Comaum NFRs - ForestrySA

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Mammals 15 Ten native mammal species have been recorded in surveys conducted by ForestrySA (1984); and from incidental observation by ForestrySA staff (See Table 3, Natural Resource Data). Of these, four species have a conservation status rating of Rare viz., Sugar Glider R Eastern Grey Kangaroo R Common Wombat R Red-necked Wallaby R These reserves help support a population of common wombats rated as vulnerable in South Australia. Comaum Forest Annual Reports in the early 1940s refer to the destruction of these animals which at the time were classed as vermin because they damaged fencing designed to exclude rabbits from newly established pine plantations. They are currently under pressure from a mange disease believed to be carried and spread by foxes. Reptiles and Amphibians Seven reptile and four frog species have been recorded in surveys by ForestrySA in 1985 (See Tables 4 & 5, Natural Resource Data.) 3. LAND USE 3.1 History According to Tindale (1974) Aboriginal people of the Bunganditj tribe occupied the territory which includes the Comaum Native forest Reserves. Evidence of occupation sites, in the form of flint flakes from tool making, are exposed in these Reserves on sand tracks and ploughed fire breaks. 3.1.1 Acquisition and Name Wombat Flat NFR Section 317 Hd of Comaum was purchased from the estate of A.S. McElroy (deceased) in 1937 together with sections 316, 318, 319, 323 and 324 for the equivalent then of $5.56 per hectare, and was gazetted as Forest Reserve on14/4/38. Section 273 was purchased from J.G. Gartner in 1939 for $5.93 per hectare and was gazetted as Forest Reserve on 7/12/39. This reserve (formerly known as Head Quarters Scrub) takes its name from the adjoining property which contains an inter-dunal flat (Kanawinka Fault Line) which historically supported a large population of wombats. Comaum NFR Section 247 and 248 together with section 246 were purchased from L.C. Berkin in 1965 for $59 per hectare and were gazetted as Forest Reserve on 24/3/66. This Final Plan – August 2001
16 Reserve previously known as Berkins takes its name from the Hd of Comaum and its relative location to the settlement of the same name shown on the 1:50000 map. Boolara NFR Sections 243 and 245 were purchased from A.C. and K.M. Alcock in 1971 for $96 per hectare and were gazetted as Forest Reserve on 2/11/72. This Reserve, formerly called Alcocks, takes its name from the adjoining private property of the same name with the Aboriginal meaning ‘ place with Ibis’ and is shown on the 1: 50000 map. The majority of the area now reserved was described in the original survey diagram in the late 1800s as ‘mostly white sand-hills and ferns, patches of good grassland, timbered with Gum, Stringy-bark, Honeysuckle, Shea-oak and Wattles’. Following purchase for forestry the cleared or partly cleared gum country was established to pines and the less suitable stringy-bark and fern dunes which were considered only suitable for Pinus pinaster at the time were retained in their existing state. These areas were formally set aside for conservation purposes in line with departmental policy initiated in 1970 to protect all significant areas of native vegetation. 3.2 Historical Impacts 3.2.1 Grazing The majority of the area now reserved supports Brown stringybark over bracken and heath type shrub and ground flora. There is and probably was very little palatable grass or herbage to sustain domestic grazing animals. Apart from the former headquarters house paddock recently added to Wombat Flat NFR (part Cpt. C) which has been intensively grazed for over 40 years at time of writing, there has been negligible modification of the native vegetation by domestic grazing animals since purchase of these areas by ForestrySA. 3.2.2 Timber Production Because these Reserves are relatively remote from the larger population centres and the major industrial users of fuel wood in the 1940s and 1950s, and because the surrounding districts had extensive natural stands of Red, Blue and Pink gum, the Stringybark forest would not have been exploited intensively as it was on the ranges south of Penola and Mt Burr. Large quantities of Red and Blue gum log cut from land being cleared for pine plantation establishment were sawn into sleepers and construction timber by private mills operating in this area. Charcoal production in the 1940s and wattle bark stripping in the 1950s would have had little impact on these Stringybark Reserves. However there is anecdotal and physical evidence which suggests that some of the better trees both gum and stringybark were cut from these areas to produce construction timber, sleepers, strainers, posts, rails and firewood prior to 1962. The former owner of Comaum NFR is said to have milled shed construction timber and shearing shed floor grating from that Reserve. Hardwood utilisation from Comaum Forest Reserve ceased in 1962. It is now difficult to determine the impacts of this cutting other than to acknowledge a modification in age and size due to the removal of large well formed trees. Final Plan – August 2001
Page 1: Final Plan - August 2001 Document C
Page 4 and 5: 3.3 Current Uses 3.3.1 Conservation
Page 6 and 7: 6 These Reserves provide suitable h
Page 14 and 15: 1.1.4 Administration The Native For
Page 16 and 17: 9 3. (2) A proclamation declaring a
Page 18 and 19: 11 dune ranges were eroded and youn
Page 20 and 21: 13 Eucalyptus baxteri (Brown string
Page 24 and 25: 3.2.3 Wildfire 17 According to Coma
Page 32 and 33: 19 The Comaum Native Forest Reserve
Page 34 and 35: Final Plan - August 2001 21 SOUTH E
Page 36 and 37: 23 High Ongoing which may affect th
Page 38 and 39: 25 2000 Med Remove introduced plan
Page 40 and 41: TABLE 1 27 PLANT SPECIES RECORDED F
Page 42 and 43: Crassula seiberiana ssp. tetramera
Page 44 and 45: Lavatera plebeia Australian holly h
Page 46 and 47: Stylidium graminifolium plant Grass
Page 48 and 49: TABLE 2 35 Bird Species Recorded fo
Page 50 and 51: 37 BIRD GROUPS STATUS (B) Predomina
Page 52 and 53: 39 BIRD GROUPS STATUS Richard’s P
Page 54 and 55: TABLE 3 41 MAMMAL SPECIES RECORDED
Page 56 and 57: 7. APPENDICES APPENDIX I FORESTRYSA
Page 58: REFERENCES Boardman, R (1999) Unpub

Comaum NFRs - ForestrySA

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