GEORGES RIVER
The headwaters of the Georges River incorporating pristine creeks and
wetlands (link to Georges River)
KOALAS
Koala colonies survive on the edges of Wedderburn and individual koalas
move through Wedderburn during mating season. The koalas in the area are
unusually disease free but very vulnerable to the clearing of bush, household
pets, pollution of waterways and road traffic. (link to koalas)
FLORA
Rare and restricted species and species of special conservation significance
in Wedderburn include Acacia stricta, Asplenium flabellifolium, Blandifordia
cunninghami, Eucalyptus multicaulis, Grevillia diffusa ssp diffusa, Grevillia
longifolia, Hibertia nitida, Leichardtia leptophylla, Leucopogon amplexaulis,
Leucopogon exolassus, Lombandara fluvitilis, Melaleuca deanei, Persoona
hirsuta, Pultenaea aristata and Teratheca neglecta.
The O'Hares catchment includes 17 plants that are nationally listed
as rare or threatened. The area contains large populations of Pultenaea
aristate, Leucopogon exolasius and Grevillia Longifolia, which are very
restricted in distribution. The area is critical in the conservation of
these species. The area is also an important biogeographical location for
eleven taxa, which reach their Southern limit of distribution. The population
of Callitris edlicheri is also of significance as the area receives two
or three times the average rainfall of its typical habitat and is an isolated
population suggesting that it persists from a relic population.
FAUNA
Rare and Threatened species
The Koala Foundation(1996) recorded some 27 threatened species as either
known to occur or considered likely to have once occurred on the plateau.
A total of 22 threatened species are subsequently known or otherwise considered
likely to occur in Wedderburn including at least 9 species of mammals (
6 of which are Microchiropteran bats), 7 species of birds, 2 species of
reptiles and 4 of amphibians. A total of 6 mammal species are considered
likely to have become locally extinct, one of which is considered to be
extinct in NSW although historical records confirm that they were present
earlier this century