Mount Victoria to Lithgow Great Western Highway Upgrade
BIODIVERSITY WORKING PAPER
Final
September 2009
Sinclair Knight Merz ABN 37 001 024 095 100 Christie Street PO Box 164 St Leonards NSW Australia 1590 Tel: +61 2 9928 2100 Fax: +61 2 9928 2500 Web: www.skmconsulting.com
COPYRIGHT: The concepts and information contained in this document are the property of the Roads and Traffic Authority, NSW. Use or copying of this document in whole or in part without the written permission of the Roads and Traffic Authority, NSW constitutes an infringement of copyright. LIMITATION: This report has been prepared on behalf of and for the exclusive use of Sinclair Knight Merz Pty Ltd’s Client, and is subject to and issued in connection with the provisions of the agreement between Sinclair Knight Merz and its Client. Sinclair Knight Merz accepts no liability or responsibility whatsoever for or in respect of any use of or reliance upon this report by any third party.
Mount Victoria to Lithgow Great Western Highway Upgrade Route Options Development Biodiversity Working Paper
Contents
1. Introduction 1 1.1. Project overview 1 1.2. Study area 1 1.3. Confirmed corridors 2 1.4. Purpose of this report 2 1.5. Limitations 3 2. Field assessment 5 2.1. Vegetation communities 5 2.1.1. Box-gum woodland 5 2.1.2. Hanging swamp communities 6 2.2. Threatened species 6 3. Ecological constraints 7 3.1. Vegetation communities 7 3.2. Listed ecological communities 11 3.3. Threatened flora 14 3.4. Fungi 21 3.5. Threatened fauna 21 3.6. Migratory fauna 25 3.7. Priority Fauna Habitat and wildlife corridors 26 4. Corridor assessment 29 4.1. Potential vegetation impacts 29 4.2. Biodiversity values 29 4.3. Impact analysis 33 4.3.1. Potential vegetation impacts 33 4.3.2. Threatened species habitat 33 4.3.3. Priority fauna habitat and wildlife corridors 39 4.3.4. Blue Mountains National Park 39 5. Summary and conclusions 41 5.1. Summary of key issues 41 5.1.1. Modified Orange (Option 1 and 2) 41 5.1.2. Modified Red (Option 1 and 2) 41 5.1.3. Modified Green 42 5.1.4. Modified Purple 42 5.2. Implications for route option development 43 5.2.1. Key opportunities 43 5.2.2. Key constraints 43 References 45 Appendix A Threatened flora species 47
PAGE i Mount Victoria to Lithgow Great Western Highway Upgrade Route Options Development Biodiversity Working Paper
Appendix B Vegetation community conservation values 55 Appendix C Potentially occurring threatened fauna species 61 Appendix D Maps of vegetation community conservation values for each of the corridors 67
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Document history and status
Revision Date issued Reviewed by Approved by Date approved Revision type 1 27/03/09 Y. Sheedy A. Spinks 27/03/09 Preliminary Draft 2 30/04/09 A.Spinks A.Spinks 01/05/09 2nd Draft 3 18/06/09 Y. Sheedy A.Spinks 24/07/09 3rd Draft 4 25/09/09 A.Spinks A.Spinks 28/09/09 Final
Distribution of copies Revision Copy no Quantity Issued to 1 Electronic 1 RTA ~ Diana Loges 2 Electronic 1 RTA ~ Diana Loges 3 Electronic 1 RTA ~ Alison Nash 4 Electronic 1 RTA ~ Jennifer Mak
Printed: 19 October 2009 Last saved: 15 October 2009 12:27 PM
I:\ENVR\Projects\EN02481\Deliverables\Phase File name: 2\Biodiversity\Biodiversity_Desktop_Draft_R02.doc
Author: Andrew Carty, Chris Thomson Project manager: Andrew Spinks
Name of organisation: Roads and Traffic Authority
Name of project: Great Western Highway Upgrade: Mount Victoria to Lithgow
Name of document: Preliminary Ecological Assessment
Document version: Final
Project number: EN02481
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Mount Victoria to Lithgow Great Western Highway Upgrade Route Options Development Biodiversity Working Paper
1. Introduction
1.1. Project overview
In October 2007 it was announced that, if elected, a Federal Labour Government would provide up to $200 million to start planning for the bypass of Mount Victoria and River Lett Hill on the Great Western Highway between Katoomba and Lithgow. The Australian and NSW governments are investigating this section of the Great Western Highway to determine the preferred alignment for an upgrade.
The current alignment of the Great Western Highway that is proposed to be upgraded extends from Browntown Oval, just east of Mount Victoria to 100 metres west of the McKanes Falls Road junction, to the south of Lithgow. The eastern extremity ties into the recently constructed Soldiers Pinch project. The western extremity ties into a project completed 15 years ago. This section of the highway has a length of 18.4 km and, if travelling towards the west, passes through Mount Victoria village, down Victoria Pass, through Hartley Valley and up River Lett Hill. This section of the highway has severe width and alignment constraints in all but the Hartley Valley, but in the valley there are a range of environmental and social constraints they limit opportunities to upgrade the highway.
The Mount Victoria to Lithgow Great Western Highway upgrade project was announced in May 2008, with the release of the Background and Proposed Project Development Report in June 2008 (Roads and Traffic Authority [RTA], 2008), which described the environmental constraints of the initial study area and outlined issues to be considered for the highway upgrade between Mount Victoria and Lithgow. The RTA subsequently engaged Sinclair Knight Merz (SKM) to undertake the preliminary environmental assessment to assist in identifying the preferred route for the proposed upgrade.
1.2. Study area
The study area includes both the Sydney Basin and South Eastern Highlands bioregions being the western edge of the Sydney Basin bioregion. The study area is entirely within the Hawkesbury-Nepean Catchment Management Area (CMA) and includes the Wollemi and Burragorang (Part A) CMA sub-regions. The region is significant for biodiversity in the catchment because it provides a transition from the mountains to the western slopes and the plains.
The proposed upgrade extends from the Blue Mountains plateau, down the western escarpment through undulating valleys to Lithgow. The Blue Mountains is largely an uplifted and tilted sandstone plateau, which rises westward to a maximum elevation of about 1200 metres in the Newnes State Forest to the north of the study area.
The geology of the study area includes areas of sandstone and shale throughout the study area. Alluvium is found to the west of the study area, following the low-lying areas of the River Lett floodplain. Part way down the descent of the western escarpment and along the northern boundary of the study area, geology mapping indicates the presence of coal seams, in addition to the sandstone. The northern section of the study area predominantly comprises low sandstone cliffs which have been strikingly etched by solution (silica karst) weathering.
