Approved NSW & National 

Recovery Plan 

Grevillea beadleana 

July 2004 

© NSW Department of Environment and Conservation, 2004.

This work is copyright. However, material presented in this plan may be copied for personal use or published for educational purposes, providing that any extracts are fully acknowledged. Apart from this and any other use as permitted under the Copyright Act
1968, no part may be reproduced without prior written permission from the Department of Environment and Conservation.

NSW Department of Environment and Conservation

43 Bridge Street (PO Box 1967) Hurstville NSW 2220
Tel: 02 9585 6444
www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au

Requests for information or comments regarding the recovery program for the Grevillea beadleana are best directed to: The Grevillea beadleana Recovery  Coordinator
Threatened Species Unit, North East Branch
NSW Department of Environment and Conservation
Locked Bag 914
Coffs Harbour NSW 2450
Tel 02 6651 5946

Cover illustration: Tina Woolfe

This plan should be cited as follows:

NSW Department of Environment and Conservation (2004), Approved Recovery Plan for the Grevillea beadleana, NSW Department of Environment and Conservation, Hurstville.

ISBN 174122 135 8

Approved Recovery Plan	Grevillea beadleana

Recovery Plan for the Grevillea beadleana 

Foreword

The  New South  Wales Government  established a  new environment  agency on  24 September  2003, the Department of Environment and Conservation, which incorporates the New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service. Responsibility for the preparation of Recovery Plans now rests with this new department.

This document constitutes the formal New South Wales State Recovery Plan  for the  Grevillea beadleana  and considers the conservation requirements of the species across its known range.  It identifies the actions to be taken to ensure the long-term viability of the species in nature and the parties who will undertake these actions.

The Grevillea beadleana is included as Endangered on the NSW Threatened  Species Conservation Act 1995, and Endangered on the Commonwealth  Environment  Protection and Biodiversity Conservation  Act  1999.   Grevillea beadleana is a single-stemmed spreading shrub up to 2.5 m high and 2 m wide. Grevillea beadleana is known from four disjunct localities in northern  NSW, including the Binghi region to the north  of Torrington, above the Macleay gorges escarpment near Enmore, the Guy Fawkes River National Park north of Ebor and the Chambigne Nature Reserve south-west of Grafton. Grevillea beadleana was previously known last century from near Walcha, however, despite searches, it has not been relocated in this area.

The  future recovery actions detailed in this Recovery Plan include: (i)  surveys; (ii)  research;  (iii) habitat protection; (iv) threat abatement and management; and (v) community awareness.

It is intended that this Recovery Plan will be implemented over a five year period.  Actions will be undertaken by the New South Wales Department of Environment and Conservation.

TONY FLEMING	BOB DEBUS MP

Acting Director-General 	Minister for the Environment

Acknowledgments

This Recovery Plan was prepared by Dr Caroline Gross of University of New England and Andrew Steed of New South Wales Department  of Environment and Conservation, with assistance from members of the  Grevillea beadleana Recovery Team.  The Recovery Team comprised Dr Caroline Gross and Andrew Steed together with Rachel Bailey and Danny Corcoran and Peter Croft of New South Wales  Department  of Environment and Conservation and private landholders Barry and Leonie McWhinney.  This document has substantially revised the original Recovery Plan prepared by John Benson of the Royal Botanic Gardens, and his contribution in preparing that  plan is greatly appreciated.   Andrew Leys reviewed and edited the Recovery Plan, providing valuable input.

Research undertaken  in the  last three  years has been  supported by the  Biodiversity Group, Environment Australia's Endangered Species Program, University of New England and by the  former New South  Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service (now the NSW Department of Environment and Conservation).  Data on the ecology and distribution of the species were collected by Dr Caroline Gross and University of New England students J. Streat, J.A. Smith and J. Durbin, working under permit number A1712. Additional data w	as gathered by P. Gilmour, M. Dwyer, D. Redman, D.  Hardman,  P. Croft and A. Steed of New South Wales Department of Environment and Conservation. Field assistance provided by P. Lisle, L. Copeland, J. Williams, K. McGregor and F. Quinn of University of New England, D. Mackey, D. Corcoran and A. Prior of New South Wales Department of Environment and Conservation , and N. Taws is gratefully acknowledged. J.A. Smith and P. Lisle helped to maintain the glasshouse collection of Grevillea beadleana.

Sarah Caldwell (Mole Creek Nursery) is thanked for providing cultivated specimens of Grevillea beadleana and for sharing her propagation methods which, along with suggestions from W. Sheather Quinn of University of New England, provided the basis for future research.  Anne Blaxland-Fuad, Katrina McKay and Simon Ferrier of New South Wales  Department  of Environment  and  Conservation  are  thanked  for assisting with the modelling.   Neville Fenton,  Alex Floyd, Greg Roberts and  John Williams are thanked  for sharing their knowledge of Grevillea beadleana.  David Mackay is thanked for the drawing of Grevillea beadleana on page 4 and Dr Caroline Gross for the use of the University of New England’s laboratory and glasshouses. Tina Woolfe is thanked for providing the cover drawing.

Mr Barry McWhinney, owner of the property Grevillea Downs in the Binghi area north of Torrington kindly allowed continued access to his property to undertake ecological research and distribution surveys. Without the support of Mr McWhinney and his family, the knowledge of Grevillea beadleana would  not have advanced.

Table of Contents

1	Current Conservation Status ...................................................................................................... 1 

2	Description and Taxonomy ........................................................................................................1 
2.1    Description.........................................................................................................................................................................1 
2.2    Taxonomy ..........................................................................................................................................................................1 
2.3    Taxonomic significance...................................................................................................................................................1 
3	Distribution...............................................................................................................................2 
3.1    Collection history and geographical distribution .......................................................................................................3 
3.2    Population size...................................................................................................................................................................3 
3.3    Tenure.................................................................................................................................................................................3 
3.4    Genetic variability ............................................................................................................................................................5 
3.5    Significant habitat ............................................................................................................................................................5 
3.6    Critical habitat ..................................................................................................................................................................5 
4	Habitat ......................................................................................................................................5 
4.1    Binghi — Torrington State Recreation Area ...............................................................................................................5 
4.2    Guy Fawkes River National Park - eastern population ............................................................................................6 
4.3    Guy Fawkes River National Park - western population ...........................................................................................6 
4.4    Chambigne Nature Reserve ...........................................................................................................................................7 
4.5    Enmore - Oxley Wild Rivers National Park ...............................................................................................................8 
4.6    Geographic Information System (GIS) Predictive Modelling.................................................................................8 
5	Life History................................................................................................................................8 
5.1    Flowering and fruiting phenology..................................................................................................................................8 
5.2    Breeding system.................................................................................................................................................................8 
5.3    Floral visitors .....................................................................................................................................................................8 
5.4    Seed dispersal, predation and dormancy .....................................................................................................................8 
5.5    Germination.......................................................................................................................................................................9 
5.6    Response to fire and regeneration.............................................................................................................................. 10 
6	Relevant Legislation.................................................................................................................10 
6.1    Recovery Plan preparation and implementation .................................................................................................... 10 
6.2    State legislation .............................................................................................................................................................. 11 
6.3    Commonwealth legislation .......................................................................................................................................... 12 
7	Management Issues..................................................................................................................12 
7.1    Threats............................................................................................................................................................................. 12 
7.2    Biodiversity benefits ...................................................................................................................................................... 13 
8	Previous Actions Undertaken...................................................................................................13 

9	Species’ Ability To Recover......................................................................................................14 

10    Alternative Management Strategies...........................................................................................14 

11    Consideration of Social and Economic Cons equences ............................................................... 14 
11.1	Consideration of economic costs........................................................................................................................... 14 
11.2	Consideration of economic benefits ..................................................................................................................... 14 
11.3	Consideration of social costs .................................................................................................................................. 14 
11.4	Consideration of social benefits ............................................................................................................................. 14 
11.5	Consideration of net social and economic benefits to society......................................................................... 15 
12    Community Involvement .........................................................................................................15 

13    Recovery team .........................................................................................................................15 

14    Objectives of the Recovery Plan ...............................................................................................15 
14.1	Overall objective....................................................................................................................................................... 15 
15    Implementation........................................................................................................................18 

16    Preparation Details ..................................................................................................................18 
16.1	Persons responsible for the plan preparation ...................................................................................................... 18 
16.2	Date of last amendment .......................................................................................................................................... 18 
17    Review Date ............................................................................................................................18 

18    Contacts ..................................................................................................................................18 

19    References ...............................................................................................................................18 

20    List of Abbreviations ................................................................................................................19 

Appendix 2	Summary of Advice from the NSW Scientific Committee .......................................... 21 

Tables

Table 1.    Land tenure and Local Environment Plan zoning at the known sites of Grevillea beadleana. .....................5 

Table 2.    G. beadleana seed germination results (Durbin 1996). ........................................................................................9 

Figures

Figure 1.	Inflorescence (x1.25), inner surface of tepals showing the anthers (x 5), flower and fruit (x 3.75) of 
Grevillea beadleana..................................................................................................................................................................2 

Figure 2.	The general locations of G. beadleana populations in north east New South Wales. ..............................4 

1 	Current Conservation Status

Grevillea beadleana McGillivray (Proteaceae) has been listed as Endangered on both the New South Wales (NSW)  Threatened Species Conservation  Act,  1995 (TSC  Act)  and the  Commonwealth  Environmental Protection and  Biodiversity   Conservation Act,   1999 (EPBC Act) because it is likely to become extinct in nature in NSW unless the circumstances and factors threatening its survival and evolutionary development cease to operate.   At two locations population sizes have been reduced to such a critical level, and the habitat has been so drastically altered, that the species is in immediate danger of extinction.  The species is only known to occur in northern NSW.

2 	Description and Taxonomy

2.1 	Description

Form and Habitat

Grevillea beadleana is  a  single-stemmed  spreading shrub up to 2.5 m high and 2 m wide.  It generally grows in gritty loam among granite outcrops in open scrub or woodland at the tops of gorges or undulating terrain, and also along creek-lines.  These are areas with hot, dry summers and cold, wet or dry winters where there  is an average rainfall of approximately
800—1250 mm per annum (Olde & Marriott 1995). Flowers are produced in spring to late autumn with birds and the introduced honeybee being their most frequent visitors.

Leaves

The  leaves are spreading, 8—17  cm long, 5—11  cm wide	(Makinson	1991),	and 	pinnatisect 	with secondary or sometimes tertiary divisions with oblong to triangular ultimate lobes  2—11 cm wide. The upper surface of the leaves is sparsely haired and carries the midvein as a sunken groove.   The  lower surface is white  and  hairy, with  the  mid-  and  lateral  veins prominent  and the  leaf margins slightly curved backwards (Olde & Marriott 1995).  The leaves on the  specimen collected near Walcha in 1887 differ moderately from the material collected from the Guy Fawkes River National Park (McGillivray 1993) and resemble the  material collected recently from near Enmore (L. Copeland pers. comm.).

