NSW WILDERNESS RED INDEX

Published by the Colong Foundation for Wilderness Ltd (September 1999)
2/332 Pitt Street Sydney NSW 2000 ph 02 9261 2400; fax 02 9261 2144
email keith@colongwilderness.org.au web site colongwilderness.org.au

Wilderness Declared:

Gibraltar Range, Nymboida and Barool National Parks;

Wilderness Not Declared:

National Park;

State Forest;

Leasehold Land;

Freehold Land;

DESCRIPTION:

The Bindery Wilderness lies on the north-eastern edge of the New England Tableland. During the Mesozoic, and until the end of the Permian Age, the area now occupied by the New England Tableland was a large trough, periodically flooded by oceans and large seas. From time to time it was also covered by terrestrial sediments. The New England Batholith intruded and uplifted into these marine and terrestrial sediments at the end of the Permian age, bringing to an end this period of deposition.

Many subdivisions of the main batholith and associated intrusions are found in the area. One of these, the Dandahra Creek Granite is a prominent structural feature of the Gibraltar Range. The granite plateau in the north-west of the wilderness area is characterised by tors, forming spectacular rock formations such as Old Man's Hat and the Needles.

The Great Escarpment wraps around the granite plateau and thence heads south along the Demon Fault and is broken up by deep gorges and valleys.

The Mann and Nymboida Rivers are wild and scenic rivers which cut through the centre of the area. The Nymboida River is considered one of the best for canoe touring in NSW The Mann has worn a valley through Ordovician sedimentary rocks, but as it approaches its junction with the Nymboida it cuts through the granite of the Gibraltar Range. The two rivers meet here and flow on over the rocky cascade called New Zealand Falls, to join the Clarence at Jackadery.

The diversity of soils, topography and climate combine to provide a range of habitats supporting an outstanding array of plant communities.

Five distinct vegetation groups occur in the area. These are: the Granitic Plateau unit, consisting of a complex mosaic of sedge swamps, heath, mallee, shrubby woodland, open forest and occasional rainforest; the Sedimentary Plateau unit, including warm temperate rainforest, some subtropical rainforest and tall open forest of New England Blackbutt (Eucalyptus andrewsii); the Moist Escarpment unit in the steep drop off from the plateau to the Mann River valley and Cooraldooral Creek, consisting of tall open forest of Tallowwood (E. microcorys), Blue Gum (E. saligna), and Brush Box (Lophostemon confertus), with rainforest in valley bottoms; the Dry Valley unit on the steep slopes on the southern side of the Mann River Valley and Cooraldooral Creek consisting of woodlands and open forests of Pink Bloodwood (E. gumnifera), Broad-leaved White Mahogany, Grey Gum, Grey Ironbark, Large fruited Blackbutt, Coastal Grey Box and Spotted Gum, and rainforest including localised stands of Yellow Carrabeen-Corkwood (Endiandra sieberi) and Black Booyong; and the Cunglebung Catchment Unit distinguished by taller open forests containing Spotted Gum, Grey Gum, Narrow-leaved White Mahogany, Grey Ironbark and Brush Box.

The area is in a biogeographic region that has a high biodiversity and concentration of threatened animal species, and is recognised as the second most important area in Australia for high priority species.

Twenty-eight species of animals listed as Threatened Fauna under Schedules 1 and 2 of the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1996 are recorded from the area. These include: one species, the Hastings River Mouse, listed in imminent danger of extinction; one endangered fish, the Eastern Freshwater Cod; nine endangered fauna, the Long-nosed Potoroo and Brush-tailed Rock Wallaby, the Parma Wallaby, Dwarf-crowned Snake, Pacific Baza, Peregrine Falcon, Wompoo Fruit Dove, Powerful Owl and Rufous Scrub-bird; fifteen have been listed as fauna of special concern; and two as protected frogs, the Pouched or Marsupial Frog and Litoria glanulosa.

