December 2012

New South Wales Murray

Overview

Biodiversity Management PlanA guide to terrestrial biodiversity investment

priorities in the central and eastern NSW Murray catchment

Overview New South Wales Murray Biodiversity Management Plan2

Contact us for more information, including access to raw data, at:

Murray Catchment Management Authority 315 Victoria Street PO Box 835 Deniliquin NSW 2710 Phone: 03 5880 1400 Fax: 03 5880 1444 Email: murray@cma.nsw.gov.au

Office of Environment and Heritage Level 3, 11 Farrer Place Queanbeyan NSW 2620 Phone: 02 6229 7112

This document is an overview of the information detailed in the New South Wales Murray Biodiversity Management Plan and its associated appendices.

For a complete version of the New South Wales Murray Biodiversity Management Plan (the Murray BMP) and associated technical papers, visit www.murray.cma.nsw.gov.au.

© Murray Catchment Management Authority 2012

This document was prepared by officers of the Murray Catchment Management Authority and the Office of Environment and Heritage in good faith, exercising due care and attention. Neither Murray Catchment Management Authority, the Office of Environment and Heritage nor its officers or staff accept responsibility for inaccurate or incomplete information. There are limitations inherent in natural resource information, such as accuracy in relation to map scale. Readers should seek professional advice when applying this information to their specific circumstances.

Murray Catchment Management Authority and the Office of Environment and Heritage are pleased to allow this material to be reproduced in whole or in part for educational and non-commercial use, provided the meaning is unchanged and its source, publisher and authorship are acknowledged.

Murray Catchment Management Authority & Office of Environment and Heritage 2012, New South Wales Murray Biodiversity Management Plan: A guide to terrestrial biodiversity investment priorities in the central and eastern NSW Murray catchment—overview, Murray Catchment Management Authority, Albury.

ISBN (print) 978-0-9807282-6-2 ISBN (electronic) 978-0-9807282-5-5

Cover images: Linda Broome, Matt Cameron, Martin Driver, M Feierabend, David Hunter, Natasha Lappin, Damon Oliver, David Parker, Chris Tzaros, Sandra Walpole

Additional images: Harvey Johnston, Natasha Lappin, Lorraine Oliver, Elisa Tack, Chris Tzaros, Sandra Walpole

Editing and design by Biotext Pty Ltd, Canberra

December 2012 1

IntroductionBiodiversity is the variety of different life forms and the habitats that they live in. Biodiversity is everywhere—in our backyards, farms, bushland, rivers, creeks and wetlands, and along our roadsides.

We rely on healthy, complex and functioning natural ecosystems to keep our air and water clean, pollinate our crops, grow food and fibre, and help keep pests and diseases in check. Everyone has a role in managing biodiversity now and for future generations.

The diverse landscapes of the NSW Murray catchment support a wide range of habitats for thousands of species of animals, plants and invertebrates. However, this biodiversity is under considerable pressure. More than 125 aquatic and terrestrial species, populations and ecological communities are threatened, and other species that we take for granted are in decline.

Threats to biodiversity are many and varied. They can be gradual processes that lead to slow, steady population declines, such as removing fallen timber on farms that reduces habitat for animals; or they can be sudden events that lead to rapid change, such as clearing remnant vegetation for a new road.

It is becoming clear that managing threats to biodiversity will require thinking and action at greater scales, over longer time frames and with greater community input than has been attempted in the past. To protect our biodiversity, we need to collaborate across properties, tenures, local landscapes and regions, and support local efforts that are already under way.

The NSW Murray Biodiversity Management Plan (the Murray BMP) aims to help investors prioritise biodiversity management across the NSW Murray catchment.1 It provides spatial and descriptive guidance to land managers, community groups and individuals about where investment in biodiversity management will have the most benefit.

The Murray BMP uses a range of biodiversity planning information—including survey data, the latest available vegetation mapping, innovative modelling, knowledge from existing plans and strategies, expert panels and community input—to identify opportunities to maintain and improve biodiversity in the catchment.

New data and maps produced for the Murray BMP include:• vegetation distribution

• vegetation condition

• priority areas for Active Management of native vegetation

• priority areas for Repair of native vegetation

• key threats to biodiversity and actions to address them

• assets that were identified as being important to the community

• Indicative Management Areas for significant and threatened species with recovery actions for these species.

1 Changes to Murray Catchment Management Authority’s boundary (effective from October 2012): it should be noted that this plan covers the central and eastern Murray catchment (the former Murray catchment), and does not extend into the western Murray catchment (the former Lower Murray Darling catchment). Where this plan refers to the NSW Murray catchment it is referring to the region shown in Figure 1.1 of the Murray BMP

Overview New South Wales Murray Biodiversity Management Plan2

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0 20 40 60 8010 km

Billabong Creek

Murray River

Edward RiverWakool River

Assets identified in community workshopsTravelling stock reserves of moderate to high biodiversity value●

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NSW Murray catchment

Towns

Major watercourses

Main roads

U

Victoria

New South Wales

U

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Mathoura

Moulamein

Khancoban

Jerilderie

Tumbarumba

Deniliquin

Walla Walla

Swan Hill (Vic)

NPWS estateForests NSW

Community input and prioritiesMany thousands of years of traditional owner and First Nation cultural practices are chronicled within the NSW Murray catchment, and traditional owners’ relationship with the landscape continues to the present. Today, the catchment is home to more than 100,000 people, and this population is projected to grow.

