Maroota Sands Swamp Forest - endangered ecological community listing
The Scientific Committee, established by the Threatened Species Conservation Act has made a Final Determination to list the Maroota Sands Swamp Forest as an ENDANGERED ECOLOGICAL COMMUNITY under Schedule 1, Part 3 of the Act. Listing of Endangered Ecological Communities is provided for by Section 12 of the Act.
NSW Scientific Committee - final determination
The Ecological Community which is the subject of the proposal is:
1. A Forest to Open-forest with a canopy dominated by swamp mahogany Eucalyptus robusta. 2. The community occupies an area of about two hectares within Crown Water Reserve 35733 and the adjoining Portion 198 in the Parish of Cornelia at Maroota.
3. The community is found on the Maroota Sandmass along a drainage line.
4. A list of the assemblage of vascular plants is provided below:-
- Acacia ulicifolia
- Acacia linifolia
- Acacia rubida
- Allocasuarina torulosa
- Angophora costata
- Billardiera scandens
- Bossiaea obcordata
- Calochlaena dubia
- Comesperma ericinum
- Corymbia gummifera
- Cyathea australis
- Cymbidium suave
- Dodonaea triquetra
- Drosera spathulata
- Entolasia sp. (E. ?marginata)
- Eucalyptus robusta
- Gahnia sp.(G. ?sieberiana)
- Gleichenia dicarpa
- Glochidion ferdinandi
- Glochidion ferdinandi
- Glycine tabacina
- Hardenbergia violacea
- Hypolaeana fastigiata
- Hypolepis muelleri
- Leptospermum juniperinum
- Melaleuca linariifolia
- Microlaena stipoides
- Pittosporum undulatum
- Polyscias sambucifolia
- Pteridium esculentum
- Restio spp.1
- Schoenus spp.
- Senecio bipinnatisectus
- Todea barbara
- Viminaria juncea
5. The community is distinctive in that Eucalyptus robusta is normally a dominant in river flat and coastal forests on Quaternary alluvium. The Maroota Sands Swamp Forest occurs on sand at approximately 160 m. above sea level.
6. No other stand with similar floristic and environmental features is currently known.
7. The community is threatened by weed invasion. It is also at risk from hydrological changes resulting from nearby extractive industries.
8. In view of 7 above the Scientific Committee is of the opinion the Community is likely to become extinct in nature in New South Wales unless the circumstances and factors threatening its survival cease to operate.
Associate Professor Paul Adam
Deputy Chairperson
Scientific Committee
Gazetted: 17/10/97