Inflorescence and Flower

The burgundy flowers of Grevillea beadleana are borne on a 35—50 mm flower stem (Figure 1).   The short stalk of the flower is up to 20 mm.  The flower stem bears 20—90 flowers  which open progressively from the base of the inflorescence upwards, with a fully-open

inflorescence resembling a  toothbrush. 	Burgundy pollen is presented on the far end of the pistil (pollen presenter).   The  mature  buds and  flowers produce nectar  (Smith unpublished data).   Accounts of the floral morphology of G. beadleana can  be found in McGillivray (1986, 1993).

Fruit and Seed

The fruit is about 9—10.5 mm long and 5 mm wide (Figure 1). It is ovoid, narrowing gradually at the end, dorsally concave and has a dense cover of intertwined hairs with conspicuous purple stripes and  blotches over a green background.  The fruit can contain two ellipsoidal seeds approximately 9 mm long and 4 mm wide, the outer face with tiny wrinkles, and the inner face channelled around a flat central portion (Olde & Marriott 1995).   The seeds do not bear an obvious food appendage or dispersal mechanism.  Fruits soon open, releasing the seeds to the ground.

Similar and Related Species

There are several species closely related to  Grevillea beadleana including G. caleyi, G. willisii ssp. willisii, G. acanthifolia ssp. acanthifolia and  G. longifolia .   These species also belong to the “toothbrush inflorescence” group of Grevillea. G. aspleniifolia is another species that  could be confused with  G. beadleana as it has similar elongated, broadly linear, entire  or toothed leaves. G. willisii ssp. willisii is vegetatively the most similar to G. beadleana but the species should not be confused in the field as they occur in widely-separated locations (McGillivray 1993).  G. beadleana can also be  confused in  the  vegetative state  with   Lomatia silaifolia .

2.2 	Taxonomy

McGillivray (1986)  published  the  name  Grevillea beadleana in honour of Prof. Noel C. W. Beadle, the founding Professor of Botany at the University of New England.   The  holotype is lodged at  the  National Herbarium of NSW (McGillivray 1993).

2.3 	Taxonomic significance

Grevillea beadleana is  a  member  of  the   ancient Gondwanan family  Proteaceae,  which  has  had  a presence in Australia for at  least 65 million years (White 1994). The Proteaceae contains about 80 genera (1500 species) of which 50 genera (900 species) are found in Australia (Harden 1991). Grevillea is mostly restricted to Australia but is also found in New Guinea, Sulawesi and New Caledonia (Morely &  Toelken  1983).	Between 250 to  338 species of Grevillea are recognised as endemic to

Figure 1. 	Inflorescence (x1.25),  inner surface of tepals showing the anthers (x 5), flower and fruit (x
3.75) of Grevillea beadleana.

Australia, with 53—68  species in NSW  (Morely & Toelken  1983; Makinson 1991;  Olde  &  Marriott
1995).  G. beadleana is a member of the “toothbrush inflorescence” group of  Grevillea.	Several  species within this group are threatened with extinction.

3 	Distribution

Grevillea beadleana is  known  from  four  disjunct localities in northern NSW (Figure 2).  The majority of plants are found in the Binghi region to the north of Torrington and west of the New England Highway. In this area, there are a number of separate populations over an area of about 30 km2, with an estimated total  of about 40 000 plants.   The  next largest population is located on the tablelands above

the Macleay gorges escarpment near Enmore, 25 kms south-east of Armidale, in and adjacent to the Oxley Wild Rivers National  Park.   In Guy Fawkes River National Park, 30 kms north of Ebor, there are two populations, separated by about 20 kms and totalling
700 plants.  The other population, consisting of only four plants, is located at Chambigne Nature Reserve
30 kms south-west of Grafton on an escarpment in
the   Orara   River  catchment. 	G.  beadleana was previously known  last  century  from near  Walcha, however, despite searches, it has not been relocated in this area.

3.1 	Collection 	history	and	geographical distribution

Grevillea beadleana  was first  collected  in  1887  at Walcha (McGillivray 1993).  The specimen from this collection has not been viewed in the preparation of the Recovery Plan, but it is apparently housed in the National Herbarium of Victoria (McGillivray 1993). The species has not been found again in the Walcha district despite searches for it in the early 1980s (J.B. Williams pers. comm.) and systematic searches more recently (P. Davies & P. Metcalfe pers. comm.).

In 1981 a Grevillea beadleana specimen was collected from the Guy Fawkes River National Park (N. Fenton pers. comm.). The type material was collected in June
1982 and was brought to the attention of the National Herbarium of NSW.   It recognised that  the species was allied to the specimen collected from Walcha and in 1986 it formally described as G. beadleana.

In 1988 a new population was discovered 15 kms north of Torrington and about 40 kms south of the Queensland  border (Figure 2).   The very extensive occurrence of Grevillea beadleana is referred to in this document  as the  Binghi population, although  it is recognised that gene flow within the greater area may not be continuous.

In 1994, a small population was discovered 30 kms south-west of Grafton on land which has since become Chambigne Nature Reserve. In 1998 another small population was discovered in a recent western addition to the Guy Fawkes River National Park.  In November 1999, a population of over 2 000 plants was located near Enmore south-east of Armidale.

The reasons for Grevillea beadleana’s rarity are largely unknown. It is likely that the populations within Guy Fawkes River National Park and Chambigne Nature Reserve were more extensive but have declined into refugia because  of too  frequent  fires.	Anecdotal information  also suggests that  the  species, locally known as the “bottle-brush from the river banks”, was common in the Torrington district 40 years ago but declined due to grazing pressures (S. Caldwell pers. comm.).

3.2 	Population size

The first population census of the species was undertaken in 1989 at the eastern population within the Guy Fawkes River National Park (M. Dwyer pers. comm.).  The site was traversed and it was estimated that 714 living plants were present in an area of about
4.25 hectares.  Part of this population was surveyed in
1991 with 266 live plants being recorded in an area of three hectares (Benson 1991).

In August 1995, after a very intense fire in October
1994, 651 plants were counted,  including 84 dead adults and only 62 reproductive adults, in an area roughly corresponding to  the  1989  survey (Streat
1997).  In March 1996 a further two adult plants had
died and about 20% of the mature plants were coppicing (Gross unpublished data).   At a new site near the Aberfoyle River, located in March 2000, it was estimated  that  150 plants  were present,  with approximately 30  seedlings, 50  immature  and  70 mature plants.

In 1991 the Binghi population was estimated at 4 000 plants  over 20  hectares  in  two discrete groups: 5 hectares at “the Knoll’ and 15 hectares at Oaky Creek (Benson 1991).   In 1996, based on transect counts and ground truthing, the population at the same two areas was estimated at 40 000 plants in 270 hectares and a corridor of plants was found linking the two areas (Streat 1997).

At the Chambigne Nature Reserve seven adult plants and two seedlings were found in 1994 (P. Sheringham pers. comm.).   Only six of these plants were found again in both 1995 and in 1996.  In 2000 nine plants were found (A. Steed pers. comm.) over a larger area than previously known.

A full census has yet to be undertaken  at Enmore, however a preliminary assessment in May 2000 indicated the population to be over 2 000, with adults up to 2.5 m high and 4 m wide, with many seedlings present.

3.3 	Tenure

The  tenure  and  ownership of the  sites of known populations of Grevillea beadleana is shown in Table 1. Four areas are reserved in the conservation reserve system   and   managed   by   the 		Department 	of Environment and Conservation (DEC).   The largest occurrence 	of	G. 	beadleana,	at 	Binghi	near Torrington, is present within a number of different tenures,  including the  Torrington  State  Recreation Area managed by DEC and Crown Leasehold land, with two outlying populations on freehold land.

Populations within National Parks are zoned as Existing National Parks, while those populations on private and leasehold land, State Recreation Area and Nature Reserves are currently zoned as General Rural. It is anticipated that the populations in State Recreation Area and Nature Reserves will be zoned as Existing National Park and Nature  Reserves in the future.

$   Grevillea beadleana	State Forest Estate	0	10	20	30	40  Kilometres
Nsw-Qld Border	NPWS Estate

Li smore
#
# 	#
Casino	Bal lina

$
$$$
#
Torrington

#
Tenterfield

# Glen Innes

#   Grafton

$ 	#
Coutts Crossing

$ 
$ 

#  Armi dale 

$
# Enm ore

#
Ebor 

#
Coffs Harbour

#  Walcha

#
Moona Plains 	#  Kempsey

Figure 2. 	The general locations of G. beadleana populations in north east New South Wales.

Table 1. 	Land tenure and Local Environment Plan zoning at the known sites of Grevillea beadleana.

Location	Tenure	Local Govt.	LEP zoning	

Chambigne Nature Reserve	
Nature Reserve	
Nymboida	
1(a) - General Rural	

Guy Fawkes River NP -east	
National Park	
Nymboida	
8(a) - Existing National Parks	

Guy Fawkes River NP - west	
National Park	
Guyra	
To be determined	

Torrington SRA	
State Recreation Area	
Tenterfield	
1(a) - General Rural	

Torrington leasehold	
Crown Leasehold	
Tenterfield	
1(a) - General Rural	

Torrington private land	
Freehold	
Tenterfield	
1(a) - General Rural	

Oxley Wild Rivers NP	
National Park	
Dumaresq	
8(a) - Existing National Parks	

Enmore private land	
Freehold	
Dumaresq	
1(a) - General Rural	

3.4 	Genetic variability

Because the loss of genetic diversity within a species, especially one that has never been abundant, can be catastrophic, and can cause inbreeding depression, the level of genetic  diversity within  and  between  the various populations of  Grevillea beadleana  is  being investigated.	Preliminary results  from  starch  gel electrophoresis of young leaf material  from plants cultivated at the University of New England (UNE) showed intra-population variation within the Binghi and  Guy Fawkes River National  Park populations. The  Chambigne Nature  Reserve population varied genetically from the other two but not within itself (C. Gross unpublished data).

3.5 	Significant habitat

All areas of known potential habitat, in the Binghi and Enmore areas, Guy Fawkes River National Park and Chambigne Nature Reserve constitute significant habitat.

3.6 	Critical habitat

All areas of known habitat  in the Torrington State Recreation Area, Oxley Wild Rivers and Guy Fawkes River National Parks and Chambigne Nature Reserve areas require assessment to determine whether they are Critical Habitat within the meaning of the TSC Act.