The community values biodiversity, and the Murray BMP was developed with community input. Murray CMA held a series of community consultation workshops in June and July, 2010, to allow the catchment community to identify key assets and areas of high value in the NSW Murray catchment. Workshops were held in Albury, Corowa, Deniliquin, Holbrook, Jerilderie, Tocumwal, Tooleybuc,

December 2012 3

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0 20 40 60 8010 km

Billabong Creek

Murray River

Edward RiverWakool River

Assets identified in community workshopsTravelling stock reserves of moderate to high biodiversity value●

●

NSW Murray catchment

Towns

Major watercourses

Main roads

U

Victoria

New South Wales

U

U

U

U

U

U

U

U

U

U

U

UU

U

U

U

U

U

Moama

Urana

Finley

Corowa AlburyMulwala Howlong

Culcairn

Lockhart

Holbrook

Mathoura

Moulamein

Khancoban

Jerilderie

Tumbarumba

Deniliquin

Walla Walla

Swan Hill (Vic)

NPWS estateForests NSW

Tumbarumba and Urana. Aboriginal community workshops were held in Albury and Deniliquin. A total of 154 people attended these workshops; together, they identified almost 300 biodiversity assets and high-value areas. Three panels of experts also contributed more than 200 assets to the list, bringing the total number of assets identified to almost 500.

The map below summarises the assets (by category) identified in the workshops. Almost half of the nominated assets were remnant native vegetation and

its habitat values. The next most identified asset types were rivers and creeks, followed by wetlands. Other important assets included particular species, such as endangered spider orchids, bush foods, wallabies, plovers, echidnas, turtles, plains-wanderers and superb parrots.

Workshop participants also identified threats to their nominated assets. The most common threats noted were terrestrial weeds, flow regulation, pest animals and unsuitable grazing.

For more information about the workshops, see Chapter 2 of the Murray BMP

Overview New South Wales Murray Biodiversity Management Plan4

Threats to biodiversityA threat to biodiversity is anything that can decrease biodiversity, such as the presence of a pest animal, an

activity such as urban development, or a process such as climate change.

Threats differ in their extent, in our ability to manage them, and in their impacts on biodiversity.

Knowing the location and severity of threats contributes

significantly to understanding where we can direct resources

to deliver the best biodiversity outcomes. These outcomes also need

to be balanced with the value of agricultural production and other land uses in the NSW Murray catchment.

The Murray BMP identifies the key threats to biodiversity in the NSW Murray catchment from a comprehensive list of relevant threats and expert input. Nine of these threats could be mapped to show the likelihood of the threat occurring and the consequences for native vegetation condition across the catchment.

Specific objectives and actions to address key threats, and the stakeholders relevant to each threat, are also identified in the Murray BMP. These actions can be applied at various scales according to need and community capacity.

For more information about threats to biodiversity, see Chapter 3 of the Murray BMP

Top 20 threats identified in the Murray Biodiversity Management Plan

ThreatsNo. of actions In Murray BMP

Climatic impacts, including prolonged drought 16 Section 3.6.1, page 49

Firewood removal/loss of standing trees (dead or alive) 8 Section 3.6.2, page 51

Fragmentation and isolation effects (including genetic isolation, erosion effects, edge effects)

10 Section 3.6.3, page 52

Illegal clearing and legal clearing for routine agricultural management activities/clearing for asset protection

9 Section 3.6.4, page 53

Inappropriate grazing leading to loss of native understorey diversity 10 Section 3.6.5, page 54

Loss or lack of replacement of paddock trees 6 Section 3.6.6, page 55

Overabundant kangaroos 4 Section 3.6.7, page 56

Overabundant noisy miners 7 Section 3.6.8, page 57

Pasture improvement leading to loss of native groundlayer diversity 6 Section 3.6.9, page 58

Pest animals 15 Section 3.6.10, page 59

Rapid change of management (intensification; e.g. due to change of tenure) 4 Section 3.6.11, page 61

Repeated high-intensity/high-frequency fire, including wildfire 14 Section 3.6.12, page 62

Road and track maintenance, linear infrastructure 5 Section 3.6.13, page 64

Terrestrial herbaceous weeds 15 Section 3.6.14, page 64

Terrestrial woody weeds 1 Section 3.6.15, page 66

Urbanisation 5 Section 3.6.16, page 67

Visitor activities (e.g. mountain biking, tourists) 4 Section 3.6.17, page 68

Lack of funding 2 Section 3.6.18, page 68

Lack of knowledge 4 Section 3.6.19, page 69

Organisational-related impediments 6 Section 3.6.20, page 70

December 2012 5

Investment prioritiesThe Murray BMP presents maps of priority areas for Active Management and Repair of native vegetation in the NSW Murray catchment. These maps were developed using a modelling tool called the Biodiversity Forecasting Tool. This modelling tool uses vegetation mapping, vegetation condition mapping and threats mapping, along with information about the size of vegetation patches and the distance between them, to identify priority biodiversity investment areas.

Priority areas for Active Management of native vegetation are areas with vegetation that is in good condition and well connected. These areas need ongoing management to maintain their biodiversity values.

Investment in Active Management priority areas should focus on actions that maintain and improve the existing vegetation extent and condition. Options for investment in these areas include voluntary land management stewardship agreements, property vegetation plans, Nature Conservation Trust of NSW covenants, education, mentoring and monitoring programs, or the addition of an area to the National Reserve System.

Priority areas for Repair of native vegetation are areas with low-condition vegetation in small, fragmented and isolated remnants. These areas will benefit from management actions to increase vegetation extent and connectivity, and improve vegetation condition.

Activities in Repair priority areas may include revegetation, natural regeneration, weed control, sustainable grazing practices and appropriate fire management. Investment to maintain and protect existing vegetation and biodiversity values—including threat management actions—may also benefit these areas.

Priority areas for Active Management and Repair are found across all tenures, including private land, national parks, state

forests, travelling stock reserves, local government roadsides and reserves, and other Crown lands.

Many other initiatives and activities also contribute to biodiversity at the catchment scale. These include areas covered by the reserve system, draft national wildlife corridors, the Great Eastern Ranges and its partnership Slopes to Summit region, and areas identified through other planning initiatives. If local biodiversity values are identified that are not included in the priority area maps, these sites should still be considered for investment.

For more detail about priority areas, see Chapter 4 of the Murray BMP

Overview New South Wales Murray Biodiversity Management Plan6

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December 2012 7

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re

show

n in

bla

ck. D

ata

used

in th

is m

appi

ng w

ere

the

best

ava

ilabl

e at

the

time

of m

ap d

evel

opm

ent.

This

m

ap w

as d

evel

oped

for t

he p

urpo

se o

f gui

ding

bi

odiv

ersi

ty in

vest

men

t acr

oss

the

NS

W M

urra

y ca

tchm

ent.

It do

es n

ot id

entif

y sp

ecifi

c la

nds

that

sh

ould

or s

houl

d no

t attr

act b

iodi

vers

ity in

vest

men

t. S

ite a

sses

smen

t sho

uld

be c

arrie

d ou

t whe

n un

derta

king

loca

l or s

ite-s

cale

pla

nnin

g an

d in

vest

men

t.

Edwa

rd R

iver

Wak

ool R

iver

Rep

air p

riorit

y ar

eas

Very

hig

h

Hig

h

Mod

erat

e

Low

Hig

hest

5%

020

4060

8010

km

Vict

oria

New

Sou

th W

ales

U

U

U

U

U

U

U

U

U

U

U

UU

U

U

U

U

U

Moa

ma

Ura

na

Finl

ey

Cor

owa

Alb

ury

Mul

wal

aH

owlo

ng

Cul

cairn

Lock

hart

Hol

broo

k

Mat

hour

a

Mou

lam

ein

Kha

ncob

an

Jeril

derie

Tum

baru

mba

Den

iliqu

in

Wal

la W

alla

Sw

an H

ill (V

ic)

NP

WS

est

ate

Fore

sts

NS

W

NSW

Mur

ray

catc

hmen

t

Tow

ns

Maj

or w

ater

cour

ses

Mai

n ro

ads

U

Billa

bong

Cre

ek

Murray

Rive

r

Overview New South Wales Murray Biodiversity Management Plan8

Significant species, populations and ecological communities

The Murray BMP collates information about Commonwealth and state-listed threatened species found in the NSW Murray catchment. It also documents a range of iconic species that are not formally listed as threatened but are considered significant in the catchment. These include species listed under international migratory species conventions, and those nominated as assets by community members.

Billabong Creek

Murray River

Edward River

0 20 40 60 8010 km

Victoria

New South Wales

U

U

U

U

U

U

U

U

U

U

U

U

U

U

U

U

U

Moama

Urana

Finley

Corowa

Albury

Mulwala Howlong

Culcairn

Lockhart

Holbrook

Mathoura

Moulamein

Khancoban

Jerilderie

Tumbarumba

Deniliquin

Walla Walla

Swan Hill (Vic) U

Note: This map was developed using expert knowledge; the areas identified are indicative only at this mapping scale.

Wakool RiverNSW Murray catchment

Towns

Major watercourses

Main roads

U

NPWS estateForests NSW

10

12

11

1

28

29

21

3

4

20 27

2

9

2624

725

15

236

225

30

16

8

19

17

13

18

14

Area 1: Mellool–Cunninyeuk area

Area 2: Moulamein area

Area 3: Barham area

Area 4: Tullakool–Wakool area

Area 5: Barnes Crossing travelling stock reserve

Area 6: Reed Beds area

Area 7: Gulpa Island and Millewa forests

Area 8: Wanganella Swamp

Area 9: Tuppal area

Area 10: Wanganella–Jerilderie–Morundah area

Area 11: Mulwala–Savernake area

Area 12: Morundah–Urana–Savernake area

Area 13: Oaklands area

Area 14: Urana area Area 22: Nail Can Hill

Area 15: Buckingbong State Forest

Area 16: Corowa and Nulla Nulla Swamp

Area 17: Lonesome Pine State Forest

Area 18: Kentucky State Forest

Area 19: Galore Hill

Area 20: Burrumbuttock to Howlong area

Area 21: Jindera area

Area 26: Jingellic, Coppabella and Lankeys creeks

Area 27: Mannus and Sapling Yards creeks

Area 28: Maragle and Maragle Back creeks

Area 29: Jagungal Wilderness Area

Area 30: Main Range Wilderness Area

Area 23: Thurgoona area

Area 24: Woomargama area

Area 25: Holbrook area

Priority management area

December 2012 9

Management of iconic species may be a consideration of future biodiversity investment programs. Having these species on your property may increase the potential for you to receive funding through voluntary management agreements.

The Murray BMP identifies 30 priority management areas for threatened species, populations and ecological communities (see table over page), and defines recovery management actions for each area.

Billabong Creek

Murray River

Edward River

0 20 40 60 8010 km

Victoria

New South Wales

U

U

U

U

U

U

U

U

U

U

U

U

U

U

U

U

U

Moama

Urana

Finley

Corowa

Albury

Mulwala Howlong

Culcairn

Lockhart

Holbrook

Mathoura

Moulamein

Khancoban

Jerilderie

Tumbarumba

Deniliquin

Walla Walla

Swan Hill (Vic) U

Note: This map was developed using expert knowledge; the areas identified are indicative only at this mapping scale.

