Elderslie Banksia Scrub Forest Community - endangered ecological community listing
The Scientific Committee, established by the Threatened Species Conservation Act, has made a Final Determination to list the Elderslie Banksia Scrub Forest Community as an ENDANGERED ECOLOGICAL COMMUNITY on Part 3 of Schedule 1 of the Act. Listing is provided for by Part 2 of the Act.
This determination has been superseded by the 2015 Determination (Critically endangered ecological community listing).
NSW Scientific Committee - final determination
The Scientific Committee has found that:
1. The Elderslie Banksia Scrub Forest (EBSF) is the name given to the plant community that is characterised by the following assemblage of species. This Community has also been referred to as the Spring Farm Banksia Scrub Forest Community.
- Acacia decurrens
- Acacia implexa
- Acacia ulicifolia
- Angophora subvelutina
- Aotus ericoides
- Banksia integrifolia
- Brachyloma daphnoides
- Breynia oblongifolia
- Clerodendrum tomentosum
- Dianella caerulea
- Dianella revoluta
- Dillwynia glaberrima
- Duboisia myoporoides
- Eucalyptus baueriana
- Eucalyptus botryoides
- Gahnia clarkei.
- Gleichenia dicarpa
- Hibbertia diffusa
- Kunzea ambigua
- Lomandra filiformis
- Lomandra longifolia
- Melaleuca decora
- Ozothamnus diosmifolius
- Persoonia linearis
- Pimelea linifolia
- Platysace lanceolata
- Pteridium esculentum
- Ricinocarpos pinifolius
2. The total species list of the community is larger than that given in 1 (above), with many species present in only one or two sites or in very small quantity. In any particular site not all of the assemblage listed in 1 may be present. At any one time, seeds of some species may only be present in the soil seed bank with no above-ground individuals present. The species composition of the site will be influenced by the size of the site and by its recent disturbance history. The number of species and the above-ground composition of species will change with time since fire, and may also change in response to changes in fire frequency.
3. The structure of the community is generally open-scrub or woodland, or may occur as remnant trees. Species composition at any site depends on local topography and drainage conditions. A characteristic canopy species of the drier areas in the EBSF is Banksia integrifolia, and of the wetter areas is Eucalyptus botryoides.
4. EBSF has been recorded from the local government area of Camden, principally near Elderslie in the area known as Spring Farm.
5. EBSF typically is associated with high-level alluvium of Tertiary age, soils on which are sandy and may be well-drained or poorly-drained.
6. EBSF includes vegetation described as Elderslie Banksia Scrub Forest in UBBS (1997) and the report by Urban Bushland Management Consultants (1998).
7. Occurrences of EBSF have been reduced to tiny remnants by clearing and sand extraction. The remnants of EBSF are subject to disturbance and edge effects as a consequence of small size.
8. No occurrences of EBSF are presently included in conservation reserves.
9. In view of the small size of existing remnants the threat of further clearing and disturbance, the Scientific Committee is of the opinion that Elderslie Banksia Scrub Forest is likely to become extinct in nature unless factors threatening its survival cease to operate and that listing as an endangered ecological community is warranted.
References
UBBS (1997) Urban Bushland Biodiversity Survey (NSW National Park and Wildlife Service: Hurstville).
Urban Bushland Management Consultants (1998) Elderslie Banksia Scrub-Woodland Rehabilitation Plan. (prepared for Landcom).
Proposed Gazettal date: 26/2/99
Exhibition period: 26/2/99 - 2/4/99