The bedrock geology of the study area predominantly comprises Banks Wall Sandstone (formerly known as Grose Sandstone) and is about 50 to 100 metres in thickness. It is a clayey quartz sandstone that resembles the Hawkesbury Sandstone, although it is weaker. Sandy soils with depths typically greater than one metre have developed on the Banks Wall Sandstone. The western most extent of the study area is underlain by Illawarra Coal Measures and much of this area is situated above active or abandoned coal mine workings.
PAGE 1 Mount Victoria to Lithgow Great Western Highway Upgrade Route Options Development Biodiversity Working Paper
1.3. Confirmed corridors
In April 2009, the RTA confirmed four corridors within the study area, with two options for the Modified Orange and Modified Red corridors to bypass the township of Mount Victoria. The confirmed corridors are briefly described below:
Modified Orange Option 1: The Modified Orange Option 1 corridor generally follows the existing alignment of the Great Western Highway, although it bypasses Mount Victoria and Victoria Pass and is wide around River Lett Hill to provide opportunities to bypass this area. Option 1 involves an outer bypass of the township of Mount Victoria, with the possibility of a tunnel under Mount York Road.
Modified Orange Option 2: The Modified Orange Option 2 corridor is the same as the Modified Orange Option 1 corridor, except it provides an inner bypass of the township of Mount Victoria, connecting back to the existing alignment near Mount York Road.
Modified Red Option 1: The Modified Red Option 1 corridor provides an outer bypass of Mount Victoria and enters Hartley Valley in the region of Berghofers Pass. It then extends in a north-westerly direction along the foothills of the western side of the Mount York escarpment, to the foothills of the Hassans Walls range where it connects to the existing alignment at Forty Bends.
Modified Red Option 2: The Modified Red Option 2 corridor is the same as the Modified Red Option 1 corridor, except it provides an inner bypass of the township of Mount Victoria, connecting back to the existing alignment near Mount York Road.
Modified Green: The Modified Green corridor extends along the Darling Causeway before dropping into the valley and following the southern side of the River Lett before crossing the river in the vicinity of Browns Gap Road and travelling along the foothills of the Hassans Walls range where it connects to the existing alignment at Forty Bends.
Modified Purple: The Modified Purple corridor extends along the Darling Causeway before dropping into the valley in the vicinity of Hartley Vale Road. It then extends along the northern boundary of the study area where it connects to the existing alignment at Forty Bends.
1.4. Purpose of this report
This report outlines a desktop review of the ecological constraints and risks identified in the study area based on a review of available geographic information system (GIS) data layers and technical reports. Rapid field assessments were undertaken in the study area to ground-truth the composition and potential habitat values of vegetation communities and their affinities to threatened ecological communities. The data has been interpreted to describe and quantify baseline conditions by illustrating the proportion of the following:
Vegetation communities Wildlife corridors.
Threatened ecological communities. Records of threatened species and endangered
Priority fauna habitats. populations.
An assessment of the conservation value of the vegetation communities and habitats has been provided for each of the proposed corridors, including a summary of the vegetation, habitats and species of conservation significance from a local, regional and state perspective (as defined under the NSW Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 (TSC Act) and national significance under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act, 1999 (EPBC Act).
PAGE 2 Mount Victoria to Lithgow Great Western Highway Upgrade Route Options Development Biodiversity Working Paper
The data sources used in this review included the following:
Atlas of NSW Wildlife (NSW Department of Environment and Climate Change accessed March 2009).
EPBC Act Protected Matters Search Tool (March 2009).
Databases maintained by the NSW Department of Environment and Climate Change pertaining to Priority Fauna Habitats and wildlife corridors.
Vegetation community GIS data layer and technical report (Tozer et al 2006).
Records published in scientific journals and specialist ecological reports pertaining to the locality and general flora and fauna distribution texts.
Results of local environmental studies, including studies prepared by consultants, the Blue Mountains City Council, universities and other sources.
The Rare or Threatened Australian Plants (RoTAP) database (Briggs and Leigh 1996)
1.5. Limitations
This assessment has relied predominantly on available desktop information, with only rapid field assessments being undertaken to provide some ground-truthing of the vegetation communities, including their conservation significance. There is likely to be some inconsistency between the data sources used in the assessment, such as broad-scale vegetation mapping (Tozer et al 2006), and the actual presence and composition of vegetation on the ground, which will need to be reconciled by more detailed investigations during subsequent project phases. Threatened species records (DECCW 2009) only provide recorded locations of threatened species and the abundance of records largely reflects the degree of survey effort undertaken in the area. Therefore there is potential for additional threatened flora and fauna species to be present in the study area.
Threatened flora and fauna habitat presence has been extrapolated from broad-scale mapping data, and the presence, abundance and quality of important habitat features such as hollow-trees, caves, hollow logs, feed trees, cliff faces, seepage lines, waterfalls and rocky outcrops is largely unknown at this stage.
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Mount Victoria to Lithgow Great Western Highway Upgrade Route Options Development Biodiversity Working Paper
2. Field assessment
Field inspections of various locations of the study area were undertaken on the 20 to 22 April 2009. The surveys aimed to rapidly assess the accuracy of the broad-scale vegetation mapping (Tozer et al 2006) and the conservation significance of the vegetation including their affinities to threatened ecological communities listed under state and federal legislation. The distribution and presence of habitat in the study area for Asterolasia buxifolia was also assessed. This section provides an overview of the findings of the field verification, whilst a detailed indication of the ecological constraints prevailing within the study area is provided in Section 3.
2.1. Vegetation communities
2.1.1. Box-gum woodland
The broad-scale vegetation mapping (Tozer et al 2006) indicates the extensive presence of areas with strong affinities to “box-gum woodland’ (Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act and Threatened Species Conservation Act listed) throughout the valley area. Box-gum woodland is defined by the dominance or co-dominance of yellow box (Eucalyptus melliodora), Blakely’s red gum (Eucalyptus blakelyi) and/or white box (Eucalyptus albans) constituting at least 50 percent of the crown cover. The following vegetation communities were considered to potentially be box-gum woodland based on the presence of these species as described in the vegetation community descriptions (Tozer et al 2006):
Tableland grassy box-gum woodland (GW24).
Tableland granite grassy woodland (GW420).
Tableland hills grassy woodland (GW23).
