About This Database

ABOUT

The Illawarra Bushland Database makes site specific flora survey data publicly available. The vegetation survey data can be searched by map,  by locality, or by free terms.

This updated version (2011) makes the following changes to the original version (2000) of the Database:

• Significant improvement to the website design.
• Additional flora survey data added (228 new sites, added to original data set of 407 sites).
• The original and additional data have been converted into a relational database to enable searches on a range of features including: location, author, year, and plant species name.
• New and improved mapping platform with ability to view aerial photography.
• Taxonomic update of flora survey data, with previous plant names included to enable searches on both names.
• Notations for species that have been planted have been included (where that information was available).

Additional survey data has been collated from a range of sources; bush regeneration contractor reports, plans of management, vegetation management plans, ecological assessments, and environmental impact assessment reports.

Original data is easily recognised by having a site number less than 1000. New sites are identified as those with a site number greater than 1000.

MAPPING

Each survey map represents a species list from a random meander survey, and as such, the accuracy of the mapping is indicative only. The mapping of the original survey sites was digitised from marked up 1:25000 topographic maps. Mapping of new sites was digitised using study area maps from the source data, or in a limited number of cases, interpretations of site descriptions provided by the author.  

STUDY AREA

The study area of the total data set extends across the Wollongong, Shellharbour, Kiama, Wingecarribee and Shoalhaven Local Government Areas. No additional data has been added in the 2011 update to the Database to the latter two Local Government Areas, however the former data has been retained for these areas.

HOW TO USE THE DATABASE

The Database can be used for a range of purposes:

• Finding out about the native plant species growing in your area or other specific localities.
• To guide revegetation or landscaping with local native species.
• Searching for the locations of a particular species. (Note: This should not be interpreted as all locations of a species).

The data provided in the Database should not be used as a substitute for field survey. Field survey should always form a part of any impact assessment, natural area management planning or revegetation program.

PLANT TAXONOMY

Taxonomy of the flora survey data has been updated to be consistent with Pellow B.J., Henwood, M.J. and Carolin, R.C. (2009) Flora of the Sydney Region, 5^th edition, Sydney University Press. Where significant changes have been made to the plant taxonomy, both the original and updated species names have been retained so that both names can be searched. ‘[ ]’ denotes the original name as provided in the data source.

PLANTED

It is recognised that since the mid 1980s, significant revegetation work has occurred in the Illawarra. This means that some natural areas may include species that have been planted, and may not have naturally occurred there. Where the information on planted species was available this was included and marked as follows:

• ‘Planted’ - This species was planted, and no known individuals were naturally occurring above ground at the time of planting.
• ‘Some Planted’ - Some individuals of this species were planted, however, individuals were also naturally occurring at the location.

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