Wakool RiverNSW Murray catchment

Towns

Major watercourses

Main roads

U

NPWS estateForests NSW

10

12

11

1

28

29

21

3

4

20 27

2

9

2624

725

15

236

225

30

16

8

19

17

13

18

14

Area 1: Mellool–Cunninyeuk area

Area 2: Moulamein area

Area 3: Barham area

Area 4: Tullakool–Wakool area

Area 5: Barnes Crossing travelling stock reserve

Area 6: Reed Beds area

Area 7: Gulpa Island and Millewa forests

Area 8: Wanganella Swamp

Area 9: Tuppal area

Area 10: Wanganella–Jerilderie–Morundah area

Area 11: Mulwala–Savernake area

Area 12: Morundah–Urana–Savernake area

Area 13: Oaklands area

Area 14: Urana area Area 22: Nail Can Hill

Area 15: Buckingbong State Forest

Area 16: Corowa and Nulla Nulla Swamp

Area 17: Lonesome Pine State Forest

Area 18: Kentucky State Forest

Area 19: Galore Hill

Area 20: Burrumbuttock to Howlong area

Area 21: Jindera area

Area 26: Jingellic, Coppabella and Lankeys creeks

Area 27: Mannus and Sapling Yards creeks

Area 28: Maragle and Maragle Back creeks

Area 29: Jagungal Wilderness Area

Area 30: Main Range Wilderness Area

Area 23: Thurgoona area

Area 24: Woomargama area

Area 25: Holbrook area

Priority management area

For more information about significant species, populations and ecological communities, see Chapter 5 of the Murray BMP

Overview New South Wales Murray Biodiversity Management Plan10

Priority management areas for potential investment in iconic and threatened species in the NSW Murray catchment

Broad action Activity Area 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

Loca

tion

Mell

ool–

Cun

niny

euk

area

Mou

lamei

n ar

ea

Barh

am ar

ea

Tulla

kool

–Wak

ool

area

Ba

rnes

Cro

ssin

g Tr

avell

ing

Stoc

k R

eser

ve

Ree

d Be

ds ar

ea

Gul

pa Is

land

and

Mill

ewa f

ores

ts

Wan

gane

lla S

wam

p

Tupp

al ar

ea

Wan

gane

lla–

Jeril

derie

–Mor

unda

h ar

ea

Mul

wala–

Save

rnak

e ar

ea

Mor

unda

h–U

rana

–Sa

vern

ake a

rea

Oak

lands

area

Ura

na ar

ea

Buck

ingb

ong

Stat

e Fo

rest

Cor

owa a

nd N

ulla

Nul

la Sw

amp

Lone

som

e Pin

e Sta

te

Fore

st

Ken

tuck

y St

ate F

ores

t

Galo

re H

ill

Burr

umbu

ttock

to

How

long

area

Jinde

ra ar

ea

Nai

l Can

Hill

Thur

goon

a are

a

Woo

mar

gam

a are

a

Hol

broo

k ar

ea

Jinge

llic,

Cop

pabe

lla

and

Lank

eys c

reek

s M

annu

s and

Sap

ling

Yard

s cre

eks

Mar

agle

and

Mar

agle

Back

cree

ks

Jagu

ngal

Wild

erne

ss

Are

a

Mai

n R

ange

W

ilder

ness

Are

a

Icon

ic (I)

, thre

aten

ed (T

) or

signi

fican

t (S)

spec

ies

Sout

hern

bell

frog

(T),

pain

ted

snip

e (T

)

Bush

ston

e-cu

rlew

(I, T

), gr

ey-c

rown

ed

babb

ler (T

)Bu

sh st

one-

curle

w (I

, T),

grey

-cro

wned

ba

bbler

(T),

Gilb

ert’s

whi

stler

(T),

yello

w gu

m (T

)

Sout

hern

bell

frog

(T),

pain

ted

snip

e (T

)

Pras

ophy

llum

sp. ‘M

oam

a’ (T

), tu

rnip

co

pper

burr

(T),

lowl

y gr

eenh

ood

(T)

Aus

tralas

ian

bitte

rn (T

), lit

tle b

itter

n (S

), wh

ite-b

ellie

d se

a eag

le (S

)

Supe

rb p

arro

t (I,

T),

Gilb

ert’s

whi

stler

(T)

Aus

tralas

ian

bitt

ern

(T),

brol

ga (I

, T),

pain

ted

snip

e (T

)Bu

sh st

one-

curle

w (I

, T),

diam

ond

firet

ail

(T),

supe

rb p

arro

t (I,

T)

Riv

erin

e Gra

sslan

d flo

ra (T

), pl

ains

-wa

nder

er (T

), re

d-ch

este

d bu

tton-

quai

l, (S

), ho

oded

scal

y-fo

ot (S

), cu

rl sn

ake (

S)Br

olga

(I, T

), su

perb

par

rot (

I, T

), gr

ey-

crow

ned

babb

ler (T

), ho

oded

robi

n, (T

), sc

arlet

robi

n (T

), fla

me r

obin

(T),

carp

et

pyth

on (S

)Br

olga

(I, T

), R

iver

ine G

rass

land

flora

(T),

plai

ns-w

ande

rer (

T)

Oak

lands

diu

ris o

rchi

d (T

)

Sand

-hill

spid

er o

rchi

d (T

), O

aklan

ds

diur

is or

chid

(T)

Sand

-hill

spid

er o

rchi

d (T

), O

aklan

ds

diur

is or

chid

(T),

diam

ond

firet

ail(T

), ho

oded

robi

n (T

)Sl

oane

’s fro

glet

(T),

brol

ga (I

, T),

pain

ted

snip

e (T

), m

agpi

e goo

se (T

)Sa

nd-h

ill sp

ider

orc

hid

(T),

grey

-cro

wned

ba

bbler

(T),

diam

ond

firet

ail (

T),

spec

kled

wa

rbler

(T)

