Features

Along the eastern edge of the Pilliga runs an ancient sandstone ridge, now so eroded that only a few peaks remain. What is special about this place is that in amongst some old cave sites, some amazing secrets have been recently revealed.

The findings show evidence of several species of small mammals — never before known from this area and a long way from any known occurrence in New South Wales. This evidence also tells us that the Pilliga is a far more important place for the fauna of this country than anyone has realised, a meeting place for inland, coastal and northern fauna assemblages.

In 1999 and 2000 two surveys were conducted in the vicinity of Willala Mountain, the most significant sandstone outcrop on the eastern side of the Pilliga, by the National Parks and Wildlife Service. This location is already known as a significant place for fauna species, such as the Large-eared Pied Bat and the Peregrine Falcon; and dry rainforest plants such as the Red Ash and Rusty Fig, relics from past, wetter times.

PHOTO COURTESY OF EARTH SANCTUARIES

Is the Bettong another Pilliga secret
waiting to be revealed?

'Amber' collected from within the caves has also confirmed the presence of some unknown population of Stick-nest Rat, a long way from any known locations of either the Lesser or Greater species of this unique rodent.

The recent surveys brought back much material from the cave floors — skeletal material found lying loosely on the floor or contained within owl pellets. It was all shallow, sub-surface material indicating that while we cannot get a precise age, it is relatively recent and possibly derived from animals living since European settlement of the continent.

The Australian Museum examined this material with startling findings, the most notable being remains of the Red-tailed Phascogale, now only surviving in Western Australia, thought long extinct in NSW. Early explorers recorded it in the far west of the southern mallee country close to the Murray River, half-way through the 1800s.

Another extinct mammal in NSW, the Mitchell’s Hopping Mouse was also found — the first confirmed evidence of this species from the region and again a long way from old records of this species. This is even more tantalising considering that there were several recent sightings of this animal in the Pilliga, including hair and footprint evidence.

Perhaps equally as unusual is the presence of the Eastern Chestnut Mouse in the remains. Unlike the other animals mentioned, this was regarded previously as a coastal, heathy understorey species. The Pilliga is a long way inland, but is still covered in amazingly beautiful heathy understorey. Also found was an unkown species of planigale, a very unusual find from sandstone country. Most planigales like cracking clays, except perhaps for the Common Planigale (listed as threatened in NSW, despite its name).

Some questions remain, particularly how old is this material and what else is yet to be discovered about the fauna of the Pilliga, both past and present? The evidence is mounting that the Pilliga certainly was and may still be one of the most significant places for fauna and flora in Australia. It has many more secrets to give up.

Due to NPA pressure, two revealing documents have come to light concerning logging operations and gas exploration in the Brigalow Belt South.

The first is the Review of Environmental Factors (REF) prepared for the Department of Mineral Resources for the gas exploration licence for the 'Narrabri gas field'.

There seems to be little adherence to its own guidelines for environmentally-sensitive planning. Monitoring and rehabilitation, the presence of 'sensitive' factors such as weekends in spring and summer, threatened species and communities, and the disruption to ground and surface water have been overlooked.

The NPWS and State Forests have revised the Threatened Species Licence for commercial forestry operations on Pilliga and Goonoo. The result is far from satisfactory.

· inadequate protection of ironbark communities, with a low habitat tree retention rate and too-stringent guidelines for the identification of sensitive mature tree-rich areas

· old, hollow logs are still allowed to be collected for firewood, the excuse, an 'experimental design' to test the impact of firewood collection, which is highly inappropriate for best and precautionary prescriptions

· inadequate coverage for pre-logging fauna surveys, an essential item for other CRA areas

· the retention of a clause allowing for the logging of so-called 'ironbark hybrids' despite this notion being fully discredited by State Forests’ own botanist.