Epacris purpurascens var. purpurascens

Look at this stunning Epacris purpurascens var. purpurascens that East Coast Ecology found this week!

Whilst undertaking an Ecological Constraints Assessment (ECA) for a Part 5 Activity north of Sydney, East Coast Ecology’s team identified a sizeable population of the Vulnerable shrub.

Epacris purpurascens var. purpurascens is listed as Vulnerable under the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 (NSW), with high fire frequency and clearing listed as key threatening processes to their persistence. It is therefore not surprising that the population identified by East Coast Ecology occurred in remnant bushland without any evidence of disturbance by fire.

Identifying the presence of a threatened species in the early planning stages of a development means the project can be strategically designed to avoid and minimise any potential impacts. Our team’s find highlights the importance of involving ecological specialists prior to designing and siting a development.