Hoo

ded

robi

n (T

), sp

eckl

ed w

arbl

er (T

), di

amon

d fir

etai

l (T

), gr

ey-c

rown

ed b

abbl

er

(T)

Glo

ssy

blac

k co

ckat

oo (I

, T),

grey

-cro

wned

ba

bbler

(T),

spec

kled

war

bler

(T)

Squi

rrel g

lider

(I, T

), ca

rpet

pyt

hon

(S),

brow

n tre

ecre

eper

(T),

grey

crow

ned

babb

ler (T

), di

amon

d fir

etai

l (T

), sp

eckl

ed

warb

ler (T

)Bu

sh st

one-

curle

w (I

, T),

rege

nt h

oney

eate

r (I

, T)

Crim

son

spid

er o

rchi

d (T

), pi

nk-t

ailed

wo

rm-li

zard

(T),

strip

ed le

gles

s liz

ard

(T),

diam

ond

firet

ail (

T),

spec

kled

war

bler

(T)

Squi

rrel g

lider

(I, T

), re

gent

hon

eyea

ter (

I, T

), sw

ift p

arro

t (T

), sp

eckl

ed w

arbl

er (T

), Sl

oane

’s fro

glet

(T)

Brow

n tre

ecre

eper

(T),

gang

-gan

g co

ckat

oo

(I, T

)Sq

uirre

l glid

er (I

, T),

brow

n tre

ecre

eper

(T

), gr

ey-c

rown

ed b

abbl

er (T

), di

amon

d fir

etai

l (T

), sp

eckl

ed w

arbl

er (T

), re

gent

ho

neye

ater

(I, T

)

Boor

oolo

ng fr

og (I

, T)

Boor

oolo

ng fr

og (I

, T)

Boor

oolo

ng fr

og (I

, T)

Alp

ine B

ogs a

nd S

wam

ps en

dang

ered

ec

olog

ical c

omm

unity

(T),

sout

hern

co

rrobo

ree f

rog

(I, T

), alp

ine t

ree f

rog

(T),

alpin

e she

-oak

skin

k (T

), br

oadt

ooth

ed ra

t (T

), th

reat

ened

alpi

ne fl

ora (

T)

Mou

ntai

n py

gmy-

poss

um (I

, T)

Aboriginal community projects

Work with Aboriginal stakeholders to develop projects that contribute to the reintroduction of traditional land management practices and that allow for physical and spiritual input into biodiversity management · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · ·

Actively manage and repair vegetation

Restore and revegetate woodlands · · · · · · · · · · ·Increase the amount of foraging habitat through management and restoration of grasslands, woodlands and forests · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · ·Protect nest sites. Survey and monitor to provide long-term population estimates, nest tree mortality and new nest trees. · · ·Conduct ex situ propagation and reintroduction of threatened flora · · · · ·Identify, protect and increase awareness of the importance of retaining mature trees across agricultural landscapes · · · · · · · ·Actively manage and buffer rocky outcrops ·Maintain fallen coarse woody debris, rocks, leaf litter, and emergent aquatic and fringing vegetation etc., particularly within a 1-kilometre radius of permanent water bodies and throughout ephemeral wetlands · · · · · ·Retain coarse woody debris throughout woodland habitats · · · · · · · · · ·Captive

BreedingConduct Plains-wanderer captive breeding program to research potential effects of locust control insecticides · ·Conduct captive breeding, reintroduction and monitoring of success to supplement local populations · · · ·Facilitate disease resistance through selective breeding and reintroduction ·Manage

impacts from companion animals

Encourage responsible companion animal ownership ·

December 2012 11

Priority management areas for potential investment in iconic and threatened species in the NSW Murray catchment

Broad action Activity Area 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

Loca

tion

Mell

ool–

Cun

niny

euk

area

Mou

lamei

n ar

ea

Barh

am ar

ea

Tulla

kool

–Wak

ool

area

Ba

rnes

Cro

ssin

g Tr

avell

ing

Stoc

k R

eser

ve

Ree

d Be

ds ar

ea

Gul

pa Is

land

and

Mill

ewa f

ores

ts

Wan

gane

lla S

wam

p

Tupp

al ar

ea

Wan

gane

lla–

Jeril

derie

–Mor

unda

h ar

ea

Mul

wala–

Save

rnak

e ar

ea

Mor

unda

h–U

rana

–Sa

vern

ake a

rea

Oak

lands

area

Ura

na ar

ea

Buck

ingb

ong

Stat

e Fo

rest

Cor

owa a

nd N

ulla

Nul

la Sw

amp

Lone

som

e Pin

e Sta

te

Fore

st

Ken

tuck

y St

ate F

ores

t

Galo

re H

ill

Burr

umbu

ttock

to

How

long

area

Jinde

ra ar

ea

Nai

l Can

Hill

Thur

goon

a are

a

Woo

mar

gam

a are

a

Hol

broo

k ar

ea

Jinge

llic,

Cop

pabe

lla

and

Lank

eys c

reek

s M

annu

s and

Sap

ling

Yard

s cre

eks

Mar

agle

and

Mar

agle

Back

cree

ks

Jagu

ngal

Wild

erne

ss

Are

a

Mai

n R

ange

W

ilder

ness

Are

a

Icon

ic (I)

, thre

aten

ed (T

) or s

igni

fican

t (S)

sp

ecies

Sout

hern

bell

frog

(T),

pain

ted

snip

e (T

)

Bush

ston

e-cu

rlew

(I, T

), gr

ey-c

rown

ed

babb

ler (T

)Bu

sh st

one-

curle

w (I

, T),

grey

-cro

wned

ba

bbler

(T),

Gilb

ert’s

whi

stler

(T),

yello

w gu

m (T

)