4 	Habitat

4.1 	Binghi – Torrington State Recreation Area

The populations of Grevillea beadleana on the Crown Leasehold land (Figure 2) and within the Torrington State Recreation Area may be contiguous.  Further survey work is required in the region.  Binghi is the largest naturally vegetated region on the  north-west slopes of New South Wales (Benson 1991). The main land-uses in the area include tin mining and rough cattle  grazing.	The  National  Parks Association of NSW proposed the area as a National Park in 1976. However, this application was withdrawn in response to opposition from local miners and graziers (Benson
1991).  The area was identified as wilderness under
section 6 of the Wilderness Act 1987 but has not been formally declared.

Fires are  not  frequent  in  the  area  of the  Binghi population.  The property owners at Grevillea Downs suggest that the last fire in the area was during the
1982—3 season (McWhinney pers. comm.) although Benson (1991)  notes  that  “...on  the  knoll  in  the Binghi area, approximately half of the mature adults were killed in a 1988 fire”. Few seedlings are present. Part of this area burnt in November 2002, however investigation of the response of G. beadleana to this event has yet to occur.

Many of the plants are estimated to be up to 30 years old, although the longevity of Grevillea  beadleana is currently not known.  This estimate is based on the time since the last large fire that  burnt most of the area occupied by G. beadleana (1982—3) and the fact that  large mature  plants exist in unburnt  areas in

1988. Goats  have  been  seen  throughout  the  area occupied by Grevillea beadleana (B. McWhinney pers. comm.), and while there was no evidence of goat or other  stock  grazing upon  plants  during  research undertaken by Durbin in 1996, it is thought that the stunted apical areas and a multi-sided branch spreading structure of some plants may be indicative of goat grazing (C. Gross pers. comm.).

Topography and elevation

The  first populations surveyed in  this  region were found alongside Oaky Creek and on a flat, rocky knoll
1 km to the west (Benson 1991).   Since this work, plants have been found throughout the area at elevations ranging from 600 m to 900 m above sea level  on  undulating  terrain,  steep  slopes and  flat plateaux.

Geology and soils

The  parent material is Mole Creek Granite, which extends  throughout  the  Binghi area.   The  rock is extremely siliceous, containing  a greater than  75% silica content.   The soil formed, is a relatively fine- grained loamy-sand mixture.	The  soil is poor  in nutrients and is acidic (Benson 1991).

Rainfall

Based on  data  from several nearby properties, the Binghi area receives approximately 800 mm of rain annually (Bureau of Meteorology in Benson 1991). This site would experience higher temperatures and thus greater evaporation rates than  the Guy Fawkes River National Park population (Benson 1991).

Associated vegetation

The vegetation at Binghi is woodland with a shrubby understorey component  that  is sparse on the rocky outcrops.  Common trees include Eucalyptus prava, E. andrewsii, E subtilior, Callitris endlicheri and Angophora floribunda (Clarke et al. 1998).

Common shrub and forb understorey species include Acacia  granitica, Baeckea densifolia, Leptospermum brachyandrum,  L. brevipes,  Notelaea linearis,  Mirbellia speciosa, Persoonia   terminalis subsp.  terminalis and Phebalium squamulosum .		Grasses and  sedges that frequently occur as mid-dense ground cover include Schoenus ericetorum, Xanthorrhoea glauca, Lepyrodia leptocaulis,	Lomandra	longifolia,	Aristida	armata, Cymbopogon obtectus and Eragrostis brownii (Benson
1991).

4.2 	Guy Fawkes River National Park - eastern population

Guy Fawkes River National  Park  was gazetted  in
1972.  Prior to this the land was vacant Crown land with licensed occupancies for grazing in some parts (Reid et al. 1996). The eastern population of Grevillea

beadleana is located within an area declared in 1994 as wilderness under  the  Wilderness Act  1987.	The population of G. beadleana is located north of Jordan's trail, along the rim of the gorge, and adjacent to the escarpment walking track.  The population exists in an area of 4.25 hectares (Dwyer unpublished data; Gross et al. unpublished data; Streat 1997) with most of the older plants nestled among rocks and crevices that afford protection from fire. Many of the seedlings are growing in the loose scree between and below the rocky ridges. The scree substrate is active and plants are particularly vulnerable to disturbance from landslides.

Topography and elevation

This population occurs at an elevation between 900 m and 1000 m on small rocky ridges and interstitial scree that form part of a steeply sloping bluff adjoining an undulating plateau.

Geology and soils

The  rock  outcropping  on  the  bluff is  silica-rich (>75%), leucocratic, felsphatic granite and is part of a complex of granitic outcrops mapped as the Chaelundi  Granite.   Compared to  another  granitic rock specimen from Guy Fawkes Crags, 8 kms to the north (where Grevillea beadleana  is absent), the rock has a low content  of ferromagnesium minerals.  The soil formed from this parent  material is a skeletal, highly siliceous, sandy-loam substrate.

Rainfall

The  rainfall is estimated to be approximately 1000 mm per annum  (Bureau of Meteorology in Benson
1991).

Associated vegetation

The  vegetation  is sparse among the  outcrops  and currently large trees are dying as a result of unstable substrate conditions.  In the upper stratum Eucalyptus campanulata  and the rare  E.  michaeliana  dominate with  the  occasional  Lophostemon confertus.	The middle stratum is dominated by a species of Leptospermum, Allocasuarina littoralis and  Notelaea microcarpa along with Grevillea beadleana. Scattered clumps of grasses, herbs  and  sedges make  up  the ground stratum with the most common species being Gonocarpus teucrioides, Lepidosperma laterale, Poa sieberi, Stipa ramosissma, Pomax umbellata and a species of Aristida (Benson 1991).

4.3 	Guy Fawkes River National Park - western population

The   area  where   Grevillea beadleana occurs  was purchased  for inclusion in  the  Guy Fawkes River National Park in 1997.   Prior to this the land was vacant  Crown  land  with  licensed occupancies for

grazing in some parts (Reid et al. 1996).  The area was identified as wilderness under section 6 of the Wilderness Act   1987  but  has  not   been  formally declared.

Topography and elevation

The area where  Grevillea  beadleana  occurs is on  a small rocky cliff in the Aberfoyle River gorge at an elevation	of	approximately	500	m,	with	a predominantly  southerly  aspect.	The  surrounding escarpment  rises steeply to  over 1000 m, and  the Aberfoyle gorge is aligned in a  north-east  to south­ west direction.

Geology and soils

The substrate where the western population occurs is reported  to  be  skeletal  soils over  metamorphosed Permian sediments (P. Gilmore pers. comm.).  These sediments include greywacke, slate siliceous argillite and pebbly mudstone (NSW Department of Mineral Resources 1969).

Rainfall

The rainfall is estimated to be approximately 800 mm per annum (Bureau of Meteorology in Benson 1991).

Associated vegetation

The  associated vegetation  in  the  area  where  the Grevillea beadleana plants were recorded includes open forest	consisting	of	Eucalyptus	eugenoides,	E. tereticornis ,	Angophora	  subvelutina,		Allocasuarina littoralis, Hovea lanceolata, Jacksonia scoparia, Parsonsia straminea, Melichrus adpressus , Lomandra sp., Aristida sp., and Goodenia hederacea ssp. hederacea (P. Gilmour pers. comm.).

4.4 	Chambigne Nature Reserve

This site is located within Chambigne Nature Reserve south-west of Grafton, in the headwaters of Shannon Creek which forms part of the catchment of the lower Orara River. Although the land is managed by DEC access to  the  land  is  negotiated  through  private property.  The population is located on a mesa-like outcrop. Six of the plants are huddled on the western side of the site on a rock ledge that probably affords protection from fire.

The Nature Reserve requires a thorough investigation for further occurrences of Grevillea beadleana and for a full floristic inventory.   Surveys of the area in 1994 and  1995  revealed  that  there  were only nine  G. beadleana  plants  present  over  an  area  of about  2 hectares and later surveys only located six plants.  A subsequent  investigation  in  early 1998  found  the population reduced to three adult plants and one seedling with the cause of the decline unknown.

Topography and elevation

The area is an isolated plateau rising approximately
150—200 m above the adjacent valleys of Deep Creek to the west and Shannon Creek to the east. Cliffs and very steep slopes bound the  area on the  west and south,  and  more moderate  slopes to  the  east and north.  In places on the southern boundary the cliffs are up to 75 m high and are a series of broken ledges with numerous caves, overhangs and clefts.  The top of the plateau is semi-circular,  with a long ridge on the western side extending to the north.   The plateau is relatively flat, with a number of high points rising to a maximum of 285 m above sea level.  The area forms the  upper  catchment  of an  unnamed  tributary  of Shannon Creek.

Geology and soils

The geology of the area comprises Jurassic Kangaroo Creek Sandstone, consisting of quartz sandstone and feldspathic quartz sandstone.  This substrate produces a coarse-grained sandy soil, with free drainage.  The high quartz content  produces a soil of low fertility. Although  no  soil samples have  yet been  analysed, descriptions have been of poor, skeletal “sandy type” soil.

Rainfall

The rainfall is approximately 1200 mm per year.

Associated vegetation

The vegetation is dry open forest dominated by Eucalyptus psammitica and Corymbia gummifera with a dry shrub understorey.  Pockets of mesic vegetation may be  found  in  small areas, such  as those  with impeded drainage, at the base of cliffs or in fire-free areas such  as cliff benches  and  clefts.	The  area contains populations of two Endangered Species (Grevillea beadleana and   Melichrus hirsutus ),   one undescribed species (Bertya sp. nov.), one rare species (Dodonaea hirsuta) and  one  poorly known  species (Eucalyptus psammitica) (Sheringham  &  Westaway
1995).

Other  species recorded  at  this  site include  Acacia concurrens, A.   hispidula, A.   venosa,  Allocasuarina littoralis, Brachyloma  daphnoides, Chloanthes  parviflora, Daviesia  wyattiana,  Eriachne  pallescens, Hibbertia acuminata,  H.   vestita,  Hovea  longifolia, Jacksonia scoparia,	Leptospermum	trinervium,	Melichrus procumbens, Patersonia sericea, Phebalium woombye, Phyllanthus hirtellus, Platysace ericoides, Tetratheca thymifolia,  Trachymene incisa, Xanthorrhoea  johnsonii (National Parks and Wildlife Service 1995).  Further detailed surveys are required.

4.5 	Enmore  -  Oxley  Wild  Rivers  National
Park

This site, located on private property and within the Oxley Wild Rivers National Park, is 25 kms south­ east of Armidale, in the catchment  of the Macleay River. Access to the land is through private property and is currently being negotiated with the landowner. The area requires a thorough investigation for further occurrences of  Grevillea beadleana  and  for  a  full floristic  inventory.	The   area  was  identified  as wilderness under section 6 of the Wilderness Act 1987 but has not been formally declared. This section of Oxley Wild Rivers National Park was included on the World Heritage List in 1994, as part of the Central Eastern Rainforest Reserves of Australia.

