NSW WILDERNESS RED INDEX

Published by the Colong Foundation for Wilderness (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:

None

Wilderness Not Declared:

Torrington State Recreation Area and addition;

Torrington State Forest;

Crown Reserve;

Leasehold land;

Freehold land;

DESCRIPTION:

The Binghi wilderness nomination is situated almost entirely on the Mole Batholith. Suspended in the middle of this granite pluton is a 500 hectare residual sedimentary plateau of mudstones and siltstones. Weathering of this coarse granite has made a landscape of great tors, curving domes and slabs. Amongst these are sets of parallel joints which have fixed the drainage pattern. Tributaries of the Beardy, Mole and Dumaresq Rivers rise here, sometimes flowing in broad valleys, sometimes hemmed in by bare bluffs, and descending over cataracts and small falls to lower country.

The rugged topography of the area, the low fertility of the granitic soils, an elevation range of over 700 metres and strong east-west temperature and rainfall gradients contribute to the extreme floristic diversity of the area. Over 430 plants have been recorded within the wilderness and the surrounding lands, 36 species are classified as threatened. Almost half of these are unrepresented in nature conservation reserves.

There are three distinct habitats in the nomination, with plant composition generally changing from east to west. In the east of the wilderness area the granite supports forest, woodland, rocky heath, swamp and wet heath. Dominant trees include: Torrington stringybark (Eucalyptus stannicola), New England stringybark (E. calignosa), New England blackbutt (E. andrewsii), crooked orange gum (E. prava), black pine (Callitris endlicheri) and brown round-leaf gum (E. brunnea). In low lying areas dominant trees include: rough-barked apple (Angophora floribunda), apple box (E. bridgesiana), and Blakely's red gum (E. blakelyi). The drier west of the nomination shows a transition to a predominance of woodland with small areas of heath amongst rock outcrops. Main tree species in the west are black pine, Caley's ironbark (E. caleyi) and Hill red gum (E. dealbata) with patches of New England blackbutt.

In addition the Binghi area is characterised by a well developed, species rich shrub layer. This shrub layer contains many threatened plants, including: Boronia granatica, Prostanthera teretifolia, Pultenaea stuartiana, and Dodonaea hirsuta.

The diversity of habitats and plant communities present in the wilderness area has led to a corresponding diversity of fauna. Within the Binghi Wilderness Area 21 native mammals, 133 native birds, 29 native reptiles and 13 native frogs have been found. Of these fauna 14 species are listed on Schedules 1 and 2 of the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1996. These include: Regent Honeyeater (Xanthomyza phrygia), Powerful Owl (Ninox strenua), Glossy Black Cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus lathami), Turquoise Parrot (Neophema pulchella), Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus), Rufous Bettong (Aepyprymnus rufescens), Tiger Quoll (Dasyurus maculatus), the Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) and Common Bent-wing Bat (Nyctophilus bifax). Another species of interest present in the area is the Fawn-footed Melomys (Melomys cervinipes).

The area is also important because 65 species (one third of the total vertebrate fauna) are at or near their distribution limits here.

LAND USE HISTORY:

Some of the area's Crown leases date back to the 1930's, but most date from the 1970's and later, with sheep grazing being the predominant pastoral activity.

HISTORY OF CONSERVATION MEASURES:

THREATS:

The Binghi wilderness is subject to major threats from mineral exploitation and conversion of leasehold to freehold land.

The mining industry claims the area has a class 1 mining capability rating, with the potential for discovery of rare types of minerals being highly probable. This rating has been supported by the NSW Department of Lands Torrington Region Draft Land Assessment. Commodities identified include tin, bismuth, tungsten, uranium, copper, silver, gold, rare earth elements (in monazite), molybdenite, zinc, fluorite, topaz, beryl, garnet and zircon.

Large mining companies have applied for exploration licences over the Binghi Wilderness, in order to determine the possibility of a large open cut mine. Within the Torrington Pendant, the mining industry claims there exists the world's largest known silexite (quartz-topaz rock) deposit. This material is being assessed by Pacific Copper and Topalite Resources for use in refractory porcelain. RZM (Newcastle) Pty Ltd has applied for five exploration licence for zircon over 1,200 sq km, including two over the Binghi wilderness.

Recommendations: The above mentioned mining potential is in stark contrast to the actual level of mining activity in recent years. The area has been explored for over 100 years and no substantial mining development has occurred in the wilderness. The claimed mining potential should not continue to dictate the fate of the area. Existing mining tenements should be cancelled on expiry, and in no circumstances should be converted to freehold land. The cancelled mining inholdings should then be added to the Binghi Wilderness.

The department of Land and Water Conservation can issue clearing licences over Crown land. The issue of these licences often precedes applications for conversion of Crown leases, Permissive Occupancies and Vacant Crown Land to freehold title. The issue of licences has caused fragmentation of the Crown estate, adversely affecting wilderness qualities. Freeholding of Crown land has occurred on both sides of the Beardy River gorge, which offers the most spectacular scenery in the area.

