A case for retaining all Crown and other public lands with high conservation value.

David Carr Stringybark Ecological 11/10/2102

IMMINENT THREATS TO THE CONSERVATION VALUES OF TSRS AND OTHER PUBLIC LANDS ............. 4 ACTIONS TO ADDRESS THESE THREATS ........................................................................................................ 7 THREATENED ECOLOGICAL COMMUNITIES OCCURRING IN THE BORDER RIVERS- GWYDIR CMA AREA. .................................................................................................................................................................. 9 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ........................................................................................................................ 13

In northern NSW, and likely elsewhere, high conservation-value vegetation on public lands is under threat from changes to grazing regimes by the Livestock Health and Pest Authority, and from weed invasion. In this heavily cleared landscape, Travelling Stock Routes (TSRs) and other public lands support large, areas of Threatened Ecological Communities, in good condition and which provide connectivity through the landscape for the movement of livestock.

Crown Lands in NSW include showgrounds, cemeteries, public recreation reserves, travelling stock routes, and stock reserves. Other public lands include road reserves and parklands managed by local government and railway corridors reserves. In areas of the state where agriculture, mining and urban development are the principal land uses, there is often a low percentage of the land reserved in National Parks, State Forests and other conservation reserves. More than 200 years of changed land management, including intensive grazing, farming, urban development, altered fire regimes, loss of many mammals and birds and introduction of weeds and feral animals, has led to significant declines in many ecological communities. This decline is in both extent and condition. In the western portion of the area of NSW managed by the Border Rivers-Gwydir Catchment Management Authority, eight ecological communities are listed as endangered or critically endangered under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (1999). A further seven ecological communities are listed under the NSW Threatened Species Conservation Act (1995). Many of the remaining remnants of these communities in good condition are located on Crown and public lands. Most of these are located on Travelling Stock Routes and Reserves (TSRs).

Figure 1: Brigalow on a TSR south east of Croppa Creek

Figure 2: Semi-evergreen Vine Thicket on a TSR north-west of Croppa Creek

Figure 3: Natural Grassland on a TSR south east of Crooble

The principal reason that the ecological communities on TSRs remain in good condition is the pattern and frequency of grazing used on them. Traditionally, TSRs have been grazed intermittently, with long periods of rest between grazing. Although some sites have been grazed very heavily, this has usually been for short periods as travelling stock move through during droughts. This type of grazing pattern has been shown to favour the maintenance of high species diversity and to allow natural regeneration of trees, shrubs, grasses and forbs. In highly-cleared landscapes, such as where broad-acre cropping occurs, TSRs take on a conservation value disproportionate to their size. These sites provide refugia for plant and animal species, which are unable to adapt to the altered conditions provided by cropping fields or permanently grazed sites. Recent surveys by Phil Spark for the BRG CMA in the Millie-Boggy and Gurley subcatchments has shown that a high diversity of fauna species, including rare and significant species, are persisting in the landscape by exploiting TSRs for habitat and dispersal. Other studies, notably connectivity mapping by OEH, has shown that in the western and central parts of the Catchment, TSRs provide critical connectivity for fauna to disperse for range expansion and in response to threats such as drought, fire, flood and ultimately, climate change. In this respect TSRs are critical infrastructure to mitigate the effects of climate change on biodiversity in NSW. Surveys conducted by Stringybark Ecological for the BRG CMA on TSRs in the central half of the catchment (Carr and Mackinnon, 2010) have shown that while many thousands of hectares of TSRs and roadsides have been degraded by weeds, grazing and disturbance; there are still many thousands of hectares with high conservation value, without weeds or with manageable levels of weeds. In particular, TSRs on the western parts of the Slopes and on the Plains have a predominantly-native grassy gound layer, with strips of grassy weeds along road edges. In this landscape, all grassy ecosystems, particularly where native richness is high, must be considered of very high conservation value. The landscape is predominantly cleared for cropping, and remaining grazing areas are regularly grazed, with subsequent reduction in biomass and species diversity.

