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Latham Report
NORTH-WESTERN REGION:

Location and Description

See map of the area

Vale of Avoca Reserve and Woods Reserve are located 7.5 km south-south-west of North Richmond on the eastern escarpment of the Blue Mountains, overlooking the lower Grose River and a few kilometres upstream of its confluence with the Hawkesbury-Nepean River  (Kurrajong 1:25 000 Topographic Map).

Area

Vale of Avoca Reserve is approximately 250 ha.

Woods Reserve is approximately 100 ha.

Land Tenure

Both reserves are Crown Land under the 'care, control and management' of Hawkesbury Council.  However, a section of Woods Reserve is also administered by the Department of Sport, Recreation and Racing as an "under canvas" camping area.

State Electorate

Hawkesbury

Local Government Area

Hawkesbury

Geology

Part of the lower Blue Mountains provenance and dominated by Hawkesbury Sandstone which includes interbedded shale lenses. Ridgetop clays are derived from the overlying Hawkesbury and Wianamatta Group Shales.  The area features dry ridge-tops; steep cliff faces and rocky outcrops; sheltered and exposed slopes; and a series of watercourses including a deep moist gully along Cabbage Tree Creek, a more open and rocky Burralow Creek, and the large boulder-ridden gorge of the Lower Grose River. There is a complex and ecologically significant ecotone between the contrasting shale and sandstone landscapes. The 4 Soil Landscapes include Lucas Heights, Luddenham, Hawkesbury and Gymea.

Flora

This Section describes the flora of Vale of Avoca Reserve only. Woods Reserve has not yet been comprehensively surveyed, but can be expected to contain similar species. Preliminary investigation there has revealed a poorly conserved Ironbark community (Eucalyptus paniculata  - vulnerable in western Sydney) which is likely to support species of at least regional significance.

The area's varied topography and geology supports a wide variety of habitats and a diversity of both shale and sandstone plant communities and species. 

Warm-temperate Rainforest

This communtiy occurs along Cabbage Tree Creek. The dominant canopy species are Coachwood (Ceratopetalum apetalum),  Water Gum (Tristaniopsis laurina)  and Grey Myrtle (Backhousia myrtifolia).

The understorey is characterised by rainforest species including Abrophyllum ornans, Citriobatus pauciflorus, Eupomatia laurina, Tasmannia insipida  and many fern species. In well protected shale-influenced pockets, particularly on the east-facing slope, rainforest species diversity increases and includes Alectryon subcinereus, Aphanopetalum resinosum, Arthropteris tenella, Canthium coprosmoides, Cyathea leichhardtii, Ficus coronata, Guioa semiglauca, Hedycarya angustifolia, Livistona australis, Melicope micrococca, Neolitsea dealbata,  Palmeria  scandens  and Toona ciliata.

Blue Gum River-flat Forest

This Tall Forest occurs along the Grose River on the lower east-facing slopes and river flat. The dominant canopy species are Deane's Gum (Eucalyptus deanei),  Blue-leaved Stringybark (E. agglomerata),  Red Ash (Alphitonia excelsa)   and Lillypilly (Acmena smithii).

A mesic understorey includes many rainforest shrubs and climbers such as Backhousia myrtifolia,  Cayratia clematidea, Cissus antarctica, C. hypoglauca,  Duboisia myo-poroides, Glochidion ferdinandi, Melicope micrococca, Rapanea variabilis, Rubus parvifolius, Smilax australis  and Stephania japonica.

Sydney Sandstone Riparian Scrub

This distinctive riparian community occurs among large rocky boulders along Burralow Creek and the Grose River. Typical species in the Creek section include Acacia rubida, Austromyrtus tenuifolia, Eriostemon myoporoides,  Leptospermum emarginatum, Monotoca elliptica  and Tristania neriifolia.  The River's wide riparian zone includes Acacia longifolia, Allocasuarina littoralis, Grevillea sericea, Leptospermum  spp,  and the nationally rare and endangered species Epacris sparsa  and Lomandra fluviatilis.

Sydney Sandstone Ridge-top Complex

Typical Woodland communities occur along the ridge-top. These are dominated by Corimbia eximia, C. gummifera, Eucalyptus sparsifolia  and Angopora costata.  At the lookout overlooking the Grose River and Burralow Creek, several species of interest include Acacia trinervia, Isopogon dawsonii, Prostanthera prunellioides, Ricinocarpos pinifolius  and Stylidium laricifolium.

In higher more poorly drained areas (probably with a strong clay influence) a Heath community includes occasional trees of Angophora costata  and Corymbia gummifera. Scrub and Heath species include Baeckea diosmifolia, Banksia oblongifolia, Epacris pulchella, Gompholobium pinnatum, Leptospermum polygalifolium, Ptilanthelium deustum   and Schoenus villosus.

