.1 Review of existing vegetation mapping in the Lower Hunter region Priority Mapping project Reference Year produced Area of region covered (Ha) Proportion of Lower Hunter region covered (%) Comments vegetation mapping projects 1 Vegetation of the region, Cessnock LGA, New South Wales: Survey, Classification and Mapping Bell S and Driscoll C (2007 2007 21,000 4.89% These mapping projects do not overlap and provide the most detailed and accurate mapping of these areas. Vegetation Mapping of the Lake Macquarie LGA: Stages 1-3 Bell S and Driscoll C (2012) 2012 54,838 12.76% The Natural Vegetation of the Maitland LGA (2003) Hill L (2003) 2003 8,304 1.93% Conservation reserves mapping 2 The Native Vegetation of Yengo and Parr Reserves and Surrounds Department of Environment & Climate Change (2008) 2008 46,613 10.85% Blue gum hills Vegetation ('Blue Gum Hills Vegetation' 1997) 1997 161 0.04% Tomago and Tomaree Sandbeds, Port Stephens – Management of Groundwater – Dependant Ecosystems Parts 1 & 2. Bell S and Driscoll C (2006b) 2006 6,019 1.40% Vegetation Mapping of Watagans National Park and Jilliby Conservation Area Bell S and Driscoll C (2006a) 2006 7,649 1.78% Glenrock SRA and Awabakal NR Vegetation Survey Bell S (2006) 2006 950 0.22% Kurri
Table .1 High Priority Conservation Areas within the Lower Hunter region Parameters used to identify High Priority Conservation Areas High Priority Conservation Area Connectivity to nature reserves Threatened Ecological Community Threatened flora habitat Threatened fauna habitat Patch size Habitat connectivity Identified in expert workshop Additional notes N Vegetation occurs adjacent to and forms part of Watagans National Park Lowland Rainforest of Subtropical Australia Yes Yes Large patch size Occurs within the Lower Hunter Regional Green Corridor No R Yes, contains Wallarah National Park and of Munmorah National Park Contains small areas of Littoral Rainforest Yes, provides habitat for a range of threatened flora including Tetratheca juncea and Diuris praecox Yes, provides habitat for a of fauna including Grey-headed Flying-fox Large Not within an identified corridor. Yes. Wallarah Peninsulat identified as having some of best examples of Littoral Rainforest L Contains and is in proximity to Hunter Estuary National Park Subtropical and temperate coastal saltmarsh- nominated community Yes, Euphrasia arguta Yes, specifically migratory wading birds Forms part of Lower Hunter Regional Corridor Yes RAMSAR listed, specifically due to triggering RAMSAR threshold numbers for migratory wading birds Identified in expert workshop as high priority Hunter River estuary includes: Kooragang Island, Ash Island C Yes, is adjacent to and forms part of Worimi Nature Reserve Subtropical and temperate coastal saltmarsh- nominated community Not known Yes, important habitat for migratory species Forms part of the Lower Hunter Regional Corridor Yes
B Yes, in proximity to Karuah National Park Not Not Moderate Corridor No J Occurs in proximity to Werakata National Park Hinterland Sand Forest and Woodland of the Sydney Basin Bioregion and Hunter Valley Remnant Woodlands and Open Forests Yes, including Grevillea parviflora ssp parviflora, Acacia bynoeana, Eucalyptus glaucina, Eucalytpus parramattensis ssp decadens, Rutidosis heterogama Yes, including, Swift Parrot, Regent Honeyeater, Koala, Large Forms part of the Richmond Vale Corridor Yes H Yes, is adjacent to and forms part of Werakata National Park Yes, including Grevillea parviflora ssp parviflora, Acacia bynoeana, Eucalyptus glaucina, Eucalytpus parramattensis ssp decadens, Rutidosis heterogama Yes, including Swift Parrot, Regent Honeyeater, Koala, Large Forms part of the Lower Hunter Regional Corridor Yes fox fox
S Yes, is adjacent to and forms part of Werakata National Park Yes, including Grevillea parviflora ssp parviflora, Acacia bynoeana, Eucalyptus glaucina, Eucalytpus parramattensis ssp decadens, Rutidosis heterogama Yes, including Swift Parrot, Regent Honeyeater, Koala, Large part of the Lower Hunter Regional Corridor Yes A No Threatened Ecological Community Yes, Critically endangered Persoonia pauciflora known from only this location. Also, Macrozamia flexuosa Yes, including Southern Bent-wing Bat, Parrot Large Occurs within Molly Morgan Corridor Yes O Yes, Connected to Watagan National Park Subtropical and temperate coastal saltmarsh Yes, including Prostanthera cineolifera Yes, including Regent Honeyeater, Swift Parrot, Helmeted Honeyeater, Grey-headed Flying-fox Large No No fox
K Includes parts of Heaton and Awaba State Forests Contains small areas of Hunter Valley Remnant Woodland and Open Forest (nominated community) Not known Yes, including Helmeted Honeyeater, Grey-headed Flying-fox Large Yes, is within the Hunter regional Corridor and part of this area also forms part of the Richmond Vale Corridor. No Q Includes Corrabare and Watagan State Forests. In proximity to Watagans National Park Contains small areas of Hunter Valley Remnant Woodland and Open Forest (nominated community) and Lowland Rainforest Yes, including Neoastelia spectabilis and Pimelea curviflora Yes, including Spotted-tailed Quoll, Regent Honeyeater Large Not within an identified corridor Yes
