Peppermint Box (Eucalyptus odorata) - Department of Sustainability ...

EPBC Act Policy Statement 3.7 

Nationally Threatened Species and Ecological Communities 

Peppermint Box (Eucalyptus odorata) Grassy Woodland 

of South Australia and Iron-grass Natural Temperate 

Grassland of South Australia 

June 2007 

ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION AND BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION ACT

GUIDE TO LISTING 

What is the Peppermint Box (Eucalyptus 

odorata) Grassy Woodland of South Australia? 

The Peppermint Box (Eucalyptus odorata) Grassy 

Woodland of South Australia ecological community 

extends from the southern Flinders Ranges to Lake 

Alexandrina. It is mostly found in the Flinders–Lofty 

Block Bioregion but patches also extend into the 

Murray–Darling Depression, Kanmantoo, Eyre–Yorke 

Block and Gawler Bioregions. Its general distribution 

is illustrated on the general area map (opposite). 

Remaining patches of this ecological community 

typically occur on gentle to moderate slopes, 

hilltops and adjacent plains. The soil types range 

from sandy-loam to clay-loam. The annual rainfall 

is between 310 and 610 millimetres a year. 

Peppermint Box (Eucalyptus odorata) is the dominant 

species of the tree canopy. The woodland tree form 

(a single main trunk at the base with low branches) 

of Peppermint Box characterises this ecological 

community. 

Other tree species that may be present in the 

canopy but are not as abundant as Peppermint 

Box include: Grey Box (E. microcarpa); South 

Australian Blue Gum (E. leucoxylon); Sugar Gum 

(E. cladocalyx); Mallee Box (E. porosa); Drooping 

Sheoak (Allocasuarina verticillata); White Cypresspine 

(Callitris glaucophylla); and Southern Cypresspine 

(C. gracilis). 

The vegetation structure is an open to dense 

woodland. The tree canopy comprises low trees, 

generally 5–10 metres tall but sometimes up to 

15 metres tall, with a typical canopy cover of 

5–40 per cent which can occasionally reach 

70 per cent (Hyde 1996; Robertson 1998). 

2 

The ground layer mainly comprises grasses and 

herbs which can vary from a relatively dense and 

diverse layer, in more open sites, to a sparse layer 

under more densely wooded sites. The grasses and 

herbs that most often occur include Wallaby Grasses 

(Austrodanthonia spp.), Spear Grasses (Austrostipa 

spp.), Iron-grasses (Lomandra spp.) and Black-anther 

Flax Lily (Dianella revoluta). Shrubs are sparse in the 

understorey with cover up to 30 per cent. The most 

common shrub species present are Sweet Bursaria 

(Bursaria spinosa) and Golden Wattle (Acacia 

pycnantha). 

A list of the main plant species known to occur in 

the Peppermint Box (Eucalyptus odorata) Grassy 

Woodland of South Australia ecological community 

is at Table 1. 

Shrubs can occur naturally in grassy woodlands, 

and can form an important part of the Peppermint 

Box (Eucalyptus odorata) Grassy Woodland of 

South Australia ecological community. Where they 

occur, they provide important habitat for many 

bird and insect species. Accordingly, a patch that 

has a significant ground layer of tussock grasses, 

and where the distribution of shrubs is scattered 

or patchy, is this ecological community. A remnant 

with a continuous shrub layer, in which the shrub 

cover is greater than 30 per cent, is excluded. As 

the shrub cover in this ecological community is 

naturally patchy, shrubs may be dominant over a 

very localised area. 


(Peter Komidar)

Table 1. Characteristic flora of the Peppermint Box (Eucalyptus odorata) Grassy Woodland of South 

Australia ecological community, based on Hyde (1996) and Robertson (1998) 

Layer Species Common name(s) 

