Urban Bushland and Biodiversity Strategic Plan

Bushland and Biodiversity Strategic Plan

7 destinations

Safe & Strong

A proud inclusive community that unites, celebrates and cares

Safe & Strong documents are guided by the Social Inclusion Lead Strategy. Supporting Plans, Action Plans and Policies cover such themes as being a child friendly City, children’s services, community safety and crime prevention, inclusiveness, community services, universal access, reconciliation,ageing, community harmony and youth.

Clean & Green

A clean and sustainable city with healthy waterways and natural areas

Clean & Green documents are guided by the Environmental Sustainability Lead Strategy. Supporting Plans, Action Plans and Policies cover such themes as managing our catchments and waterways, natural resources, hazards and risks, emergency management, biodiversity and corporate sustainability.

Prosperous & Innovative

A smart and evolving city with exciting opportunities for investment and creativity

Prosperous & Innovative documents are guided by the Prosperity and Innovation Lead Strategy. Supporting Plans, Action Plans and Policies cover such themes as revitalising our centres, employment, investment, being SMART and creative, and providing opportunities for cultural and economic growth.

Moving & Integrated

An accessible city with great local destinations and many options to get there

Moving & Integrated documents are guided by the Transport Lead Strategy. Supporting Plans, Action Plans and Policies cover such themes as accessibility, pedestrian and cycling networks, pedestrian and road safety, transport hubs, and asset management.

Healthy & Active

A motivated city that nurtures healthy minds and bodies

Healthy & Active documents are guided by the Health and Recreation Lead Strategy. Supporting Plans, Action Plans and Policies cover such themes lifelong learning, active and healthy lifestyles, and providing quality sport and recreation infrastructure.

Liveable & Distinctive

A well designed, attractive city which preserves the identity and character of local villages

Liveable & Distinctive documents are guided by the Liveable City Lead Strategy. Supporting Plans, Action Plans and Policies cover such themes as preserving the character and personality of centres, heritage, affordable housing, and well managed development.

Leading & Engaged

A well- governed city with brave and future focused leaders who listen

Leading & Engaged documents are guided by Council’s Lead Resourcing Strategies. Supporting Plans, Action Plans and Policies cover such themes as open government, managing assets, improving services, long term funding, operational excellence, monitoring performance, being a good employer, civic leadership, and engaging, educating and communicating with our community.

Strategic Planning Framework Summary

The Strategic Planning Framework (SPF) maps out the role of all current and future Council strategies and plans that work to deliver the vision for the City. The framework works from the highest level of strategic direction from the Community Strategic Plan through to more detailed plans that will eventually drive works, projects and programs on the ground. The framework is comprised of the following levels:

The COMMUNITY STRATEGIC PLAN (CSP) is our highest level plan and translates the community’s desired outcomes for the city into key destinations. The CSP includes community suggested actions which can be tested in the development of all other plans.

1

SUPPORTING PLANS break down broad theme areas discussed in LEAD STRATEGIES into smaller themes providing high level actions. SUPPORTING PLANS identify broad works projects and programs required to deliver on these actions. Supporting plans include indicative costing and resourcing requirements and delivery timeframes.

2

DETAILED ACTION PLANS take actions from SUPPORTING PLANS and identify specific works projects and programs required to deliver on these actions. Supporting plans include detailed costing and resourcing requirements and delivery timeframes.

3

GUIDELINES, POLICIES AND CODES provide detailed information, rules for activities or guidance for specific works on Council or other lands.

Acknowledgement

The City of Canterbury Bankstown acknowledges the traditional custodians of the land, water and skies of Canterbury-Bankstown, the Darug (Drag, Dharug, Daruk, Dharuk) People.

We recognise and respect Darug cultural heritage, beliefs and relationship with the land. We acknowledge the first peoples’ continuing importance to our CBCity community.

Message from the City

Already one of the largest LGAs in New South Wales, our community is expected to grow to 500,000 people by 2036. This increase in population will continue to place unprecedented pressure on our natural resources and must be managed sustainably to ensure we protect and preserve our unique biodiversity values.

The Darug people formed a close relationship with the natural environment. Sustainable use of natural resources by traditional custodians was facilitated by their knowledge and understanding of how the natural systems operate and how persistence of these systems was critical to their own survival. Since European settlement in the late 18th century, the City has transformed from natural bushland with significant cultural heritage value to the 8th largest economy in NSW, modifying the landscape to heavily fragmented pockets of remnant vegetation. This has led to a significant reduction in the abundance of plant and animal species and the extent of native vegetation communities.

As the City continues to evolve, it is imperative that the natural environment is conserved and enhanced through conservation of biodiversity and best practice ecologically sustainable development.

The Urban Bushland and Biodiversity Strategic Plan focuses on Council’s responsibility as a steward to conserve and enhance our natural environment for the protection of locally indigenous species, populations and ecological communities.

Introduction 02

As the stewards of public land, Canterbury-Bankstown Council (Council) has a responsibility to carefully manage the natural environment for both present and future generations. Likewise, the residents of the City act as the managers of private land and can enhance and support biodiversity and environmental outcomes in their own backyards.

The Urban Bushland and Biodiversity Strategic Plan (the Plan) details Council’s approach to protecting and enhancing biodiversity for the next ten years, 2024-2034, and beyond.

Managing and extending biodiversity is a considerable challenge in a highly urbanised and growing City. The Plan identifies six focus areas to be addressed, each containing actions to be undertaken in order to achieve an ambitious suite of desired outcomes for the long-term conservation and enhancement of biodiversity. These focus areas are:

• Biodiversity planning;

• Biodiversity knowledge and data;

• Ecological restoration;

• Ongoing conservation management;

• Partnerships, education and community participation; and

• Funding, research and monitoring.

The outcomes of this Plan will enable Council to meet our statutory obligations for biodiversity protection and will guide conservation and enhancement of our wealth of terrestrial and aquatic biodiversity, so that it is protected for current and future generations.

What is Biodiversity and why does it need to be protected?

Biodiversity refers to the variety of living organisms and the ecological systems they create. Biodiversity is measured on three key levels, including:

• Genetic variability within a species;

• Number of different species within an ecosystem; and

• Abundance of different ecosystems within a landscape.

Species diversity effects the resilience of an ecosystem. Highly diverse ecosystems are better equipped to withstand environmental and human pressures. Ecosystem resilience has become increasingly important in urban areas where natural systems have become significantly fragmented by development.

In NSW alone, the clearing of native vegetation and habitat, and the associated fragmentation of natural areas has resulted in the extinction of close to 80 species since European settlement. As of 2024, over 1,000 native species in NSW have been listed as threatened with extinction, accounting for approximately 60 per cent of all mammals, 30 per cent of birds and 35 per cent of amphibians.

Of these threatened species, about half are predicted to exist in 100 years. Additionally, it has also been estimated that the extent of native vegetation community on the Cumberland Plain has been reduced by around 90 per cent since European settlement.

Protecting and enhancing local biodiversity is vital to ensure the long-term survival of our native plants and animals and the ecosystems they depend on. The services provided by biodiversity are also vital to our community.

Cleans rivers

Our City

The City is well known for its diverse population and culture, however in such an urban and densely populated environment, the contribution the City’s rivers and parklands make to the ecological and recreational diversity of Greater Sydney can often be forgotten.

Urban bushland

Prior to European settlement, approximately 10,900 hectares of native bushland was present within Canterbury-Bankstown. This vegetation comprised of 30 plant community types (Figure 1). Land use intensification and biosecurity threats have led to the loss of nearly 94 per cent of this native bushland, with only 666 hectares remaining (Figure 2). This has resulted in four plant community types being lost from the City and 18 others being associated with threatened ecological communities.

The most dominant threatened ecological communities present in the City prior to European settlement were Castlereagh Ironbark Forest (CIF), Sydney Turpentine-Ironbark Forest (STIF) and Cumberland Shale Plains Woodland (CSPW) respectively. These vegetation communities have all since been listed as endangered or critically endangered. It has been identified that over 96 per cent of CIF, 99 per cent of STIF and 90 per cent of CSPW has been lost from the LGA since European settlement.

These drastic declines are primarily attributed to land clearing, poor agricultural practices, weed invasion and unsustainable development practices. The result is a significant modification and fragmentation to the once connected local vegetation communities into small remnant patches, and a drastic reduction in the vegetation integrity and resilience of the remaining vegetation.

The Georges River National Park and Wolli Creek Regional Park are protected areas of native vegetation accounting for approximately 29 per cent of the extent of native vegetation community in the City. This Plan focuses on the proportion of native vegetation community and biodiversity that occur outside of the National Parks, which accounts for approximately 71 per cent.

Figure 1: Vegetation communities prior to European settlement

Native Vegetation Communities

Blue

Castlereagh Ironbark Forest

Castlereagh Scribbly Gum Woodland

Castlereagh Shrubby Swamp Woodland

Coastal Floodplain Swamp Paperbark Scrub

Coastal Valleys Swamp Oak Riparian Forest

Cumberland Blue Box Riverflat Forest

Cumberland Shale Plains Woodland

Estuarine Reedland

Estuarine Swamp Oak Twig-rush Forest

Estuarine Swamp Oak-Mangrove Forest

Grey Mangrove-River Mangrove Forest

Northern Paperbark-Swamp Mahogany Saw-sedge Forest

Samphire Saltmarsh

Sydney Coastal Enriched Sandstone Forest

Sydney Coastal Foreshores Gully Rainforest

Sydney Coastal Sandstone Foreshores Forest

Sydney Coastal Sandstone Gully Forest

Sydney Coastal Shale-Sandstone Forest

Sydney Creekflat Swamp Mahogany-Paperbark Forest

Sydney Creekflat Wetland

Sydney Hinterland Apple-Blackbu� Gully Forest

Sydney Hinterland Dwarf Apple Low Woodland

Sydney Hinterland Enriched Sandstone Bloodwood Forest

Sydney Turpen�ne Ironbark Forest

Woronora Plateau Heath-Mallee

Figure 2: Existing native vegetation communities

Gum High Forest

Strategic context 03

The former Bankstown and Canterbury Councils both developed approaches to support biodiversity. The Urban Bushland and Biodiversity Strategic Plan supersedes the Bankstown Biodiversity Strategic Plan 20152025 and the Draft Canterbury Biodiversity Strategy Report commissioned in 2012. It establishes Council’s commitment to the realisation of the community vision established in CBCity 2036 and the planning vision established in Connective City 2036.

This Plan is focused on establishing a City-wide commitment to the long-term stewardship of the natural environment in CanterburyBankstown. This approach involves the protection, management and enhancement of local biodiversity, with a focus on prioritising threatened species, populations and ecological communities. This Plan has been prepared in accordance with the relevant legislation, planning instruments, and takes into consideration a number of other Council plans and strategies.

Community Strategic Plan - CBCity 2036

CBCity 2036 is a ten-year Community Strategic Plan that identifies seven destinations for our future City, including to be ‘Clean and Green’. It contains a variety of priorities that Council, State Government and the community will achieve together. They include to:

• Encourage and support initiatives that save our natural resources;

• Protect and enhance bushland biodiversity;

• Increase tree canopy;

• Create local habitats and corridors;

• Manage weeds and feral animals; and

• Improve the ecological condition of our waterways.

Local Strategic Planning Statement - Connective City 2036

Connective City 2036 is the Canterbury-Bankstown Local Strategic Planning Statement, which is a twenty-year plan for land use and managing how the City evolves.

Evolution Five (Green Web) establishes the goal of creating a network of biodiverse areas throughout the urban and suburban landscape through the following priorities and targets:

PRIORITIES

Embed aquatic and terrestrial ecosystem management principles in all open spaces.

Embed Aboriginal cultural heritage within the Green Web.

Develop a three-river parkland system: Cooks, Georges and Duck rivers.

Expand the City’s indigenous plant and animal ecologies.

Increase native vegetation and tree canopy across the City.

Reframe water infrastructure from grey to green.

Transform the Cooks River into a healthy ecological system.

Achieve metropolitan connections along the City’s river systems and the Green Web.

Protect, preserve and promote the biodiversity of living spaces and the natural environment.

