Significant Flora and Fauna

Ipswich boasts one of the most diverse ranges of natural vegetation types in South-East Queensland, including rainforest, dry-vine forest, open forests, woodlands, wetlands and grasslands. Approximately 62 per cent of the city has vegetated cover, including 38 different regional ecosystems, many of which are contained within the 28 per cent of the city dedicated as protected green space. The various communities in turn support an equally diverse range of wildlife. There are over 2,000 recorded species of native plants and animals in Ipswich, including numerous rare and threatened species.

Nationally Significant Species

The Australian Government’s main environmental legislation, the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act), lists 100 threatened species potentially present within the Ipswich local government area. The EPBC Act takes a highly precautionary approach to estimating the potential occurrence of federally listed species and many of the predicted species have no evidence of occurring in Ipswich - however, the following species are confirmed as occurring within the local area:

State-Significant Species

The Queensland State Government recognises over 30 species that occur in Ipswich as significant or threatened. In addition to threatened species (endangered or vulnerable), there are also large amounts of species recognised as near threatened, special concern or least concern species. Both near threatened and special or least concern species are recognised as a precautionary approach for species that may become threatened in the future without adequate protection. The following species are recognised as significant by the state government:

_{* Note: An extensive list of special concern and least concern plants is covered in the Nature Conservation (Wildlife Management) Regulation 2006.}

Council strategic priority species

Three local fauna and two local flora species have been identified as a priority for protection and conservation planning activities within Ipswich - these are:

Brush-tailed Rock Wallaby

The Brush-tailed Rock Wallaby resides primarily on rocky escarpments, granite outcrops and cliffs. In Ipswich it is most commonly found in Flinders-Goolman Conservation Estate, the closest known population to an urban centre. The main threat to their survival is the loss of habitat due to clearing of native vegetation, fires and competing for food with introduced pest plants and animals and livestock. The Brush-tailed Rock Wallaby is the faunal emblem of Ipswich.

Brush-Tailed Rock Wallaby Recovery Plan (PDF, 5.2 mb).

Koala

The koala is found in a number of habitats, from coastal islands and tall eucalyptus trees to low woodlands inland. They have a very restrictive diet and rely on a range of eucalypts, even in fragmented landscapes. The koala’s existence is threatened due to a variety of issues, including habitat loss and fragmentation and unmitigated bush fires, dog attacks, vehicle strikes and disease.

Platypus

The platypus makes burrows in riverbanks near slow-moving water bodies and is currently under pressure from declining water quality, pollution and loss of aquatic habitat. Evidence shows that platypus numbers are steadily declining and there is recognition that a better understanding of the distribution and viability of the species is needed. Recent surveys show evidence of platypus living in Ipswich waterways. Continued implementation of catchment management actions will contribute towards improved waterways for platypus to live in.

Platypus Recovery Plan (PDF, 2.1 MB)

Plunkett mallee

Plunkett mallee is a multi-stemmed eucalypt which occurs in only a few small scattered populations throughout South-East Queensland. Within Ipswich, natural populations occur in Dinmore, Collingwood Park and the White Rock area. The species suffers increased pressure as a result of clearing, grazing and inappropriate fire regimes. Plunkett mallee is Ipswich’s floral emblem.

Cooneana olive

To date, the Cooneana olive has only been recorded as occurring in Ipswich, found within three closely clustered sub-populations (17 individual specimens in total). Protection of the species will require a coordinated effort, including mitigation of imminent threats and implementation of a recovery program.

Locally significant priority species

In addition to threatened or near threatened species at federal or state level, there are a number of such species significant to the Ipswich region. Council has determined a list of criteria for species considered locally significant, including:

• Local abundance: number of occurrence records in the Ipswich area
• Local decline: at risk of extinction in the South-East Queensland region
• Non-local decline: decline in NSW
• Distribution limits: limit of geographic or altitudinal range in the region
• Restricted/low population: limited in geographic range or uncommon in the region
• Disjunct population: widely separated populations across a geographic range
• Cultural/iconic species: cultural values or iconic to local community
• Ecologically important species: important ecological role in local ecosystems.

Using this criteria, the species below have been selected as having local significance:

Other Local Species Assessed

The following species were also assessed, but do not qualify under the criteria above:

• Boronia rosmarinifolia: forest boronia
• Flemingia parviflora: flemingia
• Nymphaea gigantea: giant water lily
• Podolobium ilicifolium: holly leaf pea
• Amniataba percoides: barred grunter
• Aquila audax: wedge-tailed eagle
• Bellatorias frerei: major skink
• Cyclodomorphus gerrardii: pink-tongued lizard
• Glossopsitta concinna: musk lorikeet
• Litoria wilcoxii: stony creek frog
• Macquaria novemaculeata: Australian bass
• Pitta versicolour: noisy pitta
• Pteropus alecto: black flying-fox
• Ptilinopus regina: rose crown fruit dove.

Significant Vegetation Communities

Vegetation Management Act 1999

According to the Vegetation Management Act 1999, endangered regional ecosystems include:

• 12.3.3: Eucalyptus tereticornis woodland on Quaternary alluvium
• 12.3.10: Eucalyptus populnea woodland on alluvial plains
• 12.3.16: Complex notophyll to microphyll vine forest on alluvial plains
• 12.3.18: Melaleuca irbyana low open forest on alluvial plains
• 12.3.19: Eucalyptus moluccana and/or Eucalyptus tereticornis and E.crebra open forest to woodland, with sparse to mid-dense understorey of Melaleuca irbyana on alluvial plains
• 12.5.3: Eucalyptus racemosa subsp. racemosa woodland on remnant Tertiary surfaces
• 12.8.21: Semi-evergreen vine thicket with Brachychiton rupestris on Cainozoic igneous rocks; usually southern half of bioregion
• 12.8.23: Acacia harpophylla open forest on Cainozoic igneous rocks
• 12.8.24: Corymbia citriodora subsp. variegata open forest on Cainozoic igneous rocks especially trachyte
• 12.9-10.6: Acacia harpophylla open forest on sedimentary rocks
• 12.9-10.11: Melaleuca irbyana low open forest on sedimentary rocks
• 12.9-10.12: Eucalyptus seeana, Corymbia intermedia, Angophora leiocarpa woodland on sedimentary rocks
• 12.9-10.15: Semi-evergreen vine thicket with Brachychiton rupestris on sedimentary rocks
• 12.9-10.27: Corymbia citriodora subsp. variegata and/or E. moluccana, E. tereticornis, E. crebra open forest with Melaleuca irbyana understorey on sedimentary rocks.

Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999

According to the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, listed threatened vegetation communities include:

• Swamp tea tree forest (Melaleuca irbyana): critically endangered
• Brigalow (Acacia harpophylla): dominant and co-dominant
• White box/yellow box/Blakely’s red gum: grassy woodland and derived native grassland.
• Grey box-grey gum wet forest of subtropical eastern Australia

Potentially Locally Extinct

The following species are of state and federal conservation significance but are likely to be extinct in the local government area.

• Red goshawk
• Australasian bittern.