5.0 THE ABUNDANCE OF THE VARIOUS
TREE SPECIES IN THE STUDY AREA

A total of 2,932 trees were recorded in the Study Area. They comprise three species of Angophora, one species of Allocasuarina, one species of Syncarpia and twelve species of Eucalyptus.

Nine of the seventeen tree species are represented by populations of a significant size. However, of that nine, only five species are relatively widespread throughout the Area. The other four are generally restricted to more specialised habitats.

1. Angophora costata (Sydney Red Gum)

This species is widespread. occurring on both clay and sandy soils in a variety of situations from steep slopes to plateau areas, although the populations on these two soil types are almost certainly two distinct genotypes. The rarer population on the clay soils requires special protection.

A total of 888 Sydney Red Gum were recorded during the Study.

2. Eucalyptus gummifera (Red Bloodwood)

Red Bloodwood is widespread on sandy soils in a variety of different

habitats. It also occurs on the edges of the clay soil area. Again, this clay soil population may be a distinct genotype and requires special protection.

300 Red Bloodwood were recorded in the Study Area.

3. Eucalyptus haemastoma (Scribbly Gum)

This species is more common on the plateau areas, although scattered trees may be found on lower slopes.

A distinct genotype occurs on the clay soils. This clay soil Scribbly Gum has been given the temporary name of Eucalyptus "haemarac" It displays morphological features common to two Scribbly Gums Eucalyptus haemastoma and Eucalyptus racemosa. Further investigation of the genus Eucalyptus may lead to this plant being given individual subspecies ranking or it may even be classified as a new Eucalypt species. It is restricted to the clay soils in the Padstow/ Peakhurst area and due to clearing for urbanisation it is now uncommon.

Eucalyptus "haemarac" can be distinguished from Eucalyptus

haemastoma in three ways:-

Eucalyptus "haemarac" -

grows on clay soils in the northern part of the Study Area

is a tall tree with a massive, long bole (the portion of the trunk from ground level to the first branches

has very small fruit

Eucalyptus haemastoma -

grows on sandy soils

is a smaller tree with a shorter bole and low branching habit

has relatively large fruit

A fine example of Eucalyptus "haemarac" occurs as a very large street tree on Forest Road beside the Catholic Church at Peakhurst. This tree is featured in the photograph on the front cover of this report.

A typical example of Eucalyptus haemastoma grows as a street tree on the southern side of Forest Road at Lugarno between Hillcross Street and Lime Kiln Road.

The probability of a new and rare species of Eucalyptus occurring only in Hurstville and Bankstown City areas should be formally recognised in the local and regional planning systems.

The uncertainty relating to the botanical status of Eucalyptus "haemarac" makes positive identification of these trees difficult. A reasonable approach would be to afford special protection to those Scribbly Gums occurring on the clay soils in association with the Grey Ironbark and Turpentine. This should include all the Scribbly Gums in the Study Area, north of the Belmore Road/Forest Road Intersection and east of Belmore Road (including the four Scribbly Gum which grow with the Turpentine stand in Belmore Road, just south of Ulster Street and also including the nine specimens growing in the grounds of Peakhurst West Public School in association with Turpentine.

With this boundary, 26 of the 224 Scribbly Gum in the Study Area should be specially protected by inclusion on the Schedule of Items of the Environmental Heritage, appended to Hurstville City Council's Local Environmental Plan, (one of the Scribbly Gum indicated near the north eastern corner of the Belmore Road/Samuel Street intersection died during the survey preparation and has been removed).

Of the 26 nominated trees, two occur in the grounds of the Catholic

Church at Peakhurst, 9 grow on the Peakhurst West Public School

property, 6 occur as street trees and the remaining 9 trees occur on

individual private allotments.

4. Eucalyptus Pilularis (Blackbutt)

Blackbutt, with 432 recorded trees is the next most common species in the Study Area after Sydney Red Gum. The bulk of the Blackbutt population occurs in the centre of the Peninsula between Chivers Hill and Lugarno Public School.

Blackbutt also occurs scattered throughout the southern end of the

Peninsula and as two separate populations at the northern end of the

Study Area, one near Forest Road and the other in the Evans Street/

Johnstone Street area.

Due to its relative abundance and widespread occurrence, specific environmental heritage protection, above and beyond Council's Tree Preservation Order, is not warranted at the present time.

5. Eucalyptus punctata (Grey Gum)

With 381 recorded trees, this species is the third most common

indigenous tree in the Study Area.

Four distinct populations occur in the Area. The largest stand occurs from the Forest Road/Belmore Road intersection south eastwards to Boronia Parade. The second population occurs north west of Edith Bay. The third population occurs in association with the Turpentine/ Ironbark stand to the north of the Study Area and the fourth population occurs on the western side of Clarke Street South.

