Our Eco-system at Crystal Creek Rainforest Retreat, Tweed Valley Northern NSW
A dynamic and complex eco-system
The World Heritage listed rainforest reserves of the Mount Warning volcano have evolved over 100 million years and are home to many rare and endangered plants and animal species. A romantic escape to Crystal Creek Rainforest Retreat is perfect for exploring the biodiversity of this region.
At Crystal Creek Rainforest Retreat we have luxury couples only bungalows individually set amongst the rainforest and we strive to maintain this delicate eco-system. We are protected by a perpetual voluntary conservation agreement which provides a buffer between our economically developed zone and the National Park. Under Voluntary Conservation Agreements low key tourism activities, for example bird watching and bush walking can occur in the conservation area. There are no restrictions on economic activity undertaken on other parts of the property.
The retreat is an ecotourist's delight where you can stroll under giant strangler figs, along fern lined gorges or simply lay in a hammock over a crystal pool and watch the Wompoo pigeons frolic in the treetops.
At Crystal Creek Rainforest Retreat we are planning to rehabilitate an area of land that degraded by agricultural activity prior to 1967 and then left to the weeds.
The Proposed development consists of an extension to the present Rainforest retreat, whereby an additional eight (8) new cabins are proposed to be constructed on two (2) distinct separate locations on the property as follows:
• Mountain site – Six (6) new cabins
• Orchard site – Two (2) new cabins
Five (5) vegetation communities were identified on the Subject site.
One hundred and thirty two (132) flora species were recorded at the Subject site. One (1) threatened species, Green-leaved rose walnut (Endiandra muelleri ssp. bracteata) was recorded within the mountain site. Two (2) threatened species Red bopple nut (Hicksbeachia pinnatifolia) and Fine-leaved tuckeroo (Lepiderema pulchella) were also recorded but were in areas that will not be affected by the proposed development. Other threatened species located on the property include a Davidson's plum (Davidsonia pruriens) which has been propagated in the past rehabilitation of the Site. Two (2) ROTAP (Briggs & Leigh 1996) species were recorded Blunt wistaria (Milletia australis) along with the Long-leaved tuckeroo (Cupaniopsis newmanii).
VEGETATION COMMUNITIES PRESENT ON THE SUBJECT SITE
1 Scattered trees (Acacia melanoxylon)
2 Tall wet sclerophyll forest(Lophostemon confertus)
3 Mid tall closed Rainforest (Geissois benthamii)
4 Orchard
5 Tall sclerophyll woodland (Lophostemon confertus)
Community 1 – Scattered Trees (Acacia melanoxylon) Mountain site
Location and area
This community occurs in the centre of the mountain site and is where the six new lodges will be built. Community one (1) covers an area of approximately 1.7 hectares
Description
This community has been highly disturbed. The area has been used, in the past, to grow bananas and then left to the weeds for about the last forty years and was covered in the thickest Lantana I have ever seen. The isolated trees are predominantly Blackwood wattle (Acacia melanoxylon), with scattered occurrences of Red carabeen (Geissois benthamii), Macaranga (Macaranga tanarius) and Red cedar (Toona ciliata). The ground cover is comprised predominantly of bare ground as a result of recent large scale Lantana (Lantana camara) removal.
Significant species
No significant species were recorded in this community but we did discover two huge Red Cedar trees which was a real bonus.
Conservation status
This vegetation community is not considered to be analogous with any of the Forest Ecosystems described by the Regional Forestry Agreement (RFA). The conservation status of this community is considered to be low due to the level of disturbance in the past.
Community 2 – Tall wet sclerophyll Forest (Lophostemon confertus)
Location and area
Areas of closed forest dominated by Brush box (Lophostemon confertus) occur throughout the site. The most significant areas occur in the south of the Mountain site and on the south-eastern portion of the Orchard site.
Description
This community consists of a Brush box/rainforest canopy with the emergent Flooded gum (Eucalyptus grandis), the midstorey consists of Red carabeen, White bolly gum (Neolitsea dealbata) and Guioa (Guioa semiglauca). The ground cover is comprised of Bracken fern (Pteridium esculentum), Lantana, Basket-grass (Oplismenus aemulus) and Mistflower (Ageratina riparia).
Significant species
Two ROTAP species were also located within this vegetation community - Blunt wistaria (Milletia australis) and Long-leaved tuckeroo (Cupaniopsis newmanii).
Location and area
Areas of closed forest dominated by rainforest species occur throughout the site. The most significant areas occur in the north of the mountain site and on the north western portion of the orchard site.
