Waverley’s remnant vegetation

Waverley Council’s Environmental Action Plan aims to not only ensure the six hectares of remnant vegetation is safeguarded, but the health of those areas is improved. Building climate resilience and safeguarding local species will require habitat areas to extend well beyond remnant vegetation and public land, with the target to have 1000 habitat gardens on private land by 2030, and to grow the coverage of canopy trees and ground cover to 35% by 2032.

Remnant vegetation on public land

Remnant vegetation refers to areas that have escaped development and disturbance and is defined as the “the original (pre-1788) vegetation which has survived to this day” (Waverley Flora Survey Report 2020). The fragmented nature of the remnants makes them less resilient to the urban pressures within the Waverley LGA.

Many of the remnants exist as small patches within the urban landscape. Small patches of native vegetation are more vulnerable to ‘edge effects’ and encroachment of weeds. If remnant and restored native vegetation are not managed it is likely they will be lost.

The remnant vegetation of the Waverley Council LGA is significantly fragmented and exists mostly along cliff lines, and within Council parks and reserves (use the interactive Environment map to see the areas). These small pockets of remnant vegetation, are mostly coastal heath, grasslands and sedgelands .

Council’s Biodiversity Action Plan: Remnant Sites 2022-2031 gives a detailed overview of preservation action.

In some of our well-known natural areas, the original vegetation has been removed. Council has detailed plans to protect and restore these areas:

Habitat gardens on private property

Waverley Council is densely populated, with 7,635 persons per square km. Gardens on private land are crucial to providing habitat connectivity, acting as natural bridges for native animals moving around the area. Residents are encouraged to grow their own habitat gardens:

  • Explore Council’s resources on starting a native garden, including the Living Connections program which supplies free plants. Apartment balconies can still work as native gardens!
  • For inspiration on what native trees would work best in your garden, explore the preferred tree species for your zone in the Street Master Plan.
  • For information on community gardens, including verge gardens, visit the Community section.

Calga Reserve urban ecology