Sout

hern

bell

frog

(T),

pain

ted

snip

e (T

)

Pras

ophy

llum

sp. ‘M

oam

a’ (T

), tu

rnip

co

pper

burr

(T),

lowl

y gr

eenh

ood

(T)

Aus

tralas

ian

bitte

rn (T

), lit

tle b

itter

n (S

), wh

ite-b

ellie

d se

a eag

le (S

)

Supe

rb p

arro

t (I,

T),

Gilb

ert’s

whi

stler

(T)

Aus

tralas

ian

bitt

ern

(T),

brol

ga (I

, T),

pain

ted

snip

e (T

)Bu

sh st

one-

curle

w (I

, T),

diam

ond

firet

ail

(T),

supe

rb p

arro

t (I,

T)

Riv

erin

e Gra

sslan

d flo

ra (T

), pl

ains

-wa

nder

er (T

), re

d-ch

este

d bu

tton-

quai

l, (S

), ho

oded

scal

y-fo

ot (S

), cu

rl sn

ake (

S)Br

olga

(I, T

), su

perb

par

rot (

I, T

), gr

ey-

crow

ned

babb

ler (T

), ho

oded

robi

n, (T

), sc

arlet

robi

n (T

), fla

me r

obin

(T),

carp

et

pyth

on (S

)Br

olga

(I, T

), R

iver

ine G

rass

land

flora

(T),

plai

ns-w

ande

rer (

T)

Oak

lands

diu

ris o

rchi

d (T

)

Sand

-hill

spid

er o

rchi

d (T

), O

aklan

ds

diur

is or

chid

(T)

Sand

-hill

spid

er o

rchi

d (T

), O

aklan

ds

diur

is or

chid

(T),

diam

ond

firet

ail(T

), ho

oded

robi

n (T

)Sl

oane

’s fro

glet

(T),

brol

ga (I

, T),

pain

ted

snip

e (T

), m

agpi

e goo

se (T

)Sa

nd-h

ill sp

ider

orc

hid

(T),

grey

-cro

wned

ba

bbler

(T),

diam

ond

firet

ail (

T),

spec

kled

wa

rbler

(T)

Hoo

ded

robi

n (T

), sp

eckl

ed w

arbl

er (T

), di

amon

d fir

etai

l (T

), gr

ey-c

rown

ed b

abbl

er

(T)

Glo

ssy

blac

k co

ckat

oo (I

, T),

grey

-cro

wned

ba

bbler

(T),

spec

kled

war

bler

(T)

Squi

rrel g

lider

(I, T

), ca

rpet

pyt

hon

(S),

brow

n tre

ecre

eper

(T),

grey

crow

ned

babb

ler (T

), di

amon

d fir

etai

l (T

), sp

eckl

ed

warb

ler (T

)Bu

sh st

one-

curle

w (I

, T),

rege

nt h

oney

eate

r (I

, T)

Crim

son

spid

er o

rchi

d (T

), pi

nk-t

ailed

wo

rm-li

zard

(T),

strip

ed le

gles

s liz

ard

(T),

diam

ond

firet

ail (

T),

spec

kled

war

bler

(T)

Squi

rrel g

lider

(I, T

), re

gent

hon

eyea

ter (

I, T

), sw

ift p

arro

t (T

), sp

eckl

ed w

arbl

er (T

), Sl

oane

’s fro

glet

(T)

Brow

n tre

ecre

eper

(T),

gang

-gan

g co

ckat

oo

(I, T

)Sq

uirre

l glid

er (I

, T),

brow

n tre

ecre

eper

(T

), gr

ey-c

rown

ed b

abbl

er (T

), di

amon

d fir

etai

l (T

), sp

eckl

ed w

arbl

er (T

), re

gent

ho

neye

ater

(I, T

)

Boor

oolo

ng fr

og (I

, T)

Boor

oolo

ng fr

og (I

, T)

Boor

oolo

ng fr

og (I

, T)

Alp

ine B

ogs a

nd S

wam

ps en

dang

ered

ec

olog

ical c

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Aboriginal community projects

Work with Aboriginal stakeholders to develop projects that contribute to the reintroduction of traditional land management practices and that allow for physical and spiritual input into biodiversity management · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · ·

Actively manage and repair vegetation

Restore and revegetate woodlands · · · · · · · · · · ·Increase the amount of foraging habitat through management and restoration of grasslands, woodlands and forests · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · ·Protect nest sites. Survey and monitor to provide long-term population estimates, nest tree mortality and new nest trees. · · ·Conduct ex situ propagation and reintroduction of threatened flora · · · · ·Identify, protect and increase awareness of the importance of retaining mature trees across agricultural landscapes · · · · · · · ·Actively manage and buffer rocky outcrops ·Maintain fallen coarse woody debris, rocks, leaf litter, and emergent aquatic and fringing vegetation etc., particularly within a 1-kilometre radius of permanent water bodies and throughout ephemeral wetlands · · · · · ·Retain coarse woody debris throughout woodland habitats · · · · · · · · · ·Captive

BreedingConduct Plains-wanderer captive breeding program to research potential effects of locust control insecticides · ·Conduct captive breeding, reintroduction and monitoring of success to supplement local populations · · · ·Facilitate disease resistance through selective breeding and reintroduction ·Manage

impacts from companion animals

Encourage responsible companion animal ownership ·

continued...