The field assessments targeted the mapped locations of the above vegetation communities to assess any affinities to ‘box- gum woodland’. The following conclusions were made regarding these communities:
Dominant canopy species in these communities consisted predominately of ribbon gum (Eucalyptus viminalis) and candlebark (Eucalyptus rubida) with some areas also including broad-leaved peppermint (Eucalyptus dives), narrow- leaved peppermint (Eucalyptus radiata), snow gum (Eucalyptus pauciflora), yellow box (Eucalyptus melliodora), brittle gum (Eucalyptus mannifera) and apple box (Eucalyptus bridgesiana).
Yellow box is present in some areas of the mapped locations of tableland granite grassy woodland (GW420) in relatively low abundance constituting approximately 5-25 percent of the total canopy cover, with the remaining 75- 95% constituting other species particularly ribbon gum and/or candlebark.
The understorey in some areas of the tableland granite grassy woodland (GW420) has affinities with box-gum woodland comprising a grassy cover dominated by kangaroo grass (Themeda australis) and snow grass (Poa siebriana) and numerous forbs which are characteristic of the community.
Numerous areas supporting a low to moderate abundance of yellow box include areas of improved pasture that are unlikely to respond to assisted natural regeneration, due to the natural soil and associated seed bank being depleted. It is possible yellow box has been depleted in the valley due to its value as timber.
Considering that only one of the three dominant canopy species in the listed box-gum woodland communities is present in low abundance (up to 25%), the vegetation communities in the Hartley Valley area do not constitute the threatened ecological community. There is potential for some areas of the study area not assessed during field inspections to be dominated by yellow box and potentially constitute box-gum woodland, although it is considered unlikely based on field observations. However, considering these grassy woodland communities identified by Tozer et al (2006) are highly cleared
PAGE 5 Mount Victoria to Lithgow Great Western Highway Upgrade Route Options Development Biodiversity Working Paper
within their natural range and are poorly represented in conservation reserves, they still have a high conservation value which is recognised in this report. Additionally these communities provide habitat for threatened flora and fauna species, such as woodland birds.
2.1.2. Hanging swamp communities
Hanging swamp communities were identified along the Darling Causeway within the Modified Green and Modified Purple corridors as being federal and state listed ecological communities, comprising: Blue Mountains Swamps in the Sydney Basin Bioregion (vulnerable under the NSW Threatened Species Conservation Act); and Temperate Highland Peat Swamps on Sandstone (endangered under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act). These communities occur on seepage zones on the slopes and gullies of the Darling Causeway and their distribution has been relatively accurately mapped by Tozer et. al. (2006) predominantly as Blue Mountains heath (H124) and smaller areas are also mapped as Blue Mountains hanging swamps (FrW130). Additionally a larger area of tableland swamp meadow (FrW57) is mapped in a valley west of the Darling Causeway and is mostly outside the confirmed corridors. These areas have the highest conservation value in the study area being listed under state and federal legislation and supporting habitat for threatened flora and fauna species.
2.2. Threatened species
The presence of and potential habitat for Asterolasia buxifolia was assessed on crown land during the field inspections. This species is restricted to a small section of River Lett within a Rocky Granite Gorge. It appears to have very specific habitat requirements within thick riparian scrub where there is little tree canopy cover most likely due to the shallow rocky soil in this area. Habitat up and downstream of this area is not suitable for this species and it is considered unlikely to occur within any of the corridors. However, there is potential for indirect impacts to this species from development upstream of Hyde Park.
Vegetation along the Darling Causeway is likely to provide habitat for a large number of threatened flora and fauna species being relatively undisturbed. Open forest and swamp communities in these areas are recovering from wildfire supporting a diversity of shrubs, sedges and other forbs and provide high value habitat for threatened flora species.
Woodland communities in the Hartley valley area are relatively disturbed from grazing, slashing and pasture improvement. However, there are some areas which are relatively intact supporting a diversity of grass and herb species. There is potential for several threatened flora species to occur in these areas.
Hollow-bearing trees were observed as being mainly restricted to areas where clearing has been restricted such as some crown lands, riparian zones and some paddock trees. Habitat for threatened fauna is widespread in the study area and is particularly suitable for woodland bird species, large forest owls, mammals and reptiles.
PAGE 6 Mount Victoria to Lithgow Great Western Highway Upgrade Route Options Development Biodiversity Working Paper
3. Ecological constraints
3.1. Vegetation communities
The following vegetation community classes have been mapped in the study area as defined by Tozer et al. (2006). From these structural classifications, a total of 14 vegetation associations have been mapped in the study area as shown in Figure 3-1 and are described in detail in Table 3-1. An additional 9 vegetation communities are present surrounding the study area.
Table 3-1: Vegetation community descriptions and dominant species Broad Community (Tozer Area extant Description Dominant Species Structural et al 2006) in the Type study area (ha) Blue Mountains 1226.747 A low eucalypt forest with an abundant sclerophyll shrub Trees: Eucalyptus piperita, Eucalyptus sieberi ridgetop forest stratum and groundcover dominated by sedges and forbs. Shrubs: Leptospermum trinervium, Platysace linearifolia, Banksia spinulosa, (DSF136) Restricted to the upper Blue Mountains plateau north of the Persoonia levis, Lomatia silaifolia Kedumba valley and extends beyond Bell. Occurs on sandy Groundcover: Lomandra oblique, Entolasia stricta, Xanthosia pilosa, Patersonia loams derived from Narrabeen sandstone between 650 and sericea, Pteridium esculentum 1050 ASL. Average rainfall 1000-1400 mm. Climber: Billardiera scandens Megalong-Tonalli 147.581 A eucalypt forest with a sclerophyll shrub stratum and a Trees: Eucalyptus piperita, Eucalyptus punctata, Eucalyptus sclerophylla, sandstone forest groundcover of sedges and forbs. Distributed between Bell Angophora costata (DSF244) and the Tonalli Range between 150-800 m ASL. Occurs on Shrubs: Banksia spinulosa, Lomatia silaifolia, Phyllanthus hirtellus, Persoonia Dry an outcrop of Permian sandstone and conglomerates along linearis, Pimelea linifolia, Persoonia levis, Bossiaea obcordata Sclerophyll the western scarp of the Blue Mountains plateau. Average Groundcover: Entolasia stricta, Goodenia hederacea, Lomandra obliqua, Lomandra Forests rainfall 824-1100 mm. multiflora, Dianella caerulea, Dianella revoluta, Pomax umbellata Climber: Billardiera scandens Kowmung - 10.558 An open eucalypt forest with an open shrub layer and Trees: Eucalyptus tereticornis, Eucalyptus crebra, Acacia implexa Wollondilly gorge prominent groundcover of forbs and ferns. Occurs on loams Shrubs: Olearia viscidula, Breynia oblongifolia, Bursaria spinosa, Indigofera woodland (DSF37) on intermediate slopes within rocky gorges in the lower australis Coxs and Kowmung River catchments between 100-750 m Groundcover: Dichondra spp., Desmodium gunnii, Plectranthus parviflorus, Pellaea ASL. Average rainfall 750-950 mm. falcata, Pratia purpurascens, Microlaena stipoides, Oplismenus imbecillis Climber: Genoplesium cymosum, Clematis glycinoides, Glycine clandestina, Pandorea pandorana