Indicators of

Proportion of the City (including private domain) that will have natural habitat and trees from 6.3 per cent to 20 per cent

Increased naturalisation of Cooks River edges from 15 per cent to 90 per cent

Increase the number of Biodiversity Stewardship Sites from 1 to 10

Water

Resilience of the City’s biodiversity is maintained or increased

2 kilometres of the City’s modified waterways are

Relationship to other Strategies

National Plans and Strategies

• Australia’s Biodiversity Conservation Strategy

• Australian Pest Animal Strategy

• Australia’s Strategy for nature

• Australian Weeds Strategy

• Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act

• Threatened Species Strategy

NSW Legislation and Policy Regional Plans and Guidelines Local Legislation

• Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016

• Biosecurity Act 2015

• Coastal Management Act 2016

• Crown Lands Management Act 2016

• Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979

• Fisheries Management Act 1994

• Local Government Act 1993

• State Environmental Planning Policies

• Greater Sydney Commission South District Plan

• Greater Sydney Regional Strategic Weed Management Plan 2023-2027

• Connected Corridors for Biodiversity Guide to Tools 2016

• Sydney Green Grid

• CanterburyBankstown Local Environmental Plan 2023

• CanterburyBankstown Development Control Plan 2023

04

What you have told us

“Some parts of the LGA have a connection to the natural environment, but others don’t.”

“Canterbury-Bankstown should be a green City which values and protects its natural environment for people, for animals, for plants and for the future.”

“I love our natural areas including the Cooks and Georges Rivers, Lake Gillawarna and Paul Keating Park.”

“Invest more in bank naturalisation.”

“Provide more green spaces, shade and other shelter and facilities.”

“Support community green spaces, including bushland and gardens, and groups to maintain them and use them as a social hub.”

“Great place for some bird watching. Egrets, Cormorants, Herons and Spoonbills are some of the birds that can be seen here.”

“Address climate change and environmental degradation including tree planting on a massive scale.”

“Restore Boat Harbor with an endangered Saltmarsh community to improve amenity, biodiversity and safety whilst activating storm and flood buffers.”

“Unlike nearly every other creek and river in the wider area, Wolli Creek was not channelised. For this reason, it is a significantly important waterway and bush area.”

What are our challenges 05

The Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 lists the key threatening processes that currently impact threatened species, populations and ecological communities or have the ability to result in species, populations or ecological communities becoming threatened. There are currently a number of key threatening processes undermining the biodiversity in the City. These include:

Biosecurity threats

Invasive species are a biosecurity threat to biodiversity and can significantly impact the abundance and diversity of native plants and animals and negatively affect the broader environment. Invasive species, including pest animals, weeds, diseases, fungi and parasites may prey on native species, introduce or transmit diseases, cause harm to native organisms and/or increase competition for resources. As the local control authority under the Biosecurity Act 2015, Council has an obligation to manage biosecurity threats.

Vegetation clearing and habitat removal

Land use and development threatens biodiversity through direct and indirect impacts to native species and habitat. Impacts to biodiversity from individual development sites have accumulated throughout the landscape over time to generate a significant loss of vegetation, habitat and diversity. Where significant fragmentation has occurred, ecosystem resilience is reduced and species inhabiting disconnected vegetated patches could be driven to extinction. As the population of the City grows, there is likely to be increased pressures on natural areas resulting in future impacts to vegetation, habitat and biodiversity corridors.

Climate change

Accelerated climate warming and the associated severe weather events are significantly modifying the natural landscape on a large scale. Increasing average and extreme temperatures, shifting seasonal rainfall, increased evaporation and sea level rise continues to increase pressure on native biodiversity. Species must adapt, relocate or will become extinct.

Impacts to natural rivers and wetlands

The City comprises of three catchments flowing into the Cooks, Georges and Parramatta Rivers. These large rivers are fed by multiple smaller tributaries, including:

• Prospect Creek;

• Duck River;

• Salt Pan Creek;

• Little Salt Pan Creek;

• Cup and Saucer Creek; and

• Wolli Creek.

The beds and banks of these watercourses contain a variety of aquatic habitat types that support a range of species and populations. However, as the City has grown, so have the pollutant and nutrient loads, unsustainable development practices, weeds and pest animals. Our living rivers and wetlands have also been constrained by concrete lining, steel sheeting and a lack of implementation of water sensitive urban design (WSUD) principles.

Vegetated riparian and foreshore zones contain a significant amount of remnant vegetation and habitat. These locations are also important for the provision of local and regional biodiversity corridors. However, the extent of many of our riparian corridors do not conform to the Guidelines for Riparian Corridors on Waterfront Land. Particularly with respect to the width of the vegetated riparian zone. Deficiencies generally occur in locations of high-density development and in industrial zones. These deficiencies reduce the connectivity of vegetated biodiversity corridors, reducing the movement of animals between areas of high-quality habitat.

Management challenges

Management of biodiversity has previously experienced challenges relating to land ownership, the urban context and availability of resources. Some locations containing biodiversity value are located on private land and often facilitate other land uses. Inherently, land use and management for biodiversity protection remains the responsibility of all landowners, not just Council.

06

What we will do

This Plan establishes Council’s commitment to the long-term stewardship of the natural environment. It supports our vision to protect, manage and enhance local biodiversity, with a focus on prioritising threatened species, populations and ecological communities.

Six focus areas have been identified, each containing actions. These actions have been developed to assist in the long-term conservation and enhancement of biodiversity.

The focus areas are:

• Biodiversity planning;

• Biodiversity knowledge and data;

• Ecological restoration;

• Ongoing conservation management;

• Partnerships, education and community participation; and

• Funding, research and monitoring.

Actions have been categorised as:

• High priority - actions that are fundamental to the long-term protection and enhancement of biodiversity;

• Medium priority - actions that are particularly important, have high impact or immediate benefit;

• Low Priority - actions that are dependent on other initiatives or require greater planning or resources; and

• Ongoing - actions that form part of Council’s ongoing program.

Six focus areas;

• Biodiversity planning;

• Biodiversity knowledge and data;

• Ecological restoration;

• Ongoing conservation management;

• Partnerships, education and community participation; and

• Funding, research and monitoring.

Biodiversity planning

Biodiversity planning is one of the most effective means by which local government can protect biodiversity values on public and private land. Biodiversity planning allows councils to identify locations to conserve and enhance biodiversity to ensure resources are used in the most effective way possible.

What we are already doing

• Developing and maintaining Asset Protection Zones to comply with environmental legislation and Rural Fire Service (RFS) planning instruments.

• Maintaining RFS (Guardian) data in accordance with the CanterburyBankstown and Georges River Bush Fire Risk Management Plan and identifying opportunities to reduce risk while improving biodiversity outcomes.

• Regularly updating internal templates and checklists for minor and major works to ensure that Council is complying with all relevant legislation and that assessments are in accordance with best practise environmental guidelines.

