New South Wales Crown Lands A treasure trove of biodiversity

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New South Wales Crown Lands A treasure trove of biodiversity For decades now, the New South Wales government has been viewing crown lands across the state with a degree of avarice, seeing them as

1 New South Wales Crown Lands A treasure trove of biodiversity For decades now, the New South Wales government has been viewing crown lands across the state with a degree of avarice, seeing them as saleable assets that could help the state's budget bottom line. This has resulted in various reviews and plans that have required input from the public who, after all, are effectively the owners. In this instance, the crown lands we refer to do not include the obvious state forest, national parks, nature reserves and the like, but a mishmash of residual blocks under varying tenures which include travelling stock routes and reserves, old rubbish tip sites, crown road easements, old school sites, commons, and just plain vacant crown land which was never acquired privately, either by free selection in the 1800s or subsequently sold off by the government. An endangered freshwater wetland community on a travelling stock reserve in the Clarence Valley, a typical example of the high conservation value habitat that has survived on crown land The Clarence Environment Centre has been very proactive in tying to protect and conserve crown land, essentially by pointing out the high conservation values that many of these blocks contain.

To do that we have undertaken extensive surveys of these public lands, some in inaccessible areas, so a lot of leg work was required.

across the approximately 20,000 hectare project area. This work took in private property, some state forest and ten crown land blocks, ranging in size from 2 to 60 hectares.

east of Grafton. That 20.9ha Crown reserve consists of an approximately 200m wide strip extending north - south for about 1km, on rugged, low fertility, sandstone country.

rocky terrain and shallow dry sandy soils.

variety, including the not so common King Fern. The entire block is forested, with little sign of human disturbance beyond occasional dried cow dung.

You could almost describe the landscape as pristine.

2 To do that we have undertaken extensive surveys of these public lands, some in inaccessible areas, so a lot of leg work was required. This endeavour was helped in some way by the Centre's involvement in the Upper Coldstream Biodiversity Project, which saw us involved in undertaking extensive flora surveys across the approximately 20,000 hectare project area. This work took in private property, some state forest and ten crown land blocks, ranging in size from 2 to 60 hectares. One of the more remote portions, in terms of access, was a strip of residual crown land adjoining the western boundary of the Newfoundland State Forest on the Coast Range east of Grafton. That 20.9ha Crown reserve consists of an approximately 200m wide strip extending north - south for about 1km, on rugged, low fertility, sandstone country. To many casual observers it appears to contain little in the way of high conservation value habitat, with straggly eucalyptus trees seemingly struggling to survive on the rocky terrain and shallow dry sandy soils. However, walking into this area, we find deep gullies with crystal clear pools of water, filtered through the sandstone, and surrounded by masses of ferns of a surprising variety, including the not so common King Fern. The entire block is forested, with little sign of human disturbance beyond occasional dried cow dung. No tracks, no fences, and because the tree species, mostly Bailey's Stringy Bark and Smudgy Apple, are unsuitable for timber, no signs of historical logging. You could almost describe the landscape as pristine. Unfortunately there is one human impact, fire, or more specifically Clear pools of water filtered through the Jurassic too frequent fire, as neighbouring sandstone, surrounded by a profusion of ferns that belie graziers pursue their practice of one's first impression of this as a forbidding landscape. burning off to provide what they term green pick for their cattle. One consequence of that burning is the low occurrence of old trees with hollows, the natural home to some one third of all NSW land based threatened species.

So although the landscape appears unspoiled, who can say what species, particularly fauna, no longer occur as a result.

These support a surprising variety of native flora much of it uncommon with a number of species endemic only to the Clarence Valley.

Boulders and Banksias, common features of Kangaroo Creek Sandstone outcrops, contribute to the beauty of the landscape We undertook 28 man/hours of survey work, mostly for flora, although we were

3 So although the landscape appears unspoiled, who can say what species, particularly fauna, no longer occur as a result. Looking at the positives however, and there are some five of these gully lines cutting through the block, separated by a series of elevated sandstone ridges with numerous rock outcrops. These support a surprising variety of native flora much of it uncommon with a number of species endemic only to the Clarence Valley. This is not surprising as the valley's Kangaroo Creek Sandstone outcrops are recognised as centres of endemism supporting many rare and endangered species. Boulders and Banksias, common features of Kangaroo Creek Sandstone outcrops, contribute to the beauty of the landscape We undertook 28 man/hours of survey work, mostly for flora, although we were also keen to determine if there were any endangered Brush-tailed Rock Wallabies present. This is an animal which would have traditionally occurred there. Sadly, we found no sign of these rare animals which, once common and even considered a pest, have been driven to near extinction by fox predation. The vegetation on the crown land is typical of Kangaroo Creek sandstone, sparsely dominated along the ridges by Bailey's Stringybark (Eucalyptus baileyana), Smudgy Apple (Angophora woodsiana), and Needlebark (Eucalyptus planchoniana) in the northern parts, blending into Coastal Blackbutt (Eucalyptus pilularis) and Bloodwoods (Corymbia gummifera) to the south, with occasional Broad-leaved Sandstone Apple (Angophora robur) (a vulnerable species) and Turpentine (Syncarpia glomulifera). Rocky gully lines, that contain semi-permanent pools, but no permanent flows, support a broad range of fern species, with scattered reed beds. Coral Fern - Gleichenia dicarpa Umbrella Fern - Sticherus flabellatus

In all 170 flora species were recorded, including 2 endangered, Quasia (Quassia sp 'Moonie Creek') and the Hairy Melichrus (Melichrus hirsutus), and one vulnerable species, the Broad-leaved Sandstone

Three rare or otherwise significant species were also identified, a Devil's Twine (Cassytha pubescens), Sandstone Mahogany (Eucalyptus psammitica); the Hairy Cheese Tree (Glochidion ferdinandi var

King Fern - Todea barbara The Melichrus hirsutus has a very restricted range and occurs only in the Clarence Valley from Grafton in the north to around Glenreagh, in the south.

4 In all 170 flora species were recorded, including 2 endangered, Quasia (Quassia sp 'Moonie Creek') and the Hairy Melichrus (Melichrus hirsutus), and one vulnerable species, the Broad-leaved Sandstone Apple (Angophora robur). Three rare or otherwise significant species were also identified, a Devil's Twine (Cassytha pubescens), Sandstone Mahogany (Eucalyptus psammitica); the Hairy Cheese Tree (Glochidion ferdinandi var pubens), and the Woody Pear (Xylomelum pyriforme). As well, 22 other species were identified that are protected under the National Parks and Wildlife Act. King Fern - Todea barbara The Melichrus hirsutus has a very restricted range and occurs only in the Clarence Valley from Grafton in the north to around Glenreagh, in the south. While the known locations for this species are relatively few, in most areas where it is found, it occurs in relatively large numbers Endangered Hairy Melichrus - Melichrus hirsutus The Quasia on the other hand has a slightly larger range, from Tyndale in the north to just north of Coffs Harbour in the south, but in most areas where it is found, the numbers are low, with some sub-populations consisting of less than 10 plants. An interesting feature of this crown land, as with all sandstone outcrops, are what is Endangered Quassia sp 'Moonie Creek' known as out-wash areas, where underground water runs over the layered sandstone sometimes reaching the surface further down-slope, forming moss gardens, or sometimes sedge and fern wetland areas.

Moss Gardens on this crown land are rich in ground orchids, including some very uncommon species, including: Eriochilus cucullatus Leafless Parson's Bands Corunastylis apostasioides Freak Midge

5 Moss Gardens on this crown land are rich in ground orchids, including some very uncommon species, including: Eriochilus cucullatus Leafless Parson's Bands Corunastylis apostasioides Freak Midge Orchid Bunochilus longifolius Common Leafy Greenhood Lyperanthus suaveolens Brown Beaks The shaded southern face of one of the deep gullies running across the land, supporting a dense fern garden. However the dead vegetation in the foreground is the residue from the last bushfire, something that occurs far too often. Biodiversity values of all these crown lands must be properly assessed and, where those values are high, conservation covenants should be placed on them to ensure they are managed appropriately. Compiled by John Edwards Honorary Secretary

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