PAGE 7 Mount Victoria to Lithgow Great Western Highway Upgrade Route Options Development Biodiversity Working Paper
Broad Community (Tozer Area extant Description Dominant Species Structural et al 2006) in the Type study area (ha) Tableland ridge 110.554 A eucalypt forest with an open understorey of sclerophyll Trees: Eucalyptus sieberi, Eucalyptus radiata forest (DSF8) shrubs, forbs, sedges and grass. Found at elevations Shrubs: Hibbertia obtusifolia, Persoonia linearis, Leucopogon lanceolatus. Monotoca between 600-1200 m ASL along drier parts of the Great scoparia Dividing Range, primarily on sandy loams derived Groundcover: Gonocarpus tetragynus, Pteridium esculentum, Lomandra longifolia, sedimentary, acid-volcanic or more rarely granitic Dianella revoluta, Poa siebriana substrates. Average rainfall 700-1100 mm. Tableland hills 68.511 An open eucalypt forest or woodland with a sparse shrub Trees: Eucalyptus dives, Eucalyptus macrorhyncha grassy woodland layer and grassy groundcover. Occurs across the Shrubs: Melichrus urceolatus (GW23) tablelands primarily between the Abercrombie River district, Groundcover: Microlaena stipoides, Gonocarpus tetragynus, Lomandra filiformis Berrima, Braidwood and an outlier to the north around subsp. coriacea, Hydrocotyle laxiflora, Hypericum gramineum, Hibbertia obtusifolia Hartley. Occurs on loamy soils between 550-1100 m ASL. Average rainfall 650-950 mm. Tableland grassy 854.763 A eucalypt woodland with a sparse shrub layer and grassy Trees: Eucalyptus viminalis, Eucalyptus melliodora box-gum woodland groundcover. Found on undulating land of the tablelands Shrubs: Lissanthe strigosa, Melichrus urceolatus Grassy (GW24) between Hartley and Braidwood. Found between 600-900 Groundcover: Lomandra filiformis subsp. coriacea, Themeda australis, Microlaena Woodlands m ASL on loamy soils derived from fine-grained stipoides, Gonocarpus tetragynus, Hydrocotyle laxiflora, Poa siebriana sedimentary or acid-volcanic substrates as well as granite soils. Average rainfall 650-900 mm. Tableland granite 357.181 A eucalypt woodland with a sparse shrub layer and grassy Trees: Eucalyptus melliodora, Eucalyptus dives, Eucalyptus macrorhyncha grassy woodland groundcover. Found on the tablelands in the Coxs River Shrubs: Rubus parviflorus, Acacia melanoxylon (GW420) valley, the Crookwell district and from Mongarlowe to Groundcover: Hydrocotyle laxiflora, Microlaena stipoides, Acaena novae-zelandiae, Braidwood. Occurs on rolling terrain on granite derived Geranium solanderi, Lomandra filiformis subsp. coriacea, Rumex brownii, Dichondra soils between 550-1050 m ASL. Average rainfall 550-1050 spp. mm. Climber: Glycine clandestina High range 1.999 A tall eucalypt forest with an open shrub layer and moist Trees: Eucalyptus elata, Eucalyptus radiata, Eucalyptus fastigata sheltered forest herbaceous groundcover. Occurs on upper slopes on high Shrubs: Leucopogon lanceolatus, Rubus parviflorus Wet (WSF66) ranges receiving orographic moisture at elevations of 500- Groundcover: Pteridium esculentum, Lomandra longifolia, Viola hederacea, Sclerophyll 1100 m ASL. Scattered along the eastern aspects of the Microlaena stipoides, Dichondra spp., Desmodium varians, Poranthera microphylla Forest ranges from the upper Kowmung River and Bindook Climber: Clematis aristata, Glycine clandestina Highlands south to Mongamula Mountain in Deua National Park. Average rainfall 750-1200 mm.
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Broad Community (Tozer Area extant Description Dominant Species Structural et al 2006) in the Type study area (ha) Cool montane wet 940.921 A tall eucalypt forest with an open shrub layer and moist Trees: Eucalyptus radiata, Eucalyptus fastigata, Eucalyptus dalrympleana, Acacia forest (WSF73) herbaceous groundcover. Occurs on the higher, cooler melanoxylon parts of the Great Dividing Range, between 750-1300 m Shrubs: Leucopogon lanceolatus ASL, subject to occasional snowfall during winter months. Groundcover: Pteridium esculentum, Lomandra longifolia, Viola hederacea, Stellaria Occurs on soils derived from a range of granitic, low-quartz pungens, Gonocarpus tetragynus, Poa siebriana, Microlaena stipoides sedimentary and acid volcanic substrates. Widespread Climber: Clematis aristata community from Lithgow south to Jenolan, Mount Werong and Mount Guineacor as well as to the south along the Gourock Range and to east along the southern escarpment. Average rainfall 800-1100 mm. Riverbank forest 13.86 A distinctive tall River Oak forest with an open shrub layer Trees: Casuarina cunninghamiana (FoW32) and a dense or patchy groundcover of grasses and forbs. It Shrubs: Hymenanthera dentata, Urtica incisa Riparian and occurs on sand/gravel alluvium strewn with cobbles along Groundcover: Microlaena stipoides, Lomandra longifolia, Oplismenus aemulus, Forested swift-flowing reaches of streams at elevations from 20-800 Dichondra repens Wetlands m ASL. Widespread along major streams including the Climber: Stephania japonica, Pandorea pandorana Coxs, Abercrombie, Wollondilly, Shoalhaven, and Deua river systems. Average rainfall 650-1000 mm. Blue Mountains- 12.026 This community has an open canopy of tall shrubs, Shrubs: Leptospermum juniperinum, Baeckea linifolia, Sprengelia incarnata, Epacris Shoalhaven scattered low shrubs and a dense groundcover of sedges obtusifolia, Hakea teretifolia, Banksia ericifolia hanging swamps and forbs. This unit is restricted to humic sandstone soils in Groundcover: Empodisma minus, Leptocarpus tenax, Gymnoschoenus (FrW130) headwater valleys and seepage zones on Hawkesbury, sphaerocephalus, Lepidosperma limicola, Drosera binata, Xyris operculata Narrabeen and Shoalhaven Group sandstones between 500-1100 m ASL. Widely scattered from the upper Blue Mountains to the Morton plateau neat Tolwong. Average Freshwater rainfall 1000-1850 mm. Swamps Tableland swamp 53.066 Characterised by a dense groundcover of mesic soft-leaved Shrubs: Leptospermum juniperinum, Leptospermum obovatum, Lythrum salicaria meadow (FrW57) sedges and forbs. Scattered trees may be present and an Groundcover: Baumea rubignosa, Carex gaudichaudiana, Eleocharis sphacelata, open to dense shrub layer is occasionally present Hydrocotyle peduncularis, Isachne globose, Juncus usitatus, Lepyrodia anarthria, depending on local water table gradients. Restricted to Phragmites australis, Ranunculus inundatus peats and humic loams in sediment-filled valleys between 300-1100 m ASL. Scattered occurrences throughout the tablelands from the Blue Mountains south to the Shoalhaven headwaters. Average rainfall 700-1300 mm.
