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Hornsby Shire Council |
Attachment
to Report No. EN51/08 Page 0 |
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MEMO |
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Bushland Memo Number: BB Oct 40/08
Addressed to: James
Frawley (Parks and Landscapes Team)
Property Address: Dawson Avenue,
THORNLEIGH
PROPOSED DOG EXERCISE AREA
The site was inspected on the 29th September 2008 by Alex Fraser and Mark Hood from the Bushland and Biodiversity Team.
The Council-owned Park at Dawson Avenue is mapped as containing Sydney Turpentine Ironbark Forest which is an Endangered Ecological Community listed under the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995. The assemblage of Sydney Turpentine (Syncarpia glomulifera), Grey Ironbark (Eucalyptus paniculata) and Red Mahogany (Eucalyptus resinifera) as well other native species recorded on site confirmed the presence of this community occurring on the northern boundary of the property (full species list attached below). No threatened species were recorded in this area. The crown land adjacent to the site (Lane Cove National Park) is mapped as containing Blackbutt Gully Forest.
A majority of the understorey vegetation proposed for removal comprises introduced environmental and noxious weeds including Fishbone Fern (Nephrolepis cordifolia), Cobbler’s Pegs (Bidens pilosa), Paddy’s Lucerne (Sida rhombifolia), Kikuyu, Cassia (Senna pendula var. glabrata), Asparagus Fern (Asparagus aethiopicus), Plantago lanceolata, Water Hyacinth (Eichornia crassipes), Bridal Creeper (Asparagus asparagoides), Climbing Asparagus, Phoenix Palm, Trad (Tradescantia flumiensis), Vetch, Thistle, Small-leaved Privet (Ligustrum sinense) and Mickey Mouse Plant (Ochna serrulata).
The total area of the proposed dog exercise area is approximately 2500 square metres of which predominantly comprises of mowed and maintained area of introduced grasses and weeds. Fences will be installed to prevent dogs from entering adjacent bushland.
The northern portion of the site proposed for the Dog Exercise Area contains remnant canopy tress with understorey vegetation comprises native regrowth of shrubs, groundcovers and grasses indicative of Sydney Turpentine Ironbark Forest for a relatively small area of approximately 50 square metres. A 12.5m buffer of native bushland comprising Sydney Turpentine Ironbark Forest will be retained within Council owned land to buffer edge effects from adjacent Lane Cove National Park. All canopy trees will be retained.
In accordance with S. 79C of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1997, the Bushland and Biodiversity Team consider that the proposal is unlikely to have a significant impact on species, populations and communities listed under the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995.
RECOMMENDATIONS
The Bushland and Biodiversity Team recommend the following:-
· retain trees greater than 100mm in diameter at breast height
· install chain mesh
fence with bottom set at ground to prevent escapism and limit digging by dogs.
Contractors to be briefed about fence installation to include limited digging
of critical root zones of existing trees.
· street trees should comprise of locally indigenous species of Sydney Turpentine Ironbark Forest (e.g. Syncarpia glomulifera, Eucalyptus paniculata, Eucalyptus resinifera, Angophora costata, Eucalyptus pilularis or Elaeocarpus reticulatus).
· To ensure that invasive plants identified as weed species are effectively removed and not allowed to proliferate into local bushland or interfere with a quality landscaping and environmental outcome, all environmental and noxious weeds including Fishbone Fern (Nephrolepis cordifolia), Cobbler’s Pegs (Bidens pilosa), Paddy’s Lucerne (Sida rhombifolia), Kikuyu, Cassia (Senna pendula var. glabrata), Asparagus Fern (Asparagus aethiopicus), Plantago lanceolata, Water Hyacinth (Eichornia crassipes) spp., Bridal Creeper (Asparagus asparagoides), Climbing Asparagus, Phoenix Palm, Trad (Tradescantia flumiensis), Vetch, Thistle, Small-leaved Privet (Ligustrum sinense) and Mickey Mouse Plant (Ochna serrulata) are to be removed and suppressed using appropriate methods.
ALEX FRASER
Environmental Scientist -
Bushland Assessments Officer
Bushland & Biodiversity Team
Environment Division
1st October 2008
