Pymble Business Park - Ku-ring-gai Council

13R.2 SUMMARY OF METHODOLOGY
FOR CONVERSATION SIGNIFICANCE
ASSESSMENT - GREENWEB
13R
Category
Category 1
Background
Formal reserves consisting of Offi ce of Environment and Heritage estate managed for the purpose of
biodiversity protection.
Formal reserves consisting of areas managed by Ku-ring-gai Council as Natural Areas under the Local
Government Act 1993 for the purpose of biodiversity protection.
Regional Fauna Habitat includes regionally important connected areas of habitat providing resources
for threatened and non threatened fauna species and populations (including national, state and
regionally signifi cant species).
Areas of Regional Fauna Habitat which cross major, regional and collector roadways have been
included within this category, but have been identifi ed in order to assist in the management of key
barriers / breaks within the regional fauna habitat
Category 2
These areas provide support for Category 1, through the protection and improvement of vegetation
quality and quantity, providing a buffer, reducing the contrast between core lands and the urban
environment.
This concept is supported by the recommendations for a 60m retained buffer zone of native vegetation
around signifi cant vegetation; in response to identifying impacts from human disturbance up to 60m
from road edges within the Blue Mountains (Smith and Smith (1997). Similarly, NSW DECC (2007c)
recommends an absolute minimum buffer of 50m to Duffys Forest.
Whilst lands adjoining core areas within Ku-ring-gai consist primarily of developed lands, there is still
capacity to retain / enhance some form of vegetation assemblage and structure as a buffer supporting
adjoining core areas.
These buffer areas have the ability to provide resources that encourage urban-sensitive species to
utilise forest edges and adjoining areas, as well as reducing edge effects to consolidated vegetation.
Enabling for example a higher level of bird diversity to be maintained (Hodgson 2005, Hodgson et al
2006). This benefi t is enhanced by native vegetation but is also aided by exotic plantings.
Research has identifi ed signifi cant bird diversity and abundance within the LGA. In addition, the
proportion of housing and associated factors including habitat and predation have been recognised
as infl uencing the movement of birds between native vegetation and the urban matrix (Hodgson et
al 2006). Medium sized nectarivores have been observed to increase at the edges of high-density
housing, encouraged by inappropriate planting (multitudes of large fl owering cultivars) (Birds Australia
et al 2005), and an increased predation ability (added by a reduction in the complexity of vegetation
structure). In turn these birds have been observed to induce an inhibitory response among the small
insectivores at the edges of high-density housing reducing bird diversity.
REFERENCES
Local Fauna Habitat is provided by isolated remnants located more centrally in the LGA. Mapping
included areas within both private and public land ownership, including Ku-ring-gai Natural Areas.
Draft Ku-ring-gai Local Centres Development Control Plan 2012
p 189