{"id":"F2021L00717","name":"List of Threatened Ecological Communities Amendment (EC150) Instrument 2021","slug":"list-of-threatened-ecological-communities-amendment-ec150-instrument-2021","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":101890,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2021L00717-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-03","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"List of Threatened Ecological Communities Amendment (EC150) Instrument 2021","content":"![](image.001.png)\n\nCommonwealth of Australia\n\nList of Threatened Ecological Communities Amendment (EC150) Instrument 2021\n\nI, SUSSAN LEY, Minister for the Environment, pursuant to paragraph 184(a) of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, hereby amend the list referred to in section 181 of that Act by including in the list of threatened ecological communities in the critically endangered category:\n\nPlains mallee box woodlands of the Murray Darling Depression, Riverina and Naracoorte Coastal Plain Bioregions\n\nas described in the Schedule to this instrument.\n\nThis instrument commences the day after registration.\n\nSussan Ley\n\n...................................................................................\n\nSussan Ley\n\nMinister for the Environment\n\nDated .........3rd June 2021....................\n\n  \nSCHEDULE\n\nPlains mallee box woodlands of the Murray Darling Depression, Riverina and Naracoorte Coastal Plain Bioregions\n\nThe Plains mallee box woodlands ecological community is the assemblage of plants, animals and other organisms (i.e. all biota) that comprise these mallee woodlands that are found in south-west New South Wales, north-west Victoria, and south-east South Australia. It is a medium to tall open mallee eucalypt woodland with an understorey in which tussock grasses may be prominent in relatively wet years, low chenopod shrubs occur in variable densities, and taller shrubs are typically sparse.\n\nThe ecological community occurs within the Murray Darling Depression, Riverina and Naracoorte Coastal Plain bioregions. Within these bioregions, the ecological community typically occurs on near-level plains or occasionally on gently sloping terrain surrounding and within run-on landscape depressions. Soils are variable but are typically duplex, with clay loam or occasionally sandy clay loam topsoil textures mostly of aeolian origin, above deep fine textured clay subsoils.\n\nThe open canopy of this community is typically dominated by the box-barked eucalypt species Eucalyptus porosa (black mallee box) or E. behriana (bull mallee, broad-leaved mallee box). However, E. calycogona (square-fruited mallee, gooseberry mallee, red mallee), or E. dumosa (Dumosa mallee) may be dominant in some areas. Small tree and/or shrub layers may be present, but are typically very sparse.\n\nA distinctive low to decumbent chenopod sub-shrub layer can be a key feature in many occurrences. Typical species species include Atriplex stipitata subsp. stipitata (Bitter Saltbush), Chenopodium desertorum (Frosted Goosefoot) including subspecies C. desertorum subsp. microphyllum (Small-leaf Goosefoot), Einadia nutans subsp. nutans (Nodding Saltbush), Enchylaena tomentosa (Ruby Saltbush), Maireana spp. (bluebush), Rhagodia spinescens (Hedge Saltbush), Sclerolaena diacantha (Grey Copperburr) and S. muricata (Tangled Copperburr).\n\nThe ground layer may be dominated by tussock grasses, which is most conspicuous after rains, but may be inconspicuous depending on drought conditions, livestock grazing or other ground disturbance. Typical grass species include Austrostipa platychaeta (Flat-awned Spear\\-grass), A. elegantissima (Feather Spear\\-grass, Elegant Spear-grass), A. eremophila (Desert Spear\\-grass), A. nitida (Balcarra Spear\\-grass), A. scabra (Rough Spear\\-grass), Rytidosperma caespitosum (Common Wallaby-grass), R. duttonianum (Brown-back Wallaby-grass), Enteropogon acicularis (Curly Windmill Grass) and Paspalidium constrictum (Knottybutt Grass). Triodia spp. (spinifex) are typically absent from the ground layer and never dominant. Non-grass graminoids include Dianella revoluta (Black-anther Flax-lily) and Lomandra effusa (Scented Mat-rush). Common forbs include Arthropodium spp., Bulbine semibarbata, Brachyscome spp., Oxalis perennans (Grassland Wood-sorrel, Native Sorrel), Ptilotus spathulatus (Pussy Tails), Ptilotus spp., Senecio spanomerus, Sida corrugata (Corrugated Sida), Solanum esuriale (Quena, Tomato Bush), Teucrium racemosum (Grey Germander), and Vittadinia spp.