The South West Slopes is a region predominantly in New South Wales, Australia. It covers the lower inland slopes of the Great Dividing Range extending from north of Cowra through southern NSW into western Victoria. More than 90% of the region is in the state of New South Wales and it occupies about 10% of that state.

Bioregion

The south western slopes bioregion covers the lower inland slopes of the Great Dividing Range extending from north of Cowra through southern NSW into eastern Victoria. More than 90% of the region is in the state of New South Wales and it occupies about 10% of that state - more than 80,000 km².

The bioregion includes parts of the Murray, Murrumbidgee, Lachlan and Macquarie River catchments.

The region can be divided into two sub-regions:

• Northern Inland Slopes subregion
• Lower Slopes subregion

Protected areas within the bioregion

The South western Slopes of NSW are some of the most highly cleared and altered lands in the state. Native vegetation remains generally only in small, isolated patches. Substantial clearing continues. Less than 2% of the bioregion is protected as reserves. Conservation efforts are focussing on landholder stewardship agreements.

• National Parks: Benambra National Park, Conimbla National Park, Goobang National Park, Livingstone National Park, Minjary National Park, Nangar National Park, Weddin Mountains National Park, Woomargama National Park
• Nature reserves: Avisford Nature Reserve , Big Bush Nature Reserve, Boginderra Hills Nature Reserve, Buddigower Nature Reserve , Burrinjuck Nature Reserve, Copperhannia Nature Reserve, Dananbilla Nature Reserve, Dapper Nature Reserve, Downfall Nature Reserve, Ellerslie Nature Reserve, Eugowra Nature Reserve, Flagstaff Memorial Nature Reserve, Ingalba Nature Reserve, Koorawatha Nature Reserve, Mudjarn Nature Reserve, Mullengandra Nature Reserve, Munghorn Gap Nature Reserve, Narrandera Nature Reserve, Nest Hill Nature Reserve, Pucawan Nature Reserve, Razorback Nature Reserve, Tabletop Nature Reserve, The Charcoal Tank Nature Reserve, The Rock Nature Reserve , Ulandra Nature Reserve, Wiesners Swamp Nature Reserve
• Historic sites: Hill End Historic Site, Yuranighs Aboriginal Grave Historic Site

Human settlement

The South Western Slopes was occupied by the Wiradjuri people, the largest Aboriginal language group in NSW.

Towns within the bioregion from Albury in the south to Dunedoo in the northeast, include Wagga Wagga, Mudgee, Cootamundra, Narrandera, Parkes, Gundagai and Young. Griffith lies just outside the western boundary and Crookwell lies just outside the eastern boundary of the bioregion.

Local Government Areas included in the bioregion:

• Mid-Western Regional Council - townships of Rylstone (on the border) and Mudgee
• Wellington
• Cabonne Shire including the town of Molong
• Parkes
• Forbes
• Weddin Shire Council including the town of Grenfell
• Bland Shire, including the town of West Wyalong
• Young
• Boorowa Shire
• Temora Shire
• Cootamundra
• Gundagai
• Narrandera
• Wagga Wagga City Council
• Albury City Council

Forecast area for Bureau of Meteorology

The south west slopes forecast area used by the Bureau of Meteorology includes Wagga Wagga, Albury and Young. The area is smaller than that defined as a bioregion by the National Parks and Wildlife Service.

References