Genowlan Point Allocasuarina nana heathland - endangered ecological community listing
The Scientific Committee, established by the Threatened Species Conservation Act, has made a Final Determination to list the Genowlan Point Allocasuarina nana heathland as an ENDANGERED ECOLOGICAL COMMUNITY on Part 3 of Schedule 1 of the Act. The listing of endangered ecological communities is provided for by Part 2 of the Act.
NSW Scientific Committee - final determination
The Scientific Committee has found:
1. The Genowlan Point Allocasuarina nana heathland is a community of dwarf heathland occupying about 10 ha on Genowlan Point, Capertee Valley.
2. The community is characterised by the following vascular plants:
- Acacia ulicifolia
- Allocasuarina nana
- Astroloma humifusum
- Babingtonia densifolia
- Banksia penicillata
- Billardiera procumbens
- Boronia microphylla
- Boronia rigens
- Bossiaea heterophylla
- Brachyloma daphnoides
- Callitris muelleri
- Caustis flexuosa
- Cryptandra amara
- Dampiera purpurea
- Dampiera stricta
- Danthonia tenuior
- Eucalyptus sparsifolia
- Eucalyptus stricta
- Goodenia bellidifolia
- Hibbertia serpyllifolia
- Isopogon prostratus
- Isopogon anethifolius
- Leptospermum arachnoides
- Lepidosperma viscidum
- Leptospermum parvifolium
- Leptospermum trinervium
- Leucopogon muticus
- Leucochrysum albicans
- Lomandra glauca
- Logania albiflora
- Ochrosperma monticola
- Micromyrtus sessilis
- Persoonia myrtilloides
- Patersonia sericea
- Phyllota squarrosa
- Pimelea linifolia subsp. linifolia
- Platysace lanceolata
- Pseudanthus divaricatissimus
- Pultenea procumbens
- Stipa pubescens
- Xanthorrhoea johnsonii
- Zieria laevigata
3. The dwarf low closed heath dominated by Allocasuarina nana at Genowlan Point is distinct structurally and in species composition from other heathlands in the greater Blue Mountains. The presence in the heathland of the combination of Xanthorrhoea johnsonii, Micromyrtus sessilis, Pseudanthus divaricatissimus, Callitris muelleri and Isopogon prostratus is, as far as is known, unique.
Allocasuarina nana is close to its northern limit of distribution, and Xanthorrhoea johnsonii close to its southern limit at Genowlan Point. A number of other species in the community are close to distributional limits.
4. The Community occupies part of the summit of a mesa and is bounded to the west by a vertical cliff up to 300 metres high.
5. There is road access to the mesa and use of 4WD vehicles and trail bikes, and access by visitors threatens the community with physical disturbance by trampling and vehicle use, erosion, the spread of weeds and disease and changes to fire regime.
6. Given the limited extent of the community and the threats identified in 5 above, the Scientific Committee is of the opinion that the Genowlan Point Allocasuarina nana heathland is likely to become extinct in nature in New South Wales unless the circumstances and factors threatening its survival or evolutionary development cease to operate and that it is eligible to be listed as an endangered ecological community.
Proposed Gazettal date: 18/12/98
Exhibition period: 18/12/98 - 29/1/99