“The Hampton Corridor”
Straddling the Great Dividing Range and part of an area classified as a Corridor of Shire Significance, which is contiguous with a Corridor of State Significance, the Hampton corridor supports a diverse suite of flora and fauna.
The Flora
The list of flora species known from the Hampton corridor includes eight species of eucalypt, quite a significant number to be found all within a 10km road reserve. Many of the individual eucalypt trees in the area are likely to be hundreds of years old.
These eucalypts form a unique suite of species at Hampton, which in combination with the particular ‘land zone’ (i.e. combination of geology, landform and soils), comprises an ecosystem unique to the Geham-Pechey-Ravensbourne area, and Middle Ridge area in Toowoomba. It is classified as Regional Ecosystem (R.E.) 12.5.6c, a very restricted local variation or ‘sub-unit’ within the overall R.E. 12.5.6, which itself is classified as ‘Endangered’ under Queensland’s Vegetation Management Act 2005.
Two vegetation communities are recognisable within the Hampton corridor. Firstly, woodland dominated by Queensland Blue Gum (Eucalyptus tereticornis) occurs at the bottom of the Geham hill. This soon merges into and then is replaced by a more complex community that continues through to around Pechey, supported by the red volcanic soils that occur along the crest of the range. Here the towering canopy consists of a mix of Blackbutt (Eucalyptus pilularis), Sydney Blue Gum (locally known as Woollybutt – E. saligna), White Stringybark (E. eugenioides), Grey Gum (E. biturbinata), Tallow Wood (E. microcorys) and Pink Bloodwood (Corymbia intermedia). Hampton’s high altitude situation also favours an eighth species, the Queensland Ash (E. montivaga). Derived from a latin word, ‘montivaga’ means ‘wandering over the mountains’, an apt name as the species generally only grows at altitudes greater than about 700m. This species is endemic to (only occurs in) Queensland and the Hampton population is highly significant as the only Queensland Ash trees occurring further south of here are in the Toowoomba suburb of Middle Ridge, where urban development has severely fragmented their habitat. Populations further north of Hampton occur on different land zone types and are quite scattered and limited in size.
Throughout the year, the over-arching eucalypt canopy provides great visual appeal for motorists travelling through the Hampton corridor. In addition, various other native species provide seasonal colour. The Oleander-leaf Wattle (Acacia neriifolia) provides splashes of sunny yellow to brighten winter days. In spring, the aptly-named Traveller’s Joy (Clematis aristata) is clothed in a mass of creamy-white, starry flowers. Another commonly cultivated native climber, Sarsaparilla Vine (Hardenbergia violacea), puts on a colourful display of purple flowers, as does its shrubby relative within the pea family, Native Indigo (Indigofera australis). Perhaps the most unusual plant that occurs in the area is the Climbing Orchid (Erythrorchis cassythoides). It does not photosynthesise but instead is a saprophyte; that is, it grows on dead and decaying vegetation, from which it receives its energy supply. This unique orchid has a strange beauty of its own and can often be seen clinging to the trunks of the roadside eucalypts, sporting brownish-yellow flowers on its leafless black stems.
The Fauna
The eight species of eucalypts and a species of Allocasuarina that occur within the Hampton corridor can be considered as especially important species to local fauna, both vertebrate and invertebrate. As previously mentioned, these trees comprise a community that have elements that have existed since before the commencement of colonial settlement in the area. As such they can be considered as old-age trees with all that this implies for the conservation of hollow-dwelling species. These include such species as Greater Glider, Sugar and Squirrel Gliders, possums such as the Common Brushtail and Common Ringtail and various microbats that are known to be present in this general area. Aside to offering shelter and protection to these arboreal mammals these hollow-forming trees are also important nesting and shelter refuges for a large range of woodland birds including owls, the owlet-nightjar, kingfishers and hosts of parrots and cockatoos.
As well as being used for shelter and nesting several tree species at Hampton are important food trees for the arboreal mammals already discussed, and also for many species of bird especially lorikeets, honeyeaters, and leaf-gleaning species like thornbills and pardalotes. Nectar-feeding species that are known to inhabit this area include Little Lorikeet, Rainbow Lorikeet, Scaly-breasted Lorikeet, Brown Honeyeater, Scarlet Honeyeater, Lewin’s Honeyeater and Yellow-faced Honeyeater. Several species of these honeyeaters are either nomadic or migratory. Stands of flowering eucalypts are important as ‘refuelling’ stages for migratory honeyeaters such as Yellow-faced Honeyeater and Noisy and Little Friarbirds. Such honeyeaters would use the Hampton trees for such a purpose. The importance of contiguous stands of old growth eucalypts cannot be overstated in their providing wildlife corridors between areas of disrupted habitat. As stated these provide resting and feeding areas for species such as migratory honeyeaters, warblers and whistlers, as well as highly migratory mammals such as the Little Red Flying-fox.