In addition, ten species have regional significance due to ongoing threats to their habitats and existence or that they have relatively low populations in NSW.

LAND USE HISTORY:

The Bindery (Mann) area contains archaeological evidence of Aboriginal occupation for 4,000 years. Open campsites are well preserved in the Mann River terraces and sources of stone blades and axes are found on areas of abundantly available river gravels. Other stone artefact sites occur on the higher ridgelines, possibly indicating the presence of camps used en route to the tablelands.

Grazing

Forestry

Mining

HISTORY OF CONSERVATION MEASURES:

THREATS:

Recommendations: That the state forest gazetted over leasehold lands in the Bindery Wilderness be revoked and the reinstated logging moratorium continue until the lands can be voluntarily acquired under the Dunphy or Occupational Permit compensation Fund and subsequently added to the NPWS estate.

Recommendations: Grazing licences in the Bimbery-Mann Wilderness should not be renewed on expiry and leases voluntarily acquired using the Dunphy Wilderness Fund. Until then, stock numbers should not exceed carrying capacity of unimproved rough grazing in state forests. Wilderness Conservation Agreements should also be negotiated by the NPWS with the landholders remaining within wilderness. The Forestry Commission should not issue any clearing licences for vacant crown and leasehold land within wilderness areas.

Recommendations: Use of national parks and wilderness areas should be managed so that the benefit of doubt lies with the ecology of the area and not with potentially damaging land use. Exotic bees are understood to compete with native bees, the essential agents of pollination of several native species. Bee hives should be relocated away from the wilderness until independent research demonstrates that honey bees do not adversely affect biodiversity.

Recommendations: Dams and their impoundments are incompatible with wilderness management. Better management of water resources, including application of a water pricing policy which reflects the true cost of water, will avoid the need for more dams. Diversion of more water to western streams for irrigation will raise inland watertables thereby increasing salination and land degradation. The water is better used downstream where these problems do not arise. Hydroelectric power generation is more costly than encouraging energy conservation and regulating energy use to reduce peak demand.

Recommendations: Four wheel drives may use the public roads within the Gibraltar and Nymboida National Parks but be excluded from the Bindery Wilderness.

Recommendations: Fire trails within the national park, and especially the Bindery Wilderness, be closed to private vehicles. Fire management should be performed on properties adjoining the national park from perimeter fire trails. Fuel-reduction burns should be undertaken where they are most effective, that is close to the assets being protected (e.g. towns and pine plantations). Most wildfires burn into parks, not the other way around, and broad-area control burns of wilderness are ineffective in controlling such external fires.

Within the national park, fire management should seek to maximise biodiversity.

Recommendations: The radio tower should be relocated to a less environmentall sensitive area at the end of its useful life, or before, if technological change. The NPWS should oppose the renewal of leases and licences for telecommunication facilities in wilderness areas.

CONTACT ORGANISATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS

National Parks Association
Clarence Valley Branch
P O Box 63
COUTTS CROSSING NSW 2460
Contact: Greg Clancy Ph: 02 6649 3153
Fax: 02 6649 3051

North East Forest Alliance
Big Scrub Environment Centre
123 Keen Street
LISMORE NSW 2480
Contact: Susie Russell Ph: (W) 02 6550 4481
Mob: 018 672 044
Fax: 02 6550 4433

Colong Foundation for Wilderness Ltd
Level 2, 332 Pitt Street
SYDNEY NSW 2000
Contact: Keith Muir (Director) Ph: 02 9261 2400
Fax: 02 9261 2144
e-mail keith@colongwilderness.org.au

RELEVANT CORRESPONDENCE:

Parliamentary Questions: The Hon Richard Jones MLC to the Minister for the Environment (5) and the Minister for Conservation and Land Management (12), August 21, 1991 FAXed to the Colong Foundation.

RELEVANT COLONG BULLETIN ARTICLES:

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