Topography and elevation

The  area  is  on  the   edge  of  the   New  England tableland, at an elevation of 950 m above sea level. The slopes of the escarpment are very steep, falling away for 450 m to Salisbury Waters.

Geology and soils

A preliminary investigation revealed that  the underlying bedrock is granite, producing a sandy loam substrate (L. Copeland pers. comm.).  Geology maps for the  area indicate  that  the  granite type is Blue Knobby Ademellite, a biotite ademellite (Department of Mineral Resources 1988).

Rainfall

The estimated rainfall is 750 mm per year.

Associated vegetation

The vegetation is a layered woodland dominated by Eucalyptus youmanii and  E. bridgesiana with a shrub understorey of  Leptospermum  brevipes and  Grevillea beadleana.	The  ground  cover  consists of  a  well developed grass layer of Themeda australis and Aristida spp.  Rare species recorded at the site include Zieria sp. nov, an undescribed species, Eucalyptus magnificata and Acacia ingramii (L. Copeland pers. comm.).

4.6 	Geographic   Information   System   (GIS) Predictive Modelling

Durbin (1996) developed a predictive model for Grevillea beadleana that showed that the area between the   Queensland-NSW    border   and   Glen   Innes contains  the  most suitable habitat  for the  species. The model selected current and historical sites and highlighted many other areas throughout the region that may contain suitable habitat for the species. The Binghi region was not included in the model due to inadequate data being available for this area.

5 	Life History

5.1 	Flowering and fruiting phenology

Flowering mainly occurs in late spring or summer, but with good rains it can continue into early winter (C. Gross  pers.   obs.).	The   basal  flowers  of  the inflorescence are three times more likely to set seed than the distal flowers (Gross & Smith unpublished data).

5.2 	Breeding system

Grevillea beadleana  is a self-compatible species.  All pollination treatments at Guy Fawkes River National Park in 1995 yielded lower fruit set than  at Binghi which may be the result of a resource deficiency (eg. lack of water)  at  the  former site (Gross &  Smith unpublished data).

5.3 	Floral visitors

Grevillea species are often abundant nectar producers with biotic pollen vectors being prominent as a result. A number of potential biotic pollinators have been recorded attending  Grevillea  beadleana  flowers.	At Binghi these include Yellow-tufted Honeyeater (Lichenostomus melanops ), Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater (Acanthagenys  rufogularis ), White-naped  Honeyeater (Melithriptus lunatus ),   Brown-headed   Honeyeater (Melithriptus brevirostris )  and   Fuscous  Honeyeater (Lichenostomus fuscous ).  A small, unidentified native mammal  was also  briefly observed  lapping  at  an inflorescence at this site (Smith pers. comm.). Crimson Rosellas (Platycercus elegans)  were observed ripping flowers from inflorescences.  At Guy Fawkes River	National 	Park	Eastern	Spinebills (Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris ) have been the only birds observed at inflorescences of G. beadleana.  European Honeybees (Apis mellifera) and some native bees have been observed foraging for nectar at both locations. Honeybees rob nectar  from unopened  flowers that may potentially render these flowers unattractive  to native pollinators.

5.4 	Seed dispersal, predation and dormancy

The seeds of Grevillea beadleana are about 9 mm long and 4 mm wide and are held in the pods for about four	weeks	once 	the 	pods	have 	developed. Indications are that there is little predation of the seed while it is still within the pod.  At Guy Fawkes River National Park the seeds on the ground appear to have been eaten by rodents and a trapping program may be needed  to investigate which species are eating the seed and the level of this predation.  Significant seed predation  levels would affect the  amount  of time needed for seedbank replenishment after a fire.

Studies on seed predation of the  closely-related, fire-	sensitive and endangered shrub Grevillea caleyi found

Table 2. 	G. beadleana seed germination results (Durbin 1996).

Temperature 0C	
Percentage
Germination	
Sample Size	
Percentage Viability	

23	
57	
23	
100	

50	
48	
23	
58	

100	
72	
29	
88	

165	
14	
28	
50	

that  replenishment of the soil seedbank is severely retarded by mammal seed predation, with seed loss levels reaching 90% at sites that were recently burnt (Auld & Denham 2001).  Auld and Denham (2001) also argued that as seed production is lower in younger plants, seed accumulation in the  seedbank would not  occur for 4—6  years after a fire.	With further depletion of the seedbank due to seed predation in the post-fire period, it was estimated that after a fire G. caleyi should be protected from the risk of a future fire well beyond three times the primary juvenile period in the species or local extinction will occur  (Auld  &  Denham  2001).	Thus  a  fire-free interval of around 15 years would be required to allow
accumulation of seed in the soil. It is considered that

Durbin (1996) investigated the effects of heat on G. beadleana seeds collected from the seedbank at Binghi. Four samples of seed were heated for 10 minutes at
230C (as a control), 500C, 1000C and 1650C respectively then transferred to a growth cabinet and monitored for germination which occurred after about
20 days (Table 2).

Seeds do not need to be exposed to high temperatures for germination although rates may be enhanced by an  appropriate heating  event. 	At  the  end  of the germination  experiments  ungerminated  seeds were tested  for viability (tetrazolium and  indigocarmine) and many were shown to be still viable, ranging from
100% viability for the  23o  control group to 50% for
o

such findings and implications are likely to apply to

the 165

group (Table 2).

Grevillea beadleana and thus a fire-free interval of 15 years is considered to be an appropriate strategy to minimise the  risk of ongoing depletion  of the  soil seedbank and the likelihood of local population extinction.

Research into Grevillea caleyi estimated a seed half-life of between  6  and  10  years and  found that  seeds exhibited a seasonal pattern of non-dormancy, possibly due to  temperature  or darkness explaining why non-dormant seeds do not germinate in the field (Auld &   Bradstock  2000).		It  is  likely that   G. beadleana exhibits similar characteristics, although insufficient	research	has	been 	undertaken 	to determine whether this is the case.

5.5 	Germination

Heat has a positive effect upon the germination of a variety of species within the  Proteaceae (Leigh et al.
1984;  Edwards &  Whelan  1995 ;  Bradstock et al.
1996).	This  fire-triggered germination  is a  factor associated with innate dormancy, a characteristic of many Australian plant species (Edwards & Whelan
1995).

The harvesting of seeds in the seedbank using a trowel and sieving to separate them from the soil may have inadvertently  scarified them,  thereby  assisting the uptake of water and promoting germination at abnormal temperatures.  Such scarified seeds may also respond differently to  the  heat  treatments  (e.g. by being killed by very hot temperatures).  The effect of heat on germination needs to be investigated using seeds	harvested 	“passively”	from	bushes,	and replicated using a larger sample size to investigate the trends  apparent  in  the  data,  ie. that  1000C  is an optimal temperature to trigger germination and that
1650C may kill seeds.

Seed longevity

Grevillea beadleana seeds were excavated from the leaf litter layer and soil beneath the litter to a depth of 4 cm.  About 40 seeds per m2 were encountered in the soil layer, compared with about 9.5 seeds per m 2 in the leaf litter layer. Intact seeds from both the litter and soil layers were found to be viable using tetrazolium and indigocarmine.

5.6 	Response to fire and regeneration

Grevillea beadleana plants are very often killed by fire, although coppicing does occur, but mainly from young plants (Dwyer unpublished data; Gross pers. comm.). G. beadleana’s regeneration strategy is very similar to that of other obligate seeding species such as G. caleyi and G. barklyana. These species must replenish seed numbers before the next fire if populations are to be maintained, as the mature plant is usually killed by fire (Gill 1975; Auld et al. 1993; Edwards & Whelan
1995; Scott   et al. 1995).	In  the  closely related endangered shrub Grevillea caleyi, it was found that plants were killed by fire, which also promoted the breaking of seed dormancy in the soil seedbank (Regan et al. 2003).  Regan et al. (2003) found that where seed predation levels remain high, the optimal fire management strategy is longer than  when seed predation levels are reduced by 20—30%.

In 1988 fire burnt 1.5 hectares of the 4.25 hectares containing  the  eastern  population  in  Guy Fawkes River National Park and killed 321 plants out of 647 leaving 326 live plants.  In 1989, 388 seedlings were present in the burnt area and 21 in the unburnt area (Dwyer unpublished  data). 	In  the  same  area  in August 1995 after a very intense fire nine months earlier, 84 dead mature plants, 117 plants greater than
2 years old and 450 seedlings were recorded (Streat
unpublished data).  Thus in six years the population had been reduced from 735 to 567 as a result of two fires occurring in the area within those six years.

A survey in March 1996 of about 3.5 hectares of the eastern  population  in  Guy Fawkes River National Park revealed two dead adults, 59 plants greater than two years old and 389 seedlings (Gross unpublished data).   Drought stress appeared to be the  cause of some of the  plant  deaths  recorded by Gross  et al. (1995).   It would appear that  less than  20% of the population might be capable of flowering and fruiting in the two to three years after a fire (Gross unpublished data).

In contrast  to the fire prescription required at Guy Fawkes River National Park, a fire would be beneficial in some parts of the Binghi population where seedling recruitment is poor and adults appear to be senescent. Durbin's (1996)  work reported  that  a seedbank of viable seeds exists in at least one of these senescent demes.

Frequent fires are also likely to lead to a narrowing of the  genetic base if only a small proportion of the population  is contributing  seeds to  the  seedbank. This, in combination with the time required for juvenile plants to reach maturity and the likely increased seed predation levels after a fire, indicates that  a fire frequency of around  one in 15 years is considered   likely  to   be   optimal   to   allow  the

maturation  and  expansion of the  population while avoiding dominance of senescent age classes.

The population in Chambigne Nature Reserve is so small that it is particularly vulnerable to fire and other stochastic events. 	 It  is not  known how large the seedbank is at this site although the lack of soil on the rock  ledge  suggests that   the  seedbank  would  be limited to  a few seeds in the  rock crevices.   It  is considered that the risks to the very few plants at this site are too great to employ a control burn at this stage. Such a control or managed burn would at this stage be likely to kill existing plants, some of which may not have reached maturity and would also further deplete the existing seedbank. A control burn may, at some	future 		 stage,	provide	an 	appropriate management strategy to prevent unplanned fire entering  the  site, but  the  risk of burning the  site during	 such	a 	burn 		is	currently	 considered unacceptable. 		Extinction  of  genotypes from  this population due to wildfires and other events has been partially avoided  by the  successful propagation  of material from four individuals at this site (see propagation section below).

6 	Relevant Legislation

6.1 	Recovery	Plan	preparation	and implementation

Recovery Plan preparation

The TSC Act requires that  the Director-General of NSW Department of Environment and Conservation prepare Recovery Plans for all species, populations and ecological communities listed as Endangered or Vulnerable on the TSC Act schedules. Similarly, the EPBC Act requires the Commonwealth Minister for the   Environment   ensure   the   preparation   of   a Recovery Plan for Nationally listed species and communities or adopt plans prepared by others including those developed by state agencies.   Both Acts include specific requirements for the matters to be addressed by Recovery Plans and the process for preparing Recovery Plans.