Overview New South Wales Murray Biodiversity Management Plan12

Priority management areas for potential investment in iconic and threatened species in the NSW Murray catchment (continued)

Broad action Activity Area 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

Minimise impacts from developments

Minimise damage to known sites and habitat from potential future developments and infrastructure maintenance · ·

Wildlife-friendly fencing

Use ‘glider friendly’ plain top wire in new and existing fencing · · · ·Feral Animal

controlIntegrated and coordinated feral animal control · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · ·Fire

managementAvoid using fire as a hazard reduction measure, particularly around water bodies and through ephemeral wetlands when dry, except when Cumbungi/reeds become too thick and suitable habitats are affected. · · · · ·Use fire as a management tool to maintain the diversity of reeds and rushes habitat and monitor outcomes of fire management for the Australian bittern and other wetland species ·

Grazing management

Minimise impacts of grazing domestic and feral herbivores on threatened species sites. If possible, exclude stock from all or part of threatened species habitat. · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · ·Use grazing as an ecological management tool to maintain habitat structure · · · · · ·Land manager

supportSupport landholders to protect and improve the condition and extent of threatened species habitat including paddock trees · · · · · · · · · · ·Support non-government organisations and government agencies to protect and improve the condition and extent of threatened species habitat · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · ·Work with local community and landholders to increase awareness and participation in threatened species management actions · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · ·

Local population management planning

Identify key woodland bird habitat and develop a local population management plan including an annual monitoring component · · · · · · · · · · · · · · ·Utilise existing conservation strategies and plans ( Thurgoona and Albury Threatened Species Conservation Strategies, plains-wanderer habitat management guide (Parker & Oliver 2007) · · ·

Monitoring Develop, fund and implement a monitoring program to measure the success of management actions · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · ·Monitor pollination and seed-set of threatened flora · · · · · ·Noisy Miner

management Assess the potential impact of noisy miners on woodland bird populations and implement appropriate noisy miner management actions. · · · · · · · · · ·

Water allocation

Use water allocation licence arrangements to divert sufficient water into threatened species habitat to allow threatened species to breed · · · · · · · ·

Weed management

Control weeds including St John’s Wort, blackberry and willows · · · · · · · · · · ·Eradicate orange hawkweed ·

December 2012 13

Priority management areas for potential investment in iconic and threatened species in the NSW Murray catchment (continued)

Broad action Activity Area 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

Minimise impacts from developments

Minimise damage to known sites and habitat from potential future developments and infrastructure maintenance · ·

Wildlife-friendly fencing

Use ‘glider friendly’ plain top wire in new and existing fencing · · · ·Feral Animal

controlIntegrated and coordinated feral animal control · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · ·Fire

managementAvoid using fire as a hazard reduction measure, particularly around water bodies and through ephemeral wetlands when dry, except when Cumbungi/reeds become too thick and suitable habitats are affected. · · · · ·Use fire as a management tool to maintain the diversity of reeds and rushes habitat and monitor outcomes of fire management for the Australian bittern and other wetland species ·

Grazing management

Minimise impacts of grazing domestic and feral herbivores on threatened species sites. If possible, exclude stock from all or part of threatened species habitat. · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · ·Use grazing as an ecological management tool to maintain habitat structure · · · · · ·Land manager

supportSupport landholders to protect and improve the condition and extent of threatened species habitat including paddock trees · · · · · · · · · · ·Support non-government organisations and government agencies to protect and improve the condition and extent of threatened species habitat · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · ·Work with local community and landholders to increase awareness and participation in threatened species management actions · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · ·

Local population management planning

Identify key woodland bird habitat and develop a local population management plan including an annual monitoring component · · · · · · · · · · · · · · ·Utilise existing conservation strategies and plans ( Thurgoona and Albury Threatened Species Conservation Strategies, plains-wanderer habitat management guide (Parker & Oliver 2007) · · ·

Monitoring Develop, fund and implement a monitoring program to measure the success of management actions · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · ·Monitor pollination and seed-set of threatened flora · · · · · ·Noisy Miner

management Assess the potential impact of noisy miners on woodland bird populations and implement appropriate noisy miner management actions. · · · · · · · · · ·

Water allocation

Use water allocation licence arrangements to divert sufficient water into threatened species habitat to allow threatened species to breed · · · · · · · ·

Weed management

Control weeds including St John’s Wort, blackberry and willows · · · · · · · · · · ·Eradicate orange hawkweed ·

Overview New South Wales Murray Biodiversity Management Plan14

For more examples and case studies, see Chapter 6 of the Murray BMP

Are you interested in managing native vegetation to maintain or

improve biodiversity? You can use the Murray BMP to assess the relative

biodiversity values of a site.

Using the Murray BMP to make investment decisionsThe Murray BMP aims to help investors prioritise biodiversity management actions across the NSW Murray catchment. The maps and other information can help you assess the relative biodiversity values of a site or local landscape, and decide where to invest resources to achieve the best outcomes for biodiversity.

These scenarios show how the information in the Murray BMP can be used to address specific questions.

Scenario 1: Understanding the biodiversity value of a siteYou can contact Murray CMA or the Office of Environment and Heritage for advice on specific sites or species.

What you need to know Where to find it in the Murray BMP

What type of vegetation is on your site?Some types of vegetation are rare or have special values that are targeted by funding bodies for management.

Chapter 2 has information and maps that describe the different vegetation formations in the region. Chapter 5 contains an indicative map of endangered ecological communities.

What is the condition of native vegetation on your site?This affects the types and numbers of plants and animals that the site supports. Understanding the condition of the vegetation will help identify whether you need to manage the site to maintain or improve its current state, or whether you need to repair it (e.g. by planting shrubs or altering grazing regimes).

A vegetation condition map is provided in Chapter 2. Chapter 4 has information about important local habitat features that influence the abundance and diversity of plants and animals.

Is the site in a high-priority Active Management or Repair area?

Chapter 4 shows maps of priority areas for Active Management and Repair of native vegetation in the NSW Murray catchment.

