fascinans 849 BBS (36), ABBBS (1), AM (10), CSIRO 

(2), WLA (214), BA (586) 

satin flycatcher Myiagra cyanoleuca 31 BBS (3), WLA (11), BA (17) 

restless flycatcher Myiagra inquieta 457 BBS (10), ABBBS (6), AM (1), CSIRO 

(1), WLA (106), BA (333) 

leaden flycatcher Myiagra rubecula 129 BBS (13), ABBBS (5), AM (3), CSIRO 

(1), WLA (38), BA (69) 

golden whistler Pachycephala pectoralis 256 BBS (3), ABBBS (11), WLA (78), BA 

(164) 

rufous whistler Pachycephala rufiventris 1476 BBS (165), ABBBS (69), AM (6), 

CSIRO (2), WLA (739), BA (495) 

scarlet robin Petroica multicolor 98 BBS (31), BA (67) 

red-capped robin Petroica goodenovii 333 BBS (20), ABBBS (6), AM (16), WLA 

(115), BA (176) 

flame robin Petroica phoenicea 11 WLA (6), BA (5) 

rose robin Petroica rosea 21 WLA (13), BA (8) 

grey fantail Rhipidura fuliginosa 1273 BBS (132), ABBBS (9), AM (3), WLA 

(726), BA (403) 

rufous fantail Rhipidura rufifrons 19 WLA (19), BA (2) 

willie wagtail Rhipidura leucophrys 1483 BBS (37), ABBBS (63), AM (6), WLA 

(437), BA (940) 

varied sittella Daphoenositta chrysoptera 367 BBS (35), AM (3), CSIRO (5), WLA 

(185), BA (139) 

olive-backed oriole Oriolus sagittatus 330 BBS (27), ABBS (15), AM (3), WLA


(120), BA (165) 

eastern whipbird Psophodes olivaceus 5BA 

spotted quail-thrush Cinclosoma punctatum 76 BBS (10), AM (1), WLA (41), BA (24) 

superb lyrebird Menura novaehollandiae 3WLA 

satin bowerbird Ptilonorhynchus violaceus 34 WLA (9), BA (25) 

spotted bowerbird Chlamydera maculata 94 BBS (6), ABBS (17), AM (1), WLA (23), 

BA (47) 

rockwarbler Origma solitaria 2BA 

spotted pardalote Pardalotus punctatus 867 BBS (64), ABBBS (30), AM (2), WLA 

(485), BA (286) 

yellow-rumped pardalote Pardalotus punctatus 

xanthopygus 

2WLA 

striated pardalote Pardalotus striatus 777 BBS (28), ABBBS (7), AM (18), WLA 

(278), BA (446) 

red-browed firetail Neochmia temporalis 720 BBS (5), ABBS (162), AM (1), WLA 

(342), BA (210) 

double-barred finch Taeniopygia bichenovii 922 BBS (15), ABBBS (180), AM (3), 

CSIRO (1), WLA (311), BA (412) 

zebra finch Taeniopygia guttata 703 BBS (225), ABBBS (219), AM (6), WLA 

(53), BA (200) 

plum-headed finch Neochmia modesta 206 ABBBS (98), AM (11), WLA (49), BA 

(48) 

clamorous reed warbler Acrocephalus stentoreus 65 BBS (2), ABBBS (45), AM (2), WLA 

(16) 

little grassbird Megalurus gramineus 8 ABBBS (2), WLA (1), BA (5) 

golden-headed cisticola Cisticola exilis 47 ABBBS (13), WLA (14), BA (20) 

brown songlark Cinclorhamphus cruralis 105 BBS (2), AM (2), WLA (6), BA (95) 

rufous songlark Cinclorhamphus mathewsi 328 BBS (8), ABBBS (8), AM (7), WLA (75), 

BA (230) 

white-browed babbler Pomatostomus superciliosus 461 BBS (28), ABBBS (12), AM (8), WLA 

(298), BA (115) 

white-fronted chat Epthianura albifrons 52 AM (8), WLA (24), BA (20) 

crimson chat Epthianura tricolor 50 AM (9), WLA (20), BA (21) 

orange chat Epthianura aurifrons 1BA 

silvereye Zosterops lateralis 846 BBS (37), ABBBS (79), WLA (497), BA 

(233) 

australian pelican Pelecanus conspicillatus 1384 BBS (1), WLA (1306), BA (77) 

great cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo 127 BBS (1), AM (1), WLA (12), BA (113) 

pied cormorant Phalacrocorax varius 16 WLA (5), BA (11) 

little pied cormorant Phalacrocorax melanoleucos 257 BBS (2), AM (4), WLA (29), BA (222) 

little black cormorant Phalacrocorax sulcirostris 96 BBS (2), WLA (18), BA (76) 

australasian grebe Tachybaptus novaehollandiae 231 BBS (2), AM (9), WLA (50), BA (170) 

hoary-headed grebe Poliocephalus poliocephalus 33 WLA (8), BA (25) 

great crested grebe Podiceps cristatus 14 AM (3), WLA (10), BA (1) 

yellow-tailed black-cockatoo Calyptorhynchus funereus 45 WLA (38), BA (7) 

gang-gang cockatoo Callocephalon fimbriatum 1WLA 

sulphur-crested cockatoo Cacatua galerita 2085 BBS (26), AM (4), WLA (1390), BA 

(665) 

little corella Cacatua sanguinea 232 WLA (230), BA (2) 

galah Eolopus roseicapilla 3433 BBS (78), ABBBS (16), AM (6), CSIRO 

(3), WLA (2255), BA (1075) 

scaly-breasted lorikeet Trichoglossus chlorolepidotus 6BA 

musk lorikeet Glossopsitta concinna 625 BBS (28), ABBBS (2), AM (5), WLA 

(523), BA (67) 

little lorikeet Glossopsitta pusilla 1204 BBS (44), ABBBS (1), AM (2), WLA 

(1004), BA (153) 

rainbow lorikeet Trichoglossus haematodus 63 ABBBS (3), WLA (48), BA (12) 

mallee ringneck Barnardius zonarius barnardi 603 BBS (79), ABBBS (5), AM (1), WLA 

(306), BA (212) 

crimson rosella Platycercus elegans 532 BBS (1), ABBBS (19), WLA (334), BA 

(178) 

eastern rosella Platycercus eximius 1104 BBS (46), ABBBS (13), AM (3), CSIRO 

(3), WLA (334), BA (705)


pale-headed rosella Platycercus adscitus 99 ABBBS (24), AM (1), WLA (26), BA 

(48) 

red-rumped parrot Psephotus haematonotus 1406 BBS (3), ABBBS (8), AM (22), CSIRO 

(2), WLA (572), BA (799) 

mulga parrot Psephotus varius 12 ABBBS (2), WLA (8), BA (2) 

blue bonnet Northiella haematogaster 233 ABBBS (4), WLA (32), BA (197) 

australian king-parrot Alisterus scapularis 374 BBS (21), ABBBS (6), WLA (230), BA 

(117) 

red-winged parrot Aprosmictus erythropterus 255 BBS (12), ABBBS (8), AM (4), CSIRO 

(1), WLA (95), BA (135) 

cockatiel Nymphicus hollandicus 657 BBS (1), AM (3), WLA (180), BA (473) 

budgerigar Melopsittacus undulatus 45 AM (1), WLA (18), BA (26) 

southern boobook Ninox novaeseelandiae 345 BBS (28), ABBBS (1), AM (2), WLA 

(150), BA (164) 

barn owl Tyto alba 87 BBS (4), ABBBS (1), AM (7), WLA (25), 

BA (50) 

little mastiff-bat Mormopterus planiceps 23 WLA 

southern mastiff-bat Mormopterus planiceps big 

penis 

21 BBS (10), AM (1), WLA (10) 

inland mastiff-bat Mormopterus planiceps small 

penis 

39 BBS (13), WLA (26) 

white-striped mastiff-bat Nyctinomus australis 56 BBS (1), AM (1), WLA (54) 

eastern horseshoe-bat Rhinolophus megaphyllus 5 AM (1), WLA (4) 

little red flying-fox Pteropus scapulatus 1526 BBS (8), AM (1), CSIRO (1), WLA 

(1516) 

gould's wattled bat Chalinolobus gouldii 757 BBS (324), AM (1), WLA (443) 

chocolate wattled bat Chalinolobus morio 86 BBS (3), WLA (83) 

large forest bat Vespadelus darlingtoni 48 WLA 

little cave eptesicus Vespadelus pumilus 14 AM (1), WLA (13) 

southern forest bat Vespadelus regulus 13 WLA 

little forest bat Vespadelus vulturnus 751 BBS (313), AM (3), WLA (435) 

lesser long-eared bat Nyctophilus geoffroyi 195 BBS (67), AM (8), WLA (120) 

gould's long-eared bat Nyctophilus gouldi 198 BBS (72), AM (8), WLA (118) 

western broad-nosed bat Scotorepens balstoni 155 BBS (72), AM (1), WLA (82) 

little broad-nosed bat Scotorepens greyii 122 BBS (44), WLA (78) 

feathertail glider Acrobates pygmaeus 16 BBS (1), AM (7), WLA (8) 

whiptail wallaby Macropus parryi 1AM 

western grey kangaroo Macropus fuliginosus 1WLA 

eastern grey kangaroo Macropus giganteus 803 BBS (54), AM (5), WLA (744) 

common wallaroo Macropus robustus 128 BBS (3), AM (5), WLA (120) 

red-necked wallaby Macropus rufogriseus 261 BBS (58), AM (2), WLA (201) 

red kangaroo Macropus rufus 13 BBS (2), AM (2), WLA (9) 

swamp wallaby Wallabia bicolor 196 BBS (49), AM (2), WLA (145) 

red-necked pademelon Thylogale thetis 21 AM (1), WLA (20) 

greater glider Petauroides volans 619 AM (1), WLA (618) 

sugar glider Petaurus breviceps 161 BBS (46), AM (3), WLA (112) 

common ringtail possum Pseudocheirus peregrinus 74 AM (1), WLA (73) 

common brushtail possum Trichosurus vulpecula 108 BBS (14), AM (1), WLA (93) 

mountain brushtail possum Trichosurus caninus 1WLA 

common wombat Vombatus ursinus 55 WLA 

platypus Ornithorhynchus anatinus 4 AM (2), WLA (2) 

short-beaked echidna Tachyglossus aculeatus 112 BBS (25), AM (1), WLA (86) 

yellow-footed antechinus Antechinus flavipes 878 BBS (379), AM (15), WLA (484) 

brown antechinus Antechinus stuartii 81 AM (4), WLA (77) 

narrow-nosed planigale Planigale tenuirostris 11 AM (6), WLA (5) 

paucident planigale Planigale gilesi 2 AM (2), WLA (1) 

fat-tailed dunnart Sminthopsis crassicaudata 25 AM (21), WLA (4) 

common dunnart Sminthopsis murina 77 BBS (12), AM (7), WLA (56) 

northern brown bandicoot Isoodon macrourus 2WLA 

long-nosed bandicoot Perameles nasuta 1WLA 

bush rat Rattus fuscipes 3WLA


water rat Hydromys chrysogaster 12 BBS (1), AM (1), WLA (10) 

jacky lizard Amphibolurus muricatus 40 BBS (7), AM (4), CSIRO (1), WLA (28) 

nobbi Amphibolurus nobbi 106 BBS (35), AM (20), WLA (51) 

nobbi dragon Amphibolurus nobbi coggeri 1WLA 

gilbert's dragon Lophognathus gilberti 9 BBS (1), AM (7), WLA (1) 

eastern water dragon Physignathus lesueurii 3 AM (2), WLA (1) 

lined earless dragon Tympanocryptis lineata 5 AM (2), WLA (3) 

bearded dragon Pogona barbata 60 BBS (12), AM (20), WLA (28) 

central bearded dragon Pogona vitticeps 2AM 

yellow-faced whip snake Demansia psammophis 22 BBS (2), AM (11), WLA (9) 

red-naped snake Furina diadema 74 BBS (2), AM (36), WLA (36) 

mulga snake Pseudechis australis 5 AM (4), WLA (1) 

blue-bellied black snake Pseudechis guttatus 67 BBS (2), AM (34), WLA (31) 

red-bellied black snake Pseudechis porphyriacus 35 BBS (1), AM (4), WLA (30) 

western brown snake Pseudonaja nuchalis 3 AM (2), WLA (1) 

eastern brown snake Pseudonaja textilis 64 BBS (1), AM (49), CSIRO (1), WLA 

(13) 

coral snake Simoselaps australis 35 BBS (1), AM (15), WLA (19) 

curl snake Suta suta 21 AM (20), WLA (1) 

hooded snake Suta spectabilis 31 BBS (1), AM (19), WLA (11) 

highland copperhead Austrelaps ramsayi 1AM 

carpet or diamond python Morelia spilota 5 AM (4), WLA (1) 

carpet python Morelia spilota variegata 1WLA 

green tree snake Dendrelaphis punctulata 3 AM (2), WLA (1) 

common death adder Acanthophis antarcticus 4AM 

eastern small-eyed snake Rhinoplocephalus nigrescens 2AM 

Rhinoplocephalus nigrostriatus 2AM 

bandy bandy Vermicella annulata 30 AM (16), WLA (14) 

grey snake Hemiaspis damelii 14 AM (10), WLA (4) 

black-bellied swamp snake Hemiaspis signata 1AM 

de vis' banded snake Denisonia devisi 30 AM (21), CSIRO (1), WLA (8) 

Denisonia maculata 2AM 

tussock skink Pseudemoia entrecasteauxii 1WLA 

Pseudemoia pagenstecheri 55 AM (1), WLA (54) 

eastern spiny-tailed gecko Diplodactylus intermedius 22 AM (12), WLA (10) 

tesselated gecko Diplodactylus tessellatus 2 AM (1), WLA (1) 

wood gecko Diplodactylus vittatus 72 BBS (20), AM (13), WLA (39) 

soft-tailed gecko Diplodactylus williamsi 69 BBS (3), AM (31), WLA (35) 

northern gecko Gehyra dubia 46 BBS (2), AM (32), WLA (12) 

tree dtella Gehyra variegata 135 BBS (32), AM (52), WLA (51) 

byrnoe's gecko Heteronotia binoei 235 BBS (60), AM (77), WLA (98) 

lesueur's velvet gecko Oedura lesueurii 4AM 

marbled velvet gecko Oedura marmorata 4 AM (3), WLA (1) 

ocellated velvet gecko Oedura monilis 124 BBS (13), AM (84), WLA (27) 

robust velvet gecko Oedura robusta 40 BBS (13), AM (8), WLA (19) 

southern spotted velvet Oedura tryoni 1AM 

gecko 

marbled gecko Christinus marmoratus 49 AM (36), WLA (13) 

thick-tailed gecko Underwoodisaurus milii 71 AM (36), CSIRO (1), WLA (34) 

Aprasia striolata 1WLA 

olive legless lizard Delma inornata 10 AM (4), CSIRO (1), WLA (5) 

Delma plebeia 2AM 

Delma tincta 5 AM (5), WLA (3) 

burton’s legless lizard Lialis burtonis 40 BBS (1), AM (18), WLA (21) 

common scaly-foot Pygopus lepidopodus 7 BBS (2), AM (1), WLA (4) 

hooded scaly-foot Pygopus nigriceps 14 AM (7), WLA (7) 

Anomalopus lentiginosus 5WLA 

two-clawed worm-skink Anomalopus leuckartii 40 BBS (2), AM (33), WLA (5) 

carnaby's wall skink Cryptoblepharus carnabyi 108 BBS (25), AM (47), WLA (36) 

wall lizard Cryptoblepharus virgatus 6 AM (3), WLA (3) 

Ctenotus allotropis 25 BBS (8), AM (4), WLA (13)


Ctenotus strauchii 1WLA 

copper-tailed skink Ctenotus taeniolatus 29 AM (13), WLA (16) 

striped skink Ctenotus robustus 119 BBS (15), AM (41), WLA (63) 

Ctenotus uber 3 AM (2), WLA (1) 

tree skink Egernia striolata 242 BBS (40), AM (99), WLA (103) 

cunningham's skink Egernia cunninghami 29 AM (13), WLA (16) 

Egernia modesta 3AM 

black rock skink Egernia saxatilis 16 AM (15), WLA (1) 

warrumbungle's black rock Egernia saxatilis saxatilis 1WLA 

skink 

white's skink Egernia whitii 27 AM (11), WLA (16) 

barred-sided skink Eulamprus tenuis 4 BBS (1), AM (1), WLA (2) 

Eulamprus heatwolei 1AM 

eastern water skink Eulamprus quoyii 52 AM (13), WLA (38) 

three-toed skink Saiphos equalis 1 AM (1), WLA (21) 

grey's skink Menetia greyii 5 AM (4), WLA (1) 

red-throated skink Bassiana platynota 37 AM (1), WLA (36) 

weasel skink Saproscincus mustelinus 29 AM (1), WLA (28) 

grass skink Lampropholis delicata 23 AM (4), WLA (19) 

garden skink Lampropholis guichenoti 27 AM (4), WLA (23) 

Lampropholis caligula 18 AM (1), WLA (17) 

bougainville's skink Lerista bougainvillii 27 BBS (3), AM (19), WLA (5) 

south-eastern slider Lerista muelleri 55 BBS (6), AM (29), WLA (20) 

eastern robust slider Lerista punctatovittata 29 BBS (3), AM (19), WLA (7) 

litter skink Lygisaurus foliorum 15 BBS (3), AM (6), WLA (6) 

boulenger's skink Morethia boulengeri 300 BBS (67), AM (122), WLA (111) 

Carlia pectoralis 2AM 

southern rainbow skink Carlia tetradactyla 3 AM (1), WLA (2) 

eastern blue-tongued lizard Tiliqua scincoides 26 BBS (2), AM (7), WLA (17) 

shingle-back Trachydosaurus rugosus 15 BBS (1), AM (4), WLA (10) 

blind snake Ramphotyphlops bituberculatus 18 BBS (1), AM (9), WLA (8) 

blind snake Ramphotyphlops ligatus 3 BBS (1), AM (2) 

Ramphotyphlops nigrescens 4 AM (3), WLA (1) 

Ramphotyphlops proximus 19 AM (10), CSIRO (1), WLA (8) 

Ramphotyphlops wiedii 28 AM (16), WLA (12) 

Varanus tristis 1AM 

gould's goanna Varanus gouldii 38 BBS (13), AM (5), WLA (20) 

lace monitor Varanus varius 53 BBS (11), AM (10), WLA (32) 

Hemiergis decresiensis 48 AM (4), WLA (44) 

broad-shelled river turtle Chelodina expansa 1AM 

eastern long-necked tortoise Chelodina longicollis 14 AM (9), WLA (5) 

murray turtle Emydura macquarii 1AM 

Key 

BBS BBS Stage 1 Surveys 

BA Birds Australia Dataset 

WLA Atlas of NSW Wildlife Dataset 

AM Australian Museum Dataset 

CSIRO CSIRO Dataset

APPENDIX 12: REGIONALLY SIGNIFICANT FAUNA 

(RACD, 2000c) 

Species considered regionally significant for three reasons; very few records, known to be declining or 

at the edge of their distribution in New South Wales within the Brigalow Belt South. Conservation 

priority is given as an indication of level of threat from wood removal; either 1 (high level of threat, 

being tree and/or shrubby understorey dependent), 2 (possible threat, not known to use trees in 

Brigalow Belt South), or 3 (low level of threat, not found in wooded habitats or with shrubby 

understories). 

Species name Common name Obs Legal Reason Conservation 

priority 

Leipoa ocellata Malleefowl X E1 DECLINING 1 

Turnix velox Little Button-quail P RARE 3 

Turnix pyrrhothorax Red-chested Button-quail P RARE 3 

Geophaps scripta Squatter Pigeon E1 EDGE 3 

Gallirallus philippensis Buff-banded Rail X P RARE 3 

Erythogonys cinctus Red-kneed Dotterel X P RARE 3 

Limosa limosa Black-tailed Godwit V EDGE 3 

Rostratula benghalensis Painted Snipe V RARE 3 

Burhinus grallarius Bush Stone-curlew X E1 DECLINING 1 

Ardeotis australis Australian Bustard E1 EDGE 3 

Grus rubicunda Brolga X V RARE 3 

Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus Black-necked Stork E1 EDGE 3 

Botaurus poiciloptilus Australasian Bittern X V RARE 3 

Anseranas semipalmata Magpie Goose V EDGE 3 

Stictonetta naevosa Freckled Duck V RARE 3 

Oxyura australis Blue-billed Duck V EDGE 3 

Lophoictinia isura Square-tailed Kite X V RARE 1 

Hamirostra melanosternon Black-breasted Buzzard X V RARE 2 

Falco hypoleucos Grey Falcon V EDGE 2 

Ninox connivens Barking Owl X V RARE 1 

Ninox strenua Powerful Owl V EDGE 2 

Tyto novaehollandiae Masked Owl X V RARE 1 

Tyto capensis Grass Owl V RARE 3 

Calyptorhynchus banksii Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo V RARE 2 

Calyptorhynchus lathami Glossy Black-Cockatoo X V DECLINING 1 

Cacatua leadbeateri Major Mitchell's Cockatoo V EDGE 2 

Polytelis swainsonii Superb Parrot V RARE 2 

Platycercus elegans Crimson Rosella X P EDGE 2 

Platycercus adscitus Pale-headed Rosella P EDGE 2 

Psephotus varius Mulga Parrot X P EDGE 2 

Northiella haematogaster Blue Bonnet P EDGE 1 

Neophema pulchella Turquoise Parrot X V RARE 2 

Lathamus discolor Swift Parrot V RARE 1 

Alcedo azurea Azure Kingfisher X P EDGE 2 

Apus pacificus Fork-tailed Swift X P RARE 2 

Cacomantis variolosus Brush Cuckoo X P EDGE 2 

Eudynamys scolopacea Common Koel P EDGE 2 

Cheramoeca leucosternus White-backed Swallow X P RARE 2 

Myiagra cyanoleuca Satin Flycatcher X P EDGE 2 

Melanodryas cucullata Hooded Robin X P DECLINING 2 

Pachycephala inornata Gilbert's Whistler X V EDGE, RARE 1 

Falcunculus frontatus Crested Shrike-tit P RARE 2 

Coracina maxima Ground Cuckoo-shrike P RARE 3 

Cinclosoma punctatum Spotted Quail-thrush X P RARE 1 

Pomatostomus temporalis Grey-crowned Babbler X P DECLINING 1 

Pomatostomus superciliosus White-browed Babbler X P DECLINING 1 

Epthianura albifrons White-fronted Chat P RARE 3 

Epthianura tricolor Crimson Chat P EDGE 3 

Aphelocephala leucopsis Southern Whiteface P RARE 3 

Hylacola pyrrhopygia Chestnut-rumped Heathwren X P RARE 1 

Hylacola cauta Shy Heathwren V EDGE, RARE 1 

Chthonicola sagittata Speckled Warbler X P DECLINING 2 

Artamus personatus Masked Woodswallow P RARE 2


priority 

Artamus superciliosus White-browed Woodswallow P RARE 2 

Artamus minor Little Woodswallow P RARE 2 

Climacteris affinis White-browed Treecreeper P EDGE 2 

Melithreptus gularis Black-chinned Honeyeater P DECLINING 1 

Certhionyx niger Black Honeyeater P RARE 1 

Lichmera indistincta Brown Honeyeater X P EDGE 1 

Grantiella picta Painted Honeyeater V RARE 1 

Certhionyx variegatus Pied Honeyeater V EDGE 2 

Xanthomyza phrygia Regent Honeyeater E1 RARE 1 

Lichenostomus virescens Singing Honeyeater X P EDGE 2 

Lichenostomus ornatus Yellow-plumed Honeyeater X P EDGE 2 

Manorina flavigula Yellow-throated Miner X P DECLINING 2 

Stagonopleura guttata Diamond Firetail X P DECLINING 3 

Neochmia modesta Plum-headed Finch P RARE 3 

Poephila cincta Black-throated Finch E1 RARE 3 

Chlamydera maculata Spotted Bowerbird X P RARE 2 

Dasyurus maculatus Tiger Quoll V RARE 1 

Phascogale tapoatafa Brush-tailed Phascogale V RARE 1 

Vespadelus troughtoni Eastern Cave Bat X V RARE 1 

Planigale tenuirostris Narrow-nosed Planigale P EDGE 3 

Planigale gilesi Paucident Planigale P EDGE 3 

Sminthopsis crassicaudata Fat-tailed Dunnart P RARE 3 

Sminthopsis macroura Stripe-faced Dunnart V RARE 3 

Trichosurus vulpecula Common Brushtail Possum X P DECLINING 1 

Pseudocheirus peregrinus Common Ringtail Possum P DECLINING 1 

Petaurus norfolcensis Squirrel Glider X V RARE 1 

Acrobates pygmaeus Feathertail Glider X P RARE 1 

Cercartetus nanus Eastern Pigmy-possum X P RARE 1 

Phascolarctos cinereus Koala X V RARE 1 

Aepyprymnus rufescens Rufous Bettong V RARE 1 

Petrogale penicillata Brush-tailed Rock-wallaby V DECLINING 3 

Macropus dorsalis Black-striped Wallaby X E1 RARE 1 

Macropus robustus Common Wallaroo X P RARE 2 

Pteropus poliocephalus Grey-headed Flying-fox P EDGE 1 

Rhinolophus megaphyllus Eastern Horseshoe-bat P RARE 2 

Saccolaimus flaviventris Yellow-bellied Sheathtail-bat X V RARE 1 

Nyctophilus timoriensis Greater Long-eared Bat X V RARE 1 

Miniopterus schreibersii Common Bent-wing Bat V EDGE 3 

Miniopterus australis Little Bent-wing Bat V EDGE 3 

Chalinolobus morio Chocolate Wattled Bat X P EDGE 2 

Chalinolobus picatus Little Pied Bat X V EDGE 1 

Chalinolobus dwyeri Large Pied Bat X V RARE 1 

Myotis adversus Large-footed Mouse-eared Bat V EDGE 3 

Falsistrellus tasmaniensis Great Pipistrelle V EDGE 1 

Vespadelus baverstocki Inland Forest Bat V RARE 2 

Rattus villosissimus Long-haired Rat V RARE 3 

Hydromys chrysogaster Water Rat X P RARE 3 

Pseudomys pilligaensis Pilliga Mouse X V RARE 2 

Canis familiaris dingo Dingo U RARE 3 

Anomalopus mackayi Three-clawed Worm-skink E1 RARE 3 

Tympanocryptis lineata Lined Earless Dragon P RARE 3 

Varanus tristis Black-headed Monitor P RARE, EDGE 1 

Lygisaurus foliorum Litter Skink X P EDGE 3 

Carlia tetradactyla Southern Rainbow Skink P RARE 2 

Ctenotus strauchii P EDGE 3 

Ctenotus uber P EDGE 3 

Egernia cunninghami Cunningham's Skink P EDGE 3 

Egernia whitii White's Skink P EDGE 3 

Hemiergis decresiensis P EDGE 2 

Bassiana platynota Red-throated Skink P EDGE 2 

Lerista bougainvillii Bougainville's Skink X P EDGE 2 

Eulamprus tenuis Barred-side Skink X P EDGE 1 

Morelia spilota Carpet or Diamond Python P RARE 1 

Acanthophis antarcticus Common Death Adder P RARE 2 

Rhinoplocephalus nigrescens Eastern Small-eyed Snake P EDGE 2


priority 

Furina dunmalli Dunmall’s Snake P EDGE 2 

Hoplocephalus bitorquatus Pale-headed Snake X V DECLINING 1 

Pseudechis australis Mulga Snake P EDGE 3 

Liasis maculosus Eastern Children's Python P EDGE 1 

Egernia saxatilis saxatilis Warrumbungle's Black Rock P RARE 3 

Skink 

Underwoodisaurus sphyrurus V RARE 3 

Cyclorana verrucosa P EDGE 3 

Notaden bennettii Crucifix Frog P EDGE 3 

Pseudophryne bibronii Brown Toadlet P EDGE 3 

Crinia sloanei Sloane's Toadlet P EDGE 3 

Elseya sp. (Namoi and Gwydir Rivers) V RARE 3

APPENDIX 13: NATIVE FLORA RECORDED WITHIN THE BBS – EXCLUSIVE OF 

TSC ACT AND ROTAP SPECIES (SEE SECTION 7.2 FOR LIST OF THREATENED 

AND ROTAP SPECIES WITHIN THE BBS) 

Family Common Name Scientific Name No. Records Source 

Acanthaceae Blue Trumpet Brunoniella australis 141 BBS (115), WLA (26) 

Acanthaceae Pastel Flower Pseuderanthemum variabile 66 BBS 

Acanthaceae Rostellularia adscendens 8 BBS 

Acanthaceae Rostellularia adscendens ssp 

adscendens 

93 BBS (65), WLA (28) 

Acanthaceae Rostellularia adscendens ssp 

adscendens var adscendens 

18 BBS 

Aizoaceae Glinus lotoides 3 BBS (2), WLA (1) 

Aizoaceae Tetragonia moorei (Tetragonia 

tetragonoides) 

17 BBS (10), WLA (7) 

Aizoaceae Trianthema triquetra 1 BBS 

Aizoaceae Hogweed Zaleya galericulata 7 BBS (4), WLA (3) 

Aizoaceae Hogweed Zaleya galericulata ssp australis 4 BBS (1), WLA (3) 

Alismataceae Starfruit Damasonium minus 2 BBS 

Amaranthaceae Alternanthera angustifolia 1 BBS 

Amaranthaceae Lesser Joyweed Alternanthera denticulata 146 BBS (31), WLA (115) 

Amaranthaceae Hairy Joyweed Alternanthera nana 8 BBS (6), WLA (2) 

Amaranthaceae Common Joyweed Alternanthera nodiflora 1 BBS 

Amaranthaceae Alternanthera sp.A 51 BBS 

Amaranthaceae Dwarf Amaranth Amaranthus macrocarpus 7 BBS (4), WLA (3) 

Amaranthaceae Dwarf Amaranth Amaranthus macrocarpus var 

macrocarpus 

1 BBS 

Amaranthaceae Deeringia amaranthoides 1 BBS 

Amaranthaceae Barbwire Weed Nyssanthes diffusa 2 BBS 

Amaranthaceae Nyssanthes erecta 5 BBS 

Amaranthaceae Ptilotus erubescens 2 BBS 

Amaranthaceae Tall Mulla Mulla Ptilotus exaltatus var exaltatus 3 BBS (2), WLA (1) 

Amaranthaceae Green Pussytails Ptilotus macrocephalus 4 BBS (2), WLA (2) 

Amaranthaceae Ptilotus semilanatus 4 BBS (2), WLA (2) 

Amaryllidaceae Garland Lily Calostemma purpureum 1 BBS 

Amaryllidaceae Macquarie Lily Crinum flaccidum 32 BBS (28), WLA (4) 

Anthericaceae Vanilla Lily Arthropodium milleflorum 56 BBS (54), WLA (2) 

Anthericaceae Small Vanilla Lily Arthropodium minus 12 BBS (11), WLA (1) 

Anthericaceae Arthropodium species B 11 BBS (10), WLA (1) 

Anthericaceae Caesia calliantha 2 BBS 

Anthericaceae Pale Grass-lily Caesia parviflora var parviflora 4 BBS 

Anthericaceae Pale Grass-lily Caesia parviflora var vittata 1 BBS 

Anthericaceae Nodding Chocolate Lily Dichopogon fimbriatus 10 BBS (6), WLA (4) 

Anthericaceae Chocolate Lily Dichopogon strictus 2 BBS (1), WLA (1) 

Anthericaceae Laxmannia compacta 51 BBS 

Anthericaceae Laxmannia gracilis 196 BBS (189), WLA (7) 

Anthericaceae Twining Fringe Lily Thysanotus patersonii 6 BBS (4), WLA (2) 

Anthericaceae Common Fringe Lily Thysanotus tuberosus 66 BBS 

Anthericaceae Common Fringe Lily Thysanotus tuberosus ssp 

tuberosus 

2 BBS 

Anthericaceae Yellow Autumn Lily Tricoryne elatior 122 BBS (120), WLA (2) 

Apiaceae Actinotus gibbonsii 35 BBS 

Apiaceae Native Carrot Daucus glochidiatus 111 BBS (104), WLA (7) 

Apiaceae Daucus glochidiatus forma D 1WLA 

Apiaceae Long Eryngium Eryngium plantagineum 1 BBS 

Apiaceae Stinking Pennywort Hydrocotyle laxiflora 71 BBS (69), WLA (2) 

Apiaceae Hydrocotyle peduncularis 25 BBS 

Apiaceae Pennywort Hydrocotyle tripartita 3 BBS 

Apiaceae Lilaeopsis polyantha 4 BBS


Apiaceae Oreomyrrhis eriopoda 4 BBS 

Apiaceae Platysace ericoides 191 BBS (184), WLA (7) 

Apiaceae Platysace lanceolata 2 BBS (1), WLA (1) 

Apiaceae Platysace linearifolia 6 BBS (5), WLA (1) 

Apiaceae Platysace sp. aff. linearifolia 12 BBS 

Apiaceae Wild Parsnip Trachymene glaucifolia 3 BBS (1), WLA (2) 

Apiaceae Trachymene incisa 4 BBS 

Apiaceae Trachymene incisa ssp 

corrugata 

2 BBS 

Apiaceae White Parsnip Trachymene ochracea 3 BBS (1), WLA (2) 

Apocynaceae Quinine Bush Alstonia constricta 76 BBS (36), WLA (40) 

Apocynaceae Currant Bush Carissa ovata 260 BBS (25), WLA (235) 

Apocynaceae Gargaloo Parsonsia eucalyptophylla 87 BBS (47), WLA (43) 

Apocynaceae Parsonsia lanceolata 29 BBS (10), WLA (19) 

Araceae Settlers Flax Gymnostachys anceps 1 BBS 

Araceae Typhonium brownii 1 BBS 

Araliaceae Astrotricha longifolia 40 BBS (30), WLA (10) 

Araliaceae Elderberry Panax Polyscias sambucifolia 4 BBS 

Araliaceae Polyscias sambucifolia ssp A 1WLA 

Asclepiadaceae Doubah Marsdenia australis 3 BBS (2), WLA (1) 

Asclepiadaceae Marsdenia pleiadenia 1002 WLA 

Asclepiadaceae Common Milk Vine Marsdenia rostrata 3 BBS 

Asclepiadaceae Native Pear Marsdenia viridiflora subsp 

viridiflora 

40 BBS (30), WLA (10) 

Asclepiadaceae Rhyncharrhena linearis 29 BBS 

Asclepiadaceae Caustic Vine Sarcostemma australe 3 BBS (1), WLA (2) 

Asclepiadaceae Bearded Tylophora Tylophora barbata 17 BBS (15), WLA (2) 

Asphodelaceae Bulbine Lily Bulbine bulbosa 17 BBS (12), WLA (5) 

Asphodelaceae Wild Onion Bulbine semibarbata 77 BBS (71), WLA (6) 

Aspleniaceae Necklace Fern Asplenium flabellifolium 8 BBS (7), WLA (1) 

Aspleniaceae Asplenium trichomanes 1 BBS 

Aspleniaceae Blanket Fern Pleurosorus rutifolius 4 BBS (3), WLA (1) 

Asteraceae Flannel Cudweed Actinobole uliginosum 2 BBS 

Asteraceae Ammobium alatum 4 BBS (2), WLA (2) 

Asteraceae Hill Daisy Brachyscome aculeata 2 BBS (1), WLA (1) 

Asteraceae Brachyscome angustifolia 1WLA 

Asteraceae Brachyscome angustifolia var 

heterophylla 

1WLA 

Asteraceae Variable Daisy Brachyscome ciliaris var 

subintegrifolia 

2 BBS 

Asteraceae Brachyscome curvicarpa 4 BBS (3), WLA (1) 

Asteraceae Brachyscome dissectifolia 4 BBS 

Asteraceae Large-headed Daisy Brachyscome diversifolia 105 BBS (5), WLA (100) 

Asteraceae Large-headed Daisy Brachyscome diversifolia var 

dissecta 

1 BBS 

Asteraceae Pilliga Daisy Brachyscome formosa 9 BBS 

Asteraceae Dwarf Daisy Brachyscome goniocarpa 51 BBS (50), WLA (1) 

Asteraceae Brachyscome heterodonta 15 BBS (8), WLA (7) 

Asteraceae Brachyscome heterodonta var 

heterodonta 

1 BBS 

Asteraceae Brachyscome microcarpa 41 BBS (40), WLA (1) 

Asteraceae Cut-leaved Daisy Brachyscome multifida 35 BBS (34), WLA (1) 

Asteraceae Cut-leaved Daisy Brachyscome multifida var 

multifida 

31 BBS (30), WLA (1) 

Asteraceae Brachyscome nova-anglica 1 BBS 

Asteraceae Brachyscome procumbens 1WLA 

Asteraceae Southern Daisy Brachyscome readeri 1 BBS 

Asteraceae Brachyscome smithwhitei 

(Brachyscome species B) 

2 BBS (1), WLA (1)


Asteraceae Smooth Daisy Brachyscome trachycarpa 2 BBS 

Asteraceae Spreading Daisy Brachyscome whitei 6 BBS (3), WLA (3) 

Asteraceae Golden Everlasting Bracteantha bracteata 103 BBS (90), WLA (13) 

Asteraceae Sticky Everlasting Bracteantha viscosa 61 BBS (58), WLA (3) 

Asteraceae Woolly-heads Myriocephalus rhizocephalus 1WLA 

Asteraceae Pale Beauty-heads Calocephalus sonderi 8 BBS (5), WLA (3) 

Asteraceae Anchor Burr-daisy Calotis ancyrocarpa 1 BBS 

Asteraceae Mountain Burr-daisy Calotis cuneata 16 BBS (13), WLA (3) 

Asteraceae Mountain Burr-daisy Calotis cuneata var cuneata 54 BBS (4), WLA (50) 