Due to the widespread nature and present abundance of this species, additional protective measures should not be necessary if Council's Tree Preservation Order is applied in a rigorous manner.

6. Syncarpia glomulifera (Turpentine)

With 245 recorded trees in the Study Area. Turpentine is relatively abundant. However, all of these trees are restricted to the clay soil area in the northern part of the Area. An interesting outlier population occurs in Belmore Road just south of Ulster Street.

135 of these trees occur in parks or as street trees and come under the direct control and responsibility of Hurstville City Council. This represents 55% of the Turpentine population. 60 of the trees occur in Caledonian Street Reserve and 18 trees are to be found in the small Reserve in Denise Crescent. Thus these two reserves are of vital importance in conserving this restricted tree species.

Of the original 35,000 hectares of Turpentine/Ironbark Forest which was estimated to have occurred in the County of Cumberland in 1788 (Benson & Howell, in press, 1989) only one half of one per cent now remains uncleared.

In comparison, 85% of the Hawkesbury Sandstone vegetation still survives mainly protected in National Parks, State Recreat'Lon Areas and large regional parks such as Oatley Park.

The stand of Turpentine/Ironbark in the northern part of the Study Area has both local and regional significance and every effort should be made to ensure its long-term conservation.

It is understood that a small sample of the now rare Turpentine/ Ironbark bushland is being re-created in the grounds of Peakhurst West Public School for educational purposes. This involves the planting of the original understorey species and enrichment planting of the dominant tree species.

The Turpentine/Ironbark stand is under some threat from urban consolidation as the northern part of the Study Area has been earmarked for such development. For example, 28 Turpentine occur in Hannons Paddock (more than 10 per cent of the total population) where clearing has commenced for a retirement village. Additionally, a number of development proposals are currently under consideration by Council for redevelopment of existing properties as villa home sites.

It is strongly urged that the protection of indigenous trees be a major consideration when determining development proposals. if such developments are approved then strong emphasis should be placed on siting of buildings to minimise indigenous tree removal.

7. Eucalyptus piperita (Sydney Peppermint)

193 Sydney Peppermint were recorded mainly occurring at the southern end of the Lugarno Peninsula. It also occurs on well-drained sandstone slopes in the northern part of the Study Area.

As this species is relatively abundant, no specific additional

protective measures are proposed.

8. Eucalyptus paniculata (Grey Ironbark)

This species should not be confused with the common street planting Tallowwood (Eucalyptus microcorys) which is not a local native tree and has often been erroneously referred to as Grey Ironbark.

86 Grey Ironbark were recorded and this species is clearly the less common co-dominant in the Turpentine/Ironbark community.

Turpentine outnumber Grey Ironbark in the ratio of approximately three to one.

40 Grey Ironbark occur in Caledonia Crescent Reserve. 12 are found in the small reserve on the corner of Rona and Samuel Streets, a very fine specimen occurs on the southern boundary of Peakhurst High School and 6 occur as street trees. Thus, 67% of these trees come under the direct control and responsibility of Hurstville City Council and their long-term conservation should be assured.

However, as previously indicated, the Turpentine/Ironbark stand has such high local and regional significance that every effort should be made to protect all existing trees particularly when development applications are being considered.

9. Eucalyptus resinifera (Red Mahogany)

119 Red Mahogany were recorded mainly occurring in the northern part of the Study Area on both clay and sandy soils. This tree is often mistakenly identified as a Stringbark because of the close resemblance of its bark to the true Eucalypt stringybark trees.

Only 13 Red Mahogany occur in parks. 38 occur as street trees and

five occur in each of the grounds of Peakhurst West Public School and the Catholic Church on the corner of Forest Road and Isaac Street.

The remaining 58 trees (49% of the population) occur on private allotments and a significant proportion of these are threatened by redevelopment pressures. Again, it is urged that every effort is made to conserve these trees when development applications are being considered.

THE REMAINING EIGHT SPECIES ARE EACH REPRESENTED BY LESS THAN TWENTY INDIVIDUALS AND IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT THE ENTIRE POPULATION OF EACH SPECIES BE INCLUDED ON THE SCHEDULE OF ITEMS OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL HERITAGE IN HURSTVILLE CITY COUNCIL'S LOCAL ENVIRONMENTAL PLAN.

10. Angophora floribunda (Rough-barked Apple) (population - 19)

The bulk of the population of this species is centred around Evatt Park. Twelve of the trees occur within the Park and two occur in private properties adjoining the Park. Individual trees occur in the park to the south of Grandviews Bowling Club and on the easement reserve between Renway and Valentia Avenues. The remaining three trees occur on private allotments in Peakhurst and Lugarno.

11. Eucalyptus globoidea (White Stringybark) (population - 12)

White and Brown Stringybark are the two true eucalypt stringybarks

in the Study Area and both populations are very small.