While some of the leaseholders in the western and southern parts of the area have indicated they would like to sell their leases to the National Parks and Wildlife Service, others have engaged in illegal or unwise clearing of land. Since many of the area's endangered plants are found only in isolated patches around the margins of the wilderness, they are at particular risk.

A major threat to the Binghi Wilderness is the conversion of leasehold land to freehold. In July 1990 the Premier of NSW announced a moratorium on conversion of leasehold land to freehold in wilderness areas. The Torrington Region Draft Land Assessment identified 26 crown leases in the area, 12 wholly or partly within the identified Binghi Wilderness, and 14 in the area surrounding the reserve. Four leases within the wilderness and ten outside the wilderness have applied for conversion. Conversion of leasehold land to freehold both within the Wilderness area and in adjoining areas makes control of adverse impacts more difficult and will increase the cost of future expansion of the wilderness. In 1993 these lands were temporarily protected from disposal by a resolution of Parliament. The Moratorium has been extended indefinitely by the Carr Government.

Recommendations: Torrington State Recreation area should be gazetted as National Park and Binghi Wilderness be declared as soon as possible. Where current land use is inconsistent with wilderness and natural resource reservation, dedication shall serve to remind land managers that these uses should be of a short term nature, being inconsistent with the protection of the region’s primary heritage values.

No further clearing licences should be issued in the area of the Beardy River National Park proposal and the Binghi Wilderness. Leasehold and Vacant Crown lands within the Binghi Wilderness and Beardy River National Park proposal to be reserved from sale.

All permissive occupancies in the park and wilderness areas to be cancelled immediately. All terminating Crown Leases and Special Leases not to be renewed on expiry. In the meantime, stock numbers on these leases not to exceed to carrying capacity of the unimproved land.

Freehold lands and perpetual leases within the wilderness and national park proposal should be acquired for nature conservation and wilderness preservation purposes, with tracts along the Beardy River gorge acquired as a matter of priority.

Recommendation: Use of national parks and wilderness areas should be managed so that the benefit of doubt lies with the protection of the natural environment, not with exploitative land use. Accordingly, bee hives should be relocated away from the national park proposal, unless and until independent research proves that honey bees do not have an effect on biodiversity.

Recommendations: This use could continue in the wilderness and National Park provided no tools are used, including spades, and that fossickers do not remove specimens but return them to where they were found after examining them. In the case of the wilderness area, no access by vehicle or horseback would be permitted. Use would need to be monitored to ensure there is no environmental damage. As about half the fossicking areas are in the wilderness. This policy would have the effect of protecting these areas for future generations.

Recommendations: There should be no horseriding in the proposed Beardy River National Park or Binghi Wilderness Area.

Four wheel drives, like all other vehicles may use the public roads within the current State Recreation Area and proposed National Park but must be excluded from the Binghi Wilderness.

Recommendations: Fire trails within the national park proposal, and especially the Binghi Wilderness be closed and allowed to regenerate. Fire management should be performed on lands adjoining the national park from perimeter fire trails.

Within the national park, fire management should maximise biodiversity. Where absolutely necessary, helicopter landing areas could be maintained on already degraded areas for fire control.

The protection of wilderness values in fire management plans needs to be a priority. During fire emergencies bulldozers should not be allowed to scar the scenery by cutting fire control lines on steep slopes. All too often these measures fail to contain a wildfire. Decisions on damaging suppression practices should be addressed during management planning, not in a fire crisis. Except for fire trails in perimeter areas, trails constructed during fire fighting operations should be closed and rehabilitated immediately following the operation.

CONTACT ORGANISATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS:

North East Forest Alliance
123 Keen St
LISMORE NSW 2480
Contact: John Corkill Ph: 02 6622 4737
FAX: 02 6622 2676
e-mail brushbox@mail.nrg.com.au

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

RELEVANT CORRESPONDENCE

Submission on the Torrington Region Draft Land Assessment, Colong Foundation September 1991.

Submission on the Binghi Wilderness Assessment, Colong Foundation October 1992.

RELEVANT ARTICLES:

Peter Wright, 1992, "Conservation Goes West", in the National Parks Journal, 36 no.6, pp 18-21.

Colong Bulletin, 141, p.4-5 "The NSW Aboriginal Land Rights Act"

Colong Bulletin, 142, p.3 "Wilderness Last - if Ever"

Colong Bulletin, 146, p.1 "Wilderness Minimised"

Colong Bulletin, 147, p1-2 "Premier Censured for Breach of Promise", also p.5 "The Fahey Government’s Wilderness".

Colong Bulletin, 151, p.6 "Labor’s Wilderness Moratorium".

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