Dominant tree 

canopy 

Eucalyptus odorata Peppermint Box 

Tree canopy Allocasuarina verticillata Drooping Sheoak 

Callitris glaucophylla White Cypress-pine, White Cypress, White Pine, 

Callitris gracilis Murray Pine, Mallee Pine, Slender Cypress-pine, Southern 

Cypress-pine 

Eucalyptus cladocalyx Sugar Gum 

Eucalyptus goniocalyx Long-leaved Box, Bundy 

Eucalyptus leucoxylon Blue Gum, Yellow Gum, South Australian Blue Gum, Water 

Gum, White Ironbark 

Eucalyptus microcarpa Grey Box, Narrow-leaved Box, Inland Grey Box, Western 

Grey Box 

Eucalyptus porosa Mallee Box, Black Mallee-box 

Exocarpos cupressiformis Cherry Ballart, Native Cherry, Wild Cherry, Cherry Wood 

Shrub layer Acacia pycnantha Golden Wattle, Broad-leaved Wattle 

Beyeria lechenaulti Pale Turpentine Bush 

Bursaria spinosa Australian Blackthorn, Bursaria, Blackthorn, Native 

Blackthorn, Sweet Bursaria, Whitethorn, Christmas Bush 

Einadia nutans ssp. nutans Climbing Saltbush, Nodding Saltbush 

Enchylaena tomentosa var. tomentosa Ruby Saltbush, Barrier Saltbush 

Eutaxia microphylla var. microphylla Eutaxia, Mallee Bush-pea 

Ozothamnus retusus Notched Bush-everlasting 

Olearia decurrens 

Rhagodia parabolica Fragrant Saltbush, Mealy Saltbush 

Ground layer Aristida behriana Brush Wiregrass 

Arthropodium strictus Chocolate Lily 

Asperula conferta Common Woodruff 

Austrodanthonia caespitosa Ringed Wallaby-grass, Common Wallaby-grass 

Austrodanthonia setacea Small-flowered Wallaby-grass 

Austrostipa blackii Crested Spear-grass 

Austrostipa elegantissima Feather Spear-grass 

Austrostipa eremophila Rusty Spear-grass 

Austrostipa nitida Balcarra Spear-grass 

Austrostipa scabra Rough Spear-grass, Rough Needle-grass 

Calocephalus citreus Lemon Beauty-heads 

Cheilanthes austrotenuifolia Rock-fern 

Chrysocephalum apiculatum Yellow Buttons, Common Everlasting 

Convolvulus augustissimus 

Convolvulus remotus 

Australian Bindweed 

Crassula colorata Annual Stonecrop, Dense Crassula, Dense Stonecrop 

Crassula decumbens var. decumbens Spreading Crassula, Spreading Stonecrop 

Crassula sieberiana 

Cymbonotus preissianus 

Australian Stonecrop, Sieber Crassula 

Daucus glochidiatus Australian Carrot, Native Carrot 

4

Table 1. Characteristic flora of the Peppermint Box (Eucalyptus odorata) Grassy Woodland of South 

Australia ecological community, based on Hyde (1996) and Robertson (1998) continued 

Layer Species Common name(s) 

Dianella revoluta Blueberry Lily, Black-Anther Flax Lily 

Elymus scaber var. scabrus Native Wheat-grass, Common Wheat-grass 

Goodenia pinnatifida 

Goodenia pusilliflora 

Cut-leaf Goodenia 

Glycine rubignosa 

Lepidosperma viscidum 

Lomandra densiflora 

Twining Glycine 

Lomandra effusa 

Lomandra micrantha 

Scented Mat-rush; Iron-grass 

Lomandra multiflora ssp.dura Iron-grass 

Oxalis perennans Grass Wood-sorrel 

Maireana enchylaenoides Cotton-bush, Wingless fissure-weed, Wingdecs Bluebush 

Plantago varia Small Plantain, Sago-weed 

Ptilotus spathulatus Pussytails, Cat’s Paws 

Senecio quadridentatus Cotton Fireweed 

Sida corrugata 

Stackhousia spp. 

Corrugated Sida 

Vittadinia cuneata Fuzzweed 

Wahlenbergia luteola A Bluebell 

What is the Iron-grass natural temperate 

grassland of South Australia? 

The Iron-grass Natural Temperate Grassland of South 

Australia ecological community primarily occurs 

within the Flinders-Lofty Block Bioregion. The main 

extant patches lie in the area between Clare and 

Peterborough. However, patches extend into the 

Kanmantoo, Eyre–Yorke Block and Murray–Darling 

Depression Bioregions. Its general distribution is 

shown on the map on page 3. 