Asteraceae Purple Burr-daisy Calotis cuneifolia 341 BBS (318), WLA (23) 

Asteraceae Calotis dentex 4 BBS 

Asteraceae Bogan Flea Calotis hispidula 17 BBS (13), WLA (4) 

Asteraceae Yellow Burr-daisy Calotis lappulacea 157 BBS (138), WLA (19) 

Asteraceae Rough Burr-daisy Calotis scabiosifolia 2 BBS (1), WLA (1) 

Asteraceae Rough Burr-daisy Calotis scabiosifolia var 

integrifolia 

2 BBS (1), WLA (1) 

Asteraceae Rough Burr-daisy Calotis scabiosifolia var 

scabiosifolia 

3 BBS (2), WLA (1) 

Asteraceae Tufted Burr-daisy Calotis scapigera 8 BBS (5), WLA (3) 

Asteraceae Dolly Bush Cassinia aculeata 398 BBS (397), WLA (1) 

Asteraceae Sifton Bush Cassinia arcuata 1075 WLA 

Asteraceae Cassinia compacta 5 BBS 

Asteraceae Cassinia cunninghamii 3 BBS (2), WLA (1) 

Asteraceae Cough Bush Cassinia laevis 101 BBS (80), WLA (21) 

Asteraceae Cassinia leptocephala 1WLA 

Asteraceae Cassinia quinquefaria 41 BBS (34), WLA (7) 

Asteraceae Cassinia trinerva 1 BBS 

Asteraceae Sticky Cassinia Cassinia uncata 25 BBS (21), WLA (4) 

Asteraceae Common Sneezeweed Centipeda cunninghamii 5 BBS 

Asteraceae Spreading Sneezeweed Centipeda minima 7 BBS (5), WLA (2) 

Asteraceae Spreading Sneezeweed Centipeda minima var minima 4 BBS (3), WLA (1) 

Asteraceae Snuffweed Centipeda racemosa 1 BBS 

Asteraceae Desert Sneezeweed Centipeda thespidioides 3 BBS 

Asteraceae Common Everlasting Chrysocephalum apiculatum 295 BBS (279), WLA (16) 

Asteraceae Hill Everlasting Chrysocephalum semicalvum 

ssp semicalvum 

9 BBS 

Asteraceae Clustered Everlasting Chrysocephalum semipapposum 64 BBS (59), WLA (5) 

Asteraceae Common Cotula Cotula australis 3 BBS (2), WLA (1) 

Asteraceae Bears-ear Cymbonotus lawsonianus 40 BBS (37), WLA (3) 

Asteraceae Cymbonotus preissianus 11 BBS 

Asteraceae Eclipta platyglossa 9 BBS 

Asteraceae Spreading Nut-heads Epaltes australis 18 BBS 

Asteraceae Tall Nut-heads Epaltes cunninghamii 1 BBS 

Asteraceae Woolly Mantle Eriochlamys behrii 2 BBS (1), WLA (1) 

Asteraceae Eriochlamys species A 4 BBS 

Asteraceae Creeping Cudweed Euchiton gymnocephalus 70 BBS 

Asteraceae Star Cudweed Euchiton involucratus 40 BBS (36), WLA (4) 

Asteraceae Euchiton sphaericus 77 BBS 

Asteraceae Speedy Weed Flaveria australasica 1 BBS 

Asteraceae Cobblers Tack Glossogyne tannensis 66 BBS 

Asteraceae Gnaphalium polycaulon 10 BBS 

Asteraceae Gnephosis tenuissima 34 BBS (32), WLA (2) 

Asteraceae Helichrysum collinum 28 BBS 

Asteraceae Button Everlasting Helichrysum scorpioides 1 BBS 

Asteraceae Dainty Everlasting Helichrysum semifertile 1 BBS 

Asteraceae Hyalosperma glutinosum ssp 

glutinosum 

1 BBS 

Asteraceae Hyalosperma praecox 1WLA 

Asteraceae Hyalosperma semisterile 1 BBS


Asteraceae Leucochrysum albicans 1WLA 

Asteraceae Plover Daisy Ixiolaena brevicompta 1 BBS 

Asteraceae Plover Daisy Ixiolaena leptolepis 11 BBS (5), WLA (6) 

Asteraceae Woolly Ixiolaena Ixiolaena tomentosa 21 BBS (10), WLA (11) 

Asteraceae Slender Lagenifera Lagenifera gracilis 14 BBS 

Asteraceae Blue Bottle-daisy Lagenifera stipitata 17 BBS 

Asteraceae Microseris lanceolata 4 BBS (3), WLA (1) 

Asteraceae Minuria integerrima 9 BBS (5), WLA (4) 

Asteraceae Minuria leptophylla 1 BBS 

Asteraceae Alpine Daisy Bush Olearia alpicola 5 BBS 

Asteraceae Olearia canescens 2 BBS (1), WLA (1) 

Asteraceae Olearia decurrens 27 BBS 

Asteraceae Sticky Daisy Bush Olearia elliptica 1076 BBS (58), WLA (1018) 

Asteraceae Olearia microphylla 28 BBS (12), WLA (16) 

Asteraceae Olearia pimeleoides 11 BBS 

Asteraceae Olearia ramosissima 8 BBS (5), WLA (3) 

Asteraceae Olearia ramulosa 28 BBS (27), WLA (1) 

Asteraceae Olearia rosmarinifolia 1WLA 

Asteraceae Wallaby Weed Olearia viscidula 2 BBS (1), WLA (1) 

Asteraceae Olearia viscosa 21 BBS (11), WLA (10) 

Asteraceae White Dogwood Ozothamnus diosmifolius 58 BBS 

Asteraceae Ozothamnus diotophyllus 1 BBS 

Asteraceae Ozothamnus obcordatus 3 BBS (2), WLA (1) 

Asteraceae Bowl Daisy Pluchea dentex 1 BBS 

Asteraceae Clustered Copper-wire 

Daisy 

Podolepis arachnoidea 4 BBS 

Asteraceae Large Copper-wire 

Daisy 

Podolepis canescens 2WLA 

Asteraceae Showy Copper-wire 

Daisy 

Podolepis jaceoides 26 BBS (25), WLA (1) 

Asteraceae Podolepis neglecta 16 BBS (14), WLA (2) 

Asteraceae Podolepis robusta 1WLA 

Asteraceae Jersy Cudweed Pseudognaphalium luteoalbum 122 BBS (22), WLA (100) 

Asteraceae Billy Buttons Pycnosorus globosus 29 BBS (16), WLA (13) 

Asteraceae Rhodanthe anthemoides 6 BBS (4), WLA (2) 

Asteraceae Small White Sunray Rhodanthe corymbiflora 3 BBS (2), WLA (1) 

Asteraceae Rhodanthe stuartiana 5 BBS (3), WLA (2) 

Asteraceae Rhodanthe troedelii 2 BBS (1), WLA (1) 

Asteraceae Senecio bipinnatisectus 1 BBS 

Asteraceae Senecio biserratus 4 BBS 

Asteraceae Senecio cunninghamii var 

cunninghamii 

1 BBS 

Asteraceae Senecio diaschides 29 BBS 

Asteraceae Senecio glossanthus 7 BBS 

Asteraceae Senecio hispidulus 4 BBS 

Asteraceae Senecio hispidulus var dissectus 7 BBS (6), WLA (1) 

Asteraceae Senecio hispidulus var 

hispidulus 

3WLA 

Asteraceae Variable Groundsell Senecio lautus 11 BBS (10), WLA (1) 

Asteraceae Variable Groundsell Senecio lautus ssp dissectifolius 29 BBS 

Asteraceae Senecio linearifolius 3 BBS (2), WLA (1) 

Asteraceae Senecio minimus 1 BBS 

Asteraceae Cotton Fireweed Senecio quadridentatus 122 BBS (116), WLA (6) 

Asteraceae Tall Groundsell Senecio runcinifolius 1 BBS 

Asteraceae Senecio species E 48 BBS (47), WLA (1) 

Asteraceae Sigesbeckia australiensis 34 BBS (33), WLA (1) 

Asteraceae Indian Weed Sigesbeckia orientalis ssp 

orientalis 

23 BBS (19), WLA (4)


Asteraceae Solenogyne bellioides 12 BBS (11), WLA (1) 

Asteraceae Solenogyne gunnii 10 BBS (9), WLA (1) 

Asteraceae Hooked Cudweed Stuartina hamata 23 BBS 

Asteraceae Spoon Cudweed Stuartina muelleri 6 BBS 

Asteraceae Triptilodiscus pygmaeus 43 BBS (41), WLA (2) 

Asteraceae Vernonia cinerea 69 BBS (65), WLA (4) 

Asteraceae Vernonia cinerea var cinerea 40 BBS 

Asteraceae Vittadinia cervicularis 11 BBS (9), WLA (2) 

Asteraceae Vittadinia cervicularis var 

cervicularis 

46 BBS 

Asteraceae Vittadinia cervicularis var 

subcervicularis 

9 BBS 

Asteraceae Fuzzweed Vittadinia cuneata 78 BBS (66), WLA (12) 

Asteraceae Fuzzweed Vittadinia cuneata var cuneata 23 BBS 

Asteraceae Fuzzweed Vittadinia cuneata var cuneata 

forma cuneata 

3 BBS 

Asteraceae Fuzzweed Vittadinia cuneata var hirsuta 7 BBS 

Asteraceae Vittadinia dissecta 32 BBS (29), WLA (3) 

Asteraceae Vittadinia dissecta var dissecta 1WLA 

Asteraceae Vittadinia dissecta var hirta 99 BBS 

Asteraceae Vittadinia gracilis 2 BBS 

Asteraceae Vittadinia muelleri 54 BBS 

Asteraceae Rough Fuzzweed Vittadinia pterochaeta 17 BBS (13), WLA (4) 

Asteraceae Vittadinia pustulata 8 BBS (7), WLA (1) 

Asteraceae Vittadinia sulcata 122 BBS 

Asteraceae Western New Holland 

Daisy 

Vittadinia tenuissima 1 BBS 

Asteraceae Picris angustifolia 26 BBS 

Azollaceae Azolla filiculoides var rubra 4 BBS (2), WLA (2) 

Bignoniaceae Wonga Wonga Vine Pandorea pandorana 69 BBS (35), WLA (34) 

Blechnaceae Gristle Fern Blechnum cartilagineum 2WLA 

Blechnaceae Soft Water Fern Blechnum minus 4 BBS 

Blechnaceae Fishbone Water Fern Blechnum nudum 1 BBS 

Blechnaceae Rasp Fern Doodia aspera 12 BBS (10), WLA (2) 

Blechnaceae Rasp Fern Doodia caudata 9 BBS (8), WLA (1) 

Boraginaceae Austrocynoglossum latifolium 6 BBS 

Boraginaceae Cynoglossum australe 36 BBS (34), WLA (2) 

Boraginaceae Cynoglossum suaveolens 3 BBS (1), WLA (1) 

Boraginaceae Australian Forget-menot 

Myosotis australis 1WLA 

Boraginaceae Peach Bush Ehretia membranifolia 27 BBS (12), WLA (15) 

Boraginaceae Halgania brachyrhyncha 2 BBS 

Boraginaceae Rough Halgania Halgania cyanea 2 BBS 

Brassicaceae Cardamine paucijuga 12 BBS 

Brassicaceae Harmsiodoxa blennodioides 1 BBS 

Brassicaceae Lepidium fasciculatum 5 BBS (3), WLA (2) 

Brassicaceae Lepidium muelleri-ferdinandi 1 BBS 

Brassicaceae Peppercress Lepidium pseudohyssopifolium 59 BBS (51), WLA (8) 

Brassicaceae Lepidium sagittulatum 2 BBS 

Brassicaceae Oval-podded Cress Phlegmatospermum 

cochlearinum 

2 BBS 

Brassicaceae Rorippa eustylis 3 BBS 

Campanulaceae Tufted Bluebell Wahlenbergia communis 117 BBS (111), WLA (6) 

Campanulaceae River Bluebell Wahlenbergia fluminalis 57 BBS (48), WLA (9) 

Campanulaceae Annual Bluebell Wahlenbergia gracilenta 87 BBS (86), WLA (1) 

Campanulaceae Wahlenbergia gracilis 71 BBS (64), WLA (7) 

Campanulaceae Granite Bluebell Wahlenbergia graniticola 3 BBS (1), WLA (2) 

Campanulaceae Wahlenbergia luteola 36 BBS (24), WLA (12) 

Campanulaceae Wahlenbergia planiflora 62 BBS


Campanulaceae Wahlenbergia planiflora ssp 

longipila 

86 BBS 

Campanulaceae Wahlenbergia planiflora ssp 

planiflora 

73 BBS 

Campanulaceae Tall Bluebell Wahlenbergia stricta 46 BBS (38), WLA (8) 

Campanulaceae Tall Bluebell Wahlenbergia stricta ssp alterna 44 BBS 

Campanulaceae Tall Bluebell Wahlenbergia stricta ssp stricta 63 BBS 

Campanulaceae Wahlenbergia tumidifructa 2 BBS 

Capparaceae Warrior Bush Apophyllum anomalum 71 BBS (42), WLA (29) 

Capparaceae Nepine Capparis lasiantha 261 BBS (26), WLA (235) 

Capparaceae Wild Orange Capparis mitchellii 130 BBS (65), WLA (65) 

Caryophyllaceae Annual Chalkwort Gypsophila tubulosa 11 BBS (10), WLA (1) 

Caryophyllaceae Polycarpaea corymbosa 1 BBS 

Caryophyllaceae Polycarpaea corymbosa var 

minor 

7 BBS 

Caryophyllaceae Scleranthus biflorus 8 BBS (7), WLA (1) 

Caryophyllaceae Scleranthus pungens 2 BBS 

Caryophyllaceae Swamp Starwort Stellaria angustifolia 9 BBS (7), WLA (2) 

Caryophyllaceae Stellaria flaccida 7 BBS 

Caryophyllaceae Stellaria multiflora 5 BBS 

Caryophyllaceae Prickly Starwort Stellaria pungens 25 BBS (24), WLA (1) 

Caryophyllaceae Stellaria species D 2 BBS 

Casuarinaceae Allocasuarina diminuta 82 BBS (81), WLA (1) 

Casuarinaceae Allocasuarina diminuta ssp 

diminuta 

97 BBS (93), WLA (4) 

Casuarinaceae Allocasuarina distyla 8 BBS 

Casuarinaceae Allocasuarina gymnanthera 23 BBS 

Casuarinaceae Stringybark Sheoak Allocasuarina inophloia 1 BBS 

Casuarinaceae Black Sheoak Allocasuarina littoralis 3WLA 

Casuarinaceae Bulloak Allocasuarina luehmannii 310 BBS (269), WLA (41) 

Casuarinaceae Forest Oak Allocasuarina torulosa 9 BBS (8), WLA (1) 

Casuarinaceae Drooping Sheoak Allocasuarina verticillata 1 BBS 

Casuarinaceae Belah Casuarina cristata 264 BBS (84), WLA (180) 

Celastraceae Red Olive-plum Cassine australis 42 BBS (20), WLA (22) 

Celastraceae Red Olive-plum Cassine australis var angustifolia 22 BBS (8), WLA (14) 

Celastraceae Celastrus australis 4 BBS 

Celastraceae Celastrus subspicata 2 BBS 

Celastraceae Orangebark Maytenus bilocularis 4WLA 

Celastraceae Yellow-berry Bush Maytenus cunninghamii 102 BBS (90), WLA (12) 

Centrolepidaceae Centrolepis eremica 2 BBS 

Centrolepidaceae Centrolepis strigosa ssp strigosa 38 BBS (35), WLA (3) 

Chenopodiaceae Slender-fruit Saltbush Atriplex leptocarpa 7 BBS (5), WLA (2) 

Chenopodiaceae Atriplex pseudocampanulata 2 BBS (1), WLA (1) 

Chenopodiaceae Creeping Saltbush Atriplex semibaccata 17 BBS (11), WLA (6) 

Chenopodiaceae Atriplex spinibractea 17 BBS (16), WLA (1) 

Chenopodiaceae Atriplex suberecta 2 BBS (1), WLA (1) 

Chenopodiaceae Bladder Saltbush Atriplex vesicaria 2 BBS (1), WLA (1) 

Chenopodiaceae Chenopodium auricomum 10 BBS (5), WLA (5) 

Chenopodiaceae Keeled Goosefoot Chenopodium carinatum 2 BBS 

Chenopodiaceae Crested Goosefoot Chenopodium cristatum 1 BBS 

Chenopodiaceae Chenopodium curvispicatum 2 BBS 

Chenopodiaceae Chenopodium desertorum ssp 

desertorum 

12 BBS 

Chenopodiaceae Chenopodium desertorum ssp 

microphyllum 

2 BBS 

Chenopodiaceae Black Crumbweed Chenopodium melanocarpum 2 BBS 

Chenopodiaceae Small Crumbweed Chenopodium pumilio 13 BBS (9), WLA (4) 

Chenopodiaceae Dysphania glomulifera 2 BBS (1), WLA (1) 

Chenopodiaceae Berry Saltbush Einadia hastata 97 BBS (78), WLA (19)


Chenopodiaceae Climbing Saltbush Einadia nutans 186 BBS (46), WLA (140) 

Chenopodiaceae Climbing Saltbush Einadia nutans ssp linifolia 22 BBS (21), WLA (1) 

Chenopodiaceae Climbing Saltbush Einadia nutans ssp nutans 168 BBS (166), WLA (2) 

Chenopodiaceae Einadia polygonoides 12 BBS (10), WLA (2) 

Chenopodiaceae Fishweed Einadia trigonos 67 BBS (61), WLA (6) 

Chenopodiaceae Fishweed Einadia trigonos ssp leiocarpa 5 BBS 

Chenopodiaceae Fishweed Einadia trigonos ssp stellulata 4 BBS 

Chenopodiaceae Ruby Saltbush Enchylaena tomentosa 126 BBS (95), WLA (31) 

Chenopodiaceae Cotton Bush Maireana aphylla 6 BBS (4), WLA (2) 

Chenopodiaceae Maireana brevifolia 7 BBS (2), WLA (5) 

Chenopodiaceae Maireana coronata 7 BBS (4), WLA (3) 

Chenopodiaceae Black Cottonbush Maireana decalvans 2 BBS 

Chenopodiaceae Maireana enchylaenoides 1 BBS 

Chenopodiaceae Maireana microcarpa 7 BBS (4), WLA (3) 

Chenopodiaceae Maireana microphylla 48 BBS (27), WLA (21) 

Chenopodiaceae Hairy Bluebush Maireana pentagona 2 BBS 

Chenopodiaceae Rhagodia parabolica 3 BBS 

Chenopodiaceae Rhagodia spinescens 97 BBS (50), WLA (47) 

Chenopodiaceae Salsola kali 22 BBS (11), WLA (11) 

Chenopodiaceae Salsola kali var kali 6 BBS (5), WLA (1) 

Chenopodiaceae Goathead Burr Sclerolaena bicornis 2 BBS (1), WLA (1) 

Chenopodiaceae Goathead Burr Sclerolaena bicornis var horrida 4 BBS (2), WLA (2) 

Chenopodiaceae Galvanised Burr Sclerolaena birchii 83 BBS (42), WLA (41) 

Chenopodiaceae Red Burr Sclerolaena calcarata 1 BBS 

Chenopodiaceae Sclerolaena convexula 1 BBS 

Chenopodiaceae Tangled Copperburr Sclerolaena cuneata 1WLA 

Chenopodiaceae Sclerolaena decurrens 3 BBS 

Chenopodiaceae Grey Copperburr Sclerolaena diacantha 20 BBS (15), WLA (5) 

Chenopodiaceae Tangled Copperburr Sclerolaena divaricata 8 BBS (7), WLA (1) 

Chenopodiaceae Sclerolaena intricata 1 BBS 

Chenopodiaceae Sclerolaena longicuspis 1 BBS 

Chenopodiaceae Black Rolypoly Sclerolaena muricata 38 BBS (18), WLA (20) 

Chenopodiaceae Black Rolypoly Sclerolaena muricata var 

muricata 

6 BBS 

Chenopodiaceae Black Rolypoly Sclerolaena muricata var 

semiglabra 

4 BBS 

Chenopodiaceae Black Rolypoly Sclerolaena muricata var villosa 4 BBS 

Chenopodiaceae Sclerolaena stelligera 1 BBS 

Chenopodiaceae Brigalow Burr Sclerolaena tetracuspis 73 BBS (13), WLA (60) 

Chenopodiaceae Giant Redburr Sclerolaena tricuspis 2 BBS (1), WLA (1) 

Chloanthaceae Chloanthes parviflora 107 BBS (85), WLA (22) 

Chloanthaceae Spartothamnella juncea 47 BBS (26), WLA (21) 

Chloanthaceae Spartothamnella puberula 7 BBS (6), WLA (1) 

Clusiaceae Small St John's Wort Hypericum gramineum 172 BBS (166), WLA (6) 

Clusiaceae Hypericum japonicum 10 BBS 

Colchicaceae Early Nancy Wurmbea dioica ssp dioica 3 BBS (1), WLA (2) 

Commelinaceae Aneilema acuminatum 5 BBS 

Commelinaceae Commelina cyanea 71 BBS (64), WLA (7) 

Commelinaceae Scurvy Grass Commelina ensifolia 2 BBS (1), WLA (1) 

Commelinaceae Murdannia graminea 12 BBS (11), WLA (1) 

Convolvulaceae Calystegia marginata 2 BBS 

Convolvulaceae Convolvulus erubescens 31 BBS (23), WLA (8) 

Convolvulaceae Convolvulus remotus 6 BBS 

Convolvulaceae Australian Dodder Cuscuta australis 1 BBS 

Convolvulaceae Kidney Weed Dichondra repens 211 BBS (178), WLA (33) 

Convolvulaceae Kidney Weed Dichondra sp.A 129 BBS (114), WLA (15) 

Convolvulaceae Evolvulus alsinoides 21 BBS (19), WLA (2) 

Convolvulaceae Evolvulus alsinoides var 

decumbens 

94 BBS (92), WLA (2)


Convolvulaceae Evolvulus alsinoides var 

villosicalyx 

7 BBS 

Convolvulaceae Polymeria longifolia 2 BBS 

Convolvulaceae Polymeria pusilla 2 BBS 

Crassulaceae Crassula colorata 8 BBS (4), WLA (4) 

Crassulaceae Crassula decumbens var 

decumbens 

2 BBS (1), WLA (1) 

Crassulaceae Australian Stonecrop Crassula sieberiana 66 BBS (57), WLA (9) 

Cucurbitaceae Sicyos australis 2 BBS 

Cucurbitaceae Slender Cucumber Zehneria cunninghamii 1 BBS 

Cupressaceae Black Cypress Pine Callitris endlicheri 444 BBS (396), WLA (48) 

Cupressaceae White Cypress Pine Callitris glaucophylla (segregate 

Callitris columellaris) 

659 BBS (525), WLA (134) 

Cyperaceae Baumea juncea 2 BBS 

Cyperaceae Bolboschoenus fluviatilis 11 BBS (6), WLA (5) 

Cyperaceae Bulbostylis barbata 12 BBS (11), WLA (1) 

Cyperaceae Bulbostylis densa 1 BBS 

Cyperaceae Carex appressa 22 BBS (15), WLA (7) 

Cyperaceae Carex bichenoviana 1 BBS 

Cyperaceae Carex breviculmis 39 BBS 

Cyperaceae Carex chlorantha 1 BBS 

Cyperaceae Carex declinata 1 BBS 

Cyperaceae Tassel Sedge Carex fascicularis 1 BBS 

Cyperaceae Carex incomitata 14 BBS 

Cyperaceae Knob Sedge Carex inversa 100 BBS (89), WLA (11) 

Cyperaceae Carex tereticaulis 1 BBS 

Cyperaceae Cyperus alterniflorus 2 BBS 

Cyperaceae Cyperus betchei subsp betchei 2 BBS 

Cyperaceae Cyperus bifax 12 BBS 

Cyperaceae Cyperus castaneus 1 BBS 

Cyperaceae Cyperus concinnus 5 BBS 

Cyperaceae Dirty Dora Cyperus difformis 2 BBS 

Cyperaceae Cyperus exaltatus 125 BBS (10), WLA (115) 

Cyperaceae Cyperus flaccidus 7 BBS (4), WLA (3) 

Cyperaceae Cyperus fulvus 100 BBS 

Cyperaceae Cyperus gracilis 314 BBS (209), WLA (105) 

Cyperaceae Cyperus gunnii ssp gunnii 5 BBS (3), WLA (2) 

Cyperaceae Cyperus gymnocaulos 2 BBS (1), WLA (1) 

Cyperaceae Cyperus leiocaulon 2 BBS 

Cyperaceae Cyperus lucidus 18 BBS (16), WLA (2) 

Cyperaceae Cyperus polystachyos 1 BBS 

Cyperaceae Cyperus pygmaeus 2 BBS (1), WLA (1) 

Cyperaceae Cyperus sanguinolentus 9 BBS 

Cyperaceae Cyperus sphaeroideus 5 BBS 

Cyperaceae Cyperus squarrosus 1 BBS 

Cyperaceae Cyperus subulatus 9 BBS (7), WLA (2) 

Cyperaceae Cyperus vaginatus 19 BBS (11), WLA (8) 

Cyperaceae Cyperus victoriensis 4 BBS 

Cyperaceae Eleocharis acuta 2 BBS (1), WLA (1) 

Cyperaceae Eleocharis cylindrostachys 1WLA 

Cyperaceae Eleocharis dietrichiana 3 BBS 

Cyperaceae Eleocharis gracilis 1 BBS 

Cyperaceae Eleocharis pallens 8 BBS 

Cyperaceae Eleocharis plana 7 BBS (5), WLA (2) 

Cyperaceae Eleocharis pusilla 7 BBS (4), WLA (3) 

Cyperaceae Fimbristylis dichotoma 113 BBS (110), WLA (3) 

Cyperaceae Fimbristylis neilsonii 32 BBS 

Cyperaceae Fuirena incrassata 5 BBS


Cyperaceae Gahnia aspera 311 BBS (278), WLA (33) 

Cyperaceae Isolepis australiensis 2 BBS 

Cyperaceae Nodding Club-rush Isolepis cernua 1 BBS 

Cyperaceae Isolepis hookeriana 3 BBS (2), WLA (1) 

Cyperaceae Isolepis inundata 2 BBS 

Cyperaceae Isolepis victoriensis 1 BBS 

Cyperaceae Lepidosperma laterale 244 BBS (218), WLA (26) 

Cyperaceae Lepidosperma viscidum 2 BBS (1), WLA (1) 

Cyperaceae Lipocarpha microcephala 5 BBS 

Cyperaceae Schoenoplectus mucronatus 1WLA 

Cyperaceae Schoenoplectus validus 13 BBS (7), WLA (6) 

Cyperaceae Schoenus apogon 43 BBS (41), WLA (2) 

Cyperaceae Schoenus centralis 16 RBG (1) 

Cyperaceae Schoenus ericetorum 229 BBS (127), WLA (102) 

Cyperaceae Schoenus kennyi 46 BBS 

Cyperaceae Schoenus latelaminatus 3 BBS 

Cyperaceae Schoenus moorei 24 BBS 

Cyperaceae Scleria mackaviensis 23 BBS 

Davalliaceae Haresfoot Fern Davallia solida var pyxidata 4 BBS 

Davalliaceae Arthropteris beckleri 1WLA 

Davalliaceae Arthropteris tenella 1WLA 

Dennsteadtiaceae Ground Fern Hypolepis glandulifera 4 BBS 

Dennsteadtiaceae Bracken Pteridium esculentum 99 BBS (45), WLA (54) 

Dicksoniaceae Common Ground Fern Calochlaena dubia 14 BBS (13), WLA (1) 

Dilleniaceae Hibbertia acicularis 15 BBS (14), WLA (1) 

Dilleniaceae Hibbertia circumdans 7 BBS 

Dilleniaceae Hibbertia covenyana 50 BBS (49), WLA (1) 

Dilleniaceae Hibbertia incana 72 BBS (58), WLA (14) 

Dilleniaceae Hibbertia linearis 3 BBS (1), WLA (2) 

Dilleniaceae Hibbertia monogyna 12 BBS 

Dilleniaceae Hibbertia obtusifolia 470 BBS (404), WLA (66) 

Dilleniaceae Hibbertia pedunculata 1WLA 

Dilleniaceae Hibbertia riparia 95 BBS (79), WLA (16) 

Dilleniaceae Climbing Guinea Flower Hibbertia scandens 15 BBS (11), WLA (4) 

Dilleniaceae Hibbertia serpyllifolia 7 BBS 

Dilleniaceae Hibbertia species B 1 BBS 

Droseraceae Sundew Drosera auriculata 7 BBS (6), WLA (1) 

Droseraceae Drosera burmanni 6 BBS 

Droseraceae Pimpernel Sundew Drosera glanduligera 4 BBS 

Droseraceae Drosera indica 3 BBS 

Droseraceae Drosera peltata 14 BBS (11), WLA (3) 

Dryopteridaceae Shiny Sheild Fern Lastreopsis acuminata 2 BBS (1), WLA (1) 

Dryopteridaceae Sheild Fern Polystichum fallax 25 BBS (5), WLA (20) 

Dryopteridaceae Mother Sheild Fern Polystichum proliferum 4 BBS 

Ebenaceae Black Plum Diospyros australis 2 BBS 

Elatinaceae Waterwort Elatine gratioloides 1WLA 

Epacridaceae Acrotriche rigida 18 BBS (12), WLA (6) 

Epacridaceae Honeypots Acrotriche serrulata 7 BBS 

Epacridaceae Native Cranberry Astroloma humifusum 58 BBS (49), WLA (9) 

Epacridaceae Brachyloma daphnoides 380 BBS (334), WLA (46) 

Epacridaceae Brachyloma daphnoides subsp 

daphnoides 

5 BBS (1), WLA (4) 

Epacridaceae Brachyloma daphnoides subsp 

pubescens 

38 BBS 

Epacridaceae Leucopogon attenuatus 46 BBS (41), WLA (5) 

Epacridaceae Leucopogon biflorus 36 BBS (34), WLA (2) 

Epacridaceae Leucopogon hookeri 5 BBS 

Epacridaceae Leucopogon lanceolatus 8 BBS (7), WLA (1)


Epacridaceae Leucopogon lanceolatus var 

lanceolatus 

1WLA 

Epacridaceae Leucopogon microphyllus 1 BBS 

Epacridaceae Leucopogon muticus 114 BBS (109), WLA (5) 

Epacridaceae Coastal Bearded-heath Leucopogon parviflorus 2 BBS 

Epacridaceae Leucopogon virgatus 3 BBS 

Epacridaceae Peach Heath Lissanthe strigosa 209 BBS (97), WLA (112) 

Epacridaceae Peach Heath Lissanthe strigosa subsp 

strigosa 

2 BBS 

Epacridaceae Peach Heath Lissanthe strigosa subsp 

subuluta 

4 BBS 

Epacridaceae Ruby Urn Heath Melichrus erubescens 43 BBS (34), WLA (9) 

Epacridaceae Jam Tarts Melichrus procumbens 2WLA 

Epacridaceae Melichrus sp. aff. erubescens 4 BBS 

Epacridaceae Urn Heath Melichrus urceolatus 522 BBS (460), WLA (62) 

Epacridaceae Monotoca scoparia 44 BBS (42), WLA (2) 

Epacridaceae Styphelia triflora 337 BBS (187), WLA (150) 

Epacridaceae Styphelia viridis 1WLA 

Eriocaulaceae Eriocaulon scariosum 3 BBS 

Euphorbiaceae Acalypha capillipes 4 BBS (2), WLA (2) 

Euphorbiaceae Adriana tomentosa var 

tomentosa 

2 BBS 

Euphorbiaceae Bertya cunninghamii 1 BBS 

Euphorbiaceae Bertya gummifera 11 BBS (9), WLA (2) 

Euphorbiaceae Bertya oblonga 2 BBS 

Euphorbiaceae Bertya oleifolia 3 BBS 

Euphorbiaceae Bertya species D 1 BBS 

Euphorbiaceae Beyeria viscosa 84 BBS (49), WLA (35) 

Euphorbiaceae Coffee Bush Breynia oblongifolia 45 BBS (21), WLA (24) 

Euphorbiaceae Chamaesyce dallachyana 24 BBS (15), WLA (9) 

Euphorbiaceae Caustic Weed Chamaesyce drummondii 133 BBS (130), WLA (3) 

Euphorbiaceae Chamaesyce species A 7 BBS (4), WLA (3) 

Euphorbiaceae Brittlewood Claoxylon australe 5 BBS 

Euphorbiaceae Silver Croton Croton insularis 8 BBS (4), WLA (4) 

Euphorbiaceae Croton phebalioides 16 BBS (1), WLA (15) 

Euphorbiaceae Desert Spurge Euphorbia eremophila 5 BBS (4), WLA (1) 

Euphorbiaceae Micrantheum ericoides 5 BBS (4), WLA (1) 

Euphorbiaceae Bleeding Heart Omalanthus populifolius 2 BBS 

Euphorbiaceae Bitter Bark Petalostigma pubescens 9 BBS (4), WLA (5) 

Euphorbiaceae Long-leaved Bitter Bark Petalostigma triloculare 2WLA 

Euphorbiaceae Phyllanthus carpentariae 2 BBS 

Euphorbiaceae Phyllanthus fuernrohrii 1WLA 

Euphorbiaceae Phyllanthus gunnii 2 BBS (1), WLA (1) 

Euphorbiaceae Phyllanthus hirtellus 52 BBS (44), WLA (8) 

Euphorbiaceae Phyllanthus subcrenulatus 20 BBS (10), WLA (10) 

Euphorbiaceae Phyllanthus virgatus 108 BBS (106), WLA (2) 

Euphorbiaceae Poranthera corymbosa 4 BBS (3), WLA (1) 

Euphorbiaceae Poranthera microphylla 303 BBS (193), WLA (110) 

Euphorbiaceae Ricinocarpos bowmanii 117 BBS (91), WLA (26) 

Euphorbiaceae Sauropus hirtellus 3 BBS 

Fabaceae 

(Caesalpinioideae) 

Senna aciphylla 3WLA 

Fabaceae 


Silver Cassia Senna artemisioides 22 BBS (10), WLA (12) 

Fabaceae 

Silver Cassia Senna artemisioides noth 

9 BBS (2), WLA (7) 


artemisioides 

Fabaceae 

Senna artemisioides ssp 

20 BBS (19), WLA (1) 


zygophylla


Fabaceae 


Smooth Senna Senna barclayana 2 BBS (1), WLA (1) 

Fabaceae 


Senna coronilloides 17 BBS (4), WLA (13) 

Fabaceae 

Senna form taxon "zygophylla" 

3WLA 


(syn. Cassia nemophila) 

Fabaceae (Mimosoideae) Gold-dust Wattle Acacia acinacea 1WLA 

Fabaceae (Mimosoideae) Fern Wattle Acacia amblygona 5 BBS 

Fabaceae (Mimosoideae) Cootamundra Wattle Acacia baileyana 1 BBS 

Fabaceae (Mimosoideae) Acacia betchei 1 BBS 

Fabaceae (Mimosoideae) Acacia blakei subsp diphylla 5 BBS 

Fabaceae (Mimosoideae) Acacia brownii 1WLA 

Fabaceae (Mimosoideae) Acacia burrowii 31 BBS (24), WLA (7) 

Fabaceae (Mimosoideae) Box-leaved Wattle Acacia buxifolia 123 BBS (102), WLA (21) 

Fabaceae (Mimosoideae) Box-leaved Wattle Acacia buxifolia ssp buxifolia 15 BBS 

Fabaceae (Mimosoideae) Box-leaved Wattle Acacia buxifolia ssp pubiflora 1 BBS 

Fabaceae (Mimosoideae) Blue Bush Acacia caesiella 6 BBS (3), WLA (3) 

Fabaceae (Mimosoideae) Wallowa Acacia calamifolia 7 BBS (4), WLA (3) 

Fabaceae (Mimosoideae) Wyalong Wattle Acacia cardiophylla 6 BBS (4), WLA (2) 

Fabaceae (Mimosoideae) Acacia caroleae 85 BBS (83), WLA (2) 

Fabaceae (Mimosoideae) Motherumbah Acacia cheelii 47 BBS (43), WLA (4) 

Fabaceae (Mimosoideae) Curracabah Acacia concurrens 6WLA 

Fabaceae (Mimosoideae) Acacia conferta 59 BBS (32), WLA (27) 

Fabaceae (Mimosoideae) Acacia crassa ssp crassa 2 BBS (1), WLA (1) 

Fabaceae (Mimosoideae) Knife-leaved Wattle Acacia cultriformis 17 BBS (13), WLA (4) 

Fabaceae (Mimosoideae) Sliver Wattle Acacia dealbata 19 BBS 

Fabaceae (Mimosoideae) Green Wattle Acacia deanei 204 BBS (94), WLA (110) 

Fabaceae (Mimosoideae) Green Wattle Acacia deanei ssp deanei 42 BBS (39), WLA (3) 

Fabaceae (Mimosoideae) Green Wattle Acacia deanei ssp paucijuga 150 BBS (148), WLA (2) 

Fabaceae (Mimosoideae) Acacia debilis 3 BBS 

Fabaceae (Mimosoideae) Western Golden Wattle Acacia decora 45 BBS (23), WLA (22) 

Fabaceae (Mimosoideae) Currawant Acacia doratoxylon 93 BBS (62), WLA (31) 

Fabaceae (Mimosoideae) Acacia dorothea 2 BBS (1), WLA (1) 

Fabaceae (Mimosoideae) Acacia elongata 8 BBS (2), WLA (6) 

Fabaceae (Mimosoideae) Ironwood Acacia excelsa 6 BBS 

Fabaceae (Mimosoideae) Mimosa Bush Acacia farnesiana 38 BBS (19), WLA (19) 

