Teacher guide to Namoi ‘special place’
Background document
Site 2: Carinda Road Travelling Stock Route, Walgett
2.1
Introduction
Welcome to the ‘Special place’ pack for Carinda Travelling Stock Route (TSR) near Walgett.
Though isolated, Carinda is an important part of a network of areas of remnant vegetation.
When visiting, you will study two endangered vegetation communities; this type of vegetation
adds value to the region, by providing important services to the agriculture industry and local
communities (e.g. the woodland provides habitat for bats, which help farmers by reducing
numbers of insect pests). The surveys undertaken during the visit can be used to evaluate the
environmental services this remnant provides to those who live around it.
At this site, you can compare the scale and nature of the remnant natural vegetation of the
flood plain with the productive agricultural landscape. Students can undertake field tasks from
the activities in the education package. The tasks can be completed as individual or combined
components over one or multiple day trips, depending on student numbers, time constraints
and teacher support.
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Special features of Carinda Road TSR
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Close proximity to Walgett – approximately 4.5 km south
Quiet – away from busy roads
Free access
Wheelchair access may be possible for parts of the Carinda Road TSR activities; however,
assessing the area before the trip is recommended as the unsealed road and track may have
access limitations
Supports high-quality remnants of two endangered ecological communities (EECs) – weeping
myall woodland and coolibah–black box woodland
Supports a high diversity of plants (native grasses, herbs, shrubs and trees) and animals (birds,
mammals, frogs and reptiles)
The Carinda Road TSR is an area of land that was designated under the Crown Lands Act
1989, as part of an extensive network of Crown land throughout New South Wales (NSW) for
the use of travelling livestock (Fig. 2.1). Because the land they cover is publicly owned, TSRs
have often not been cleared or improved with pasture species. Thus, original native vegetation
has inadvertently been conserved on these routes – about 80% of TSRs preserve vegetation
communities of high conservation status (Smiles et al. 2011). The routes are important
because they provide habitat and refuge for plants and animals. They also act as ‘corridors’ to
connect different areas of native bushland – for example, linking nature reserves and national
parks – and thus make it easier for plants and animals to disperse or migrate (Smiles et al.
2011). This connectivity is particularly important within a landscape dominated by cleared
agricultural land and other human infrastructure. TSRs are also used for a range of
recreational and educational activities such as walking, running, picnicking, swimming, horse
riding, fishing, cycling, bird watching and environmental studies.
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Figure 2.1
Map of travelling stock routes – NSW (Smiles et al. 2011)
A network of TSRs criss-cross western NSW.
The TSR at Carinda Road is a strip of land about 400 m wide that extends about 2 km eastwest of the Carinda–Walgett Road, joining it with the Castlereagh Highway. The TSR joins
other TSR land parcels running north and south along both the Carinda–Walgett Road and the
Castlereagh Highway (Fig. 2.2). If looked at in Google Earth, these land parcels can clearly
be seen as vegetated land within a landscape of cleared agricultural land.
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Figure 2.2
Satellite image showing approximate location of some of the local Walgett
district TSRs within a landscape of agricultural land
Modified from http://maps.six.nsw.gov.au/ and Google Earth – TSRs shown with green dashed lines.
While at the site you will see physical signs of pre-European Aboriginal occupation. In the
woodland, 400-year-old trees that are still standing tell some of the story of the Kamilaroi
(also known as Gomilaroi and other spellings) people in the area. Visitors can also learn first
hand the vastly different ways the two cultures – the Kamilaroi and the current residents –
manage the landscape. One difference is that the Kamilaroi were able to make use of trees
without destroying them. For example, bark was removed to make canoes, coolamons
(shallow vessels) and even shields, leaving a scar on the tree. The scarred tree continued to
live and thus to provide other environmental services (e.g. shade, firewood and even oxygen
to breathe). In modern European land use, vegetation is removed or severely altered to
provide a landscape suitable for agricultural purposes; these changes mean that other
environmental services are lost from the landscape.
