Refugia for biological diversity in arid and semi-arid Australia
Biodiversity Series, Paper No. 4
S.R. Morton, J. Short and R.D. Barker, with an Appendix by G.F. Griffin and G. Pearce
Biodiversity Unit
Department of the Environment, Sport and Territories, 1995
14. Refugia in New South Wales
14.1. Reference number NSW1
Refuge area: Peery Springs
Biogeographic region: Mulga Lands
Type of refuge: Mound spring
Lat./Long. 30°43’S / 143°33’E
Quality of refuge: Significant (2)
Area (km²): <100
Chief refuge value
A mound spring which remains active in a part of the Great Artesian Basin where most springs have dried up.
General description
An isolated pair of mound springs on the fringe of Peery Lake1. Of approximately 45 mound springs in New South Wales, this is the only actively-flowing example1.
ANZECC-listed species
The salt pipewort Eriocaulon carsonii1.
Regional endemics
None identified.
Relict species
Apart from the pipewort, none identified.
Other significant species
Other plants include Cyperus gymnocaulos, C. laevigatus, Eucalyptus camaldulensis, Heliotropium curassavicum, Myoporum deserti, Schoenoplectus pungens, Sclerostegia sp., and Utricularia sp.1.
Key threats
Damage by grazing animals, and failure of the spring due to drawdown.
Land tenure
Pastoral lease.
Key references
1. Pickard (1992)