Moderate Predation by feral cats Largely unknown in region, however predation by domestic cats likely to particularly at interface of urban and conservation areas. Priority areas – identify areas that would best benefit from coordinated feral cat control, specifically in areas with high biodiversity conservation value (for example areas that contain threatened species susceptible to cats). Focus cat control budgets in these areas that are likely to be most effective, cost-efficient and protect threatened biodiversity. Strategies – undertake appropriate management strategies in the focus areas: Sustained management: controls implemented on a continual basis; short term management to reduce impacts to an acceptable level. Intermittent management: controls implemented during critical periods of the year when damage is greatest. Experimental control: using control methods as research experiments. Research – conduct research on management techniques most suitable for feral cat eradication (best method of controlling cats), impacts feral cats on native species. Community involvement – educate the community and relevant landowners of fox control methods. Coordinate and integrated management between key groups. Monitoring – undertake monitoring of strategies used to identify native species recovery and effectiveness of strategies. Modify management strategies according to results. () Moderate Myrtle Rust2 Recorded within the LGA (Yengo and Wollemi National Parks) and is likely to spread. Education – educate the community on strategies likely to minimise the spread and introduction of the fungus. Monitoring – continual monitoring of identified infested and areas considered likely to be infected (e.g. close to infestations). Quarantine – signage, creation of exclusion zones and barriers to isolate infested sites and to reduce the spread of the fungus. Low Injury and fatality to vertebrate marine life caused by ingestion of, or entanglement in, harmful marine debris Largely unknown in region, however injuries and fatality to marine life likely to within the coastal boundaries Research – conduct appropriate research including degradable pathways of synthetic debris in the marine environment. Monitor and investigate marine life harmed and killed by marine debris. Coordinate abatement strategies and recovery plans. Waste management – promote best practise waste management strategies on land and sea and implement appropriate measures for waste management. Community involvements – raise public awareness and improve education campaigns about the prevention of littering on land and at sea. Evaluation – conduct an independent review of the plan’s effectiveness in accordance with the EPBC Act. Review should involve all key stakeholders and provide recommendations to revise the plan.
Low Psittacine Circoviral (beak and feather ) Disease affecting endangered psittacine species Largely unknown in region Education – education and materials are required for workers and wildlife managers to detect the presence of the disease in the Cessnock LGA and priority psittacine species. This will allow for the true impact of the disease, if any, to be identified. Protocols – develop and implement correct handling, quarantine and transport of psittacine infected individuals. On-line database – develop and maintain an on-line database to provide the latest data on where the disease has been observed for interested parties. () Low The reduction in the biodiversity of Australian native fauna and flora due to the red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta (fire ant) Largely unknown in region Research – identify areas that are or are likely to be affected by fire ants, specifically areas that have threatened biodiversity susceptible to fire ants. Control Strategies – identify areas that most require management and select control strategies most effective to eradicate. () Low Dieback caused by the root-rot fungus (Phytophthora cinnamomi) Largely unknown in region Quarantine – monitor plant material entering NSW that has the potential to be infected by the pathogen, specifically in areas with high biodiversity and conservation value. () Low The biological effects, including lethal ingestion, caused by Cane Toads (Bufo marinus) Cane uncommon in region. Research – conduct research into control methods (for example biological) that will eradicate the Cane Toad and reduce their rapid spread. () Low Predation by exotic rats on Australian offshore islands of less than 1,000 km2 (100,000 ha) Potential issue on Cabbage Tree Island due to presence of critical habitat for Gould’s Petrel (rat predation on eggs and chicks may be of concern). Control Strategies – conduct a feasibility study to determine the likely effectiveness of eradication and quarantine without adverse impacts on native wildlife (specifically on Gould’s Petrel populations on Cabbage Tree Island). Education –education for visitors and the community of how best to decrease spread and/or prevent the re-introduction of rats. Quarantine – prevent and control re-introduction (). N/A Invasion of northern Australia by Gamba Grass and other introduced grasses N/A Not applicable. Outside Lower Hunter region N/A Incidental (or bycatch) of seabirds during oceanic longline fishing operations N/A Not applicable. Outside Hunter region