This Recovery Plan has been prepared to satisfy the requirements  of  the  TSC  Act,  Threatened Species Conservation Amendment Act 2002 and the EPBC Act. It is the intention of the Director-General of DEC to forward the final version of this Recovery Plan to the Commonwealth  Minister  for the  Environment  for adoption, once it has been approved by the  NSW Minister for the Environment.

Local Aboriginal Land Councils, Elders and  other groups representing indigenous people in the  areas where the  Grevillea  beadleana  occurs have  not  yet been identified. It is the intention of DEC to consider

the 	role	and 	interests 	of	these 	indigenous communities in the  implementation  of the  actions identified in this plan.

The Threatened  Species Conservation  Amendment Act
2002 states that  an  approved Recovery Plan must
include a summary of advice given by the Scientific Committee with respect to the  plan, details of any amendments made to the plan to take account of that advice and a statement of the reasons for any departure from that advice. This summary is provided in Appendix 2.

Recovery Plan implementation

The  TSC  Act  requires that  a  government  agency must not undertake actions inconsistent with a Recovery Plan.  The government agency responsible for actions in this plan is DEC.  Where  G. beadleana occurs on private property (eg. Enmore) and on permissive occupancy or leasehold lands (eg. Binghi), the implementation of the recovery plan will largely depend on co-operative management of the species between the title holder and DEC.

In some cases, where further approvals may be needed under the  Native Vegetation  Conservation  Act  1997 (NVC   Act)   or   the   Environmental Planning and Assessment Act  1979  (EP& A  Act),   other   public authorities  may be  involved as part  of their  core legislative responsibilities.  Public authorities,  other than  DEC, with core legislative responsibilities relevant to the protection of Grevillea beadleana and its habitat are listed in Table 6.

The   EPBC  Act  specifies that   a  Commonwealth agency must not take any action that contravenes a Recovery Plan.

6.2 	State legislation

National   Parks   and   Wildlife	Act   1974 	and
Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995

The National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 (NPW Act) is administered by DEC.   Under  this Act  it is an offence to  ‘harm’, ‘pick’ or knowingly ‘damage the habitat of’ Grevillea beadleana.  Certain circumstances may provide a defence from prosecution, including where actions are approved under the EP&A Act or licensed by DEC under the NPW Act or TSC Act.

The NPW Act allows for the reservation of areas as national parks, nature reserves and other categories of protected area under the management of DEC.

Owners of private properties with significant habitat values   for  Grevillea beadleana may   enter    into Voluntary Conservation Agreements (VCAs) under the NPW Act whereby DEC can provide assistance in the protection and management of these values on

the property.  Properties under VCAs may qualify for rate exemptions.

The TSC Act makes provision for identification and declaration of Critical Habitat for species, populations and  ecological communities  listed  as  Endangered. Once  declared,  it  becomes an  offence to  damage Critical Habitat  and a Species Impact Statement  is mandatory for all developments and activities proposed within  Critical  Habitat. 	Nomination  of Critical   Habitat   for  G.   beadleana will  only  be considered  as  a  management  option  where  other, more co-operative, approaches are unavailable.

Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979

When considering any development or activity within known  or potential  habitat  of  Grevillea beadleana, local councils and determining authorities are encouraged to consider the conservation strategy set out in this plan.

Native Vegetation Conservation Act 1997

The purpose of the NVC Act is the conservation and sustainable management of native vegetation and in particular the protection of native vegetation of high conservation significance.  Under this Act, approval from the Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Natural  Resources (DIPNR)  is  a  prerequisite  for vegetation 	clearance 	unless	 a 	Vegetation Management Plan has been approved or unless the clearance is exempt from the requirements of the Act. There 	remains	potential 	for	significant	and cumulative clearing to occur under these exemptions. The Act requires that the Director-General of NSW Department  of Environment  and  Conservation  be consulted  in the  matter  of threatened  species and their habitat.   Landholders may enter into Property Agreements with DIPNR whereby government assistance   can   be   provided   to   protect   native vegetation under the Native Vegetation Incentive Fund.  No Regional Vegetation Management Plan or Property Agreements relating to the habitat  Grevillea beadleana have yet been prepared.

Rural Fires Act 1997

Bush Fire Management Committees must prepare draft  Bush Fire Risk Management  Plans for their respective rural fire districts and are obliged to consider  threatened   species conservation.	These plans may restrict or prohibit the use of fire and other fire hazard  reduction  activities  in  all  or  specified circumstances or places to which the plan applies. In particular, an adopted Bush Fire Risk Management Plan may modify or prohibit hazard reduction activities in threatened species habitat.

Rural	Fires	and	Environmental	Assessment
Legislation Amendment Act 2002

The NSW Rural Fires  and Environmental  Assessment Legislation  Amendment Act  2002 amends the   Rural Fires Act 1997 and several environmental assessment- related Acts. This Act provides for mapping bush fire prone  lands and  the  development  of a  Bush Fire Environmental Assessment Code. This code is aimed at  streamlining  the  assessment process for hazard reduction works. To this end, the Code will include general ameliorative prescriptions and, in some cases, species specific prescriptions. Threatened species and their habitats are one of the items considered in the code.

Forestry and National Park Estate Act 1998

The Forestry and National Park Estate Act 1998 puts into effect the outcomes of the Government’s Regional Forest Agreement.  The agreement outlines licence conditions for threatened species within State Forests of NSW  estate. 	These  include  a  specific licence condition that a standard 20 m exclusion zone is to be applied around 90% of all Grevillea beadleana plants.  It is recommended that these conditions also be included in Regional Vegetation Management Plans being prepared by DIPNR under the NVC Act.

6.3 	Commonwealth legislation

Environment	Protection	and	Biodiversity
Conservation Act 1999

The EPBC Act provides a legislative framework for the protection of Endangered and Vulnerable species across Australia. An important role of the EPBC Act is to facilitate the preparation and implementation of Recovery Plans for species listed under the Act in co­ operation  with the  States  in which populations of listed species occur. The Act also seeks to impose the obligation (arising from the  listing) for responsible agencies (particularly Commonwealth) to adopt protective  measures.	This  Recovery Plan  will be submitted to the Commonwealth for approval under the EPBC Act.

Under the EPBC Act, Critical Habitat may be registered for any Nationally listed threatened species or ecological community. When adopting a Recovery Plan	the 	Commonwealth	Minister	for	the Environment must consider whether to list habitat identified in the Recovery Plan as being critical to the survival of the species or ecological community.  It is an  offence under  the  EPBC Act  for a  person  to knowingly take   an   action   that   will  significantly damage Critical Habitat (unless the EPBC Act specifically  exempts the  action).   This offence only applies to Commonwealth areas. However, an action that is likely to have a significant impact on a listed

species is still subject to referral and approval under the EPBC Act.

As Grevillea beadleana is listed Nationally under the EPBC Act, any person proposing to undertake actions likely to  have a significant impact on  this species should  refer  the   action   to   the   Commonwealth Minister for the Environment for consideration.  The Minister will then decide whether the action requires EPBC Act approval.  This is in addition to any State or Local Government approval requirement specified for the NSW EP& A Act.

Administrative	guidelines	are 	available	from Environment Australia to assist proponents in determining whether their action is likely to have a significant impact. In cases where the action does not require EPBC Act  approval, but  will result in the death or injury of a member of the species and the member is in, or on, a Commonwealth area, a permit issued by the  Commonwealth  Minister  under  the EPBC Act will be required.

7 	Management Issues

7.1 	Threats

The threats operating or potentially operating at each of the five population locations differ in their type, extent and severity , however, the major threat  that affects or is likely to affect all populations is inappropriate  fire  frequency.	Other   known  and potential  threats  include  grazing, small population size, seed predation and illegal collection.

Guy Fawkes River National Park

The  eastern  population  is threatened,  in  order  of importance, by:

1.   too frequent fires;

2.   small population size;

3.   damage to plants by cattle; and

4.   illegal	harvesting	of	plant 	material	for propagation.

The  western population is threatened  primarily by inappropriate fire regimes.  However the location of the population on a cliff line above the river greatly reduces this threat.   The small population size is also an inherent long term threat.

Binghi

Sections of these populations are threatened by:

1.   low fire frequency; and

2.   possible grazing by goats.

Much of the area where Grevillea beadleana occurs at Binghi is on leasehold land and if the current lessees change, then the population could be jeopardised by unsympathetic   management   practices.	Another possible threat  is tin  mining and  fossicking, which occur throughout the region.

Chambigne Nature Reserve

This population is threatened, in order of importance, by:

1.   lack of recruitment;

2.   small population size;

3.   too frequent fires; and

4.   uncertain neighbour attitudes.

Enmore–Oxley Wild Rivers National Park

The   Enmore—Oxley Wild   Rivers  National   Park population is potentially threatened  by inappropriate fire regimes (L. Copeland pers. comm.). However the evidence of recent recruitment and large adult plants indicates  that  this  threat  is not  currently  severe. Further investigations of the site are required to make a full assessment of current and potential threats.

7.2 	Biodiversity benefits

If a conservation agreement could be negotiated in the Binghi area, then  the associated benefits would include protection of several other rare plant species; Prostanthera  staurophylla,  Hibbertia  sp. aff obtusifolia, Acacia  torringtonensis,   A.   granitica and   Persoonia terminalis ssp. terminalis as well as the Eucalyptus prava
- E. subtilior - E. andrewsii  association, which is not represented in any conservation reserve.

The protection of Grevillea beadleana at Guy Fawkes River  National  Park  from  too  frequent  fires and uncontrolled  grazing by stock will allow sympatric species to regenerate which in turn may benefit the Brush-tailed Rock Wallaby (Petrogale penicillata ) and Glossy  Black-Cockatoo  (Calyptorhynchus lathami), both listed as Vulnerable under the NSW TSC Act.

The Chambigne Nature Reserve area contains important   populations   of   Melichrus hirsutus,  an Endangered Species, one undescribed species (Bertya sp. nov.), one rare species (Dodonaea hirsuta) and one poorly	known	species	(Eucalyptus	psammitica) (Sheringham & Westaway 1995).   It is likely that there  are a number of fauna species, including the Vulnerable Species Brush-tailed Rock Wallaby, present in the area.

At  the  Enmore—Oxley  Wild  Rivers National  Park population, one Endangered Species (Eucalyptus magnificata) and  two  ROTAP  species have  been found,  including  E.  youmanii and  Acacia ingramii.