Conservation Significance

The Vale of Avoca Reserve supports an exceptionally high number of native plant species (about 430). Such diversity within a small area is of outstanding local biodiversity conservation value. The site complements reserved areas in the local Blue Mountains and Wollemi National Parks, representing a lower altitude and rare shale / sandstone ecotone. The floristics of many of the communities are unique in the local area. Many of the plant species of conservation significance are not recorded elewhere or are rare in western Sydney.

The form of Warm-temperate Rainforest along Cabbage Tree Creek is floristically different from remnants conserved in surrounding parks and is of state and national significance.

Blue Gum River-flat Forest is rare and endangered and currently unconserved.

4 ROTAP / TSC Act species include Epacris sparsa   (2VCi), Lomandra brevis  (2RC), Lomandra fluviatilis   (2RC) and Lissanthe sapida  (3RCa). The Epacris  is locally endemic and only known from this site and from further upstream in the Grose River near Faulconbridge.

The Sydney Sandstone Ridgetop communities are poorly conserved in western Sydney (< 5%). Vale of Avoca Reserve supports an outstanding range within this complex, with a particularly high proportion (40%) of their plant species of conservation significance.

Over 50 are of particular regional significance and over 170  are vulnerable in western Sydney. Many are associated with the rare Rainforest habitats.

Regionally significant plant species include:

Carex maculata                                   southern limit of distribution, rare & vulnerable in region

Leptospermum emarginatum   northern limit of distribution, rare & vulnerable in region

Canthium coprosmoides                      disjunct population, rare & vulnerable in region

Psychotria loniceroides                       disjunct population, rare & vulnerable in region

Calomeria amaranthoides                    endangered river-flat habitat, vulnerable in region

Abrophyllum ornans               rare and vulnerable in region

Libertia paniculata                               rare and vulnerable in region

Livistona australis                                rare and vulnerable in region

Neolitsea dealbata                              rare and vulnerable in region

Palmeria scandens                              rare and vulnerable in region

Caladenia alata                                   only record for western Sydney

Cephalaria cephalobotrys                    only record for western Sydney

Hedycarya angustifolia                        only record for western Sydney

Pomaderris ledifolia                            only record for western Sydney

See NPWS UBBS 1997 (2) Appendix 4.1 for a full listing of significant taxa.

Fauna

Not yet documented, but protection of these Reserves within the National Park would increase the area of viable fauna habitat. The rainforest community along Cabbage Tree Creek is likely to support fauna of conservation significance and to function as a habitat corridor and refuge from fire.

Cultural Heritage

Unknown.

Reasons for Reservation

•     To protect 4 ROTAP / TSC Act plant species, over 50 of regional significance and over 170 which are vulnerable in western Sydney.

•     To conserve plant communities of regional significance, especially  the Rainforest and the significant diversity of sandstone communities.

•     To provide additional catchment protection for Woods and Cabbage Tree Creeks and the Grose River.

•     To protect an area of very high scenic quality, particularly the Vale Lookout.

•     To provide appropriate management for an area which has been damaged and continues to be degraded by recreational vehicle use and associated erosion problems.

Threats to Conservation Values

•     Mismanagement by the former Department of CaLM.

•     Current management neglect, due in part to lack of management resources available to Hawkesbury Council.

•     Recreation pressures, especially uncontrolled recreational vehicle use (4WD and trail bikes) and subsequent damage to fire trails, bushland and water quality (by sedimentation).

•     Agricultural activities higher in the catchment of Cabbage Tree Creek appear to be negatively influencing water quality and weed invasion is becoming a problem, particularly after heavy rains.

Proposal History

199?:          Vale of Avoca Reserve was investigated by the NPWS for possible addition to Blue Mountains National Park. Acquisition did not proceed due to the lack of resources required to manage the area and in particular to repair the damage by  off-road vehicles.

1994:          Teresa James (National Herbarium) identified the high flora conservation values of Vale of Avoca Reserve in "An assessment of the World Heritage values of the Blue Mountains and surrounding plateaus" (James 1994b).

1995:           October. NPA proposal for addition of Vale of Avoca Reserve and Woods Reserve to Blue Mountains National Park in first edition of this report.

1997:           The NPWS Urban Bushland Biodiversity Survey recommended that Vale of Avoca Reserve be further investigated for possible permanent protection; and that Woods Reserve be surveyed and considered for permanent protection as it appears to be representative of the shale / sandstone ecotone and could be of high conservation significance (1997 (2) p.119).

1999:           January. Renewed NPA proposal for Vale of Avoca Reserve and Woods Reserve additions to Blue Mountains National Park.

(Adapted from NPWS UBBS 1997 (2) pp.116-119; and James 1994b).

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