• Continually maintaining Council’s DCP and LEP to reflect the recommendations of adopted environmental management strategies and polices.

• Initial updates to the Terrestrial Biodiversity environmental overlay to ensure biodiversity is protected on private land.

Opportunites for biodiversity planning

Masterplans for open space areas

Masterplans consider the needs and uses of a location, community expectations, specific environmental elements and guide investment and management accordingly. Masterplans consider the existing environmental values of the site and strive to achieve better environmental outcomes at appropriate sites, such as:

• Connecting and/or extending biodiversity corridors;

• Naturalising concrete-lined and culvert diverted stormwater infrastructure;

• Extending and regenerating native vegetation communities or planting locally indigenous species;

• Establishing conservation populations and ecological communities;

• Improving aquatic biodiversity values and key fish habitat;

• Incorporating water sensitive urban design; and

• Eliminating biosecurity threats.

Voluntary conservation agreements

A Voluntary Conservation Agreement (VCA) is an agreement administered by the Office of Environment and Heritage between landowners and the NSW Minister for the Environment. A VCA ensures that ecological values are permanently conserved. A VCA will remain in place regardless of changes to land ownership as they are registered on the title of the land. Land with a VCA is entitled to exemptions or reductions for council rates and land tax, and income tax concessions. While sites should be at least five hectares to be eligible, exceptions exist for significant biodiversity values and other special values.

Ecological covenants

Ecological covenants are a method that councils can use to protect biodiversity on appropriate development sites. These covenants can be implemented in accordance with Section 88B of the NSW Conveyancing Act 1919. Covenants can include requirements for retention, conservation, rehabilitation and perpetual management of biodiversity, and require monitoring and reporting in accordance with an environmental management plan. Covenants placed on the land are registered on the title of the land and can only be released, varied or modified by Council.

Bushfire planning

At the time of writing, Planning for Bush Fire Protection 2019 is the current planning instrument that sets out best practise bush fire protection standards and requirements for developments on bush fire prone land. Some standards set out in this planning instrument also assist in the protection of biodiversity, including ensuring that asset protection zones are wholly contained within development sites.

The Canterbury-Bankstown and Georges River Bush Fire Risk Management Plan (currently under development) details the types of work scheduled to deal with the risk of bushfires in the Georges River and CanterburyBankstown LGAs. This also assists in planning activities (burning, mechanical, inspections and community engagement). Appropriately planned activities, including hazard reduction burns reduce community risk while providing ecological benefit.

Local Environmental Plan amendments

– Conservation zonings

Local Environmental Plans (LEPs) guide planning decisions for local government areas through zoning and development controls. LEPs provide a local framework for the way land can be developed and used. Conservation zones and environmental overlays can be an effective way to ensure environmental assets are protected and enhanced.

Local Environmental Plan amendments –environmental overlays

LEPs can also contain environmental overlays for Terrestrial Biodiversity and Riparian Lands and Watercourses to protect biodiversity and riparian corridors from development. Currently there are discrepancies in the data captured in these overlays across Canterbury-Bankstown.

Development Control Plan amendments

Development Control Plans (DCPs) provide detailed planning and design guidelines to support the planning controls in the LEP. In relation to biodiversity, a DCP should set out clear controls to avoid and minimise the impact of development on the ecological value of a site. Mitigation controls can be identified in DCPs to address residual impacts of developments, following appropriate avoidance and minimisation measures. Best practice ecologically sustainable development is achieved when mitigation controls ensure that offsets result in a net increase in biodiversity value.

Compliance and enforcement policy

Compliance and enforcement policies are used to support the regulatory functions of councils to ensure developers comply with legislation and conditions of consent. These policies allow councils to:

• Act in a consistent manner when investigating unlawful activity;

• Exercise functions of legislation proportionally without bias; and

• Improve the process of compliance management and the effects of unlawful activity on the community and the environment.

Conservation corridors

Conservation Corridor mapping ensures biodiversity corridors are strengthened and important areas of habitat are reconnected. These corridors have been developed alongside the Connected Corridors for Biodiversity mapping (SSROC, 2022). Conservation Corridor widths are:

• Core Conservation Corridor = 100 metres;

• Transition Conservation Corridor = 150 metres (either side of Core);

• Total Conservation Corridor width (Core plus Transition) = 400 metres.

Best practice is achieved by planting vegetation communities that were present before European settlement. Reconnecting these corridors allows for the movement of birds, bats, possums, and gliders. Established Conservation Corridors also play a role in mitigating urban heat.

Conserva�on Corridors

Core Conserva�on Corridor

Transi�on Conserva�on Corridor

Conservation Corridors

Figure 3: Conservation Corridors

Pre-European Vegeta�on

Castlereagh Ironbark Forest

Castlereagh Scribbly Gum Woodland

Coastal Alluvial Bangalay Forest

Coastal Valleys Swamp Oak Riparian Forest

Cumberland Blue Box Riverflat Forest

Cumberland Shale Plains Woodland

Estuarine Reedland

Estuarine Sea Rush Swamp Oak Forest

Estuarine Swamp Oak Twig-rush Forest

Estuarine Swamp Oak-Mangrove Forest

Grey Mangrove-R ver Mangrove Forest

Northern Paperbark-Swamp Mahogany Saw-sedge Forest

Samphire Saltmarsh

Sydney Coasta Enr ched Sandstone Forest

Sydney Coasta Foreshores Gully Rainforest

Sydney Coasta Lilly Pi ly-Palm Gallery Rainforest

Sydney Coasta Sandstone Foreshores Forest

Sydney Coasta Sandstone Gully Forest

Sydney Coasta Sha e-Sandstone Forest

Sydney Creekflat Swamp Mahogany-Paperbark Forest

Sydney Creekflat Wetland

Sydney Hinterland Apple-Blackbu� Gully Forest

Sydney Hinterland Dwarf Apple Low Wood and

Sydney Hinterland Enriched Sandstone Bloodwood Forest

Sydney Turpen�ne Ironbark Forest

Woronora Plateau Heath-Mal ee

Conservation Corridor vegetation

Figure 4: Conservation Corridors Pre-European Vegetation

Blue Gum H gh Forest

Biodiversity planning actions

The following actions have been developed to improve the biodiversity planning process.

Ref. Actions Primary Role (Partner)

BP1 Create checklists for Masterplans to ensure planning for all open space areas are sympathetic to the biodiversity values of the locality and incorporate locally indigenous species in the plant schedules.