Other threatened flora possibly occurring in the area include E. nicholii.	The  discovery of a  new plant species Zieria sp. nov is significant as this species is likely to be restricted to the area (L. Copeland pers. comm.).

8 	Previous Actions Undertaken

As  a  result  of the  implementation  of appropriate actions within the  Grevillea beadleana Recovery Plan during 1994—97, new information has been acquired about the distribution, habitat requirements and ecology of the species. Particular effort has been made to reduce or eliminate existing threats to G. beadleana, and to monitor population size and health.

Research at UNE, which has provided valuable information about the  ecology of the  species, including  population  structure,  seed  ecology and pollination ecology, is still continuing.

As a result of targeted surveys new populations have been discovered at  Chambigne Nature  Reserve, in recent additions to Guy Fawkes River National Park, and  additional  locations were found in the  Binghi area. Surveys were, however, unsuccessful in locating Grevillea beadleana at the original collection place in the  Moona  Plains area  near  Walcha. 	Predictive modelling of  potential  habitat  indicates  where  to concentrate further distribution surveys.

At Guy Fawkes River National Park, a fence has been erected to exclude straying cattle damaging the Grevillea beadleana stand.  Plants were propagated at UNE from material obtained from the  Guy Fawkes River National Park population.  These plants will be replanted in the woodland adjacent to the gorge rim in  an  effort to  increase the  population  size.	An interpretive display on G. beadleana has been placed at the nearby Misty Creek camping ground.

Cuttings have been the most cost-effective method of producing large numbers of plants of Grevillea beadleana. Short-tip cuttings treated with a  5 ppm NAA/IBA hormone dip, placed in sharp sand in a hot bed with automatic misting, results in a propagation strike-rate of 65—80% (Gross  et al. 1995).

In 2001 a targeted survey was undertaken in northern NSW, with an emphasis on potential Grevillea beadleana habitat and areas where no previous surveys had   been   undertaken. 	No   new  G.   beadleana populations were located during the surveys, however extensive data about locations where G. beadleana is known not to occur was obtained.  This data will be used to revise the predicted distribution of G. beadleana .

9 	Species’ Ability To Recover

In view of the population size at Binghi, there is no doubt that  the species is capable of expansion, provided optimum conditions are  available for the successful germination  of seeds and  maturation  of plants.  A high fire frequency ie.  more than  one in fifteen years, appears to be the critical factor limiting the  natural  recovery  of  the  species.	Successful recovery of the species relies on appropriate management  of existing and  potential  threats  with particular regard to the fire regime at Grevillea beadleana sites.

10   Alternative Management Strategies

If no active management strategies are implemented for Grevillea beadleana there is a significant likelihood that the species may become extinct at Guy Fawkes River National Park and Chambigne Nature Reserve. Further surveys should be undertaken  to locate any new populations of G. beadleana that  may otherwise be inadvertently destroyed or degraded.   Failure to conduct  these  surveys and  locate  new populations may also preclude the collection of important ecological information and  diverse genetic material that is not available from known sites.

Until more information is known about the reproductive ecology and genetics of the species, it is difficult to implement specific management strategies (eg. translocations) aimed at recovering the species. Any	consideration	of	reintroduction 	and/or translocation programs must take into account relevant guidelines such as those prepared by DEC (in prep) 	 or	the 		Australian 		 Network	 for	  Plant Conservation 	(Australian 		Network	for	  Plant Conservation 1997).

11   Consideration of  Social and Economic
Consequences

11.1   Consideration of economic costs

The 	estimated	cost	over		five	  years	of	the implementation  of this Recovery Plan is $135 800 (Table   3).			This   cost   includes   surveys,  land reservation and/or protection, ecological and genetic research,	threat 		and 		disturbance		assessment, community		involvement		and, 	if	appropriate, population enhancement  and/or   ex  situ  programs. Because Grevillea beadleana  occurs on land generally regarded as unsuitable for agriculture, protection of its habitat  will have little impact in terms of benefits forgone, even where the protected population is on private land.

11.2   Consideration of economic benefits

It is necessary to consider the economic benefits of the proposal in order to determine the net economic cost  or  benefit  to  society.	The  following effects, although difficult to quantify in financial terms, are likely economic  benefits to  society as  a  result  of implementation of the recovery plan:

	provision of protected habitat for threatened and other significant flora and fauna species in protected Grevillea beadleana habitat;

	increased value of the  protected  land through habitat  enhancement  and intrinsic value of the threatened plant community;

	increased  value  of  private/leasehold  property through habitat protection; and

	meeting	the 	government's	commitment 	to biodiversity conservation.

11.3   Consideration of social costs

The prevention of tin mining in the areas of Grevillea beadleana habitat at Binghi has a potential social cost by limiting the potential for local job creation.  This is likely to have a limited impact since tin mining has previously occurred  in  the  area  and  economically viable deposits have probably been mined previously.

As the other areas where  Grevillea  beadleana occurs are in national parks, nature reserves or on land zoned for environmental protection,  the  protection  of  G. beadleana in these areas will not involve any limitation of land uses and therefore will have a negligible social cost.  The eastern site in Guy Fawkes River National Park is in close proximity to a walking track, which traverses the area that has previously been fenced to prevent grazing by cattle.   To date, no interference with G. beadleana plants by people has been observed, however if interference is observed, it may be necessary to relocate the walking track away from the area where G. beadleana occurs.  All other sites are considered to be relatively inaccessible to members of the public, and therefore it is not considered feasible or necessary to exclude people from these areas.

11.4   Consideration of social benefits

While the  implementation of the  Recovery Plan is unlikely to significantly increase employment in the region in the long term, it will provide  short  term employment opportunities, and opportunities to develop and enhance skills valuable in the work force.

The proposed public education program will increase awareness of rare plants and their significance in the region, and promote community involvement in the recovery process. The recovery of Grevillea beadleana to a level of viability in nature, and downlisting of the

species to a Vulnerable or rare status, is considered to be a social benefit to the community.

11.5   Consideration of net social and economic benefits to society

While social and economic costs and benefits may be difficult to quantify in financial terms, DEC considers that the benefits to society of implementation of the Recovery Plan outweigh the costs of the proposal.

In  terms  of  the  social and  economic  benefits  of recovery of  Grevillea  beadleana and  the  associated benefits for conservation of other rare and threatened species and communities that form the habitat of the species, DEC considers that  implementation  of the Recovery Plan would result in a net benefit to society. Community education is expected to generate a positive attitude  toward  recovery planning,  and  a genuine concern in the community for conservation of threatened species.

Successful implementation of the  Recovery Plan would involve community participation in the recovery, so the  community would have a sense of achievement by meeting the recovery objectives, and a sense of ownership of the results.

12   Community Involvement

As Grevillea beadleana occurs on leasehold and private land in the Binghi and Enmore areas, it is essential that  the  landowners  are  actively involved  in  the implementation of the  Recovery Plan.   During the implementation of the previous Recovery Plan (Benson 1991) and preparation of this Recovery Plan, a good working relationship has been established with members	of	the 	local	communities,	including membership of the Grevillea beadleana recovery team. To date, private landowners at Binghi and Enmore have co-operated with DEC to permit ongoing visitations on their land to access G. beadleana  sites for surveys and research.

Community groups that have been involved with the Grevillea beadleana Recovery   Plan   include   the Hernani Public School and the Armidale Plant Society. Students at UNE have undertaken research projects into G. beadleana and the draft Recovery Plan has been  used in  teaching  exercises.	Landowners adjacent to the Chambigne Nature Reserve and Guy Fawkes River  National  Park  have  also  permitted access through their properties and will also need to be involved in order to  assist in reducing the  fire frequency affecting this area.   It is anticipated that such community involvement will continue to be an important part of the successful implementation of the Recovery Plan.

13   Recovery team

A Recovery Team for Grevillea beadleana  has been established to provide advice on the implementation of the Recovery Plan and to co-ordinate the undertaking of the management actions detailed in the  plan.	The  Recovery Team  is  comprised of Caroline Gross, (UNE), Andrew Steed (DEC), Rachel Bailey and  Danny Corcoran  (DEC Dorrigo), Peter Croft (DEC Glen Innes) and Barry and Leonie McWhinney   (private   landholders).	The   future membership of the Recovery Team should be flexible to  ensure appropriate people are on  the  Recovery Team, depending on what actions are being implemented.

Membership	 should	include	representatives	of government	departments 	and 		non-government organisations, and individuals who have a direct interest or role in the management of Grevillea beadleana. Private landowners with G. beadleana on their property should also be invited to participate in the Recovery Team.  The Recovery Team should be co-ordinated by a representative of DEC and should meet at least twice annually. Meetings should be held in the Armidale—Glen Innes area to facilitate regular field inspections of G. beadleana and its habitat.

14   Objectives of the Recovery Plan

14.1   Overall objective

The  overall objective of the  Recovery Plan  is to reduce  the  risk of extinction  and  to  recover  the species such that  a change in the current  status of Grevillea beadleana  (under  the  TSC  Act  and  the EPBC Act) from Endangered to Vulnerable within 10 years is achieved.

Objective	1:	Increase	knowledge	of	extant populations through further surveys of known populations and identification of new populations.

The five known  Grevillea  beadleana populations are significantly	different	in 	location, 	accessibility, population size and extent, age and vulnerability and therefore require individual site-specific management strategies. It is important that population surveys and threat assessments occur on an annual basis to ensure that appropriate management strategies are being implemented.   Potential  habitat  areas, such as the escarpments of the Oxley Wild Rivers National Park, should be assessed for the likelihood of the occurrence of G. beadleana. Those areas that  are considered as likely to contain G. beadleana, should be surveyed. It is important that  all land managers and owners are aware of the  location of  G.  beadleana  in  order  to appropriately manage  the  sites for the  long  term protection  of the  species.  Where   G.  beadleana  is

critically	threatened 	with	local	extinction, consideration should be given to declaring the area as Critical Habitat within the meaning of the TSC Act.

Action 1.1

Undertake surveys and  threat assessment at  known populations  and those areas likely to contain Grevillea beadleana.

Performance criteria: Surveys and threat  assessment are 	undertaken 	  at 	known	Grevillea	beadleana populations within 12 months of the commencement of the plan and then annually for the duration of the Recovery Plan.	Those  areas  considered  likely to contain  G. beadleana  are  surveyed as opportunities arise for the duration of the Recovery Plan.

Action 1.2

Inform  all  relevant land  managers and  owners of Grevillea beadleana locations  and hold discussions  to protect all populations.

Performance criteria: Land managers and owners are aware of Grevillea beadleana populations on their land, the threats to each population, their responsibilities to protect  them  and  the  assistance  that   DEC  can provide to manage the populations by the end of year two of the Recovery Plan.

Action 1.3

Assess known  Grevillea beadleana sites to determine whether declaration as  Critical Habitat  within  the meaning of the TSC Act is warranted.

