Manyana Beach Estate: Scrub Turpentine, swift parrot under threat from clearing
The survival of a critically endangered plant tucked away in a corner of the South Coast and parrot which migrates through the area depends on a proposed housing development approved a decade ago.
The South Coast News
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The future of a critically endangered plant and a parrot which uses the South Coast region - ravaged by bushfire - as a migrating channel could become locally extinct if a site earmarked for 182 new homes goes ahead, an ecologist has warned.
The scrub turpentine, only found north of Batemans Bay and inland of Bundaberg in Queensland, and the swift parrot will be under threat if 20 hectares of bushland is cleared to make way for the Manyana Beach Estate housing development, local ecologist Brendan Ryan.
Approved more than a decade ago, the development will create 182 new housing lots.
However, after recent protests from concerned community residents last week, developer Ozy Homes put the project on hold, while negotiations take place.
Residents took up yoga, rode bikes, walked with their surfboards under arms as they peacefully protested over a few days against the first stage of the development.
The 20-hectare plot, adjacent to Berringer Rd, is one of a few areas of bushland untouched by the devastating Currowan bushfire which tore through the area on New Year’s Eve and January 4.
Local ecologist Brendan Ryan said after the recent catastrophic bushfires, the scrub turpentine on the site could be the last remaining population in the region.
“If the clearing is allowed to proceed this could cause scrub turpentine to become locally extinct. This may have national ramifications for the conservation of this species,” Mr Ryan said.
Around Australia, the small tree has been heavily impacted by an introduced fungus called myrtle rust.
“If the Manyana population has shown resistance to the disease, it could be highly significant,” said Mr Ryan, who is not aware of any recent surveys in the area done on the species.
The scrub turpentine does not start flowering until late winter. It also does not cope with fire like other myrtaceae species such as eucalypts.
Mr Ryan said the plant was just one of several conservation-dependent species he’s aware of in the area, with the greater glider and swift parrot also recorded on the site.
The patches of unburnt forest from the Victorian border through to the Illawarra are “pretty important stepping stones” for the migrating parrot.
“The critically endangered swift parrot is in the middle of its migration period,” he said. “Given the recent bushfires in this area, for this species it is critical that patches of known foraging are retained during their migration.”
A report commissioned by Birdlife Shoalhaven says the ability of the swift parrot to survive its non-breeding season on the south coast is linked “very strongly” to foraging available from the flowering of forest trees.
“The late summer flowering species, scribbly gum and red bloodwood were extensively damaged by bushfire,”conservation officer Chris Grounds reported. “The iconic corymbia maculata, spotted gum, a classic South Coast tree, is flowering at this time for the first time since 2015 and has been providing excellent foraging and recovery for birds.
“However, it is a species that has been extensively damaged by the bushfires and just prior to the flowering, so this habitat and foraging has been lost, not just to this species but a wide range of fauna.
“In the circumstances of 2020 in the Shoalhaven, destruction of vegetation community – habitat, acting as refugia for bird and other fauna is highly unacceptable in terms of both current food source and in the recovery of fire affected areas and can exacerbate the risk to threatened species.”
NSW Planning Minister Rob Stokes has been invited to meet Greens MP David Shoebridge, Shoalhaven Council mayor Amanda Findley, developer Ozy Homes and Manyana Matters community group.
On Tuesday, Shoalhaven Councillors supported a moratorium on land clearing at the Manyana site.
It also voted to make urgent representations to Mr Stokes in respect to the moratorium and to discuss the purchase of the block for consideration to add to the Lake Conjola National Park.
Manyana residents are pleased with the news that Mr Stokes, will attend this week's urgent meeting
Manyana community spokesperson Jorj Lowrey says it is critical that Mr Stokes is part of the discussion, as the fate of this project ultimately lies with him.
"The Manyana Beach Estate is a project that was approved by the NSW Government more than a decade ago. There is currently no provision in legislation to have the Environmental Impact Statement for this project reviewed in light of the devastation caused by this summer's bushfires. That's just not right,” she said.
"Minister Stokes has the opportunity to rectify this situation now for the benefit of this bushfire-affected community."
Ozy Homes has been approached for comment.