The
new Maroota Ridge Sate Conservation Area was gazetted on the 27th
January 2006. The reserve is approximately 260 ha and is located
in the Baulkham Hills local government area. The area is located
on the eastern side of the Hawkesbury River at South Maroota in
the Sydney Bioregion.
Why a state conservation area (SCA) and not a national park or
nature reserve?
1.
The Department of Mines has an interest in the area which can be
accommodated through this reserve category.
2. SCA's are reserved to conserve natural and cultural heritage
and provide opportunities for sustainable visitor use.
The reserve is described as:
Flora
- species rich communities including Sydney Sandstone Gully Forest,
Ridgetop Woodland and Heath and Shale Sandstone Transition Forest.
Fauna - potential koala habitat as described by SEPP 44
and suitable habitat for the endangered Glossy Black Cockatoo,
Powerful Owl and Yellow-Bellied Glider.
Geology - Hornsby Plateau dominated by Triassic Hawkesbury
Sandstone.
Cultural Heritage - significant sites and places are very
likely to occur, with formal surveys yet to be undertaken.
Neighbours - include freehold properties along Wisemans
Ferry Rd and the more recent subdivision of Charcoal Rd, plus
a caravan and motorcycle park adjacent to the river to the west.
Management:
The Parks and Wildlife Division of the Department of Environment
and Conservation, Lower Hawkesbury Area will manage the reserve.
Primary contact and management responsibility will be based out
of Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park. Negotiations will be taking
place with the Cumberland North Area, based out of Scheyville National
Park, in regards to first response arrangements for fires and other
incidents. The Department is currently gathering information, meeting
with neighbours and relevant authorities, and looking at on-ground
works required. Top priorities are to develop a Fire Management
Strategy, overall plan for management and pest control programs.
AT4
'Adopt A Trail'
Over
recent months, club delegate Edward Emery has been liaising with
NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service in relation to their "Adopt
A Trail" policies. The idea behind it stems from the problems
NPWS face with having to constantly monitor and maintain the vast
amounts of tracks, trails and land that they are responsible for.
By allowing the AT4 Club to access a predetermined area, NPWS are
then able to utilise us in assisting with the clearing and removal
of weeds, monitoring who has access to the area and the general
condition of the land. In return the Club is given the privilege
of being able to access 'locked gate' trails and tracks that we
can actually drive our vehicles down. The Club then duly reports
back to NPWS in regard to ease of vehicular access and overall condition
of the trails and tracks.
On
Saturday 3rd May the AT4 Club got together and, under the guidance
of NPWS Ranger Tegan Burton, began our first of what will be many
Club days working together at clearing the large mass of Lantana
that has taken over significant parts of the recently gazetted Maroota
Ridge State Conservation Area. We then plan to drive down some nearby
chosen tracks and report on their current conditions.