Fabaceae (Mimosoideae) Fern-leaved Wattle Acacia filicifolia 4 BBS (2), WLA (2) 

Fabaceae (Mimosoideae) Acacia flexifolia 60 BBS (25), WLA (35) 

Fabaceae (Mimosoideae) White Sally Acacia floribunda 1 BBS 

Fabaceae (Mimosoideae) Sword-leaved Wattle Acacia gladiiformis 189 BBS (154), WLA (35) 

Fabaceae (Mimosoideae) Ploughshare Wattle Acacia gunnii 2 BBS 

Fabaceae (Mimosoideae) Hakea Wattle Acacia hakeoides 116 BBS (66), WLA (50) 

Fabaceae (Mimosoideae) Brigalow Acacia harpophylla 104 BBS (34), WLA (70) 

Fabaceae (Mimosoideae) Acacia havilandiorum 25 BBS (18), WLA (7) 

Fabaceae (Mimosoideae) Yarran Acacia homalophylla 15 BBS (12), WLA (3) 

Fabaceae (Mimosoideae) Hickory Wattle Acacia implexa 32 BBS (23), WLA (9) 

Fabaceae (Mimosoideae) Green Wattle Acacia irrorata 1 BBS 

Fabaceae (Mimosoideae) Green Wattle Acacia irrorata ssp irrorata 1 BBS 

Fabaceae (Mimosoideae) Acacia ixiophylla 47 BBS (40), WLA (7) 

Fabaceae (Mimosoideae) Acacia ixodes 1WLA 

Fabaceae (Mimosoideae) Rush-leaved Wattle Acacia juncifolia 7 BBS (5), WLA (2) 

Fabaceae (Mimosoideae) Hairy Wattle Acacia lanigera 3 BBS (2), WLA (1) 

Fabaceae (Mimosoideae) Acacia leiocalyx subsp leiocalyx 20 BBS (14), WLA (6) 

Fabaceae (Mimosoideae) Acacia leptoclada 4 BBS (3), WLA (1) 

Fabaceae (Mimosoideae) Acacia leucoclada 1 BBS 

Fabaceae (Mimosoideae) Acacia linearifolia 3WLA 

Fabaceae (Mimosoideae) Streaked Wattle Acacia lineata 28 BBS (13), WLA (15) 

Fabaceae (Mimosoideae) Sydney Golden Wattle Acacia longifolia 3 BBS 

Fabaceae (Mimosoideae) Box-leaved Wattle Acacia lunata 2 BBS


Fabaceae (Mimosoideae) Maidens Wattle Acacia maidenii 7 BBS (6), WLA (1) 

Fabaceae (Mimosoideae) Acacia maitlandii 1WLA 

Fabaceae (Mimosoideae) Black Wattle Acacia mearnsii 1WLA 

Fabaceae (Mimosoideae) Blackwood Acacia melanoxylon 16 BBS (14), WLA (2) 

Fabaceae (Mimosoideae) Acacia muelleriana 2WLA 

Fabaceae (Mimosoideae) Acacia murrayana 3 BBS 

Fabaceae (Mimosoideae) Red-stemmed Wattle Acacia myrtifolia 1 BBS 

Fabaceae (Mimosoideae) Silver Wattle Acacia neriifolia 15 BBS (5), WLA (10) 

Fabaceae (Mimosoideae) Acacia obtusifolia 1 BBS 

Fabaceae (Mimosoideae) Miljee Acacia oswaldii 21 BBS (11), WLA (10) 

Fabaceae (Mimosoideae) Kangaroo Thorn Acacia paradoxa 4 BBS (3), WLA (1) 

Fabaceae (Mimosoideae) Weeping Myall (Boree) Acacia pendula 139 BBS (19), WLA (120) 

Fabaceae (Mimosoideae) Mountain Hickory Acacia penninervis 147 BBS (123), WLA (25) 

Fabaceae (Mimosoideae) Acacia pilligaensis 238 BBS (98), WLA (140) 

Fabaceae (Mimosoideae) Western Silver Wattle Acacia polybotrya 79 BBS (67), WLA (12) 

Fabaceae (Mimosoideae) Coil-pod Wattle Acacia pravifolia 39 BBS (32), WLA (7) 

Fabaceae (Mimosoideae) Needle Wattle Acacia rigens 1 BBS 

Fabaceae (Mimosoideae) Cooba Acacia salicina 20 BBS (6), WLA (14) 

Fabaceae (Mimosoideae) Acacia sertiformis 14 BBS 

Fabaceae (Mimosoideae) Acacia sparsifolia 6 BBS 

Fabaceae (Mimosoideae) Mudgee Wattle Acacia spectabilis 123 BBS (102), WLA (21) 

Fabaceae (Mimosoideae) River Coobah Acacia stenophylla 13 BBS (7), WLA (6) 

Fabaceae (Mimosoideae) Awl-leaved Wattle Acacia subulata 5 BBS 

Fabaceae (Mimosoideae) Golden-top Wattle Acacia tindaleae 140 BBS (135), WLA (5) 

Fabaceae (Mimosoideae) Spurwing Wattle Acacia triptera 56 BBS (49), WLA (7) 

Fabaceae (Mimosoideae) Prickly Moses Acacia ulicifolia 28 BBS (27), WLA (1) 

Fabaceae (Mimosoideae) Gold-dust Wattle Acacia uncinata 97 BBS (87), WLA (10) 

Fabaceae (Mimosoideae) Acacia venulosa 6 BBS 

Fabaceae (Mimosoideae) Varnish Wattle Acacia verniciflua 9 BBS 

Fabaceae (Mimosoideae) Prickly Wattle Acacia victoriae 1WLA 

Fabaceae (Mimosoideae) Acacia viscidula 1WLA 

Fabaceae (Mimosoideae) Sensitive Plant Neptunia gracilis forma gracilis 5 BBS (1), WLA (4) 

Fabaceae (Faboideae) Aotus mollis 69 BBS (63), WLA (6) 

Fabaceae (Faboideae) Aotus subglauca 3 BBS 

Fabaceae (Faboideae) Aotus subglauca ssp subglauca 7 BBS 

Fabaceae (Faboideae) Aotus subglauca var filiformis 19 BBS (16), WLA (3) 

Fabaceae (Faboideae) Bossiaea foliosa 1 BBS 

Fabaceae (Faboideae) Bossiaea obcordata 5 BBS 

Fabaceae (Faboideae) Bossiaea rhombifolia 46 BBS (36), WLA (10) 

Fabaceae (Faboideae) Bossiaea rhombifolia ssp 

concolor 

23 BBS 

Fabaceae (Faboideae) Bossiaea rhombifolia ssp 

rhombifolia 

1 BBS 

Fabaceae (Faboideae) Bossiaea scortechinii 2 BBS 

Fabaceae (Faboideae) Eastern Flame Pea Chorizema parviflorum 3 BBS 

Fabaceae (Faboideae) Yellow Rattlepod Crotalaria mitchellii 6 BBS 

Fabaceae (Faboideae) Yellow Rattlepod Crotalaria mitchellii ssp mitchellii 6 BBS 

Fabaceae (Faboideae) Cullen tenax 14 BBS (8), WLA (6) 

Fabaceae (Faboideae) Daviesia acicularis 38 BBS (32), WLA (6) 

Fabaceae (Faboideae) Broom Bitter Pea Daviesia genistifolia 35 BBS (31), WLA (4) 

Fabaceae (Faboideae) Daviesia latifolia 2WLA 

Fabaceae (Faboideae) Daviesia mimosoides ssp 

mimosoides 

1 BBS 

Fabaceae (Faboideae) Daviesia nova-anglica 3 BBS 

Fabaceae (Faboideae) Daviesia pubigera 18 BBS (14), WLA (4) 

Fabaceae (Faboideae) Daviesia squarrosa 1WLA 

Fabaceae (Faboideae) Gorse Bitter Pea Daviesia ulicifolia 75 BBS (45), WLA (30) 

Fabaceae (Faboideae) Daviesia villifera (syn. Daviesia 

squarrosa var villifera) 

2 BBS (1), WLA (1)


Fabaceae (Faboideae) Large Tick-trefoil Desmodium brachypodum 160 BBS (146), WLA (14) 

Fabaceae (Faboideae) Slender Tick-trefoil Desmodium varians 199 BBS (189), WLA (10) 

Fabaceae (Faboideae) Dillwynia cinerascens 1 BBS 

Fabaceae (Faboideae) Dillwynia juniperina 43 BBS (35), WLA (8) 

Fabaceae (Faboideae) Dillwynia phylicoides 20 WLA 

Fabaceae (Faboideae) Dillwynia retorta 6 BBS (3), WLA (3) 

Fabaceae (Faboideae) Dillwynia sericea 91 BBS (73), WLA (18) 

Fabaceae (Faboideae) Dillwynia sieberi 5 BBS 

Fabaceae (Faboideae) Silky Glycine Glycine canescens 69 BBS (54), WLA (15) 

Fabaceae (Faboideae) Glycine clandestina 196 BBS (158), WLA (38) 

Fabaceae (Faboideae) Glycine latifolia 1 BBS 

Fabaceae (Faboideae) Glycine sp.A 2 BBS 

Fabaceae (Faboideae) Glycine tabacina 186 BBS (176), WLA (10) 

Fabaceae (Faboideae) Woolly Glycine Glycine tomentella 6 BBS (5), WLA (1) 

Fabaceae (Faboideae) Fern-leaved Burtonia Gompholobium foliosum 8 BBS (7), WLA (1) 

Fabaceae (Faboideae) Pale Wedge Pea Gompholobium huegelii 1WLA 

Fabaceae (Faboideae) Leafy-wedge Pea Gompholobium virgatum 5 BBS 

Fabaceae (Faboideae) Gompholobium virgatum var 

aspalathoides 

5 BBS 

Fabaceae (Faboideae) False Sarsaparilla Hardenbergia violacea 273 BBS (145), WLA (128) 

Fabaceae (Faboideae) Hovea lanceolata 102 BBS (78), WLA (24) 

Fabaceae (Faboideae) Hovea linearis 4 BBS (3), WLA (1) 

Fabaceae (Faboideae) Hovea longipes 18 BBS (4), WLA (14) 

Fabaceae (Faboideae) Hovea purpurea 1 BBS 

Fabaceae (Faboideae) Hovea rosmarinifolia 1 BBS 

Fabaceae (Faboideae) Indigofera adesmiifolia (syn. 

Indigofera signata) 

25 BBS (20), WLA (5) 

Fabaceae (Faboideae) Indigofera australis 61 BBS (25), WLA (36) 

Fabaceae (Faboideae) Indigofera brevidens 16 BBS (8), WLA (8) 

Fabaceae (Faboideae) Indigofera coronillifolia 5 BBS (4), WLA (1) 

Fabaceae (Faboideae) Dogwood Jacksonia scoparia 32 BBS (26), WLA (6) 

Fabaceae (Faboideae) Goodia medicaginea 1WLA 

Fabaceae (Faboideae) Purple Running Pea Kennedia procurrens 12 BBS (10), WLA (2) 

Fabaceae (Faboideae) Lespedeza juncea ssp sericea 6 BBS (5), WLA (1) 

Fabaceae (Faboideae) Australian Trefoil Lotus australis 6 BBS (4), WLA (2) 

Fabaceae (Faboideae) Red-flowered Lotus Lotus cruentus 9 BBS (7), WLA (2) 

Fabaceae (Faboideae) Native Wisteria Callerya megasperma (syn. 

Millettia megasperma) 

1 BBS 

Fabaceae (Faboideae) Mirbelia pungens 30 BBS (29), WLA (1) 

Fabaceae (Faboideae) Pultenaea boormanii 20 BBS (19), WLA (1) 

Fabaceae (Faboideae) Pultenaea cinerascens 125 BBS (123), WLA (2) 

Fabaceae (Faboideae) Pultenaea cunninghamii 14 BBS (12), WLA (2) 

Fabaceae (Faboideae) Pultenaea foliolosa 129 BBS (99), WLA (40) 

Fabaceae (Faboideae) Pultenaea microphylla 11 BBS (6), WLA (5) 

Fabaceae (Faboideae) Pultenaea petiolaris 4 BBS 

Fabaceae (Faboideae) Pultenaea polifolia 1 BBS 

Fabaceae (Faboideae) Pultenaea retusa 1 BBS 

Fabaceae (Faboideae) Pultenaea species C 13 BBS 

Fabaceae (Faboideae) Pultenaea species G 4 BBS 

Fabaceae (Faboideae) Pultenaea species I 2 BBS 

Fabaceae (Faboideae) Pultenaea villosa 1 BBS 

Fabaceae (Faboideae) Rhyncho Rhynchosia minima 4 BBS (2), WLA (2) 

Fabaceae (Faboideae) Sesbania Pea Sesbania cannabina var 

cannbina 

8 BBS (3), WLA (5) 

Fabaceae (Faboideae) Tephrosia brachyodon 1WLA 

Fabaceae (Faboideae) Swainsona affinis 8 BBS 

Fabaceae (Faboideae) Swainsona behriana 1 BBS 

Fabaceae (Faboideae) Swainsona bracteata 1WLA


Fabaceae (Faboideae) Swainsona cadellii 12 BBS 

Fabaceae (Faboideae) Smooth Darling Pea Swainsona galegifolia 81 BBS (64), WLA (17) 

Fabaceae (Faboideae) Darling Pea Swainsona greyana 7 BBS 

Fabaceae (Faboideae) Swainsona laxa 1 BBS 

Fabaceae (Faboideae) Swainsona luteola 1WLA 

Fabaceae (Faboideae) Swainsona microphylla 2 BBS (1), WLA (1) 

Fabaceae (Faboideae) Swainsona oroboides 2WLA 

Fabaceae (Faboideae) Swainsona queenslandica 1 BBS 

Fabaceae (Faboideae) Leafy Templetonia Templetonia stenophylla 18 BBS (16), WLA (2) 

Fabaceae (Faboideae) Zornia Zornia dyctiocarpa var 

dyctiocarpa 

7 BBS 

Fabaceae (Faboideae) Zornia floribunda 1 BBS 

Fabaceae (Faboideae) Prickly Shaggy-pea Podolobium ilicifolium 3 BBS 

Gentianaceae Spike Centaury Centaurium spicatum 23 BBS 

Geraniaceae Common Crowfoot Erodium cicutarium 1WLA 

Geraniaceae Blue Storksbill Erodium crinitum 7 BBS (5), WLA (2) 

Geraniaceae Geranium homeanum 19 BBS 

Geraniaceae Geranium potentilloides 13 BBS 

Geraniaceae Geranium retrorsum 8 BBS 

Geraniaceae Native Geranium Geranium solanderi 44 BBS (38), WLA (6) 

Geraniaceae Native Geranium Geranium solanderi var grande 1 BBS 

Geraniaceae Native Geranium Geranium solanderi var 

solanderi 

14 BBS (11), WLA (3) 

Geraniaceae Native Storksbill Pelargonium australe 1WLA 

Geraniaceae Pelargonium inodorum 3 BBS 

Goodeniaceae Blue Pincushion Brunonia australis 26 BBS 

Goodeniaceae Coopernookia barbata 6 BBS (3), WLA (3) 

Goodeniaceae Dampiera adpressa 17 BBS 

Goodeniaceae Dampiera lanceolata 15 WLA 

Goodeniaceae Dampiera lanceolata var 

lanceolata 

97 BBS (96), WLA (1) 

Goodeniaceae Dampiera purpurea 40 BBS (31), WLA (9) 

Goodeniaceae Dampiera stricta 21 BBS (11), WLA (10) 

Goodeniaceae Goodenia bellidifolia 3 BBS (2), WLA (1) 

Goodeniaceae Goodenia cycloptera 83 BBS (78), WLA (5) 

Goodeniaceae Goodenia fascicularis 51 BBS (21), WLA (30) 

Goodeniaceae Goodenia glabra 131 BBS (126), WLA (5) 

Goodeniaceae Goodenia glauca 3 BBS (1), WLA (2) 

Goodeniaceae Goodenia gracilis 2 BBS (1), WLA (1) 

Goodeniaceae Goodenia havilandii 9 BBS 

Goodeniaceae Goodenia hederacea 131 BBS (118), WLA (13) 

Goodeniaceae Goodenia hederacea ssp 

hederacea 

47 BBS 

Goodeniaceae Goodenia heteromera 2 BBS (1), WLA (1) 

Goodeniaceae Goodenia heterophylla 1 BBS 

Goodeniaceae Goodenia heterophylla ssp 

heterophylla 

20 BBS 

Goodeniaceae Goodenia ovata 4 BBS (2), WLA (2) 

Goodeniaceae Goodenia paniculata 43 BBS 

Goodeniaceae Goodenia pinnatifida 9 BBS (6), WLA (3) 

Goodeniaceae Goodenia pusilliflora 1WLA 

Goodeniaceae Goodenia rotundifolia 138 BBS (133), WLA (5) 

Goodeniaceae Scaevola aemula 2WLA 

Goodeniaceae Scaevola albida 1WLA 

Goodeniaceae Scaevola humilis 10 BBS 

Goodeniaceae Scaevola parvibarbata 1 BBS 

Goodeniaceae Scaevola spinescens 4 BBS (2), WLA (2) 

Goodeniaceae Bloodroot Velleia paradoxa 2 BBS (1), WLA (1) 

Goodeniaceae Velleia parvisepta 1WLA


Haemodoraceae Haemodorum planifolium 1 BBS 

Haloragaceae Gonocarpus elatus 186 BBS (180), WLA (6) 

Haloragaceae Gonocarpus micranthus 1 BBS 

Haloragaceae Gonocarpus micranthus ssp 

micranthus 

1 BBS 

Haloragaceae Gonocarpus micranthus ssp 

ramosissimus 

1 BBS 

Haloragaceae Gonocarpus tetragynus 15 BBS 

Haloragaceae Gonocarpus teucrioides 2 BBS (1), WLA (1) 

Haloragaceae Haloragis aspera 22 BBS (19), WLA (3) 

Haloragaceae Haloragis glauca forma glauca 3 BBS (2), WLA (1) 

Haloragaceae Haloragis heterophylla 109 BBS 

Haloragaceae Haloragis serra 1WLA 

Haloragaceae Myriophyllum gracile var gracile 1 BBS 

Haloragaceae Myriophyllum latifolium 1WLA 

Haloragaceae Myriophyllum pedunculatum 3 BBS 

Haloragaceae Myriophyllum striatum 1 BBS 

Haloragaceae Myriophyllum variifolium 2 BBS 

Haloragaceae Red Watermilfoil Myriophyllum verrucosum 5 BBS (3), WLA (2) 

Hydrocharitaceae Eelweed Vallisneria gigantea 1WLA 

Hypoxidaceae Golder Weather-grass Hypoxis hygrometrica 4 BBS (3), WLA (1) 

Hypoxidaceae Hypoxis hygrometrica var 

villosisepala 

4 BBS 

Icacinaceae Brown Beech Pennantia cunninghamii 1 BBS 

Iridaceae Libertia paniculata 4 BBS 

Iridaceae Patersonia glabrata 1 BBS 

Iridaceae Patersonia sericea 47 BBS (46), WLA (1) 

Juncaceae Juncus alexandri 1 BBS 

Juncaceae Juncus alexandri ssp 

melanobasis 

2 BBS 

Juncaceae Juncus aridicola 35 BBS (30), WLA (5) 

Juncaceae Juncus brevibracteus 1 BBS 

Juncaceae Juncus continuus 24 BBS (23), WLA (1) 

Juncaceae Juncus filicaulis 18 BBS (17), WLA (1) 

Juncaceae Juncus firmus 6 BBS (4), WLA (2) 

Juncaceae Juncus flavidus 4 BBS (3), WLA (1) 

Juncaceae Juncus fockei 9 BBS (8), WLA (1) 

Juncaceae Juncus holoschoenus 1 BBS 

Juncaceae Juncus homalocaulis 5 BBS (4), WLA (1) 

Juncaceae Juncus ochrocoleus 22 BBS (21), WLA (1) 

Juncaceae Juncus planifolius 10 BBS 

Juncaceae Juncus prismatocarpus 2 BBS 

Juncaceae Juncus psammophilus 14 BBS 

Juncaceae Juncus radula 6 BBS (3), WLA (3) 

Juncaceae Juncus remotiflorus 13 BBS (12), WLA (1) 

Juncaceae Juncus sandwithii 2 BBS 

Juncaceae Juncus sarophorus 1 BBS 

Juncaceae Juncus subglaucus 2 BBS (1), WLA (1) 

Juncaceae Juncus subsecundus 74 BBS (73), WLA (1) 

Juncaceae Juncus usitatus 14 BBS (10), WLA (4) 

Juncaceae Juncus vaginatus 5 BBS (4), WLA (1) 

Juncaceae Luzula densiflora 3 BBS 

Juncaceae Luzula flaccida 37 BBS 

Juncaceae Luzula meridionalis 1WLA 

Juncaginaceae Spurred Arrowgrass Triglochin calcitrapum 1 BBS 

Lamiaceae Austral Bugle Ajuga australis 136 BBS (127), WLA (9) 

Lamiaceae Hemigenia cuneifolia 6 BBS (5), WLA (1) 

Lamiaceae Australian Gipsywort Lycopus australis 1WLA 

Lamiaceae Slender Mint Mentha diemenica 10 BBS (9), WLA (1)


Lamiaceae Creeping Mint Mentha satureioides 28 BBS (21), WLA (7) 

Lamiaceae Plectranthus graveolens 2WLA 

Lamiaceae Plectranthus parviflorus 22 BBS (19), WLA (3) 

Lamiaceae Prostanthera euphrasioides 5RBG 

Lamiaceae Prostanthera granitica 3 BBS (2), WLA (1) 

Lamiaceae Prostanthera howelliae 21 BBS 

Lamiaceae Cut-leaved Mintbush Prostanthera incisa 2 BBS 

Lamiaceae Victorian Christmas Prostanthera lasianthos 1 BBS 

Bush 

Lamiaceae Snowy Mintbush Prostanthera nivea 4 BBS (3), WLA (1) 

Lamiaceae Prostanthera nivea var nivea 1 BBS 

Lamiaceae Prostanthera ovalifolia 1WLA 

Lamiaceae Round-leaved Mint- Prostanthera rotundifolia 2WLA 

bush 

Lamiaceae Gaping Mintbush Prostanthera ringens 1 BBS 

Lamiaceae Prostanthera saxicola 12 BBS (10), WLA (2) 

Lamiaceae Dwarf Skullcap Scutellaria humilis 39 BBS (35), WLA (4) 

Lamiaceae Soft Skullcap Scutellaria mollis 2 BBS 

Lamiaceae Forest Germander Teucrium corymbosum 1WLA 

Lamiaceae Grey Germander Teucrium racemosum 6 BBS 

Lamiaceae Teucrium species A 1 BBS 

Lamiaceae Westringia cheelii 54 BBS 

Lamiaceae Slender Westringia Westringia eremicola 3 BBS (2), WLA (1) 

Lamiaceae Stiff Westringia Westringia rigida 4 BBS (3), WLA (1) 

Lauraceae Devils Twine Cassytha glabella forma glabella 27 BBS (26), WLA (1) 

Lauraceae Devils Twine Cassytha melantha 6 BBS (5), WLA (1) 

Lauraceae Devils Twine Cassytha pubescens 198 BBS (170), WLA (28) 

Lauraceae Devils Twine Cassytha racemosa forma 

muelleri 

2 BBS (1), WLA (1) 

Lemnaceae Lemna trisulca 1 BBS 

Lentibulariaceae Fairy Aprons Utricularia dichotoma 6 BBS (5), WLA (1) 

Linaceae Native Flax Linum marginale 101 BBS (1), WLA (100) 

Lobeliaceae Isotoma armstrongii 2 BBS (1), WLA (1) 

Lobeliaceae Showy Isotome Isotoma axillaris 11 BBS (8), WLA (3) 

Lobeliaceae Swamp Isotome Isotoma fluviatilis 1 BBS 

Lobeliaceae Swamp Isotome Isotoma fluviatilis ssp borealis 4 BBS 

Lobeliaceae Tall Lobelia Lobelia gibbosa 17 BBS (16), WLA (1) 

Lobeliaceae Lobelia sp. aff. gibbosa 

'succulent' 

1 BBS 

Lobeliaceae Poison Pratia Pratia concolor 15 BBS (12), WLA (3) 

Lobeliaceae Whiteroot Pratia purpurascens 21 BBS (14), WLA (7) 

Loganiaceae Logania albiflora 3 BBS (1), WLA (2) 

Loganiaceae Mitrasacme paludosa 16 BBS 

Loganiaceae Mitrasacme polymorpha 4 BBS 

Lomandraceae Lomandra bracteata 1WLA 

Lomandraceae Lomandra collina 6 BBS (3), WLA (3) 

Lomandraceae Lomandra confertifolia 5 BBS 

Lomandraceae Lomandra confertifolia ssp 

pallida 

2 BBS 

Lomandraceae Scented Mat-rush Lomandra effusa 2WLA 

Lomandraceae Lomandra filiformis 353 BBS (347), WLA (6) 

Lomandraceae Lomandra filiformis ssp coriacea 4 BBS (2), WLA (2) 

Lomandraceae Lomandra filiformis ssp filiformis 142 BBS (135), WLA (7) 

Lomandraceae Lomandra filiformis ssp flavior 10 BBS (9), WLA (1) 

Lomandraceae Pale Mat-rush Lomandra glauca 16 BBS (12), WLA (4) 

Lomandraceae Woolly Mat-rush Lomandra leucocephala 93 BBS (90), WLA (3) 

Lomandraceae Woolly Mat-rush Lomandra leucocephala ssp 

leucocephala 

20 BBS (18), WLA (2) 

Lomandraceae Spiny-headed Mat-rush Lomandra longifolia 154 BBS (130), WLA (24)


Lomandraceae Many-flowered Matrush 

Lomandra multiflora 18 BBS 

Lomandraceae Many-flowered Mat- Lomandra multiflora ssp 

641 BBS (497), WLA (144) 

rush 

multiflora 

Loranthaceae Amyema bifurcatum var 

bifurcatum 

4 BBS (2), WLA (2) 

Loranthaceae Amyema cambagei 11 BBS (4), WLA (7) 

Loranthaceae Amyema congener ssp congener 2 BBS 

Loranthaceae Amyema linophyllum ssp 

orientale 

63 BBS (58), WLA (5) 

Loranthaceae Amyema maidenii ssp 

angustifolium 

101 BBS (1), WLA (100) 

Loranthaceae Amyema miquelii 133 BBS (111), WLA (22) 

Loranthaceae Amyema miraculosum ssp 

boormanii 

15 BBS (12), WLA (3) 

Loranthaceae Amyema pendulum 15 BBS (14), WLA (1) 

Loranthaceae Amyema pendulum ssp 

longifolium 

1 BBS 

Loranthaceae Amyema pendulum ssp 

pendulum 

3 BBS (2), WLA (1) 

Loranthaceae Amyema quandang 5 BBS (2), WLA (3) 

Loranthaceae Amyema quandang var 

quandang 

14 BBS (8), WLA (6) 

Loranthaceae Dendrophthoe glabrescens 12 BBS (9), WLA (3) 

Loranthaceae Lysiana exocarpi 8 BBS (5), WLA (3) 

Loranthaceae Lysiana exocarpi ssp tenuis 19 BBS (17), WLA (2) 

Loranthaceae Lysiana subfalcata 5 BBS (3), WLA (2) 

Loranthaceae Muellerina bidwillii 6 BBS (5), WLA (1) 

Loranthaceae Muellerina eucalyptoides 2 BBS (1), WLA (1) 

Luzuriagaceae Wombat Berry Eustrephus latifolius 57 BBS (47), WLA (10) 

Luzuriagaceae Scrambling Lily Geitonoplesium cymosum 15 BBS 

Malvaceae Abutilon cryptopetalum 2 BBS 

Malvaceae Abutilon fraseri 2 BBS (1), WLA (1) 

Malvaceae Abutilon leucopetalum 1003 BBS (3), WLA (1000) 

Malvaceae Abutilon malvifolium 6 BBS 

Malvaceae Flannelweed Abutilon oxycarpum 133 BBS (78), WLA (55) 

Malvaceae Abutilon tubulosum 3 BBS (2), WLA (1) 

Malvaceae Hibiscus brachysiphonius 21 BBS (1), WLA (20) 

Malvaceae Velvet-leaf Hibiscus Hibiscus krichauffianus 1 BBS 

Malvaceae Hill Hibiscus Hibiscus sturtii 28 BBS (25), WLA (3) 

Malvaceae Hill Hibiscus Hibiscus sturtii var sturtii 20 BBS (16), WLA (4) 

Malvaceae Bladder Ketinia Hibiscus trionum 26 BBS (6), WLA (20) 

Malvaceae Sturt's Desert Rose Gossypium sturtianum 3WLA 

Malvaceae Prickly Malvastrum Malvastrum coromandelianum 4 BBS 

Malvaceae Sida corrugata 68 BBS (59), WLA (9) 

Malvaceae Sida cunninghamii 75 BBS (73), WLA (2) 

Malvaceae Sida fibulifera 10 BBS (5), WLA (5) 

Malvaceae Sida filiformis 8 BBS (3), WLA (5) 

Malvaceae Sida phaeotricha 2 BBS (1), WLA (1) 

Malvaceae Sida sp. A 1 BBS 

Malvaceae Sida spinosa 36 BBS (13), WLA (23) 

Malvaceae Sida subspicata 1 BBS 

Malvaceae Sida trichopoda 31 BBS (30), WLA (1) 

Marsileaceae Marsilea costulifera 2 BBS 

Marsileaceae Common Nardoo Marsilea drummondii 24 BBS (17), WLA (7) 

Marsileaceae Nardoo Marsilea hirsuta 2 BBS 

Meliaceae White Cedar Melia azedarach 13 BBS (8), WLA (5) 

Meliaceae Gruie Owenia acidula 10 BBS (3), WLA (7) 

Meliaceae Scentless Rosewood Synoum glandulosum 3 BBS 

Menispermaceae Snake Vine Stephania japonica 2 BBS (1), WLA (1)


Menispermaceae Snake Vine Stephania japonica var discolor 14 BBS 

Monimiaceae Socketwood Daphnandra micrantha 4 BBS 

Monimiaceae Sassafras Doryphora sassafras 4 BBS 

Monimiaceae Native Mulberry Hedycarya angustifolia 8 BBS 

Monimiaceae Anchor Vine Palmeria scandens 1 BBS 

Moraceae Sandpaper Fig Ficus coronata 8 BBS 

Moraceae Port Jackson Fig Ficus rubiginosa 5 BBS (1), WLA (4) 

Myoporaceae Emubush Eremophila bignoniiflora 6 BBS (3), WLA (3) 

Myoporaceae Winter Apple Eremophila debilis 24 BBS (16), WLA (8) 

Myoporaceae Turkey Bush Eremophila deserti 32 BBS (15), WLA (17) 

Myoporaceae Berriga Eremophila longifolia 43 BBS (37), WLA (6) 

Myoporaceae Budda Eremophila mitchellii 311 BBS (111), WLA (200) 

Myoporaceae Silver Emubush Eremophila scoparia 2 BBS (1), WLA (1) 

Myoporaceae Western Boobialla Myoporum montanum 108 BBS (78), WLA (30) 

Myoporaceae Sugarwood Myoporum platycarpum 6 BBS (5), WLA (1) 

Myrsinaceae Brush Muttonwood Rapanea howittiana 2 BBS 

Myrsinaceae Muttonwood Rapanea variabilis 2 BBS 

Myrtaceae Lilly Pilly Acmena smithii 2 BBS 

Myrtaceae Rough-barked Apple Angophora floribunda 213 BBS (173), WLA (40) 

Myrtaceae Smooth-barked Apple Angophora leiocarpa 51 BBS (35), WLA (16) 

Myrtaceae Prickly Bottlebrush Callistemon brachyandrus 2 BBS (1), WLA (1) 

Myrtaceae Narrow-leaved Callistemon linearis 10 BBS (8), WLA (2) 

Bottlebrush 

Myrtaceae Lemon Bottlebrush Callistemon pallidus 3 BBS 

Myrtaceae Pine-leaved Bottlebrush Callistemon pinifolius 1 BBS 

Myrtaceae River Bottlebrush Callistemon sieberi 11 BBS (7), WLA (4) 

Myrtaceae Weeping Bottlebrush Callistemon viminalis 5 BBS (4), WLA (1) 

Myrtaceae Fringe Myrtle Calytrix tetragona 463 BBS (363), WLA (100) 

Myrtaceae Long-fruited Bloodwood Corymbia dolichocarpa 323 BBS (13), WLA (310) 

Myrtaceae Carbeen Corymbia tessellaris 2 BBS (1), WLA (1) 

Myrtaceae White Bloodwood Corymbia trachyphloia 4392 BBS (232), WLA 

(4160) 

Myrtaceae White Box Eucalyptus albens 106 BBS (68), WLA (38) 

Myrtaceae Eucalyptus bakeri 3WLA 

Myrtaceae Eucalyptus beyeriana 9 BBS (5), WLA (4) 

Myrtaceae Blakely's Red Gum Eucalyptus blakelyi 180 BBS (152), WLA (28) 

Myrtaceae Apple Box Eucalyptus bridgesiana 8 BBS (6), WLA (2) 

Myrtaceae River Red Gum Eucalyptus camaldulensis 86 BBS (44), WLA (42) 

Myrtaceae Eucalyptus camaldulensischloroclada 

4 BBS 

Myrtaceae Dirty Gum Eucalyptus chloroclada 156 BBS (129), WLA (27) 

Myrtaceae Fuzzy Box Eucalyptus conica 35 BBS (25), WLA (10) 

Myrtaceae Coolibah Eucalyptus coolabah 7 BBS (3), WLA (4) 

Myrtaceae Narrow-leaved Ironbark Eucalyptus crebra 436 BBS (386), WLA (50) 

Myrtaceae Monkey Gum Eucalyptus cypellocarpa 1WLA 

Myrtaceae Mountain Gum Eucalyptus dalrympleana 2 BBS 

Myrtaceae Mountain Gum Eucalyptus dalrympleana ssp 

dalrympleana 

1 BBS 

Myrtaceae Mountain Gum Eucalyptus dalrympleana ssp 

heptantha 

13 BBS 

Myrtaceae Slaty Gum Eucalyptus dawsonii 1 BBS 

Myrtaceae Tumbledown Red Gum Eucalyptus dealbata 71 BBS (48), WLA (23) 

Myrtaceae White Mallee Eucalyptus dumosa 3 BBS 

Myrtaceae Dwyer's Red Gum Eucalyptus dwyeri 1124 BBS (94), WLA (1030) 

Myrtaceae Peppermint Eucalyptus exserta 1WLA 

Myrtaceae Red Ironbark Eucalyptus fibrosa 244 BBS (194), WLA (50)


Myrtaceae Bundy Eucalyptus goniocalyx 3 BBS (2), WLA (1) 

Myrtaceae Silver-top Stringybark Eucalyptus laevopinea 46 BBS (41), WLA (5) 

Myrtaceae Black Box Eucalyptus largiflorens 2 BBS (1), WLA (1) 

Myrtaceae Red Stringybark Eucalyptus macrorhyncha 83 BBS (68), WLA (15) 

Myrtaceae Brittle Gum Eucalyptus mannifera 1 BBS 

Myrtaceae Silver-leaved Ironbark Eucalyptus melanophloia 595 BBS (49), WLA (546) 

Myrtaceae Yellow Box Eucalyptus melliodora 50 BBS (42), WLA (8) 

Myrtaceae Western Grey Box Eucalyptus microcarpa 35 BBS (22), WLA (13) 

Myrtaceae Forest Ribbon Gum Eucalyptus nobilis 21 BBS (20), WLA (1) 

Myrtaceae Large-flowered Bundy Eucalyptus nortonii 5 BBS (4), WLA (1) 

Myrtaceae Blue-leaved Ironbark Eucalyptus nubila 51 BBS (48), WLA (3) 

Myrtaceae White Sally Eucalyptus pauciflora 14 BBS (13), WLA (1) 

Myrtaceae Narrow-leaved Grey 

Box 

Eucalyptus pilligaensis 126 BBS (86), WLA (40) 

Myrtaceae Bimble Box Eucalyptus populnea ssp bimbil 212 BBS (112), WLA (100) 

Myrtaceae Red Box Eucalyptus polyanthemos 3WLA 

Myrtaceae Brittle Gum Eucalyptus praecox 3 BBS 

Myrtaceae Orange Gum Eucalyptus prava 1 BBS 

Myrtaceae Inland Scribbly Gum Eucalyptus rossii 11 BBS (9), WLA (2) 

Myrtaceae Mugga Eucalyptus sideroxylon 113 BBS (96), WLA (17) 

Myrtaceae Narrow-leaved 

Stringybark 

Eucalyptus sparsifolia 3 BBS (2), WLA (1) 

Myrtaceae Black Sally Eucalyptus stellulata 11 BBS 

Myrtaceae Forest Red Gum Eucalyptus tereticornis 1 BBS 

Myrtaceae Ribbon Gum Eucalyptus viminalis 4 BBS (2), WLA (2) 

Myrtaceae Green Mallee Eucalyptus viridis 37 BBS (12), WLA (25) 

Myrtaceae Homoranthus flavescens 244 BBS (196), WLA (48) 

Myrtaceae Tick Bush Kunzea ambigua 2WLA 

Myrtaceae Kunzea parvifolia 3 BBS (1), WLA (2) 

Myrtaceae Kunzea species D 1 BBS 

Myrtaceae Leptospermum arachnoides 2 BBS 

Myrtaceae Leptospermum brevipes 6 BBS (5), WLA (1) 

Myrtaceae Leptospermum divaricatum 11 BBS (7), WLA (4) 

Myrtaceae Leptospermum gregarium 5 BBS 

Myrtaceae Leptospermum parvifolium 40 BBS (39), WLA (1) 