Imminent threats to the conservation values of TSRs and other public lands
Throughout NSW, ecosystems are under threat from a range of sources including ongoing clearing, changes to land-use intensity, weeds, feral animals and urbanisation. Within the BRG CMA region, there are two imminent threats to many of the high conservation value communities on public lands: 1. Changes to grazing practices on TSRs. In the North West LHPA area, many thousands of hectares of TSRs are changing from occasional use by travelling stock to intensive and permanent grazing through the issuing of Annual Grazing Permits. These TSRs are being permanently fenced. The

change of grazing is likely to result in significant changes in the structure and composition of the ecological communities on the TSRs. 2. Weeds threaten to permanently destroy the conservation values on many TSRs throughout the region. Over the last 20 years many ecological communities have become locally extinct and greatly reduced in area because of weeds. The most threatening weeds are exotic perennial grasses including Coolatai Grass, African Love Grass, Green Panic, Buffel Grass, Johnson Grass, Serrated Tussock, Chilean Needle Grass and Whisky Grass. Lippia is a significant non-grass weed of wetter areas. Change of grazing. In the last 12 months, the North West LHPA have mailed flyers to ratepayers asking, Do you know of a TSR that is currently not used?. Landholders are invited to apply for an Annual Grazing Permit on an unused TSR. This action is driven by the review of LHPA and a need to generate income from TSRs to maintain the LHPA budgets. Throughout the region many TSRs which have only ever had travelling stock are now being fenced and permanently stocked (see photos below). Fences have been placed on TSRs around Moree, Pallamallawa, Warialda, Mungindi, Weemalah, Garah, Ashley, Caroda, Bingara and other areas. Many of these fenced areas cover significant stands of Endangered Ecological Communities, despite this being clearly in breach of the EPBC Act. For any new activity the Act asks, Is the proposed action likely to have a significant impact on a Matter of National Environmental Significance? Matters of environmental significance include endangered species and ecological communities. Similar actions by LHPA in Central Western NSW have been deemed to be controlled actions requiring referral under the EPBC Act (http://www.environment.gov.au/epbc/notices/assessments/2012/6366/2012 -6366-assessment-approach.pdf). The North West LHPA therefore must refer under the EPBC Act, any sites to be fenced and leased under Annual Grazing permits and which have threatened ecological communities or threatened flora and fauna. One of the features of a grassy woodland that is infrequently grazed, is a dense and diverse ground layer, with a high number of tussock grass and other species. Many reptiles, mammals, birds, amphibians and invertebrates depend on this dense, diverse ground layer in order to survive. The vegetation in surrounding agricultural land is usually grazed or replaced by exotic pasture or crops. Changing the grazing intensity and pattern of the TSR sites would permanently alter the composition and structure of the ground layer vegetation, resulting in altered habitat that is less suitable for many of these fauna species. The recent announcement by the NSW State Government to merge the Catchment Management Authorities, LHPA and DPI extension services, indicates that it is unlikely that LHPA will need to generate income from TSRs to supplement their operating budgets into the future. It would be a tragedy if large areas of high conservation value land was significantly degraded in the last few years of LHPA operation.

Grassy weeds continue to expand their range, particularly along roads and stock routes, where vehicles, slashers and livestock move the seeds. Around the

Inverell, Warialda, Graman, Delungra, Tingha and Bingara areas, many thousands of hectares of Threatened Ecological Communities have been lost to Coolatai Grass. Box Gum Grassy Woodlands and derived native grasslands, Natural Grasslands on Alluvial Soils and other grassy woodlands are the main ecological communities affected. Along the Newell Highway, these weeds have aggressively invaded large areas of Brigalow, Weeping Myall Woodland, Carbeen forest, Natural Grasslands, Semievergreen Vine Thicket, Belah Forest and Bimble Box Grassy Woodland. Most of these weeds are not listed as noxious weeds or weeds of national significance (WONS), so there is no obligation to control them. While landowners, LHPA, local government, weeds authorities and the CMA attempt control of noxious weeds and WONS, there is a limited and poorly coordinated effort to control the other, more serious environmental weeds. The BRG CMA, in partnership with LHPA, Crown Lands and local government, is currently running a project in approximately 800ha of TSR around Bellata, to manage these environmental weeds. This project targets areas of significant conservation value, where grassy weeds are still manageable. This approach commits funds for 3 years to weed control, which should be sufficient to destroy existing grassy weeds and to deplete the soil seedbank. There is a good body of evidence for methods to control many of these weeds. The University of New England, the Weeds CRC, Northern Inland Weeds Action Committee (NIWAC) and Department of Primary Industries have conducted research and field trials to control these weeds. The methods are tested and practical. What is lacking is the funding and the regualtory environment to control these weeds in areas where they threaten to spread to high conservation value vegetation.

Actions to address these threats

The following actions are required to mitigate these threats to Threatened Ecological Communities and Species on Public Lands in the region: Immediate cessation of the granting of annual grazing permits on TSRs likely to support TECs and threatened species, Examine financial viability of North West LHPA and ensure local staff retain jobs, Referral by LHPA to the Minister of all activities likely to have a significant impact on TECs and threatened species, including fencing and converting to annual grazing permits. Accurately assess all public lands to identify TECs, threatened species, threats and management options. In partnership with Crown Lands, establish a Regional Conservation Reserve over Crown Lands with TECs, to be managed by a Reserve Trust. As part of this approach compensate LHPA for lost income from grazing leases until January 2014.