BP2 Ensure planning within riparian corridors accounts for vegetation rehabilitation and biodiversity enhancement as a primary focus.

BP3 Implement conservation zoning (C2, C3 and C4) in appropriate locations to ensure long term conservation of local biodiversity.

BP4 Update environmental overlays mapping, including terrestrial biodiversity and riparian lands and watercourses mapping in all relevant locations.

BP5 Implement best practice development controls in Council’s Development Control Plan to ensure development results in a net increase of biodiversity values.

BP6 Investigate developing a Compliance and Enforcement Policy which supports our response to undesirable impacts on the environment and increase internal capacity for enforcement.

BP7 Investigate the potential to introduce voluntary conservation agreements and ecological covenants where appropriate for new developments and for the community to opt in to that contain significant biodiversity values onsite.

BP8 Consider long-term management costs, conservation outcomes, conservation zonings and agreements when assessing an application to dedicate land for environmental purposes.

BP9 Assist in the implementation and maintenance of the Canterbury-Bankstown and Georges River Bushfire Risk Management Plan.

Urban Policy and Planning, Environmental Sustainability, Asset Planning, City Strategy and Design

Urban Policy and Planning, Open Space Services, Environmental Sustainability

Urban Policy and Planning, City Strategy and Design, Open Space Services

Urban Policy and Planning, City Strategy and Design, Open Space Services

Urban Policy and Planning, City Strategy and Design, Development

Urban Policy and Planning, Development

Urban Policy and Planning

Urban Policy and Planning, Development, City Strategy and Design

Policy and Planning

Biodiversity knowledge and data

Maintaining an adaptive and firm understanding of biodiversity data assists in measuring and improving biodiversity conservation and enhancement outcomes. It allows councils to better understand change across the City and to implement evidence based environmental management practices.

What we are already doing

• Regularly updating Council’s biodiversity, natural resource and bushfire related data to promote best practise environmental management.

• Ensuring that environmental consultants and Council staff record threatened species sightings on BioNet.

• Maintaining all required environmental licences, including the OEH BioNet licence and licences as determined by the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974, as required.

• Regularly updating maps of bush regeneration sites and the type and extent of works required or completed at each site.

• Participating in National and regional citizen science initiatives (eg Aussie Backyard Bird Count and Wild Pollinator Count).

• Providing an online interactive native plant selector on Council’s website.

Opportunities for biodiversity knowledge and data

Green factor tools

Green factor tools allow councils to design environmentally friendly and ecologically sustainable developments that incorporate green infrastructure. These tools have been developed to increase the extent of vegetation on private land and favour environmentally sustainable designs.

Green factor tools can score proposed developments based on how well they address various environmental factors, including the following:

• Reduction of urban heat;

• Provision of biodiversity and habitat;

• Increased canopy cover

• Reduction of stormwater runoff and atmospheric carbon; and

• Enhanced social amenity such as recreation and mental wellbeing.

The tool provides a foundation for a local government system based on compliance requirements for future developments.

Land acquisition

Appropriately planned land acquisition maps assist in connecting biodiversity corridors and extending natural areas. Research and data can provide an opportunity to strategically locate optimal sites to consider when accepting dedication of land or actively searching for opportunities to acquire land when appropriate funding is available. Further land acquisition opportunities will also be explored as part of the Open Space Strategic Plan.

Biodiversity knowledge and data actions

The following actions have been developed to improve the biodiversity knowledge and data capture process.

BK&D1 Review the land acquisition layer to identify opportunities to improve biodiversity connectivity. Opportunities will also be assessed as part of the Open Space Strategic Plan.

BK&D2 Create a map of priority locations to invest resources for biodiversity restoration and management of biosecurity threats.

BK&D3 Investigate the suitability of developing a Green Factor Tool to rate developments based on sustainability, ecosystem services and environmental factors.

BK&D4 Regularly update Council’s internal vegetation mapping when new areas of native vegetation and threatened species populations are planted.

BK&D5 Update environmental overlays and conservation zone mapping based on environmental criteria.

BK&D6 Investigate valuing natural areas through ecosystem services to establish a business case to identify these locations as assets that require asset management funding.

Ecological restoration

Ecological restoration is the most effective means by which councils can significantly improve the biodiversity value of remnant bushland and extend bushland and habitat to increase the resilience of biodiversity.

What we are already doing

• Minimising impacts on key fish habitat, natural flow regimes and watercourse connectivity from development.

• Bush regeneration of high environmental value bushland reserves.

• Managing priority weeds and weeds of national significance in accordance with Council’s biosecurity duty.

• Undertaking threatened species propagation projects to assist in securing the long-term survival of threatened species.

• Implementing feral animal control programs for foxes, rabbits, cats and Red-eared Slider Turtles.

• Implementing the Ibis Management Plan, including an Ibis monitoring program.

• Native fauna enhancement projects including installation of habitat boxes, tree hollow management and frog pond restorations.

• Running a Native Bee program for local schools.

• Working with volunteers to regenerate native vegetation through the Bushcare program.

• Supporting the Mud Crabs, Wolli Creek Preservation Society and Bankstown Bushland Society revegetation projects.

• What we did in 2022-2023:

- New street trees 540.

- Native plants provided to residents 9700.

- Bush regeneration volunteers 462.

- Bush regeneration hours 1123.

- Weeds removed 7165kg.

City Strategy and Design, Open Space Services

and Planning, Open Space Services

Policy and Planning

Policy and Planning, City Strategy and Design, Open Space Services

Planning, Urban Policy and Planning

Opportunities for ecological restoration

Biodiversity stewardship agreements

A Biodiversity Stewardship Agreement is an agreement that establishes a statutory requirement for the perpetual protection and management of biodiversity. Biodiversity Stewardship Sites generate biodiversity credits that can be sold to developers to offset impacts to biodiversity under the Biodiversity Offsets Scheme.

Biodiversity values have already been protected in-perpetuity within the Lansdowne Reserve Biodiversity Stewardship Site. This site boasts a variety of biodiversity values, contributing to the perpetual conservation and rehabilitation of approximately 10.6 hectares. This area consists of a variety of threatened ecological communities, including Cumberland Shale Plains Woodland, Shale Gravel Transition Forest and Sydney Turpentine Ironbark Forest. The Biodiversity Stewardship Site also contains a variety of threatened species including Acacia pubescens, Pimelea spicata and Marsdenia viridiflora subsp viridiflora

Council has also undertaken Biodiversity Stewardship Feasibility Assessments within other locations at Lansdowne Reserve, Deepwater Park and The Crest. While these sites are currently unfeasible, they will continue to be monitored to assess feasibility as the price of biodiversity credits change.

