Stormwater ecosystems

Parts of our stormwater systems provide habitat and valuable resources to our diverse native wildlife.

Waterway ecosystems

Threatened vegetation communities

• Including the eucalyptus globulus dry forest and woodland, along upper Lambert Creek, Brushy Creek and New Town Rivulet.

Threatened plants and animals

• Many bird species have been spotted along several waterways, including the grey goshawk, white-bellied sea eagle, masked owl and swift parrot.
• Eastern barred bandicoots are found along riparian zones which can function as a habitat corridor between bush areas and suburban gardens.

Other native wildlife

• Several Galaxias species including the climbing galaxias, spotted galaxias, and the common galaxias. In the Sandy Bay Rivulet, you may notice two 'fish ladders' into the culverts below Parliament Street and Regent Street. These create riffles and pools which help fish travel upstream, particularly during breeding season.
• Platypus inhabit the Hobart Rivulet with a few individuals frequently observed in this area. Others have been found in New Town and Sandy Bay Rivulets, with some sightings of platypus as far down as the Royal Hobart Hospital on Collins Street.
• Native invertebrates, including mayflies are particularly good indicators of water quality, as they are usually only present where the water is free of pollutants.
• Many species also use the riparian zone as a corridor between habitat patches, and for food and water. These include endemic species such as the Tasmanian pademelon and the Tasmanian native hen.

Threats

The key threats to these native and vulnerable species are:

• poor water quality - from pollutants and rubbish
• invasive species - particularly environmental weeds like willows and blackberry
• human activities such as off-lead dog-walking.

Benefits of waterway ecosystems

Aside from providing corridors between habitat and resources for native wildlife, the waterways also provide ecosystem services to the community, including:

• treating pollutants
• increasing flood resilience by slowing and channelling water
• adding to the historical, spiritual, aesthetic and recreational values of Hobart.