2.2
Flora of Carinda Road TSR
Carinda Road TSR contains remnants of weeping myall woodland (Fig. 2.3) and coolibah–
black box woodland (Fig. 2.4). Weeping myall (Fig. 2.5) is the dominant plant of the weeping
myall woodland and is easily identified by its drooping foliage (Fig. 2.6) and yellow wattle
flowers. Coolibah (Fig. 2.7) and black box (Figs 2.7 and 2.8) form woodlands that are often
located on low-lying, seasonally inundated land (these trees can easily be distinguished; black
box has rough bark to the smallest branches whereas coolibah has smooth and whitish smaller
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branches; also, coolibah fruits are usually slightly smaller). In contrast, weeping myall
woodland will occur on land that is rarely flooded (DSEWPAC 2011). Both communities are
considered to be EECs (OEH 2011a, b). The NSW Threatened Species Conservation Act
1995 (TSC Act) defines an ecological community as ‘an assemblage of species occupying a
particular area’. Ecological communities can be listed under the TSC Act as ‘critically
endangered’, ‘endangered’ or ‘vulnerable’, depending on their risk of extinction (OEH 2012).
These types of woodland are also protected under the Commonwealth Environment
Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) (DSEWPAC 2012a, b).
Figure 2.3
Weeping myall woodland EEC at Carinda Road TSR
S2a to S2b transect. White transect posts such as in the foreground are still in place.
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Figure 2.4
Coolibah–black box woodland EEC at Carinda Road TSR
S3a to S3b transect.
Figure 2.5
Weeping myall (Acacia pendula) is the dominant plant of the weeping myall
woodland EEC
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Figure 2.6
Weeping myall (Acacia pendula) foliage and flowers have a ‘weeping’ habit
Figure 2.7
Coolibah (Eucalyptus coolibah) fruit and foliage (right) and black box
(Eucalyptus largiflorens) fruit and foliage (left) used for identification
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Figure 2.8
Black box (Eucalyptus largiflorens) habit
Evidence of traditional Aboriginal culture can be seen at Carinda Road TSR by the presence
at the survey site of scar trees (Fig. 2.9) and nardoo (Fig. 2.10). Nardoo is a fern that was used
as a food by traditional Aboriginal people; the plant produces shoots whenever the area
receives significant rains. It produces its spores on damp mud as the floodwaters recede.
Aboriginal people would roast the spore cases (sporocarps), to make them non-toxic, before
grinding them. This simple step of adding heat completely breaks down thiaminase, a toxin
that robs the body of vitamin B1. It is believed that Burke and Wills, running out of food near
Coopers Creek, turned to nardoo as their salvation, and that this may have actually killed
them. Unfortunately, Burke and Wills did not roast the sporocarps before grinding them
(Nash 2004).
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Figure 2.9
Point of interest 1: scar tree recorded at Carinda Road TSR
Figure 2.10 a, b
Nardoo (Marsilea drummondii) recorded at Carinda Road TSR
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The Carinda Road TSR is relatively free of weeds; however, the creeks and roadsides within
the area have a significant weed problem. Noogoora burr (Fig. 2.11), African boxthorn, buffel
grass (Fig. 2.12), African lovegrass, and lippia are weed threats to Carinda Road TSR. Other
threats to the coolibah–black box and weeping myall woodlands include illegal tree felling for
fence posts and firewood, and gas and mineral exploration, including their associated
infrastructure (Smiles et al. 2011).
Figure 2.11
Noogoora burr
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Figure 2.12
2.3
Buffel grass
Fauna of Carinda Road TSR
At least 10 threatened bird species recorded in the Walgett area may occur within the Carinda
Road TSR. For example, the grey-crowned babbler (Fig 2.13) is known to be nesting in the
area. The red-tailed black cockatoo (Fig. 2.14) and major mitchell cockatoos (Fig. 2.15) have
also been recorded.
The Carinda Road TSR is low-lying land that is prone to water logging and flooding; it can
become a wetland teeming with frogs, shrimps and other water bugs, providing food for water
birds to successfully breed. One of the less familiar water bugs, though common to this area,
is the shield shrimp (or tadpole shrimp or fossil shrimp, Fig. 2.16). These shrimps are
sometimes called living fossils, because similar species have been found in rocks dating back
300 million years (to put this in perspective, the dinosaurs did not appear until some
230 million years ago). At that time, Australia was part of the supercontinent Pangea.
