{"id":"F2023L01208","name":"List of Threatened Ecological Communities Amendment (EC183) Instrument 2023","slug":"list-of-threatened-ecological-communities-amendment-ec183-instrument-2023","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":104780,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2023L01208-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 (EC183) Instrument 2023","content":"![Commonwealth of Australia coat of arms](image.001.png)\n\nCommonwealth of Australia\n\nList of Threatened Ecological Communities Amendment (EC183) Instrument 2023\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\nKurri sand swamp woodland of the Sydney Basin bioregion\n\nas described in the Schedule to this instrument.\n\nThis instrument commences the day after registration.\n\n...................................................................................\n\nTanya Plibersek\n\nMinister for the Environment and Water\n\nDated ...............27·8·23.........................................\n\n  \nSCHEDULE 1\n\nKurri sand swamp woodland of the Sydney Basin bioregion\n\nThe Kurri sand swamp woodland of the Sydney Basin bioregion ecological community occurs within a type of dry sclerophyll woodland, occasionally heathland or shrubland, with a typically shrubby understory. The Kurri sand swamp woodland is found in the Hunter subregion of the Sydney Basin bioregion, although some patches are found in the adjacent Wyong subregion.\n\nThe ecological community is characterised by the following vegetation structure and plant species composition:\n\n    A tree canopy dominated by Angophora bakeri (narrow-leaved apple), Eucalyptus parramattensis subsp. decadens (Earp’s gum), and/or E. sp. aff. agglomerata (Kurri stringybark). Other eucalypts, for example E. fibrosa (red ironbark), may also be present in the tree canopy but not as dominant species. Melaleuca nodosa (prickly-leaved paperbark) may extend into the tree canopy in some areas.\n\n    A mid-layer that typically comprises sclerophyllous shrubs or small trees, commonly: Acacia elongata (swamp wattle), Banksia collina (hairpin banksia), Bossiaea spp. Callistemon linearis (narrow-leaved bottlebrush), Dillwynia retorta (eggs and bacon), Hakea sericea (needlebush), Isopogon anemonifolius (broad-leaf drumstick), Lambertia formosa (mountain devil), Leptospermum spp. (tea-tree), Leucopogon virgatus (common beard-heath), Melaleuca nodosa (prickly paperbark), M. thymifolia (thyme honey-myrtle), Monotoca scoparia (prickly broom-heath) and Xanthorrhoea glauca (grasstree).\n\n    The ground layer is a patchy sparse to mid-dense cover of low shrubs, grasses, sedges, and forbs, typically including Anisopogon avenaceus (oat speargrass), Aristida spp. (wiregrass), Entolasia stricta (wiry panic), and Lomandra spp. (mat-rushes).\n\nThe ecological community also includes a variety of fauna species, as well as fungal and microbial species.","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's amendment mechanism - adding a specific ecological community to the threatened list based on scientific assessment. The scope remains tightly confined to the single listing action authorised by section 184."},"complexity_factors":["Single operative provision: only one amendment (adding one ecological community to one category)","No defined terms section - relies entirely on external definitions in the parent Act (EPBC Act 1999)","No cross-references beyond the basic empowering provision (paragraph 184(a)) and the list reference (section 181)","Descriptive Schedule uses plain botanical language rather than legal technicality","No conditional logic, exceptions, or temporal limitations","Total length: approximately 300 words of substantive content"],"plain_english_summary":"This instrument adds Kurri sand swamp woodland — a distinctive Hunter‑region woodland near Kurri Kurri — to the EPBC Act’s list of endangered ecological communities. \n\nThat listing triggers federal protections and requires assessment and approval for projects (mining, infrastructure, housing) or landholders whose actions could significantly impact these remnant woodlands, giving conservation groups and regulators a legal basis to prevent or manage further loss."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The instrument expands the statutory list of threatened ecological communities by adding the Kurri sand swamp woodland to the endangered category. It does not alter the EPBC Act's legal framework or procedures; instead it changes which vegetation communities fall within that framework. The Schedule describes species composition and general subregional occurrence (Hunter and Wyong) but supplies no precise boundaries, so the practical geographic scope depends on subsequent application by regulators and landholders."},"complexity_factors":["Single-item amendment: instrument inserts one ecological community into the EPBC Act list (instrument issued pursuant to paragraph 184(a) and amends the list referred to in section 181).","Legal linkage: the instrument's legal effect derives from the broader EPBC Act framework; operational consequences depend on that framework rather than on this instrument alone.","Descriptive Schedule: identification relies on vegetation structure and species composition as set out in the Schedule, requiring ecological expertise to apply in practice.","Geographic vagueness: Schedule names the Hunter and adjacent Wyong subregions but provides no spatial map or precise boundary coordinates, so site-level application requires further determination.","Implementation detail omitted: the instrument sets inclusion and commencement but does not specify administrative procedures, compliance steps, or timelines for affected parties.","Commencement timing: the instrument commences the day after registration, which may require prompt administrative or commercial responses where the community occurs.","Interpretation risk: terms like 'dominated by' and lists of constituent species create scope for disagreement about whether a particular area qualifies, increasing potential compliance uncertainty."],"plain_english_summary":"This instrument adds the *Kurri sand swamp woodland* (occurring in parts of the Hunter and Wyong subregions of the Sydney Basin bioregion) to the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act list of threatened ecological communities in the endangered category. It commences the day after registration.\n\nIt affects landowners, developers, conservation bodies and regulators by formally recognising the community as endangered; that recognition will influence decisions made under the Act and may change obligations and approvals relating to land where the community occurs."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/list-of-threatened-ecological-communities-amendment-ec183-instrument-2023","history":"/api/acts/list-of-threatened-ecological-communities-amendment-ec183-instrument-2023/history","analysis":"/api/acts/list-of-threatened-ecological-communities-amendment-ec183-instrument-2023/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/list-of-threatened-ecological-communities-amendment-ec183-instrument-2023/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/list-of-threatened-ecological-communities-amendment-ec183-instrument-2023/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/list-of-threatened-ecological-communities-amendment-ec183-instrument-2023/documents"}}