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Case Study

Cumberland Plain (Sydney Basin 8) Highest stress class

The Cumberland Plain is the most highly developed portion of the Sydney Basin bioregion forming the major western area of greater Sydney. It is an area of gently undulating countryside and fertile soils developed for agriculture, and more recently, developed for residential and industrial uses as part of the expansion of Sydney.

Condition and trend

The Cumberland Plain is amongst the most threatened regions in NSW, with only 13% of the native vegetation cover remaining. Another 12% contains scattered trees with some native understorey. Several ecological communities are listed as endangered by the NSW Scientific Committee under the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995. Two of these ecological communities have also been listed under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. Much of the remaining vegetation is still under threat from rural, urban and industrial expansion.

The region has five nationally important wetlands; Bicentennial Park, Longneck Lagoon, Newington Wetlands, Pitt Town Lagoon and Thirlmere Lakes. Wetlands of subregional importance include Baker's Lagoon and Bushells Lagoon.

Approximately 10% of the estimated extent of riparian vegetation remains. This remaining vegetation is important as habitat for species that only occur on riverbanks with deep alluvial soils close to the water table, and plays a significant role in maintaining aquatic ecosystems and riverbank stability. The riparian vegetation of the Cumberland Plain is highly significant as a wildlife corridor and includes threatened species, such as Camden White gum (Eucalyptus benthamii).

The NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service has identified and gazetted 10 endangered ecological communities. It is thought that all endangered ecological communities that occur on shale and alluvium derived soils are endemic to the area. There are 85 species listed under the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 as endangered or vulnerable. The Commonwealth lists 35 species as endangered or vulnerable.

Threatening Processes

The largest threat to the ecosystems of the Cumberland Plain is urbanisation. Threats associated with the encroaching rural, residential, and industrial development are:

• clearing of remnant vegetation;
• further fragmentation of larger areas; and
• and exotic species, both plant and animal.

There is also considerable and growing pressure for access to bushland patches for formal and informal recreational purposes even where tree canopy is retained. Much of the perceived value of urban bush remnants is for sport - as green usable spaces, as opposed to conservation of biodiversity and ecosystem services per se.

Management responses

The National Parks and Wildlife Service is compiling a recovery plan for endangered ecological communities inside and outside of reserves. Planning NSW has an overall planning strategy for the region that covers the environment as well as planning areas of work, housing and access. The plan focuses on improved air and water quality, protection and management of waterways and riverine corridors, development of open space resources to allow recreation and protect biodiversity, protect biodiversity outside reserves and protect significant landscapes, European and Aboriginal heritage. At a local government level, the Biodiversity Planning Guide for NSW Local Government has been developed through funding from the NSW state Biodiversity Strategy. The guide helps councils to use existing planning mechanisms, such as local environmental plans, to achieve biodiversity outcomes. It shows councils how to:

• identify and assess biodiversity values;
• use biodiversity information to map development constraints and find opportunities for conservation;
• work out when planning and other tools are useful, and appropriate, to conserve biodiversity;
• use development/conservation incentives;
• choose from a range of options for on-theground management, such as fencing, fire controls, restrictions on access; and
• use planning tools and other mechanisms to conserve Aboriginal heritage, acknowledging the direct concern Aboriginal people have for biodiversity conservation and the overlap between Aboriginal cultural heritage and biodiversity.

A pilot program to trial the development of the plans is currently being undertaken with a small number of local councils.

In addition to two national parks, there are 9 nature reserves and 1 state recreation area, giving a total of 1.5% reserved area. Other areas of reservation include regional parks and public lands managed by local councils and the Commonwealth Government, including defence lands and local parks. The ecosystems of the Cumberland Plain are endemic, implying no possibilities for reservation outside the subregion. The potential to increase reservation is minimal because of the lack of remaining suitable land. Land that is suitable for formal reservation is often valued for other purposes and highly cost-prohibitive. The threatened communities are inadequately reserved and it is unlikely, recognising the pressures and alternate values, that recovery of biodiversity values will occur.

Future scenarios

Involvement of the local councils and communities through implementation of Local Government Biodiversity Action Plans and local community green corridors and open spaces provide opportunities to enhance biodiversity outcomes.

Recognising the high value of the land to competing uses a wide range of opportunities are being canvassed. These include:

• public or grant-aided purchase of priority areas;
• incentives to ensure protection;
• Environmental Funding Programs;
• agricultural land set aside schemes;
• wetland reserves;
• conservation easements;
• cost-sharing/management agreements;
• species enhancement schemes;
• incentive payments for organic farming;
• taxation measures;
• international biodiversity transfers; and
• regular auditing and re-assessment of conservation priorities.

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