Performance criteria: All known  Grevillea  beadleana sites should be assessed to determine whether they require being declared as Critical Habitat and appropriate action taken if required throughout  the life of this Plan.

Objective 2: Improve ecological understanding of
Grevillea beadleana

Various aspects of research into population and seedbank	dynamics,	reproductive	ecology	and response to fire has been undertaken  over the  last seven years at  UNE.	 This  research  has  provided important information that assists in the conservation management of Grevillea beadleana, however further ecological research is needed to develop long term management  strategies to  prevent  ongoing decline and the risk of extinction.

An ex situ conservation program should be developed to manage Grevillea beadleana plants that have been propagated  for  glasshouse  research   studies.	A feasibility study should be undertaken  to determine the need for re-introduction  at sites where a severe

decline in population size is observed or there  is a likelihood of local extinction.

Action 2.1

Continue population studies into Grevillea beadleana at all known sites.

Performance criteria: Population size and  dynamics are assessed at  each  site on  an  annual  basis for a minimum of three years and reviewed during year four of the Recovery Plan.

Action 2.2

Continue research into the seedbank and fire ecology of
Grevillea beadleana.

Performance criteria: Research into the seedbank and fire ecology of Grevillea beadleana is undertaken in the first three years and reviewed during year four of the Recovery Plan.

Action 2.3

Develop appropriate  management strategies  and make recommendations  about the need for further research programs following a review of actions 2.1 and 2.2.

Performance criteria: The results of the actions 2.1 and  2.2  are  reviewed, management  strategies  are revised and implemented, and recommendations for additional research are made during year four of the Recovery Plan.

Action 2.4

Prepare and implement a  Grevillea beadleana ex-situ conservation program and  conduct a  re-introduction feasibility study.

Performance criteria: An  ex-situ conservation plan study is prepared and  implemented for plants that have been propagated for glasshouse research during year four of the Recovery Plan.   A re-introduction feasibility study is conducted during year four of the Recovery Plan.

Specific Objective 3: Protect populations on private and leasehold land with  the  co-operation of  the landowner or lessee.

Private landowners and  lessees of areas supporting Grevillea beadleana populations are supportive of the conservation of G. beadleana and the research projects undertaken   on  their  land. 	Previous  discussions regarding conservation management have been productive   and   should  continue. 	Relationships between DEC and landowners and lessees of any areas containing new populations of G. beadleana  need to be nurtured with a view to obtaining the best outcome for conservation and the landowners and lessees.

Action 3.1

Investigate  options  for protecting  Grevillea beadleana
populations on private and leasehold land.

Performance criteria: All options for protecting Grevillea beadleana populations   on   private   and leasehold land are fully investigated by year three of the Recovery Plan.

Actions 3.2

Undertake  discussions with landowners and lessees about the protection  of  Grevillea beadleana  populations  on private and leasehold land.

Performance  criteria:  Discussions with  landowners and lessees are undertaken to protect populations of Grevillea beadleana on private and leasehold land for the duration of the Recovery Plan.

Objective 4: Promote persistence of Grevillea beadleana within  current  range  by  reducing  or removing threats.

The  primary threat  to  all  Grevillea beadleana populations is the occurrence of frequent fires that kill existing plants and result in ongoing depletion of the seedbank. It is estimated that about 15 years between fires is required to  allow plants  to  develop to  full maturity  and  for the  seedbank to  be  replenished. Other  threats  such as grazing, drought  and  illegal collection should be dealt at on a site-specific basis as the need is assessed. Existing weed and pest control programs should continue.

It is important  to ensure that  specific location information on wild populations is not freely available to  members of the  public.	In  order  to  maintain confidentiality of site data, specific reports generated throughout  the  implementation  of the  plan should remain for internal use only. Where there is a need to divulge specific location information, for instance to local  fire  control   officers or  local  councils,  the importance  of maintaining  confidentiality must  be stressed to those who receive the information.

Action 4.1

Reduce or eliminate the threat of frequent  fire regimes to Grevillea   beadleana   by	implementing	appropriate planning mechanisms.

Performance criteria: Protection of Grevillea beadleana is included as a specific objective of all relevant DEC Reserve Fire Management Plans by year three of the Recovery Plan.  Private landowners and lessees have been informed of the need to reduce the incidence of frequent fires by the end of year two of the Recovery Plan.

Action 4.2

Apply appropriate management  strategies to eliminate or reduce site-specific  threats identified  during population surveys and ecological research.

Performance criteria:  The  impact  of other  threats identified at each  Grevillea  beadleana  population  is assessed and addressed according to the specific need for the duration of the Recovery Plan.

Action 4.3

Maintain  confidentiality of  all  Grevillea beadleana locations.

Performance criteria: Confidentiality of locations of
Grevillea beadleana is maintained at all times.

Objective 5: Increase community awareness of the species and its management.

In order to improve community education  and co­ operation in areas where Grevillea beadleana is known or is likely to occur, an information leaflet should be prepared that  is available for interested local landowners from relevant Regional DEC offices and local Councils. The leaflet should outline the habitat, distribution   and   threats   to   G.   beadleana,	the responsibilities of landowners for its conservation and appropriate management  practices that  landowners can  implement  to  assist in  the  protection  of  G. beadleana.

Action 5.1

Prepare and  distribute an   information leaflet  to landowners in  areas where Grevillea beadleana is considered as highly likely to occur and place on display at relevant Regional DEC offices and local Councils for other interested local landowners.

Performance criteria: An information leaflet is prepared and distributed to landowners in areas where Grevillea  beadleana  is considered as highly likely to occur and  also made available for other  interested local  landowners  by the  end  of  year  one  of  the Recovery Plan.

Objective 6:  Co-ordinate implementation of  the
Recovery Plan

Action 6.1

Convene annual Recovery Team meetings to co-ordinate and review the implementation  of the actions in this Recovery Plan.

Performance	criteria:	Annual 	Recovery	Team meetings are held to co-ordinate population surveys, ecological research, threat  management and to consider the results of these activities so that management  strategies are  applied and  revised as required.

15   Implementation

Table 3 outlines the implementation of recovery actions specified in this plan for the  period of five years.  DEC is responsible for the implementation of the Recovery Plan.

16   Preparation Details

16.1   Persons	responsible	for	the 	plan preparation

This is the second Recovery Plan for Grevillea beadleana and was prepared by Dr C. Gross (UNE) and Mr A. Steed (DEC). The first Recovery Plan was written by Mr J. Benson in 1991.

16.2   Date of last amendment

The  Recovery Plan  was last  amended  in  October
2003.

17   Review Date

The Recovery Plan actions will be reviewed after five years. The Recovery Plan may be amended following the completion of the ecological and genetic research programs at the end of year three.   It is anticipated that  at  this  stage surveys may have  located  new populations and the research program will have produced results that  may require a change in the implementation strategy. It will also be an appropriate time to determine whether a population enhancement or ex situ program is feasible and appropriate.

18   Contacts

The  Recovery Plan  for  Grevillea beadleana is  co­ ordinated 	by	the 	G. 	beadleana	Coordinator, Threatened Species Unit, Conservation Programs and Planning (North East Branch) Department of Environment  and Conservation,  24 Moonee Street Coffs Harbour, NSW 2450. Ph (02) 66515 946 Fax (02) 66516 187.   All inquiries about  G.  beadleana should be directed to this office.

19   References

Auld, T.D & Denham, A.J. 2001, ‘The impact of seed predation 	by	mammals	on 	post-fire	seed accumulation in the endangered shrub  Grevillea caleyi  (Proteaceae)’,   Conservation Biology ,   97 (2001), pp. 377—85.

Auld, T.D.,  Bradstock, R.A.  &  Keith,  D.A.  1993,
‘Fire as a threat  to  populations of rare plants’, Australian National  Parks and Wildlife Service,

Endangered Species Program, Endangered Species Project No. 31, New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service, Hurstville.

Auld, T.D., Keith, D.A. &  Bradstock, R.A. 2000,
‘Patterns in longevity of soil  seedbanks in  fire-
prone  communities  of  south-eastern  Australia’,
Australian Journal of Botany, 48, pp. 539—48.

Australian Network for Plant Conservation 1997, Guidelines for the Translocation of Threatened Plants in Australia, Australian  Network for Plant Conservation, Canberra.

Benson,  J.  1991,  ‘Species Recovery  Plan  for  G. beadleana’,  Endangered Species Program Project No. 155, Australian National Parks and Wildlife Service, Canberra.

Bradstock, R.A., Bedward, M., Scott, J. & Keith, D.A.
1996, ‘Simulation on the effect of the spatial and temporal variation in fire regimes on the population	viability	of	a 	Banksia	species’, Conservation Biology, 10 (3), pp. 776—84.

Clarke,  P.J., Copeland,  L.M., Hunter,  J.T.,  Nano, C.E.,  Williams, J.B. &  Wills, E.W.  1998,  The Vegetation and Plant Species of the Torrington State Recreation Area, report prepared by University of New England, Armidale, for NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, Glen Innes.

Department  of  Mineral  Resources 1988,  Armidale
1:100 000 Metallogenic map 17083, Department of
Mineral Resources, 17 November 1988, Sydney.

Durbin, J. 1996, The  effect of heat  upon the  soil- stored seedbank of G. beadleana (Proteaceae) with a predictive map of possible re-establishment sites, B. Nat. Res. Thesis, University of New England, Armidale.

Edwards, W. & Whelan,  R. 1995, ‘The size, distribution and germination requirements of the soil-stored	seedbank	of	Grevillea	barklyana (Proteaceae)’, Australian Journal of Ecology , 20, pp.
548—55.

Gill, A.M. 1975, ‘Fire and  the  Australian  Flora: a review’, Australian Forestry 38, 4—25.

Gross, C.L., Smith, J. & Streat, J. 1995, G. beadleana ­ an 	investigation	of	  population	structure, reproductive	biology,	genetic	diversity	and response to fire, Annual Report No. 1, report by Department 		of	 Ecosystem	  Management, University of New England, Armidale, for National Parks and Wildlife Service of New South Wales, Hurstville.

Harden, G.J. (ed.) 1991,  Flora of New South Wales , vol. 2, University of NSW Press Ltd, Sydney.

Leigh, J.H., Boden, R. & Briggs, J. 1984, Extinct and Endangered Plants of Australia, MacMillan, South Melbourne.

Makinson, R.O. 1991, Grevillea in Harden G.J. (ed. )
1991, Flora of New South Wales , vol. 2, University
of New South Wales Press Ltd, Sydney.

McGillivray, D.J.  1986,  ‘New  names in  Grevillea (Proteaceae)  2’, published by the  Author,  Castle Hill.

McGillivray, D.J. 1993, ‘Grevillea  (Proteaceae)’, Royal
Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust, Victoria.