The ecological community generally occurs on gentle 

slopes of low hills above 380 metres above sea 

level. The soils on which it occurs are predominantly 

loams to clay-loams with an estimated clay content 

of 30–35 per cent. Surface pebbles are common at 

some sites and shale or sandstone rocky outcrops 

may also be present. The mean annual rainfall ranges 

from 280 to 600 millimetres per year. 

The structure of the vegetation is of a tussock 

grassland. Trees and tall shrubs are absent to 

sparse (cover less than 10 per cent) and tussock- 

5 

forming perennial grasses and Iron-grasses dominate 

the ground layer. A range of herbaceous plant 

species occurs in the inter-tussock spaces. 

Iron-grasses (Lomandra multiflora ssp. dura and 

Lomandra effusa) are the dominant and most 

characteristic feature of the vegetation. About 

10–70 per cent of the ground area is covered by 

Lomandra spp. Where the vegetative ground cover is 

minimal, Lomandra would still be expected to be one 

of the most common species. It must be noted that 

Lomandra may be absent in small areas (less than 1 

hectare) of the listed ecological community, however 

if these patches sit within the context of other areas 

containing Lomandra then these small patches are 

still considered to be part of the listed ecological 

community. 

Native plant species commonly recorded in 

Iron-grass Natural Temperate Grassland of South 

Australia ecological community is at Table 2.

Table 2. Common flora of the Iron-grass Natural Temperate Grassland of South Australia 

ecological community 

The plant list is based on surveys by Hyde (1995) and Robertson (1998) in the Flinders–Lofty Ranges 

and Department for Environment and Heritage (2001a) at Mokota Conservation Reserve 

Perennial native 

grasses 

Species Common name/s 

Aristida behriana* Brush Wiregrass 

Austrodanthonia auriculata Lobed Wallaby-grass 

Austrodanthonia caespitosa* Ringed Wallaby-grass, Common Wallaby-grass 

Austrodanthonia carphioides Short Wallaby-grass 

Austrostipa acrociliata Graceful Spear-grass 

Austrostipa blackii* Crested Spear-grass 

Austrostipa elegantissima Feather Spear-grass 

Austrostipa eremophila* Rusty Spear-grass 

Austrostipa nitida* Balcarra Spear-grass 

Austrostipa nodosa 

Austrostipa scabra Rough Spear-grass, Rough Needle-grass 

Enneapogon nigricans Black-head Grass 

Themeda triandra* Kangaroo Grass 

Grass-like plants Arthropodium strictus Chocolate Lily 

Bulbine bulbosa Bulbine Lily, Native Onion, Native Leek 

Dianella revoluta 

Lepidosperma viscidum 

Blueberry Lily, Black-Anther Flax Lily 

Lomandra effusa* Scented Mat-rush 

Lomandra multiflora ssp. dura* Many-flowered Mat-rush, Hard Mat-rush, Stiff Iron-grass 

Wurmbea dioica ssp. dioica Early Nancy 

Broad-leaved Asperula conferta Common Woodruff 

herbaceous species 

Brachyscome lineariloba Hard-headed Daisy 

* Indicates co-dominant species 

Calocephalus citreus Lemon Beauty-heads 

Chrysocephalum apiculatum Yellow Buttons, Common Everlasting 

Chrysocephalum semipapposum Clustered Everlasting, Yellow Buttons 

Convolvulus augustissimus Australian Bindweed 

Convolvulus remotus 

Crassula colorata Annual Stonecrop, Dense Crassula, Dense Stonecrop 

Crassula sieberana ssp. tetramera Australian Stonecrop, Sieber Crassula 

Eryngium ovinum/rostratum Blue Devil 

Euphorbia drummondii Caustic-weed, Red Soldier, Flat Spurge, Cuastic 

Creeper, Creeping Caustic, Mat-spurge, Milkweed 

Glycine rubignosa Twining Glycine 

Goodenia pinnatifida Cut-leaf Goodenia 

Goodenia pusilliflora 

Hyalosperma semisterile 

Isoetopsis graminifolia Grass Cushion 

Leptorhynchos squamatus Scaly Buttons 

Leptorhynchos tetrachaetus Little Buttons 

6

Table 2. Common flora of the Iron-grass Natural Temperate Grassland of South Australia ecological 