White Stringybark occurs on the clay soils in the northern part of the Study Area. None of the twelve trees occur in parks and only three occur as street trees. Two of the street trees on Forest Road have been severely lopped in recent years.

Two White Stringybark trees occur on Hannons Paddock in the area currently being redeveloped as a retirement village. These two trees should be protected and incorporated into the landscaping design for the development. Additionally, a condition of the development consent should be the planting of additional White Stringybark propagated from LOCAL GENETIC STOCK. It is understood that such propagation is presently being undertaken by local community groups.

12. Eucalyptus capitellata (Brown Stringybark) (population - 12)

Brown Stringybark occurs in 4 scattered populations on sandy soils in the north ern, central and southern portions of the Lugarno Peninsula.

An individual street tree occurs adjoining the Catholic Church on Forest Road near the Eucalyptus "haemarac". This tree is aged and has been recently lopped,

A population of three trees occurs in the Chivers Hill area with two trees adjoining Forest Road in the road easement.

The largest population of five trees occurs in southern Lugarno. Four trees are growing on the southern edge of the Lugarno Public School Property and an individual tree occurs in the closed portion of old Forest Road at its intersection with Elm Street.

The remaining three trees occur on a private allotment in Peakhurst.

13. Eucalyptus tereticornis (Forest Red Gum) (population - 11)

A small population of this species occurs at the north-western end of Allwood Crescent. Five of the trees occur in Evatt Park and the remaining six trees occur on private allotments.

Although this species occurs commonly on the Cumberland Plain in association with Grey Box (Eucalyptus moluccana), small populations also occur on headlands and foreshore areas adjoining waterways in the eastern Sydney area.

These eastern Sydney populations are likely to be genetically distinct from those found on the drier Cumberland Plain. The populations are disjunct and small in size. The only populations known to the National Trust are:-

  1. Vaucluse House grounds, Vaucluse
  2. Clarkes Point Reserve, Hunters Hill
  3. Ferdinand Street Reserve, Hunters Hill
  4. Gunnamatta Bay Park, Cronulla, and
  5. Evatt Park and adjoining properties, Lugarno.

Some plants have been propagated from the Evatt Park stand and planted in the clay flora educational area at Peakhurst West Public School.

It is recommended that additional plantings propagated from LOCAL GENETIC STOCK be introduced into the western Evatt Park area and that local residents at the western end of Allwood Crescent be encouraged to plant additional Forest Red Gum propagated from LOCAL GENETIC STOCK.

14. Eucalyptus fibrosa (Broad-leaved Ironbark) (population - 5)

This species usually occurs on old alluvium (ancient river beds) in the Liverpool/Londonderry area of Sydney.

A population of five specimens occurs in Caledonia Crescent Reserve. This is an unusual outlier occurrence of this species and is probably the most easterly recording of this plant in the Sydney Region. Thus, as well as its rare status in the Study Area this population may have scientific importance in the genetic study of eucalypts.

Broad-leaved ironbark is similar in appearance to Grey Ironbark and additional specimens may occur on private allotments in the northern part of the Study Area. The two species differ in the following respects:-

Eucalyptus fibrosa: -

Eucalyptus paniculata: -

Seed from these trees has been collected by local community groups and it is recommended that enrichment planting be undertaken in the general area.

15. Angophora bakeri (Narrow-leaved Apple) (population - 2)

Only two specimens of this species were found in the Study Area, both in the Clarkes Street South Area Peakhurst. One plant grows as a street tree near the Clarkes Street/Evans Street intersection and the other is on a private allotment in Clarkes Street.

This species occurs more commonly in the Oatley area. it is recommended that additional plants be propagated from LOCAL (Peakhurst) GENETIC STOCK and that this small tree be utilised as a street tree planting on sandy soils west of Peakhurst West Public School.

16. Eucalyptus maculata (Spotted Gum) (population 2)

Two large trees of this species occur in the grounds of Peakhurst West Public School. Discussions with an early resident confirm that these trees are remnant native trees and that an additional stand (now cleared) occurred near Sylvester's Castle, Oatley.

This species is very uncommon as a native tree in the Sydney Region. The only major populations occur at Palm Beach and western Pittwater and at Cecil Park and adjoining Prospect Reservoir. The eastern Sydney populations are almost certainly genetically distinct to those occurring in the western suburbs. The Peakhurst occurrence is the only known occurrence in the St. George/Sutherland/inner Sydney area.

It is recommended that additional plants be grown from LOCAL GENETIC STOCK for enrichment planting adjoining the two remnant trees.

17. Allocasuarina torulosa (Forest Oak) (population -1)

An individual tree of this species occurs in Caledonia Crescent Reserve. Additional specimens are reported to occur in bushland at Evatt Park, Lugarno. It is recommended that plants of this species be grown from LOCAL GENETIC STOCK for general planting throughout the clay soil area. This small tree species should be trialled as a street tree planting on clay soils.