Biodiversity Strategy - Gosford City Council - NSW Government
Biodiversity Strategy - Gosford City Council - NSW Government Biodiversity Strategy - Gosford City Council - NSW Government
• Ownership details; • Zoning information; • Level of protection; • Catchment status with an estimate is to be made of the percentage of each landuse in the catchment; • Issues identified during the investigation of a site are to be listed; and • Discussion of the issues relating to the management of the wetland and suggested rezoning, considerations for community ownership and alterations to SEPP 14 or SREP 20 boundaries where appropriate. The Report recommended that Council ensure that wetland values are recognised throughout the community by continuing to develop and implement effective education programs and opportunities in association with schools and community groups. Particular recommendations included: • Council should offer expertise and resources to landholders to help them manage their wetlands more effectively. Funds should be sought through the Natural Heritage Trust and other sources for restoring and managing these wetlands by: • controlling grazing through fencing programs • restoring natural flow regimes where possible • weed control in wetlands, and • removing rubbish. • Council should continue to monitor the condition of its wetlands to assess trends and the need for further actions. In 2002 Gosford City Council, in cooperation with Hornsby Shire Council, commissioned the Water Research Laboratory to undertake the Brooklyn Estuary Processes Study (MHL, 2003). The State Government under their Estuary Management Program assisted the Study. As well as Brooklyn Harbour, the study area included the main river channel, Mooney Mooney and Mullet Creeks. The information yielded from this research is almost the sum of information available. Very little environmental information is available for Mangrove and Patonga Creeks. The following information on the biota and habitats of the Hawkesbury has been quoted directly from the Brooklyn Estuary Process Study (MHL, 2003): Main Channel of the Hawkesbury River Narrow foreshores of sandstone rubble backed by steep sloping hillsides dominate much of the shoreline, with sandstone boulders and rocky outcrops common in intertidal and subtidal areas. Typical hillside vegetation consists mainly of eucalypts and she-oaks (Casuarina glauca), interspersed with wattle (Acacia spp.) and grass trees (Xanthorrhoea spp.). Intertidal rocks are heavily to moderately encrusted with oysters (Saccostrea glommerata) and mussels (Family Mytilidae). Periwinkles (Bembicium spp.) are common higher in the intertidal areas and the limpets Siphonaria denticulata and Patelloida mimula are often scattered among oysters. Sargassum (Sargassum spp.) and kelp (Ecklonia radiata) are common in subtidal areas. The green alga Codium fragile is occasionally found growing in low intertidal areas, as are small patches of Caulerpa filiformis. Some of the common birds seen within the main estuary include: Great Cormorants (Phalacrocorax carbo); Little Pied Cormorants (P. melanoleucos ); Maned Ducks (Chenonetta jubata); Mallards (Anas platyrhynchos); Australian Pelicans (Pelecanus conspicillatus); Silver Biodiversity - Technical Report Page 137
Gulls (Larus novaehollandiae); Pied Oystercatchers (Haematopus longirostris); Australian Ravens (Corvus coronoides); Australian Magpies (Gymnorhina tibicen); and Pied Currawongs (Strepera graculina). Mullet Creek Mullet Creek extends north and east from Alison and Cogra Points on the Hawkesbury River. Narrow sandstone rubble foreshores backed by steep sloping hillsides dominate the fringing terrestrial topography on the eastern shores of the creek. Western foreshores along the entire length of the creek are wider, and there are artificial rock rubble seawalls along the main northern railway line. A thin strip of weedy riparian vegetation occurs between the waters edge and the railway line. Hillside vegetation on the banks consists mainly of eucalypts and she-oaks, interspersed with wattle and grass trees, and the occasional banksia. Intertidal rocks, both artificial and natural, are encrusted with oysters above low water levels and scattered mussels occur below. Periwinkles are common higher in the intertidal zone, whilst sargassum is often