community continued 

Broad-leaved 


continued 

Species Common name/s 

Minuria leptophylla Minnie Daisy 

Oxalis perennans Grass Wood-sorrel 

Plantago varia Small Plantain, Sago-weed 

Podolepis tepperi 

Ptilotus spathulatus Pussytails, Cat’s Paws 

Rhodanthe pygmaea Pygmy Sunray 

Rumex dumosus Wiry Dock 

Sida corrugata. Corrugated Sida 

Stackhousia monogyna 

Swainsona behriana 

Creamy Candles, Creamy Stackhousia 

Thysanotus baueri 

Velleia arguta 

Mallee Fringe-lily 

Velleia paradoxa Spur Velleia 

Vittadinia cuneata 

Vittadinia gracilis 

Vittadinia megacephala 

Fuzzweed 

Wahlenbergia luteola A Bluebell 

Shrubs Bursaria spinosa Australian Blackthorn, Bursaria, Blackthorn, Native 

Blackthorn, Sweet Bursaria, Whitethorn, Christmas Bush 

Cryptandra amara ssp. longiflora Long-flower Cryptandra 

Enchylaena tomentosa Ruby Saltbush, Barrier Saltbush 

Maireana enchylaenoides Cotton-bush, Wingless Fissure-weed, Wingless 

Bluebush 

Maireana excavata Bottle Bluebush, Bottle Fissure-weed 

Pimelea micrantha 

Why were the Peppermint Box (Eucalyptus 

odorata) Grassy Woodland of South Australia 

and Iron-grass Natural Temperate Grassland 

of South Australia listed as critically 

endangered? 

These ecological communities were listed as critically 

endangered under the Environment Protection 

and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (the EPBC 

Act) because of a severe decline in distribution 

and ongoing loss of integrity. The decision by the 

Australian Minister for the Environment and Water 

Resources to list the communities followed careful 

consideration of advice from the Threatened Species 

Scientific Committee—an independent scientific 

body that advises the Minister on the conservation 

status of native species and ecological communities. 

7 

National listing of these ecological communities 

recognises that their long-term survival is under 

threat. The listing aims to prevent their further 

decline, and assist community and landholder efforts 

toward the recovery of these ecological communities. 

Both of these ecological communities have been 

heavily cleared and face similar threats across their 

range. In most of the areas that remain, grazing and 

pasture-improvement have effectively removed the 

characteristic native, perennial tussock grasses, 

herbs and shrubs, leaving many areas dominated 

by exotic weeds. Grazing has also prevented 

the regeneration of the overstorey species in the 

Peppermint Box Grassy Woodland of South Australia, 

to the extent that large areas of healthy, regenerating 

trees are rare.

Threats 

The key threats to the survival of both ecological 

communities include clearing, grazing and 

weed invasion. Other threats include road and 

rail maintenance activities and the effects of 

fragmentation. 

Clearing for cropping and cultivated pasture 

eliminates native species, including any soil-stored 

seed, preventing their re-establishment without 

assistance. 

Grazing has reduced the diversity of the native 

species across most remaining sites of both 

ecological communities. As many grasses and forbs 

do not form persistent soil seed banks, once plants 

have been eliminated from the standing vegetation, 

they are unable to re-establish naturally, even if 

grazing pressure is removed. 

As well as direct impacts on individual plants, grazing 

can have indirect effects upon other native species 

through soil disturbance and physical changes to 

the soil such as compaction, nutrient enrichment, 

reduced water infiltration and erosion. These changes 

to the soil can facilitate and maintain weed invasion 

and make soil conditions unsuitable for native species 

regeneration. 

The degree of degradation of a patch varies with the 

grazing regime history. Constant grazing pressure 

throughout the year is more likely to eliminate grazing 

sensitive species than intermittent or seasonal 

stocking. This is why areas such as road sides which 

have only had intermittent grazing, often contain 

some of the best remnants. 