Morley, B.D. & Toelken, H.R. 1983, ‘Flowering plants in Australia’, Rigby, Adelaide.

National Parks and Wildlife Service, Translocation of Threatened 	Flora	-	Threatened 	Species Management  Draft  Information  Circular, NSW NPWS, Sydney, in prep.

National Parks and Wildlife Service 1995, ‘Vegetation survey and  mapping of Upper North  East New South Wales’, report to the NSW Natural Resources Audit Council, New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service, Hurstville.

NSW   Department   of   Mineral   Resources  1969,

plan for Grevillea caleyi’, R. Br. Australian Nature Conservation 	Agency,	Endangered	Species Program, Endangered  Species Project  No.  456, New South  Wales National  Parks and  Wildlife Service, Hurstville.

Streat, J. 1997, Aspects of the ecology of G. beadleana (Proteaceae): an Endangered species, M. Nat. Res. Thesis, University of New England, Armidale, unpub.

Sheringham,  P.  &  Westaway, J. 1995, ‘Significant vascular plants of upper north  east New South Wales’, report  to  the  Natural  Resources Audit Councilr New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service, Hurstville.

White,  M.E. 1994, ‘The  Greening of Gondwana’  2nd
edition, Reed, Chatswood.

20   List of Abbreviations

DEC	The  Department   of  Environment and Conservation

EPBC Act 	Commonwealth	Environmental Protection	and		Biodiversity Conservation Act, 1999

Dorrigo -  Coffs Harbour  1:250 000 Geological
Series Sheet SH 56 - 10 & 11, Geological Survey of NSW and the Geology Department, University

EP&A Act 	Environmental	Planning
Assessment Act 1979

and

of New England, Armidale.

Olde, P. & Marriott, N. 1995, ‘The Grevillea Book’ vol.
1, Timber Press, Portland.

Regan, H.M., Auld, T.D., Keith, D.A. & Burgmann, M.A. 2003, ‘The effects of fire and predators on the long term persistence of an endangered shrub, Grevillea caleyi’, Conservation  Biology , 109 (2003), pp. 73—83.

DIPNR	Department 	of	Infrastructure,
Planning and Natural Resources

NPW Act 	National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974

NPWS 	National Parks and Wildlife Service

NSW 	New South Wales

NVC Act 	Native  Vegetation Conservation Act
1997

Reid, N., Gross, C.L., Jarman, P. & van der Lee, G.
1996, ‘Fire management criteria and guidelines for

ROTAP 	Rare	or
Plants

Threatened 	Australian

conservation of the natural and cultural heritage of Guy Fawkes River National Park’, Report for the New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service, Hurstville.

Scott,   J.,   Marshall,   A.   &   Auld,   T.D.   1995,
‘Conservation Research Statement  and Recovery

TSC Act 	Threatened Species Conservation  Act
1995

UNE	University of New England

VCAs	Voluntary Conservation Agreements

Page    20 

NSW  Department  of  Environment  and  Conservation 

Grevillea beadleana

Draft Recovery Plan

Appendix 1: Estimated Cost of Implementation

Action	Action Title	Priority	Estimated Cost/year ($)	Total
Cost ($)	Responsible
Party	In-Kind
($)	Cash
($)	
			Year 1	Year 2	Year 3	Year 4	Year 5					
1.1	Undertake   surveys  and   threat   assessment  at   known
populations  and  those  areas  likely to  contain  Grevillea beadleana.	1	$8,000	$16,000	$8,000	$8,000	$8,000	$48,000	DEC	$40,000	$8,000	
1.2	Inform all relevant land managers of  Grevillea  beadleana
locations and hold discussions to protect all populations.	1	$400	$400				$800	DEC	$800		
1.3	Assess  known  Grevillea beadleana sites  to   determine whether declaration as Critical Habitat within the meaning of the TSC Act is warranted.	1	$400	$400	$400	$400	$400	$2,000	DEC	$2,000		
2.1	Continue population studies into Grevillea beadleana at all
known sites.	1	A	A	A	A	A	-	DEC	$0		
2.2	Continue  research into the  seedbank and fire ecology of
Grevillea beadleana.	1	$5,000	$5,000	$5,000			$15,000	DEC	-$0	$15,000	
2.3	Develop  appropriate  management  strategies  and  make
recommendations  about  the  need  for  further  research programs following a review of actions 2.1 and 2.2.	2				$2,000		$2,000	DEC	$2,000		
2.4	Prepare  and   implement  a  Grevillea beadleana ex-situ
conservation   program  and   conduct   a   re-introduction feasibility study.	2				$2,000		$2,000	DEC	$2,000		
3.1	Investigate   options   for  protecting   Grevillea beadleana
populations on private and leasehold land.	1	$2,000	$2,000	$2,000			$6,000	DEC	$6,000		
3.2	Undertake  discussions with landowners and lessees about
the protection of Grevillea beadleana populations on private and leasehold land.	1	$2,000	$2,000	$2,000	$2,000	$2,000	$10,000	DEC	$10,000		
4.1	Reduce or eliminate the threat of frequent fire regimes to
Grevillea  beadleana by implementing appropriate planning mechanisms.	1	$5,000	$5,000	$5,000	$5,000	$5,000	$25,000	DEC	$25,000		
4.2	Apply appropriate management strategies to eliminate or
reduce  site-specific threats  identified  during  population surveys and ecological research.	2	$2,000	$2,000	$2,000	$2,000	$2,000	$10,000	DEC	$10,000		
4.3	Maintain confidentiality of all Grevillea beadleana locations.	2	-	-	-	-	-	-	DEC	$0		
5	Prepare  and  display an  information  leaflet  at  relevant District DEC offices and local Councils for interested local landowners.	2	$5,000					$5,000	DEC	$5,000		
6	Convene annual Recovery Team meetings to co-ordinate and  review the  implementation  of  the  actions  in  this recovery plan.	1	$2,000	$2,000	$2,000	$2,000	$2,000	$10,000	DEC	$10,000		
Total			$31,800	$34,800	$26,400	$23,400	$19,400	$135,800		$112,800	$23,000	
A — undertake concurrently with surveys of known sites in year 1

Appendix 2 	Summary of Advice from the NSW Scientific Committee

Submission	Comment	Amendments made to Recovery Plan	
NSW Scientific
Committee	The plan is in a different format from the plans prepared by DEC Southern	Noted.	
	The   plan   lacks   the   paragraphs   about
Aboriginal involvement.	The  Recovery Plan  was prepared  and exhibited prior to the recent TSC Act amendments. 	Indigenous 	communities involved in the  regions affected by this plan have not yet been identified.  Implementation of  recovery   actions   under   this   plan   will include consideration of the role and interests of indigenous communities in the region.	
	The plan needs to consider seed predation work conducted  on the closely related  G. caleyi	Text    amended    to   incorporate    additional information.	
	The plan needs to consider research on G. caleyi in determining  appropriate  fire-free intervals  for  G.   beadleana. The   mixed messages regarding fire frequency need clarification in the light of existing knowledge on G. caleyi .	Text    amended    to   incorporate    additional information.	
	No  current  intention   to  declare  Critical
Habitat?	Critical habitat to be considered following completion 	of	additional 	surveys.	No amendment.	
	Reintroduction   actions   mentioned 		on Page 15 should make reference  to either the  DEC Translocation  guidelines or the Australian 	Network 	for	Plant Conservation Guidelines	Text    amended    to   incorporate    additional information.	
	In 	Action 		4,		it 	seems	that 	an understanding  of seed bank dynamics would	be 	a 		more 	 important 	issue, particularly as this is the basis for Action
6.	Research into seedbank dynamics included as part of Action 4.	
	Page i —  final paragraph: Are four populations partly or wholly within conservation reserves?	Text    amended    to   incorporate    additional information.	
	Page ii —  2nd  last paragraph: Change “Increase known  population  size” to “Estimate  current   population   size  more
accurately”	Text amended.	
	Page iii —  para 3: bullet point “Protect all populations…” be more explicit about means of protection	Text amended.	
	Page 3  —    para  2  &  3:  remove  ROTAP
details, out of date	Deleted	
	Page  6  —    para  3:  How  was estimate  of plant  age  made?  Also,  do  plants  show signs of browsing by goats?	Text    amended    to   incorporate    additional information.	
	Page 8 - 4.3 - Corymbia gummifera rather than E. gummifera .	Text amended.	

	Page 10 —  para 3: Insert data for number of viable seeds after trials.	Text    amended    to   incorporate    additional information.	
	Page  10   —     para   4:   germination   trials require replication as well as larger sample size	Text amended.	
	Page 10 —   para 5: How was age of seeds determined?	Text  deleted  as reference  was not  found  to contain this statement.	
	Page 10 —   para 7: Does this mean  there was overlap between successive fires?	Text amended to make situation clear.	
	Page 11 —   para  2: Does “…how healthy the  seedbank  is” mean  how  large  it  is? Also, it is said that the “…risks to the very few plants is too great to employ a control burn…” Why would a control  burn  be a desirable action?	Text amended.	
	Page 13 —  para 6: threats need a brief explanation.  Also, may need to add seed predation (see major comments above)	Text amended.	
	Page 15  —   para  3,  4  and  5:  Is this  text relevant to this section?	Text deleted.	
	Page 16 —  11.3 para 2: Will there  be any access restrictions to habitat?	Text 	amended 	to 	provide 	additional clarification.	
	Page 16  —   final para:  What  relationship currently exists with community?	Text 	amended 	to 	provide 	additional clarification.	
	Page 17: Is it possible to be more specific about the  identity of these individuals (if known).?	Text 	amended 	to 	provide 	additional clarification.	
	Page  18  —     para   1:  remove   “to  rare”. Overall aim would include to reduce risk of decline/extinction	Text amended.	
	Page 18 —   para 2: Specific or Secondary objectives?	Also,	change 	“Increase known…” to “Increase knowledge of extant…”. Finally, include number of populations, with size and location in next para beginning “Secure populations in conservation….”.	Text amended.	
	Section 	15: 	change 	“Criteria” 	to
Criterion” where relevant.	Text amended.	
	Page 21 —  Outcome 3 change “… dynamics…understood” to “changes in population size are assessed”.	Text amended.	
	Page 22 —  Perform. criteria 5: remove first few words and  begin with  “Adoption  of Voluntary…by owners..”.	Text amended.	
	Page 23 —  Funding action 5. There seems to be no budget for funds to develop management plans under Vol agreements?	Depending  upon which type of conservation mechanism is adopted, plans may not be required.	
	Page 24 —   Performance  criteria  7: needs an experimental design.	The  intention   is  to  visually assess grazing before determining whether an extensive and ongoing monitoring program is required. If ongoing monitoring is required, experimental design would be a key component of the program.	

Department o[ Environment and Conservation (NSW)