Community Description

• Swamp Sclerophyll Forest on Coastal Floodplains is an Endangered Ecological Community associated with waterlogged or periodically inundated floodplains of the NSW North Coast, Sydney Basin and South-east Corner Bioregions.¹
• This community is typically open forest however, in some areas clearing has resulted in a sparse tree cover.
• Dominant trees within this community include; Eucalyptus robusta (Swamp Mahogany) and Melaleuca quinquenervia (Paperbark), a layer of small trees may include Acacia irrorata (Green wattle), Acmena smithii (Lilly pilly),Elaeocarpus reticulatus (Blueberry Ash), Glochidion ferdinandi Cheese Tree), Melaleuca linariifolia and M. styphelioides (Paperbark).¹
• This community may be distinguished from other endangered ecological communities on the coastal floodplain by the dominance of Swamp Mahogany, Paperbark, the low occurrence of Casuarina glauca (Swamp Oak) and the occasional presence of rainforest species.¹
• Species composition is primarily determined by the frequency and duration of waterlogging, soil texture, salinity, nutrient level and moisture content of the soil. Often this community fringes other floodplain forest communities and treeless wetlands.¹

Habitat Requirements

Landform: Waterlogged or periodically inundated alluvial flats and drainage lines associated with coastal floodplains. Often found on small floodplains or on coastal sand plains where the larger floodplains adjoin the local hill slopes.¹

Distribution: Distributed along the NSW coast as far inland as the Great Divide.¹ Locally distributed along coastal creeks, rivers and lake margins.

Elevation: Swamp Sclerophyll Forest on Coastal Floodplains generally occurs below 20m (though sometimes up to 50m) elevation.¹

Soil: The soils where this community occurs are predominantly humic, clay loams and sandy loams and usually waterlogged, stained black or dark grey with fine-grained decaying vegetable matter (humus), and show little influence of saline ground water. Swamp Sclerophyll Forest is most commonly found on alluvial soils associated with the Wyong, Yarramalong, Oxford Falls and Hawkesbury River Soil Landscapes.²

Hydrology: Waterlogged or periodically inundated areas and drainage lines associated with coastal floodplains.

Where this Community can be Found

Gosford: Near Gosford Council depot, Pateman Road, Erina, Cockle Bay Nature Reserve, Empire Bay.

Wyong: North of the intersection of Wolseley
Avenue and Colblack Close, Rocky Point (Don Small Reserve).

Lake Macquarie: Surrounding Belmont Lagoon and south-west of Belmont Golf Course.

Threats to Survival

• Alteration to natural hydrological regimes.
• Vegetation clearing.
• Land filling and earthworks associated with development.
• Pollution from urban and agricultural runoff.
• Weed invasion.
• Overgrazing and soil disturbances by livestock.
• Activation of Acid Sulphate Soils.
• Removal of dead wood.
• Frequent fire.
• Rubbish dumping.

Management Issues

• Alteration of creek, river and tidal flows may result in the changes to structure and species composition of this community.
• Impacts from urban expansion such as an increase of rubbish dumping, urban pollution, fires, uncontrolled access, disturbance and altered fire regimes.

Useful Web Links:

• Department of Environment and Climate Change – final determination to list Swamp Sclerophyll Forest on Coastal Floodplains of the NSW North Coast, Sydney Basin and South East Corner Bioregions, www.dec.nsw.gov.au

Further Reading:

• Bell, S.A.J. (2002) The Natural Vegetation of the Wyong Local Government Area, Central Coast, New South Wales. Vegetation Community Profiles. Final Report to Wyong Shire Council.
• Bell, S.A.J. (2004) The natural vegetation of the Gosford Local Government Area, Central Coast, New South Wales: Vegetation Community Profiles. Final Report to Gosford City Council.
• Keith, D. (2004) Ocean Shores to Desert Dunes: The Native Vegetation of New South Wales and ACT. Dept of Environment and Conservation (NSW).
• C.L. Murphy Ed. (1993) Soil Landscapes of the Gosford/Lake Macquarie 1:100,000 sheet, Soil Conservation Service of NSW.
• National Parks and Wildlife Service (2003), Lower Hunter and Central Coast Regional Environment Management Strategy Vegetation Survey, Classification and Mapping: Lower Hunter and Central Coast Region. CRA Unit, National Parks and Wildlife Service, Hurstville.

Bibliography:

1. NSW Scientific Committee (December 2004) – Final determination - Swamp Sclerophyll Forest on Coastal Flood plains of the NSW North Coast, Sydney Basin and South East Corner bioregions, www.dec.nsw.gov.au.
2. NPWS (2002) Lower Hunter Central Coast Regional Environmental Management Strategy (LHCCREMS) – vegetation mapping.