Calostemma purpurea (Garland lily): Iron-grass Natural Temperate 

Grassland of South Australia (Rosemary Purdie) 

8 

Austrostipa spp. (Speargrass) (John Vranjic) 

Weed invasion is a major threatening process for 

both ecological communities. Patches that have been 

heavily invaded by annual weeds such as Squirrel 

Tail Fescue and Rats Tail Fescue (Vulpia spp.) and 

Bearded Oats (Avena barbata) may still have a good 

cover of native species outside of spring. Annual 

weeds can be controlled through appropriate grazing 

and fire regimes. Perennial weeds such as Salvation 

Jane/Patterson’s Curse (Echium plantagineum) 

and Wild Sage (Salvia verbenaca) represent a more 

intractable problem. 

Persistent and intensive weed management using 

a variety of techniques is required to bring some 

weeds to a manageable threshold. Techniques 

include strategic mowing, slashing and clipping 

exotic grasses (to reduce their seed set and promote 

native regeneration) and the spot spraying or weed 

brushing of broadleaf weeds and perennial grasses 

with herbicide. Weeds growing in close proximity to 

native species should be removed by hand clipping. 

The aim in managing weeds is to reduce competition 

and assist natural regeneration and recovery of native 

plant communities. 

The Iron-grass Natural Temperate Grassland of South 

Australia is also threatened by inappropriate tree 

planting and agricultural snails.

Condition 

A condition class describes areas of an ecological 

community that have a similar conservation value. 

Condition can be determined by factors such as: 

numbers and types of native plants and animals 

present; the level of weed invasion; the size of 

the area; and distance to the next area of native 

vegetation. 

Significantly degraded (low condition) areas are not 

part of a listed ecological community. This means 

that protection provisions of the EPBC Act are 

focused on the most valuable elements of Australia’s 

natural environment, while degraded areas, which do 

not trigger the ‘significance test’ of the EPBC Act, 

are largely excluded. 

9 

In order for an area to be included in either of the 

listed ecological communities, a patch must have a 

good diversity of native species and contain a good 

selection and cover of perennial native grasses. Table 

3 (below) outlines the two condition classes that are 

considered to be part of the listed Peppermint Box 

(Eucalyptus odorata) Grassy Woodland of South 

Australia. 

Table 4 (page 10) outlines the two condition 

classes that are considered to be part of the listed 

Iron-grass Natural Temperate Grassland of South 

Australia. In both of these tables a third condition 

class is provided that describes areas considered 

to be suitable for rehabilitation but which are not 

considered part of the listed ecological communities. 

Table 3. Condition classes for the Peppermint Box (Eucalyptus odorata) Grassy Woodland 

of South Australia 

Classes A and B are indicative of the listed ecological community. Class C is indicative of patches that 

are degraded but could be rehabilitated to the listed ecological community. For a patch of vegetation 

to fall within a condition class it must meet or exceed each of the thresholds. For example, to meet 

condition class A a patch must be at least 0.1 ha in size and have more than 30 native species and at 

least 10 native broad-leaved herbaceous species not on the disturbance resistant list and have at least 

five native perennial grass species. 

No. of broad-leaved 


Condition class Minimum size 

1 

in addition to identified 

disturbance resistant species2 No. of native 

perennial 

grass species1 Diversity of 

native plant 

Listed ecological community 

species 

A ≥ 0.1 ha > 30 ≥ 10 ≥ 5 

B ≥ 1 ha > 15 ≥ 3 ≥ 2 

Degraded patches amenable to rehabilitation 

C > 5 No minimum ≥ 1 

1 

Legend: 

Left to right: 

Austrostipa spp. (Speargrass), 

Minuria leptophylla (Minnie daisy), 

Lomandra multiflora ssp. dura (Iron-grass) 

(John Vranjic) 

1 As measured in a 50 m x 50 m quadrat (or equivalent). 

2 The following species are identifed as disturbance resistant species: Ptilotus spathulatus forma spathulatus; Sida corrugata; 

Oxalis perennans; Convolvulus augustissimus; Euphorbia drummondii; and Maireana enchylaenoides.

