Rare species face multiple immediate threats

Twenty bush stone-curlews and 11 hectares of Umina Coastal Sandplain Woodland (UCSW). Extinction or survival?

Will the Central Coast's Biodiversity Management Plan save them?

This state-wide project has just been announced as a joint project of the Department of Environment and Conservation and the Catchment Management Authority.

It appears to be a long-term, high-profile project that will take a regional approach to conservation of endangered populations.

However the multiple and immediate threats to survival of UCSW and the local population of bush stone-curlews require urgent action.

It's estimated there are 20 bush stone-curlews left in the Brisbane Water area, and a few of them have been recorded recently here on the Peninsula. Perhaps there's a breeding pair here.

Brisbane Water is one of the few places in NSW with any bush stone-curlews left.

We have 11 hectares left of Umina Coastal Sandplain Woodland, a combination of native plants that's unique to the Peninsula. The rest has been cleared, destroying the habitat of fauna species like the bush stone-curlew.

This bird has been recorded using UCSW areas in the last few months, at Burrawang Reserve, and at Umina Campus of BWSC. It has also been heard across the road from the College, in the vicinity of the Catholic land as well as the Everglades Golf Course.

All the UCSW areas have been damaged and are fragmented, and the damage continues.

Firstly, there is a plan to destroy the UCSW on the Catholic site, one of the best UCSW remnants, and 10 per cent of all that is left.

The DA for this is due to come before Council on May 1. A similar plan was rejected by Council, and upheld last year in the Land and Environment Court on environmental grounds.

The current plan does not consider the bush stone-curlew.

Across the road at Umina Campus, the two main UCSW areas have been damaged by mowing, trampling, vehicles, sheep, rubbish-dumping, building and landscaping works.

The most recent damage appears to be from spraying of poison in one of these areas.

At Burrawang Reserve, regular incursions by motor vehicles have damaged UCSW vegetation.

Originally, this was by dumped cars, more recently by Council's heavy vehicles and now by motorcycles ridden regularly in the reserve.

Council's plans to extend the adjacent Nambucca Drive playground are only likely to result in further damage to this UCSW site.

Adjacent to Umina Oval and the caravan park is another neglected and degraded public reserve of UCSW. It's survival is threatened by weed invasion and being used for camping.

Council is planning a Precinct Park there, which will put additional pressure on the UCSW area.

At McEvoy Oval, vegetation is heavily infested with weeds and UCSW vegetation in the adjoining PCYC has been under-scrubbed.

On Mt Ettalong Rd, Council recently removed three mature trees from a UCSW area to allow the installation of concrete guttering.

A small patch of UCSW at Ferry Rd, Ettalong, is under threat from foreshore redevelopment plans.

Motor bikes on several sites have caused damage to UCSW vegetation.

These multiple threats are posed by both current activities and future plans.

They need to be addressed as a matter of urgency.

The NSW Department of Environment and Conservation has developed a Umina Coastal Sandplain Woodland Endangered Ecological Community Restoration and Rehabilitation Management Plan.

This plan lists the 12 UCSW sites left, the threats to each site, and actions that will reduce the likelihood of extinction.

Threats are listed as: further clearing and fragmentation for urban development; weed invasion; rubbish dumping; unapproved track creation; mowing and slashing; too-frequent fire; lack of knowledge of the significance of the vegetation community; sand extraction; and a lowering of the water table for domestic use.

Will you or your children ever hear the call of the bush stone-curlew, or see the unfamiliar flowers of UCSW plants?

Shirley Hotchkiss Umina