Such corridors also provide an avenue for genetic exchange between smaller, less mobile species such as arboreal rodents, dasyurids and reptiles. In the Hampton area these include Fawn-footed Melomys, Yellow-footed Antechinus and Common Dunnart. Similarly the rich leaf-litter deposits that these trees provide do likewise for small terrestrial species of mammals and reptiles such as bandicoots, Bush Rat, Common Planigale and the rarely encountered New Holland Mouse, which reaches its northern limit in this area. The ability of these animals, whether arboreal or terrestrial, to traverse these corridors without artificial barriers caused through clearing is very important in maintaining the genetic vigour of their populations.
Flowering eucalypts such as those under discussion are also a major source of food for three species of bat; the Grey-headed Flying-fox, Black Flying-fox and Little Red Flying-fox. All three species are common within the area. The Grey-headed Flying-fox is considered a vulnerable species under the Federal Government’s EPBC Act. These bats are important spreaders of seeds and pollinators and the replenishment and health of ecosystems generally are quite dependent on such highly mobile species.
Arboreal reptiles known from Hampton include Carpet Python, Lace Monitor, Common Tree Snake and Brown Tree Snake. All these reptiles often use the canopy and upper levels, and hollows of tall eucalypts for hunting whilst the Lace Monitor uses termite mounds on old eucalypts as a site to deposit her eggs. The leaf-litter and exfoliating bark on many of several of the Hampton eucalypt species is also a very important habitat for many smaller reptiles such as skinks, geckos and small litter-dwelling snakes. In the Hampton area these include rainbow-skinks (Carlia spp.), sun-skinks (Lampropholis spp.), the Dubious Dtella (a gecko), the Fat-tailed Gecko, the Small-eyed Snake and the Red-naped Snake.
Eucalypt foliage and blooms maintain countless species of invertebrates, which form the basis of a healthy food chain without which no natural community can subsist. Aside to providing food for this massive biomass of invertebrates such flowering eucalypts are a mainstay of commercial honeybee production.
The Forest She-oak is present at Hampton. The Glossy Black-Cockatoo, a species designated as vulnerable under Queensland’s Nature Conservation (Wildlife) Regulation 2006 is highly dependent on the fruit of this tree. This cockatoo has been recorded utilising the Hampton she-oaks and the area generally is a stronghold for the species. Another species that has been recorded at Hampton, and is designated as rare under the Queensland legislation is the Grey Goshawk. This bird of prey is a hunter of small birds such as honeyeaters, whistlers and also small arboreal mammals. The Grey Goshawk is a bird quite dependent on prey species and nesting sites within tall eucalypt forest or woodland.
Another raptor, the Powerful Owl has been recorded from two sites at the southern end of this corridor. This large forest owl is a vulnerable species under the Nature Conservation (Wildlife) Regulation 2006. It eats arboreal mammals such as the Greater Glider and the Common Ringtail. The retention of stands of mature eucalypts is essential to maintain these prey animals and consequently this rare and threatened owl. The Powerful Owl also requires old age trees for its nesting hollows.
Under the Nature Conservation (Wildlife) Regulation 2006 the Koala is considered as a vulnerable species in the areas covered by the South-east Queensland Regional Plan. Five of the eight eucalypt species present in the Hampton corridor are important Koala food-trees. They are the Sydney Blue Gum, Grey Gum, White Stringybark, Tallow Wood and Queensland Blue Gum. Another two species also present are considered as secondary food trees for this marsupial. They are the Blackbutt and Pink Bloodwood. There have been numerous reports of Koalas utilising the trees in question. The consultants undertaking the Review of Environmental Factors for this project, recorded 2 adult koalas, one with a baby, during their flora/fauna survey of Cathedral Drive. It is an important Koala habitat.
In conclusion the preservation of old age eucalypt stands and their associated woodland/forest species is essential if the biodiversity and health of the environment is to be maintained. Hampton is a point in case.