Table 4. Condition classes for the Iron-Grass Natural Temperate Grassland of South Australia 

Classes A and B are indicative of the listed ecological community. Class C is indicative of patches that are 

degraded but could be rehabilitated to become the listed ecological community. For a patch of vegetation 

to fall within a condition class it must meet or exceed the relevant threshold. For example to meet 

condition class A a patch must be at least 0.1 ha in size and have more than 30 native species and at 

least 10 native broad-leaved forb species not on the disturbance resistant list and have at least five native 

perennial grass species (excluding Lomandra) and have at least one native perennial tussock (including 

Lomandra) per linear metre. 

Diversity of 

native plant 

Condition class Minimum size species1 No. of broad-leaved 

herbaceous species1 in addition to identified 

disturbance resistant species2 No. of native 

perennial 

grass species1 Tussock 

count3 Listed ecological community 

A ≥ 0.1 ha > 30 ≥ 10 ≥ 5 ≥ 1/m 

B ≥ 0.25 ha > 15 ≥ 3 ≥ 4 ≥ 1/m 

Degraded patches amenable to rehabilitation 

C > 5 No minimum ≥ 1 No 

minimum 

Legend: 

1 As measured in a 50 m x 50 m quadrat (or equivalent). 

2 The following species are identifed as disturbance resistant species: Ptilotus spathulatus forma spathulatus; Sida corrugata; 

Oxalis perennans; Convolvulus augustissimus ; Euphorbia drummondii; and Maireana enchylaenoides. 

3 As measured along a 50m transect. 

The Condition Class A and B outlined above for 

both ecological communities are the minimum 

level at which a patch is considered to be part 

of the listed ecological community. However, this 

does not represent the ideal state of the ecological 

community. The larger and more diverse a patch is, 

the more important it is. Additionally, patches that 

link remnants in the landscape, patches that occur 

in regions in which the ecological community is 

extremely uncommon, and patches that contain rare, 

declining or threatened species are important to the 

continuing viability of the ecological community into 

the future. 

How do I know if I have either of these 

ecological communities on my land? 

You can use the condition class information above 

and the following flowcharts (on pages 11 and 12) 

to determine whether or not you have either of the 

listed ecological communities on land you manage. 

10 

If the vegetation on your property was formerly 

Peppermint Box (Eucalyptus odorata) Grassy 

Woodland of South Australia or Iron-Grass Natural 

Temperate Grasslands of South Australia but no 

longer meets either of the definitions above, you may 

be able to work towards restoring this vegetation 

using the conservation actions outlined below. 

Areas that do not meet the condition criteria for 

inclusion in the listed ecological community, but 

should be given priority for regeneration include: 

large remnants; remnants containing mature trees, 

especially those with hollows; areas that link 

remnants in the landscape; remnants that occur in 

those areas in which the ecological community has 

been most heavily cleared and degraded; and those 

that contain rare, declining or threatened species.

Flowchart 1. Peppermint Box Grassy Woodland of South Australia 

Is the patch 0.1 ha in size or greater? NO 

YES 

Does the patch contain more than 

30 native plant species? 

YES 

Does the patch have at least 10 native 

broad-leaved herbaceous species that 

do not occur in the list below*? 

YES 

Does the patch have at least five 

perennial native grass species? 

YES 

NO Is the patch 1.0 ha in size or greater? NO 

NO 

NO 

The listed ecological community 

11 

YES 



YES 

Does the patch have at least three 

native broad-leaved herbaceous 

species that do not occur in the list 

below*? 

YES 

Does the patch have at least two 


* Ptilotus spathulatus forma spathulatus; Sida corrugata; Oxalis perennans; Convolvulus augustissimus; 

Euphorbia drummondii; and Maireana enchylaenoides. 

YES 

NO 

NO 

NO 

Eucalyptus odorata buds 

(Brooker & Kleinig © Australian National Botanic Gardens) 

Not the listed 

ecological 

community

Flowchart 2. Iron-grass Natural Temperate Grassland of South Australia 

Is the patch 0.1 ha in size or greater? NO 

YES 



YES 

Does the patch have at least 10 native 



YES 

Does the patch have at least five 


YES 

Does the patch have at least one native 

perennial tussock per linear metre? 