\n\nThe ecological community includes a variety of fauna species, including many species that are listed as threatened at a national or state level.","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"A positive credit balance is required for all requests, including BYOK, so fallback providers remain available. Add credits at https://vercel.com/d?to=%2F%5Bteam%5D%2F%7E%2Fai%3Fmodal%3Dtop-up to continue.","source":"analysis-cron"},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This instrument performs exactly the function intended by the EPBC Act - adding a specific ecological community to the threatened list based on scientific assessment. The detailed ecological description in the Schedule is necessary to define the boundaries of what is protected, which is standard practice for these listings."},"complexity_factors":["Single, straightforward amendment adding one ecological community to an existing list","No defined terms section - relies on external definitions in the parent Act (EPBC Act 1999)","Minimal conditional logic - operates automatically upon registration","No cross-references to other legislation beyond the enabling provision (paragraph 184(a))","Descriptive Schedule provides ecological detail but does not create legal complexity","Standard administrative instrument format with minimal procedural requirements"],"plain_english_summary":"The Minister for the Environment has listed Plains mallee box woodlands as critically endangered under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, giving this south‑west NSW / north‑west Victoria / south‑east SA ecosystem the highest level of Commonwealth protection.\n\nThat triggers federal approval requirements, recovery planning and stricter scrutiny of clearing, mining or major developments, affecting landholders, developers, state agencies and conservation groups in the region."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The instrument expands the statutory list by adding a new ecological community to the critically endangered category under the EPBC Act, thereby broadening the Act’s coverage to include this community and producing new legal consequences for activities affecting it; the change takes effect the day after registration."},"complexity_factors":["Single, narrowly targeted legal amendment adding one named ecological community under paragraph 184(a) of the EPBC Act and s181 (straightforward legal mechanism).","Detailed ecological and taxonomic description in the Schedule (many species names and habitat characteristics), which is technically precise and may require specialist interpretation for application.","Geographic specification across three bioregions and three states (south‑west NSW, north‑west Victoria, south‑east South Australia) increasing cross‑jurisdictional application and compliance complexity.","Immediate commencement (instrument commences the day after registration) creates prompt effect for approvals and ongoing proposals.","Potential downstream regulatory and administrative effects (changed legal listing status under the EPBC Act) that can alter permitting, assessment and enforcement activity for impacted parties."],"plain_english_summary":"This instrument amends the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 list of threatened ecological communities by adding “Plains mallee box woodlands of the Murray Darling Depression, Riverina and Naracoorte Coastal Plain Bioregions” to the critically endangered category (pursuant to paragraph 184(a) and section 181). It takes effect the day after registration.\n\nIt changes the community’s legal listing status under the EPBC Act, affecting landholders, developers, state agencies and the Environment Minister by altering approvals, compliance obligations and conservation priorities for actions that may impact that ecological community."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/list-of-threatened-ecological-communities-amendment-ec150-instrument-2021","history":"/api/acts/list-of-threatened-ecological-communities-amendment-ec150-instrument-2021/history","analysis":"/api/acts/list-of-threatened-ecological-communities-amendment-ec150-instrument-2021/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/list-of-threatened-ecological-communities-amendment-ec150-instrument-2021/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/list-of-threatened-ecological-communities-amendment-ec150-instrument-2021/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/list-of-threatened-ecological-communities-amendment-ec150-instrument-2021/documents"}}