North Shore - Monthly outing: Bushwalk to Endangered Ecological Communities

Walk through remnant bushland that contains stands of nice Sydney Turpentine Ironbark Forest and Duffys Forest. This walk breaks with the tradition and is on a weekday, not a weekend.

The area is part of the former Westleigh Sydney Water site in what is now referred to as Westleigh Park, a 36 hectare area purchased from Sydney Water by Hornsby Council and currently zoned as Low density Residential or Public recreation. About a third of it is degraded long grassed wasteland and the rest is very nice bushland. The Council’s current Draft Plan Document proposes turning the grassed area into three large sports fields with associated car and bus roads access and parking and leaving the bush area as bush but with some worrying management issues.

Sydney Turpentine Ironbark Forest (STIF) and Duffys Forest are both Endangered Ecological Communities (the STIF Critically endangered). There are also Bloodwood Scribbly Gum Woodland, Peppermint Angophora Forest and Scribbly Gum Open Woodland and at least 4 rare and endangered plants. Mountain bike tracks criss-cross the bush, hence the choice of a much less busy week day when we are not likely to encounter bikes. These tracks have and continue to cause damage to the bush there. Hornsby Council’s Draft Plans would see the number of bike trails reduced. 

See the plans here.
See also a report on the vegetation here.

APS NSW has put in a submission to preserve this bushland.

The group activity is a chance for you to be guided over the site and explore it. The walking is mostly flat and easy. Bring your lunch as there is a nice park nearby as well as a café not far away.

Meet at Westleigh Rural Fire Brigade, Warrigal Drive, Westleigh

What to Bring: Good walking shoes, hat, rain gear/ umbrella if necessary, water, lunch, snacks, keep cup, plant ID book.

RSVP essential to contact person Sue Fredrickson by email paulandsuefreddo@bigpond.com or phone 0401362921.

State your name, car rego, phone number and emergency contact phone number.