YES 

NO Is the patch 0.25 ha in size or greater? NO 

NO 

NO 

NO 

The listed ecological community 

12 

YES 



YES 

Does the patch have at least three 



YES 

Does the patch have at least four 


YES 

Does the patch have at least 

one native perennial tussock per 

linear metre? 

* Ptilotus spathulatus forma spathulatus; Sida corrugata; Oxalis perennans; Convolvulus augustissimus; 

Euphorbia drummondii; and Maireana enchylaenoides. 

YES 

NO 

NO 

NO 

NO 

Not the listed 

ecological 

community

What does the listing of these ecological 

communities mean for land managers? 

Protection under the EPBC Act applies to all 

components of the listed Peppermint Box 

(Eucalyptus odorata) Grassy Woodland of South 

Australia and Iron-grass Natural Temperate 

Grassland of South Australia ecological communities. 

However, listing of these ecological communities 

under the EPBC Act will not prevent landholders 

from continuing to use their land in the same way 

they were before, providing they do not change or 

intensify their activities. 

National protection means any new or intensified 

activities that may be likely to have a significant 

impact upon either of the listed ecological 

communities should be referred to the Australian 

Minister for the Environment and Water Resources 

for assessment and approval (unless they are subject 

to an exemption under the EPBC Act). Activities 

that may have a significant impact include, but are 

not restricted to, clearing of remnants or supporting 

vegetation, grazing, introducing excessive nutrients 

to remnants and introducing potentially invasive 

pasture species into the proximity of remnants. 

The process for making a referral under the EPBC 

Act is easy and without charge. More information 

is available from the Department’s web site at 

www.environment.gov.au/epbc/index.html. 

Based on your referral, the Minister will determine 

if assessment and approval is required. If approval 

is not required, then you are free to take action 

in accordance with your referral. If approval is 

required, strict timeframes in the EPBC Act ensure 

the assessment and approval process is conducted 

in a timely manner. 

The EPBC Act allows for some exemptions to 

the requirement for assessment and approval. 

This means that some activities may not need 

an assessment or approval if you meet certain 

requirements. Information on exemptions is available 

online at: www.environment.gov.au/epbc/ 

publications/exemptions. 

13 

What are the conservation priorities for the 

Peppermint Box (Eucalyptus odorata) Grassy 

Woodland of South Australia and Iron-grass 

Natural Temperate Grassland of South 

Australia? 

As part of its advice to the Minister, the Threatened 

Species Scientific Committee also provides 

recommendations on priority conservation actions 

that can assist in the recovery of these ecological 

communities. 

The priority actions identified for the Peppermint 

Box (Eucalyptus odorata) Grassy Woodland of South 

Australia are: 

• protection of remnants of the listed ecological 

community through the development of 

conservation agreements and covenants 

• control of existing weeds in remnants, particularly 

Squirrel Tail and Rats Tail Fescue (Vulpia spp.), 

Bearded Oats (Avena barbata) and Salvation Jane/ 

Patterson’s Curse (Echium plantagineum) 

• exclusion of continuous grazing from remnants 

• use of strategic grazing (incorporating rest at 

appropriate times) in areas with larger numbers 

of native species 

• protection of remnants from new weeds by 

preventing soil disturbance in and around 

remnants, and the speedy eradication of any 

new invasions and 

• expansion and connection of existing remnants. 

The priority actions identified for the Iron-grass 

Natural Temperate Grassland of South Australia are: 

• protection of remnants of the listed ecological 

community through the development of 

conservation agreements and covenants 

• exclusion of continuous grazing from remnants, 

coupled with weed management and control and 

use of strategic grazing (incorporating rest at 

appropriate times) 

• protection of remnants from weeds by preventing 

soil disturbance in and around remnants, and the 

speedy eradication of any new invasions and 

• expansion and connection of existing remnants. 

These lists do not encompass all actions that may 

be of benefit to these ecological communities, but 

highlights those that are considered to be of the 

highest priority at the time of listing.

Restoration and management of temperate grasslands in South Australia: 

Efforts of the Threatened Plant Action Group 

Since 1994, the Threatened Plant Action Group 

(TPAG) has been working to protect and restore 

remnants of temperate grasslands in the mid-north 

of South Australia. TPAG have initiated work at 

three sites containing important grassland habitat. 

