Council Websites:
Natural Environment
Devonport Weed Strategy 2016
You can download your copy of the Devonport Weed Strategy 2016 here.
New Mobile App to Help Identify Weeds
The Top10 Weed Pocket Guide is a free mobile application which can be downloaded and installed on Android-compatible phones. It has been designed to help interested community members in North West Tasmania to participate in weed control, protect the environment and increase the productivity of our agricultural land.
For more information and to download the app, visit the Cradle Coast NRM website.
Native Plants
Within natural vegetation communities, there are a diverse range of plants native to Devonport, some of which are protected by State and Federal legislation.
Native plants include grasses, ground covers, lilies, herbs, climbers, shrubs and trees. Many are drought tolerant and even have showy flowers. This makes many suitable for planting in residential gardens.
The Australian Plants Society (North West Tasmania Branch) publication Grow Local, lists many of these plants, and contains general information regarding native flora. Copies of this booklet are available from the reception areas of the Council offices in Best Street.
When purchasing indigenous plants, it is important to purchase those which have been grown from locally sourced parent material (seed, cuttings, etc). This is because locally sourced parent material has evolved to suit local conditions, and by introducing plants from other areas, the unique gene pool of local flora may be threatened.
There are a number of nurseries located within or close to the municipality specialising in indigenous plants, and which sell plants from locally sourced parent material.
Nurseries which may supply native plants:
- Habitat Nursery, 240 Jones Road, Liffey, (03) 6397 3400
- Redbreast Nurseries, 242 Robin Hill Road, Flowerdale, (03) 6442 4833
- Riverview Nursery, 31 Forth Road, Don, (03) 6424 5847
- Taz Wild Plants, Bonneys Plains, Conara, (03) 6384 2165
- The Big Pot Nursery, 1032 Melrose Road, Melrose, (03) 6492 3216
Native Plants in the Devonport area.
Shrubs | Groundcovers |
| Baeckea ramosissima, Baeckea | Carpobrotus rossii, Native pigface |
| Callistemon pallidus, Lemon bottlebrush | Chrysocephalum apiculatum, Common everlasting |
| Coprosma hirtella, Coffee berry | Kennedia prostata, Scarlet coral pea |
| Correa alba, White correa | Viola hederacea, Violet |
| Correa reflexa, Native fuchsia | Trees |
| Daviesia latifolia, Hop bitter pea | Acacia melanoxylon, Blackwood |
| Dodonaea viscosa, Hop bush | Allocasuarina littoralis, Black sheoak |
| Epacris impressa, Common heath | Allocasuarina verticillata, Dropping sheoak |
| Indigofera australis, Native indigo | Banksia marginata, Silver banksia |
| Leptospemum scoparium, Manuka | Bursaria spinosa, Prickly Box |
| Leucopogon parviflorus, Currant bush | Eucalyptus amygdalia, Black peppermint |
| Lomatia tinctoria, Guitar plant | Melaleuca ericifolia, Swamp paperbark |
| Myoporum insulare, Common boobialla | Grasses/Flax |
| Notelaea ligustrina, Native olive | Austrodanthonia caespitose, Wallaby grass |
| Olearia lirata, Dusty daisy bush | Dianella tasmancia, Flax lily |
| Oxylobium ellipticum, Golden rosemary | Lomandra longfolia, Sagg |
| Pimelia linifolia, Rice flower | Poa labillardierei, Tussock grass |
| Pittosporum bicolour, Cheesewood | Themeda triandra, Kangaroo grass |
| Pomaderris apetala, Dogwood | Climbers |
| Pomaderris elliptica, Yellow dogwood | Billardiera longiflora, Climbing blue berry |
| Tasmannia lanceolata, Native pepper | Clematis aristata, Climbing clematis |
| Ferns | Herbs |
| Blechnum nudum, Fishbone water fern | Bulbine bulbosa, Bulbine lily |
| Blenchum wattsii, Hard water fern | Hibbertia procumbens, Spreading guinea flower |
| Dicksonia antarctica, Soft tree fern | Stackhousia monogyna, Candles |
| Polystichum proliferum, Mothershield fern | Stylidium graminifolium, Trigger plant |
Native Animals
Within natural vegetation communities live many native animals. Some of these can be protected by State and Federal legislation. To find out more information regarding native fauna in Devonport, please contact the Department of Primary Industries and Water.
Central North Burrowing Crayfish
The burrowing crayfish of the genus Engaeus, found only in south-eastern Australia, are very specialised crayfish living in tunnel systems in muddy banks, seepages and peaty areas. While most freshwater crayfish live in flowing water, the burrowing crayfish live their entire life within their burrow systems, only venturing out occasionally at night and in damp, overcast conditions. As they are typically no longer free-swimming, many of the species have much reduced tails. Other features of the genus include a narrow body and, unique among Tasmanian genera, claws that open vertically rather than horizontally to the body, allowing for larger claws in the confined space of narrow tunnels.
Our species is Engaeus granulatus (Central North Burrowing Crayfish) and is easily identified from other species by its granulated claws. It is also the only burrowing crayfish that does not share its habitat with other species, making it even easier to identify.
As all crayfish have gills under their carapace (shell), they are dependent on water to breathe. Typically the tunnels of burrowing crayfish reach down to the water table and over the summer period when the water table drops, they will follow it down through well established tunnels, sometimes to depths of 2-3 metres.
Burrowing crayfish generally eat decaying organic matter in the soil, such as rotting leaves and twigs but will supplement their diet with the occasional small worm or grub they come across.
All species of Engaeus construct characteristic 'chimneys' made from balls of mud placed at the entrance of their burrow. These may range from just a few mud pellets or a structure to 40 cm in height, but we don't really know why they build them!
Over dry periods, they will often plug the chimney, possibly to retain moisture within the burrow.
Breeding takes place from spring through to early summer. During this period adult females can be found carrying eggs or new hatchlings under the tail, which is closed over them to form a pocket for protection.
Each species has slightly different habitat requirements so that although a couple of different species may be found on the one property, they will inhabit specific areas depending on water flow, soil type, vegetation and degree of habitat disturbance.
Living their lives underground makes the burrowing crayfish extremely difficult to study without disturbing them. As a result there is still much to learn on the life history and requirements of the different species.
For more information, please download the Central North Burrowing Crayfish brochure or visit the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities.