Biodiversity is the variety of different plants and animal species (including micro-organisms) as measured by genetic variations within and between species and ecosystems in a specified geographic location.
The Hunter Valley is recognised as being at the intersection of a number of bioregions, where ecosystems from the coast, the inland and the north and south all meet. It is also well recognised that landscape corridors provide much needed resilience to the effects of climate change. Corridors enable movements of plants and animals between habitats as the conditions change. As much of the Hunter Valley has been progressively cleared for farming and mining, the Cessnock Local Government Area (LGA) has become an important ‘reservoir’ of biodiversity on the floor of the Hunter Valley.
Cessnock contains a diverse range of flora and fauna species from a range of distinctive communities and ecosystems. Much of the vegetation in Cessnock is dominated by dry forest and woodlands. Botanists have recorded patches of woodlands near Kurri Kurri containing 29 species of Eucalypt. Few other places in NSW would have comparable biodiversity per hectare (Bell, 2004).
Ironically the prevalence of mining in the early 20th century and its need for ‘pit props’ led to the creation of State Forests and other private holdings in the Cessnock area to provide timber for the mines. Today these areas comprise the remaining forests and woodlands in a living ark. As a result Cessnock contains some of the largest remaining remnants of lowland forests and woodlands which once covered much of the floor of the Hunter Valley. The biodiversity in these areas is distinct from that found on the steeper slopes and mountains of the Watagan and Mt Royal Ranges to the south and north of the Valley.
The Hunter Bird Observers have noted that the Lower Hunter has records of 424 bird species which is at the peak of diversity in Australia. The dry woodlands of the Cessnock area provide an important ‘cross-over point’ between coastal species and more inland species such as the Brown Treecreeper and the Regent Honeyeater.
The importance of preserving habitat to protect against the effects of climate change was highlighted in 2007/8 in the Cessnock - Kurri Kurri area when the Endangered Regent Honeyeater was recorded breeding east of the Great Dividing Range in bushland near Kurri Kurri. It is thought that the slowly drying conditions brought about by climate change are causing the Regent Honeyeater, which is in danger of extinction, to select new breeding grounds. The fact that the most successful breeding event for many years occurred in the Cessnock LGA should be a source of pride to all locals.
Distinctive other habitats in the Cessnock LGA support various biodiversity features on private and public land. Notable examples include nationally recognised heritage sites of Bow Wow Gorge and Ellalong Lagoon, the Watagan, Werakata, Wollemi and Yengo National Parks and the Sugarloaf Range. Some of these lands have been set aside for specific conservation management purposes.
Smaller parcels of remaining habitat also contain valuable ecological communities, some of which are classified as endangered or at risk from external pressures such as weed invasion, exotic animals and unsustainable land use practices.
Protection of biodiversity across Cessnock benefits from the support of local community groups. This is reciprocated through an improved local environmental quality which subsequently attracts residents and visitors to the region. Key organisations include Landcare, Tidy Towns, Friends of Tumblebee, Friends of Werakata National Park and other community interest groups who collectively contribute to the management of biodiversity values. A number of community members from these groups have contributed to the development of this web page for the benefit of residents and visitors to the Cessnock area. This contribution is greatly acknowledged.
Council has established this biodiversity web page to help increase awareness and protection of the important biodiversity values in the area so that the ecological character and quality of Cessnock can be maintained and improved.
As a part of The Sign Up For Sustainability program these educational and community resources have also been developed to build upon partnerships between Department of Environment and Climate Change (DECC), the Environmental Trust and Hunter Water Corporation.
Future assistance and information may be available through Council’s Grants Officer who may assist the community and other stakeholders in understanding or participating in government, industry and community initiatives that promote Council’s biodiversity policy and programs.
Web resources provide links to and between:
