Pasture Expansion under the Land Management Code

Not suitable under Part 3

Trees are absent or present only as scattered emergent individuals. 

Vegetation is dominated by plants that tolerate prolonged seasonal burial in snow. 

The Alpine Complex vegetation formation is restricted to the alpine zone of the southern tableland, above 1600 - 1800 metres elevation.

Suitable

Vegetation dominated by drought-tolerant shrubs, predominantly Acacias (for example, wattles) in this subformation, and other hard-leaved (sclerophyllous) shrubs up to 5 m tall. 

Some perennial herbs and abundant ephemeral grasses and herbs after rain. (Ephemeral plants are those with a short life cycle, but with long-lived seed banks that germinate after rain, flooding or fire).

Widespread on various soils on the western plains where average annual rainfall is less than 500 mm. 

Vegetation sometimes has abundant hummock grasses in the groundcover (commonly Spinifex grasses with dome-shaped structures and spreading leaf blades). 

Not suitable under Part 3

Vegetation dominated by drought-tolerant shrubs, predominantly chenopods (such as saltbushes, bluebushes, copperburrs) up to 1.5 m tall. 

Some perennial herbs and abundant ephemeral grasses and herbs after rain. (Ephemeral plants are those with a short life cycle, but with long-lived seed banks that germinate after rain, flooding or fire).

Widespread on various soils on the western plains where average annual rainfall is less than 500 mm. 

Arid Shrublands usually have perennial tussock grasses but never hummock grasses (such as spinifex grasses with dome-shaped structures and spreading leaf blades) in the groundcover.

Suitable

Vegetation dominated by trees, usually occurring as forests or rarely as woodlands (rarely over 35 m tall), with an abundance of hard-leaved (sclerophyllous) shrubs in the understorey, but lacking plants that tolerate inundation or waterlogging. 

Only rarely dominated by ‘box’ Eucalypts (bark rough and persistent on trunk and larger branches).

Groundcover often sparse and typically dominated by sclerophyllous sedges, but may include reasonably continuous swards of grasses. 

Confined to the coast, tablelands and the western slopes, where average annual rainfall exceeds 500 mm, largely on infertile sandy or loamy soils. 

The shrubby sub-formation has understories dominated by hard-leaved shrubs but very sparse grass cover.

Suitable

Vegetation dominated by trees, usually occurring as forests or rarely as woodlands (rarely over 35 m tall), with an abundance of hard-leaved (sclerophyllous) shrubs in the understorey, but lacking plants that tolerate inundation or waterlogging. 

Only rarely dominated by ‘box’ Eucalypts (bark rough and persistent on trunk and larger branches).

Groundcover often sparse and typically dominated by sclerophyllous sedges, but may include reasonably continuous swards of grasses. 

Confined to the coast, tablelands and the western slopes, where average annual rainfall exceeds 500 mm, largely on infertile sandy or loamy soils. 

The shrub/grass sub-formation has understories with a more continuous cover of grasses and herbs but a variable cover of hard-leaved shrubs.

Suitable

Vegetation dominated by trees, usually occurring as forests or woodlands with short to moderately tall trees (rarely over 35 m tall), with an abundance of plant groups in the understorey that are able to tolerate periodic inundation or waterlogging, particularly sedges, rushes or reeds; but lacking in ferns and shrubs with broad, soft leaves. 

Widespread east and west of the Great Dividing Range, but confined to damp, low-lying parts of the coast, or adjacent to rivers, lakes or swamps in the inland.

Not suitable under Part 3

Trees are absent or present only as scattered emergent individuals. 

Vegetation is dominated by plants that cannot tolerate prolonged seasonal burial in snow and occur in landscapes below 1800 metres elevation. 

Freshwater Wetlands are dominated by plants that tolerate periodic inundation or waterlogging with fresh water. 

Vegetation is dominated by emergent sedges, rushes, reeds, grasses or succulent herbs, or in some cases by submerged or floating aquatic herbs. 

Soils are deep and often black or dark grey with partly decomposed organic matter. 

Freshwater Wetlands are restricted to swamps with humic or gleyed soils on the coast, tablelands, western slopes and plains.

Not suitable under Part 3

Trees are absent or present only as scattered emergent individuals. 

Vegetation is dominated by plants that cannot tolerate prolonged seasonal burial in snow and occur in landscapes below 1800 metres elevation. 

Grasslands contain few (if any) plants that tolerate periodic inundation. 

Vegetation is dominated by perennial tussock grasses and herbs. Shrubs rarely present. Sometimes sedges but never submerged or floating aquatic herbs.

Generally found on clay soils on flat to undulating terrain on the coast, tablelands, western slopes and plains

Suitable

Vegetation dominated by trees (typically 15-35 m tall), usually occurring as woodlands or rarely forests that lack an abundance of hard-leaved (sclerophyllous) shrubs in the understorey. ‘Box’ Eucalypts often dominant in the tree layer. 

