Bushland and Biodiversity
What is biodiversity?
The variety of all living things, including plants, animals and micro-organisms, the genes they contain, and the ecosystems of which they form a part. It is not static, but is constantly changing. It is increased by genetic change and evolutionary processes and reduced by processes such as habitat degradation, population decline, and extinction.
— National Strategy for the Conservation of Australia's Biological Diversity (Department of Environment (then DEST) 1996)
Ecosystem Elements in Woollahra
Despite its small size, level of development and proximity to a major city, the Woollahra municipality contains a diverse range of ecosystem elements. Ecosystem elements and habitat types include:
- Wooded sandstone slopes and gullies (e.g. Cooper Park)
- Exposed coastal heaths (e.g. Christison Park, Gap Park)
- Freshwater and tidal creeks (e.g. Cooper Creek, Parsley Bay Creek, Rose Bay Creek)
- Intertidal estuarine areas (e.g. Vaucluse Bay)
- Sandy beaches (e.g. Parsley Bay, Murray Rose Pool, Watsons Bay, Nielsen Park, Camp Cove)
- Rock platforms (e.g. Glass and Bottle Bay, Parsley Bay)
- Seagrass meadows.(e.g. Rose Bay, Watsons Bay, Vaucluse Bay)
Threatened and Vulnerable Species
Due to the range of habitat areas, and the sections of remnant native bushland, Woollahra provides feeding grounds, shelter, nesting and transport corridors for a range of threatened and vulnerable species.
Listed fauna species include:
- Little Penguin (Eudalypta minor)
- Sooty Oystercatcher (Haematopus fuliginosus)
- Common (Eastern) Bentwing Bat
- Southern Myotis (Myotis macropus)
- Powerful Owl (Ninox strenua)
- Common Scaly Foot (lizard) (pygopus lepidopodus)
- Grey-headed Flying Fox (Pteropus poliocephalus)
- Greater Broad Nosed Bat (Scoteanax rueppellii)
- New Holland Mouse (Pseudomys novahollaniae)
- Water-Rat (Hydromys chrysogaster)
- Red Crowned Toadlet (Pseudophryne australis)
- Seahorse (Syngnathidae) Hippocampus spp.
Listed flora species include:
- Sunshine Wattle (Acacia terminalis subsp, terminalis)
- Nielsen Park She-Oak (Allocasuarina portuensis)
- Magenta Cherry (Syzigium paniculatum)
- Posidonia Australis (Seagrass)
Weeds and Biosecurity
Weeds are everybody’s responsibility. We can all work together to protect our unique bushland and waterways.
Weeds are plants that do not occur naturally in the bush. They compete with native plants and often overshadow or supplant them. They damage and destroy the habitat of our native animals.
What is biosecurity?
Biosecurity refers to the protection of native plant communities - reducing the risk to human health and the risk to agricultural production, from invasive weeds.
Learn more about what Council is doing and what you can do
Biodiversity Conservation Strategy
In 2015 Council adopted the Woollahra Biodiversity Conservation Strategy 2015-2025. This Strategy represents the first documentation of the strategic direction of Council to conserve the valuable flora and fauna within the Woollahra municipality.
Download the documents here:
Our Biodiversity Targets
Council has developed an Environmental Sustainability Action Plan (ESAP) which details Council’s targets and commitments in relation to five key priority action areas (energy & emissions, water, biodiversity, waste, transport).
Our biodiversity targets are:
- 75% of bushland under regeneration by 2025
- 40% of bushland fully regenerated by 2025
- Increased, or maintained urban forest (ha) [measured every 5 years]
Read the full Environmental Sustainability Action Plan.
Council is undertaking a range of projects to protect our local flora and fauna and to ensure the biological health of our local area.