Shield shrimp occur in wetlands in this area, and those wetlands dry out from time to time.
The adults live for about a month, in which time they mate and lay microscopic eggs in the
sediment. They then disappear as the wetlands dry. The shield shrimp return when there is
rain and the wetlands become wet again.
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Figure 2.13
Grey-crowned babbler
Figure 2.14
Red-tailed black cockatoo
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Figure 2.15
Major mitchell cockatoo
Figure 2.16
A shield shrimp (Triops sp) found near Walgett in January 2010
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Migratory or wetland bird species known to occur within the region include the rainbow beeeater, sharp-tailed sandpiper, Latham's snipe, bar-tailed godwit, wood sandpiper, common
greenshank, marsh sandpiper, fork-tailed swift, white-throated needletail, cattle egret,
Australasian bittern and the white-bellied sea-eagle.
Appendix 2.1 lists threatened species found at Carinda Road TSR.
Remnant native vegetation is important for maintaining ecosystems of native biodiversity in
the Walgett area. Diverse ecosystems maintain robust food webs that are of value to grazing
and cropping enterprises and society in general. Microbats live under tree bark and in the
hollows of old trees. The microbats that thrive here (including the South-eastern long-eared
bat or greater long-eared bat, Fig. 2.17) play a major part in keeping down the numbers of
flying insects, including the mosquitoes that can carry Ross River virus, a disease which can
be lethal to people. Improving remnant vegetation improves the resilience of these foods webs
which in turn improve the resilience of human communities.
Figure 2.17 South-eastern long-eared bat or greater long-eared bat (Nyctophilus corbeni) are
successful predators of insects that fly at night time.
Barn owls and other predators play an important role in vermin maintenance. They are very
successful mouse managers, tearing their prey apart with a frightening violence. Owls and
other predatory birds are extremely valuable to graziers and croppers, helping to reduce the
impact of small vermin on their profits. Barn owls require trees with hollows for them to roost
in. Hollows form when mature trees drop large limbs, taking some heartwood with them.
Large hollows are found in trees over 100 years old (Fig. 2.18). Without old trees, desirable
predatory birds are lost.
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Figure 2.18
Tree hollows
Wedge-tailed eagles found here are also successful hunters of vermin. Once blamed for taking
lambs, eagles have now been shown to prefer rabbits, wallabies and joeys. Yes, eagles help us
to manage vermin! Work practices at Werris Creek Coal for example demonstrate the value of
wedged tailed eagles in the food web. Mining developments now erect tall dead trees in
rehabilitation areas before re-planting. Eagles occupy the dead trees and hunt rabbits that
would otherwise eat freshly planted trees and grass on rehabilitation sites. The reduction in
rabbit numbers significantly increases the success of tree plantings and ground cover
establishment, and environmental outcomes. Unfortunately, in previous years, hunting
reduced eagle numbers, especially in farming areas; hence, rabbit numbers increased, which
in turn reduced grass growth for graziers stock.
The biodiversity of undisturbed remnant areas such as Carinda Road TSR helps to make the
neighbouring country more productive; it also increases the health and resilience of
communities such as nearby Walgett. Remnant woodland areas such as Carinda Road TSR
also provide valuable windbreaks, reducing moisture loss from grazing and cropping
enterprises. Farm-design specialists are increasingly adapting these shelter principles to
benefit agriculture (Curtis 1994).
2.4
Geology of Carinda Road TSR
Carinda Road TSR is situated within the ‘Marra Creek Formation’ on low-lying land that is
part of an ancient riverine flood plain (Watkins & Meakin 1996). The landscape is derived
from fine sediments deposited thousands of years ago, which form soils that range from silty
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to cracking clays (Fig. 2.19). Heavy rain and inflows from the Barwon and Namoi rivers
occasionally flood this low-lying country. Ancient prior streams and oxbows in the landscape
seen on satellite images are a reminder of the variable nature of this country. Floods have
been known to isolate Walgett and property owners for weeks at a time. These are times when
the State Emergency Service (SES) has to ferry supplies and services by boat and helicopter.