PAGE 9 Mount Victoria to Lithgow Great Western Highway Upgrade Route Options Development Biodiversity Working Paper
Broad Community (Tozer Area extant Description Dominant Species Structural et al 2006) in the Type study area (ha) Blue Mountains 188.825 Characterised by an open to dense shrub canopy with Trees: Eucalyptus stricta heath (H124) emergent mallees and a groundcover of sedges and forbs. Shrubs: Isopogon anemonifolius, Allocasuarina nana, leptospermum trinervium, Widespread as scattered patches across the upper Blue Lomandra glauca, Platysace linearifolia, Petrophile pulchella Heath Mountains. Occupies shallow, damp sandy loam on Groundcover: Dampiera stricta, Goodenia bellidifolia, Lepidosperma viscidum, exposed Narrabeen sandstone plateaux between 600-1150 Patersonia sericea m ASL. Average rainfall 1000-1350 mm. Sandstone scarp 4.854 A closed forest characterised by a dnse tree canopy with Trees: Ceratopetalum apetalum, Acmena smithii, Doryphora sassafras warm temperate occasional emergents, lianes, a mesic shrub and small tree Shrubs: Cyathea australis, Todea barbata, Tasmannia insipida rainforest (RF114) stratum and a fern dominated groundcover. Distributed as Groundcover: Blechnum cartilagineum Rainforest small occurrences within the dissected sandstone plateaux Climber: Morinda jasminoides, Smilax australis of the Sydney Basin between 400-800 m ASL, in areas receiving greater than 850 mm annual rainfall.
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3.2. Listed ecological communities
Of the 14 vegetation communities mapped in the study area, five are listed as Critically Endangered, Endangered or Vulnerable Ecological Communities under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (EPBC Act) and/or NSW Threatened Species Conservation Act (TSC Act). These communities have been identified on the basis of broad-scale vegetation mapping (Tozer et al 2006) undertaken within the study area, including descriptions of these communities provided in technical reports and rapid field assessments. There is potential for further communities to be identified during detailed field surveys within the study area. The distribution of vegetation communities including threatened ecological communities in the study area as defined by Tozer et al (2006) is displayed in Figure 3-1 and these are listed in Table 3-2.
Table 3-2: Vegetation associations of the study area and corresponding federal and state listed threatened communities Map Community TSC Act Listed Community EPBC Act Listed Community Unit FrW Blue Mountains - Blue Mountains Swamps in the Sydney Basin Temperate Highland Peat p130 Shoalhaven Hanging Bioregion (V) Swamps on Sandstone (E) Swamps FrW Tableland bog Blue Mountains Swamps in the Sydney Basin Temperate Highland Peat p53 Bioregion (V) Swamps on Sandstone (E) FrW Tableland swamp Montane Peatland and Swamp of the New Temperate Highland Peat p57 meadow England Tableland, NSW North Coast, Swamps on Sandstone (E) Sydney Basin, South East Corner, South Eastern Highlands and Australian Alps bioregions (E) Blue Mountains Swamps in the Sydney Basin Bioregion (V) H124 Blue Mountains heath Blue Mountains Swamps in the Sydney Basin Temperate Highland Peat Bioregion (V) Swamps on Sandstone (E) RF114 Sandstone scarp warm Lowland Rainforest in NSW North Coast and N/A temperate rainforest Sydney Basin Bioregion (E) V = Vulnerable E = Endangered CE = Critically Endangered
PAGE 11 Mount Victoria to Lithgow Great Western Highway Upgrade Route Options Development Biodiversity Working Paper
Figure 3-1: Vegetation communities
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Figure 3-2: Threatened ecological communities
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3.3. Threatened flora
On the basis of regional records and reports and the presence of suitable habitat, a total of 45 threatened flora species potentially occur in the study area. The list of species considered in the study is provided in Table 3-3 along with an assessment of the potential for each species to occur in the vegetation communities identified from the desktop assessment. The predicted presence is based on the known geographical distribution, preferred habitats for each species and the corresponding habitats in the study area1. From the threatened species atlas database obtained from DECC (April 2009), nine threatened flora species have been recorded within study area, including:
Asterolasia buxifolia (Asterolasia buxifolia) – endangered under the Threatened Species Conservation Act.
Bynoe’s wattle (Acacia bynoeana) – endangered under the Threatened Species Conservation Act and vulnerable under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act.
Smooth bush-pea (Pultenaea glabra) – vulnerable under both the Threatened Species Conservation Act and the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act.
Flockton wattle (Acacia flocktoniae) – vulnerable under both the Threatened Species Conservation Act and the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act.
Needle geebung (Persoonia acerosa) – vulnerable under both the Threatened Species Conservation Act and the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act.
Buttercup doubletail (Diuris aequalis) – endangered under the Threatened Species Conservation Act and vulnerable under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act.
Slaty Leek Orchid (Prasophyllum fuscum) – vulnerable under both the Threatened Species Conservation Act and the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act.
Small-flower Grevillea (Grevillea parviflora subsp. parviflora) – vulnerable under both the Threatened Species Conservation Act and the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act.
Velleia perfoliata – vulnerable under both the Threatened Species Conservation Act and the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act.
