Biodiversity Strategy - Gosford City Council - NSW Government

Table 2: Statistics on Gosford's waterways
There is approximately 60 km of major tidal waterways that cover an estimated area of 10,000
ha. This estimate does not include ephemeral streams or those that have been piped to
accommodate development. (GCC GIS)
There is 50 km of beaches and rocky coastline. There is approximately 100 ha of sandy
beaches on the open coast and approximately 30 ha of inter-tidal rock platforms. (GCC GIS)
There is approximately 900 ha of mangrove habitat, which is protected under NSW Fisheries
legislation. (Bell 2004)
There is approximately 200 ha of saltmarsh, which is listed as an endangered ecological
community. (Bell 2004)
There is over 700 ha of seagrass meadows, including the protected Posidonia australis, or
strap weed. Seagrass meadows in Brisbane Water support a high diversity of Signathid fishes
which includes pipe fish and seahorses. (Technical Report 2008)
Gosford LGA currently contains a large number of species and ecosystem diversity with some
plants and animals occurring at the southern or northern extent of their natural distribution in the
area. At the same time there are over eighty five (85) threatened animals, approximately twenty
(20) threatened plants and eleven (11) endangered vegetation communities known to occur in
the LGA. These are recognised as being at risk of extinction unless the circumstances
threatening their survival are addressed. The benefits of conserving biodiversity are evident
and will allow Gosford to also continue to be a beautiful and diverse area that enriches the lives
of residents and attracts visitors to the area.
2.2 Threats to Biodiversity
Like coastal areas within close proximity to major cities, Gosford continues to experience
population growth with the resultant development pressures that in turn can place pressure on
biodiversity. Land subdivision (in particular of Rural and Environmental zoned lands), the desire
for larger dwellings and associated works and the need for bushfire protection all have the
potential to place pressure on the local native species and ecosystems.
The Draft Central Coast Regional Strategy proposes an increase in Gosford City's population,
with an increase of 13,000 residential dwellings with an increase of 23,000 additional people by
2031 (Department of Planning 2004). Should the Region's water supply be secured in the long
term this population threshold may increase and it is noted that within the existing urban zones
there is potential to accommodate approximately 34,200 people.
The urban fringe areas are generally zoned for rural small holdings which permits a minimum lot
size of 2 hectares. This zone is generally located on land adjoining the urban areas and can
acts as a buffer between the independent coastal settlements and the vegetated Conservation
zoned land and/or public COSS reserves. The erosion of this buffer zone for urban
development could have an adverse impact on the biodiversity if not managed appropriately.
There are a range of Key Threatening Processes that are applicable to Gosford and may
reduce biodiversity if not appropriately managed. The key threatening processes identified by
the Federal Government that are potentially relevant to our area include:
• Competition and land degradation by feral animals such as rabbits and possibly
other domestic animals such as goats and pigs.
• Dieback caused by the root-rot fungus (Phytophthora cinnamomi)
• Infection of amphibians with chytrid fungus resulting in chytridiomycosis
• Injury and fatality to vertebrate marine life caused by ingestion of, or entanglement
in, harmful marine debris
• Land clearing
Biodiversity Strategy Page 16