Biodiversity Strategy - Gosford City Council - NSW Government

In addition to the overlapping of tropical and temperate zones the local geology has evolved to
provide a range of ecosystem and habitats in a relatively small geographical area. The diversity
of ecosystem and habitats is further enhanced by the geological formation of the area and the
pattern of river and creek systems that have been cut into the underlying geology. (GCC 1988)
As a general rule the major river and creek systems along the NSW Coast line run in a
west/east direction across broad flood plains. This means that as one travels in a west to east
or east to west direction there is a gradual succession from one habitat area to another. (GCC
1988). Conversely, in the Gosford LGA all the major creek systems of Mangrove, Mooney
Mooney, Mullet, Patonga, Narara and Erina run in a north south direction. Therefore as one
travels in an east west direction there is a sharp contrast from one habitat area to another. The
proximity of different habitats in a small area has lead to a diversity of species when compared
to other areas of Australia of a similar size. (GCC 1988)
Reflecting this diversity of habitats there are five (5) National Parks and four (4) Nature
Reserves.
Each national park and nature reserve has its own character
• Dharug National Park is recognised as containing a multi-coloured sandstone
landscape with pristine clear-water tributaries;
• Popran National Park conserves spectacular stone cliffs and gullies with many
Aboriginal sites;
• Brisbane Water National Park contains a rugged sandstone country that is covered
in hundreds of native wildflowers;
• Wyrrabalong National Park contains rocky cliffs that are bounded by the sea;
• Bouddi National Park accommodates a number of small secluded beaches and the
first marine park in NSW.
• Wambina Nature Reserve which protects the local flying fox colony.
• Wamberal Lagoon Nature Reserve encompasses one of the best remaining
examples of a coastal lagoon, wetland and barrier sand dune on the Central Coast;
• Cockle Bay Nature Reserve protects an estuarine habitat succession from sea
grasses to fringing mangroves to swamp forest; and
• The series of small islands in Brisbane Water include Riley's Island and Pelican
Island Nature Reserves.
The variety of landscapes in the national parks and nature reserves protects an outstanding
natural beauty and is valued for its beaches, bushland and recreational opportunities, such as
fishing, sailing, surfing and bushwalking. Much of the LGA remains vegetated (72.6%) with
urban development and bushland reserves existing in close proximity to each other. Of the total
LGA, 31.7% is National Park or Nature Reserve and 6.9% is State Forest. Natural bushland is
also protected on a number of Council reserves, particularly through the Coastal Open Space
System (COSS), which accounts for 1.8% of the total LGA or approximately 1,850 hectares.
Native vegetation also occurs on other land tenures, most notably, the Mangrove Creek Dam
and Mooney Dam catchments which represent 10.2% of the total LGA or 10,500 hectares.
Refer Figure 3: Native Vegetation by Land Ownership. (GCC GIS)
One of the unique features of Gosford LGA is the development of the Coastal Open Space
System which commenced in 1984. The COSS compliments the national parks and nature
reserves within the local government area as it provides a continuous reserve system of
interconnected vegetated landscapes linking the ridge-top lands and provides habitat linkage
between various national parks and nature reserves. The COSS has been historically funded
through the bonus provisions and land dedications under Gosford's Interim Development Order
No 122. The COSS is a critical component of the City’s biodiversity as it currently protects over
1,850 hectares of natural bushland in close proximity to urban areas. It provides a scenic
Biodiversity Strategy Page 13