The locations of the recorded threatened flora species specific to the study area and the local area (i.e. 10 km radius surrounding the study area) are illustrated in Figure 3-2. This figure only provides the confirmed records of threatened species and it is recognised that other threatened species and locations may be present within the study area. The distribution and habitat requirements in Table 3-3 have been adapted from threatened species profiles on the DECC Threatened Species website.
PAGE 14 Mount Victoria to Lithgow Great Western Highway Upgrade Route Options Development Biodiversity Working Paper
Table 3-3: Known or potentially occurring threatened flora species Species Status Number of Known Potential habitat in Potential to occur in Preferred Habitat Types* records within 10 distribution* study area # study area# km of the study area* RoTAP RoTAP EPBC Act TSC Act Acacia bakeri - V - 2 North Coast – local Widespread Unlikely considering Rainforest and wet records are natural distribution sclerophyll forest introduced plants Acacia baueri subsp. - V 2RC- 0 Occurs to south of Localised Low Heath aspera study area Acacia bynoeana V E 3VC- 5 - present in Local Widespread Very High Heath and dry sclerophyll study area forest Acacia clunies-rossiae - V 2RC-t 0 Restricted Widespread Moderate Dry sclerophyll forest and distribution - occurs riparian areas to south of study area Acacia flocktoniae V V 2VC- 8 Local Widespread Very High Dry sclerophyll forest Acrophyllum australe V V 2VCi 0 South of study area Present Moderate Wet sclerophyll forest and – localised cliffs where there is constant occurrences supply of water Apatophyllum constablei E - 2EC- 0 North of study area Widespread Moderate Dry sclerophyll forest Asterolasia buxifolia - E - 2 - present in Local Localised Very High Riparian areas study area Astrotricha crassifolia V V 2VC- 0 North of study area Widespread Moderate Dry sclerophyll forest and woodland Baloskion longipes - V 2VCi 0 South of study area Present High Freshwater swamps and swales Boronia deanei V V 2VC 2 Local - north of Present - Localised High Heath and freshwater study area swamps
Caladenia tesselata V E 3VCa 0 Outside CMA sub- Present Low Grassy woodlands region Carex klaphakei - E 6 Local - restricted Restricted Moderate Freshwater swamps
PAGE 15 Mount Victoria to Lithgow Great Western Highway Upgrade Route Options Development Biodiversity Working Paper
Species Status Number of Known Potential habitat in Potential to occur in Preferred Habitat Types* records within 10 distribution* study area # study area# km of the study area* RoTAP RoTAP EPBC Act TSC Act distribution Cryptostylis hunteriana V V 3VC- 0 Outside CMA sub- Present Low Swampy heath and region woodland areas Darwinia peduncularis - V 3RCi 0 East and north of Widespread Moderate Dry sclerophyll forest the study area Derwentia blakelyi - V 2K 4 Local - restricted Widespread High Wet and dry sclerophyll distribution forests Diuris aequalis V E 3VC- 2 - present in Local Widespread Very High Grassy woodland study area Epacris hamiltonii E E 2ECi 174 Local Restricted Moderate Escarpment areas where there is a constant supply of water including riparian and swampy habitats Eucalyptus cannonii V V 2VCi 0 North of study area Localised Low Grassy woodlands and sclerophyll forests Eucalyptus copulans E E 2E 0 Southeast of the Restricted Low Riparian and swampy study area habitats Eucalyptus pulverulenta V V 3V 34 Local Widespread Very High Dry sclerophyll forests Euphrasia bowdeniae V V 2VCit 0 South east of the Localised Low Moist cliff faces study area Grammitis stenophylla - E - 0 North east of the Widespread Moderate Rainforest and wet study area sclerophyll forest Gyrostemon thesioides - E 2KC- 0 Restricted Widespread Moderate Sclerophyll forests and distribution - north riparian areas east of the study area Haloragodendron lucasii E E - 0 East and north of Localised Low Sclerophyll forests the study area Isopogon fletcheri V V 2VCat 16 Local Localised Moderate Dry sclerophyll forest and
PAGE 16 Mount Victoria to Lithgow Great Western Highway Upgrade Route Options Development Biodiversity Working Paper
Species Status Number of Known Potential habitat in Potential to occur in Preferred Habitat Types* records within 10 distribution* study area # study area# km of the study area* RoTAP RoTAP EPBC Act TSC Act heath near waterfalls Lastreopsis hispida - E - 0 East and north of Widespread Moderate Rainforest and wet the study area sclerophyll forest Leionema lachnaeoides E E 2ECi 12 Local Localised Moderate Heath Lepidosperma evansianum - V - 4 Local Localised Moderate Wet sandstone cliff faces Microstrobos fitzgeraldii E E 2ECi 0 South of the study Localised Low Escarpment areas near (Syn. Pherosphaera area seepage and waterfall areas fitzgeraldii) Persoonia acerosa V V 2VC- 25 - present in Local Widespread Very High Dry sclerophyll forests study area Persoonia hindii - E 2V 2 Local Widespread Very High Dry sclerophyll forest and woodland Persoonia hirsuta E E 3KCi 0 North of the study Widespread Moderate Dry sclerophyll open forest, area woodland and heath Persoonia marginata V V 2V 0 Restricted Widespread Moderate Dry sclerophyll open forest distribution - North west of the study area Pomaderris brunnea V V 2VC- 0 Restricted Widespread Moderate Wet sclerophyll forests and distribution - North riparian areas of the study area Prasophyllum fuscum V V 2V 2 Local Localised High Heath and seepage lines Prostanthera V V - 0 Restricted Widespread Moderate Dry sclerophyll forest and cryptandroides subsp. distribution - North heath cryptandroides of the study area Pultenaea glabra V V 3VCa 10 - present in Local Widespread Very High Wet and dry sclerophyll study area forest, swampy areas and heath Pultenaea villifera - E2 3RC- 0 East of the study Widespread Moderate Dry sclerophyll forest and
PAGE 17 Mount Victoria to Lithgow Great Western Highway Upgrade Route Options Development Biodiversity Working Paper