Myrtaceae Leptospermum polygalifolium 22 BBS (19), WLA (3) 

Myrtaceae Leptospermum polygalifolium 

ssp montanum 

2 BBS 

Myrtaceae Leptospermum polygalifolium 

ssp transmontanum 

48 BBS (38), WLA (10) 

Myrtaceae Leptospermum sphaerocarpum 1WLA 

Myrtaceae Leptospermum trinervium 1 BBS 

Myrtaceae Melaleuca bracteata 4 BBS (2), WLA (2) 

Myrtaceae Melaleuca densispicata 5 BBS (3), WLA (2) 

Myrtaceae Melaleuca ericifolia 2 BBS (1), WLA (1) 

Myrtaceae Melaleuca erubescens 33 BBS 

Myrtaceae Melaleuca lanceolata ssp 

lanceolata 

1 BBS 

Myrtaceae Melaleuca thymifolia 20 BBS 

Myrtaceae Melaleuca trichostachya 1WLA 

Myrtaceae Broombush Melaleuca uncinata 73 BBS (48), WLA (25) 

Myrtaceae Micromyrtus ciliata 7 BBS (2), WLA (5) 

Myrtaceae Micromyrtus sessilis 27 BBS 

Myrtaceae Micromyrtus striata 16 BBS (15), WLA (1) 

Myrtaceae Water Gum Tristaniopsis laurina 1 BBS 

Myrtaceae Grey Myrtle Backhousia myrtifolia 1WLA 

Myrtaceae Babingtonia cunninghamii 31 BBS (28), WLA (3) 

Myrtaceae Babingtonia densifolia 42 BBS (35), WLA (7)


Myrtaceae Babingtonia pluriflora 2 BBS (1), WLA (1) 

Nitrariaceae Nitre Bush Nitraria billardierei 1 BBS 

Nyctaginaceae Tarvine Boerhavia dominii 94 BBS (83), WLA (11) 

Nyctaginaceae Tarvine Boerhavia repleta 1 BBS 

Olacaceae Olax stricta 7 BBS 

Oleaceae Desert Jasmine Jasminum lineare 55 BBS (30), WLA (25) 

Oleaceae Jasminum suavissimum 9 BBS (6), WLA (3) 

Oleaceae Notelaea linearis 1 BBS 

Oleaceae Large Mock-olive Notelaea longifolia 2 BBS 

Oleaceae Native Olive Notelaea microcarpa 1110 BBS (65), WLA (1045) 

Oleaceae Native Olive Notelaea microcarpa var 

microcarpa 

26 BBS (23), WLA (3) 

Oleaceae Notelaea microcarpa var velutina 8WLA 

Onagraceae Willowherb Epilobium billardierianum 2 BBS (1), WLA (1) 

Onagraceae Willowherb Epilobium billardierianum ssp 

cinereum 

31 BBS (29), WLA (2) 

Onagraceae Willowherb Epilobium billardierianum ssp 

hydrophyllum 

7 BBS (6), WLA (1) 

Onagraceae Epilobium hirtigerum 8 BBS (6), WLA (2) 

Onagraceae Water Primrose Ludwigia peploides ssp 

montevidensis 

3 BBS (2), WLA (1) 

Ophioglossaceae Parsley Fern Botrychium australe 1 BBS 

Ophioglossaceae Adders Tongue Ophioglossum lusitanicum 21 BBS 

Orchidaceae Acianthus collinus 2 BBS 

Orchidaceae Pixie Caps Acianthus fornicatus 3 BBS (2), WLA (1) 

Orchidaceae Blue Caladenia Caladenia caerulea 5 BBS (3), WLA (2) 

Orchidaceae Pink Fingers Caladenia carnea 1WLA 

Orchidaceae Hooded Caladenia Caladenia cucullata 1WLA 

Orchidaceae Daddy Long-legs Caladenia filamentosa var 

filamentosa 

1WLA 

Orchidaceae Caladenia fuscata 32 BBS 

Orchidaceae Veined Spider Orchid Caladenia species A WLA 

Orchidaceae Fringed Spider Orchid Caladenia tentaculata 1WLA 

Orchidaceae Honey Caladenia Caladenia testacea 1WLA 

Orchidaceae Small Duck Orchid Caleana minor 9 BBS 

Orchidaceae Purplish Beard-orchid Calochilus robertsonii 28 BBS (27), WLA (1) 

Orchidaceae Ant Orchid Chiloglottis formicifera 1WLA 

Orchidaceae Chiloglottis trilabra 8 BBS 

Orchidaceae Brown Beaks Lyperanthus suaveolens 1WLA 

Orchidaceae Fringed Helmet Orchid Corybas fimbriatus 2 BBS 

Orchidaceae Lemon Doubletail Diuris abbreviata 1WLA 

Orchidaceae Western Donkey Orchid Diuris goonooensis 22 BBS (20), WLA (2) 

Orchidaceae Diuris platichila 1WLA 

Orchidaceae Purple Donkey Orchid Diuris punctata 1WLA 

Orchidaceae Tiger Orchid Diuris sulphurea 3 BBS (1), WLA (2) 

Orchidaceae Diurus tricolor 2 BBS (2), RBG (1), 

WLA (1) 

Orchidaceae Genoplesium pedersonii 1 BBS 

Orchidaceae Red Midge Orchid Genoplesium rufum 1WLA 

Orchidaceae Parson's Bands Eriochilus cucullatus 1WLA 

Orchidaceae Waxlip Orchid Glossodia major 2 BBS (1), WLA (1) 

Orchidaceae Slender Onion Orchid Microtis parviflora 3 BBS (2), WLA (1) 

Orchidaceae Common Onion Orchid Microtis unifolia 23 BBS (21), WLA (2) 

Orchidaceae Broad-lipped Leek 

Orchid 

Prasophyllum patens 3 BBS 

Orchidaceae Pterostylis bicolor 9 BBS 

Orchidaceae Pterostylis biseta 1WLA 

Orchidaceae Pterostylis boormanii 20 BBS (19), WLA (1)


Orchidaceae Pterostylis coccina 13 BBS (12), WLA (1) 

Orchidaceae Pterostylis curta 1WLA 

Orchidaceae Summer Greenhood Pterostylis decurva 1 BBS 

Orchidaceae Pterostylis hamata 1WLA 

Orchidaceae Pterostylis laxa 2 BBS 

Orchidaceae Tall Greenhood Pterostylis longifolia 1WLA 

Orchidaceae Midget Greenhood Pterostylis mutica 2 BBS (1), WLA (1) 

Orchidaceae Dwarf Greenhood Pterostylis nana 1 BBS 

Orchidaceae Nodding Greenhood Pterostylis nutans 1WLA 

Orchidaceae Pterostylis obtusa 1 BBS 

Orchidaceae Tiny Greenhood Pterostylis parviflora 3 BBS (2), WLA (1) 

Orchidaceae Pterostylis revoluta 1WLA 

Orchidaceae Rusty Hood Pterostylis rufa 1WLA 

Orchidaceae Pterostylis setifera 23 BBS 

Orchidaceae Pterostylis species B 7 BBS 

Orchidaceae Ladies Tresses Spiranthes sinensis ssp australis 5 BBS 

Orchidaceae Great Sun Orchid Thelymitra aristata 1WLA 

Orchidaceae Slender Sun Orchid Thelymitra pauciflora 2 BBS (1), WLA (1) 

Oxalidaceae Oxalis chnoodes 85 BBS 

Oxalidaceae Oxalis exilis 20 BBS 

Oxalidaceae Oxalis perennans 213 BBS (203), WLA (10) 

Oxalidaceae Oxalis radicosa 56 BBS 

Papaveraceae Native Poppy Papaver aculeatum 3 BBS (1), WLA (2) 

Philydraceae Frogsmouth Philydrum lanuginosum 7 BBS 

Phormiaceae Dianella 'admixta' 146 BBS 

Phormiaceae Dianella caerulea 25 BBS (24), WLA (1) 

Phormiaceae Dianella caerulea var caerulea 1 BBS 

Phormiaceae Dianella longifolia 62 BBS (61), WLA (1) 

Phormiaceae Dianella longifolia var grandis 4 BBS 

Phormiaceae Dianella longifolia var longifolia 73 BBS (38), WLA (35) 

Phormiaceae Dianella revoluta 349 BBS (289), WLA (60) 

Phormiaceae Dianella revoluta var revoluta 32 BBS 

Phormiaceae Dianella revoluta var vinosa 13 BBS 

Phormiaceae Dianella sp. aff. revoluta 'Pilliga' 44 BBS 

Phormiaceae Dianella sp. aff. tarda 'Pilliga' 7 BBS 

Phormiaceae Nodding Blue Lily Stypandra glauca 121 BBS (84), WLA (37) 

Pittosporaceae Appleberry Billardiera scandens 2 BBS 

Pittosporaceae Native Boxthorn Bursaria spinosa 47 BBS (40), WLA (7) 

Pittosporaceae Native Boxthorn Bursaria spinosa var microphylla 3 BBS 

Pittosporaceae Native Boxthorn Bursaria spinosa var obovata 6 BBS 

Pittosporaceae Native Boxthorn Bursaria spinosa var spinosa 7 BBS 

Pittosporaceae Finger Flower Cheiranthera cyanea var cyanea 6 BBS (5), WLA (1) 

Pittosporaceae Orange Thorn Citriobatus pauciflorus 1 BBS 

Pittosporaceae Wallaby Apple Citriobatus spinescens 1011 BBS (1), WLA (1010) 

Pittosporaceae Native Frangipanni Hymenosporum flavum 9 BBS 

Pittosporaceae Weeping Pittosporum Pittosporum phylliraeoides 47 BBS (21), WLA (26) 

Pittosporaceae Sweet Pittosporum Pittosporum undulatum 20 BBS (16), WLA (4) 

Pittosporaceae Rhytidosporum diosmoides 2 BBS 

Plantaginaceae Plantago cunninghamii 30 BBS (23), WLA (7) 

Plantaginaceae Plantago debilis 60 BBS (56), WLA (4) 

Plantaginaceae Plantago turrifera 12 BBS (11), WLA (1) 

Plantaginaceae Plantago varia 8 BBS (7), WLA (1) 

Poaceae Silvery Hairgrass Aira cupaniana 1WLA 

Poaceae Agrostis avenacea var avenacea 57 BBS (44), WLA (13) 

Poaceae Graceful Bent Agrostis venusta 3 BBS 

Poaceae Cockatoo Grass Alloteropsis semialata 2 BBS 

Poaceae Amphibromus nervosus 1 BBS 

Poaceae Amphibromus whitei 2 BBS (1), WLA (1)


Poaceae Hooked-hairy Panic 

Grass 

Ancistrachne uncinulata 19 BBS (15), WLA (4) 

Poaceae Aristida acuta 12 BBS 

Poaceae Bunch Wiregrass Aristida behriana 3 BBS (2), WLA (1) 

Poaceae Aristida benthamii var benthamii 2 BBS 

Poaceae Aristida blakei 1 BBS 

Poaceae Aristida calycina 22 BBS (12), WLA (10) 

Poaceae Aristida calycina var calycina 5 BBS 

Poaceae Many-headed 

Wiregrass 

Aristida caput-medusae 63 BBS (58), WLA (5) 

Poaceae Aristida gracilipes 30 BBS (19), WLA (11) 

Poaceae Aristida helicophylla 4 BBS 

Poaceae Erect Kerosene Grass Aristida holathera var holathera 3 BBS (2), WLA (1) 

Poaceae Jericho Wiregrass Aristida jerichoensis 185 BBS (184), WLA (1) 

Poaceae Jericho Wiregrass Aristida jerichoensis var 

jerichoensis 

72 BBS (70), WLA (2) 

Poaceae Jericho Wiregrass Aristida jerichoensis var 

subspinulifera 

150 BBS (148), WLA (2) 

Poaceae Feathertop Wiregrass Aristida latifolia 1 BBS 

Poaceae Aristida leichhardtiana 44 BBS (37), WLA (7) 

Poaceae White Speargrass Aristida leptopoda 10 BBS (7), WLA (3) 

Poaceae Aristida muricata 15 BBS (9), WLA (6) 

Poaceae Aristida obscura 1 BBS 

Poaceae Aristida platychaeta 3 BBS (3), WLA (2) 

Poaceae Aristida psammophila 5 BBS 

Poaceae Aristida ramosa 111 BBS (100), WLA (11) 

Poaceae Aristida ramosa var ramosa 18 BBS 

Poaceae Aristida ramosa var scaberula 25 BBS 

Poaceae Aristida ramosa var speciosa 98 BBS (91), WLA (7) 

Poaceae Threeawn Speargrass Aristida vagans 54 BBS (48), WLA (6) 

Poaceae Reedgrass Arundinella nepalensis 85 BBS (81), WLA (4) 

Poaceae Hoop Mitchell Grass Astrebla elymoides 5 BBS (3), WLA (2) 

Poaceae Curly Mitchell Grass Astrebla lappacea 4 BBS (3), WLA (1) 

Poaceae Bull Mitchell Grass Astrebla pectinata 3 BBS 

Poaceae Astrebla squarrosa 1 BBS 

Poaceae Ringed Wallaby Grass Austrodanthonia bipartita 126 BBS (99), 'WLA (27) 

Poaceae Austrodanthonia caespitosa 12 BBS (8), WLA (4) 

Poaceae Austrodanthonia eriantha 77 BBS 

Poaceae Austrodanthonia fulva 31 BBS 

Poaceae Austrodanthonia induta 44 BBS (9), WLA (35) 

Poaceae Austrodanthonia laevis 28 BBS (18), WLA (10) 

Poaceae Austrodanthonia monticola 1017 BBS (17), WLA (1000) 

Poaceae Smooth-flowered 

Wallaby Grass 

Austrodanthonia pilosa 37 BBS 

Poaceae Austrodanthonia racemosa 16 BBS (8), WLA (8) 

Poaceae Austrodanthonia racemosa var 

obtusata 

64 BBS (63), WLA (1) 

Poaceae Austrodanthonia racemosa var 

racemosa 

42 BBS (41), WLA (1) 

Poaceae Wallaby Grass Austrodanthonia richardsonii 11 BBS (10), WLA (1) 

Poaceae Small-flowered Wallby 

Grass 

Austrodanthonia setacea 59 BBS (56), WLA (3) 

Poaceae Austrostipa acrociliata 2 BBS (1), WLA (1) 

Poaceae Plains Grass Austrostipa aristiglumis 48 BBS (28), WLA (20) 

Poaceae Austrostipa densiflora 17 BBS (15), WLA (2) 

Poaceae Austrostipa pubescens 1 BBS 

Poaceae Stout Bamboo Grass Austrostipa ramosissima 67 BBS (47), WLA (20) 

Poaceae Austrostipa rudis 1 BBS 

Poaceae Austrostipa rudis subsp nervosa 18 BBS


Poaceae Austrostipa rudis subsp rudis 2 BBS 

Poaceae Speargrass Austrostipa scabra 174 BBS (119), WLA (55) 

Poaceae Speargrass Austrostipa scabra subsp falcata 1006 BBS (6), WLA (1000) 

Poaceae Speargrass Austrostipa scabra subsp scabra 282 BBS (266), WLA (16) 

Poaceae Corkscrew Grass Austrostipa setacea 77 BBS (73), WLA (4) 

Poaceae Austrostipa verticillata 111 BBS (71), WLA (40) 

Poaceae Forest Bluegrass Bothriochloa bladhii 3 BBS 

Poaceae Forest Bluegrass Bothriochloa bladhii subsp 

bladhii 

8 BBS (6), WLA (2) 

Poaceae Red Grass Bothriochloa decipiens 48 BBS (41), WLA (7) 

Poaceae Desert Bluegrass Bothriochloa ewartiana 5 BBS (3), WLA (2) 

Poaceae Red Grass Bothriochloa macra 33 BBS (20), WLA (13) 

Poaceae Sand Brome Bromus arenarius 1 BBS 

Poaceae Slender Chloris Chloris divaricata var divaricata 3 BBS (1), WLA (2) 

Poaceae Windmill Grass Chloris truncata 153 BBS (118), WLA (35) 

Poaceae Tall Chloris Chloris ventricosa 26 BBS (16), WLA (10) 

Poaceae Chrysopogon fallax 1 BBS 

Poaceae Cleistochloa rigida 25 BBS (23), WLA (2) 

Poaceae Silky Heads Cymbopogon obtectus 5 BBS (4), WLA (1) 

Poaceae Barbed Wire Grass Cymbopogon refractus 1171 BBS (161), WLA 

(1010) 

Poaceae Couch Cynodon dactylon 89 BBS (49), WLA (40) 

Poaceae Button Grass Dactyloctenium radulans 13 BBS (7), WLA (6) 

Poaceae Danthonia linkii 63 BBS (54), WLA (9) 

Poaceae Queensland Bluegrass Dichanthium sericeum 87 BBS (50), WLA (37) 

Poaceae Queensland Bluegrass Dichanthium sericeum ssp 

sericeum 

1023 BBS (18), WLA (1005) 

Poaceae Longhair Plumegrass Dichelachne crinita 46 BBS 

Poaceae Dichelachne inaequiglumis 1 BBS 

Poaceae Shorthair Plumegrass Dichelachne micrantha 201 BBS (197), WLA (4) 

Poaceae Dichelachne rara 6 BBS 

Poaceae Silky Umbrella Grass Digitaria ammophila 33 BBS 

Poaceae Digitaria breviglumis 244 BBS (242), WLA (2) 

Poaceae Cotton Panic Grass Digitaria brownii 56 BBS (48), WLA (8) 

Poaceae Digitaria coenicola 1WLA 

Poaceae Digitaria diffusa 177 BBS (175), WLA (2) 

Poaceae Umbrella Grass Digitaria divaricatissima 16 BBS (14), WLA (2) 

Poaceae Digitaria hubbardii 1 BBS 

Poaceae Umbrella Grass Digitaria hystrichoides 3 BBS 

Poaceae Digitaria longiflora 1 BBS 

Poaceae Digitaria ramularis 32 BBS (31), WLA (1) 

Poaceae Brown Beetle Grass Diplachne fusca 2 BBS 

Poaceae Small-flowered Beetle 

Grass 

Diplachne parviflora 1 BBS 

Poaceae Awnless Barnyard 

Grass 

Echinochloa colona 2 BBS 

Poaceae Echinopogon caespitosus 36 BBS (33), WLA (3) 

Poaceae Tufted Hedgehog Grass Echinopogon caespitosus var 

caespitosus 

8 BBS (6), WLA (2) 

Poaceae Erect Hedgehog Grass Echinopogon intermedius 3 BBS (2), WLA (1) 

Poaceae Echinopogon mckiei 2 BBS 

Poaceae Forest Hedgehog Grass Echinopogon ovatus 47 BBS 

Poaceae Wheatgrass Elymus scaber 24 BBS (18), WLA (6) 

Poaceae Elymus scaber var plurinervis 1WLA 

Poaceae Wheatgrass Elymus scaber var scaber 40 BBS 

Poaceae Bottle Washers Enneapogon avenaceus 2 BBS (1), WLA (1) 

Poaceae Slender Nineawn Enneapogon gracilis 37 BBS (36), WLA (1) 

Poaceae Enneapogon nigricans 9 BBS (4), WLA (5) 

Poaceae Windmill Grass Enteropogon acicularis 222 BBS (171), WLA (51)


Poaceae Bordered Panic Entolasia marginata 4 BBS 

Poaceae Wiry Panic Entolasia stricta 135 BBS (32), WLA (103) 

Poaceae Canegrass Eragrostis australasica 2 BBS (1), WLA (1) 

Poaceae Eragrostis benthamii 4 BBS 

Poaceae Browns Lovegrass Eragrostis brownii 121 BBS (111), WLA (10) 

Poaceae Clustered Lovegrass Eragrostis elongata 65 BBS (60), WLA (5) 

Poaceae Purple Lovegrass Eragrostis lacunaria 200 BBS (190), WLA (10) 

Poaceae Drooping Lovegrass Eragrostis leptocarpa 2 BBS (1), WLA (1) 

Poaceae Paddock Lovegrass Eragrostis leptostachya 20 BBS (19), WLA (1) 

Poaceae Eragrostis megalosperma 35 BBS (8), WLA (27) 

Poaceae Eragrostis molybdea 8 BBS (7), WLA (1) 

Poaceae Weeping Lovegrass Eragrostis parviflora 15 BBS (12), WLA (3) 

Poaceae Neverfail Eragrostis setifolia 5 BBS (3), WLA (2) 

Poaceae Eragrostis sororia 77 BBS 

Poaceae Eragrostis speciosa 2 BBS (1), WLA (1) 

Poaceae Mountain Wanderrie 

Grass 

Eriachne mucronata 2 BBS 

Poaceae Eriochloa australiensis 3 BBS (2), WLA (1) 

Poaceae Cup Grass Eriochloa crebra 13 BBS (12), WLA (1) 

Poaceae Spring Grass Eriochloa procera 3 BBS (2), WLA (1) 

Poaceae Early Spring Grass Eriochloa pseudoacrotricha 122 BBS (15), WLA (107) 

Poaceae Silky Browntop Eulalia aurea 13 BBS (12), WLA (1) 

Poaceae Graceful Fescue Festuca asperula 1 BBS 

Poaceae Glyceria latispicea 3 BBS 

Poaceae Homopholis proluta 6 BBS (3), WLA (3) 

Poaceae Blady Grass Imperata cylindrica 8 BBS 

Poaceae Blady Grass Imperata cylindrica var major 30 BBS (26), WLA (4) 

Poaceae Small Flinders Grass Iseilema membranaceum 2 BBS 

Poaceae Joycea pallida 96 BBS (87), WLA (9) 

Poaceae Leptochloa ciliolata 29 BBS 

Poaceae Umbrella Canegrass Leptochloa digitata 28 BBS (18), WLA (10) 

Poaceae Leptochloa divaricatissima 5 BBS (3), WLA (2) 

Poaceae Leptochloa peacockii 9 BBS (6), WLA (3) 

Poaceae Microlaena stipoides 139 BBS (127), WLA (12) 

Poaceae Microlaena stipoides var 

stipoides 

63 BBS 

Poaceae Long-leaved Wallaby Notodanthonia longifolia 35 BBS (33), WLA (2) 

Grass 

Poaceae Oplismenus aemulus 9 BBS (8), WLA (1) 

Poaceae Oplismenus imbecillis 6 BBS (5), WLA (1) 

Poaceae Panicum buncei 7 BBS 

Poaceae Native Milett Panicum decompositum 26 BBS (19), WLA (7) 

Poaceae Hairy Panic Panicum effusum 236 BBS (233), WLA (3) 

Poaceae Pepper Grass Panicum laevinode 2 BBS (1), WLA (1) 

Poaceae Coolibah Grass Panicum queenslandicum 6 BBS (3), WLA (3) 

Poaceae Coolibah Grass Panicum queenslandicum var 

queenslandicum 

4 BBS 

Poaceae Two Colour Panic Panicum simile 77 BBS 

Poaceae Gilgai Grass Panicum subxerophilum 3 BBS 

Poaceae Reflexed Panic Grass Paractaenum novae-hollandiae 2 BBS (1), WLA (1) 

Poaceae Paspalidium albovillosum 2 BBS 

Poaceae Paspalidium aversum 36 BBS (22), WLA (14) 

Poaceae Brigalow Grass Paspalidium caespitosum 6 BBS (3), WLA (3) 

Poaceae Knottybutt Grass Paspalidium constrictum 77 BBS (69), WLA (8) 

Poaceae Paspalidium distans 15 BBS (12), WLA (3) 

Poaceae Paspalidium gausum 2 BBS 

Poaceae Shotgrass Paspalidium globoideum 2 BBS 

Poaceae Slender Panic Paspalidium gracile 120 BBS (111), WLA (9) 

Poaceae Warrego Grass Paspalidium jubiflorum 12 BBS (9), WLA (3)


Poaceae Comet Grass Perotis rara 5 BBS 

Poaceae Common Reed Phragmites australis 22 BBS (11), WLA (11) 

Poaceae Wiry Ricegrass Tetrarrhena juncea 1WLA 

Poaceae Green Summer Grass Urochloa subquadripara 1WLA 

Poaceae Tussock Poa labillardieri var labillardieri 60 BBS (44), WLA (16) 

Poaceae Poa sieberiana 55 BBS (53), WLA (2) 

Poaceae Poa sieberiana var hirtella 3 BBS 

Poaceae Snow Grass Poa sieberiana var sieberiana 29 BBS 

Poaceae Indian Cupscale Grass Sacciolepis indica 4 BBS (2), WLA (2) 

Poaceae Setaria paspalidioides 4 BBS 

Poaceae Wild Sorghum Sorghum leiocladum 7 BBS (5), WLA (2) 

Poaceae Katoora Grass Sporobolus actinocladus 1 BBS 

Poaceae Fairy Grass Sporobolus caroli 34 BBS (28), WLA (6) 

Poaceae Slender Rat's Tail 

Grass 

Sporobolus creber 52 BBS (48), WLA (4) 

Poaceae Slender Rat's Tail 

Grass 

Sporobolus elongatus 12 BBS 

Poaceae Rat's Tail Couch Sporobolus mitchellii 42 BBS (41), WLA (1) 

Poaceae Coolibah Grass Thellungia advena 6 BBS (3), WLA (3) 

Poaceae Kangaroo Grass Themeda australis 1064 BBS (51), WLA (1013) 

Poaceae Native Oatgrass Themeda avenacea 7 BBS (3), WLA (4) 

Poaceae Mulga Mitchell Grass Thyridolepis mitchelliana 47 BBS (44), WLA (3) 

Poaceae Small Burrgrass Tragus australianus 14 BBS (9), WLA (5) 

Poaceae Triodia mitchellii 9 BBS 

Poaceae Triodia mitchellii var pubivagina 11 BBS (10), WLA (1) 

Poaceae Porcupine Grass Triodia scariosa ssp scariosa 1 BBS 

Poaceae Fiveminute Grass Tripogon loliiformis 93 BBS (92), WLA (1) 

Poaceae Australian Vetiver Vetiveria filipes 3 BBS (1), WLA (2) 

Polygalaceae Comesperma sphaerocarpum 1 BBS 

Polygalaceae Comesperma sylvestre 1WLA 

Polygalaceae Polygala japonica 8 BBS 

Polygonaceae Lignum Muehlenbeckia florulenta 12 BBS (7), WLA (5) 

Polygonaceae Muehlenbeckia rhyticarya 1WLA 

Polygonaceae Knotweed Persicaria attenuata 101 BBS (1), WLA (100) 

Polygonaceae Slender Knotweed Persicaria decipiens 10 BBS (8), WLA (2) 

Polygonaceae Water Pepper Persicaria hydropiper 4 BBS (2), WLA (2) 

Polygonaceae Pale Knotweed Persicaria lapathifolia 21 BBS (14), WLA (7) 

Polygonaceae Princes Feathers Persicaria orientalis 1WLA 

Polygonaceae Creeping Knotweed Persicaria prostrata 5 BBS (4), WLA (1) 

Polygonaceae Hairy Knotweed Persicaria subsessilis 2 BBS 

Polygonaceae Small Knotweed Polygonum plebeium 9 BBS (6), WLA (3) 

Polygonaceae Swamp Dock Rumex brownii 257 BBS (92), WLA (165) 

Polygonaceae Shiny Dock Rumex crystallinus 2 BBS (1), WLA (1) 

Polygonaceae Wiry Dock Rumex dumosus 1WLA 

Polygonaceae Rumex stenoglottis 1 BBS 

Polygonaceae Shiny Dock Rumex tenax 1 BBS 

Polypodiaceae Rock Felt Fern Pyrrosia rupestris 4 BBS (3), WLA (1) 

Portulacaceae Anacampseros australiana 3 BBS 

Portulacaceae Calandrinia balonensis 3 BBS 

Portulacaceae Calandrinia calyptrata 2 BBS (1), WLA (1) 

Portulacaceae Calandrinia eremaea 57 BBS (48), WLA (9) 

Portulacaceae Calandrinia pickeringii 1WLA 

Portulacaceae Calandrinia ptychosperma 1 BBS 

Portulacaceae Portulaca bicolor var rosea 4 BBS (3), WLA (1) 

Portulacaceae Portulaca filifolia 4 BBS 

Portulacaceae Pigweed Portulaca oleracea 19 BBS (11), WLA (8) 

Potamogetonaceae Curly Pondweed Potamogeton crispus 4 BBS (1), WLA (3) 

Potamogetonaceae Floating Pondweed Potamogeton tricarinatus 1 BBS


Proteaceae Banksia integrifolia 2 BBS (1), WLA (1) 

Proteaceae Banksia marginata 3 BBS (2), WLA (1) 

Proteaceae Conospermum taxifolium 3 BBS 

Proteaceae Grevillea arenaria 17 BBS (15), WLA (2) 

Proteaceae Seven Dwarfs Grevillea Grevillea floribunda 238 BBS 

Proteaceae Seven Dwarfs Grevillea Grevillea floribunda subsp 

floribunda 

2160 WLA 

Proteaceae Grevillea ramosissima 9 BBS 

Proteaceae Fan Grevillea Grevillea ramosissima subsp 

ramosissima 

4WLA 

Proteaceae Grevillea sericea 3 BBS 

Proteaceae Beefwood Grevillea striata 24 BBS (4), WLA (20) 

Proteaceae Grevillea triternata 65 BBS (55), WLA (10) 

Proteaceae Hakea decurrens 11 BBS 

Proteaceae Hakea decurrens ssp decurrens 4 BBS 

Proteaceae Needlewood Hakea leucoptera 9 BBS (8), WLA (1) 

Proteaceae Small-fruited Hakea Hakea microcarpa 2 BBS 

Proteaceae Hakea sericea 1WLA 

Proteaceae Drumsticks Isopogon petiolaris 55 BBS (52), WLA (3) 

Proteaceae Lomatia arborescens 7 BBS 

Proteaceae Persoonia cornifolia 1 BBS 

Proteaceae Persoonia curvifolia 57 BBS (53), WLA (4) 

Proteaceae Persoonia sericea 317 BBS (286), WLA (31) 

Proteaceae Persoonia terminalis ssp recurva 306 RBG (6), WLA (300) 

Psilotaceae Skeleton Forked Fern Psilotum nudum 1WLA 

Pteridaceae Tender Brake Pteris tremula 6 BBS (5), WLA (1) 

Pteridaceae Jungle Brake Pteris umbrosa 1 BBS 

Ranunculaceae Clematis aristata 27 BBS (26), WLA (1) 

Ranunculaceae Headache Vine Clematis glycinoides 11 BBS (9), WLA (2) 

Ranunculaceae Headache Vine Clematis glycinoides var 

glycinoides 

2 BBS (1), WLA (1) 

Ranunculaceae Small-leaved Clematia Clematis microphylla 29 BBS (19), WLA (10) 

Ranunculaceae Clematis microphylla var 

microphylla 

8WLA 

Ranunculaceae Buttercup Ranunculus amphitrichus 1 BBS 

Ranunculaceae Buttercup Ranunculus collinus 1 BBS 

Ranunculaceae Buttercup Ranunculus inundatus 5 BBS 

Ranunculaceae Common Buttercup Ranunculus lappaceus 40 BBS (38), WLA (2) 

Ranunculaceae Ranunculus pumilio 1 BBS 

Ranunculaceae Ranunculus pumilio var pumilio 2 BBS 

Ranunculaceae Ranunculus sessiliflorus 4 BBS (2), WLA (2) 

Ranunculaceae Ranunculus sessiliflorus var 

sessiliflorus 

9 BBS 

Ranunculaceae Ranunculus undosus 1 BBS 

Rhamnaceae Red Ash Alphitonia excelsa 38 BBS (19), WLA (19) 

Rhamnaceae Cryptandra amara 69 BBS (29), WLA (40) 

Rhamnaceae Cryptandra amara var amara 8 BBS 

Rhamnaceae Cryptandra amara var floribunda 54 BBS (53), WLA (1) 

Rhamnaceae Cryptandra amara var longiflora 5 BBS (3), WLA (2) 

Rhamnaceae Cryptandra longistaminea 4 BBS 

Rhamnaceae Pomaderris andromedifolia 2 BBS 

Rhamnaceae Pomaderris angustifolia 21 BBS (1), WLA (20) 

Rhamnaceae Pomaderris lanigera 3 BBS 

Rhamnaceae Pomaderris prunifolia 1WLA 

Rhamnaceae Supple Jack Ventilago viminalis 40 BBS (5), WLA (35) 

Ripogonaceae White Supplejack Ripogonum album 2 BBS 

Rosaceae Acaena agnipila 4 BBS (3), WLA (1) 

Rosaceae Acaena echinata 7 BBS (6), WLA (1) 

Rosaceae Acaena novae-zelandiae 54 BBS (53), WLA (1)


Rosaceae Acaena ovina 4 BBS (1), WLA (3) 

Rosaceae Aphanes australiana 1 BBS 

Rosaceae Geum urbanum 2 BBS 

Rosaceae Rubus moluccanus var trilobus 17 BBS 

Rosaceae Native Raspberry Rubus parvifolius 29 BBS (25), WLA (4) 

Rosaceae Rose-leaf Bramble Rubus rosifolius 5 BBS (3), WLA (2) 

Rubiaceae Common Woodruff Asperula conferta 78 BBS (67), WLA (11) 

Rubiaceae Twining Woodruff Asperula cunninghamii 9 BBS (6), WLA (3) 

Rubiaceae Stiff Canthium Canthium buxifolium 1WLA 

Rubiaceae Native Currant Canthium latifolium 8 BBS (4), WLA (4) 

Rubiaceae Shiny-leaved Canthium Canthium odoratum 26 BBS (11), WLA (15) 

Rubiaceae Wild Lemon Canthium oleifolium 58 BBS (46), WLA (12) 

Rubiaceae Prickly Currant Bush Coprosma quadrifida 6 BBS 

Rubiaceae Galium binifolium 1 BBS 

Rubiaceae Galium ciliare 8 BBS 

Rubiaceae Rough Bedstraw Galium gaudichaudii 82 BBS (44), WLA (38) 

Rubiaceae Galium migrans 39 BBS 

Rubiaceae Galium propinquum 4 BBS (3), WLA (1) 

Rubiaceae Coarse Stinkweed Opercularia aspera 6 BBS 

Rubiaceae Opercularia diphylla 138 BBS (137), WLA (1) 

Rubiaceae Hairy Stinkweed Opercularia hispida 2 BBS (1), WLA (1) 

Rubiaceae Variable Stinkweed Opercularia varia 2 BBS (1), WLA (1) 

Rubiaceae Pomax umbellata 400 BBS (353), WLA (47) 

Rubiaceae Synaptantha tillaeacea 14 BBS (11), WLA (3) 

Rubiaceae Citrus glauca 13 BBS (6), WLA (7) 

Rutaceae Rock Correa Correa glabra 2WLA 

Rutaceae Rock Correa Correa glabra var leucoclada 3 BBS 

Rutaceae Native Fuschia Correa reflexa 1WLA 

Rutaceae Native Fuschia Correa reflexa var reflexa 3 BBS 

Rutaceae Leopardwood Flindersia maculosa 3 BBS (2), WLA (1) 

Rutaceae Wilga Geijera parviflora 394 BBS (214), WLA (180) 

Rutaceae Hairy-leaved 

Doughwood 

Melicope micrococca 2 BBS 

Rutaceae Green Phebalium Leionema viridiflorum 25 WLA 

Rutaceae Phebalium elatius ssp elatius 1RBG 

Rutaceae Phebalium glandulosum ssp 

glandulosum 

2WLA 

Rutaceae Pink Phebalium Phebalium nottii 3 BBS 

Rutaceae Scaly Phebalium Phebalium squamulosum ssp 

gracile 

13 BBS 

Rutaceae Scaly Phebalium Phebalium squamulosum ssp 

squamulosum 

6 BBS 

Rutaceae Narrow-leaved 

Phebalium 

Phebalium stenophyllum 1WLA 

Rutaceae Philotheca ciliata 26 BBS 

Rutaceae Philotheca difformis 4 BBS (2), WLA (2) 

Rutaceae Philotheca difformis subsp 

difformis 

2 BBS 

Rutaceae Philotheca myoporoides subsp 

acuta 

1WLA 

Rutaceae Philotheca salsolifolia 48 BBS (35), WLA (13) 

Rutaceae Zieria aspalathoides 27 BBS (18), WLA (9) 

Rutaceae Downy Zieria Zieria cytisoides 1WLA 

Rutaceae Zieria fraseri 1WLA 

Rutaceae Nematolepis squamea subsp 

squamea 

5 BBS 

Sambucaceae White Elderberry Sambucus gaudichaudiana 4 BBS (3), WLA (1) 

Santalaceae White Sourbush Choretrum candollei 4 BBS (2), WLA (2) 

Santalaceae Common Sourbush Choretrum glomeratum 2 BBS (1), WLA (1)


Santalaceae Leafless Ballart Exocarpos aphyllus 20 BBS (13), WLA (7) 

Santalaceae Native Cherry Exocarpos cupressiformis 115 BBS (97), WLA (18) 

Santalaceae Sweet Quandong Santalum acuminatum 15 BBS (10), WLA (5) 

Santalaceae Northern Sandlewood Santalum lanceolatum 31 BBS (11), WLA (20) 

Sapindaceae Alectryon diversifolius 15 WLA 

Sapindaceae Western Rosewood Alectryon oleifolius 88 BBS (39), WLA (49) 

Sapindaceae Western Rosewood Alectryon oleifolius ssp 

elongatus 

19 BBS (11), WLA (8) 

Sapindaceae Wild Quince Alectryon subcinereus 8 BBS 

Sapindaceae Wild Quince Alectryon subdentatus forma 

subdentatus 

13 BBS (5), WLA (8) 

Sapindaceae Whitewood Atalaya hemiglauca 65 BBS (35), WLA (30) 

Sapindaceae Dodonaea boroniifolia 17 BBS (13), WLA (4) 

Sapindaceae Dodonaea falcata (syn. 

