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Latham Report
CENTRAL REGION:

2.6.1 PROPOSED ADDITIONS TO DHARAWAL STATE RECREATION AREA

Location and Description

See map of the area
Dharawal State Recreation Area was dedicated in 1996 after having been proposed by the NPA as a nature reserve and promised by the State Government as a national park. It is located on the upper reaches of the Georges River, south-east of Campbelltown, east of Appin and north of the Appin-Bulli Road. It includes the catchments of O'Hares, Stokes, Dahlia, Pheasant, Four Mile, Iluka and Maddens Creeks. It forms part of the Woronora Plateau Landscape Conservation Area (see Section 6.7.1) and is bounded by the Woronora Special Area to the north-east and Cataract Special Area to the south-west. It is a place of outstanding scenic beauty and considerable scientific and educational value.

Latham Report

Contents
Acknowledgments
Introduction
Second Edition Notes
Central Region
Northern Region
North-Western Region
Western Region
South-Western Region
References

O'Hares Creek is the only major watercourse draining the Woronora Plateau which still has its catchment in an excellent state of preservation. Because of its long standing Special Area status and management by Sydney Water, the majority is in a natural state with high quality fresh water and limited established recreational usage. The catchment is listed in ANCA's Directory of Important Wetlands in Australia, listed on the Register of the National Estate and included as part of the Blue Mountains World Heritage nomination (NPWS Southern Metropolitan District March 1996).

A particularly diverse flora includes relict Forests on Hawkesbury Sandstone, Open and Tall Forests, stunted Woodlands, windswept Heaths and extensive Sedgelands and Upland Swamps. Over 500 native plant species include an exceptional concentration of rare and endangered plants, 17 of which are listed on the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 and over 30 of which are regionally significant.

The SRA requires detailed faunal study. However, the catchment supports a high diversity of fauna including approximately 20 native mammal and 100 native bird species. Those listed on the TSC Act include Platypus, Koala, Eastern Pygmy Possum, Feathertail Glider, Long-nosed Potoroo, Spotted Quoll, Broad-headed Snake and the freshwater Macquarie Perch. Reports persist of unusual Wallabies, Tiger-cats and the Eastern Quoll (Close 1993 p.25).

Detailed bird studies have been conducted by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney. Endangered birds include the Gang Gang Cockatoo, Peregrine Falcon, Spotted Quail-thrush, White-throated Needletail, Cicada Bird, Ground Parrot and Turquoise Parrot.

Surveying and recording of Aboriginal sites is largely incomplete. However, the large number of D'harawal sites represents the highest concentration of Aboriginal sites in the Wollongong area. They include rock paintings, drawings hand stencils, axe-grinding grooves, abraded grooves, shelters with deposits and open camp sites.

(Adapted from Douglas and Sheppard 1988).

The NPA proposes 3 additions to Dharawal State Recreation Area:

2.6.1.1 Proposed Boxola and Vacant Crown Lands (Wedderburn) Addition

2.6.1.2 Proposed Sydney Water Freehold Lands Addition

2.6.1.3 Proposed Dharawal Crown Reserve Addition

(See also Section 2.4.4 for the proposed Loddens Creek / Maddens Plains addition to Dharawal Nature Reserve which also adjoins the south of the existing State Recreation Area and is also part of the Woronora Plateau Landscape Conservation Area).

Map