Green stormwater infrastructure

Planning and design of stormwater infrastructure should consider rivers as living systems rather than wastewater channels and drains. Rain gardens, bioswales and constructed wetlands compliment stormwater infrastructure by naturally filtering pollutants, allowing for infiltration and reducing the velocity and volume of stormwater flow. Investing in watercourse naturalisation, rain gardens, bioswales and constructed wetlands improves water quality and the biodiversity value of living river systems.

Riparian zones, rain gardens, bioswales and constructed wetlands can be utilised to plant locally indigenous vegetation communities to support local biodiversity. Green stormwater infrastructure is further discussed in the Catchment and Waterways Strategic Plan.

River health rating

The health of the Georges River, Cooks River and their tributaries has been measured by the Georges Riverkeeper and the Cooks River Alliance respectively. The health of these watercourses have been graded through the report card system which provides a standard grade based on criteria including vegetation, water quality and/or macroinvertebrate diversity. Waterway health targets have been provided in Connective City 2036 and methods to achieve these targets are addressed in SubCatchment Plans that identify appropriate locations to implement stormwater treatment and water sensitive urban design. River health ratings are further discussed in the Catchment and Waterways Strategic Plan.

Managing key threatening processes

Managing key threatening processes is the most significant way to reduce impacts to existing threatened species, populations and ecological communities. If these threats can be successfully managed, safe areas can be established to assist in the long-term survival of vegetation communities, plants and animals.

Conservation populations and ecological communities

Conservation populations and ecological communities refers to the process of extending or establishing populations of threatened plants, animal habitat and ecological communities in strategic locations. Conserving and improving habitat for threatened plants, animals and ecological communities increases their resilience and reduces the risk of local extinction. The establishment of these populations and ecological communities can be undertaken through planting of local provenance threatened plant species and ecological communities and the installation of targeted threatened animal habitat.

Key fish habitat and fish passage management

Key fish habitat and fish passage is often overlooked in the biodiversity enhancement planning process. However, the abundance and diversity of key fish habitat types and their connectivity strongly relates to aquatic ecosystem diversity and resilience. Promoting a mosaic pattern of connected key fish habitat types creates aquatic biodiversity corridors that allow for the safe movement and function of aquatic animals. Some key fish habitat types consist of threatened plant species or communities, including Saltmarsh. As such, the conservation and enhancement of key fish habitat can also contribute to the conservation of threatened biodiversity. Key Fish Habitat and fish passage management is further discussed in the Catchment and Waterways Strategic Plan.

Ecological restoration actions

The following actions have been developed to improve ecological restoration outcomes.

Ref. Actions

ER1 Investigate the feasibility of establishing new Biodiversity Stewardship sites to protect our most significant patches of remnant bushland.

ER2 Implement best practise approaches to the application of fertiliser, pesticide and herbicide use in the maintenance of public open space and investigate treatments that reduce reliance on chemical application.

ER3 Naturalise watercourses and ensure drainage and flood mitigation activities prioritise green infrastructure and significantly reduce the use of concrete.

ER4 Implement stormwater retention and treatment, favouring green infrastructure that celebrates water in our City such as constructed wetlands, rain gardens and bioswales where appropriate.

ER5 Implement programs targeted at improving the water quality rating of watercourses for aquatic flora and fauna habitats to a minimum of a B-C grade under the report card grading system.

Policy and Planning, Open Space Services

Services, Environmental Sustainability

Strategy and Design, Asset Planning

City Strategy and Design, Urban Policy and Planning, Asset Planning

Policy and Planning, Asset Planning, Open Space Services

ER6 Manage key threatening processes in accordance with relevant legislation and best practice guidelines. Urban Policy and Planning, Environmental Sustainability

ER7 Create a map that identifies appropriate locations to be revegetated with native vegetation communities and a list of appropriate species for each location. Urban Policy and Planning, Environmental Sustainability, Open Space Services

ER8 Establish conservation populations through habitat creation and the propagation and planting of threatened species, populations and ecological communities in strategic locations. Open Space Services, Urban Policy and Planning, Environmental Sustainability

Ongoing conservation management

Ongoing conservation management strategies are pivotal to ensuring the long-term objectives of biodiversity conservation and enhancement are met and/or exceeded.

What we are already doing

• Created no-mow zones through the installation of bollards around remnant vegetation to allow for natural regeneration of the vegetation community from the seed bank.

• Installation of 550 habitat boxes to create habitat for native animals in our bushland reserves.

• Regularly completing weed risk assessments, mapping priority weeds and reporting results to the Department of Primary Industries Biosecurity Information System.

• Fauna and flora surveys and monitoring at priority locations to inform natural area restoration prioritisation.

• Developing a Catchment and Waterways Strategic Plan to protect and improve our rivers and catchments.

• Undertaking bushcare activities (once monthly) in Council reserves, including:

- Irene Jones Bushland, Padstow

- Roma Reserve, Padstow Heights

- Morgan’s Creek, Picnic Point

- The River Reserve, Revesby Heights

- Rorie Reserve, Padstow

- Lambeth Reserve, Picnic Point

- Wise Reserve, Riverwood

- Peace Park, Ashbury

- Cup & Saucer Creek Wetland, Canterbury

- Pat O’Connor Reserve, Canterbury

- Lansdowne Park, Lansdowne

- Monash Reserve, East Hills

- Norfolk Reserve, Greenacre

- Curzon Road, Padstow Heights

- East Hills Park, East Hills

- Carysfield Park, Bass Hill

- Band Hall Reserve, Birrong

Opportunities for ongoing conservation management

Bushcare and bush regeneration

Bushland can be rehabilitated through dedicated activities to improve the quality of ecosystems in degraded locations. This allows components of the native ecosystem to be recovered and assists in increasing overall ecosystem resilience. Bush regeneration is currently undertaken by volunteer organisations, external contractors and internally through Bushcare. Bushcare is a Council organised volunteer program that encourages residents to assist in regenerating the natural environment.

Some of the active community groups assisting in the conservation and enhancement of biodiversity include:

• Bankstown Bushland Society;

• Cooks River Valley Association; and

• Wolli Creek Preservation Society.