Dodonaea filifolia) 

49 BBS (46), WLA (3) 

Sapindaceae Dodonaea heteromorpha 58 BBS (55), WLA (3) 

Sapindaceae Dodonaea peduncularis 89 BBS (81), WLA (8) 

Sapindaceae Dodonaea sinuolata 3 BBS (2), WLA (1) 

Sapindaceae Dodonaea sinuolata ssp 

sinuolata 

7 BBS (6), WLA (1) 

Sapindaceae Dodonaea tenuifolia 10 BBS (3), WLA (7) 

Sapindaceae Dodonaea triangularis 4 BBS (3), WLA (1) 

Sapindaceae Dodonaea triquetra 2 BBS (1), WLA (1) 

Sapindaceae Dodonaea truncatiales 1WLA 

Sapindaceae Dodonaea viscosa 121 BBS (74), WLA (47) 

Sapindaceae Dodonaea viscosa ssp 

angustifolia 

35 BBS (33), WLA (2) 


angustissima 

4 BBS (3), WLA (1) 

Sapindaceae Dodonaea viscosa ssp cuneata 108 BBS (80), WLA (28) 


mucronata 

40 BBS 

Sapindaceae Dodonaea viscosa ssp spatulata 61 BBS (53), WLA (8) 

Sapotaceae Yellow Lemon Planchonella cotinifolia 4WLA 

Sapotaceae Planchonella cotinifolia var 

pubescens 

4WLA 

Scrophulariaceae Derwentia derwentiana 1 BBS 

Scrophulariaceae Mud-mat Glossostigma diandrum 1 BBS 

Scrophulariaceae Brooklime Gratiola pedunculata 10 BBS (9), WLA (1) 

Scrophulariaceae Brooklime Gratiola peruviana 6 BBS 

Scrophulariaceae Slender Monkey-flower Mimulus gracilis 4 BBS (3), WLA (1) 

Scrophulariaceae Small Monkey-flower Mimulus prostratus 5 BBS 

Scrophulariaceae Bluerod Stemodia florulenta 1 BBS 

Scrophulariaceae Stemodia glabella 8 BBS 

Scrophulariaceae Hairy Speedwell Veronica calycina 39 BBS (38), WLA (1) 

Scrophulariaceae Trailing Speedwell Veronica plebeia 55 BBS (54), WLA (1) 

Sinopteridaceae Rock Fern Cheilanthes austrotenuifolia 138 BBS (79), WLA (59) 

Sinopteridaceae Bristly Cloak Fern Cheilanthes distans 134 BBS (117), WLA (17) 

Sinopteridaceae Cheilanthes sieberi 27 BBS (26), WLA (1) 

Sinopteridaceae Cheilanthes sieberi ssp sieberi 519 BBS (508), WLA (11) 

Sinopteridaceae Sickle Fern Pellaea falcata 17 BBS (13), WLA (4) 

Sinopteridaceae Pellaea paradoxa 4 BBS 

Smilacaceae Sarsaparilla Smilax australis 19 BBS (18), WLA (1) 

Solanaceae Australian Boxthorn Lycium australe 2 BBS (1), WLA (1) 

Solanaceae Nicotiana megalosiphon ssp 

megalosiphon 

3 BBS (2), WLA (1) 

Solanaceae Native Tobacco Nicotiana suaveolens 2 BBS (1), WLA (1) 

Solanaceae Grey Ray Flower Cyphanthera albicans 1WLA 

Solanaceae Kangaroo Apple Solanum aviculare 8 BBS (7), WLA (1) 

Solanaceae Violet Nightshade Solanum brownii 10 BBS


Solanaceae Solanum campanulatum 2 BBS 

Solanaceae Narrawa Burr Solanum cinereum 27 BBS (24), WLA (3) 

Solanaceae Solanum cleistogamum 20 BBS 

Solanaceae Velvet Potato Bush Solanum ellipticum 3 BBS (2), WLA (1) 

Solanaceae Quena Solanum esuriale 25 BBS (19), WLA (6) 

Solanaceae Solanum ferocissimum 96 BBS (91), WLA (5) 

Solanaceae Green-berry 

Nightshade 

Solanum opacum 16 BBS 

Solanaceae Solanum papaverifolium 2 BBS 

Solanaceae Solanum parvifolium 89 BBS (56), WLA (33) 

Solanaceae Forest Nightshade Solanum prinophyllum 6 BBS (3), WLA (3) 

Solanaceae Eastern Nightshade Solanum pungetium 3 BBS 

Solanaceae Solanum semiarmatum 2 BBS (1), WLA (1) 

Solanaceae Oondoroo Solanum simile 1WLA 

Solanaceae Solanum tetrathecum 42 BBS (40), WLA (2) 

Solanaceae Solanum vescum 1 BBS 

Stackhousiaceae Creamy Candles Stackhousia monogyna 21 BBS (13), WLA (8) 

Stackhousiaceae Stackhousia muricata 228 BBS (220), WLA (8) 

Stackhousiaceae Slender Stackhousia Stackhousia viminea 20 BBS 

Sterculiaceae Kurrajong Brachychiton populneus 71 BBS (46), WLA (25) 

Sterculiaceae Kurrajong Brachychiton populneus ssp 

populneus 

4 BBS (3), WLA (1) 

Sterculiaceae Brush Kurrajong Commersonia fraseri 1 BBS 

Sterculiaceae Keraudrenia corollata var 

corollata 

2 BBS 

Sterculiaceae Melhania oblongifolia 2 BBS 

Sterculiaceae Kerrawang Rulingia dasyphylla 2 BBS (1), WLA (1) 

Stylidiaceae Hairy Stylewort Levenhookia dubia 6 BBS 

Stylidiaceae Woolly-stemmed 

Triggerplant 

Stylidium eglandulosum 44 BBS (42), WLA (2) 

Stylidiaceae Grass Triggerplant Stylidium graminifolium 9 BBS (8), WLA (1) 

Thymelaeaceae Pimelea curviflora 8 BBS 

Thymelaeaceae Pimelea curviflora var divergens 5 BBS (4), WLA (1) 

Thymelaeaceae Pimelea curviflora var sericea 2 BBS (1), WLA (1) 

Thymelaeaceae Pimelea latifolia 1 BBS 

Thymelaeaceae Pimelea ligustrina 4 BBS 

Thymelaeaceae Pimelea linifolia 181 BBS (171), WLA (10) 

Thymelaeaceae Pimelea linifolia ssp collina 5 BBS (2), WLA (3) 

Thymelaeaceae Pimelea linifolia ssp linifolia 38 BBS 

Thymelaeaceae Pimelea micrantha 12 BBS 

Thymelaeaceae Pimelea microcephala ssp 

microcephala 

25 BBS (7), WLA (18) 

Thymelaeaceae Poison Pimelea Pimelea neo-anglica (syn. 

Pimelea pauciflora) 

104 BBS (68), WLA (36) 

Thymelaeaceae Pimelea stricta 5 BBS (4), WLA (1) 

Thymelaeaceae Pimelea strigosa 1WLA 

Thymelaeaceae Pimelea trichostachya 2 BBS 

Typhaceae Narrow-leaved 

Cumbungi 

Typha domingensis 5 BBS (4), WLA (1) 

Typhaceae Broad-leaved 

Typha orientalis 6 BBS (4), WLA (2) 

Cumbungi 

Ulmaceae Native Peach Trema tomentosa var viridis 1 BBS 

Urticaceae Australina pusilla 5 BBS 

Urticaceae Native Pellitory Parietaria debilis 5 BBS (3), WLA (2) 

Urticaceae Stinging Nettle Urtica incisa 73 BBS (57), WLA (16) 

Verbenaceae Clerodendrum tomentosum 7 BBS 

Verbenaceae Oncinocalyx betchei 14 BBS (12), WLA (2) 

Violaceae Slender Violet-bush Hybanthus monopetalus 60 BBS (52), WLA (8) 

Violaceae Tree Violet Hymenanthera dentata 37 BBS (31), WLA (6)


Violaceae Violet Viola betonicifolia 40 BBS (38), WLA (2) 

Violaceae Ivy-leaved Violet Viola hederacea 11 BBS (10), WLA (1) 

Viscaceae Korthalsella rubra 4 BBS (2), WLA (2) 

Viscaceae Korthalsella rubra ssp geijericola 4 BBS (1), WLA (3) 

Viscaceae Kurrajong Mistletoe Notothixos cornifolius 2 BBS (1), WLA (1) 

Vitaceae Slender Grape Cayratia clematidea 25 BBS (17), WLA (8) 

Vitaceae Water Vine Cissus antarctica 7 BBS (6), WLA (1) 

Vitaceae Giant Water Vine Cissus hypoglauca 1 BBS 

Vitaceae Small-leaved Water 

Vine 

Cissus opaca 3 BBS 

Winteraceae Northern Pepperbush Tasmannia stipitata 1 BBS 

Xanthorrhoeaceae Xanthorrhoea acaulis 148 BBS (145), WLA (3) 

Xanthorrhoeaceae Xanthorrhoea australis 39 BBS (35), WLA (4) 

Xanthorrhoeaceae Xanthorrhoea glauca 8 BBS 

Xanthorrhoeaceae Xanthorrhoea glauca ssp 

angustifolia 

26 BBS 

Xanthorrhoeaceae Xanthorrhoea johnsonii 7 BBS 

Xanthorrhoeaceae Xanthorrhoea media 2 BBS (1), WLA (1) 

Xyridaceae Xyris complanata 9 BBS 

Zamiaceae Macrozamia concinna 3 BBS (2), WLA (1) 

Zamiaceae Burrawang Macrozamia diplomera 43 BBS (24), WLA (19) 

Zamiaceae Burrawang Macrozamia heteromera 153 BBS (135), WLA (18) 

Zamiaceae Macrozamia plurinervia 6 BBS 

Zamiaceae Burrawang Macrozamia secunda 11 BBS 

Zamiaceae Macrozamia stenomera 1WLA 

Zygophyllaceae Yellow Vine Tribulus micrococcus 17 BBS (12), WLA (5) 

Zygophyllaceae Common Twinleaf Zygophyllum apiculatum 11 BBS (6), WLA (5) 

Zygophyllaceae Pale Twinleaf Zygophyllum glaucum 2 BBS (1), WLA (1) 

Zygophyllaceae Violet Twinleaf Zygophyllum iodocarpum 2 BBS (1), WLA (1) 

BBS Brigalow Belt South Stage 1 Surveys 

WLA Atlas of NSW Wildlife

APPENDIX 14: EXOTIC FLORA RECORDED WITHIN THE BBS 


Ranunculaceae Pheasants Eye Adonis microcarpa 4 BBS (2), WLA (2) 

Papaveraceae Mexican Poppy Argemone ochroleuca ssp ochroleuca 34 BBS (20), WLA (14) 

Papaveraceae American Poppy Argemone subfusiformis 4 BBS 

Papaveraceae Opium Poppy Papaver somniferum 1 BBS 

Papaveraceae Opium Poppy Papaver somniferum ssp setigerum 1 BBS 

Fumariaceae Climbing Fumitory Fumaria capreolata ssp capreolata 2 BBS (1), WLA (1) 

Fumariaceae Wall Fumitory Fumaria muralis ssp muralis 3 BBS (2), WLA (1) 

Phytolaccaceae Inkweed Phytolacca octandra 4 BBS (3), WLA (1) 

Cactaceae Devils Rope Pear Cylindropuntia imbricata 1 BBS 

Cactaceae Tiger Pear Opuntia aurantiaca 35 BBS (25), WLA (10) 

Cactaceae Prickly Pear Opuntia stricta 242 BBS (167), WLA (75) 

Cactaceae Common Prickly Pear Opuntia stricta var stricta 47 BBS (46), WLA (1) 

Cactaceae Velvet Tree Pear Opuntia tomentosa 2 BBS 

Chenopodiaceae Fat Hen Chenopodium album 23 BBS (12), WLA (11) 

Chenopodiaceae Mexican Tea Chenopodium ambrosioides 3 BBS (1), WLA (2) 

Chenopodiaceae Scented Goosefoot Chenopodium multifidum 3 BBS (1), WLA (2) 

Amaranthaceae Khaki Weed Alternanthera pungens 28 BBS (13), WLA (15) 

Amaranthaceae Green Amaranth Amaranthus viridis 10 BBS (7), WLA (3) 

Amaranthaceae Gomphrena Weed Gomphrena celosioides 15 BBS (10), WLA (5) 

Caryophyllaceae Lesser Thyme-leaved 

Sandwort 

Arenaria leptoclados 6 BBS 

Caryophyllaceae Thyme-leaved Sandwort Arenaria serpyllifolia 11 BBS (6), WLA (5) 

Caryophyllaceae Lesser Mouse-ear Chickweed Cerastium balearicum 1WLA 

Caryophyllaceae Mouse-ear Chickweed Cerastium glomeratum 4 BBS (3), WLA (1) 

Caryophyllaceae Mouse-ear Chickweed Cerastium vulgare 2 BBS 

Caryophyllaceae Chilean Whitlow Wort Paronychia brasiliana 9 BBS (6), WLA (3) 

Caryophyllaceae Petrorhagia nanteuilii 48 BBS (44), WLA (4) 

Caryophyllaceae Petrorhagia velutina 12 BBS (10), WLA (2) 

Caryophyllaceae Four-leaved Allseed Polycarpon tetraphyllum 40 BBS (38), WLA (2) 

Caryophyllaceae Silene gallica 1 BBS 

Caryophyllaceae French Catchfly Silene gallica var gallica 1WLA 

Caryophyllaceae Corn Spurry Spergula arvensis 2 BBS (1), WLA (1) 

Caryophyllaceae Spergula pentandra 2 BBS (1), WLA (1) 

Caryophyllaceae Sandspurry Spergularia rubra 2 BBS (1), WLA (1) 

Caryophyllaceae Common Chickweed Stellaria media 14 BBS (12), WLA (2) 

Polygonaceae Redshank Persicaria maculosa 1 BBS 

Polygonaceae Sping Emex Emex australis 3 BBS (1), WLA (2) 

Polygonaceae Black Bindweed Fallopia convolvulus 7 BBS (4), WLA (3) 

Polygonaceae Wireweed Polygonum arenastrum 4 BBS 

Polygonaceae Wireweed Polygonum aviculare 38 BBS (22), WLA (16) 

Polygonaceae Tree Hogweed Polygonum patulum 3 BBS 

Polygonaceae Curled Dock Rumex crispus 1032 BBS (20), WLA 

(1012) 

Malvaceae Dwarf Mallow Malva neglecta 2 BBS 

Malvaceae Small-flowered Mallow Malva parviflora 28 BBS (17), WLA (11) 

Malvaceae Malva verticillata 1 BBS 

Malvaceae Spiked Malvastrum Malvastrum americanum 22 BBS (20), WLA (2) 

Malvaceae Red-flowered Mallow Modiola caroliniana 22 BBS (12), WLA (10) 

Malvaceae Pavonia hastata 15 BBS (9), WLA (6) 

Brassicaceae Paddy's Lucerne Sida rhombifolia 15 BBS (10), WLA (5) 

Moraceae Osage Orange Maclura pomifera 5 BBS (4), WLA (1) 

Urticaceae Small Nettle Urtica urens 3 BBS


Euphorbiaceae Caper Spurge Euphorbia lathyrus 3 BBS (2), WLA (1) 

Euphorbiaceae Phyllanthus tenellus 1 BBS 

Euphorbiaceae Castor Oil Plant Ricinus communis 2 BBS 

Cucurbitaceae Bitter Melon Citrullus lanatus var lanatus 5 BBS (2), WLA (3) 

Cucurbitaceae Pady Melon Cucumis myriocarpus 5 BBS (1), WLA (4) 

Salicaceae Lombardy Poplar Populus nigra 1 BBS 

Salicaceae Weeping Willow Salix babylonica 33 BBS (19), WLA (14) 

Brassicaceae Whitlow Grass Erophila verna 1WLA 

Brassicaceae Black Mustard Brassica nigra 3 BBS 

Brassicaceae Turnip Brassica rapa ssp sylvestris 1 BBS 

Brassicaceae Mediterranean Turnip Brassica tournefortii 1WLA 

Brassicaceae Shepherd's Purse Capsella bursa-pastoris 3 BBS (1), WLA (2) 

Brassicaceae Lesser Swinecress Coronopus didymus 11 BBS (1), WLA (10) 

Brassicaceae Hairy Brassica Hirschfeldia incana 21 BBS (12), WLA (9) 

Brassicaceae Lepidium africanum 27 BBS (25), WLA (2) 

Brassicaceae Lepidium bonariense 6 BBS (2), WLA (4) 

Brassicaceae Turnip Weed Rapistrum rugosum 86 BBS (54), WLA (32) 

Brassicaceae Water Cress Rorippa nasturtium-aquaticum 4 BBS (3), WLA (1) 

Brassicaceae Smooth Mustard Sisymbrium erysimoides 2 BBS (1), WLA (1) 

Brassicaceae London Rocket Sisymbrium irio 23 BBS (7), WLA (16) 

Brassicaceae Hedge Mustard Sisymbrium officinale 1 BBS 

Brassicaceae Indian Hedge Mustard Sisymbrium orientale 1WLA 

Clusiaceae St John's Wort Hypericum perforatum 12 BBS (8), WLA (4) 

Primulaceae Scarlet Pimpernel Anagallis arvensis 86 BBS (75), WLA (11) 

Crassulaceae Mother of Millions Bryophyllum delagoense 2 BBS (1), WLA (1) 

Rosaceae Acaena 'X anserovina' 1 BBS 

Rosaceae Sweet Briar Rosa rubiginosa 12 BBS (7), WLA (5) 

Rosaceae Blackberry Rubus fruiticosus 4 BBS (3), WLA (1) 

Rosaceae Blackberry Rubus ulmifolius 2 BBS 

Lythraceae Hyssop Loosestrife Lythrum hyssopifolia 4 BBS (3), WLA (1) 

Onagraceae Oenothera mollissima 3 BBS 

Onagraceae Oenothera rosea 6 BBS 

Onagraceae Oenothera stricta ssp stricta 4 BBS (2), WLA (2) 

Simaroubaceae Tree of Heaven Ailanthus altissima 2 BBS 

Anacardiaceae Pepper Tree Schinus areira 12 BBS (6), WLA (6) 

Fabaceae Tree Lucerne Chamaecytisus palmensis 1WLA 

Fabaceae Honey Locust Gleditsia triacanthos 3 BBS (2), WLA (1) 

Fabaceae Senna occidentalis 9 BBS (7), WLA (2) 

Fabaceae Senna septemtrionalis 12 BBS (9), WLA (3) 

Fabaceae Birds-foot Trefoil Lotus corniculatus 1 BBS 

Fabaceae Cut-leaved Medic Medicago laciniata 31 BBS (10), WLA (21) 

Fabaceae Black Medic Medicago lupulina 8 BBS (6), WLA (2) 

Fabaceae Woolly Burr Medic Medicago minima 16 BBS (14), WLA (2) 

Fabaceae Button Medic Medicago orbicularis 3 BBS (2), WLA (1) 

Fabaceae Burr Medic Medicago polymorpha 75 BBS (52), WLA (23) 

Fabaceae Lucerne Medicago sativa 9 BBS (4), WLA (5) 

Fabaceae Barrel Medic Medicago truncatula 1 BBS 

Fabaceae Hexam Scent Melilotus indicus 22 BBS (13), WLA (9) 

Fabaceae Black Locust Robinia pseudoacacia 2 BBS (1), WLA (1) 

Fabaceae Narrow-leaved Clover Trifolium angustifolium 7 BBS (5), WLA (2) 

Fabaceae Haresfoot Clover Trifolium arvense 36 BBS (27), WLA (9) 

Fabaceae Hop Clover Trifolium campestre 24 BBS (21), WLA (3) 

Fabaceae Clustered Clover Trifolium glomeratum 11 BBS 

Fabaceae White Clover Trifolium repens 44 BBS (33), WLA (11) 

Fabaceae Shaftall Clover Trifolium resupinatum 2 BBS (1), WLA (1)


Fabaceae Subterranean Clover Trifolium subterraneum 3 BBS (1), WLA (2) 

Fabaceae Woolly Clover Trifolium tomentosum 4 BBS (3), WLA (1) 

Fabaceae Square-stemmed Vetch Vicia monantha 1 BBS 

Fabaceae Vicia sativa 4 BBS (3), WLA (1) 

Fabaceae Vicia sativa ssp angustifolia 1 BBS 

Fabaceae Vicia sativa ssp sativa 1 BBS 

Fabaceae Slender Vetch Vicia tetrasperma 2 BBS 

Fabaceae Russion Vetch Vicia villosa 304 BBS (4), WLA (300) 

Zygophyllaceae Caltrop Tribulus terrestris 16 BBS (7), WLA (9) 

Oxalidaceae Creeping Oxalis Oxalis corniculata 130 BBS (30), WLA (100) 

Geraniaceae Cranesbil Geranium Geranium molle var molle 3 BBS (2), WLA (1) 

Apiaceae Celery Apium graveolens 1WLA 

Apiaceae Hydrocotyle bonariensis 1WLA 

Apiaceae Bishop's Weed Ammi majus 36 BBS (23), WLA (13) 

Apiaceae Water Parsnip Berula erecta 4 BBS 

Apiaceae Slender Celery Ciclospermum leptophyllum 160 BBS (48), WLA (112) 

Apiaceae Hemlock Conium maculatum 4 BBS (1), WLA (3) 

Apiaceae Fennel Foeniculum vulgare 5 BBS (3), WLA (2) 

Apiaceae Knotted Hedge Parsley Torilis nodosa 5 BBS 

Asteraceae Capeweed Arctotheca calendula 9 BBS (4), WLA (5) 

Asteraceae Wild Aster Aster subulatus 27 BBS (17), WLA (10) 

Asteraceae Crownbeard Verbesina encelioides ssp encelioides 1WLA 

Asteraceae Bipinnate Beggars Ticks Bidens bipinnata 1 BBS 

Asteraceae Cobblers Pegs Bidens pilosa 27 BBS (17), WLA (10) 

Asteraceae Greater Beggar's Ticks Bidens subalternans 4WLA 

Asteraceae Bidens spp. 3 BBS 

Asteraceae Greater Beggars Ticks Bidens subalternans 21 BBS 

Asteraceae Slender Thistle Carduus pycnocephalus 4 BBS 

Asteraceae Winged Slender Thistle Carduus tenuiflorus 1WLA 

Asteraceae Saffron Thistle Carthamus lanatus 33 BBS (23), WLA (10) 

Asteraceae Safflower Carthamus tinctorius 4 BBS 

Asteraceae Star Thistle Centaurea calcitrapa 10 BBS (6), WLA (4) 

Asteraceae Cockspur Thistle Centaurea melitensis 10 BBS 

Asteraceae St Barnaby's Thistle Centaurea solstitialis 16 BBS (12), WLA (4) 

Asteraceae Skeleton Weed Chondrilla juncea 101 BBS (92), WLA (9) 

Asteraceae Chicory Cichorium intybus 16 BBS (11), WLA (5) 

Asteraceae Spear Thistle Cirsium vulgare 130 BBS (116), WLA (14) 

Asteraceae Tall Fleabane Conyza albida 137 BBS (135), WLA (2) 

Asteraceae Conyza bilbaoana 7 BBS 

Asteraceae Flaxleaf Fleabane Conyza bonariensis 248 BBS (127), WLA 

(121) 

Asteraceae Canadian Fleabane Conyza canadensis var canadensis 1 BBS 

Asteraceae Conyza parva 21 BBS 

Asteraceae Cosmos bipinnatus 2 BBS (1), WLA (1) 

Asteraceae Ferny Cotula Cotula bipinnata 2 BBS 

Asteraceae Gnaphalium coarctatum 1 BBS 

Asteraceae Cretan Weed Hedypnois rhagadioloides ssp cretica 1025 BBS (20), WLA 

(1005) 

Asteraceae Common Sunflower Helianthus annuus 7 BBS (3), WLA (4) 

Asteraceae Smooth Catsear Hypochaeris glabra 368 BBS (264), WLA 

(104) 

Asteraceae White Flatweed Hypochaeris microcephala var albiflora 8 BBS (7), WLA (1) 

Asteraceae Catsear Hypochaeris radicata 244 BBS (227), WLA (17) 

Asteraceae Willow-leaved Lettuce Lactuca saligna 15 BBS (10), WLA (5) 

Asteraceae Prickly Lettuce Lactuca serriola 59 BBS (49), WLA (10) 

Asteraceae Scotch Thistle Onopordum acanthium ssp acanthium 67 BBS (12), WLA (55)


Asteraceae Dwarf Marigold Schkuhria pinnata var abrotanoides 8 BBS (5), WLA (3) 

Asteraceae Spotted Thistle Scolymus maculatus 4 BBS (3), WLA (1) 

Asteraceae Fireweed Senecio madagascariensis 4 BBS 

Asteraceae Variegated Thistle Silybum marianum 47 BBS (30), WLA (17) 

Asteraceae Button Burweed Soliva anthemifolia 1 BBS 

Asteraceae Prickly Sowthistle Sonchus asper ssp glaucescens 18 BBS (17), WLA (1) 

Asteraceae Common Sowthistle Sonchus oleraceus 223 BBS (196), WLA (27) 

Asteraceae Stinking Roger Tagetes minuta 4 BBS (3), WLA (1) 

Asteraceae Dandelion Taraxacum officinale 53 BBS (43), WLA (10) 

Asteraceae Tolpis umbellata 2 BBS 

Asteraceae Salsify Tragopogon porrifolius 6 BBS 

Asteraceae Hunter Burr Xanthium italicum 2 BBS 

Asteraceae Noogoora Burr Xanthium occidentale 45 BBS (28), WLA (17) 

Asteraceae Californian Burr Xanthium orientale 1 BBS 

Asteraceae Bathurst Burr Xanthium spinosum 29 BBS (18), WLA (11) 

Asteraceae Xanthium strumarium 4 BBS 

Asteraceae? Gamochaeta americana 3 BBS 

Asteraceae? Gamochaeta calviceps 1 BBS 

Asteraceae? Gamochaeta spicata 2 BBS 

Solanaceae Petunia axillaris 2 BBS (1), WLA (1) 

Solanaceae Calibrachoa parviflora 2 BBS (1), WLA (1) 

Solanaceae Green Cestrum Cestrum parqui 5 BBS (4), WLA (1) 

Solanaceae Fierce Thornapple Datura ferox 20 BBS (11), WLA (9) 

Solanaceae Downy Thornapple Datura inoxia 2 BBS (1), WLA (1) 

Solanaceae Common Thornapple Datura stramonium 4 BBS (2), WLA (2) 

Solanaceae African Boxthorn Lycium ferocissimum 45 BBS (26), WLA (19) 

Solanaceae Tree Tobacco Nicotiana glauca 3 BBS (1), WLA (2) 

Solanaceae Ground Cherry Physalis ixocarpa 2 BBS (1), WLA (1) 

Solanaceae Blackberry Nightshade Solanum nigrum 36 BBS (27), WLA (9) 

Solanaceae Madeira Winter Cherry Solanum pseudocapsicum 12 BBS (10), WLA (2) 

Convolvulaceae Bindweed Convolvulus arvensis 1 BBS 

Convolvulaceae Golden Dodder Cuscuta campestris 17 BBS (11), WLA (6) 

Boraginaceae Sheepweed Buglossoides arvensis 1 BBS 

Boraginaceae Paterson's Curse Echium plantagineum 24 BBS (14), WLA (10) 

Boraginaceae Vipers Bugloss Echium vulgare 4 BBS (2), WLA (2) 

Boraginaceae Blue Heliotrope Heliotropium amplexicaule 6 BBS (3), WLA (3) 

Boraginaceae Common Heliotrope Heliotropium europaeum 3 BBS (1), WLA (2) 

Oleaceae Small-leaved Privet Ligustrum sinense 1 BBS 

Rubiaceae Goose Grass Galium aparine 12 BBS (7), WLA (5) 

Rubiaceae Small Bedstraw Galium murale 2 BBS 

Gentianaceae Common Centaury Centaurium erythraea 19 BBS (14), WLA (5) 

Gentianaceae Spike Centaury Centaurium spicatum 1WLA 

Gentianaceae Centaurium tenuiflorum 36 BBS (35), WLA (1) 

Asclepiadaceae Narrow-leaved Cottonbush Gomphocarpus fruticosus 30 BBS (22), WLA (8) 

Asclepiadaceae Balloon Cottonbush Gomphocarpus physocarpus 1 BBS 

Scrophulariaceae Ivy-leaved Toadflax Cymbalaria muralis ssp muralis 1 BBS 

Scrophulariaceae Round-leaved Toadflax Kickxia spuria ssp integrifolia 1WLA 

Scrophulariaceae Linaria arvensis 9 BBS 

Scrophulariaceae Lesser Snapdragon Misopates orontium 4 BBS 

Scrophulariaceae Blanketweed Verbascum thapsus ssp thapsus 3 BBS 

Scrophulariaceae Twiggy Mullein Verbascum virgatum 13 BBS (12), WLA (1) 

Scrophulariaceae Wall Speedwell Veronica arvensis 1WLA 

Scrophulariaceae Ivy-leaved Speedwell Veronica hederifolia 1 BBS 

Plantaginaceae Lamb's Tongue Plantago lanceolata 13 BBS (11), WLA (2) 

Martyniaceae Yellow-flowered Devil's Claw Ibicella lutea 1 BBS


Verbenaceae Carpetweed Phyla nodiflora 9 BBS (6), WLA (3) 

Verbenaceae Verbena aristigera 9 BBS (8), WLA (1) 

Verbenaceae Purpletop Verbena bonariensis 46 BBS (38), WLA (8) 

Verbenaceae Verbena brasiliensis 6 BBS 

Verbenaceae Rough Verbena Verbena hispida 2 BBS 

Verbenaceae Verbena incompta 1 BBS 

Verbenaceae Verbena litoralis 2 BBS (1), WLA (1) 

Verbenaceae Common Verbena Verbena officinalis 44 BBS (33), WLA (11) 

Verbenaceae Verbena quadrangularis 2 BBS 

Verbenaceae Veined Verbena Verbena rigida 22 BBS (14), WLA (8) 

Verbenaceae Trailing Verbena Verbena supina 1WLA 

Lamiaceae Dead Nettle Lamium amplexicaule 4 BBS (3), WLA (1) 

Lamiaceae Horehound Marrubium vulgare 21 BBS (15), WLA (6) 

Lamiaceae Pennyroyal Mentha pulegium 1WLA 

Lamiaceae Self Heal Prunella vulgaris 12 BBS (8), WLA (4) 

Lamiaceae Mintweed Salvia reflexa 16 BBS (8), WLA (8) 

Lamiaceae Wild Sage Salvia verbenaca 8 BBS (6), WLA (2) 

Lamiaceae Stagger Weed Stachys arvensis 5 BBS 

Asparagaceae Florists Smilax / Asapargus Myrsiphyllum asparagoides 1 BBS 

Asphodelaceae Onion Weed Asphodelus fistulosus 1002 BBS (2), WLA (1000) 

Alliaceae Onion Weed Nothoscordum borbonicum 15 BBS (9), WLA (6) 

Iridaceae Scourweed Sisyrinchium species A 1 BBS 

Iridaceae Onion Grass Romulea rosea var australis 1WLA 

Iridaceae Gladiolus Gladiolus carneus 1 BBS 

Juncaceae Toad Rush Juncus bufonius 31 BBS (30), WLA (1) 

Juncaceae Juncus capitatus 1 BBS 

Cyperaceae Cyperus aggregatus 2 BBS (1), WLA (1) 

Cyperaceae Umbrella Sedge Cyperus eragrostis 14 BBS (12), WLA (2) 

Cyperaceae Papyrus Cyperus papyrus 1 BBS 

Cyperaceae Nutgrass Cyperus rotundus 7 BBS (4), WLA (3) 

Poaceae Silvery Hairgrass Aira cupaniana 11 BBS 

Poaceae Marsh Foxtail Alopecurus geniculatus 1 BBS 

Poaceae Sweel Vernal Grass Anthoxanthum odoratum 1 BBS 

Poaceae Wild Oats Avena fatua 20 BBS (14), WLA (6) 

Poaceae Ludo Wild Oats Avena ludoviciana 2 BBS (1), WLA (1) 

Poaceae Oats Avena sativa 1 BBS 

Poaceae Quaking Grass Briza maxima 6 BBS (1), WLA (5) 

Poaceae Shivery Grass Briza minor 5 BBS (1), WLA (4) 

Poaceae Bromus alopecuros 2 BBS 

Poaceae Prairie Grass Bromus catharticus 56 BBS (36), WLA (20) 

Poaceae Great Brome Bromus diandrus 4 BBS (3), WLA (1) 

Poaceae Prairie Grass Bromus catharticus 10 WLA 

Poaceae Soft Brome Bromus hordeaceus 1WLA 

Poaceae Soft Brome Bromus molliformis 14 BBS (9), WLA (5) 

Poaceae Buffel Grass Cenchrus ciliaris 3 BBS 

Poaceae Mossman River Grass Cenchrus echinatus 3 BBS (2), WLA (1) 

Poaceae Spiny Burrgrass Cenchrus incertus 11 BBS (8), WLA (3) 

Poaceae Spiny Burrgrass Cenchrus longispinus 3 BBS (1), WLA (2) 

Poaceae Rhodes Grass Chloris gayana 10 BBS (4), WLA (6) 

Poaceae Feathertop Rhodes Grass Chloris virgata 4 BBS (2), WLA (2) 

Poaceae Cynodon incompletus 1 BBS 

Poaceae Digitaria ciliaris 1WLA 

Poaceae Summer Grass Digitaria sanguinalis 2 BBS (1), WLA (1) 

Poaceae Barnyard Grass Echinochloa crus-galli 24 BBS (14), WLA (10) 

Poaceae Siberian Millet Echinochloa frumentacea 3 BBS


Poaceae Goose Grass Eleusine tristachya 8 BBS (4), WLA (4) 

Poaceae Stinkgrass Eragrostis cilianensis 14 BBS (7), WLA (7) 

Poaceae African Lovegrass Eragrostis curvula 15 BBS (13), WLA (2) 

Poaceae Tall Fescue Festuca elatior 2 BBS 

Poaceae Chewings Fescue Festuca nigrescens 2 BBS 

Poaceae Meadow Fescue Festuca pratensis 1 BBS 

Poaceae Barley Grass Hordeum leporinum 31 BBS (19), WLA (13) 

Poaceae Coolatai Grass Hyparrhenia hirta 39 BBS (37), WLA (2) 

Poaceae Golden Top Lamarckia aurea 7 BBS (5), WLA (2) 

Poaceae Stiff Ryegrass Lolium loliaceum 1 BBS 

Poaceae Italian Ryegrass Lolium multiflorum 3 BBS (2), WLA (1) 

Poaceae Perennial Ryegrass Lolium perenne 15 BBS (10), WLA (5) 

Poaceae Wimmera Ryegrass Lolium rigidum 34 BBS (25), WLA (9) 

Poaceae Red Natal Grass Melinis repens 1 BBS 

Poaceae Nassella hyalina 2 BBS 

Poaceae Giant Panic Grass Panicum antidotale 5 BBS (4), WLA (1) 

Poaceae Coolah Grass Panicum coloratum 5 BBS (4), WLA (1) 

Poaceae Panicum gilvum 2 BBS (1), WLA (1) 

Poaceae Guinea Grass Panicum maximum var trichoglume 2 BBS (1), WLA (1) 

Poaceae Millet Panic Panicum miliaceum 1 BBS 

Poaceae Coast Barb Grass Parapholis incurva 1 BBS 

Poaceae Paspalum Paspalum dilatatum 36 BBS (20), WLA (16) 

Poaceae Water Couch Paspalum distichum 136 BBS (16), WLA (120) 

Poaceae Swamp Foxtail Pennisetum alopecuroides 1 BBS 

Poaceae Kikuyu Grass Pennisetum clandestinum 109 BBS (5), WLA (104) 

Poaceae Rice Millet Piptatherum miliacea 1WLA 

Poaceae Phalaris Phalaris aquatica 1WLA 

Poaceae Paradoxa Grass Phalaris paradoxa 21 BBS (12), WLA (9) 

Poaceae Canada Bluegrass Poa compressa 3 BBS (2), WLA (2) 

Poaceae Kentucky Bluegrass Poa pratensis 1WLA 

Poaceae Perennial Beardgrass Polypogon littoralis 1 BBS 

Poaceae Annual Beardgrass Polypogon monspeliensis 1 BBS 

Poaceae Annual Cat's Tail Rostraria cristata 6 BBS (5), WLA (1) 

Poaceae Slender Pigeon Grass Setaria gracilis 4 BBS (3), WLA (1) 

Poaceae Pale Pigeon Grass Setaria pumila 1 BBS 

Poaceae Green Pigeon Grass Setaria viridis 2 BBS 

Poaceae Johnson Grass Sorghum halepense 19 BBS (12), WLA (7) 

Poaceae Paramatta Grass Sporobolus indicus 3 BBS 

Poaceae Wheat Triticum aestivum 2 BBS (1), WLA (1) 

Poaceae Liverseed Grass Urochloa panicoides 25 BBS (18), WLA (7) 

Poaceae Texas Millet Urochloa texana 8 BBS 

Poaceae Squirrel Tail Fescue Vulpia bromoides 3 BBS (1), WLA (2) 

Poaceae Vulpia muralis 14 BBS 

Poaceae Rats Tail Fescue Vulpia myuros 23 BBS 

Poaceae Vulpia myuros forma megalura 3WLA 

BBS Brigalow Belt South Stage 1 Surveys 

WLA Atlas of NSW Wildlife

APPENDIX 15: AREA OF ENVIRONMENTAL STRATA VS NUMBER OF 

SYSTEMATIC FAUNA & FLORA SITES 

Strat 5 – 

Strata Id 

Number 

No. 

