VEGETATION MANAGEMENT PLAN for Bidjigal Reserve - Land

Vegetation Management Plan - Bidjigal ReserveCondition of BushlandBidjigal Reserve retains some very large areas of core bushland which on the whole remain in verygood condition. Apart from areas at the urban-bushland interface, there has been very little weedinvasion away from areas of on-going disturbance along creeklines, tracks or trails, and servicecorridors. As a result, the Hinterland Sandstone Gully Forest communities in the Reserve are wellrepresented by a suite of native species indicative of this community.Sandstone Riparian Scrub however is under threat from the large number of weeds which havecolonised the creeklines throughout the Reserve. In particular, the smaller herbs and shrubs whichwould once have dominated the ground and shrub layers are potentially lower in numbers,especially along the riparian corridors formed by Excelsior, Blue Gum and Darling Mills Creeks as aresult of weed invasion and displacement, and increases in soil moisture and soil nutrient levels(brought about by urban runoff).Those communities which occur on ridge tops - i.e. Coastal Sandstone Ridgetop Woodland andSydney Hinterland Transition Forest - which are less well represented in the Reserve - are alsounder pressure from on-going disturbance, adjoining land uses and recreational pressures, weedinvasion and increased soil nutrient levels as a result of urban development.UBM Ecological Consultants Pty Ltd 49