Melaleuca armillaris tall shrubland in the Sydney Basin Bioregion - endangered ecological community listing
The Scientific Committee, established by the Threatened Species Conservation Act, has made a Final Determination to list Melaleuca armillaris Tall Shrubland in the Sydney Basin Bioregion as an ENDANGERED ECOLOGICAL COMMUNITY in Part 3 of Schedule 1 of the Act. The listing of endangered ecological communities is provided for by Part 2 of the Act.
Note: This Determination has been superseded by the 2011 Minor Amendment Determination.
NSW Scientific Committee - final determination
The Scientific Committee has found that:
1. Melaleuca armillaris Tall Shrubland is the name given to the ecological community found on outcrops of volcanic soils on dry rocky ridges in the Illawarra area (within the Sydney Basin Bioregion) and is characterised by the following assemblage of species:
- Acacia mearnsii
- Alphitonia excelsa
- Bracteantha bracteata
- Calandrinia pickeringii
- Cheilanthes distans
- Cheilanthes sieberi
- Commelina cyanea
- Commersonia fraseri
- Crassula sieberiana
- Dodonaea viscosasubsp . angustifolia
- Hibiscus heterophyllus
- Melaleuca armillaris
- Plectranthus graveolens
- Prostanthera linearis
- Zieria granulata
2. The total species list of the community is considerably larger than that given in 1 (above), with many species present in only one or two sites or in very small quantity. In any particular site not all of the assemblage listed in 1 may be present. At any one time, some species may only be present as seeds in the soil seed bank with no above-ground individuals present. The species composition of the site will be influenced by the size of the site, recent rainfall or drought conditions and by its disturbance history. The number of species and the above-ground composition of species will change with time since fire, and may also change in response to changes in fire frequency. The community includes a diverse fauna, both vertebrate and invertebrate, but it is poorly known. The threatened species Zieria granulata is closely associated with Melaleuca armillaris Tall Shrubland (Mills & Assoc 2000).
3.Melaleuca armillarisTall Shrubland may be up to about 5 m tall and is dominated by the large Paperbark shrubMelaleuca armillaris. It occurs in sites away from the coast on very dry rocky ridges, at Dunmore and in Jamberoo Valley on volcanic soils overlying latite, and in small patches near Killalea. Rock outcrops are common within the Community. Because the soils on which it grows are shallow and are unable to retain enough moisture, the shrubs may die back during drought. (Dense stands ofM. armillarison coastal headlands are not included within this ecological community).4. Melaleuca armillaris Tall Shrubland has been recorded from the local government areas of Shellharbour City, and Kiama Municipality (within the Sydney Basin Bioregion) and may occur elsewhere in the Bioregion.
5. Small stands of Melaleuca armillaris Tall Shrubland occur in Killalea State Park.
6. Many areas of Melaleuca armillaris Tall Shrubland have been cleared. Most remnants are small and fragmented and their longterm viability is threatened. Threats include further clearing, grazing, including by rabbits, quarrying, inappropriate fire regimes, weed invasion, rubbish dumping, housing and hobby farm developments.
7. In view of the above the Scientific Committee is of the opinion that Melaleuca armillaris Tall Shrubland in the Sydney Basin Bioregion is likely to become extinct in nature in NSW unless the circumstances and factors threatening its survival or evolutionary development cease to operate.
Proposed Gazettal date: 23/08/02
Exhibition period: 23/08/02 - 27/09/02
Reference
Kevin Mills & Associates (2000) Nature Conservation Study Rural lands study area City of Shellharbour (prepared for Shellharbour City Council).