Systematic 

Fauna Sites 

No Area of 

Systematic Stratum (ha) 

Flora Sites 

3 17 91 481,856 

92 42 109 458,606 

19 53 331 329,213 

71 4 10 259,169 

97 2 60 251,675 

1 8 24 245,513 

11 1 33 226,100 

7 8 54 195,356 

47 71 36 189,706 

5 38 84 167,475 

27 4 1 154,825 

14 8 24 118,331 

6 11 17 110,881 

23 0 0 103,394 

100 0 0 96,638 

116 0 0 94,463 

123 39 15 88,713 

2 0 9 80,144 

21 0 7 72,981 

15 4 22 62,875 

16 0 4 61,906 

103 0 1 60,019 

24 0 4 59,725 

87 0 0 54,144 

110 0 3 52,144 

91 0 0 48,663 

132 0 1 47,469 

109 0 1 47,106 

143 0 0 45,644 

50 0 13 43,556 

44 11 24 40,438 

4 2 24 39,413 

112 0 2 38,738 

127 0 0 37,500 

36 0 5 35,813 

137 0 0 35,319 

96 0 0 34,944 

104 0 0 34,644 

140 0 0 29,750 

84 0 0 29,331 

12 0 2 26,538 

8 1 12 23,500 

83 0 4 22,481 

94 0 0 21,488 

Strat 5 – 

Strata Id 

Number 

No. 

Systematic 

Fauna Sites 



Flora Sites 

74 0 6 21,331 

114 0 4 19,175 

45 0 7 18,600 

67 0 0 17,144 

30 0 31 16,931 

147 0 6 15,850 

29 0 2 15,450 

136 0 0 15,013 

122 0 0 14,188 

90 0 0 14,113 

9 0 1 14,038 

149 0 1 13,581 

81 0 0 13,063 

124 0 0 12,313 

93 3 6 10,150 

142 0 0 9,644 

22 0 0 9,350 

51 0 2 9,288 

13 0 2 9,031 

169 0 0 8,650 

115 0 0 7,463 

70 0 0 7,338 

99 0 0 7,288 

56 0 0 7,119 

31 0 1 7,038 

18 0 3 6,625 

146 0 0 6,588 

39 0 0 6,563 

72 0 2 6,538 

75 0 1 6,425 

141 0 3 6,013 

107 0 0 5,631 

73 0 0 5,531 

59 0 1 5,363 

41 0 0 4,763 

76 0 0 4,444 

10 0 0 4,256 

173 0 0 4,213 

37 0 0 4,163 

63 0 0 4,031 

144 0 0 3,719 

52 0 0 3,656 

25 0 0 3,344 

20 0 0 3,263

Strat 5 – 

Strata Id 

Number 

No. 

Systematic 

Fauna Sites 



Flora Sites 

78 0 1 3,194 

130 0 0 3,113 

167 0 0 2,875 

35 0 0 2,756 

151 0 0 2,738 

57 0 1 2,406 

68 0 0 2,344 

85 0 0 2,300 

157 0 0 2,238 

32 0 4 2,213 

133 0 0 2,200 

145 0 0 2,113 

66 0 0 1,956 

152 0 0 1,956 

134 0 0 1,894 

54 0 0 1,631 

95 0 0 1,594 

126 0 0 1,594 

180 0 1 1,431 

181 0 0 1,388 

58 0 0 1,319 

62 0 0 1,169 

131 0 0 1,156 

111 0 0 1,131 

153 0 0 1,106 

86 0 0 1,100 

150 0 0 1,069 

164 0 0 1,050 

159 0 0 1,013 

120 0 0 975 

101 0 1 850 

108 0 0 788 

170 0 0 781 

80 0 0 750 

121 0 0 738 

46 0 0 706 

135 0 0 700 

17 0 0 663 

156 0 0 650 

43 0 0 631 

42 0 0 619 

148 0 0 613 

79 0 1 556 

106 0 0 556 

168 0 0 531 

53 0 0 463 

105 0 0 450 

118 0 0 444 

Strat 5 – 

Strata Id 

Number 

No. 

Systematic 

Fauna Sites 



Flora Sites 

139 0 0 419 

40 0 0 413 

34 0 0 381 

184 0 0 375 

61 0 0 369 

69 0 0 356 

28 0 0 313 

129 0 0 313 

177 0 0 275 

163 0 0 269 

117 0 0 244 

33 0 0 231 

49 0 0 206 

155 0 0 206 

60 0 0 188 

183 0 0 169 

175 0 0 150 

26 0 0 131 

102 0 0 131 

182 0 0 125 

88 0 0 113 

172 0 0 106 

77 0 0 94 

125 0 0 94 

154 0 0 88 

162 0 0 81 

38 0 0 75 

64 0 0 69 

82 0 1 63 

48 0 0 63 

98 0 0 63 

113 0 0 63 

174 0 0 63 

178 0 0 50 

179 0 0 50 

158 0 0 44 

161 0 0 44 

119 0 0 38 

165 0 0 38 

138 0 0 19 

171 0 0 19 

89 0 0 13 

128 0 0 13 

55 0 0 6 

65 0 0 6 

160 0 0 6 

166 0 0 6 

176 0 0 6

APPENDIX 16: BIOREGIONAL ASSESSMENTS UNDERTAKEN IN NSW 

SBS FUNDED CONSERVATION ASSESSMENTS 

Darling Riverine Plains 

The Darling Riverine Plains (DRP) Project is funded from two sources, the NSW State 

Biodiversity Strategy (SBS), and the Natural Heritage Trust (NHT). The DRP Project began 

in September 1999 and teams are currently in the field focussed on flora and fauna survey 

and traditional ecological knowledge. There are two stages proposed in the project, as 

detailed below (NPWS, 1999a): 

Stage 1 

Will include a Scoping exercise, broad data collection, broad conservation criteria 

development and biodiversity survey across the whole bioregion. As part of the initial 

scoping exercise a preliminary analysis will be undertaken identify gaps in the data layers 

and to establish an understanding of environmental patterns and variation within the 


NB - The scoping exercise will be used to more fully define the stage 1 biodiversity 

survey and bioregional assessment possible under stage 2. 

Stage 2 

Further refined conservation assessment analysis across the bioregion will be undertaken as 

part of stage 2 if suitable bioregionwide datasets are available. Also, following preliminary 

review of stage 1 information, stage 2 will target particular provinces or areas to undertake 

focused survey, detailed conservation status assessment and possibly modeling to provide 

more detailed information for use in the broader conservation assessment. Areas targeted 

for more detailed analysis may include those areas of high conservation value and /or under 

greatest threat. 

Stage 2 will be used to identify the process (complete data layers required) and funding 

requirements to complete the Integrated Biodiversity Conservation and Assessment 

process across the whole bioregion. 

Stage 1 has been clearly defined at this stage and as such is detailed below. 

The DRP project has a number of components that are closely linked with each other; 

conservation assessment (SBS funded), 

vegetation mapping (SBS funded), and 

community based nature conservation planning (NHT funded). 

Long term monitoring sites established for invertebrates (Australian Museum) 

The broad objectives of the DRP conservation assessment and vegetation mapping project 

are to;

provide consistent coarse and medium resolution bioregion-wide biological and relevant 

non-biological data assembled for use by planners and practitioners, 

identify conservation value and significance at the bioregional level for use in regional 

planning processes such as Regional Vegetation Management Plans, Catchment 

Management Plans and River Management Plans, 

provide advice on appropriate conservation measures and management practices. 

provide advice on areas for further detailed assessment for reservation, 

community participation in information gathering and presentation of findings in a form 

that is accessible to the broader community, and 

the establishment of long term monitoring sites that will allow habitat condition to be 

assessed and the conservation management practices evaluated and reviewed. 

The Vegetation Mapping project may be largely composed of validating and integrating the 

existing mapping. This in itself may be an onerous task given the differences in the levels 

and resolution of mapping, methods used, information collected, and currency of the data. 

The conservation assessment will include the collection, analysis and distribution of 

biodiversity data for use in assessing the conservation significance within the bioregional 

context. The primary objective of the conservation assessment is to identify areas and features 

of high biodiversity significance and to advise on appropriate conservation measures. 

The Community Based Nature Conservation Planning project (Natural Heritage Trust 

funded) aims to ensure that a proposed bioregional plan for the Darling Riverine Plains 

incorporates best practices by providing opportunities for community participation and 

information exchange at all levels. 

The NHT component will include: 

providing opportunities for all sectors of the regional community to be involved in data 

gathering; in particular to supporting the community in recording fauna/flora distribution 

in a manner that can be used in the project; 

undertaking consultation with the Aboriginal Community about traditional ecological 

knowledge and conservation issues of significance to them; 

providing skills, opportunities, networks and incentives for cooperative partnerships 

with private landholders, local and state government, non government organisations, 

industry and other relevant management authorities to assist in the long term 

management of key areas for the conservation of biodiversity as part of a whole of 

landscape approach to biodiversity conservation; 

encouraging the adoption of appropriate long term conservation management practices, 

through the Land for Wildlife scheme (eg Land for Wildlife property registration and 

support), wildlife refuges, voluntary conservation agreements, Farming For The Future, 

Bushcare and those in the Native Vegetation Conservation Act, 1997 and other programs.

To achieve all the objectives outlined above within the funding provided, it has been 

necessary to focus on one or two provinces or sub regions within the bioregion in order to 

fully complete the work for these. This would then become a blueprint for future completion 

of the project across the bioregion and for other bioregional assessments in western NSW. 

The DRP project will be incorporating information collected during the Western Region 

Biodiversity Conservation Project (1994-1996): Northern Floodplains Region. By doing this 

we effectively extended the coverage of the data available which is consistent with the 

methodologies being employed by the DRP. 

The DRP project has made some significant progress since it started in September 1999. 

Systematic and targeted fauna and flora surveys were conducted in autumn 2000, covering 

three geographical areas; Trangie/Narromine area, Moree area (west of Moree), and Nyngan 

area. Surveys have been completed for the spring/summer season of 2001 within areas of 

Wee Waa, the Macquarie Marshes, Gulargambone, Moree, Tottenham, Bourke, Wilcannia, 

and Warren. These areas were selected in an attempt to sample across the environmental and 

geographical ranges of the bioregion. A considerable amount of work has been achieved 

within the Community Based Nature Conservation Planning project in providing information 

between project personnel and the broader community. Involvement of the communities, 

Regional Vegetation Committees, Catchment Management Boards, and Rural Lands 

Protection Boards across the bioregion in the DRP has been a crucial component of the 

whole project, and the strategies for community consultation being developed will form the 

basis for future conservation assessment in western NSW (NPWS 1999a). 

Nandewar Bioregion 

The Nandewar Bioregional Scoping Study is very comprehensive in its scope and initiates 

the process of planning a detailed environmental assessment of the Nandewar Bioregion over 

a 3-year period beginning in the latter part of 2000. It collates readily available 

environmental data as a starting point for a comprehensive assessment of the Bioregion. It 

also presents the results of preliminary surveys and conservation assessments as part of what 

constitutes the first holistic, scientific view of the North Western Slopes of NSW. 

The primary aim of the Scoping Study was: 

To develop an integrated resource and planning document that will serve as the strategic 

framework for a comprehensive environmental assessment of the Nandewar Bioregion 

The key findings and outcomes of the Nandewar Bioregional Scoping Study may be 

summarised as follows: (NPWS, 2000a) 

1. Technical working group. A technical working group including expert 

representatives from a range of planning, land management and biodiversity 

organisation has been established. 

2. Consultation. Initial consultation with agencies, stakeholders and individuals has 

been productive and is ongoing. 

3. Data audit. All readily available information on the environments and biological 

diversity of the Nandewar Bioregion has been collated in a Data Audit Report.

4. GIS database. An interim GIS database of the Nandewar Bioregion including all 

readily available environmental data layers has been established. 

5. Geography. A concise review of the physical environments of the Nandewar 

Bioregion has been completed. 

6. Atlas. An integrated series of maps (Atlas of Natural Resources) has been compiled as 

a spatial information resource. 

7. Surveys. Preliminary surveys of the flora, fauna and vegetation of the Nandewar 

Bioregion have been completed. 

8. Flora. A draft list of the vascular flora of the Nandewar Bioregion has been compiled. 

9. Fauna. A draft list of the vertebrate species of the Nandewar Bioregion has been 

compiled. 

10. Threatened plants. A draft list of the threatened vascular plants of the Nandewar 


11. Threatened fauna. A draft list of the threatened and priority terrestrial vertebrate 

species of the Nandewar Bioregion has been completed. 

12. Plant communities. An inventory of plant communities has been compiled. 

13. Reservation of plant communities. The reservation status of plant communities has 

been reviewed. 

14. Vegetation analysis and modeling. A range of floristic analysis and spatial modeling 

techniques have been applied to elucidate relationships between vegetation 

communities and environmental variables and to derive interim predictive vegetation 

maps of the Nandewar Bioregion. 

15. Fauna modeling. Generalised additive modeling (GAM) has been utilised to derive 

interim fauna habitat quality maps for selected species. 

16. Threatening processes. A review of the environmental condition of the Nandewar 


17. Priority Areas. Interim priority conservation areas have been delineated. 

18. Habitat corridors. The major regional corridors of retained habitat have been 

delineated. 

19. Technical framework. A draft technical framework has been prepared. 

20. Scoping Study. This Study has developed an integrated resource and planning 

document that will serve as the strategic framework for a comprehensive 

environmental assessment of the Nandewar Bioregion.

South West Slopes Bioregion 

(NPWS, 2000b) 

Summary 

The first stage of a bioregional assessment for the South West Slopes bioregion (SWS) – one 

of the priority bioregions identified in the State Biodiversity Strategy - seeks to undertake an 

assessment of the conservation status of woodland communities within the Upper Slopes 

province of the SWS. This has been identified as a priority in the scoping exercise. The 

project draws on considerable existing data, interpolative modeling and satellite imagery to 

reduce resource requirements. The scope and geographical extent of the initial proposal has 

been reduced; consistent with feedback from the IBCA Working Group. 

Objective 

Assess the conservation status of woodland types in the Upper South West Slopes Province – 

a subset of the South West Slopes bioregion (SWS). 

Liaison with stakeholders in the bioregion (Riverina Highlands Regional Vegetation 

Committee, Upper Murray Catchment Management Committee, NPWS, DLWC, Greening 

Australia, Local Councils) indicates that an assessment of the conservation status of 

vegetation types is the primary layer required to support land-use decisions on the SWS. This 

is also the layer that has been identified in the scoping exercise as pivotal to the completion 

of a bioregional assessment for the area. 

DLWC’s vegetation mapping program (1999-2004) does not include the central portion of 

the SWS. Thus, the conservation status of vegetation types in the bioregional context will not 

be an outcome of this work. Comments from the IBCA Working Group allude to duplication 

of vegetation mapping effort and the size of the task if the entire bioregion were to be gapfilled 

in one year. This proposal has therefore been modified to reduce the scope of the 

project and eliminate any duplication with DLWC’s program. This has been achieved by 

focusing on the Upper Slopes Province, which reduces the area to be investigated and limits 

any field data collection to areas that do not appear in DLWC’s vegetation mapping 

program. However, this does not provide a bioregionwide perspective. 

Methods 

An assessment of the conservation status of woodland communities in the bioregion will be 

achieved in the following steps: 

1. Following advice from the IBCA Working Group, the study will be restricted in area to 

the Upper Slopes Province defined by Morgan and Terry (1992). This province is 

characterised by greater topographic relief, cooler temperatures and higher rainfall than 

the Lower Slopes Province. 

2. All original vegetation plot information will be assembled for the study area. This is 

primarily three databases: CSIRO’s amalgamation of vegetation surveys for the Mid- 

Lachlan, the NPWS CRA extension mapping for the Riverina Highlands and the 

NPWS IAP mapping data for the Yass and Cootamundra mapsheets. 

3. The three 1:100,000 mapsheets (Borowa, Junee, Temora) in the Upper Slopes Province 

that have not been previously sampled will be gap-filled with vegetation plots. These 

mapsheets do not appear on DLWC’s vegetation mapping program. Site-selection will 

be guided by stratification based on soil landscapes, mean annual rainfall and mean

annual temperature. Plot data will be collected to the same standard as undertaken by 

CSIRO in the northern section of the SWS, ie. based on shrub and canopy species. 

4. Classify the plot data into woodland types and model their distribution using 

topographic, climatic, soil landscape and geology layers that exist for the study area. 

Interpolation will be undertaken for each community using Generalised Linear 

Modeling or Generalised Additive Modeling. The methods will generally follow that 

of vegetation mapping undertaken for the Mid Lachlan (Austin et al. 1999) and the 

Riverina Highlands (Maguire et al. 2000). This layer will be an estimate of the preclearing 

extent of the different woodland types. 

5. An estimate of the extant area of the different woodland types will be obtained by 

‘cookie cutting’ the pre-clearing layer with a contemporary layer of extant woody 

vegetation derived from Landsat 7 satellite imagery. A private contractor will 

undertake classification of the imagery. This layer will be a continuous surface of 

canopy density that will include areas of scattered trees. 

6. A comparison between estimates of the existing and pre-European extent of each 

woodland type, an analysis of vegetation distribution by land tenure, an assessment of 

vulnerability to clearing (sensu Pressey et al. in press) and an analysis of the patch-size 

distribution of each vegetation type will form the basis for assessing the conservation 

status vegetation types in the study area. 

7. Key habitat variables consistently identified as important for a range of woodland 

fauna at the patch-level (ie. coarse woody debris, understorey density, tree diameterclass 

distribution and evidence of tree regeneration) will also be recorded in each of the 

vegetation plots. These data will be combined with data collected by CSIRO in the 

northern section of the SWS for use in Stage 2 of the bioregional assessment. 

Outcomes 

A key outcome of this project is that an assessment of the conservation status of any patch of 

native woody vegetation identified in the field – whether occurring as a continuous patch or 

scattered trees – will be possible. Importantly, such data can be used to assess the 

conservation status of vegetation proposed for clearing and will be used to identify remnant 

vegetation in the Upper SWS Province that should be a priority for conservation or remnant 

vegetation that should be targeted for rehabilitation. 

These data will also form the basis for the next stage of the bioregional assessment. For 

example, the data collected in this study will be critical for fauna modeling. It is intended 

that, as part of the next stage of the bioregional assessment, the understorey complexity 

scores measured on each plot will be interpolated across the entire landscape using either 

high resolution satellite imagery or statistical modeling. This is a key variable for a number 

of faunal groups in the study area and therefore will be used (along with other variables such 

as vegetation type) to identify important fauna habitat in the study area. The vegetation data 

will also be used to identify least-cost links in the landscape, or areas that should be managed 

for connectivity. This is an important principle for conservation in fragmented landscapes 

and provides a further basis for identifying priorities for rehabilitation. 

Overall, this project will also be an important pilot for identifying how the DLWC vegetation 

mapping data can be value-added for biodiversity assessment in other parts of the SWS.

RACAC FUNDED ASSESSMENTS 

Western Data Audit and Gap Analysis 

Aim and Objectives 

The aim of the Western Data Audit and Gap Analysis (RACD, 1999) was to “provide advice 

to government on information required for regional planning in western NSW”. 

The following objectives were sought (RACD, 1999): 

Comprehensive data audit of existing information; 

Capture of base data layers by digitising and data entry of existing information; and 

Analysis of the gaps in the existing information which needed to be filled prior to a 

comprehensive regional assessment. 

Recommendations 

Recommendations arising from the Western Data Audit and Gap Analysis are briefly 

outlined below (RACD, 1999): 

1. Data Requirements: 

(i) Administrative layer including tenure information, ownership, zoning information, 

Voluntary Conservation Agreements, Property Agreements, and mining and 

exploration titles; 

(ii) Digital elevation models of appropriate resolution and accuracy (min 100m western 

division and min 25m central division); 

(iii) Aboriginal landscapes including modeling of Aboriginal occupation, sites and places 

of significance, oral histories of Aboriginal Elders, targeted archaeological surveys 

and anthropological studies to validate modeling; 

(iv) Comprehensive and uniform vegetation layer (pre-1750 and existing) derived from 

structural and floristic data including analysis of reliability on ground of existing 

major vegetation maps; 

(v) Systematic and targeted surveys of fauna and flora (based on extensive survey) and 

autecological studies to provide adequate information for modeling and distribution; 

(vi) Up-to-date and uniform geology, soil, metallic minerals occurrences, industrial 

minerals occurrences and construction materials occurrences ie systematic 

assessment of mineral potential is required; 

(vii) Current satellite imagery; and

(viii) Current and historical land use, disturbance history, wood resource information, 

ground and surface water quality and quantity and salinity and flood mapping. 

2. Future Scoping 

(i) Scoping exercises, as part of the approved western regional assessment strategy, 

should be carried out to identify stakeholders, issues, agreed standard methods, and 

data layers required. NSW Natural Resources Data Directory to be used in this 

exercise. 

3. Data Management 

(i) Establish a western data management working group to deal with issues such as 

GDA94, scale and data transfer; 

(ii) Database all herbaria specimens and investigate linking these to a single database; 

(iii) Future data collected be entered into the relevant and appropriate digital database; 


(iv) Existing and proposed projects provide metadata to the NSW Natural Resources Data 

Directory explaining nature of project, and information on any data produced by the 

project. 

OTHER BIOREGIONAL ASSESSMENTS 

Riverina Bioregion 

A Foundation for Conservation in the Riverina Bioregion (Eardley, 1999) aimed at a 

systematic conservation assessment of the Riverina Bioregion. This was aided by the NPWS 

decision support system known as C-Plan, which links with a GIS to show areas in the 

landscape according to their relative irreplacability (ie. how necessary it is to conserve a 

given block of the landscape in order to meet a predefined conservation target) and their 

vulnerability to threatening processes. 

This assessment used the best available data for analyses, however, there was no funding for 

additional data acquisition. Because of this constraint, all assumptions are based on quite 

coarse datasets and a selection grid of 5 square kilometres over the entire bioregion. 

As well as a general overview of the biotic and abiotic aspects of the Riverina Bioregion, this 

report produced a compiled vegetation map, a digital geomorphology coverage, and maps 

(based on C-plan outputs) showing selection units by irreplacability versus vulnerability and 

high priority areas for conservation management. 

Cobar Peneplain 

A Foundation for Conservation in the Cobar Peneplain Biogeographic Region of New South 

Wales – A Pilot Assessment (“The Cobar Peneplain Project”) is a study undertaken by NPWS

etween 1996 and 1999. The relevant section of this report, entitled A Conservation 

Assessment of the Cobar Peneplain Biogeographic Region –Methods and Opportunities 

(Smart, Knight and Robinson, 2000) will be discussed below. 

The Cobar Peneplain Project was a pilot project that aimed to explore techniques for regional 

conservation planning that would facilitate decision making for biodiversity conservation – 

with the goal that techniques developed could be used in other bioregional assessments. 

The project involved: (Smart, Knight and Robinson, 2000) 

The use of computer-assisted methods for assessing the relative conservation values of 

lands across the region; 

Introductory investigations into ways of incorporating traditional Aboriginal ecological 

knowledge into conservation assessments 

The collection and use of fauna survey data and model fauna distributions; and 

Ways of involving the broader regional community in facets of regional conservation 

planning 

With a view to develop: 

A regional approach to conservation assessment; 

An identified network of indicative sites of high conservation value; 

Community understanding of conservation assessment processes through involvement in 

the project 

A method for incorporating Aboriginal knowledge of and cultural connection with flora 

and fauna into regional assessments; 

Enhanced data on the regional distribution of flora and fauna; 

A region-wide GIS database; 

Greater understanding of the technical facets of computer-assisted conservation 

assessment; and 

Recommendations for future conservation assessment and planning endeavours. 

The project was limited by: 

The absence of base data, vegetation mapping, and no land system mapping for the 

eastern portion of the bioregion. 

Reliance upon the MDBC woody/non woody vegetation layer which identified presence 

or absence of woody vegetation to drive selections, which potentially discriminated 

against areas of remnant natural grasslands and shrublands. 

Results and reports from this project are to be released as part of the ongoing community 

consultation and involvement strategy during 2001 under SBS funding.

Sydney Basin Bioregion 

(Taylor-wood and House, 2000) 

Aims 

The aim of this study was to develop a strategy and guidelines for establishing priorities for 

the assessment and conservation of biodiversity in the Sydney Basin bioregion. 

Major Objectives 

The major objectives were to: 

1. Review existing methods and determine whether criteria and benchmarks are 

appropriate to the Sydney Basin bioregion 

2. Determine whether criteria can be set for reserve versus off-reserve 

3. Determine criteria and benchmarks for the Sydney Region 

4. Identify key threatening processes across the whole bioregion as they relate to the 

criteria 

5. Determine how criteria can be integrated to provide an assessment of conservation 

priority 

6. Determine gaps/limitations to assessment and priorities for future data acquisition and 

analysis 

7. Determine scale of assessment (regional, local, multidimensional) 

8. Determine the role of NPWS in the conservation of biodiversity across the Sydney 

Basin 

Approach 

This project was approached in two ways, the first was more strategic, looking at existing 

methods and criteria to determine those that could be applied to the Sydney Basin Bioregion. 

The second was more hands on and used existing data layers to evaluate how far we can 

currently evaluate the conservation priority of the Sydney Basin based on NPWS current 

knowledge resources. 

As this project was approached from two different directions (strategic ie. top down and 

existing information ie. ground up), it was never expected that the final recommendations or 

methodologies from the two approaches would be identical. However, it was hoped that the 

two approaches would provide similar outcomes or directions. Thus, while some of the 

criteria and indicators developed were used in the data analysis and assessment, not all the 

criteria have been used. This does not reduce the importance of such criteria. Instead it 

provides direction and recommendations for future data collection and assessment. For some 

criteria, no data may currently be available, as they have not previously been considered, as 

assessments have concentrated on areas within reserves and have not had to consider the 

issues faced by areas located off reserve.

APPENDIX 17: STREAMS BY CATCHMENT WITHIN THE BBS 

Catchment Stream 

Castlereagh Balagula Creek 

Baronne Creek 

Belar Creek 

Binnia Creek 

Boltons Creek 

Bonan Creek 

Bourbong Creek 

Brooklyn Creek 

Bucklanbar Creek 

Bulgan Creek 

Butheroo Creek 

Calga Creek 

Coolibah Creek 

Coonamble Creek 

Duck Holes Creek 

Eurimie Creek 

Frazers Creek 

Garriwilla Anabranch 

Gidgenbar Watercourse 

Gidgerygah Creek 

Girriwilli Watercourse 

Gulargambone Creek 

Ironbark Creek 

Magometon Creek 

Mowlma Creek 

Mungery Creek 

Murrumbah Creek 

Nebea Creek 

Nedgera Creek 

Noonbar Creek 

Oaky Creek 

Quanda Quanda Creek 

Ranters Creek 

Sand Creek 

Shepherds Warrambool 

Six Mile Creek 

Teridgerie Creek 

Terrabile Creek 

Terrawinda Creek 

Tititiree Creek 

Toorawandi Creek 

Tooraweenah Creek 

Ulinda Creek 

Ulomogo Creek 

Urawilkie Creek 

Wambelong Creek 

Warrena Creek 

Weeingoody Creek 

Weetaliba Creek 

Wilber Creek 

Worinjerong Creek 

Gwydir Andersons Creek 

Back Creek 

Bald Hill Creek 

Ballin Boora Creek 

Bells Creek 

Berrigal Creek 


Gwydir Berrygill Creek 

Big Leather Watercourse 

Black Creek 

Boggy Creek 

Bomuckledi Creek 

Boomi Creek 

Bora Creek 

Bowman Creek 

Brigalow Creek 

Bullala Creek 

Carole Creek 

Clarks Creek 

Cobbadah Creek 

Copes Creek 

Creamin Creek 

Crossing Creek 

Curramanga Creek 

Deadmans Creek 

Dry Creek 

Duckholes Creek 

Duffys Creek 

Dumboy Creek 

Eatons Ponds Creek 

Five Mile Creek 

Flat Bottom Creek 

Galathera Creek 

Gehan Creek 

Gingham Watercourse 

Glenford Creek 

Goonal Creek 

Gouron Creek 

Gulf Creek 

Gundamulda Creek 

Gurley Creek 

Gwydir Anabranch 

Hallams Spring Creek 

Halls Creek 

Hobbs Creek 

Keera Creek 

Kellys Gully 

Little Bumble Creek 

Long Creek 

Macintyre Creek 

Mallowa Creek 

Marshalls Ponds Creek 

Mia Mia Creek 

Millie Creek 

Moomin Creek 

Mosquito Creek 

Myall Creek 

Myall Howoll Creek 

Noogera Creek 

Oaky Creek 

Paleroo Creek 

Pallal Creek 

Plains Creek 

Reedy Water Creek


Gwydir Reserve Creek 

Rocky Creek 

Sandy Creek 

Second Water Creek 

Sheep Station Creek 

Slaughterhouse Creek 

Spring Creek 

Staggy Creek 

Tarran Creek 

Ten Mile Creek 

Terry Hie Hie Creek 

Thalaba Creek 

Tookey Creek 

Toolinbar Creek 

Turrawarra Creek 

Tycannah Creek 

Tyreel Anabranch 

Warialda Creek 

Whitlow Creek 

Wiltshire Creek 

Wolongimba Creek 

Hunter Anvil Creek 

Appletree Creek 

Back Creek 

Baerami Creek 

Barigan Creek 

Bayswater Creek 

Bellaleppa Creek 

Berenderry (Jemmys) 

Creek 

Big Flat Creek 

Big Plain Creek 

Binalong Creek 

Black Creek 

Blackwater Creek 

Bobialla Creek 

Borambil Creek 

Branch Creek 

Brush Hill Creek 

Burrumbelong Creek 

Butchers Swamp Creek 

Campbells Creek 

Carters Brook 

Coggan Creek 

Cooba Bulga Stream 

Coulsons Creek 

Council Creek 

Cousins Creek 

Cowparlour Creek 

Coxs Gully 

Cream Of Tartar Creek 

Cross Creek 

Cuan Creek 

Cumbo Creek 

Dart Brook 

Davis Creek 

Donalds Creek 

Doolans Creek 

Doyles Creek 


Hunter Dry Creek 

Eastern Brook (Cattle) 

Creek 

Eckfords Creek 

Elliots Creek 

Emu Creek 

Fal Brook 

Farm Springs Creek 

Farrells Creek 

Fish Hole Creek 

Foy Brook 

Giants Creek 

Gibbergunyah Creek 

Ginghi Creek 

Gins Creek 

Glen Creek 

Goorangoola Creek 

Green Creek 

Gulf Creek 

Gum Flat Gully 

Gumman Creek 

Gungalwa Creek 

Half Moon Creek 

Halls Creek 

Happy Valley Creek 

Honeysuckle Creek 

Horse Creek 

Hungerford Creek 

Keans Creek 

Kerrabee Arm 

Kerrabee Creek 

Kewell Creek 

Killoe Creek 

Kingdon Ponds 

Kings Creek 

Kittens Creek 

Lee Creek 

Limestone Creek 

Lincolns Creek 

Little Creek 

Little Horseshoe Creek 

Long Creek 

Lorimer Creek 

Martindale Creek 

Middle Brook 

Middle Gully 

Moolarben Creek 

Moonan Brook 

Mount Misery Creek 

Muscle Creek 

Myrtle Creek 

Nerobingabla Creek 

New Found Out Creek 

North Wambo Creek 

Oaky Creek 

Omadale Brook 

Pages Creek 

Parnells Creek 

Peters Creek


Hunter Petwyn Valley Creek 

Poggy Gully 

Quarry Creek 

Red Creek 

Redbank Creek 

Redlynch Creek 

Reedy Creek 

Reubens Creek 

Rocky Creek 

Rouchel Brook 

Round Creek 

Saddlers Creek 

Saltwater Creek 


Scotts Creek 

Scrubby Creek 

Sparkes Creek 

Spring Creek 

Spring Gully 

Stewarts Brook 

Stony Creek 

Table Bay Creek 

Thompsons Creek 

Timor Creek 

Tommys Gully 

Turnbridge Creek 

Turon Creek 

Vallances Creek 

Wappinguy Creek 

Warlands Creek 

Washpen Creek 

Wattle Creek 

White Rock Gully 

Whites Creek 

Widden Brook 

Willy Wally Creek 

Wilpin Creek 

Wilpinjong Creek 

Wollar Creek 

Wollombi Brook 

Woolooma Creek 

Worondi Rivulet 

Wybong Creek 

Wyddagary Creek 

Yarramung Creek 

Macintyre Back Creek 

Bannockburn Creek 

Blue Nobby Creek 

Boobora Watercourse 

Boomangera Creek 

Boonal Creek 

Boughyard Creek 

Branch Creek 

Bunal Creek 

Bunna Bunna Creek 

Campbells Creek 

Cherry Tree Creek 

Commillamori Creek 

Crawfords Arm Creek 


Macintyre Crooked Creek 

Croppa Creek 

Cucumber Creek 

Dingo Creek 

Dry Creek 

Ena Creek 

Flaggy Creek 

Forest Creek 

Frazers Creek 

Gil Gil Creek 

Gnoura Gnoura Creek 

Goodlayamma Creek 

Goodlayamma Creek 

Graman Creek 

Hickeys Plain Creek 


Jardines Creek 

Jessies Gully 

Kings Plains Creek 

Little Oaky Creek 

Log Creek 

Long Plain Creek 

Mandoe Creek 

Middle Creek 

Mobbindry Creek 

Mordell Creek 

Mount Pleasant Creek 

Mungle Creek 

Myall Creek 

Nee Nee Creek 

Oaky Creek 

Ottleys Creek 

Outleys Creek 

Pindari Creek 

Postman Gully 

Reedy Creek 

Rob Roy Creek 

Rocky Creek 

Rocky Hole Creek 

Scrubby Creek 

Seereys Creek 

Simpsons Creek 

Spring Creek 

Stony (Middle) Creek 

Sugarloaf Arm Creek 

Swamp Creek 

Swan Brook 

Tackinbri Creek 

Tala Creek 

Tarpaulin Creek 

The Whalan Creek 

Wallon Creek 

Whalan Creek 

Wombyanna Creek 

Wyndhams Creek 

Yallaroi Creek 

Macquarie Back Creek 

Backwater Cowal 

Ban Ban Creek


Macquarie Bara Creek 

Baragonumbel Creek 

Barneys Creek 

Beleringar Creek 

Birchells Plain Creek 

Blathery Creek 

Boggy Cowal 

Bomely Creek 

Boomley Creek 

Boothaguy Creek 

Bounty Creek 

Bradys Cowal 

Brummagen Creek 

Buckinbah Creek 

Bullagreen Creek 

Bundijoe Creek 

Burlong Creek 

Burrabadine Creek 

Burrundulla Creek 

Cainbil Creek 

Cookaburra Creek 

Cookambil Creek 

Coolbaggie Creek 

Cooyal Creek 

Cuddil Creek 

Cumboogle Creek 

Curra Creek 

Emogandry Creek 

Ewenmar Creek 

Five Mile Cowal 

Gin Gin Creek 

Goan Creek 

Goodgodery Creek 

Goondy Creek 

Goulburn Creek 

Grattai Creek 

Greenbah Creek 

Greenhide Creek 

Gundong Creek 

Gundy Creek 

Hanover Creek 

Hyandra Creek 

Jones Creek 

Kickabil Creek 

Laheys Creek 

Lawsons Creek 

Little Back Creek 

Little Merri Merri Creek 

Long Plain Creek 

Marinda Creek 

Marthaguy Creek 

Mebul Creek 

Medway Creek 

Meroo Creek 

Merri Merri Creek 

Merrigal Creek 

Millpulling Creek 

Mitchells Creek 

Mogriguy Creek 


Macquarie Mullah Cowal 

Mullion Creek 

Myrangle Creek 

Native Dog Creek 

Norfolk Island Creek 

Nubrigan Creek 

Piambong Creek 

Plain Creek 


Slapdash Creek 

Spicers Creek 

Spring Creek 

Stony Creek 

Trangie Cowal 

Tucklan Creek 

Turee Creek 

Umangla Cowal 

Wallaby Creek 

Wambangalong Creek 

Wemabung Creek 

Whylandra Creek 

Wialdra Creek 

Wuuluman Creek 

Namoi Attunga Creek 

Back Creek 

Baradine Creek 

Barbers Lagoon 

Barneys Spring Creek 

Barraba Creek 

Basin Creek 

Bibbla Creek 

Bibblewindi Creek 

Big Jacks Creek 

Black Mountain Creek 

Bobbiwaa Creek 

Boggy Spring Creek 

Bohena Creek 

Boiling Down Creek 

Bollol Creek 

Borah Creek 

Borah Borah Creek 

Borambil Creek 

Brigalow Creek 

Bullawa Creek 

Bundella Creek 

Bundock Creek 

Burren Creek 

Carbeen Creek 

Cattle Creek 

Chambers Warrambool 

Chilcotts Creek 

Clarkes Creek 

Clay Creek 

Coghill Creek 

Colless Warrambool 

Colly Creek 

Collygra Creek 

Connors Creek 

Coolibah Watercourse


Namoi Coolibar Watercourse 

Coomoo Coomoo Creek 

Coomore Creek 

Cowallah Creek 

Coxs Creek 

Cubbaroo Warrambool 

Cubbo Creek 

Currabubula Creek 

Dam Gully 

Dandry Creek 

Dead Bullock Warrambool 

Deriah Creek 

Driggle Draggle Creek 

Duncan Warrambool 

Etoo Creek 

Eumur Creek 

Friday Creek 

Gananny Creek 

Garawilla Creek 

Goally Creek 

Goona Creek 

Goonoo Goonoo Creek 

Greenhatch Creek 

Gunidgera Creek 

Halls Creek 

Horsearm Creek 


Jacks Creek 

Jacob And Joseph Creek 

Kangaroo Creek 

Kerringle Creek 

Lambruk Creek 

Lever Gully 

Limestone Gully 

Little Jacks Creek 

Macdonalds Creek 

Maules Creek 

Menedebri Creek 

Merriwee Creek 

Middle Creek 

Middlebrook Creek 

Millers Creek 

Millie Warrambool 

Moonbi Creek 

Moore Creek 

Moreduval Hut Gully 

Mount Lowry Creek 

Mountain Creek 

Mulgate Creek 

Myall Camp Warrambool 

Oaky Creek 

Old Bibbla Creek 

Omaleah (Black) Creek 

Orphants Well Creek 

Phillips Creek 

Pian Creek 

Quegobla Creek 

Quipolly Creek 

Quirindi Creek 


Namoi Rangira Creek 

Reedy Creek 

Rocky Creek 

Saltwater Creek 


Shepherds Warrambool 

Spring Creek 

Stony Creek 

Talluba Creek 

Tangaratta Creek 

Tareela Creek 

Taylors (Pump Station) 

Creek 

Tenegie Creek 

Timbumburi Creek 

Timmallallie Creek 

Turrabeile Creek 

Turrabeile (Coxs) Creek 

Turragulla Creek 

Ulah Creek 

Warrah Creek 

Water Hole Creek 

Werris Creek 

Yaminba Creek 

Yarminbah Creek 

Yarraman Creek 

Yarramanbully Creek 

Yarrimanbah Creek 

Yearinan Creek

APPENDIX 18: BBS (QLD) LANDSYSTEMS AND ECOSYSTEMS BY PROVINCE 

Landsystem Ecosystem Description Conservation 

Province 

Status 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 

Cainozoic alluvial plains and Acacia harpophylla and / or Casuarina Endangered 

piedmont fans. Includes cristata on alluvial plains 

terraces, levees, swamps Eucalyptus populnea woodland on Of concern 

and channels of Quaternary alluvial plains. Texture contrast and deep 

alluvium and palaeo- clay soils. 

estuarine deposits, and Eucalyptus coolabah woodland on alluvial Of concern 

older floodplain complexes plains 

and piedmont fans with 

palaeo-stream channels. 

