Biodiversity

Biodiversity	Current Projects and Policies
Endangered Ecological Communities Flora and Fauna Threats to Biodiversity	Strategic Planning Plans of Management Tree Preservation Order Rehabilitation Projects	Threatened Species Recovery Plans Southern Rivers Remnant Vegetation The Jamberoo Community Indian Myna Control Project

Biodiversity

Biodiversity is the variety of all life forms - the different plants, animals and micro-organisms, the genes they contain and the ecosystems of which they form a part.

Endangered ecological communities

Under the New South Wales Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995, Kiama Local Government Area is identified as containing the following Endangered Ecological Communities:

• Robertson Rainforest
• Melaleuca armillaris Tall Shrubland
• Illawarra Sub-Tropical Rainforest
• Littoral Rainforest
• Swamp Sclerophyll Forest on Coastal Floodplains
• Swamp Oak Floodplain Forest
• Freshwater Wetlands on Coastal Floodplains
• Coastal Saltmarsh
• Illawarra Lowland Grassy Woodlands
• Robertson Basalt Tall Open Forest
• Bangalay Sand Forest
• Themeda grassland on seacliffs and coastal headlands.

These communities are mapped in "The Natural Vegetation in the Municipality of Kiama New South Wales" (pdf 461Kb) report by Kevin Mills & Associates, 2006.

Littoral Rainforest is also protected under State Environmental Planning Policy (SEPP) No. 26 - Littoral Rainforests which identifies and makes provision for the protection of littoral (coastal) rainforest in New South Wales. SEPP No. 26 identifies patches of littoral rainforest near the Crooked River, Gerroa.

State Environmental Planning Policy No. 14 - Coastal Wetlands identifies and makes provision for the protection of coastal wetlands in New South Wales. Wetlands along the Minnamurra River, Spring Creek in Kiama and Ooaree Creek in Rose Valley, are identified in the Policy.

Flora and fauna

According to the Atlas of New South Wales Wildlife (National Parks and Wildlife Service), there are 185 known flora species and 496 known fauna species within the Kiama Local Government Area.

The Atlas of New South Wales Wildlife indicates that seven plant species within the Kiama Local Government Area are listed as threatened species in Schedules 1 and 2 of the New South Wales Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995. These plant species are also listed as threatened under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.

The Atlas of New South Wales Wildlife indicates that 30 animal species within the Kiama Local Government Area are listed as threatened species in Schedules 1 and 2 of the New South Wales Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995. Some of these animal species are also listed as threatened under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.

A full list of threatened flora and fauna in the Kiama Municipality can be found in the State of the Environment Report and in the report "The Fauna of Kiama: Municipality of Kiama, South Coast New South Wales" (pdf 459 Kb) by Kevin Mills & Associates, 2006. Figure 1 - Kiama Local Government Area. Figure 2 - Vegetation Map of the Kiama Municipality. Figure 3 - Endangered Ecological Communities.

For more information on threatened species and ecological communities, refer to the Department of Environment and Conservation.

Threats to biodiversity

The main threats for both flora and fauna are habitat loss and fragmentation due to vegetation clearing, predation by feral and domestic animals, inappropriate fire regimes, overgrazing of habitat areas by stock, disturbance of stream banks, pollution and weed invasions.

The New South Wales Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 lists key threatening processes that may have the capability to threaten species, populations or ecological communities. A list of these processes can be found in the State of the Environment Report and the Department of Environment and Conservation.

The New South Wales Noxious Weeds Act 1993 allows weeds to be declared noxious, meaning that they have a detrimental effect, or cause serious economic loss to agriculture or the environment, and there is a reasonable and enforceable means of control. The Illawarra District Noxious Weeds Authority works to control weeds in the Illawarra Area.

