Public Consultation: EPBC Shale Sandstone Transition Forest in the Sydney Basin Bioregion EEC
Greg Steenbeeke
The Threatened Species Scientific Committee is reviewing the existing listing of Shale/Sandstone Transition Forest ecological community and is seeking comment on the proposal to list the ecological community in the Critically Endangered category under the EPBC Act.
Shale/Sandstone Transition Forest was first listed as an 'Endangered' ecological community under the Australian Government's Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) on 1 April 2001. Since this time more information has become available on the ecological community, while methods for assessing ecological communities against EPBC criteria related to levels of threat have also been up-dated. Hence, the the Committee is reviewing the existing listing to improve information for decision-making. The revised name of the ecological community is ‘Shale Sandstone Transition Forest in the Sydney Basin Bioregion ecological community’.
The listing review was placed on the 2013 Finalised Priority Assessment List (FPAL) by the Commonwealth Environment Minister. The assessment is due for completion by 31 July 2014.
Details about the public comment period, a public consultation guide and the draft conversation advice for the ‘Shale Sandstone Transition Forest in the Sydney Basin Bioregion ecological community’ are available at:
The public comment period closes on 11 July. Your input to the assessment would be greatly appreciated and so to, passing on notice of the public consultation period through your networks.