attached to subtidal rocks. Grapsid crabs (Sesarma erythrodactyla) can occasionally be seen crawling over the rocky foreshore on the natural eastern banks. Birds observed in Mullet creek include the common estuarine forms listed in the previous section, as well as: White-Bellied Sea-eagles (Haliaetus leucogaster); wrens (Family Maluridae); and Glossy Black Cockatoos (Calyptorhynchus lathami). Fishes commonly seen include: mullet (Family Mugilidae); yellowfin bream (Acanthopagrus australis) toadfish (Family Tetraodontidae); garfish (Family Hemiramphidae); and sting rays (Family Dasyatididae). Jellyfishes (Aurelia sp.) are also spotted occasionally. Tucked into the backs of most bays along the eastern foreshore are small stands of mangroves ranging from thirty square metres at the head of Mullet Creek to approximately eighty square metres at bays near the mouth. Mangrove stands at the head of Mullet Creek comprise both grey mangroves and river mangroves, whilst those at the mouth comprise only grey mangroves. Where both species occur small, river mangroves less than 2 m tall are backed by large grey mangroves up to 10 m tall. Stands of grey mangroves consist of scattered juvenile plants fronting mature trees. An extensive bed of patchy seagrass occurs over the sand shoal at the head of Mullet Creek. Eelgrass dominates this bed, and some paddleweed (Halophila sp.) also occurs. In shallow areas, eelgrass is sparse with short shoots, whilst deeper areas have a more consistent cover of plants with longer shoots and high epiphyte loads. Eelgrass also occurs within the adjacent two bays to the south and east of the head of Mullet creek, as narrow bands of scattered plants along the subtidal edge of mudflats. Oyster leases extend south from Wondabyne Station along both sides of the creek. Oyster stacks appear to have between one and six sticks of oysters indicating both depot leases and catch leases respectively. The largest areas of oyster leases occur around the mouth of Mullet Creek where there is no foreshore development. Less than a dozen private residencies occur along the entire length of Mullet Creek. These are concentrated mainly around the area of Wondabyne Station where there is a wharf, a grassy park with stone statues, and some dumped rubbish. Associated with the private foreshore properties are occasional sandstone seawalls, jetties and moorings. Mooney Mooney Creek and Spectacle Island Mooney Mooney Creek extends upstream from Cogra Point and Peats Ferry Bridge on the Hawkesbury River, and includes Spectacle Island. As in other areas, narrow sandstone rubble foreshores backed by steep sloping hillsides dominate the shoreline. Sandstone boulders and rocky outcrops are common in intertidal and subtidal areas between embayments, whilst within bays extensive intertidal mudflats are more common. Typical hillside vegetation does not differ Biodiversity - Technical Report Page 138
- Page 89 and 90: Aeolian Landscapes Beach Landscapes
- Page 91 and 92: A - 4.5 Climate Generally the clima
- Page 93 and 94: Kangaroo, possums, flying squirrels
- Page 95 and 96: A - 4.9 Current Landuse Since the 1
- Page 97 and 98: State government is also preparing
- Page 99 and 100: A - 5.0 TERRESTRIAL BIODIVERSITY Th
- Page 101 and 102: Lily) was once relatively widesprea
- Page 103 and 104: Figure 5.1 Native vegetation commun
- Page 105 and 106: Biodiversity - Technical Report Pag
- Page 107 and 108: There have been few quantitative st
- Page 109 and 110: • Rainforest • Wetlands • Dun
- Page 111 and 112: Figure 5.5 Endangered ecological co
- Page 113 and 114: of streams for water quality purpos
- Page 115 and 116: Figures 5.5 - 5.7 Waratah (Telopea
- Page 117 and 118: A - 5.4 A - 5.4.1 Terrestrial Fauna
- Page 119 and 120: A - 5.4.3 Invertebrates There conti
- Page 121 and 122: A draft Recovery Plan has been prep
- Page 123 and 124: assumption that occupancy of a site
- Page 125 and 126: Variables such as ‘proportion of
- Page 127 and 128: Mount Kincumba to Bouddi NP and Cop
- Page 129 and 130: A - 5.7 References Anon (1996) 'Sev
- Page 131 and 132: Scotts D (1991) “Old-growth fores
- Page 133 and 134: A - 6.2 Aquatic Habitats A - 6.2.1
- Page 135 and 136: considered. This is true for all ri
- Page 137 and 138: this zone are isolated Casuarina gl
- Page 139: The Hawkesbury River The Hawkesbury
