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· Blacktown
Creek, Norman Street, Prospect
· Access
off Desley Crescent, UBD Map 188 N13
· Best
Cumberland Plain vegetation in the upper Parramatta River
catchment (1/2 to be developed)
· Top
of Blacktown Creek
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Site Information
 The upper reaches of Blacktown Creek
features the largest remnant stand of Cumberland Plain Woodland
in the upper Parramatta River catchment. Unfortunately half of this
remnant stand of woodland is located on private land, which is scheduled
for housing development. Tracks crossing through the woodland are
eroding and contributing to weed invasion of the woodland along
the edges (edge effect).
A revegetation corridor extends from remnant bushland along Blacktown
Creek to Lancelot Street Wetlands. The area features shale and fine
silty soils. The creek water is very clear in this upper reach of
the catchment. However turbidity levels increase steadily as the
creek flows downstream.
Erosion of woodland tracks
(right)
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Cumberland Plain Woodland
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Blacktown Creek riparian
regeneration
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Site Walk
Stop in Desley Street where it makes a 900 bend.
1. Walk down steps to reserve behind
houses. Look across creek to the stand of Cumberland Plain Woodland.
Explain that half of this is earmarked for housing development and
that this was once the dominant vegetation of the area.
Why is there so little of this original vegetation left?
2. Follow reserve downstream. Note
the revegetation work.
Why is this bush regeneration important?
What will be the benefits for the creek? For the local community?
Whilst researching this site it was observed that one of the houses
had begun a vegetable garden that encroached onto the reserve from
their back fence. This had been extended into the revegetation area.
Stop and discuss this (particularly if the garden is still in evidence).
What is the impact of encroachments like this? What can be done
to resolve issues such as this?
3. At the end of the line of houses
(bottom of Norman Street) follow track to the creek and edge of
the bushland.
Note the Cumberland Plain Woodland. What signs of human impact
can be observed?
What are some management solutions that could minimise this impact?
4. Continue downstream across the
open reserve to a point adjacent to the power line. This provides
the best access for water testing. Note that collection of water
samples may be difficult if there has been an extended dry period.
5. Note that the creek continues
through reserve to the Lancelot Street wetlands. If this has been
combined with the Lancelot Street Wetland Field Trip, compare the
water quality here with that of the wetland.
Bank stabilisation at Blacktown Creek (above)
Site Activities
o Weeds
o Catchment walk
o Water quality monitoring
o Habitat assessment
o Water bugs
o Endangered ecological
communities (Cumberland Plain woodland)
o Transects, quadrats
o Mapping
Links
UPRCT Education kit - Blacktown
Creek Fact Sheet
Cumberland Plains Woodland - National Parks and Wildlife Service
Website www.npws.nsw.gov.au
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