These groups are operated by 462 dedicated volunteers that give their time to improve the quality of our natural environments. 1123 person hours were spent regenerating the natural environment between 2022 and 2023.

Habitat box program

The installation of habitat boxes and other innovative forms of animal habitat, including cutting hollows and cavities into suitable trees is vital to provide important habitat. Council’s existing habitat box program has installed approximately 550 habitat boxes since its commencement in 2003. Habitat boxes are monitored at appropriate times annually to reduce disturbance to animals during the breeding season. Monitoring surveys have documented a variety of species utilising the boxes, including woodland birds, ducks, possums, sugar gliders and microbats.

Species selection

The appropriate species for one area may not be the optimal species for a different location. Best practise biodiversity outcomes are achieved where areas surrounding native vegetation communities use species that conform to those vegetation communities in planting schedules. Additional outcomes are achieved through the re-establishment of native vegetation communities where they no longer exist through regeneration of the soil seed bank and/or the use of local provenance seeds.

Urban Forest Strategic Plan

While this Plan focuses on improving biodiversity in our bushland settings, Council also has a role in protecting and extending canopy cover throughout our urban environments. The Urban Forest Strategic Plan (under development) will plan to increase canopy cover throughout the City for a healthy, diverse and resilient urban forest to create a more liveable City now and into the future.

No-mow zones

No-mow zones are created by adding bollards around existing patches of native vegetation to stop areas from being mowed and promotes regeneration from seeds stored in the soil. No-mow zones provide councils with the opportunity to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, extend patches of remnant native vegetation communities and enhance biodiversity.

Ongoing conservation management actions

The following actions have been developed to improve the ongoing conservation management program.

Actions

OCM1 Develop a Biosecurity Management Spreadsheet that prioritises sites, identifies funding opportunities and incorporates innovative, ethical and environmentally sensitive solutions to biosecurity threats in accordance with relevant legislation, plans, strategies and guidelines.

OCM2 Extend existing no-mow zones where appropriate and identify new locations to establish additional no-mow zones to protect and enhance patches of remnant vegetation.

Environmental Sustainability, Open Space Services

Urban Policy and Planning, Environmental Sustainability, Open Space Services

OCM3 Complete weed risk assessments, map priority weeds and report results to Department of Primary Industries Biosecurity Information System.

Sustainability

OCM4 Continue the habitat box program and explore innovative approaches to provide and improve habitat for animals. Environmental Sustainability

OCM6 Continue to support organisations that volunteer their time to bush regeneration.

OCM7 Develop an Urban Forest Strategic Plan to increase canopy cover throughout the City.

Urban Policy and Planning, Environmental Sustainability, Open Space Services H&O

Urban Policy and Planning, Environmental Sustainability

Partnerships, education and community participation

Partnerships, education and community participation are vital to ensuring that bushland and biodiversity is conserved and enhanced, regardless of land ownership and that a collaborative approach is undertaken.

What we are already doing

• Installing signage in reserves providing information on vegetation communities, plants and animals.

• Working closely with the Cooks River Alliance and Georges Riverkeeper to improve the environmental value of our living river systems.

• Supporting volunteer bushcare groups to improve the ecological integrity of our natural areas.

• Supporting volunteer bush regeneration groups, including:

- Bankstown Bushland Society;

- Cooks River Alliance Changemakers;

- Cooks River Valley Association Mudcrabs; and

- Wolli Creek Preservation Society.

• Working with the community to ensure that all environmental restoration and enhancement projects meet community expectations.

• Conducting organising and hosting Nature Fest and We Love Our Rivers talks to educate the community about biodiversity and our local environment.

• Running weed education programs and activities.

• Schools native plant giveaway program.

• Residential native plant giveaway program and biodiversity in your backyards talks.

• Community tree planting initiatives.

• Running a native bee program for local schools and native bee keeping workshops for local residents.

• Promoting tools to empower residents to identify and record feral animals, including FeralScan, FoxScan, RabbitScan and NewPests.

• Promoting tools to empower residents to identify and record native plants and animals CanterburyBankstown, including iNaturalist, FrogID, TurtleSAT, Aussie Bird Count, Birds in Backyards, Birds in Schools, Big City Birds, Saving our Species on DigiVol, Trees Near Me NSW and others advertised on the SEED Citizen Science Hub.

Opportunities for partnerships, education and community participation

Partnerships

Partnership is fundamental for ensuring a holistic approach is undertaken to achieve the suite of actions identified in this Plan. Indigenous Australians have been stewards of the land, entrusted by ancestors to sustainably manage the use of natural resources for over 60,000 years. Consultation with Local Aboriginal Land Councils is important to ensure that indigenous heritage values are conserved appropriately.

Local environmental organisations have a firm knowledge of the biodiversity values in the City’s natural areas and are already working hard to achieve better ecological outcomes. Consultation and collaboration with these organisations are important to ensure that significant information is considered and a collaborative approach is implemented in the extension and enhancement of local bushland and biodiversity.

Community educational opportunities

It is important to consult with volunteer organisations, community groups, schools, early childhood educators and the public to develop inclusive and diverse educational opportunities that align with the interests of the local community. Social media platforms and cbcity.nsw.gov.au are also an effective way to acknowledge the hard work of local volunteers and educate the broader community on biodiversity initiatives.

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, there was an increased interest in local parks and natural areas as residents engaged with nature in their local neighbourhoods. Providing opportunities to frequently interact with biodiversity assists in helping individuals engage in conservation and understand the importance of preserving the natural environment. These interactions are also fostered among the community through educational programs.

Partnerships, education and community participation actions

The following actions have been developed to strengthen partnerships, improve educational activities and increase community participation.

Ref. Actions

PEC1 Continue to explore options to enhance or support on-ground biodiversity education (e.g. educational signage, promoting indigenous landscaping works, construction of new pathways/walks, tree and vegetation ID plots, promotion of Biodiversity Stewardship Sites and biodiversity field guide materials for appropriate parks).

PEC2 Review our interactive native plant selector to promote the use of locally indigenous species.

PEC3 Educate the community about the impacts of illegal dumping and irresponsible pet ownership on biodiversity.

PEC4 Investigate opportunities to increase community interest and engagement with backyard biodiversity through Council's Clean and Green E-newsletter.

PEC5 Actively partner with the Local Aboriginal Land Council (LALC) to identify opportunities to incorporate indigenous heritage items into the green web to protect indigenous heritage values for present and future generations.