It is this low-lying nature and this very flood water that allows the deposition of fine clay
sediments to the area. Upon drying, clays crack as they shrink. When the next rain comes, the
land has a camel-like capacity to soak up and hold water, to be released over time to the
natural ecosystems and also for the benefit of cropping and grazing country. The soil cracks
provide shelter and foraging area for most of the regions frogs, reptiles and small mammals.
Figure 2.19
Cracking clays shrink on drying forming cracks and expand rapidly during
rainfall periods
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2.5
References
Curtis D (1994). Seven ways to shelter a paddock. Greening Australia Field Notes, Armidale.
DSEWPAC (2011). Weeping myall woodlands. EPBC Policy Statement. Department of
Sustainability, Environment, Water, Populations and Communities.
http://www.environment.gov.au/epbc/publications/weeping-myall-woodlands.html accessed 9
March 2013.
DSEWPAC (2012a). Coolibah–black box woodlands of the Darling Riverine Plains and the
Brigalow Belt South bioregions. Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water,
Populations and Communities.
http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/communities/pubs/66-listingadvice.pdf accessed 9 March 2013. Sprat profile http://www.environment.gov.au/cgibin/sprat/public/publicshowcommunity.pl?id=66 accessed 9 March 2013.
DSEWPAC (2012b). Weeping Myall Woodlands Sprat Profile. Department of Sustainability,
Environment, Water, Populations and Communities.
http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/communities/pubs/66-listingadvice.pdf accessed 9 March 2013. http://www.environment.gov.au/cgibin/sprat/public/publicshowcommunity.pl?id=98 accessed 9 March 2013.
McKemey, M and White, H (2011). Bush tucker, boomerangs and bandages: Traditional
Aboriginal plant use in the Border Rivers and Gwydir Catchments. Border Rivers-Gwydir
Catchment Management Authority, NSW.
Nash D (2004). Aboriginal plant use in south-eastern Australia. Education Services,
Australian National Botanic Gardens, ACT.
http://www.anbg.gov.au/gardens/education/programs/Aboriginal-plantuse.pdf accessed 2
April 2013.
OEH (2012). Threatened ecological communities. NSW Office of Environment and Heritage.
http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/threatenedspecies/hometec.htm accessed 8 March 2013.
OEH (2011a). Coolibah–black box woodland as an endangered community. The legal status
of Coolibah–Black Box woodlands. NSW Office of Environment and Heritage.
http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/threatenedspecies/CoolibahBlackBoxWoodland.htm
accessed 9 March 2013.
OEH (2011b). Myall woodland in the Darling Riverine Plains, Brigalow Belt South, Cobar
Peneplain, Murray-Darling Depression, Riverina and NSW South Western Slopes bioregions
– endangered ecological community listing NSW Scientific Committee – final determination.
NSW Office of Environment and Heritage.
http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/determinations/MyallWoodlandWesternEndSpListing.ht
m accessed 9 March 2013.
Smiles B, Merchant C, and Proft K (2011). The NSW travelling stock routes and reserves
network; Heritage – habitat – livelihood. National Parks Association of NSW
http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/wildlifecorridors/consultation/submissions/pubs/npancc1.pdf accessed 23 March 2013.
Vincent B (n.d.). Coolibah (Eucalyptus coolabah) recruitment after flooding and implications
for environmental water management. Cotton Catchment Communities CRC.
http://www.cottoncrc.org.au/general/Research/Projects/5_10_03_35 accessed 30 May 2013.
Page 17 of 21
Watkins JJ and Meakin NS (1996). Nyngan and Walgett 1:250 000 Geological Sheets SH/5515 & SH/55-11: Explanatory Notes. viii + 112 pp. Geological Survey of New South Wales,
Sydney. http://digsopen.minerals.nsw.gov.au/ accessed 30 May 2013.