Is the vegetation formation on the site in a high-priority Active Management or Repair area for that particular vegetation formation?

Chapter 2 describes vegetation formations. Chapter 4 and its appendices contain maps of priority areas for Active Management and Repair for the 11 vegetation formations in the NSW Murray catchment.

Is the site a priority in any of the other identified areas and landscapes of importance to biodiversity?

Chapter 4 and its appendices show maps and other information identified in other biodiversity projects, including key wildlife movement corridors, local landscapes with high biodiversity values in the Woomargama and Jindera areas, the Statewide Native Vegetation Management Benefits map (www.environment.nsw.gov.au/research/AncillaryVegetationProductsDataInventory.htm), and Important Bird Areas.

Do you have threatened species on or close to your site?The presence of threatened species indicates that the site supports significant biodiversity. It can also be an added bonus for attracting funding for habitat management.

Chapter 5 contains a map and lists of management actions for each of the 30 management areas identified for threatened and significant species.You can find out about which threatened species might occur locally by accessing the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage website at www.environment.nsw.gov.au/threatenedspecies.

December 2012 15

Is your community interested in improving biodiversity in your local area? You can use the Murray BMP

to assess the relative biodiversity values of public lands.

Are you interested in improving the extent and

condition of native vegetation for other reasons, such as climate change

resilience, carbon sequestration or management of erosion or salinity?

You can use the Murray BMP to identify sites that will also

improve biodiversity.

Scenario 2: Optimising biodiversity outcomes by re-establishing native vegetationA range of current and emerging funding opportunities exists for landholders to re-establish vegetation on their properties for land management reasons other than biodiversity. If these projects are well designed and located, they can also improve biodiversity by increasing landscape connectivity and extent of native vegetation, and improve condition of native vegetation.

What you need to know Where to find it in the Murray BMP

Is the site a priority for Active Management?Active Management sites need management to maintain their current condition; this may include revegetation, weed and pest control or grazing management. Revegetation at these sites is usually understorey restoration to replace shrubs or herbs that have declined at the site.

Chapter 4 presents maps of priority areas for Active Management of native vegetation in the NSW Murray catchment.

Is the site a high priority for Repair?Repair sites need restoration planting to increase the extent, condition, connectivity and spatial configuration of native vegetation. These may include plantings for carbon sequestration or management of salinity or erosion.

Chapter 4 presents maps of priority areas for Repair of native vegetation in the NSW Murray catchment.

Scenario 3: Improving biodiversity on public landsCommunities across the NSW Murray catchment can improve biodiversity by managing native vegetation or social, cultural and spiritual assets that relate to biodiversity. This includes Aboriginal communities who want to manage Country for cultural purposes. You may be able to manage biodiversity on public lands by working in partnership with the public land managers.

What you need to know Where to find it in the Murray BMP

What are the public land sites in your area? Chapter 2 has maps of public land in the NSW Murray catchment that show national parks and reserves, travelling stock reserves, Crown reserves, flora reserves, state forests, Crown land, and land vested with the minister for future management by Aboriginal communities.

What sites or types of sites in your region have the community identified as important?

Chapter 2 and its appendices discuss sites that the Murray community identified as important to biodiversity, including cultural and spiritual assets.

How do the sites contribute to biodiversity at the local and catchment scale?

Scenario 1 can help you build a picture of the biodiversity values on your sites, as well as how the site can contribute more broadly to the biodiversity of the NSW Murray catchment if it is managed under a community project.

Contact us for more information, including access to raw data, at:

Murray Catchment Management Authority 315 Victoria Street PO Box 835 Deniliquin NSW 2710 Phone: 03 5880 1400 Fax: 03 5880 1444 Email: murray@cma.nsw.gov.au

Office of Environment and Heritage Level 3, 11 Farrer Place Queanbeyan NSW 2620 Phone: 02 6229 7112

This document is an overview of the information detailed in the New South Wales Murray Biodiversity Management Plan and its associated appendices.

For a complete version of the New South Wales Murray Biodiversity Management Plan (the Murray BMP) and associated technical papers, visit www.murray.cma.nsw.gov.au.

© Murray Catchment Management Authority 2012

This document was prepared by officers of the Murray Catchment Management Authority and the Office of Environment and Heritage in good faith, exercising due care and attention. Neither Murray Catchment Management Authority, the Office of Environment and Heritage nor its officers or staff accept responsibility for inaccurate or incomplete information. There are limitations inherent in natural resource information, such as accuracy in relation to map scale. Readers should seek professional advice when applying this information to their specific circumstances.

Murray Catchment Management Authority and the Office of Environment and Heritage are pleased to allow this material to be reproduced in whole or in part for educational and non-commercial use, provided the meaning is unchanged and its source, publisher and authorship are acknowledged.

Murray Catchment Management Authority & Office of Environment and Heritage 2012, New South Wales Murray Biodiversity Management Plan: A guide to terrestrial biodiversity investment priorities in the central and eastern NSW Murray catchment—overview, Murray Catchment Management Authority, Albury.

ISBN (print) 978-0-9807282-6-2 ISBN (electronic) 978-0-9807282-5-5

Cover images: Linda Broome, Matt Cameron, Martin Driver, M Feierabend, David Hunter, Natasha Lappin, Damon Oliver, David Parker, Chris Tzaros, Sandra Walpole

Additional images: Harvey Johnston, Natasha Lappin, Lorraine Oliver, Elisa Tack, Chris Tzaros, Sandra Walpole

Editing and design by Biotext Pty Ltd, Canberra

December 2012

New South Wales Murray

Overview

Biodiversity Management PlanA guide to terrestrial biodiversity investment

priorities in the central and eastern NSW Murray catchment