Low woodland with heathland on indurated sand at Norah Head - profile

Indicative distribution

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Key:

known

predicted

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: Low woodland with heathland on indurated sand at Norah Head

Conservation status in NSW: Endangered Ecological Community

Commonwealth status: Not listed

Gazetted date: 24 Jul 1998

Profile last updated: 07 Sep 2017

Description

Low woodland with heathland on indurated sand at Norah Head is a low woodland or heathland with a very open cover of trees up to 3 metres high. Small trees species present include Melaleuca quinquenervia (Broad-leaved Paperbark), Melaleuca sieberi, Corymbia gummifera (Red Bloodwood) and the Endangered Eucalyptus camfieldii (Camfield's Stringybark). The dense shrub layer includes Banksia oblongifolia (Fern-leaved Banksia), Hakea dactyloides (Finger Hakea), Melaleuca nodosa (Prickly-leaved Paperbark) and Allocasuarina distyla. Common species in the ground layer include Themeda australis (Kangaroo Grass), Leptocarpus tenax, Gonocarpus teucrioides (Raspwort), Anisopogon avenaceus (Oat Speargrass) and Ptilothrix deusta.

Distribution

Known to occur only near Norah Head, east of Wilfred Barrett Drive, within the Wyong Local Government Area, on the Central Coast of NSW. None of this community is represented within a conservation reserve.

Habitat and ecology

Occurs on indurated (hardsetting) sand with a range of local variation in drainage conditions.
Restricted to swales behind higher aeolian dunes.

Regional distribution and habitat

Click on a region below to view detailed distribution, habitat and vegetation information.

Sydney Basin

Threats

Habitat loss and fragmentation due to clearing for urban, recreational and industrial development and maintenance of fire breaks and trails.
Weed invasion.
Illegal rubbish dumping.
Illegal access causing disturbance to vegetation and fire trails are becoming too wide.
Lack of knowledge about the distribution and condition of the community.
Too frequent fire in some locations and too long unburnt in other locations.
Runoff from adjacent urban areas is causing erosion and sedimentation.

Recovery strategies

A Saving Our Species conservation project is currently being developed for this species and will be available soon. For information on how you can contribute to this species' recovery, see the Activities to assist this species section below.

Activities to assist this species

Apply fire regimes that maintain floristic and structural diversity.
Introduce measures to prevent access to habitat and rubbish dumping.
Undertake appropriate weed control activities when necessary.
Protect remnants from clearing and further fragmentation.

Information sources

Payne, R. (1997) Vegetation survey for Wamberal Lagoon Nature Reserve, Wyrrabalong National Park and Munmorah State Conservation Area. Draft report. NPWS. Sydney.