This was the first systematic survey of cave fauna undertaken for the New South Wales National Parks & Wildlife Service funded by the National Estate Office (Eberhard & Spate 1995).
This extensive state-wide survey discovered an unexpected diversity of new subterranean species, ultimately leading to recognition of stygofauna as a factor for environmental consideration under the Water Management Act 2000 and the NSW State Groundwater Dependent Ecosystem Policy (Department for Land and Water Conservation 2002).