Indicative distribution
The areas shown in pink and/purple are the sub-regions where the species or community is known or predicted to occur. They may not occur thoughout the sub-region but may be restricted to certain areas.
(
click here to see geographic restrictions).
The information presented in this map is only indicative and may contain errors and omissions.
Scientific name: Illawarra Lowlands Grassy Woodland in the Sydney Basin Bioregion
Gazetted date:
24 Dec 1999
Profile last updated:
22 Jan 2024
Description
This community comprises vegetation types that occupy the Illawarra coastal plain and escarpment foothills. Characteristic tree species include Forest Red Gum Eucalyptus tereticornis, Thin-leaved Stringybark Eucalyptus eugenioides, Woollybutt Eucalyptus longifolia, Coast Grey Box Eucalyptus bosistoana and White Feather Honey-myrtle Melaleuca decora. The understorey is not necessarily grassy as moist forest vegetation types are also included within this broad community. Common shrub species include Acacia mearnsii and Dodonaea viscosa subsp. angustifolia. Floodplain vegetation dominated by Casuarina species or rainforests on latite soils are not part of this community.
Distribution
Recorded from the local government areas (LGAs) of Wollongong, Shellharbour and Kiama, and Shoalhaven. Not recorded within formal conservation reserves, although some remnants occur in small council reserves including Blackbutt Reserve and Croome Road Reserve in Shellharbour LGA.
Habitat and ecology
- Occurs in near coastal areas below about 200 metres on gently undulating terrain.
- Occurs on Berry Siltstone, Budgong Sandstone and Quaternary Alluvium.
- Much of this community has been cleared and it now occurs chiefly as scattered fragments.
- Provides habitat for the endangered orchid Pterostylis gibbosa.
- Some remnants consist of regrowth after clearing or other disturbances.
Regional distribution and habitat
Click on a region below to view detailed distribution, habitat and vegetation information.
Threats
- Clearing, degradation and fragmentation of remnants for residential, rural residential, and infrastructure development.
- Continuous heavy grazing and trampling of remnants by grazing stock, resulting in losses of plant species (simplification of the understorey and groundlayer and suppression of overstorey), erosion and other soil changes (including increased nutrient status).
- Invasion of remnants by non-native plant species, including noxious weeds, pasture species and environmental weeds, including garden escapes.
- Selective logging in remnants.
- Dumping of rubbish in remnants
- Physical damage from inappropriate recreational activities.
- Herbivory and environmental degradation caused by feral deer.
- Inappropriate fire regime (too frequent or too infrequent).
- Lack of knowledge regarding the extent of the threatened ecological community over what tenure and the opportunities for conservation.
- Herbivory and environmental degradation caused by feral goats.
Recovery strategies
A targeted strategy for managing this species has been developed under the Saving Our Species program; click
here for details. For more information on the Saving Our Species program click
here
Activities to assist this species
- Determine and implement appropriate fire management practices.
- Undertake careful survey wherever development requires clearing in known or suspected habitat.
- Consider off-site impacts in the assessment of nearby developments.
- Erect on-site markers to alert maintenance staff to the presence of a high quality remnant or population of a threatened species.
- Install fencing, gates, signs and formal tracks to manage recreational access and to prevent rubbish dumping.
- Encourage regeneration by fencing remnants, eliminating stock grazing and undertaking supplementary planting, if necessary.
- Undertake weed control (taking care to spray or dig out only target species).
- Protect areas of known and potential habitat from clearing and further fragmentation.
- Restore degraded remnants using bush regeneration techniques.
- Ensure remnants remain connected or linked to each other; in cases where remnants have lost connective links, re-establish them by revegetating sites to act as stepping stones for fauna, and flora (pollen and seed dispersal).
- Prepare and implement site specific plans of management for remnants on public land.
- Mark remnants onto maps (of the farm, shire, region, etc) and use to plan activities (e.g. remnant protection, rehabilitation or road, rail and infrastructure maintenance work).
Information sources
- Kevin Mills & Associates (1997) Ecological Study Figtree Estate and Forest Red Gum Communities of the Illawarra Coastal Plain. Prepared for Stockland Trust Group Ltd Sydney.
- NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (2002) Native Vegetation of the Illawarra Escarpment and Coastal Plain. Wollongong Local Government Area Bioregional Assessment (Part I). (NSW NPWS, Hurstville)
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