Description
The canopy of this community consists of a mixture of rainforest species. Red carabeen is dominant, with Bangalow palms (Archontophoenix cunninghamiana), Macaranga, Native tamarind (Diploglottis cunninghamii), Guioa and Foam bark (Jagera pseudorhus) also occurring.
Smaller trees and shrubs that comprise the mid-story include Green bolly gum (Neolitsea australiensis), White Bolly gum, Scrub turpentine (Rhodamnia rubescens), Common lilly pilly (Syzygium smithii), Coffee bush (Breynia oblongifolia), Red kamala (Mallotus philippensis) and Rose myrtle (Archirhodomyrtus beckleri).
The groundcover layer includes areas of Lantana, Bracken fern and Mist weed, with regenerating rainforest species. Common climbers include Burney vine (Trophis scandens), Snake vine (Stephania japonica), Climbing guinea flower (Hibbertia scandens), and White passionflower (Passiflora subpeltata).
Significant species
One (1) threatened species, Green-leaved rose walnut (Endiandra muelleri ssp. bracteata) was recorded within this community. This species is also listed as being significant (Sheringham & Westaway). Two (2) stems of the Green leaved rose walnut (Endiandra muelleri ssp bracteata) were found, one of the stems has a height of 2.5 meters. The location is shown in FIGURE 4.
Three (3) ROTAP species were also located within this vegetation community - Blunt wistaria (Milletia australis), Smooth scrub turpentine (Rhodamnia maideniana) and Long-leaved tuckeroo (Cupaniopsis newmanii).
1.1.1.1 Community 4 – Fruit Orchard
Location and area
The fruit orchard covers an area of approximately 0.9 hectares and is located approximately 400 m to the south-east of the main office. The site has a north-easterly aspect.
Description
This community is comprised of grass and various fruit trees including Mango, Blueberry and Lemons, other citrus and Avocados.
Significant species
There are no threatened or ROTAP species that occur within this community. No significant species were identified.
Conservation status
This vegetation community is not considered to be analogous with any of the Forest Ecosystems described by the Regional Forestry Agreement (RFA). The Tweed Vegetation Management Strategy (TVMS) (Kingston, Turnbull & Hall - 2004) classifies this vegetation type as an exotic plantation.
The conservation status of this community is considered to be low
A search of the NPWS Database revealed twenty-six (26) Threatened Flora species within 10km of the Subject site. Whilst not many of these threatened species were found in the immediate new development site due to the past agricultural disturbance, some of these are common on other parts of the property. We actively propagate and source local varieties of these threatened trees and plant them out in our reafforestation programs. These species are shown in TABLE 1.
TABLE 1
NPWS DATABASE RECORDS OF THREATENED FLORA SPECIES
WITHIN 10 KM OF THE SUBJECT SITE
Common name Botanical name
Ball nut Floydia praealta
Bog onion Owenia cepiodora
Border Mallee Eucalyptus microcodon
Brush cassia Cassia brewsteri var. marksiana
Davidson's plum Davidsonia jerseyana
Durobby Syzygium moorei
Fine-leaved tuckeroo Lepiderema pulchella
Floyd's walnut Endiandra floydii
Green-leaved rose walnut Endiandra muelleri subsp. bracteata
Hairy quandong Elaeocarpus williamsianus
Isoglossa Isoglossa eranthemoides
Marblewood Acacia bakeri
Onion Cedar Owenis cepiodora
Ravine Orchid Sarcochilus fitzgeraldii
Red Bopple nut Hicksbeachia pinnatifolia
Red Lilly Pilly Syzygium hodgkinsoniae
Red-fruited ebony Diospyros mabacea
Rough-shelled bush nut Macadamia tetraphylla
Rusty plum Amorphospermum whitei
Rusty rose walnut Endiandra hayesii
Small-leaved hazelwood Symplocos baeuerlenii
Small-leaved tamarind Diploglottis campbellii
Southern fontainea Fontainea australis
Southern ochrosia Ochrosia moorei
Spiny gardenia Randia moorei
Yellow Satinheart Bosistoa transversa
National Parks of Northern NSW
Mt. Warning, Tweed Valley NSW Australia
Mt. Warning, the ancient plug of the volcano, lies almost in the centre of the valley. A climb to the top takes about five hours return. Parks information and maps are available at the Retreat. With expansive 360 degree views is just 20 minutes from Crystal Creek Rainforest Retreat. Many of our more energetic guests make the effort to climb this Australian icon and then return to the comfort of their individual bungalow to soak their bodies in the big double spa bath.
A beautiful spot to get away from the hustle and bustle of life. We really enjoyed the peace and quiet. Loved the spa, that was excellent. Graham deci..