Species Status Number of Known Potential habitat in Potential to occur in Preferred Habitat Types* records within 10 distribution* study area # study area# km of the study area* RoTAP RoTAP EPBC Act TSC Act population in the Blue area woodlands Mountains LGA Rhizanthella slateri - V 3KC- 0 North of the study Widespread Moderate Sclerophyll forests and area heaths Thesium australe V V 3VCi+ 0 Outside CMA sub- Widespread Moderate Grassy woodland areas region Trachymene scapigera E E - 0 Restricted Restricted Unlikely Riparian areas (syn. T. saniculifolia) distribution outside CMA sub-region Velleia perfoliata V V 2VC- 2 - present in Local Localised High Shallow depressions on study area sandstone shelves and under cliffs Zieria involucrata V E 2VCa 4 Local Widespread Very High Wet and dry sclerophyll forest Zieria murphyi V V 2VC- 0 East of the study Widespread Moderate Dry sclerophyll forest area KEY RoTAP Codes (Briggs and Leigh 1996) EPBC Act and TSC Act Codes 2 = geographic Range in Australia less than 100km E = Endangered 3 = geographic Range in Australia greater than 100km V = Vulnerable V = Vulnerable – at risk over longer period (20-50years) E= Endangered – at risk within 10-20 years. # Potential habitat and occurrence R = Rare – uncommon plants with no current threats Widespread - dry and wet sclerophyll forest, and grassy woodlands C = Reserved Present - restricted distribution and/or specific habitat requirements within dry and wet sclerophyll K = Poorly Known forest, and grassy woodlands a = 1000 plants or more know from conservation reserves Localised - >100-300 ha includes heath, riparian habitats and escarpment/cliff habitats i = less than 100 plants in conservation reserves Restricted - <100 ha includes rainforest and freshwater wetlands - = reserved population size not accurately known # Potential to occur in study area based on known distributional limits and habitat requirements
1. Sources:
PAGE 18 Mount Victoria to Lithgow Great Western Highway Upgrade Route Options Development Biodiversity Working Paper
* Distribution and habitat requirement information adapted from: the Department of Environment and Climate Change (DECC updated 2005) Threatened Species Website (http://www.threatenedspecies.environment.nsw.gov.au/tsprofile/browse_allspecies.aspx): and the DECC Atlas of NSW Wildlife (March 2009). + Number of individuals considered an insignificant loss and ability to tolerate a loss from: DECC Biobanking Threatened Species Profile Database (2009) http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/biobanking/biobankingtspd.htm
Footnote: # Based on a combination of the DECC (2009a) Vegetation types database and DECC (2009b) Threatened Species Profile database * Distribution and habitat requirement information adapted from: the Department of Environment and Climate Change (DECC updated 2005) Threatened Species Website (http://www.threatenedspecies.environment.nsw.gov.au/tsprofile/browse_allspecies.aspx): and the DECC Atlas of NSW Wildlife (March 2009). + Number of individuals considered an insignificant loss and ability to tolerate a loss from: DECC (2009b) Threatened Species Profile Database
PAGE 19 Mount Victoria to Lithgow Great Western Highway Upgrade Route Options Development Biodiversity Working Paper
Figure 3-3: Approximate location of threatened plants recorded in the study area
PAGE 20 Mount Victoria to Lithgow Great Western Highway Upgrade Route Options Development Biodiversity Working Paper
3.4. Fungi
One threatened fungi species (Hygrocybe anomala var. ianthinomarginata) is known from the Blue Mountains National Park near the study area and has potential to occur in the area. It is a small terrestrial, brightly coloured gilled fungus and is listed as vulnerable under the NSW Threatened Species Conservation Act.
The type locality is from Lane Cove Bushland Park and other records are known from the Royal and Blue Mountains National Parks. It occurs in gallery warm temperate forests associated with low fertility alluvial sandy soils dominated by Lilly Pilly (Acmena smithii), Grey Myrtle (Backhousia myrtifolia), Cheese Tree (Glochidion ferdinandi) and Sweet Pittosporum (Pittosporum undulatum). Fruiting bodies begin appearing mid May to mid July sometimes to August (Department of Environment and Climate Change 2005). Hygrocybe anomala var. ianthinomarginata is potentially present in sandstone scarp warm temperate rainforest (RF114) and wet sclerophyll forests (WSF73; WSF66) on Hawkesbury sandstone (Department of Environment and Climate Change 2005).
3.5. Threatened fauna
A diverse range of fauna habitats occur in the study area. These have been identified from the broad-scale mapping of vegetation communities in the region (Tozer et. al. 2006) and classification of priority fauna habitats (Department of Environment and Climate Change 2005). Fauna habitat in the study area includes:
Dry sclerophyll forest. Heathland.
Wet sclerophyll forest. Escarpments and rocky outcrops.
Woodland. Freshwater aquatic/wetland habitats.
Derived grasslands. Cleared agricultural landscapes.
Swamp forest (forested wetlands) and riparian areas. Rainforest.
On the basis of regional records, reports and the presence of suitable habitat, a total of 39 threatened fauna species have been considered as potentially occurring in the study area. The list of species considered is detailed in Appendix C along with the known geographical distribution, preferred habitats for each species and the corresponding habitats in the study area. The potential occurrence of threatened fauna species in each of the habitats is detailed in Table 3-4.
The locations of recorded threatened fauna species specific to the study area and surrounding local area are illustrated in Figure 3-3. This figure only provides the locations of the confirmed sightings and it is likely that other threatened fauna species and other localities for threatened fauna will be present within the study area.
