Kembla Grange - Environment

The land of Kembla Grange forms part of the Sydney Basin, in an area of volcanic sandstone on the lower slopes of the Illawarra Escarpment on predominantly Mount Kembla Sandstone, with underlying sedimentary rocks of the Permian age, as well as Quaternary talus on the higher slopes. (Environmental Impact Study, Whyte's Gully Waste Depot, 1992)

Most of the land in Kembla Grange was cleared for farming and grazing, and is dominated by small holdings such as pig farms, dairies, horse studs and hobby farms. The area has a long history of dairy farming and this is reflected in the predominantly pasture land pattern. Since the late 1960s the area's dairy industry had declined for a variety of reasons. Before clearing, the area was mostly Eucalyptus tereticornis woodland as well as that of typical rainforest. A small area (approximately 1.5 hectares) still remains on a rocky outcrop on the eastern gully at Whyte's Gully.  The area has two major creeks running through it; Dapto Creek runs almost through the centre, with Mullet Creek found on its southern most edges. At the present time it has largely been zoned for industrial usage, with an innovative environmental green waste depot at Whyte's gully. To the west, the land is still largely untouched and the vegetation forms scattered sclerophyll forest. (Environmental Impact Study, Whyte's Gully Waste Depot, 1992; Local Environmental Study, West Dapto 1989)

Most of the local wildlife in the area has been driven away by the widespread land clearing, and weeds such as lantana, blackberries and Crofton weed have become a nuisance in some areas. With the siting of the Waste and Recycling Depot, nuisance animals such as seagulls, ravens and feral cats have come into the area, severely impacting on indigenous wildlife. The forested areas are inhabited by brush tail and ringtail possums, lizards and snakes and long necked tortoises. (Environmental Impact Study, Whyte's Gully Waste Depot, 1992).