Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2024L00346:reg:7:p12
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2024L00346
Segment Type: reg
Provision Reference: reg 7 (pt 12/23)
Character Range: 182211–186205

c); the Endangered Grey Box (Eucalyptus microcarpa) Grassy Woodlands and Derived Native Grasslands of South-eastern Australia (DEWHA 2010); the Critically Endangered White Box-Yellow Box-Blakely's Red Gum Grassy Woodland and Derived Native Grassland (DECCW 2010); the Critically Endangered Natural Temperate Grassland of the Victorian Volcanic Plain (TSSC 2008); and the Critically Endangered Natural Grasslands of the Murray Valley Plains (SEWPAC 2012; TSSC 2012).
The Victorian Volcanic Plain bioregion is also one of 15 biodiversity hotspots in Australia and home to more than 65 threatened species listed nationally and 173 threatened species listed in Victoria (DSEWPAC 2011; VAGO 2020). Threatened plant species co-occurring with Spiny Rice-flower in the Natural Temperate Grasslands of the Victorian Volcanic Plain include: Dianella amoena (Matted flax-lily, Endangered), Diuris basaltica (Small Golden Moths, Endangered), D. fragrantissima (Sunshine Diuris, Endangered), Lepidium hyssopifilium (Basalt Pepper-cress, Endangered), Leucochrysum albicans var. tricolor (Hoary Sunray, Endangered), Prasophyllum diversifolium (Gorae Leek-orchid, Endangered), P. frenchii (Maroon Leek-orchid, Endangered), P. suaveolens (Fragrant Leek-orchid, Endangered), Pterostylis basaltica (Basalt Greenhood, Endangered), Rutidosis leptorrhynchoides (Button Wrinklewort, Endangered), Dodonaea procumbens (Trailing Hop-bush, Vulnerable), Glycine latrobeana (Clover Glycine, Vulnerable), Lepidium aschersonii (Spiny Pepper-cress), Senecio macrocarpus (Large-fruit Groundsel, Vulnerable), Xerochrysum palustre (Swamp Everlasting, Vulnerable) (DSEWPAC 2011). Spiny Rice-flower grasslands habitat also support a wide range of threatened fauna including the Synemon plana (Golden sun moth, Vulnerable), Delma impar (Striped Legless Lizard, Vulnerable) and Litoria raniformis (Growling Grass-frog, Vulnerable). Incorporating threats mitigation and habitat management for Spiny Rice-flower into the current recovery actions will provide broader and continuous biodiversity benefit and will culminate in the formulation of best practice for the management of grassland ecosystems and the associated species.
Figure 11 Spiny Rice-flower plant growing in its grasslands habitat.
Photo © Debbie Reynolds

Table 6 Threatened Ecological Communities (TECs) known and likely supporting the Spiny Rice-flower
Listed TEC (EPBC Act)                                                                                       Conservation status
Buloke Woodlands of the Riverina and Murray-Darling Depression Bioregions                                   Endangered
Grassy Eucalypt Woodland of the Victorian Volcanic Plain                                                    Critically Endangered
Grey Box (Eucalyptus microcarpa) Grassy Woodlands and Derived Native Grasslands of South-eastern Australia  Endangered
Natural Grasslands of the Murray Valley Plains                                                              Critically Endangered
Natural Temperate Grassland of the Victorian Volcanic Plain                                                 Critically Endangered
Seasonal Herbaceous Wetlands (Freshwater) of the Temperate Lowland Plains                                   Critically Endangered
Subtropical and Temperate Coastal Saltmarsh                                                                 Vulnerable
White-Box Yellow-Box – Blakely's Red Gum Grassy Woodland and Derived Native Grassland                       Critically Endangered

7.7                 Social and economic impacts
Land on which the grasslands and grassy woodland occur, where Spiny Rice-flower habitats are predominantly situated, is fertile and productive. It now supports a diversity of agricultural industries, which are essential to the economic and social viability of towns and communities across Victoria. Many populations are found within Melbourne growth boundary. The expansion of the urban will also bring substantial economic and