PEC6 Participate in Greater Sydney Regional Weed Committee and other relevant committees.

PEC7 Investigate opportunities to develop or promote online community educational material on Council’s website.

PEC8 Continue to undertake a series of walk and talks focused on selected topics, such as native birds, aquatic habitat, impacts of litter and weeds through stormwater runoff and the value of native planting and weed control in gardens.

PEC9 Support training opportunities for Council staff that build expertise in relation to local biodiversity issues.

PEC10 Collaborate with community groups, schools and early childhood educators to develop an inclusive and diverse suite of biodiversity educational opportunities for students.

PEC11 Continue to involve the local community in environmental programs aligned with significant national days such as Native Pollinator Week, National Tree Day and School Tree Day, Aussie Bird Count, Clean Up Australia Day and supporting Ausmap on the Georges River.

PEC12 Encourage increased participation in the bushcare program and publicly commend individuals and/or groups that donate their time.

PEC13 Continue to work with the Cooks River Alliance, Georges Riverkeeper and the Parramatta River Catchment Group to restore watercourses.

PEC14 Consult with First Nations stakeholders on opportunities to implement First Nations land management practices and cultural burning programs.

PEC15 Collaborate with National Parks and Wildlife Services, Sydney Water, Transport for NSW and other public authorities to ensure that biodiversity management is a shared responsibility.

Role (Partner)

Sustainability

and Planning,

Sustainability

Sustainability

Sustainability

Policy and Planning, Environmental Sustainability, Open Space Services

Sustainability

Sustainability

Sustainability

Sustainability, Open Space Services

Sustainability

Sustainability, Open Space Services

Sustainability, Open Space Services

and Planning, Environmental Sustainability

Urban Policy and Planning, Environmental Sustainability

Sustainability

Funding, research and monitoring

Biodiversity conservation and enhancement outcomes cannot be adequately achieved without funding, utilisation of ongoing research and monitoring of successes and failures.

What we are already doing

• Regularly applying for grants to plant trees and undertake environmental management works.

• Ensuring that projects on Council land include budgets for tree planting, landscaping and planting of native vegetation communities in appropriate locations.

• Generating revenue from Lansdowne Reserve Biobank site to fund the management of the bushland.

• Working alongside the Office of Environment and Heritage to identify potential translocation sites for one of the most endangered plant species in NSW (Hibbertia sp. Bankstown).

Opportunities for funding, research and monitoring

Grant funding

Taking a coordinated and strategic approach to seeking funding allows councils to more effectively identify projects that align with grant funding criteria and site opportunities. Grants can also be promoted to private landholders for conservation and enhancement of biodiversity on eligible private land.

Council rates

Council will continue to leverage rates for environmental restoration and biodiversity outcomes. Rates will continue to fund bush regeneration and actions within this Plan to fulfil Council’s role as a steward of the local environment.

Biodiversity incentives for private land

Conserving and enhancing biodiversity on private land has historically been a challenge for local government. Incentives can encourage private landowners to conserve, rehabilitate and enhance biodiversity values on private land. Incentives can include financial incentives and financial assistance under Section 356 of the Local Government Act 1993. Other incentives could include competitions, prizes and free native plants.

Funding, research and monitoring actions

The following actions have been developed to identify funding sources and improve research and monitoring.

Ref. Actions

FRM1

Develop and maintain relationships with external partners, research agencies and educational organisations to ensure appropriate communication of information and data between stakeholders.

and Planning, Environmental Sustainability, Open Space Services

FRM2 Investigate incorporating bushland and biodiversity, and the value of associated ecosystem services as an asset in our accounting and financial management system as an ongoing maintenance program.

FRM3 Continue to update to the biodiversity-related future works plan.

FRM4 Proactively seek biodiversity grant funding opportunities to complement delivery of actions as outlined in this Plan.

FRM5 Develop a register of ecological studies/flora and fauna reports to assist with data management and future planning. Ensure consultants upload their findings into the OEH BioNET system as a contractual obligation.

FRM6 Work with the botanic gardens and specialist threatened species propagators to extend threatened species, populations and ecological communities.

and Planning, Environmental Sustainability

Policy and Planning, Environmental Sustainability, Open Space Services

Policy and Planning, Open Space Services

FRM7 Investigate opportunities to work with universities and educational institutions to identify biodiversity research projects that benefit our bushland reserves. Urban Policy and Planning, Environmental Sustainability, Open Space Services

FRM8 Develop biodiversity incentives to assist in biodiversity enhancement and conservation on private land.

Policy and Planning, Environmental Sustainability,

FRM9 Investigate introducing a backyard biodiversity photo submission in which residents can send photos of biodiversity in their backyards for a chance to be featured in Council's Clean and Green E-newsletter. Urban Policy and Planning, Environmental Sustainability,

FRM10 Monitor the success of actions identified in this Plan every two years and apply adaptive management actions where shortfalls are identified.

Policy and Planning

Your input shapes our City’s future. Council welcomes your input in mapping your ideas and feedback through our community engagement platform. Council is committed to consulting with you, and you can have your say at haveyoursay.cbcity.nsw.gov.au. If you would like to see our existing Bushcare sites or volunteer to help restore bushland reserves, sign up at cbcity.nsw.gov.au/environment/environmentalprograms/bushcare

If you would like to provide feedback about the condition or maintenance of existing parks or bushland or have questions about development, this can be directed at any time to our Customer Service Team.

Phone: 9707 9000

Email: council@cbcity.nsw.gov.au

Postal address: P.O. Box 8 Bankstown NSW 1885

Online: cbcity.nsw.gov.au/onlineservices/customerservice-request

In person:

Bankstown Customer Service Centre

Upper Ground Floor, Bankstown Civic Tower, 66 - 72 Rickard Road (Corner of Jacobs Street) Bankstown NSW 2200

Monday to Friday, 10am-3pm

Campsie Customer Service Centre 137 Beamish Street, Campsie NSW 2194

Monday to Friday, 10am-3pm

Litoria aurea Green and Golden Bell Frog

Pseudophryne australis Red-crowned Toadlet

purpurascens var. purpurascens

fumana

viridiflora subsp. viridiflora Marsdenia viridiflora subsp. viridiflora population

nutans Nodding Geebung

pedunculata Matted Bush-pea

rubescens Scrub Turpentine

paniculatum Magenta Lilly Pilly

Vegetation communities in the City