Cooks River/Castlereagh Ironbark Forest
Castlereagh Ironbark Forest/ Cooks River Clay Plain Scrub Forest | |
---|---|
Ecology | |
Realm | Australasia |
Biome | Temperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublands |
Borders | |
Geography | |
Area | 11.01 km2 (4.25 sq mi) |
Country | Australia |
Elevation | 60–100 metres (200–330 ft) |
Geology | Sandstone, shale |
Climate type | Humid subtropical climate (Cfa) |
Soil types | Clay, sand |
The Cooks River/Castlereagh Ironbark Forest (CRCIF) is a scattered,
On 10 May 2002 the NSW Government gazetted the forest as a critically Endangered Ecological Community under the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995;[2] and on 17 March 2015 the forest was listed as Critically Endangered by the Australian Government under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.[3] The community occurs in fragmented patches within the Cumberland Plain Woodland, where it generally grades into it.
Ecology
Around 1,101-hectare (2,721-acre) in size, the ecological community consists of scrub-forests and open-forest savannas that are dominated by broad-leaved Ironbark (Eucalyptus fibrosa) and Paperbark (Melaleuca decora). The main threat is further clearing for development, as well as weed invasion, inappropriate fire regime, damage from vehicles, and impacts from surrounding development. Fencing also prevents wildlife movement and increases injuries and deaths. There is also the potential of clay/shale extraction.
The community includes a portion of the eastern Shale Sandstone Transition Forest, where it intergrades to it (often where the alluvium is shallow). In addition, it also grades to Castlereagh Swamp Woodland in damp slumps and Castlereagh Scribbly Gum Woodland on sandier soils.[4]
The canopy includes
A 2014 biodiversity report indicated that parts of the CRCIF will be impacted by the development of the Western Sydney Airport.[6]
Geography
The majority of the forest community is found in the north-west section of the Cumberland Subregion in the Castlereagh area between
The eastern presence of this community, found in the
Beverly Grove Bushland
Beverly Grove Bushland, part of the CRCIF, is 1.87 hectares (5 acres) of remnant bushland between Canterbury Golf Course and the M5 East Motorway.[5]: 8 It is one of the larger patches of the CRCIF and has been preserved as an offset for the construction of the M5 East. Despite this, 1.4 hectares (3 acres) of the site has been proposed as a construction compound for Stage 2: King Georges Road Interchange and New M5 of WestConnex.[8]
Following approval of a secret biobanking package to offset the destruction of the 1.4 hectares (3 acres) of Beverly Grove Bushland,[9] it was expected that the bushland be bulldozed on 31 August 2016.[10][11] Bulldozers moved in on Threatened Species Day (7 September 2016) and started demolishing the bushland.[12] However, despite reports of protestors halting work, demolition continued.[13][14]
See also
- Ecology of Sydney
- Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999
- Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995
References
- ^ Government of Australia.
- ^ "Cooks River/Castlereagh Ironbark Forest in the Sydney Basin Bioregion - profile". Office of Environment & Heritage. NSW Government. 6 July 2019. Retrieved 12 January 2020.
- Department of the Environment & Energy. Canberra: Australian Government. 17 March 2015. Retrieved 12 January 2020.
- ^ Department of the Environment. Canberra: Australian Government. Retrieved 12 January 2020.
- ^ Roads & Maritime Services. Government of New South Wales.
- ^ SMEC Holdings (October 2014). "Biodiversity Report: Commonwealth land at Badgerys Creek" (PDF). Western Sydney Unit (WSU) of the Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development. Australian Government. p. 53. Retrieved 12 January 2020.
- Department of Planning & Environment. Government of New South Wales.
- Department of Planning & Environment. Wolli Creek Preservation Society. Archived from the original(PDF) on 9 March 2016.
- ^ BioBanking: a market-based scheme The Biodiversity Banking and Offsets Scheme, 'BioBanking', is designed to address the Biodiversity loss|loss of biodiversity values from habitat degradation. [dead link]
- ^ Faruqi, Mehreen (29 August 2016). "WestConnex Brings Destruction to Critically Endangered Bushland at Cooks River". Australian Greens. [dead link]
- ^ Buckley, Danielle (5 September 2016). "Critically endangered Cooks River Castlereagh Ironbark Forest soon to be cleared for WestConnex". Canterbury-Bankstown Express. Retrieved 12 January 2020.
- Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 12 January 2020.
- ^ Picot, Anne [@apicot] (7 September 2016). "#StopWestconnex @_fisherco being hauled away from bulldozers clearing endangered iron bark forest Beverly Grove" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ Code, Bill (8 September 2016). "Woman chained to Wolli Creek tree as WestConnex forest clearance enters second day". ABC News. Australia. Retrieved 12 January 2020.
External links
- "Cooks River / Castlereagh Ironbark Forest of the Sydney Basin Bioregion Ecological Community" (PDF) (Map). Department of the Environment. Canberra: Australian Government. 2015.
- "Biodiversity". Environmental Impact Statement (PDF). )
- Paul Lemm Planning Consultant; Hawach, Eddy (6 February 2017). "Lot 3 DP 184056 Rickards Road, Castlereagh: Flora and Fauna Assessment" (PDF). Eco Logical Australia.
- Tozer, Mark (16 June 2003). The native vegetation of the Cumberland Plain, western Sydney: systematic classification and field identification of communities (Thesis). Royal Botanical Gardens, Sydney.