Develop and install signage to alert users of public lands to the presence of TECs and the Regional Conservation Reserve. The Border Rivers-Gwydir, Western and Namoi CMAs, in partnership with Crown Lands, LHPA and the Reserve Trust, should develop a management plan for reserves covering weeds, feral animals, threat management, bushfire mitigation and maintenance.

Update Rapid Assessments in western part of BRG CMA

Assessments of TSRs in the area were carried out from 24-26th October 2012. Within the North-West LHPA area these surveys covered the following stretches of roads, which include TSRs: Gwydir Hwy from Inverell to Moree, Gwydir Hwy from Moree west to Morialto Rd, Morialto Rd from the Gwydir Hwy to junction of Mungindi-Collarenebri Rd, Mungindi-Collaranebri Rd from Morialto Rd to Barwon Rv Crossing near Mogil Mogil, Mogil Mogil to Collarenebri, Gwydir Hwy from Collarenebri to turnoff to Burren Junction, Collarenebri to Burren Junction Rd to Bulyeroi Rd turnoff, Bulyeroi Rd to Calrendon Rd, Clarendon Rd to Poison Gate-Combardelo Rd, Road from Poison Gate to Mallawa, Telleraga Rd from Mallawa to Gwydir Hwy Carnarvon Hwy from Moree to Mungindi.

These rapid assessments looked for presence of TECs and High ConservationValue Vegetation (HCV), threats from weeds, threats from changed grazing regimes and other threats. The vegetation along the routes outlined above is almost exclusively made up of Threatened Ecological Communities: Coolibah-Black Box Woodland, Natural Grasslands on Alluvial Plains, Weeping Myall Woodland, Brigalow Carbeen Woodland/Forest (NSW TSC Act listing only).

The remaining vegetation areas are High Conservation Value Vegetation communities because of their condition, or their value as habitat for fauna and flora species. These include Dirty Gum sandhill community, Belah Forest, River Red Gum Forest, Whitewood-Leopardwood Community and Bimble Box Grassy Woodlands. The most significant threat to all of these communities is the change from sporadic grazing by travelling stock, to set-stocking under Annual Grazing Permits. Despite being in clear breach of the EPBC Act this practice is expanding at a rapid rate throughout the region. During our inspections we saw examples of clear differences between Coolibah Black Box woodland with and without grazing. The former had a dense, species rich ground layer, while the latter had poor groundcover, lower species diversity and high percentage of weeds, particularly wild turnip. Examples include along Morialto Rd near the

junction with the Watercourse Rd and along the Carnarvon Hwy near Ashley and Garah. We saw many examples of fences about to be erected around TECs such as Weeping Myall near Mallawa and Natural Grasslands near Ashley. Many grasses and ground layer forbs and chenopods are just beginning to flower in ungrazed areas, but in fenced and stocked areas, no flowering was evident. While some areas have grassy weeds such as Buffel and Coolatai Grass and dense stands of Mimosa Bush (Vachellia farnesiana), the greatest and most immediate threat to all of these communities is the change of grazing intensity as a result of Annual Grazing Permits.

Update Reports from landholders concerned about set stocking of TSRs

Landholders and other concerned individuals have been contacting the Border Rivers Gwydir CMA in recent months. They have identified the following areas as having been recently fenced and grazed:

Threatened Ecological Communities occurring in the Border Rivers- Gwydir CMA area.
Communities listed under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act, 1999. Threatened Ecological Communities of the Border Rivers-Gwydir Catchments
Brigalow: Acacia harpophylla dominant and codominant National Threat Status: Endangered Characteristics: Canopy dominated by Acacia harpophylla but co-dominant species such as belah (Casuarina cristata) may also be present. High diversity of grasses, chenopods and shrubs. Occurs as either forest or woodland to 20 m tall.

Box Gum Grassy Woodland: White Box-Yellow Box-Blakelys Red Gum Woodland and Derived Native Grassland National Threat status: Critically Endangered Characteristics: Canopy dominated by eucalypts (E. albens, E. melliodora, E. blakelyi). Ground layer dominated by perennial tussock grasses with a high diversity of herbs. Woodland to 25 m tall. When trees are removed it is described as a derived native grassland.

Weeping Myall Woodland National Threat Status: Endangered Characteristics: Canopy dominated by Weeping Myall (Acacia pendula). Ground layer dominated by perennial tussock grasses and chenopods with a scattering of shrubs. Woodland to 12 m tall.