Also includes inland 

freshwater lakes and 

associated dune systems. 

Does not include talus 

slopes. Soils include deep 

cracking clays, loams, 

earths, and poorly 

developed alluvial soils. 

Eucalyptus tereticornis and / or E. Of concern 

camaldulensis tall woodland on alluvial 

plains 

Eucalyptus melanophloia woodland on Of concern 


Semi-evergreen vine thicket on alluvial Endangered 

plains 

Eucalyptus spp., Angophora spp., Callitris No concern at 

spp. woodland on alluvial plains. Sandy present 

soils. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Eucalyptus populnea woodland with 

shrubby Acacia harpophylla and / or 

Casuarina cristata on alluvial plains 

Endangered 

Eucalyptus populnea, Callitris 

No concern at 

 

glaucophylla, Allocasuarina luehmannii 

shrubby woodland on alluvial plains. 

Texture contrast soils 

present 

Callitris glaucophylla, Corymbia spp. and No concern at 

 

/ or Eucalyptus melanophloia woodland 

on Cainozoic alluvial plains. Deep sands. 

present 

Dichanthium sericeum and / or Astrebla 

spp. grasssland on alluvial plains. 

Cracking clay soils. 

Endangered 

 

Cyclosorus interruptus or Leptospermum 

polygalifolium or Phragmites karka 

wetlands of mound springs. 

Endangered 

 

Eucalyptus conica, E. nobilis, E. 

tereticornis, Angophora floribunda on 

alluvial plains. Basalt-derived soils. 

Endangered 

 

Themeda avenacea grassland on alluvial 

plains. Basalt-derived soils. 

Endangered 

 

Eucalyptus tereticornis or E. 

camaldulensis, Casuarina 

cunninghamiana fringing woodland on 


Of concern


Province 

Status 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 

Eucalyptus moluccana or E. microcarpa No concern at 

 

woodland to open forest on margins of 

alluvial plains. 

present 

Freshwater wetlands Of concern 

Casuarina cristata +/- Eucalyptus 

coolabah open woodland on alluvial 

plains. 

Of concern 

Eucalyptus crebra and / or E. populnea No concern at 

and / or E. melanophloia on alluvial 

plains. Higher terraces. 

present 

Eucalyptus coolabah fringing woodland No concern at 

on alluvial plains 

present 

Cainozoic clay deposits, Semi-evergreen vine thicket +/- 

Endangered 

 

usually forming gently Casuarina cristata on Cainozoic clay 

undulating plains with plains. 

poorly developed drainage Acacia harpophylla and / or Casuarina Endangered 

systems. Deep cracking cristata shrubby open forest on Cainozoic 

clays of moderate to high clay plains 

fertility, often with gilgai Dichanthium spp., Astrebla spp. Endangered 

 

microrelief, and texture grassland on Cainozoic clay plains. 

contrast soils. Excludes 

clay plains and downs 

formed on older bedrock. 

Open forest of Eucalyptus populnea with 

Acacia harpophylla and / or Casuarina 

cristata open forests on margins of 

Cainozoic clay plains 

Of concern 

Eucalyptus populnea or E. pilligaensis, 

Acacia harpophylla, Casuarina cristata 

open forest on margins of Cainozoic clay 

plains 

Endangered 

Eucalyptus populnea woodland on 

eroding edge of Cainozoic clay plains 

Of concern 

Cainozoic sand deposits, Eucalyptus crebra, Callitris glaucophylla, No concern at 

usually forming extensive, Angophora leiocarpa, Allocasuarina present 

uniform near-level or gently luehmannii woodland on Cainozoic sand 

undulating plains. Includes plains / remnant surfaces 

slightly dissected surfaces 

and small remnants of these 

surfaces. Soils are usually 

sands, earths or texture 

contrast and often overlie 

laterite profiles. Includes 

extensive sand plains of 

uncertain origin overlying 

weathered or unweathered 

bedrock. Excludes alluvial 

deposits, exposed duricrust, 

and shallow soils derived 

from underlying bedrock. 

Eucalyptus crebra, Corymbia spp., with E. No concern at 

moluccana on lower slopes of Cainozoic present 

sand plains / remnant surfaces. 

Eucalyptus crebra, Callitris glaucophylla, No concern at 

C. endlicheri, E. chloroclada, Angophora present 

leiocarpa on Cainozoic sand plains / 

remnant surfaces. Deep sands. 

Eucalyptus melanophloia, Callitris No concern at 

glaucophylla woodland on Cainozoic present 

sand plains / remnant surfaces. Deep red 

sands.


Province 

Status 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 

Triodia spp. grassland on Cainozoic sand No concern at 

 

plains / remnant surfaces. 

present 

Eucalyptus acmenioides, Angophora No concern at 

leiocarpa on Cainozoic sand plains / 

remnant surfaces. 

present 

Eucalyptus crebra + other Eucalyptus and No concern at 

Corymbia spp. woodland on Cainozoic 

sand plains / remnant surfaces. Plateaus 

and broad crests with deep red loams. 

present 

Corymbia clarksoniana woodland + other No concern at 

Corymbia, Eucalyptus spp. on Cainozoic 

sand plains / remnant surfaces 

present 

Eucalyptus populnea +/- Acacia aneura No concern at 

 

+/- E. melanophloia woodland on 

Cainozoic sand plains / remnant surfaces. 

present 

Triodia spp. grassland with emergent No concern at 

 

trees on Cainozoic sand plains / remnant 

surfaces. Highly saline soils. 

present 

Semi-evergreen vine thicket on Cainozoic Of concern 

sand plains / remnant surfaces. Deep red 

loams. 

 

Acacia harpophylla and / or Casuarina 

cristata open forest in depressions on 

Cainozoic sand plains / remnant surfaces. 

Endangered 

 

Eucalyptus tereticornis woodland in No concern at 

depressions on Cainozoic sand plains / 

remnant surfaces. 

present 

Cainozoic duricrusts formed Acacia harpophylla and / or Casuarina Of concern 

on a variety of rock types. cristata and Eucalyptus thozetiana or E. 

Includes exposed 

microcarpa woodland on lower scarp 

ferruginous, siliceous and slopes on Cainozoic lateritic duricrust. 

mottled horizons and Acacia spp. woodland on Cainozoic No concern at 

 

associated talus and lateritic duricrust. Scarp retreat zone. present 

colluvium. Usually low Eucalyptus decorticans and / or No concern at 

 

mesas and scarps, or low Eucalyptus spp., Corymbia spp., Acacia present 

stony rises on downs. Soils spp., Lysicarpus angustifolius on 

are usually skeletal, with Cainozoic lateritic duricrust. 

shallow texture contrast 

soils on the adjacent 

colluvial fans, and shallow 

red earths on plateau 

margins and on larger 

mesas. 

Shrubland on natural scalds on Cainozoic No concern at 

coarse-grained sedimentary rocks. present


Province 

Status 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 

Cainozoic igneous rocks, Eucalyptus laevopinea tall open forest on No concern at 

including extrusive and Cainozoic igneous rocks. Elevated present 

intrusive types. 

plateaus. 

Predominantly flood basalts Eucalyptus tereticornis, E. melliodora No concern at 

forming extensive plains and woodland on Cainozoic igneous rocks. present 

occasional low scarps, but Semi-evergreen vine thicket on Cainozoic Of concern 

including hills, cones and igneous rocks. Steep hillsides. 

plugs on trachytes and Eucalyptus melanophloia woodland on No concern at 

rhyolites, and minor Cainozoic igneous rocks. Hillsides. present 

interbedded sediments. Eucalyptus orgadophila open woodland No concern at 

These igneous rocks have 

on Cainozoic igneous rocks. 

present 

diverse origins such as 

Macropteranthes leichhardtii thicket on Of concern 

flows, pyroclastics, plugs 

Cainozoic igneous rocks. 

and dykes. Associated soils 

Eucalyptus albens, E. crebra woodland Of concern 

include black earths, 

on Cainozoic igneous rocks. Hillsides. 

krasnozems, shallow clays 

and lithosols of generally 

Callitris spp. +/- vine thicket on Cainozoic Of concern 

moderate to high fertility. 

igneous rocks. Hillsides. 

Excludes alluvial soils Semi-evergreen vine thicket and Endangered 

derived from these rocks, as microphyll rainforest on Cainozoic 

well as springs, but includes ingneous rocks. Lowlands 

associated talus. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cainozoic to Proterozoic Acacia harpophylla - Eucalyptus Of concern 

consolidated, fine-grained cambageana open forest on Cainozoic 

sediments with little or no fine-grained sedimentary rocks. 

deformation. Siltstones, Eucalyptus melanophloia +/- E. 

Of concern 

mudstones, shales, orgadophila woodland on Cainozoic fine- 

calcareous sediments and grained sedimentary rocks 

lithic sandstones are typical Dichanthium spp., Astrebla spp. Of concern 

rock types although minor grassland on Cainozoic fine-grained 

interbedded volcanics may sedimentary rocks. 

occur. Usually undulating Semi-evergreen vine thicket on Cainozoic Of concern 

landscapes with fine- fine-grained sedimentary rocks. 

textured soils of moderate to 

high fertility. Excludes areas 

Acacia harpophylla and / or Casuarina Endangered 

of duricrust. 

cristata open forest on Cainozoic finegrained 

sedimentary rocks. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Acacia melvillei +/- Acacia harpophylla 

open forest on Cainozoic fine-grained 


Endangered 

 

Eucalyptus populnea - Eremophila 

mitchellii shrubby woodland on Cainozoic 

fine-grained sedimentary rocks. 

Of concern 

Macropteranthes leichhardtii thicket on 

Cainozoic fine-grained sedimentary 

rocks. Lowlands. 

Of concern


Province 

Status 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 

Eucalyptus crebra woodland on 


rocks. Lowlands. 

Of concern 

Acacia harpophylla, Eucalyptus populnea 



Endangered 

Acacia harpophylla shrubland on 


rocks. 

Of concern 

 

Dichanthium sericeum grassland with 

clumps of Acacia harpophylla on 


rocks. 

Endangered 

Eucalyptus moluccana or E. microcarpa No concern at 

 



present 

Cainozoic to Proterozoic Corymbia citriodora open forest on No concern at 

consolidated, medium to Cainozoic coarse-grained sedimentary present 

coarse-grained sediments rocks. 

with little or no deformation. Tall open forest in sheltered gorges on No concern at 

Includes siliceous 

Cainozoic coarse-grained sedimentary present 

sandstones and 

rocks. 

conglomerates forming Acacia catenulata or A. shirleyi open No concern at 

ranges, plateaus, and scarps forest on Cainozoic coarse-grained present 

with shallow soils of low sedimentary rocks. Crests and scarps. 

fertility. Minor interbedded Eucalyptus decorticans, Lysicarpus No concern at 

volcanics may occur. angustifolius +/- Eucalyptus spp., present 

Excludes overlying 

Corymbia spp., Acacia spp. woodland on 

Cainozoic sand deposits, but coarse-grained sedimentary rocks. Crests 

includes in situ earths and and scarps. 

texture contrast soils. Also Eucalyptus sphaerocarpa +/- E. mensalis, No concern at 

includes springs associated E. saligna tall open forest on Cainozoic present 

with these sediments. coarse-grained sedimentary rocks. 

Tablelands. 

 

 

 

Angophora leiocarpa, Callitris 

No concern at 

 

glaucophylla open woodland on 

Cainozoic coarse-grained sedimentary 

rocks. Broad valleys. 

present 

Eucalyptus crebra woodland on No concern at 


rocks. 

present 

Semi-evergreen vine thicket in sheltered No concern at 

 

habitats on Cainozoic medium to coarsegrained 


present 

Callitris glaucophylla woodland on No concern at 

 


rocks. 

present


Province 

Status 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 

Eucalyptus melanophloia +/- E. 

No concern at 

chloroclada woodland on Cainozoic 

coarse-grained sedimentary rocks. 

present 

Eucalyptus melanophloia, Callitris No concern at 

 

glaucophylla woodland on Cainozoic 

coarse-grained sedimentary rocks. 

present 

Eucalyptus populnea woodland on No concern at 

Cainozoic medium to coarse-grained 


present 

Mixed Eucalyptus - Corymbia open forest No concern at 

on scarps and sandstone tablelands. present 

Mesozoic to Proterozoic Eucalyptus crebra +/- Acacia rhodoxylon No concern at 

 

moderately to strongly woodland on old sedimentary rocks with present 

deformed and 

varying degrees of metamorphism and 

metamorphosed sediments folding. 

and interbedded volcanics. Acacia shirleyi or A. catenulata low open No concern at 

 

Ranges, hills, and lowlands forest on old sedimentary rocks with present 

with lithosols and shallow varying degrees of metamorphism and 

texture contrast soils of low folding. 

to moderate fertility. Corymbia citriodora, Eucalyptus crebra, No concern at 

 

Includes low to high grade E. acmenioides open forest on old present 

metamorphics such as sedimentary rocks with varying degrees 

shales, slates, gneisses of of metamorphism and folding. Coastal 

indeterminate origin, and ranges. 

minor areas of associated 

serpentine. 

Eucalyptus crebra woodland on old 

sedimentary rocks with varying degrees 

of metamorphism and folding. Coastal 

ranges. 

No concern at 

present 

 

Microphyll rainforest +/- Araucaria No concern at 

 

cunninghamii on old sedimentary rocks 

with varying degrees of metamorphism 

and folding. 

present 

Eucalyptus populnea or E. brownii No concern at 

 

woodland on deformed and 

metamorphosed sediments and 

interbedded volcanics. 

present 

Eucalyptus melanophloia woodland on No concern at 

 

deformed and metamorphosed sediments present 

and interbedded volcanics. 

Acacia harpophylla or A. argyrodendron, 

Terminalia oblongata low open forest on 

deformed and metamorphosed sediments 


Of concern 

 

Acacia harpophylla open forest on 

deformed and metamorphosed sediments 


Endangered


Province 

Status 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 

Eucalyptus crebra woodland on deformed No concern at 

 

and metamorphosed sediments and 

interbedded volcanics. Undulating plains. 

present 

Eucalyptus cambageana, Acacia 

harpophylla woodland on old sedimentary 

rocks with varying degrees of 

metamorphism and folding. Lowlands. 

Of concern 

Semi-evergreen vine thicket on old 


of metamorphism and folding. Lowlands. 

Endangered 

Eucalyptus platyphylla woodland on old No concern at 

 


of metamorphism and folding. Lowlands. 

present 

Mesozoic to Proterozoic Eucalyptus crebra woodland on igneous No concern at 

 

igneous rocks. 

rocks. 

present 

Predominantly granitoides Eucalyptus melanophloia woodland on No concern at 

 

and intermediate to acid igneous rocks 

present 

terrestrial volcanics, forming Eucalyptus crebra, E. tereticornis, No concern at 

 

ranges, hills and lowlands Angophora leiocarpa woodland on present 

and lithosols and texture igneous rocks, especially granite. 

contrast soils of usually low 

fertility. Includes granites, 

granodiorites, andesites, 

and rhyolites, as well as 

minor areas of interbedded 

sediments and basic rock 

types such as gabbros. 

Excludes serpentines. 

Semi-evergreen vine thicket and No concern at 

microphyll vine forest on igneous rocks. present 

Corymbia spp., Lysicarpus angustifolius, No concern at 

Eucalyptus crebra, E. cloeziana woodland present 

on igneous rocks (granite) 

Corymbia citriodora open forest on No concern at 

igneous rocks (granite) 

present 

Eucalyptus populnea woodland on Of concern 

igneous rocks. Colluvial lower slopes. 

 

 

 

 

 

Corymbia spp., Eucalyptus baileyana, E. No concern at 

 

dura, E. exserta woodland on igneous 

rocks. Hills 

present 

Acacia harpophylla open forest on 

igneous rocks. Colluvial lower slopes 

Endangered 

Province Key 

15 Claude River Downs 25 Taroom Downs 

16 woorabinda 26 Southern Downs 

17 Boomer Range 27 Barakula 

18 Mount Morgan Ranges 28 Dulacca Downs 

19 Callide Creek Downs 29 Weribone High 

20 Arcadia 30 Tara Downs 

21 Dawson River Downs 31 Eastern Darling Downs 

22 Banana - Auburn Ranges 32 Inglewood Sandstones 

23 Buckland Basalts 33 Moonie River - Commoron Creek Floodout 

24 Carnarvon 34 Moonie - Barwon Interfluve

APPENDIX 19: STATE BIODIVERSITY-FUNDED PROJECTS RELATING TO PRIORITY ACTION 13 OF THE STATE 

BIODIVERSITY STRATEGY 

PROJECT AGENCY PROJECT 

COMPLETION DATE 

Project 13.1: Framework for bioregional conservation assessment. NPWS August 2001 

Project 13.2: Darling Riverine Plains Conservation Assessment NPWS December 2001 

(draft report) 

Project 13.3 : Brigalow Belt South Bioregion Conservation Assessment Scoping Project NPWS Sept 2001 

Project 13.4: South-west slopes Bioregional Assessment Scoping Project. NPWS June 2001 

Project 13.5: Nandewar Bioregion Conservation Assessment Scoping Project, to determine requirements for a full conservation assessment. NPWS September 2001 

Project 13.6: Framework for assessing conservation priorities in Sydney Basin NPWS September 2001 

Project 13.7: Listing of NSW Ecosystems. NPWS December 2002 

Project 13.8: Vegetation classification of NSW. Royal Botanic 

Gardens 

July 2003 

Project 13.9: Statewide GIS conservation assessment of NSW environments. NPWS May 2002 . 

Project 13.10: Develop a Geographic Information System to map areas of NSW which require conservation action. Employ a contractor to access 

DLWC July 2001 

and transfer DLWC maps needed for use in bioregional assessments 

Project 13.11: A State-wide native vegetation coverage for NSW. . NPWS December 2001 

Project 13.12: Floristic survey and gap filling for vegetation mapping. NPWS August 2001 

Project 13.13: Analysis and interpretation of vegetation information to be provided to Regional Vegetation Committees in key regions. DLWC : 

Project 13.14: Acceleration of existing bioregional projects. NPWS June 2002 

Project 13.15: Lower Murray-Darling Environmental Studies – Phase 2: Habitat Requirements for Fauna of the Lower Murray-Darling Catchment 

DLWC April 2002 

and Cobar Peneplain. 

Project 13.16: Disseminate and promote outcomes of bioregional assessments (Internet). NPWS June 2002 

Project 13.17: Bioregional overviews. NPWS December 2001 

Project 13.18: Implementing conservation priorities in Cobar and Riverina bioregions (voluntary conservation agreements on private land). NPWS December 2002 

Project 13.19: South West Slopes bioregional assessment (conservation status of woodland communities on the Upper South West Slopes) NPWS December 2002 

Project 13.20: First Stage of Nandewar bioregional assessment NPWS December 2002 

Project 13.21: Nandewar bioregion invertebrate survey Australian Museum June 2002 

Project 13.22: Biodiversity building on a soil landscapes framework. DLWC December 2002 

Project 13.23: Completion of CRAFTI GIS products and remodelling of Forest Ecosystems, significant habitat and old growth in Upper and Lower 

North East CRC regions. 

NPWS

PA 

code 

Appendix 20: Brigalow Belt South Bioregional Conservation Assessment – Draft Technical Framework 

Priority Key 

A – Most important – start within year 1 

B – Important – 2-3 year timeframe 

C – Moderately important - 3-5 years 

D – Not within scope of SBS – may be possible under other programs 

Project Area Role in bioregional conservation 

assessment process and relationship 

to criteria 

1 Project areas relating to 

native ecosystems 

1.1 Vegetation classification / 

mapping (API) 

Indicative data collection / 

collation requirements and 

required inputs from other 

project areas 

Indicative outputs BBS Stage 1 & 2 

(WRA – RACAC Funded 

Future Work 

Required Under SBS 

Priority & 

Timeframe 

(for SBS 

funding) 

This group of project areas provides a basis for addressing JANIS biodiversity criteria relating native ecosystems and also contributes to fulfilment of old growth, National Estate criteria. Native ecosystems 

play an essential role in the bioregion conservation assessment process, as broad surrogates for biodiversity. Consideration should also be given to DLWC vegetation criteria as these are developed through 

the native vegetation management process. National Estate values to be considered include: 

Criterion A1: relictual vegetation classes, climatic refuges; 

Criterion A2 : successional stages, remnant ecosystems; 

Criterion A3: areas of ecosystem richness; 

Criterion B1: rare ecosystems; 

Criterion D1: principle characteristics of class. 

A basic input to the 

derivation/mapping of native 

ecosystems, mapping of old growth 

and modelling of species/assemblage 

distributions and habitats. 

Primary layer for modelling pre-1750 

/ pre-clearing vegetation / ecosystems 

(JANIS Biodiversity Criterion 1) and 

vegetation retention targets. 

Existing vegetation mapping. 

New and existing API. Use of 

satellite images to enhance 

vegetation mapping. 

Existing floristic plot data. 

New floristic plot data (from 

PA 2.1 - 2.4). 

Modelling of plot data and 

environmental variables 

Ground truthing and accuracy 

assessment 

Vegetation map for all extant 

native vegetation, to be used in 

derivation / mapping of native 

ecosystems (PA 1.2), mapping of 

old growth (PA 3.1), modeling of 

species / assemblage 

distributions, and pre-1750 / preclearing 

ecosystems (PA 5.1, 5.2 

and 5.3) 

Class 1 mapping - Public lands, 

significant remnants and high 

quality vegetation. areas - 1:25 

000, 1:50 000 mapping 

Class 2 mapping – regional 

vegetation 1:250 000, 1:100 000 

Information provided to planning 

groups such as RVCs, RLPBs, 

RMCs, CMBs, DLWC, LG 

Broad scale mapping 

(1:100,000)is being undertaken 

by DLWC as part of statewide 

mapping program to be used as a 

broad surrogate for biodiversity 

in modelling 

Class 1 mapping - vegetation 

communities of SF and NP 

estate within the BBS mapped as 

part of BBS2 ie API at 1:50,000 

integrated with field survey work 

to produce 1:50,000 map of SF 

& NP Estate & Crown Land 

within the BBS bioregion 

Class 2 mapping – 6 mapsheets 

and woody vegetation layer 

across the BBS bioregion 

Preliminary interpretation and 

descriptions of plant 

communities including floristics, 

structure, likely habitat value, 

relative distribution and area, 

reservation status 

Areas outside NP & SF 

Estate and Crown Land 

to be mapped – Class 2 

mapping - outside 

woody vegetation areas 

ie non-woody areas 

Completion of NVMP 

mapsheets by DLWC 

1.2 Native ecosystem Converts mapped vegetation types Vegetation mapping from PA Native ecosystem map for all This will be investigated as part Implementation of B 

30 March 2001 Brigalow Belt South Technical Framework 1 

D 

To be 

completed by 

2003 by NVMP 

(not SBS but 

required by 

SBS)

PA 

code 




to criteria 

derivation / mapping (ie. 

forests, woodlands, 

shrublands, grasslands and 

wetlands) 

1.3 Formulation of 

conservation requirements 

for vegetation types / 


(conservation mechanisms 

and targets) 

1.4 Evaluation of 

environmental and 

geographical patterns of 

biological variation within 

and between vegetation 

types 

into mapped ecosystems by 

incorporating additional biological 

and environmental information to 

improve surrogacy performance, 

guided by PA 1.4, evaluation of 

biological variation within and 

between vegetation types. 

Outputs used to derive conservation 

targets for ecosystems (JANIS 

Biodiversity Criterion 1). 

Uses ‘response to disturbance’ (PA 6) 

information to specify appropriate 

types of protection / reservation for 

native ecosystems, in accordance with 

Section 4 of the JANIS report. 

Uses information on pre-1750 / preclearing 

extent to formulate areal 

reservation targets for native 

ecosystems, in accordance with 

JANIS biodiversity criteria 1,2 and 3. 

Uses information on patterns of 

biological variation within vegetation 

types to formulate requirements for 

spatial configuration of reservation 

within native ecosystems, in 

accordance with JANIS biodiversity 

criterion 7 and 4. 

Provides an objective basis for 

converting mapped vegetation types 

into native ecosystems, and for 

formulating requirements for spatial 

configuration of reservation within 

extant native ecosystems. 

Important in the development of a 

CAR reserve system. Is integral in 

determining dissimilarities between 

vegetation/ecosystem classifications, 

and drives the selection of areas to be 

incorporated into the CAR with 

respect to complementarity. 




project areas 

1.1. 

Biological survey data and 

models from PA 2.1 - 2.4, 5.1 

and 5.2. 

Information from PA 1.4. 

Inputs from PAs 9.3, 9.12 and 

9.13 

Outputs from PA 1.2, 1.4, 5.3 


Expert knowledge. 

Vegetation mapping from PA 

1.1. 

Biological survey data and 

models from PA 2.1 - 2.4, 5.1 

and 5.2 (may require specially 

designed surveys within PA 

2). 

Input from PAs 9.3, 9.12 and 

9.13. 



extant forest, native grasslands, 

wetlands, shrublands & 

woodlands for use in formulation 

of conservation requirements (PA 

1.3), mapping of old growth (PA 

3.1). 

Outputs used to derive 

assemblage models (PAs 5). 

A database of appropriate types of 

protection / reservation, and 

reservation and retention targets 

for native plant communities and 

ecosystems for use by decision 

support systems (including 

planning groups such as RVCs, 

RLPBs, RMCs, CMBs, DLWC 

and LG) in Integration and 

National Estate assessment (PA 

9.9) 

A general ‘model’ of biological 

variation within mapped 

vegetation types, in relation to 

environmental and geographical 

gradients. 

A measure of the surrogacy 

performance of alternative native 

ecosystem derivations. 

Provides a basis for converting 

vegetation types into ecosystems 

in PA 1.2, and for formulating 

reservation requirements in PA 

1.3. 

of BBS2 integrating all suitable 

vegetation mapping and 

environmental variables 

available 

To be determined by RVCs on 

private lands and WRA on 

public lands. 

Not addressed - Possibly 

addressed in BBS2 across all 

vegetation types in BBS – to be 

determined by RACAC 

Future Work 


project action using 

data from BBS2 with 

additional data from 

DLWC NVMP and 

possibly SBS to fill 

gaps (ie ecosystems not 

mapped by other 

programs) 

To be determined for 

non woody vegetation 

types and ecosystems 

To be determined for all 

vegetation communities 

and ecosystems across 

the BBS. 

Priority & 

Timeframe 

(for SBS 

funding) 


A 

B

PA 

code 




to criteria 

1.5 Evaluation of satellite 

images and remote sensing 

for vegetation mapping 


fauna and flora 

assessments 

This project will review current 

remote sensing techniques and 

available imagery to investigate the 

potential for mapping and monitoring 

native vegetation condition and 

change across the bioregion. 

Feeds into PA 1.1 and JANIS 

biodiversity criteria. 

3. Criterion B1: rare ecosystems 

2.1 Systematic fauna surveys A basic input to all other flora and 

fauna project areas, and to the 

evaluation of biological variation 

within and between vegetation types 

as a basis for deriving native 

ecosystems. 




project areas 

It will utilise data collected 

through other PAs; vegetation 

mapping (PA 1.1), biological 

surveys (PAs 2.1 - 2.4), 

disturbance history mapping 

(PA 6.4) and timber inventory 

projects. 



Possible additional vegetation 

classification and mapping 

including extant clearing rates. 

Fill in any gaps from vegetation 

mapping (PA 1.1) 

Allow for analysis of rarity of 

vegetation types 

Condition of vegetation types 

Extent of vegetation types 

DLWC NVMP program – but 

may not cover entire bioregion. 

Possibly addressed in BBS2 

across all vegetation types in 

BBS – to be determined by 

RACAC 

Future Work 


None D 

Priority & 

Timeframe 

(for SBS 

funding) 

This group of project areas provides a basis for addressing JANIS biodiversity criterion 5, dealing with the reservation of known elements of biodiversity that are of special conservation significance, or are 

likely to be poorly correlated with mapped native ecosystems. In addition, the project areas contribute information to PA 1.4 thereby guiding decisions on the derivation of ecosystems from vegetation 

types, and the required spatial configuration of reservation within ecosystems. This group of project areas also contributes to the fulfillment of threatened species, National Estate and DLWC vegetation 

retention criteria. 

National Estate values to be considered include: 

1. Criterion A1: relictual vegetation classes, climatic refuges; 

2. Criterion A3: areas of ecosystem richness; and 

Plays an integral role in the 

development of species / assemblage 

& habitat modeling (PA 5.1). 

Integral in the development of 

ecosystem mapping (PA 1.2). 

Collation of existing data 

from previous surveys, 

museums, etc. 

Collection of new survey data. 

Requires inputs from current 

vegetation mapping, 

environmental layers for 

survey site stratification. 

Database of fauna survey data for 

use in all other flora and fauna 

project areas, and in the 

evaluation of patterns of 


mapped vegetation types (PA 

1.4). 

Information on current status and 

limiting factors to assist in 

defining recovery objectives for 

threatened species 

Basic data for use in National 

Estate assessment (PA 9.9) 

Collection of systematic fauna 

data throughout BBS1 & BBS2 

on public, leasehold and private 

lands 

Some evaluation of patterns of 


mapped vegetation types. 

Collection of data on regionally 

significant species within 

woodyvegetation types 

Identification of gaps within 

strata - 100 survey sites set up as 

part of BBS2 in those strata 

identified as having gaps with 

respect to fauna data 

Further systematic 

fauna surveys required 

in wetlands, grasslands, 

shrublands, and open 

woodlands 

Further analysis of 

fauna data in relation to 

completed vegetation 

mapping. 

2.2 Plot-based flora surveys A basic input to all other flora and Collation of existing data Database of flora survey data for 

New information collected on 

the distribution and biology of 

fauna including threatened 

species. 

BBS 1 & 2 plot-based stratified Further systematic plot- A 


A 

Immediate start

PA 

code 




to criteria 





ecosystems. 



modeling (PA 5.2). 

2.3 Targeted fauna surveys 


vegetation mapping (PA 1.1), 

ecosystem mapping (PA 1.2) and 

growth stage mapping (PA 3.1). 

A basic input to all other flora and 





ecosystems. 



& habitat modelling (PA 5.1). 


ecosystem mapping (PA 1.2). 

2.4 Targeted flora surveys A basic input to all other flora and 





ecosystems. 



modelling (PA 5.2). 


vegetation mapping (PA 1.1), 

ecosystem mapping (PA 1.2) and 

growth stage mapping (PA 3.1). 




project areas 


museums, herbaria etc. 






Monitoring PA 2.9 



museums, etc. 






Targeted surveys for high 

priority species such as 

Threatened Species or 

regionally significant species 



museums, herbaria etc. 






Targeted surveys for high 

priority species or areas eg 

Threatened Species, areas of 

high genetic diversity, areas of 

endemism, refugia 








1.4). 




threatened species. 



Database of fauna survey data for 






1.4). 




threatened species planning 



Database of flora survey data for 






1.4). 




threatened species 



random sampling within public, 

leasehold and private lands. 

Existing survey data sets 

identified and used for 

stratification & possibly 

modeling. 

New information on biology of 

threatened and regionally 

significant species and 

vegetation communities. 

Some targeted fauna surveys in 

woody vegetation (public lands 

only) including Pale-headed 

Snake, Squirrel Glider, Eastern 

Pygmy Possum, and Glossy 

Black-Cockatoo (BBS2) 

Some undertaken as part BBS 1 

– target woody vegetation 

communities identified and 

surveyed 

Future Work 


based sampling on 

private / leasehold lands 

in identified gaps and 

fill gaps after NVMP 

and BBS 1 & 2 eg 

wetlands, shrublands, 

grasslands and open 

woodlands. 

Further analysis of flora 

data in relation to 

completed vegetation 

mapping. 

Further targeted surveys 

possible eg bats, owls, 

regionally significant or 

threatened species not 

represented in 

systematic data. 

Further analysis of all 

fauna data 


in all vegetation 

communities and areas 

undertaken after 

analysis of systematic 

flora data . 


for significant flora 

species. 

2.5 Assessment of aquatic This project should provide a basis for Collation of existing data Database of aquatic vertebrate Nil planned Nil planned D 

Priority & 

Timeframe 

(for SBS 

funding) 

Immediate start 


A 


A 

Immediate start

PA 

code 




to criteria 

vertebrates (ie fish and 

turtles) 

2.6 Assessment of aquatic 

macro invertebrates 

2.7 Assessment of terrestrial 

invertebrates 

2.8 Genetic diversity 

assessment 

addressing JANIS biodiversity 

criterion 5, dealing with the 

reservation of known elements of 

biodiversity that are of special 

conservation significance and are 

likely to be poorly correlated with 

mapped ecosystems. 

This project should provide a basis for 
















Uses genetic data from a select, 

representative groups of species to 

elucidate broad geographical patterns 

of genetic variation, providing a basis 

for delineation of populations in 

future population viability analyses 

and formulation of rules guiding the 

spatial configuration of reservation 

for species and habitat protection. 


addressing JANIS criteria 5, 6 and 7. 




project areas 


museums etc. 




museums etc. 


Collation of existing 

information 

Collection of new survey data 

Genetic data collected during 

new surveys. 

Results from previous genetic 

studies conducted elsewhere. 



survey data for use in all other 

flora and fauna project areas, and 

in the evaluation of patterns of 



1.4). 




threatened species planning. 



Database of aquatic invertebrates 

for use in all other project areas, 

and in the evaluation of patterns 

of biological variation within 


1.4). 



Database of terrestrial 

invertebrates for use in all other 





1.4). 



Broad guidelines for inferring 

patterns of genetic variation 

between populations of species 

for which no direct genetic data 

are available. 

Future Work 


Nil Planned Nil Planned D 



Priority & 

Timeframe 

(for SBS 

funding) 

30 March 2001 Brigalow Belt South Technical Framework 5

PA 

code 




to criteria 

2.9 Monitoring sites (seasonal 

variation assessments for 

fauna and flora) 



for flora and fauna 


and targets) 



criterion 5. 

An understanding of the adequacy of 

survey effort will inform PAs 1.3, 1.4 


Uses information from preceding flora 

and fauna projects areas to specify 

appropriate types of protection / 

retention / reservation for species and 

other known elements of biodiversity, 

in accordance with Section 4 of the 

JANIS report and DLWC vegetation 

retention targets 

Also uses this information to 

formulate habitat reservation 

requirements for species/assemblages 

etc, including requirements for the 

spatial configuration of reserved / 

protected habitat. 




project areas 

Collection of new survey data 

from a subset of fauna and 

flora survey sites. 

Surveys conducted at each 

subset site at pre-determined 

intervals to generate a yearround 

/ all seasons 

perspective. 

Outputs from PA 2.1 - 2.4, 6.2 





Enables some estimation of the 

effectiveness and accuracy of 

fauna and flora sampling. This 

will feed into fauna and flora 

modelling (PA 5.1 & 5.2), and 

Project Area 7 projects. 

A database of appropriate types of 

protection / reservation, and 

reservation targets for species / 

assemblages /communties (and 

other elements of biodiversity) for 

use by decision support systems 

in conservation assessment (PA 

7.7) and by regional planning 

committees 

Identification of management 

strategies for regionally 

significant and threatened species 

at both a local at regional scale 

Information on management 

strategies for regionally 

significant and threatened species 

Information to be provided to 

planning groups such as DLWC, 

RVCs, RLPBs, RMCs, CMBs, 

and LG 

Information for use in National 


WRA does not plan to install 

monitoring sites but survey sites 

could be utilised as a basis for 

future monitoring. 

Some – dependant on the results 

from the WRA 

Future Work 


Revisit WRA sites in 6 

monthly intervals over 

2-3 years. 

Review on completion 

of WRA to fill gaps in 

species requirements 

Priority & 

Timeframe 

(for SBS 

funding) 

B 


3 Project areas relating to These projects enable the JANIS criteria for Old Growth Forests and the DLWC vegetation retention targets to be addressed and also contribute to the Old Growth components of National Estate and World 

growth stages 

Heritage criteria 

3.1 Growth stage mapping Assist with determining relative age Modify existing mapping. Map / layer of Growth Stage BBS 2 – SF, NPWS and DLWC Study to determine A? 

and structural condition of forest / 

woodland stands and the significance 

of past canopy disturbance. 

