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.
(
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The information presented in this map is only indicative and may contain errors and omissions.
Scientific name: Cooks River/Castlereagh Ironbark Forest of the Sydney Basin Bioregion
Gazetted date:
17 Mar 2015
Profile last updated:
12 Jul 2023
Description
The Cooks River/Castlereagh Ironbark Forest of the Sydney Basin Bioregion is a dry sclerophyll open-forest to low woodland which occurs predominantly in the Cumberland Subregion between Castlereagh and Holsworthy, as well as around the headwaters of the Cooks River. The majority of the community is found in the north-west section of the Cumberland Subregion in the Castlereagh area between Penrith and Richmond. Other significant patches occur in the Kemps Creek and Holsworthy areas. Smaller remnants occur in the eastern section of the Cumberland Subregion (e.g. upper Cooks River Valley). Cooks River/Castlereagh Ironbark Forest is an open-forest to low woodland, usually dominated by Eucalyptus fibrosa (broad-leaved ironbark) and Melaleuca decora (paperbark) (NSW NPWS 2002; Tozer; 2003; Tozer et al., 2010; NSW Scientific Committee, 2011). E. longifolia (Woollybutt) is also often present (NSW NPWS, 2002; Tozer, 2003; NSW Scientific Committee, 2011; NSW OEH, 2013a). Other over-storey species that may be present include: E. racemosa (syn. E. sclerophylla, narrow-leaved scribbly gum), Angophora costata (smoothbarked apple) and Angophora bakeri (narrow-leaved apple) at sandier sites, E. longifolia close to creeks, E. parramattensis subsp. parramattensis in less well drained soils, and E. moluccana and E. eugenioides on less gravelly clay (NSW OEH, 2013a; James pers. comm., 2014). Hybrids of these canopy species may be present. The understorey shrub stratum is variable, but often dense and dominated by Melaleuca nodosa (prickly-leaved paperbark) and Lissanthe strigosa (peach heath), and to a lesser extent M. decora (NSW NPWS, 2002), possibly at times as a result of historical factors at the site (NSW OEH, 2013a). It also includes a range of ‘pea’ flower shrubs, including Dillwynia tenuifolia, Pultenaea villosa (hairy bush-pea) and Daviesia ulicifolia (gorse bitter pea) (Tozer, 2003; NSW Scientific Committee, 2011). Dillwynia parvifolia, Cassinia arcuata and Hibbertia
serpyllifolia are common species in eastern sites and less commonly found in the west (James, pers. comm., 2014). Other common species include Ozothamnus diosmifolius, Bursaria spinosa and Acacia falcata (James, pers. comm., 2014). The ground layer is relatively sparse (more so in areas of dense shrub cover) and commonly includes Entolasia stricta (wiry panic), Lepidosperma laterale, Opercularia diphylla, Dianella revoluta subsp. revoluta (blue flax-lily), Themeda triandra (kangaroo grass), Microlaena stipoides var. stipoides and Lobelia purpurascens (whiteroot) (NSW NPWS, 2002; Tozer, 2003). Nationally threatened plants that have been recorded in the ecological community include: Acacia pubescens (downy wattle); Persoonia nutans (nodding geebung); Micromyrtus minutiflora and Allocasuarina glareicola. NSW threatened plants recorded in the community include Wahlenbergia multicaulis Tadgell’s bluebell), Grevillea juniperina subsp. juniperina and Dillwynia tenuifolia (NSW DECC, 2008; NSW Scientific Committee, 2011; NSW OEH, 2013a). In order to meet the definition of the TEC sites must satisfy condition criteria stipulated in the Listing Advice and/or Conservation Advice. Typically condition is assessed by reference to patch size and vegetation structure thresholds or species composition metrics.
Distribution
Regional distribution and habitat
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Recovery strategies
Priority actions are the specific, practical things that must be done to recover a threatened species, population or ecological
community. The Office of Environment and Heritage has identified
0 priority actions
to help recover the Cooks River/Castlereagh Ironbark Forest of the Sydney Basin Bioregion in New South Wales.
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