Development Application part 2 OF 2 All of CD, Information in notes - MCU12/0216

CSR West Ridge Quarry
Ecological Assessment Report



encountered in the ‘Regenerating Open Forest’ community discussed below. A Class 2 declared pest plant,
Groundsel (Bacharris halimifolia) is also sparsely scattered throughout the open areas. Plate 2 below
depicts the community.
This community offers low ecological value due to the minimal native plant species diversity, lack of
vegetative stratum and the dominance of exotic grasses. A complete flora list for this community is provided
in Appendix G herein.

4.1.2              Regenerating Open Forest
This community is located on both the eastern and western proposed disturbance areas. The community
would be approximately 10 – 15 years old (since the last clearance event) judging from the prevalence of
narrow trunk sizes of canopy species (refer Plate 3). Some areas herein would be approximately 5 years old
as evidenced by a dominance of pioneer species Acacia, Leptospermum and Casuarina with very narrow
trunk diameters (refer Plate 4).
The dominant canopy species is Brush box (Lophostemon confertus). Other common canopy species
include Swamp box (Lophostemon suaveolens), Red ash (Alphitonia excelsa), Hickory wattle (Acacia
disparrima), Pink bloodwood (Corymbia intermedia), Forest oak (Allocasuarina torulosa), Brown Kurrajong
(Commersonia bartramia), Umbrella Cheese Tree (Glochidion sumatranum) and occasional Flooded gum
(Euclayptus grandis).
Mid-stratum species include Native lasiandra (Melastoma affine), Coffee bush (Breynia oblongifolia), Tea
tree (Leptospermum sp.) and Wild quince (Guioa semiglauca).
The groundcover is comprised predominantly of native species including Bracken fern (Pteridium
esculentum), Red-fruit Saw-sedge (Gahnia siberiana) and Matt rush (Lomandra longifolia) in low lying areas
and drainage lines, and Bladey grass (Imperata cylindrica), Wiry panic (Entolasia stricta), Many-flowered
matt rush (Lomandra multiflora) and Wombat berry (Eustrephus latifolius) on higher ground.
Weed species are common throughout this community, namely Slash pine (Pinus sp.), Camphor laurel
(Cinnamomum camphora), Lantana (Lantana camara) and occasional Wild tobacco bush (Solanum
mauritianum) and herbaceous weeds such as Blue billy goat weed (Ageratum houstonianum) and Cobblers
pegs (Bidens pilosa).
This community supports species which are characteristic of the Of Concern Regional Ecosystem RE 12.9-
10.1 which is mapped in other areas of the site (refer Section 4.1.2.1 below for DERMs community
description).




                                 Plate 1. Quarry pit.                         Plate 2. ‘Open Grassland’ community.




CSR Building Products Ltd                                     Version 3                                          4 December 2012
Ecological Assessment Report V3.docx                    Commercial in Confidence                                         Page 8