The work undertaken on these sites includes 

intensive weed management with up to 12 site 

visits annually. The techniques used include: 

strategic mowing, slashing and clipping of exotic 

grasses (to reduce their seed set and promote 

native regeneration), spot spraying or weed 

brushing broadleaf weeds and perennial grasses 

with herbicide. Weeds growing in close proximity 

to native species are removed by hand clipping. 

Before the TPAG began working on the sites not 

many people had given them much thought as 

they were small and in poor condition. Weeds, 

including exotic annual and perennial grasses 

(eg Wild Oats, Phalaris and Tall Wheat-grass) 

and broadleaf plants (eg Salvation Jane, thistles, 

Scabious and Wild Sage), dominated the sites and 

few native species were abundant. 

After many years of hard work, native species 

diversity and abundance has increased 

substantially with lilies, daisies, other herbs, 

grasses and sedges appearing or increasing at 

the sites. Although some weed species are still 

present, they fill much less of the available space. 

Some native shrubs, herbs and grasses (grown 

from locally collected seed) have also been 

planted at the sites, locally collected seeds have 

been scattered in slashed areas and rubbish has 

also been removed. Fencing has been erected at 

some sites to preclude harmful land use activities. 

These actions aim to aid the in-situ recovery of 

threatened grassland species and are guided by 

a recovery team. 

TPAG’s work has been supported by: the local 

community; Northern Areas Council; Clare 

and Gilbert Valley Council; South Australian 

Department for Transport, Energy and 

14 

Infrastructure; Australian Southern Rail; and the 

South Australian Department for Environment 

and Heritage. 

The Australian Government, South Australian 

Department of Transport, Energy and Infrastructure 

and the Northern and Yorke Natural Resource 

Management Group have provided funding for 

a range of recovery actions. 

For more information, or to get involved in 

threatened plant recovery in South Australia 

contact the Threatened Plant Action Group: 

Tel: 08 8232 4088 

Email: tpag@ncssa.asn.au. 

Funding is available for projects to recover 

threatened species and ecological communities. 

This includes work on rehabilitating areas 

that were formerly part of a listed ecological 

community, but are now degraded. 

• For information about the Threatened Species 

Network Community grants visit: 

www.wwf.org.au/tsn 

• For information about Envirofund grants visit: 

www.nht.gov.au/envirofund 

You may also wish to participate in the 

development and implementation of your region’s 

Natural Resource Management Plan. In this case, 

contact your local land management agency. 


(Peter Komidar)

Where can I go for further information? 

The Threatened Plant Action Group of the Nature Conservation Society of South 

Australia can provide information on the management of land containing both 

the Peppermint Box (Eucalyptus odorata) Grassy Woodland of South Australia 

and Iron-grass Natural Temperate Grassland of South Australia: 

Tel: 08 8223 6301 

Email: tpag@ncssa.asn.au 

Useful web sites 

• EPBC Act web site: www.environment.gov.au/epbc 

• EPBC Act Administrative Guidelines on Significance: 

www.environment.gov.au/epbc/assessmentsapprovals/guidelines/ 

index.html 

• Referral form: www.environment.gov.au/epbc/assessmentsapprovals/ 

referrals/form.html 

Further information is also available from the Department of the Environment 

and Water Resources Community Information Unit: 

Email: ciu@environment.gov.au 

Freecall: 1800 803 772 

15 

Top to bottom: 

E. odorata (Brooker & Kleinig 

© Australian National Botanic 

Gardens), Austrostipa spp. 

(Speargrass) (John Vranjic), 

female pygmy blue-tongue 

lizard (Peter Robertson), 

grassland flowers (John Vranjic) 

Printed June 2007

Cover images (clockwise from left): E. odorata (Brooker & Kleinig © Australian National Botanic Gardens), female pygmy blue-tongue lizard (Mark Hutchinson), 

Austrostipa spp. (Speargrass) (John Vranjic), Minuria leptophylla (Minnie daisy) (John Vranjic) 

ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION AND BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION ACT

Peppermint Box (Eucalyptus odorata) - Department of Sustainability ...

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