Current projects and policies

Strategic planning/development control

Council's Local Environmental Plan (LEP) 1996 provides for specific measures to control the impact of human activities upon local biodiversity within designated High Conservation Value Areas and land within Rural Environmental Zones 7b (Estuarine Wetlands), 7b1 (Wetland Buffer), 7d (Scenic), 7e (Hinterland), 7f (Foreshore Protection) and 7l (General). The LEP is currently being reviewed.

Plans of Management for Community Land

The Local Government Act 1993 requires that Council prepare Plans of Management for community land, in conjunction with the community, to identify the important features of the land, clarify how Council will manage the land and how the land may be used or developed. Engineering & Works' Plans of Management have been prepared for many reserves within the municipality and many include provisions to protect and enhance biodiversity within the reserves and protect any threatened species that may be present.

Tree Preservation Order

Removal of trees, or major portions of trees, can have major impacts on biodiversity. Tree lopping is prohibited under Council's Tree Preservation Order. This Order states that no tree, specified by the Order, shall be ring-barked, cut-down, topped or lopped, injured or removed without prior Council approval and is dependent on its size and/or land zone under the Local Environmental Plan 1996. A Permission to Remove or Prune Trees form (pdf 31Kb) is available. Council will give approval for a tree to be lopped or removed if there is a concern for safety.

Rehabilitation projects

Council conducts ongoing rehabilitation projects at Spring Creek, Jerrara Dam and on various beaches in the municipality. Council also supports the annual National Tree Day Planting activities of schools and community groups.

Council supports Landcare, Dunecare and Rivercare groups within the Kiama Municipality. There are a number of active groups undertaking weeding and rehabilitation works on private and public land. For more information about Landcare or to participate in group activities, contact the Community Support Officer on 4221 6159.

Threatened Species Recovery Plans

Council is an active member of the Illawarra Regional Threatened Flora Recovery Team which is convened by the New South Wales Department of Environment and Conservation. The Regional Recovery Team has developed Recovery Plans for six threatened flora species within the Illawarra Region:

• Pink Rice-flower (Pimelea spicata)
• Illawarra Granulata (Zieria granulata)
• White Flowered Wax Plant (Cynanchum elegans)
• Illawarra Greenhood Orchid (Pterostylis gibbosa)
• Illawarra Socketwood (Daphnandra Sp C)
• Illawarra Irene (Irenepharsus trypherus).

These plans are included in the Department of Environment and Conservation's NSW Priority Action Statement.

Southern Rivers Catchment Management Authority Projects

Council participates in and supports many projects initiated and/or funded by the Southern Rivers Catchment Management Authority, including the Southern Riparian Partnership Project, Southern Rivers Bush Incentives, the Wetlands Revive Project and the Feral Animal Control Project in Broughton Creek and Crooked River Catchments.

Remnant Vegetation and River Corridor Action Plan for the Minnamurra Catchment 2002

The Remnant Vegetation and River Corridor Action Plan for the Minnamurra Catchment 2002 (pdf 2969Kb) was developed for those involved with vegetation management in the catchment, funded by a Natural Heritage Trust grant to the Minnamurra Environment Group. Detailed information on eleven sub-catchments is provided to assist on-the-ground projects. The plan identifies priority areas for vegetation actions on maps, with an aim to represent all vegetation communities and efficient protection of remnants.

The Jamberoo Community Indian Myna Control Project

The Jamberoo Community Indian Myna Control Project is a community coordinated activity which has been facilitated by Council and Landcare Illawarra. It is a pilot project which has a key initiative to control and potentially eradicate Indian Myna Birds from the locality with opportunities to expand the program throughout the Municipality. If you require more information about the project or some simple things you can do to limit the Indian Myna problem, just follow the link above.

External Links

• Environment Australia
• Department of Environment and Conservation
• Department of Infrastructure Planning and Natural Resources
• New South Wales Department of Primary Industries
• Southern Rivers Catchment Management Authority
• Illawarra District Noxious Weeds Authority
• Nature Conservation Council
• Weeds Australia