VEGETATION MANAGEMENT PLAN for Bidjigal Reserve - Land

Vegetation Management Plan - Bidjigal Reserve2 SITE DESCRIPTIONThis chapter provides a brief description of the physical, biological and cultural environments whichoccur within Bidjigal Reserve. This information has been gathered from a range of sources, includingprevious surveys and investigations, information held by BHSC and the Trust, from previous bushregeneration reports, UBM files, and the authors’ local knowledge.2.1 Location & SettingBidjigal Reserve is a 186 hectare Crown Reserve which forms a broad bushland corridor between theresidential suburbs of Northmead and Baulkham Hills (west), Castle Hill (north, north-east), WestPennant Hills and North Rocks (east).Bidjigal Reserve is located in the Upper Parramatta River Catchment, which drains an area of about30 sq kilometres. Excelsior Creek flows into the Reserve from the north, before joining into DarlingMills Creek. Together the waters of these creek forms the central axis of the Reserve. Darling MillsCreek flows south to Lake Parramatta, and enters the Parramatta River at North Rocks. Majortributaries include Blue Gum Creek (flowing from the east); Bellbird Creek (north) and Rifle RangeCreek (east) (see Figure 1.2).The Reserve bushland is located primarily in narrow gullies and on the steep slopes around DarlingMills Creek and its tributaries, while the surrounding ridgetops have over the last 30-40 yearsprogressively been developed for housing. In order to provide services to those suburbs,powerlines, sewer lines and water mains have been constructed through the Reserve, generallyfollowing or transecting the main valley floor, and extending through most of the larger gullies.2.2 Land Uses & ZoningPart of Bidjigal Reserve is zoned 6(a) Public Open Space and part is zoned Special Uses Forestryunder Baulkham Hills Local Environmental Plan 2005, and they are both classified under the LocalGovernment Act 1993 as Community Land.Restrictions on the use of Community Land accord with Chapter 6, Part 2 of the Act, which states:Community land must not be sold, leased or licensed for more than 21 years and may onlybe leased or licensed for more than five (5) years if public notice of the proposed lease orlicence is given and, in the event that an objection is made to the proposed lease orlicence, the Minister’s consent is obtained.Further, the Act states that use of community land for which a plan of management has beendeveloped must not change until the management plan is adopted, and its use and managementmust be in accordance with:• The plan of management adopted by Council; andUBM Ecological Consultants Pty Ltd 12