Our precious bushland provides natural benefits to the community. Trees and shrubs act like the lungs to our city, processing pollution and providing clean air for us to breathe; native flora creates habitat and food sources for wildlife; undisturbed spaces offer tranquil escapes from the fast pace of city life. We all benefit from securing the future of our bushland.
Unfortunately, much of Parramatta's original bushland was cleared for farming and timber, and recent clearing has been the result of residential and commercial development. The remaining bushland exists as narrow corridors along our creeks and rivers, now primarily listed as Endangered or Critically Endangered space. This bushland is home to a diverse range of flora and fauna, including vulnerable and endangered species such as the Green and Golden Bell Frog and Powerful Owl. Protecting our bushland is paramount for future generations and for the sustainability of our ecosystem.
City of Parramatta Bushland Areas
City of Parramatta governs approximately 840 hectares of native plants. Approximately 500 hectares is located near rivers and bushland reserves. These areas include:
- Darling Mills Creek (Northmead, North Rocks)
- Devlins Creek (Beecroft, Carlingford)
- Edna Hunt Sanctuary (Epping)
- Terrys Creek (Eastwood, Epping)
- Hunts Creek (North Rocks, Carlingford)
- Lake Parramatta Reserve (North Parramatta)
- Newington Nature Reserve (Sydney Olympic Park)*
- Quarry Branch Creek (Northmead, Winston Hills)
- Ponds-Subiaco Creek (Carlingford, Dundas, Dundas Valley, Rydalmere)
- Toongabbie Creek (Constitution Hill, Northmead, Old Toongabbie, Toongabbie, Wentworthville, Westmead, Winston Hills)
- Vineyard Creek (Dundas, Oatlands, Telopea).
* Managed by Sydney Olympic Park Authority
ENDANGERED ECOLOGICAL COMMUNITIES
An ecological community is made up of naturally occurring native plants, animals and other organisms coexisting in a unique habitat. A healthy ecological community naturally maintains clean air and water, provides nutrients for the soil and protection against erosion and salinity for the species living in the environment.
Threatened ecological communities suffer a sharp reduction in species, and are at risk for extinction.
Endangered ecological communities within City of Parramatta's Local Government Area include:
Blue Gum High Forest
Castlereagh Ironbark Forest
Cumberland Plain Woodland
River-Flat Eucalypt Forest
Shale Gravel Transition Forest
Swamp Oak Floodplain Forest
Swamp Sclerophyll Forest
Sydney Turpentine-Ironbark Forest.
We recognise the importance of these ecological communities and have highly prioritised the restoration, protection and conservation of these areas.