Denton Avenue Grassland Reserve

Images ©:
©Alison Farrar
Area Data 
https://grasslands.ecolinc.vic.edu.au/sites/default/files/Sunshine%20Tip.geojson
Description 

A triangular shaped reserve crossed by high voltage powerlines. Parts of the site have been significantly disturbed in the past by rock removal and dumping resulting in a grassland of varying quality that is being improved through sympathetic management.

State 
VIC
Location 

Between the Western Ring Road, St Albans Rd and Denton Avenue in the Melbourne suburb of St Albans

Size 
4.8 ha
Owner 
City of Brimbank
Manager 
City of Brimbank Conservation Team
Contacts 

Brimbank Council Conservation Community Liaison Officer 
Ph: 9249 4000  
Email: conservation@brimbank.vic.gov.au

History 

Formerly part of Sunshine Tip, the site was reduced in size and fragmented from other grassland sites along Jones Creek by the construction of the Western Ring Road 

Signifigance 

In addition to the Crtically Endangered vegetation community Natural Temperate Grasslands of Southern Volcanic Plain, Denton Avenue Grasslands support a healthy population of Striped Legless Lizards (listed as Vulnerable under the EPBC Act) and several nationally listed flora species including Pimelea spinescens

What to look for 

A Grassland Garden displaying many of the community's flora species was established at the south western edge of the site in 1998 and many species still persist

Management activities and priorities 

Weed control, biomass reduction burning

Flora Species 

Acaena echinata, Aira caryophyllea, Allium vineale, Arctotheca calendula, Asperula conferta, Asperula scoparia, Asphodelus fistulosus, Atriplex semibaccata, Austrostipa spp., Avena barbata, Avena fatua, Brachyscome basaltica, Brassica fruticulosa, Brassica x juncea, Briza maxima, Briza minor, Bromus hordeaceus, Bromus madritensis, Calocephalus citreus, Cenchrus clandestinus, Centaurium erythraea, Cirsium vulgare, Comesperma polyglaoides, Convolvulus angustissimus, Cynara cardunculus, Cynodon dactylon, Cyperus eragrostis, Dactylis glomerata, Dianella admixta, Dianella sp. aff. longifolia, Dichanthium sericeum, Eleocharis acuta, Epilobium billardierianum, Epilobium hirtigerum, Foeniculum vulgare, Galenia pubescens, Galium aparine, Gazania linearis, Geranium potentilloides, Helminthotheca echioides, Hypochaeris radicata, Isolepis marginata, Isolepis spp., Isolepis victoriensis, Juncus australis, Juncus bufonius, Juncus holoschoenus, Juncus pallidus, Juncus procerus, Juncus spp., Lactuca saligna, Lactuca serriola, Linum marginale, Lolium perenne, Lomandra micrantha, Lysimachia arvensis, Lythrum hyssopifolium, Malva nicaeensis, Medicago polymorpha, Minuria leptophylla, Nassella neesiana, Nassella trichotoma, Oxalis corniculata, Oxalis perennans, Oxalis pes-caprae, Paspalum dilatatum, Phalaris aquatica, Pimelea glauca, Pimelea humilis, Pimelea spinescens, Plantago lanceolata, Poa labillardierei, Poa sieberiana, Pycnosorus chrysanthes, Ranunculus robertsonii, Romulea rosea, Rosa rubiginosa, Rumex obtusifolius, Rytidosperma duttonianum, Rytidosperma laeve, Rytidosperma spp., Senecio quadridentatus, Sonchus asper, Sonchus oleraceus, Themeda triandra, Tragopogon porrifolius, Trifolium campestre, Trifolium lappaceum, Veronica gracilis, Vicia sativa, Vittadinia cuneata, Walwhalleya proluta