Old-growth trees are important. They contain most of the tree hollows that 40% of mammals and 20% of birds rely on for shelter and breeding. This post looks at the decreasing old-growth tree numbers on the Lee Point peninsula in the last 80 years.
Large eucalypts eg. Stringybarks with a diameter of 35cm or more at breast height (DBH) are described as old-growth trees. Typically, they take longer than a century to reach this diameter.
Lee Point’s woodland was largely intact in 1944.
Fig 1. 1944 aerial photo, dashed yellow line represents the southern boundary of 2CRU and Muirhead North – photo source Australian Government.
Fig 2. 1979 aerial photo – source Australian Government
Timeline for Lee Point old-growth trees
1944 (over 1000 trees) – Based on aerial photos and a tree survey taken in 2023-24 Lee Point was estimated to have over 1000 old-growth trees.
1979 (~700 trees) – Lee Point lost over 300 old-growth trees (refer 1979 photo). Most of the loss came from defence clearing parts of 2CRU, mining in the Muirhead North (for sand) and Lee Point Resort/golf course area (for gravel).
Many large eucalypt trees survived Cyclone Tracy in Dec 1974. However, these trees were stripped of branches and nearly all leaves. The impact of Tracy can be seen here – before and after Tracy.
2020 (~700 trees) – old-growth tree numbers remained stable from 1979. The number in 2020 was estimated to be ~700 based on FLP tree survey in 2023-24.
Fig 3. Lee Point Road with old-growth trees looking north – Apr 2020
2026 (~600 trees) – Lee Point lost ~100 old-growth trees due to Defence Housing Australia (DHA) clearing Stages 1, 2 and 3 in 2021-24. Some trees were lost in Lee Point from Gamba Grass fires in 2024-26 (number unknown).
2030? (~350 or 600 trees) – The number of old-growth trees that remain in 2030 is largely dependent on whether the DHA housing project proceeds at Lee Point or not.
Fires from Gamba Grass may significantly reduce the number of old-growth trees – these trees are especially vulnerable to fire. Gamba Grass first appeared at Lee Point around 2020 and is now common in all woodland areas apart from Casuarina Coastal Reserve.
Fig 4. DHA plans to clear all of the orange section, clearing half the old-growth trees from Lee Point.
Both the endangered Black-footed Tree-rat (BFTR) and Gouldian Finch have been recorded in the orange section. These species rely heavily on old-growth trees (tree hollows) for breeding and shelter.
Charles Darwin University believes that Lee Point is vital habitat for the endangered Black-footed Tree-rat species.
Fig 5. Black-footed tree-rats are among the species scientists found at Lee Point. (Supplied: Sam Banks) – source ABC
The DHA housing project with offsets reduces vital BFTR habitat and connectivity, further threatening the survival of an already endangered species. Friends of Lee Point and other community groups are advocating that this project be moved to Berrimah.
For further information, refer: