Vegetation of three headlands of the Central Coast of New South Wales – Norah, Wamberal and Wybung Heads

Abstract

The vegetation of Norah Head on the central NSW coast was mapped prior to the opening of a sewage outfall there in 1988. Vegetation at Wybung and Wamberal Heads was also mapped in the same study. Vegetation maps were constructed with the assistance of aerial photographs. At Norah Head, 12 vegetation types were recognized on structural grounds (Specht 1981). Closed-forest and low closed-forest (some of which were remnant littoral rainforest), Eucalyptus botryoides forest, Banksia integrifolia open-woodland with a bitou bush understorey, coastal scrub/heath and bitou bush closed-heath were the major vegetation types. At Wybung Head, 7 vegetation types were recognized, with various types of scrub/heath and a Themeda grassland being found. At Wamberal Head, 5 vegetation types were recognized, with B. integrifolia open-forest with bitou bush understorey, scrub/heath and some Themeda grassland being found. Species list were compiled for each vegetation type; exotic species were common in occurrence, and dominated some vegetation units in terms of biomass. Two species of conservation importance in the area were found: Rhyodomyrtus psidioides and Botrychium australe, both near Jenny Dixon at Norah Head.