- Page 143 and 144: Patonga Creek Little information is
- Page 145 and 146: A particular objective of the above
- Page 147 and 148: northeast lies the suburb of North
- Page 149 and 150: Figure 6.11 Weedy Seadragon (Phyllo
- Page 151 and 152: Lisarow Wetland Lisarow Wetland is
- Page 153 and 154: • appropriately timed collection
- Page 155 and 156: A - 6.3 References ANZECC (1992) Au
- Page 157 and 158: Almost thirty key threatening proce
- Page 159 and 160: Whilst these two species appear mor
- Page 161 and 162: Low (1999) surmised that this fungu
- Page 163 and 164: A - 7.8 Fire Management Fire manage
- Page 165 and 166: 1. Salinity mediated processes - Sa
- Page 167 and 168: • Structural flood mitigation wor
- Page 169 and 170: Increased needs for active recreati
- Page 171 and 172: A - 7.14 References Anderson, C (20
• Ownership details;<br />
• Zoning information;<br />
• Level of protection;<br />
• Catchment status with an estimate is to be made of the percentage of each landuse<br />
in the catchment;<br />
• Issues identified during the investigation of a site are to be listed; and<br />
• Discussion of the issues relating to the management of the wetland and suggested<br />
rezoning, considerations for community ownership and alterations to SEPP 14 or<br />
SREP 20 boundaries where appropriate.<br />
The Report recommended that <strong>Council</strong> ensure that wetland values are recognised throughout<br />
the community by continuing to develop and implement effective education programs and<br />
opportunities in association with schools and community groups. Particular recommendations<br />
included:<br />
• <strong>Council</strong> should offer expertise and resources to landholders to help them manage<br />
their wetlands more effectively. Funds should be sought through the Natural<br />
Heritage Trust and other sources for restoring and managing these wetlands by:<br />
• controlling grazing through fencing programs<br />
• restoring natural flow regimes where possible<br />
• weed control in wetlands, and<br />
• removing rubbish.<br />
• <strong>Council</strong> should continue to monitor the condition of its wetlands to assess trends and<br />
the need for further actions.<br />
In 2002 <strong>Gosford</strong> <strong>City</strong> <strong>Council</strong>, in cooperation with Hornsby Shire <strong>Council</strong>, commissioned the<br />
Water Research Laboratory to undertake the Brooklyn Estuary Processes Study (MHL, 2003).<br />
The State <strong>Government</strong> under their Estuary Management Program assisted the Study. As well<br />
as Brooklyn Harbour, the study area included the main river channel, Mooney Mooney and<br />
Mullet Creeks. The information yielded from this research is almost the sum of information<br />
available. Very little environmental information is available for Mangrove and Patonga Creeks.<br />
The following information on the biota and habitats of the Hawkesbury has been quoted directly<br />
from the Brooklyn Estuary<br />
Process Study (MHL, 2003):<br />
Main Channel of the Hawkesbury River<br />
Narrow foreshores of sandstone rubble backed by steep sloping hillsides dominate much of the<br />
shoreline, with sandstone boulders and rocky outcrops common in intertidal and subtidal areas.<br />
Typical hillside vegetation consists mainly of eucalypts and she-oaks (Casuarina glauca),<br />
interspersed with wattle (Acacia spp.) and grass trees (Xanthorrhoea spp.). Intertidal rocks are<br />
heavily to moderately encrusted with oysters (Saccostrea glommerata) and mussels (Family<br />
Mytilidae). Periwinkles (Bembicium spp.) are common higher in the intertidal areas and the<br />
limpets Siphonaria denticulata and Patelloida mimula are often scattered among oysters.<br />
Sargassum (Sargassum spp.) and kelp (Ecklonia radiata) are common in subtidal areas. The<br />
green alga Codium fragile is occasionally found growing in low intertidal areas, as are small<br />
patches of Caulerpa filiformis.<br />
Some of the common birds seen within the main estuary include: Great Cormorants<br />
(Phalacrocorax carbo); Little Pied Cormorants (P. melanoleucos ); Maned Ducks (Chenonetta<br />
jubata); Mallards (Anas platyrhynchos); Australian Pelicans (Pelecanus conspicillatus); Silver<br />
<strong>Biodiversity</strong> - Technical Report Page 137