New mapping for private land 

& other unmapped tenures. 

which is required to help identify 

ecologically mature forest or 

woodlands, regrowth and other 

to be involved in mapping – 

attributes measured to be 

determined 

appropriate growth 

stage surveys / 

assessment on public, 

Requires API mapping of vegetation 

at 1:25000 scale. 

Use of Disturbance Mapping 

if available. 

 

classes. 

Maps / layers of canopy 

disturbance patterns and other 

For selected targeted areas eg 6 

100,000 mapsheets and other 

areas where data gaps occur 

leasehold & private 

lands eg management of 

National Parks. 


D

PA 

code 




to criteria 



for mature aged vegetation 

types / native ecosystems 


and targets) for BBS 


Wilderness 

4.1 Wilderness assessment and 

identification of wilderness 

areas 

Sets targets for JANIS Old Growth 

Forest Criteria 1 & 2 incorporating 

work from PA 3.1. 




project areas 

Inputs from PA 1.1, 2.2 and 

2.4. 

Expert knowledge / review 

Requires old growth layer 

from PA 3.1 and layers from 

PA 1.1 and 1.2 to determine 

current extent of native 

ecosystems. 



disturbance indicators 

The above outputs will be 

required to assist analysis and 

predictive modelling of species - 

habitat relationships (PA 2, 5.1 

and 5.2) and to support 

wilderness assessment (PA 4.1). 

Targets and other conservation 

requirements. 

Provides output on successional 

stages to assist PA 1.3 

(Formulation of Conservation 

Requirements for Native 

Ecosystems). 

Determines geographic spread of 

all age classes (successional 

stages) and models for temporal 

changes (short, medium and long 

term) under different disturbance 

regimes. 

Provide this information to 

planning groups such as RMCs, 

RVCs, RLPBs, CMBs, DLWC, 

and LG. 

Some – possible list of matureaged 

components / plant 

communities (woody vegetation) 

of importance 

Future Work 


Further work to define 

mature-aged 

components / plant 

communities (all 

vegetation types) 

This project provides information needed to ensure the JANIS wilderness criteria are met, and contributes to fulfilment of National Estate criteria and possibly also World Heritage criteria. 

Delineation of high quality wilderness 

areas as outlined in the requirements 

of the National / State Government 

Scoping Agreement. 

Required for the determination of 

wilderness criterion in JANIS 

(Section 6.3). 

Digitising / mapping of 

boundaries of all existing 

identified and declared 

wilderness. 

Field- and API-based 

assessment of wilderness 

quality and restoration 

potential. 

Investigations regarding an 

area’s land-use and 

disturbance history. 

Community consultation 

Wilderness assessment reports 

will be prepared for each area 

under investigation. 

Boundaries of areas already 

identified and / or declared under 

the Wilderness Act (GIS layer). 

Boundaries of any new areas 

identified as wilderness (GIS 

layer). 


planning groups such as RMCs, 

RVCs, RLPBs, CMBs, DLWC 

Identified National Wilderness 

Assessment data & NPWS 

assessments of nominated 

wilderness eg Pilliga, Mt 

Kaputar. 

NPWS assessment of Bebo 

required 

Nil planned – NPWS 

core responsibility 

Priority & 

Timeframe 

(for SBS 

funding) 


B 

A

PA 

code 




to criteria 


Modelling 

5.1 Fauna species / assemblage 

distribution and habitat 

modelling 

5.2 Flora species / assemblage 

distribution and habitat 

modelling 

Provides a basis for defining and 

extrapolating the distribution of 

potential high quality habitat (JANIS 

biodiversity criterion 5) and critical 

habitat (threatened species legislation) 

for species / assemblages of 

conservation concern, across 

unsurveyed ecosystems. 

Provides a basis for defining and 

extrapolating the distribution of 

potential high quality habitat (JANIS 

biodiversity criterion 5) and critical 




project areas 

Consideration of socioeconomic 

factors 

Collation of information from 

the following project areas: 

1. 6.1 collation of 

‘response to disturbance’ 

information for native 

ecosystems. 

2. 6.2 and 6.3 collation of 

‘response to disturbance’ 

information for species. 

3. 3.1 identification of 

mature aged forest. 

Biological survey data from 

PAs 2.1 and 2.3. 

Mapped vegetation types from 

PA 1.1. 

Mapped growth stages from 

PA 3.1. 

Response to disturbance data 

from PA 6.2. 

Expert knowledge 


9.13. 


PA 2.2 and 2.4. 

Mapped vegetation types from 



Future Work 


Priority & 

Timeframe 

(for SBS 

funding) 



Predicted distribution of potential 

high quality habitat for selected 

species / assemblages, for use in 

Integration. 

Identification of critical habitat 

elements for threatened species / 

assemblages at a local and 

regional scale 

Information on habitat 

requirements for threatened 

species planning 

Information on drought refugia 





RLPBs, RMCs, CMBs, LG and 

DLWC 

Predicted distribution of potential 

high quality habitat for selected 

species / assemblages, for use in 

Some fauna species distribution 

maps produced for existing 

records and those collected 

through BBS1 & BBS2 

Some modelling proposed if 

possible eg 5-6 priority species 

with suitable datasets. 

Some species distribution 

modeling undertaken using 

existing data records and data 

collected through BBS1 & BBS2 

Assemblage distribution 

and habitat modelling. 

More comprehensive 

species modelling when 

suitable datasets 

available 

Assemblage distribution 

and habitat modelling 

More comprehensive 

B 

B

PA 

code 




to criteria 

5.3 Estimation of pre-1750 / 

pre-clearing vegetation 

types / native ecosystem 

extents 


Response to Disturbance 

6.1 Collation of ‘response to 

disturbance’ information 

for vegetation types / 




habitat (threatened species legislation) 

for species of conservation concern, 

across unsurveyed ecosystems. 

Provides a basis for calculating areal 

reservation and retention targets for 

native ecosystems in accordance with 

JANIS biodiversity criteria 1,2 and 3 

and DLWC vegetation retention 

criteria. 

Provides a basis for specifying 

appropriate types of protection / 

reservation and for formulating 

reservation targets for native 

ecosystems. 

Provides key attributes required for 

population viability analyses and risk 




project areas 

PA 1.1. 

Mapped growth stages from 

PA 3.1. 

Response to disturbance data 

from PA 6.3. 



9.13. 

Vegetation mapping from PA 

1.1. 

Extant native ecosystem map 

from PA 1.2. 

Historical data on vegetation 

distribution extracted from 

parish and portion plans. 


9.13. 

Literature review of response 

to disturbances of native 

ecosystems / vegetation types. 






Future Work 


Priority & 

Timeframe 

(for SBS 

funding) 


Integration. 

Identification of critical habitat 

elements for threatened species / 

assemblages at a local and 

regional scale 

Information on habitat 

requirements for threatened 

species planning & recovery 

planning 







Pre-1750 / pre-clearing native 

ecosystem / vegetation map for 

use in formulation of 

reservation/retention targets in PA 

1.3. 

Provide to planning groups such 

as RVC’s, DLWC and 

revegetation programs 

A database of basic ecological 

and response to disturbance 

attributes for native ecosystems 

for use in formulation of 

conservation requirements (PA 

1.3). 

Provide this information to land 

management groups for use in 

decision-making process 



Some modelling proposed if 

possible 

Proposed under BBS2 for woody 

vegetation cover 

BBS2 - Some for woody 

vegetation communities and 

ecosystems. 

species modelling when 

suitable datasets 

available 

Determine for all plant 

communities once PA 

1.1., 1.2 & 1.5 available 

Prepare for all plant 

communities and 

ecosystems 

Some for priority species Prepare for further 

priority species (to be 

A 

A 

B

PA 

code 




to criteria 

for fauna species assessments, and provides a basis for 

specifying appropriate types of 

protection/reservation and for 

formulating reservation targets for 

species / assemblages. 



for flora species 

6.4 Disturbance history 

mapping 


integration 

7.1 Assessment / derivation of 

bioregional conservation 

criteria 

Provides key attributes required for 

population viability analyses and risk 

assessments, and provides a basis for 

specifying appropriate types of 

protection / reservation and for 

formulating reservation targets for 

species / assemblages / communities. 

This project is required to determine 

conservation values of vegetation 

types / native ecosystems, and may be 

effective in determining distributions 

of fauna and flora species / health of 

ecosystems. 

Provide key information on the 

requirements for conservation target 

setting. Assess current conservation 

criteria and determine the relevance of 

existing criteria to the bioregion. 




project areas 

ecosystems / vegetation types 

/ fauna species. 




ecosystems / vegetation types. 


Possible use of PA 1.5, 1.1, & 

3.1. 

Land tenure information (PA 

9.2) 

Forestry activities. Grazing 

histories. Land management 

reports. Salinity reports. 

Clearing applications granted 

Fire history 

Local and expert knowledge. 

Assessment of current criteria 

and strategies, including 

JANIS, SBS, NFPS, IUCN, 

National Estate, Catchment 

and DLWC vegetation 

retention criteria and 

legislative requirements. 

Expert and regional 



attributes for species, for use in 

population viability analyses and 

risk assessments and formulation 


2.10). 






attributes for species, for use in 

population viability analyses and 

risk assessments and formulation 


2.10). 




A map of disturbance across areas 

on native vegetation in the 

bioregion, incorporating a 

temporal land management 

database. 


planning and land management 

groups for use in decision-making 

process. 

The development of bioregion 

specific principles and criteria for 

conservation assessment and 

target setting for; 

1. Conservation 

2. Reservation 

Future Work 


determined) 

Some for priority species Prepare for further 

priority species (to be 

determined) 

BBS1 provided some 

information on disturbance on 

State Forest Estate only 

None – use available criteria. 

BBS scoping exercise reviewed 

JANIS criteria for the west. 

Determine possible 

priority areas for 

disturbance mapping eg 

fires 

Formalise criteria and 

operationalise including 

DLWC and catchment 

criteria and targets 

when available. 

Priority & 

Timeframe 

(for SBS 

funding) 


B 

C 

A

PA 

code 




to criteria 

7.2 C-Plan development and 

application to the BBS 

bioregional conservation 

assessment 

7.3 Evaluation of surrogates 

for biodiversity (eg. 

ecosystems, vegetation 

types, soils, landscapes / 

landsystems) 

7.4 Derivation / mapping of 

areas of high diversity, 

centres of endemism, 

natural refugia, wetlands 

etc 

Critical in the development of a CAR 

reserve system, and allows 

conservation criteria to be applied and 

monitored for all conservation values. 

Needs to be modified to accommodate 

conservation across all tenures. 

Needs to be able to assess the 

effectiveness and incorporate 

alternative conservation mechanisms. 

To use the outcomes of this and other 

projects to identify species, or 

assemblages of species, whose 

distributions are not well correlated 

with native ecosystems and may 

therefore require special consideration 

when formulating conservation 

requirements for flora and fauna (in 

accordance with JANIS Biodiversity 

Criterion 5). 

To use the outcomes of this and other 

projects to formulate requirements 

relating to the spatial configuration of 

reservation within native ecosystems 

to ensure that the full range of 

biological variation within each 

ecosystem is sampled by the reserve 

system (in accordance with JANIS 

Biodiversity Criterion 7). 

Identifies areas of general significance 

for flora and fauna, in accordance 

with JANIS biodiversity criterion 5 

(and National Estate criteria), 

vegetation including areas of high 

diversity, centres of endemism, 




project areas 

knowledge. 3. Restoration 

4. Rehabilitation. 

Conservation criteria (PA 

7.1). 

Conservation mechanisms 

(PA 7.6). 

Planning unit layer (PA 7.5). 

Consultation with experts and 

regional 

landscape/conservation 

managers. 

All data from Project Areas 1 

and 2. 

Results from PA 7.1 

Expert & regional knowledge 

and opinion. 


PA 2.1 - 2.4 and predictive 

habitat models from PA 5.1 








A software package able to 

accommodate the requirements of 

conservation priority setting 

across all tenures in western 

NSW. 

The ability to map reservation / 

retention options to accommodate 

/ satisfy given conservation goals 

for multiple entities within the 


Report quantifying the 

effectiveness of mapped 

ecosystems, vegetation types or 

landforms as surrogates to 

biodiversity. 

Spatial distribution of areas of 

high diversity, centres of 

endemism, wetlands, natural and 

drought refuges etc for use in 

Integration and National Estate 

Some work proposed (NPWS in 

kind) 

Future Work 


Further work to be 

determined (NPWS In 

kind) 

Nil planned Project to assess value 

of vegetation and 

ecosystems mapping as 

a surrogate for 

biodiversity 

Some – on public lands with 

regard to fauna. 

Further work on species 

on non-woody areas to 

be defined when further 

data sets available 

Priority & 

Timeframe 

(for SBS 

funding) 


B 

B 

B

PA 

code 




to criteria 

7.5 Production of a planning 

unit layer (incorporating 

tenure, vegetation, soils, 

etc) for conservation 

assessment 

7.6 Assessment of 

methodologies and 

mechanisms to apply 

conservation criteria across 

all tenures 

7.7 Data analysis and 

integration 


heritage 

8.1 Non-indigenous cultural 

heritage assessment 

natural refugia, wetlands and habitat 

for species assemblages not well 

correlated with native ecosystems. 

Needed to assess and map 

conservation values and options. 

Provide key information on how the 

requirements for conservation (PA 

7.1) can be applied across all tenures. 

Look at alternative for conservation 

and protection of significant entities 

across all tenures. 

Determine alternative protection 

mechanisms over all tenures. 

Critical in determining the best 

possible outcomes for conservation 

within the BBS bioregion. 




project areas 

PA 1.1 


Existing and new tenure 

information. 

Vegetation mapping (PA 1.1) 

Assessment of current criteria 

and strategies, including: 

JANIS, SBS, NFPS, IUCN, 

National Estate , Catchment 

and DLWC vegetation 

retention criteria and 

legislative requirements. 

Expert and regional 

knowledge. 

Government legislation and 

strategies. 

Data from all biological 

project areas. 

Data from all non-biological 


Planning unit layer (PA 7.5). 

Project areas 8. 



Future Work 


Priority & 

Timeframe 

(for SBS 

funding) 


assessment. 

Provide to planning groups such 

as RVCs, RLPBs, RMCs, CMBs, 

DLWC & LG 

A GIS layer of a planning unit 

layer for conservation assessment 

eg C-Plan analysis (PA 7.2 and 

7.7) 

Methodologies for applying a 

variety of protection mechanisms 

across all tenures in order to 

achieve a level of conservation 

(PAs 1.3, 2.10, 3.2 and 7.1) 

Implementation (PA 9.1) 

Mapped reservation options to 

accommodate / satisfy given 

conservation goals for multiple 

entities within the bioregion. 

Options for conservation, using a 

range of protection mechanisms 

across all tenures. 




DLWC 

This group of project areas provides a basis for addressing indigenous and non-indigenous heritage requirements. 

A core cultural heritage value. 

Project area aims to address both 

National Estate and State heritage 

criteria. 

Audit of landscape / aesthetic 

value, historic value, and 

social / community heritage 

value data - art and literature, 

Overview of type and quality of 

existing data. 

Indication of inadequacies in 


Planning unit layeronly on 

public lands – continuous 

datalayer for context over the 

rest of the BBS 

Through RVC’s LGAs on 

private lands, forest agreement 

BBS1 – preliminary analysis 

only 

BBS2 will integrate and analyse 

data sets for wood vegetation on 

public lands only 

BBS1 – social catchments & 

socio-demographic profiles done 

Economic & social profiles 

prepared 

Apply 5km X 5km grid 

across BBS for analysis 

purposes 

Determine further 

possible implementation 

measures and 

opportunities for 

outcomes from 

assessments. 

Prepare a coordinated 

implementation strategy 

for once conservation 

assessment results 

available. 

Further analysis 

required especially for 

non-woody areas and 

private lands once 

suitable data sets 

available. 

Nil Planned 

Outside the scope of the 

biodiversity assessment. 

A 

B-C 

B-C 

D

PA 

code 




to criteria 

8.2 Indigenous Traditional 

Ecological Knowledge and 

cultural heritage 

assessment. 

This project area addresses the 

requirement for documentation of 

areas of Traditional Ecological 

Knowledge (TEK) and cultural 

significance of biodiversity in the 

BBS bioregion. 




project areas 

and tourism features. 

Collection of landscape / 

aesthetic value, historic value, 

and social / community 

heritage value data through 

gap filling research and field 

validation. 

Collection of new data 

through community based 

workshops. 

Assessment of identified 

places against National Estate 

and State heritage criteria. 

Delineation and mapping of 

places above threshold 

To be determined on a 

bioregional / regional (tribal / 

community boundary??) basis 

by the Aboriginal Committees 

in consultation with NPWS. 

Data that may be collected / 

collated to include existing 

and new data relating to 

Traditional Ecological 

Knowledge and places of 

Indigenous contemporary; 

spiritual; traditional; 

historical; or archaeological 

value, Aboriginal cultural 

biodiversity use and natural 

heritage knowledge. Will 

include post-contact 

knowledge and uses. 

Methods that may be utilised 

include: data audit, 

community based heritage 

identification, cultural 

heritage field survey, oral 

history and historical research 

Information related to the 



Recommendations for gap filling 

studies. 

Identified, delineated and mapped 

places of National Estate and 

State heritage value (PA 9.9) 

Data layers of places / areas of 

significance to Aboriginal people, 

including post contact sites. 

Data layers of places / areas of 

scientific significance. 

Information and data layers of 


Knowledge. 

Information in forms that the 

Aboriginal community wishes eg 

booklets, videos on specific TEK, 

cultural values of biodiversity and 

landscape values. 

Comprehensive overview of 

current protective mechanisms 

and management practices. 

Assessment of adequacy and 

effectiveness for site 

management. 

Identification of issues associated 

with management / protection of 

Indigenous heritage values and 

places 

Desktop analysis of existing 

non-indigenous cultural heritage 

studies 

Oral history & archival 

information investigated - BBS1 

Cultural field survey undertaken 

within Pilliga & Goonoo SF – 

BBS1 

BBS1 Indigenous sociodemographic 

profiles done 

Database to be compiled of 

indigenous heritage information 

using GIS, GPS, satellite 

imagery, API and NPWS 

Aboriginal Sites Register and 

consultation with Aboriginal 

communities as part of BBS2 

and further oral histories 

Targeted surveys to identify and 

record Aboriginal sites, 

traditional ecological knowledge, 

traditionally-used plant species, 

and culturally significant areas. 

Possible proclamation of new 

Aboriginal Places or Aboriginal 

Future Work 


Further work on TEK to 

be determined after 

BBS2 in consultation 

with Aboriginal 

communities. 

Priority & 

Timeframe 

(for SBS 

funding) 


A 

Immediate start

PA 

code 




to criteria 

8.3 Aboriginal community 

consultation 

8.4 Assessment of the linkages 

between cultural heritage 

and natural heritage 

To ensure that Aboriginal peoples 

interests and rights are recognised in 

the assessment process a consultative 

mechanism needs to be established 

that seeks the active participation of 

Aboriginal communities in the 

development, management and 

implementation of projects associated 

with the assessment of Indigenous 

peoples cultural values and rights, 

including cultural heritage, social and 

economic values, Ecological 

sustainablity and any other projects 

which may have an impact upon 

Indigenous communities. 

To develop new approaches towards 

the development of cultural 

landscapes. 




project areas 

current legislative framework, 

current management practices, 

principles and guidelines, 

audit / inspection of current 

practices. 

To be determined on a 

bioregional / regional (tribal / 

community boundary??) basis 

by the Aboriginal Committees 

in consultation with NPWS. 

Input of methodologies 

utilised in BBS1. 

Results of fauna and flora 

surveys can be integrated with 

Aboriginal site and landform 

data to develop alternative 

sampling strategies that 

incorporate Aboriginal 

ecological values. 



Opportunity for Aboriginal 

Management Committees to have 

ownership of managing culturally 

sensitive areas which may include 

areas that have unique fauna and 

flora attributes 

Provide relevant and / or nonsensitive 

information collected to 

planning groups for use in land 

use decision-making 

Ongoing mechanisms for 

Indigenous community 

consultation and participation. 

Strategies that maintain 

Aboriginal input into the 

management of natural areas, 

biodiversity and sites of 

significance to the Aboriginal 

community, and which involve a 

landform approach to site 

management. 

Negotiated agreement to ensure 

confidentiality and information 

ownership requirements of 

Aboriginal communities are met. 

Improved methods for integrating 

cultural heritage values within a 

ecological landscape. Will assist 

in the development of cultural 

landscapes and add to 

biodiversity knowledge. 

Areas as part of BBS2 

Aboriginal Cultural Heritage 

Steering Committee set up as 

part of BBS1 to guide & review 

cultural heritage 

assessmentprojects. 

Agreement for disclosure of TEK 

and cultural heritage information 

between NPWS & Aboriginal 

community. 

Awareness-raising within the 

BBS Aboriginal community 

regarding BBS bioregional 

assessment and outcomes. 

Outcomes of BBS2 to be 

communicated to LALCs, each 

community and site visits for 

Aboriginal Elders. 

Development of agreement with 

Aboriginal communities about 

how sensitive information 

should be managed 

Development of 

recommendations which assist in 

developing links between 

landforms, Aboriginal sites, 

biodiversity and natural heritage 

with traditional ecological 

knowledge – BBS2 

Future Work 



Knowledge and 

consultation to be 

determined after BBS2 

in consultation with 

Aboriginal 

communities. 

To be determined eg 

natural heritage 

significance to 

Aboriginal communities 

Priority & 

Timeframe 

(for SBS 

funding) 


A 


B 

Immediate start

PA 

code 




to criteria 


non-biological 

conservation assessment 

9.1 Ecologically Sustainable 

Forest Management and 

Ecologically Sustainable 

Land Management 

9.2 Production of a tenure 

layer including crown land 

mapping 

This project should consider 

management options for: priority 

species, communities (such as 

forests, woodlands, shrublands, 

grasslands), native ecosystems, areas 

of high biodiversity, centres of 

endemism, natural refugia and species 

poorly correlated with native 

ecosystems. 

In reviewing and formulating 

management strategies and protection 

requirements, it will be necessary to 

include an assessment of the 

adequacy of existing measures in 

protecting State and Commonwealth 

listed species. 

It will also be important to coordinate 

the assessment approach for the 

biological and ecological data 

collection and review of management 

strategies within and across the 

bioregion to reflect conservation 

requirements across the entire range 

of priority species. 

Needs to address both public, 

leasehold and private lands. 

Required as a base layer for 

conservation assessment. 

A basic layer for determining 

conservation outcomes and measures. 

9.3 Geology mapping Required as a base layer for 

conservation assessment, and 

ecosystem / fauna / flora modelling 

processes. 




project areas 

All existing and new 

biodiversity and natural 

heritage data. 

Results from RTD projects. 

Current crown lands mapping 

(eg CLID) 

Updating of CLID and tenure 

layers. 

New mapping in conjunction 

with DLWC. 

Collation and integration of 


New mapping for areas with 

coarse or no previous 



A report outlining the criteria 

needed to measure ESFM and 

ESLM, and prescriptions and 

protocols for conserving 

biodiversity on public lands and 

guidelines for private and 

leasehold lands. 

A measure / benchmark for 

ESFM in western forested areas. 

Outputs from this project area 

must feed into conservation 

requirement and target setting. 

A reliable map of tenure 

including private, leasehold land, 

NP estate, other public lands 

crown land boundaries, for 

integration into a planning unit 

layer (PA 7.5), and for integration 

into C-Plan (PA 7.2, 7.7) 

A sufficiently refined map of 

geology across the bioregion. 

BBS 1 – preliminary work 

started and protocol 

To be finalised in BBS2 

BBS 2 will not have an updated 

CLID layer – DLWC have been 

requested to fix this layer as part 

of their core business. 

Used most up to date NP estate 

layer available. 

BBS2 – preliminary BBS layer 

available – improved layer with 

new radiometric data available 

by June 2002 

Future Work 


Determine ecologically 

sustainable management 

for all ecosystems. (ie 

not just forests) 

Required by DLWC to 

provide to allow Crown 

lands to be included in 

assessment. 

Use most up to date 

layer in stratification, 

possibly modeling and 

conservation 

assessment. 

Priority & 

Timeframe 

(for SBS 

funding) 

B or long term 

D 

(DLWC core 

business) 


D 

(DMR to 

provide)

PA 

code 




to criteria 

Integral in the assessment of 

surrogates for biodiversity. 

9.4 Soil landscape mapping 

Useful for environmental stratification 

during survey design and gap 

identification. 

Mapped soil attributes (including 

depth, fertility, water holding capacity 

and stability) and a classification map 

of lithology are fundamental, essential 

and urgently required inputs to many 

modelling projects within the 

bioregional conservation assessment 

process (eg. Modelling of individual 

plant and animal species distributions, 

modelling of extant and pre-European 

distribution of vegetation 

communities, and modelling of site 

quality) 

9.5 Land capability mapping Mapped land capability attributes ( 

including, soils, landform, vegetation, 

productivity) could be used for 

conservation assessment purposes as a 

surrogate for biodiversity. 

9.6 Hydrology assessment There is a need to assess the 

hydrological systems and pathways 

within the bioregion if we are to 

assess the impacts of flooding 

regimes, clearing or further alteration 

of native vegetation. There are 

reasonable concerns already noting 

the effects of clearing on the 

hydrological systems in floodplain 

environments. 

9.7 Economic values of natural 

and cultural heritage 

This will feed into RTD projects and 

conservation assessments 

An analysis of economic values 

associated with biodiversity and 

National Park Estate. 




project areas 

mapping. 

Existing mapping – collation 

and integration of existing 

data. 

New mapping for areas with 

coarse or no previous. 

Satellite imagery. 

Existing mapping – collation 

and integration of existing 

data. 

Collection and collation of 

existing mapped data and 

information on geology and 

hydrology. 

Collection and collation of 

existing mapping on surface 

hydrology and flooding 

regimes. 

New mapping if required 

Collation of existing data on 

NP economic values. 

Collation of data for similar 



A coarse map of soils with 

attribute data on depth, fertility, 

water holding capacity and 

stability. 

Provide information collected to 



DLWC 

A existing map of land capability 

with analysis on area, rarity and 

distribution within existing 

reserve system . 




DLWC 

A summary highlighting the 

available information and gaps. . 

Information on bioregion 

available to/from River 

Management Committees and 

Floodplain management plans etc 

A report outlining the economic 

values associated with 

maintaining native vegetation, 

biodiversity and cultural values, 

BBS2 will provide broad 

landscape / soils mapping by 

June 2002 

BBS will use existing mapping 

available for some bioregional 

analysis only but will use 

vegetation as the critical base 

layer in the conservation 

assessment. Land capability 

mapping used for BBS doesn’t 

include SF & NP estate 

BBS 2 – DLWC to provide 

survey of existing information 

and knowledge within BBS and 

recommendations for possible 

further work. 

BBS may list known water 

dependent plant communities 

and ecosystems in the bioregion. 

BBS2 – to be determined 

Previous NPWS reports 

Future Work 


SBS – use most up to 

date available soils data 

in stratification , 

possible modelling and 

conservation 

assessment. 

Nil Planned D 

Utilise information in 


eg water-dependant 

ecosystems 

To be determined B 

Priority & 

Timeframe 

(for SBS 

funding) 

D 

(DLWC / 

RACD funded) 


(DLWC) 

D 

(DLWC 

responsible for 

improving 

surface 

hydrology and 

drainage 

information)

PA 

code 




to criteria 

9.8 Formulation of general 

reserve design principles 

and rules 

9.9 Identification of areas of 

National Estate value 

Provides general reserve design 

principles and rules to guide planning 

processes. 

Provides a basis for operationalising 

criteria specified in Section 7 of the 

JANIS report (Reserve Design and 

Management), relating to reserve size, 

connectivity, context etc. 

Identifies areas satisfying the 

following National Estate values: 

Criterion A1: relictual vegetation 

classes, climatic refuges, relict / 

Gondwanan species; endemic species; 

disjunct/limit of range species; 

Criterion A2 : successional stages, 

remnant ecosystems, natural 

landscapes and undisturbed 

catchments 

Criterion A3: areas of ecosystem 

richness; 

Criterion B1: rare ecosystems, rare / 

threatened species; 

Criterion D1: principle characteristics 

of class. 




project areas 

environmental enterprises. and National Parks. 

Literature review (including 

review of research on habitat 

corridors). 

Expert advice (including from 

those currently working on 

habitat corridors). 

Input from other Project Areas 

including PA 7.1 and 7.7 and 

9.1. 

Outputs from PA 1.1, 1.3, 3.1, 

4.1 

Indicative outputs from 2.1 - 

2.6, 5.1, 5.2, 6.1 - 6.3 and 7.3. 


Topographic information. 

Catchment mapping. 

Components of disturbance 

information layers. 

Tenure information. 



An agreed set of reserve design 

principles and rules for use in the 

integration process. 

Identification of: 

5. Criterion A1: relictual 

vegetation classes, climatic 

refuges, relict / Gondwanan 

species; endemic species; 

disjunct / limit of range 

species; 

6. Criterion A2 : successional 

stages, remnant ecosystems, 

natural landscapes and 

undisturbed catchments 

7. Criterion A3: areas of 

ecosystem richness; 

8. Criterion B1: rare 

ecosystems, rare/threatened 

species; 

9. Criterion D1: principle 

characteristics of class. 

Conservation requirements for 

each National Estate value. 

Determine areas of high integrity 

in relation to each National Estate 

value as the basis for determining 

threshold. 

GIS overlays and assessment of 

areas of integrity. 

Determination of species 

BBS – To be determined (NPWS 

in kind) 

BBS 2 not a priority. 

Information could be used for 

future nominations 

No Commonwealth funding 

available in WRA and SBS – 

limited assessment information 

could be provided to 

Commonwealth for assessment 

purposes 

Future Work 


To be determined – 

further work may be 

required 

Assessment against 

criteria required for all 

ecosystems / plant 

communities / entities 

Priority & 

Timeframe 

(for SBS 

funding) 


B 

D

PA 

code 




to criteria 

9.10 Assessment of current 

bioregional and province 

boundaries 

Determine the accuracy and 

representativeness of the current 

bioregional and province boundaries. 

9.11 Data management A data management project is 

urgently required to collate and audit 

existing data for use in determining 

conservation values. 

9.12 GIS data source collection 

and collation 

9.13 Data and report 

development and 

distribution for the 

community 

New data needs to be entered into 

databases for use in conservation 

assessment. 

Data needs to be maintained at a 

standard if it is to be disseminated to 

Agencies. 

Abiotic data on climate, terrain, land 

capability, radiation etc needs to be 

sourced and collated for use in 

deriving models and variation in the 

environment. 

This is a fundamental project to 

ensure data and information are 

collated, analysed and reported in a 

format which is understandable and 

available to the community. 




project areas 

Inputs from PA 1.1, 1.2, 7.5, 

9.2 and 9.3. 

Collate all existing data. 

Incorporate new data as 

available. 

Data collected from existing 

GIS databases as NPWS, SF, 

DMR, DLWC, DAg, Aus Lig, 

LIC, etc. 



applicable to each value. 

GIS analysis of habitat 

requirements for identified 

species (dependant on previous 

column). 

Delineate areas of National Estate 

significance for each value 




DLWC 

An accurate and representative 

mapped bioregional and province 

boundaries 

A well-maintained database of 

GIS layers, fauna and flora 

records and any species / 

assemblage models for BBS. 

Metadata statements prepared for 

all datasets created. Statements to 

be made as widely available as 

possible 

A database of current abiotic 

data. 

Information and reports from all 

project areas. Maps of vegetation, 

fauna and flora distributions / 

assemblages & habitat 

preferences etc. 

BBS bioregion and province 

boundary retained as is. 

BBS2 – RACD provide data to 

all agencies and acted as clearing 

house – Agencies as custodians 

RACD provided to all agencies 

BBS project collated all these 

and cut to the bioregion. 

BBS 1 final reports 

BBS 2 will produce various 

reports on these and other 


. 

Future Work 


Provide information 

into IBRA review – 

confirm or suggest 

province boundaries or 

descriptions 

Any SBS project 

requires suitable data 

management protocols 

to be in place and BBS 

database established 

and maintained. 

SBS Scoping report and 

use existing data 

provided by LIC and 

RACD 

As updated data 

become available then 

upgrade conservation 

assessment data bases. 

SBS projects – produce 

final biodiversity 

assessment, technical 

and community reports 

when projects / 


Priority & 

Timeframe 

(for SBS 

funding) 


C 

A 


C 

A

PA 

code 




to criteria 


community consultation 

10.1 Community 

communication and 

awareness 

Community consultation and 

communication is a critical pathway 

for bioregional conservation 

assessment processes. 

Need to develop positive relations 

with landholders, particularly where 

surveys are to fall on private lands . 




project areas 

Knowledge of stakeholders, 

communities and groups level 

of understanding attitudes, 

needs and future expectations 

and requirements regarding 

biodiversity management and 

conservation. 

Methods to consult and 

involve the community. 

Data presented and available 

in various formats for 

community use. 



Ensure data is available to all 

planning groups for assistance in 

the land use decision-making 

processes. 

Development of avenues for 

consultation and involvement of 

landholders, community groups 

and Aboriginal communities. 

Development of avenues for data 

and information to be distributed 

to the landholders, community 

groups and Aboriginal 

communities. 

BBS 1 & 2 - Advertise project 

objectives via local media, and 

develop & distribute promotional 

flyers regarding the project. 

Future Work 


Priority & 

Timeframe 

(for SBS 

funding) 


completed. 

Distribution strategy 

required and supported. 

Community 

consultation and 

involvement strategy 

required . 

A 

Very important 

and ongoing for 

implementation

APPENDIX 21: TECHNICAL FRAMEWORK PROJECT AREAS 

RELATING TO CONSERVATION ASSESSMENT AND PLANNING 

FRAMEWORK 

Step in Bioregional Conservation Assessment and Planning 

Framework 

Project Areas 

Data audit 2.5-2.7. 8.1, 9.5 

Data collection 2.1-2.4, 8.1, 9.7 

Selection of datasets for conservation assessment 2.8, 7.3, 8.1 

Production of new bioregion-wide mapping 1.1, 1.2, 1.5, 3.1, 5.3, 7.4, 8.1, 9.2-9.5, 9.10 

Compilation of final mapping 1.3-1.5, 2.1-2.7, 6.1-6.4, 7.7, 8.2, 9.2, 9.1, 9.12 

Assessment of relevant conservation values 1.5, 3.1, 3.2, 4.1, 5.1-5.3, 9.9 

Assessment of current, past and potential threatening processes 1.3, 1.5, 5.1-5.3 

Identification of conservation status of landscapes, areas, 

biodiversity and management required 

1.3-1.5, 2.8, 3.1, 3.2, 4.1, 5.1-5.3, 6.1-6.4, 9.5, 9.9 

Subdivision of bioregion into management units 5.1, 5.2, 7.4 

Identification of potential conservation outcomes 1.3, 2.10, 3.2, 5.1-5.3, 6.1-6.4, 7.7, 8.2, 8.3, 9.1, 9.2, 

9.5, 9.9 

Implementation and monitoring 2.9, 7.1, 7.2, 7.5, 7.6, 8.2, 8.3, 9.1, 9.7, 9.8, 9.13 

Information to RVCs, CMBs, Local Government planning processes all project areas 

Develop CAR reserve system 7.1, 7.2, 7.5, 8.3, 9.8 

Vegetation Management 1.3 

Biodiversity Conservation 2.1-2.8 

Cultural heritage conservation 8.1-8.3, 9.7, 10.1


Bioregional Conservation Assessment Scoping Report – 

ATLAS 

NSW 

National 


Wildlife 

Service

MAPS 

1 Location of BBS 

2 RLPB boundaries 

3 NPWS Directorate boundaries 

4 Tenure 

5 State Forests NSW Management Areas 

6 RVC boundaries 

7 DLWC Region boundaries 

8 Local Government areas 

9 State Government electoral boundaries 

10 CMB boundaries 

11 Provinces (Morgan & Terrey 1992) 

12 Average annual rainfall 

13 Average annual temperature 

14 Hydrology 

15 Land capability 

16 DLWC Soils mapping 

17 Digital elevation model 

18 Stratification 5 

18a Pilliga 

18b Talbragar Valley 

18c Pilliga Outwash 

18d Liverpool Plains 

18e Northern Outwash 

18f Liverpool Range 

18g Northern Basalts 

19 Systematic fauna survey sites 

20 MDBC Soil mapping 

21 MDBC Lithology 

22 Schedule 1 and 2 fauna records 

23 Schedule 1 and 2 fauna records by 50k mapsheet 

24 Amphibian records 

25 Amphibian records by 50k mapsheet 

26 Bird records 

27 Bird records by 50k mapsheet 

28 Mammal records 

29 Mammal records by 50k mapsheet 

30 Reptile records 

31 Reptile records by 50k mapsheet 

32 Schedule 1 and 2 flora records 

33 Schedule 1 and 2 flora records by 50k mapsheet 

34 Flora records 

35 Flora records by 50k mapsheet 

36 State Forest and NPWS estate 

37 Woody vegetation bias by land capability 

38 MDBC Woody Vegetation Layer 

39 Local Aboriginal Land Council Boundaries 

40 Provisionally identified wilderness 

41 Declared wilderness

42 National wilderness inventory 

43 Slope 

44 Bioregional landscape concepts 

45 National wilderness inventory (values >= 10 ) 

46 Systematic flora survey sites 

47 Contiguous blocks of woody vegetation 

48 BBS Bioregion IBRA version 4.0 and IBRA version 5.0

brigalow belt south bioregion - Department of Environment and ...

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?