{"id":"F2022L01054","name":"List of Threatened Ecological Communities Amendment (EC181) Instrument 2022","slug":"list-of-threatened-ecological-communities-amendment-ec181-instrument-2022","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":102543,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2022L01054-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 (EC181) Instrument 2022","content":"![Commonwealth of Australia coat of arms](image.001.png)\n\nCommonwealth of Australia\n\nList of Threatened Ecological Communities Amendment (EC181) Instrument 2022\n\nI, TANYA PLIBERSEK, Minister for the Environment and Water, pursuant to paragraph 184(a) of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, amend the list referred to in section 181 of that Act by including in the list of threatened ecological communities in the endangered category:\n\nGrey box-grey gum wet forest of subtropical eastern Australia\n\nas described in the Schedule to this instrument.\n\nThis instrument commences the day after registration.\n\nTanya Plibersek\n\n...................................................................................\n\nTanya Plibersek\n\nMinister for the Environment and Water\n\nDated..........5th August 2022......................................\n\n  \nSCHEDULE 1\n\nGrey box-grey gum wet forest of subtropical eastern Australia\n\nGrey box-grey gum wet forest of subtropical eastern Australia is an assemblage of native plants, animals and other organisms constituting at maturity a type of tall open forest with a canopy dominated by Eucalyptus species with or without Araucaria cunninghamii (Hoop Pine) and with an understorey that typically includes significant cover of species with drier vine-forest (rainforest) affiliations.\n\nThe canopy contains Eucalyptus moluccana (grey box) and/or a grey gum species (E. propinqua (small-fruited grey gum)) and/or less commonly E. punctata (grey gum)). Other canopy species often present include E. siderophloia (grey ironbark) and/or Araucaria cunninghamii (hoop pine). In some areas, any of these canopy species may be locally dominant. Other tree species occur in the canopy less frequently.\n\nUnderstorey species composition is highly variable, however vine forest affiliated species frequently include the small to medium-sized trees Psydrax odorata (shiny-leaved canthium), Denhamia bilocularis (orange bark) and Cupaniopsis parvifolia (small-leaved tuckeroo), the shrubs Psychotria daphnoides (smooth psychotria) and Alyxia ruscifolia (chain-fruit), the vines and lianas Celastrus subspicatus (large-leaved staff vine), Solori involuta (native derris) and Maclura cochinchinensis (cock-spur), the grasses and sedges Gahnia aspera (sword sedge), Cyperus gracilis (slender flat-sedge) and Ottochloa gracillima (pademelon grass). Ferns such as Doodia aspera (rasp fern) and Pellaea falcata (sickle fern) also occur. Relatively shade tolerant grass species including Oplismenus spp. (basket grasses) are often present whilst relatively shade intolerant grasses may occur where sufficient sunlight reaches the ground naturally or following disturbance.\n\nFollowing disturbance or other temporary or localised variations in environmental conditions there may be areas of the understorey dominated by open grassy forest affiliated species. Examples of grassy open forest affiliated taxa occurring in recently disturbed areas in the understorey include juveniles of Eucalyptus spp. (eucalypts), Acacia spp. (wattles), Allocasuarina torulosa (forest she-oak), Dodonaea viscosa (sticky hop-bush), Leucopogon ericoides (heath-leaved beard-heath), Leucopogon juniperinus (prickly beard-heath), Imperata cylindrica (blady grass), Aristida gracilipes (three-awn spear-grass), Poa labillardierei (tussock grass), Cymbopogon refractus (barbed-wire grass) and Glycine clandestine (twining glycine).\n\nThe ecological community is found predominately on the escarpment slopes and foothills of inland hinterland ranges in the north coast region of New South Wales and in south eastern Queensland. It is typically associated with soils derived from fine-grained sedimentary or volcanic geologies but may occur on other substrates, especially where influence from these parent materials occurs. It is most common in localities where there is a mosaic of grassy eucalypt forests with drier vine-forest associations.\n\nThe ecological community also includes a variety of fauna species, including several 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"},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The instrument does not change the Act’s overall coverage or listing criteria; it simply amends the list in section 181 by adding a single ecological community as endangered. The statutory scope of the EPBC Act remains the same; only the set of listed communities is increased by this instrument."},"complexity_factors":["Single, narrowly targeted amendment: adds one ecological community to the section 181 list (instrument preamble).","Technical biological description in the Schedule with many species names increases practical identification complexity for compliance and assessment.","Ministerial exercise of power under paragraph 184(a) of the EPBC Act — simple legal mechanism but concentrated decision-making (instrument preamble).","Immediate commencement (day after registration) reduces lead time for affected parties to adjust.","Geographic specification spans parts of two jurisdictions (north coast NSW and south‑eastern Queensland), creating cross-jurisdictional implementation considerations (Schedule).","Instrument does not specify procedural consequences or thresholds for action, leaving regulatory effects to be determined under the Act (omission increases implementation uncertainty)."],"plain_english_summary":"This instrument, made by the Minister under paragraph 184(a) of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, adds the “Grey box–grey gum wet forest of subtropical eastern Australia” to the statutory list of threatened ecological communities in the endangered category and commences the day after registration. The change alters the statutory list in section 181 and therefore affects land managers and proponents in the north‑coast NSW and south‑eastern Queensland areas because the community’s new listed status may alter regulatory treatment and obligations under the Act."},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The instrument performs exactly the function intended by the parent Act: adding a specific ecological community to the threatened list based on scientific assessment. The detailed botanical description in the Schedule reflects standard practice for ecological community listings and does not represent scope creep."},"complexity_factors":["Single, straightforward amendment adding one item to an existing list","No defined terms section — relies on external definitions in the parent Act","No cross-references to other legislation beyond the enabling provision (paragraph 184(a) and section 181 of the EPBC Act)","Descriptive Schedule uses plain botanical language rather than legal technicality","No conditional logic, exceptions, or procedural requirements","Short document (approximately 400 words of substantive content)"],"plain_english_summary":"This instrument lists the \"Grey box‑grey gum wet forest of subtropical eastern Australia\" as an endangered ecological community under the federal Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act. The forest is a tall open forest on slopes and foothills in northern NSW and south‑eastern Queensland.\n\nThe change affects landowners, managers, developers and conservation groups because it brings stronger national protection — activities likely to significantly impact this forest may now need federal assessment and approval."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/list-of-threatened-ecological-communities-amendment-ec181-instrument-2022","history":"/api/acts/list-of-threatened-ecological-communities-amendment-ec181-instrument-2022/history","analysis":"/api/acts/list-of-threatened-ecological-communities-amendment-ec181-instrument-2022/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/list-of-threatened-ecological-communities-amendment-ec181-instrument-2022/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/list-of-threatened-ecological-communities-amendment-ec181-instrument-2022/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/list-of-threatened-ecological-communities-amendment-ec181-instrument-2022/documents"}}