Semi-Evergreen Vine Thicket: Semi-evergreen vine thickets of the Brigalow Belt (North and South) and Nandewar Bioregions National Threat Status: Endangered Characteristics: A semi-arid form of dry rainforest dominated by a diversity of non-eucalypt trees and shrubs such as Native Olive (Notolaea microcarpa), Wilga (Geijera parviflora) and Peach

Bush (Ehretia mebranifolia) with numerous vine species present.

Natural Grasslands on Alluvial Plains: Natural grasslands on basalt and finetextured alluvial plains of northern New South Wales and southern Queensland National Threat Status: Critically Endangered Characteristics: A tussock grassland dominated by species of Austrostipa, Austrodanthonia, Themeda, Dichanthium. Bothriochloa and Enteropogon with herbs including daisies, legumes, orchids and lilies. Occurs on cracking clay soils on alluvial plains.

Upland Wetlands: Upland Wetlands of the New England Tablelands and the Monaro Plateau National Threat Status: Endangered Characteristics: Shallow lagoons occurring on basalt plateau of the New England Tableland above 700 m. May be permanent, intermittent or ephemeral with grassland and sedgeland on their margins and a diversity of aquatic plants. Mother of Ducks Lagoon at Guyra is an example.

New England Peppermint Woodland: New England Peppermint (Eucalyptus nova-anglica) Grassy Woodland National Threat Status: Critically Endangered Characteristics: Woodland or open forest with canopy dominated by E. nova-anglica with other species such as E. stellulata (Black Sallee) or E. dalrympleana (Mountain Gum) present. Grassy understorey with herbs. On poorly drained clay soils or coarse sandy soils above 900 m.

Coolibah-Black Box Woodland: Coolibah-Black Box Woodlands of the Darling Riverine Plains and the Brigalow Belt South Bioregions National Threat Status: Endangered Characteristics: Canopy dominated by Coolibah (E. coolabah) and Black Box (E. largiflorens) with a grassy understorey and other scattered trees and shrubs such as River Cooba (Acacia stenophylla) and Eurah (Eremophila bignoniiflora). Occurs on grey, self-mulching, floodplain soils. Open woodland to 15 m high.

Communities under the NSW Threatened Species Conservation Act, 1995

Some ecological communities are listed as threatened in NSW, but are not under the Commonwealth EPBC Act. Cadellia pentastylis (Ooline) community in the Nandewar and Brigalow Belt South bioregion. This endangered community is a type of semievergreen vine thicket or dry rainforest dominated by the rare Ooline tree. Carbeen Open Forest community in the Darling Riverine Plains and Brigalow Belt South Bioregions. This endangered community is a type of woodland or open forest dominated by Carbeen (Corymbia tessellaris) growing on sandy soils in floodplains. Carex Sedgeland of the New England Tableland, Nandewar, Brigalow Belt South and NSW North Coast Bioregions. This endangered community is a wetland community dominated by sedges including Carex spp. Inland Grey Box Woodland in the Riverina, NSW South Western Slopes, Cobar Peneplain, Nandewar and Brigalow Belt South Bioregions. This endangered woodland is dominated by Eucalyptus microcarpa and other eucalypts, with grassy understorey. Howell Shrublands in the New England Tableland and Nandewar Bioregions. This endangered community consists of a low shrub dominated on granite outcrops. It can be found mostly near Tingha and Inverell. McKies Stringybark/Blackbutt OpenForest in the Nandewar and New England Tableland Bioregions. This endangered community is an open forest with shrubby understorey. It is dominated by E. mckieana, E. andrewsii and Callitris endlicheri. Ribbon Gum - Mountain Gum - Snow Gum Grassy Forest/Woodland of the New England Tableland Bioregion. This endangered community is a high altitude woodland or forest with grassy understorey dominated by E. viminalis, E. dalrympleana and E. pauciflora.

Additional information
Flow Chart for referring actions under the EPBC Act. http://www.environment.gov.au/epbc/assessments/pubs/flow-chart.pdf Referral decision for proposed change to permanent grazing by Central West LHPA on Golden Hwy http://www.environment.gov.au/epbc/notices/assessments/2012/6366/20126366-assessment-approach.pdf Spark, P (2011) Fauna survey report for the Bellata-Millie-Gurley TSR (Draft). Unpublished report to the Border Rivers-Gwydir Catchment Management Authority Carr, D and Mackinnon, L (2010) Rapid Inspection of Threatened Ecological Communities on Public Lands in the Border Rivers Gwydir CMA Catchments. Unpublished report to the Border Rivers Gwydir Catchment Management

Authority. [A second report covering the Tycannah, Croppa Creek, Mungindi and Collarenebri areas is in preparation].