Groundcover is continuous and dominated by perennial tussock grasses and interspersed perennial herbs including orchids and lilies, but few ephemeral herbs and grasses. 

Shrubs generally sparse and typically not including chenopods (such as saltbushes, copperburrs etc), or other drought-tolerant species. 

Widespread on various soils west of the Great Dividing Range, but typically on relatively fertile loams and clay loams on the coastal lowlands, the tablelands and the western slopes, where average annual rainfall exceeds 500 mm

Not suitable under Part 3

Trees are absent or present only as scattered emergent individuals. Vegetation is dominated by plants that cannot tolerate prolonged seasonal burial in snow and occur in landscapes below 1800 metres elevation.

Heathlands contain few (if any) plants that tolerate periodic inundation. 

Vegetation is dominated by hard leaved but not drought tolerant shrubs, usually with perennial sedges, herbs and grasses. 

Perennial tussock grasses are absent or occasional but never dominant. 

Heathlands are generally restricted to infertile sandy or loamy soils of the coast, tablelands and western plains, where annual rainfall exceeds 800 mm per year

Not suitable under Part 3

Forests or woodlands not dominated by eucalypts, although these may be present as scattered individuals.

Rainforests are dominated by trees with dense canopies touching those of adjacent trees (‘closed’ canopy), and with horizontally held leaves. Trees and shrubs typically have broad soft leaves. 

Rainforests primarily occur on the coastal lowlands, islands and escarpments extending to restricted locations on the north-western slopes. 

Rainforests occur on fertile to moderately fertile soils where average annual rainfall exceeds 1000 mm per year. There are limited occurrences in dry rocky gorges of the escarpment and dry hills of the north-western slopes.

Rainforest trees are not tolerant to tidal inundation. 

The understorey is usually open to dense but never non-existent. Vines often occur in the tree canopies or understorey. Understorey typically includes ferns and herbs.

Not suitable under Part 3

Forests or woodlands not dominated by eucalypts, although these may be present as scattered individuals.

Saline wetlands are dominated by trees with dense canopies touching those of adjacent trees (a ‘closed’ canopy), and with horizontally held leaves. Trees and shrubs typically have soft leaves. 

Saline wetlands primarily occur on the coast where average annual rainfall exceeds 1000 mm per year. 

Trees are tolerant of tidal inundation. 

The understorey is sparse to non-existent. 

Saline wetlands are restricted to tidal estuaries along the coast.

Suitable

Vegetation dominated by trees (typically 15-35 m tall), usually occurring as woodlands or open woodlands (with widely-spaced tree canopies) that lack an abundance of hard-leaved (sclerophyllous) shrubs in the understorey. ‘Box’ Eucalypts often dominant in the tree layer. 

Groundcover is sparse to continuous, usually with an abundance of ephemeral herbs and grasses apparent after rain and a variable cover of tussock grasses.

Drought-tolerant shrubs prominent in the understorey, and often including chenopods. 

Widespread on a variety of soils west of the Great Dividing Range, particularly the western plains where average annual rainfall does not exceed 500 mm. 

The grassy sub-formation is found on floodplains occasionally exposed to inundation, is often dominated by eucalypts more than 15 m tall and with an understorey predominantly of grasses and/or chenopod shrubs.

Suitable

Vegetation dominated by trees (typically 15-35 m tall), usually occurring as woodlands or open woodlands (with widely-spaced tree canopies) that lack an abundance of hard-leaved (sclerophyllous) shrubs in the understorey. ‘Box’ Eucalypts often dominant in the tree layer. 

Groundcover is sparse to continuous, usually with an abundance of ephemeral herbs and grasses apparent after rain and a variable cover of tussock grasses.

Drought-tolerant shrubs prominent in the understorey, and often including chenopods. 

Widespread on a variety of soils west of the Great Dividing Range, particularly the western plains where average annual rainfall does not exceed 500 mm. 

The shrubby sub-formation is found on peneplains and hills not exposed to floodwaters, is dominated by eucalypts rarely more than 15 m tall and with open understories containing a variety of drought-tolerant shrubs and a variable cover of grasses.

Suitable

Vegetation dominated by trees (typically >30 m tall), usually occurring as tall forests, forests or woodlands and dominated by straight-trunked Eucalypts.

Understorey is dominated by a more continuous cover of grasses and herbs in this sub-formation rather than by shrubs as per the shrubby sub-formation. 

Largely confined to moderately fertile soils in sheltered locations on the east coast escarpment, where average annual rainfall exceeds 900 mm.

Not suitable under Part 3

Vegetation dominated by trees (typically >30 m tall), usually occurring as tall forests, forests or woodlands and dominated by straight-trunked Eucalypts.

Understorey is dominated by soft leaved shrubs but only sparse grass cover. 

Largely confined to moderately fertile soils in sheltered locations on the east coast escarpment, where average annual rainfall exceeds 900 mm.