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Appendix 2.1
Threatened and migratory species list for Carinda Road
TSR
This appendix lists the threatened and migratory species recorded in the Walgett area, many
of which may occur at Carinda Road TSR. The white-bellied sea-eagle and the cattle egret are
not true migratory birds (i.e. they do not migrate seasonally) but are dispersive (i.e. they can
fly long distances but are often sedentary with a mate).
E = endangered, V = vulnerable, M = migratory, D = dispersive, P = Protected
.
Common name
Scientific name
TSC Act
EPBC Act
Atriplex infrequens
V
V
Cyperus conicus
E
Creeping tick-trefoil
Desmodium campylocaulon
E
Desert cow vine
Ipomoea diamantinensis
E
Winged peppercress
Lepidium monoplocoides
E
Myriophyllum implicatum
E
Plants (flora)
Saltbush
Philotheca ericifolia
E
V
Phyllanthus maderaspatensis
E
Shrub sida
Sida rohlenae
E
Slender darling pea
Swainsona murrayana
V
Magpie goose
Anseranas semipalmata
V
Fork-tailed swift
Apus pacificus
M
Cattle egret
Ardea ibis
D
Australian bustard
Ardeotis australis
E
Australasian bittern
Botaurus poiciloptilus
E
Bush stone-curlew
Burhinus grallarius
E
Sharp-tailed sandpiper
Red-tailed black-cockatoo (inland
subspecies)
Glossy black-cockatoo
Calidris acuminata
P
Calyptorhynchus banksii samueli
V
Calyptorhynchus lathami
V
Pied honeyeater
Certhionyx variegatus
V
Spotted harrier
Circus assimilis
V
Varied sittella
Daphoenositta chrysoptera
V
Black-necked stork
Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus
Animals (fauna)
Birds
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E, M
M
M
White-fronted chat
Epthianura albifrons
V
Grey falcon
Falco hypoleucos
E
Black falcon
Falco subniger
V
Latham's snipe
Gallinago hardwickii
Painted honeyeater
Grantiella picta
V
Brolga
Grus rubicunda
V
White-bellied sea-eagle
Haliaeetus leucogaster
Black-breasted buzzard
Hamirostra melanosternon
V
Little eagle
Hieraaetus morphnoides
V
White-throated needletail
Hirundapus caudacutus
M
Caspian tern
Hydroprogne caspia
M
Bar-tailed godwit
Limosa lapponica
P
M
Black-tailed godwit
Limosa limosa
V
M
Major mitchell cockatoo
Lophochroa leadbeateri
V
Square-tailed kite
Lophoictinia isura
V
Hooded robin (south-eastern form)
Black-chinned honeyeater (eastern
subspecies)
Rainbow bee-eater
Melanodryas cucullata cucullata
V
Melithreptus gularis gularis
V
Merops ornatus
P
Turquoise parrot
Neophema pulchella
V
Barking owl
Ninox connivens
V
Blue-billed duck
Oxyura australis
V
Superb parrot
Polytelis swainsonii
V
Grey-crowned babbler
Pomatostomus temporalis temporalis
V
Australian painted snipe
Rostratula australis
E
Diamond firetail
Stagonopleura guttata
V
Freckled duck
Stictonetta naevosa
V
Wood sandpiper
Tringa glareola
Common greenshank
Tringa nebularia
P
M
Marsh sandpiper
Tringa stagnatilis
P
M
Kultarr
Antechinomys laniger
E
Little pied bat
Chalinolobus picatus
V
Spotted-tailed quoll
Dasyurus maculatus
V
E
Corben's long-eared bat
Nyctophilus corbeni
V
V
Koala
Phascolarctos cinereus
V
V
Yellow-bellied sheathtail-bat
Saccolaimus flaviventris
V
Stripe-faced dunnart
Sminthopsis macroura
V
Inland forest bat
Vespadelus baverstocki
V
M
D
M
V, M
V, M
M
Mammals
Reptiles
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Five-clawed worm-skink
Anomalopus mackayi
E
Pale-headed snake
Hoplocephalus bitorquatus
V
Crinia sloanei
V
Amphibian
Sloane's froglet
EPBC Act, Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999
TSC Act, NSW Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995
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V