PAGE 21 Mount Victoria to Lithgow Great Western Highway Upgrade Route Options Development Biodiversity Working Paper
Table 3-4: Potential occurrence of threatened fauna species within the habitats of the study area Broad Community (Tozer Threatened Fauna Species Habitat (Predicted Presence) # Potential important habitat values Fauna Habitat Structural et al 2006) Conservation Type Value Blue Mountains Mammals: Eastern Pygmy Possum, Microbats (7), Spotted-tailed Quoll, Southern Roosting/nesting habitats- including Very High ridgetop forest Brown Bandicoot, Yellow-bellied Glider, Squirrel Glider, Brush-tailed Rock Wallaby, hollow trees; and shallow overhangs, (DSF136) Koala, Long-nosed Potoroo, Grey-headed Flying-fox crevices and caves for cave-roosting Birds: Regent Honeyeater, Swift Parrot, Gang-gang Cockatoo, Brown Treecreeper, microbats and brush-tailed rock Black-chinned Honeyeater, Barking Owl, Powerful Owl, Masked Owl wallaby Reptiles: Broad-headed Snake Frogs: Giant Burrowing Frog, Red-crowned Toadlet Total: 26 Megalong-Tonalli Mammals: Eastern Pygmy Possum, Microbats (7), Spotted-tailed Quoll, Southern Roosting/nesting habitats- including Very High sandstone forest Brown Bandicoot, Yellow-bellied Glider, Squirrel Glider, Koala, Long-nosed Potoroo, hollow trees; shallow overhangs, (DSF244) Grey-headed Flying-fox crevices and caves for cave-roosting Birds: Regent Honeyeater, Swift Parrot, Gang-gang Cockatoo, Brown Treecreeper, microbats and brush-tailed rock Black-chinned Honeyeater, Barking Owl, Powerful Owl, Masked Owl wallaby Reptiles: Broad-headed Snake Larvae host plants for Bathurst Frogs: Giant Burrowing Frog, Red-crowned Toadlet Copper Butterfly (Bursaria spinosa) Dry Sclerophyll Invertebrates: Bathurst Copper Butterfly Forests Total: 26 Kowmung - Mammals: Eastern Pygmy Possum, Microbats (7), Spotted-tailed Quoll, Yellow-bellied Roosting/nesting habitats- including Very High Wollondilly gorge Glider, Squirrel Glider, Koala, Long-nosed Potoroo, Grey-headed Flying-fox hollow trees; shallow overhangs, woodland (DSF37) Birds: Regent Honeyeater, Swift Parrot, Gang-gang Cockatoo, Glossy Black- crevices and caves for cave-roosting Cockatoo, Brown Treecreeper Black-chinned Honeyeater, Barking Owl, Powerful Owl, microbats and brush-tailed rock Masked Owl wallaby Frogs: Giant Burrowing Frog Feed-trees present for Glossy Black- Invertebrates: Bathurst Copper Butterfly Cockatoo (Allocasuarina torulosa) Total: 26 Larvae host plants for Bathurst Copper Butterfly (Bursaria spinosa)
Tableland ridge Mammals: Eastern Pygmy Possum, Microbats (7), Southern Brown Bandicoot, Yellow- Roosting/nesting habitats- including Very High forest (DSF8) bellied Glider, Squirrel Glider, Brush-tailed Rock Wallaby, Koala, Long-nosed Potoroo, hollow trees; shallow overhangs, Grey-headed Flying-fox crevices and caves for cave-roosting Birds: Regent Honeyeater, Swift Parrot, Gang-gang Cockatoo, Brown Treecreeper microbats and brush-tailed rock Black-chinned Honeyeater, Barking Owl, Powerful Owl, Masked Owl wallaby
PAGE 22 Mount Victoria to Lithgow Great Western Highway Upgrade Route Options Development Biodiversity Working Paper
Broad Community (Tozer Threatened Fauna Species Habitat (Predicted Presence) # Potential important habitat values Fauna Habitat Structural et al 2006) Conservation Type Value Reptiles: Broad-headed Snake Frogs: Giant Burrowing Frog, Red-crowned Toadlet Total: 25 Tableland hills Mammals: Eastern Pygmy Possum, Microbats (7), Spotted-tailed Quoll, Squirrel Roosting/nesting habitats- hollow High grassy woodland Glider, Koala, Long-nosed Potoroo, Grey-headed Flying-fox trees (GW23) Birds: Regent Honeyeater, Swift Parrot, Brown Treecreeper, Hooded Robin, Black- chinned Honeyeater, Barking Owl, Powerful Owl, Masked Owl Total: 20 Tableland grassy Mammals: Eastern Pygmy Possum, Microbats (7), Spotted-tailed Quoll, Squirrel Roosting/nesting habitats- hollow High box-gum woodland Glider, Koala, Grey-headed Flying-fox trees Grassy (GW24) Birds: Regent Honeyeater, Swift Parrot, Brown Treecreeper, Hooded Robin, Black- Woodlands chinned Honeyeater, Barking Owl, Powerful Owl, Masked Owl Total: 20 Tableland granite Mammals: Eastern Pygmy Possum, Microbats (7), Spotted-tailed Quoll, Squirrel Roosting/nesting habitats- hollow High grassy woodland Glider, Koala, Grey-headed Flying-fox trees (GW420) Birds: Regent Honeyeater, Swift Parrot, Brown Treecreeper, Hooded Robin, Black- chinned Honeyeater, Barking Owl, Powerful Owl, Masked Owl Total: 19 High range Mammals: Eastern Pygmy Possum, Microbats (7), Spotted-tailed Quoll, Yellow-bellied Roosting/nesting habitats- hollow Very High sheltered forest Glider, Squirrel Glider, Koala, Long-nosed Potoroo, Grey-headed Flying-fox trees (WSF66) Birds: Regent Honeyeater, Swift Parrot, Powerful Owl, Sooty Owl Frogs: Southern Barred Frog, Stuttering Frog, Booroolong Frog; Little John’s Tree Frog Wet Total: 21 Sclerophyll Cool montane wet Mammals: Eastern Pygmy Possum, Microbats (7), Yellow-bellied Glider, Squirrel Roosting/nesting habitats- hollow Very High Forest forest (WSF73) Glider, Koala, Long-nosed Potoroo, Grey-headed Flying-fox trees Birds: Regent Honeyeater, Swift Parrot, Powerful Owl, Sooty Owl Frogs: Southern Barred Frog, Stuttering Frog, Booroolong Frog; Little John’s Tree Frog Total: 21 Riparian and Riverbank forest Mammals: Microbats (7), Spotted-tailed Quoll, Squirrel Glider Roosting/nesting habitats- hollow Moderate Forested (FoW32) Total: 9 trees Wetlands
PAGE 23 Mount Victoria to Lithgow Great Western Highway Upgrade Route Options Development Biodiversity Working Paper
Broad Community (Tozer Threatened Fauna Species Habitat (Predicted Presence) # Potential important habitat values Fauna Habitat Structural et al 2006) Conservation Type Value Blue Mountains- Mammals: Spotted-tailed Quoll, Large-footed Myotis Moderate Shoalhaven Reptiles: Blue Mountains Water Skink hanging swamps Invertebrates: Giant Dragonfly Freshwater (FrW130) Total: 4 Swamps Tableland swamp Mammals: Spotted-tailed Quoll, Large-footed Myotis Moderate meadow (FrW57) Birds: Australian Painted Snipe Invertebrates: Giant Dragonfly Total: 4 Blue Mountains Mammals: Eastern Pygmy Possum, Microbats (7), Spotted-tailed Quoll, Southern Feed-trees present for Glossy Black- High Heath heath (H124) Brown Bandicoot, , Squirrel Glider, Long-nosed Potoroo, , Glossy Black-Cockatoo Cockatoo (Allocasuarina nana, Total: 12 A.distyla) Sandstone scarp Mammals: Eastern Pygmy Possum, Spotted-tailed Quoll Moderate Rainforest warm temperate Birds: Powerful Owl rainforest (RF114) Total: 3 Dams and Dams and other Birds: Australian Painted Snipe, Blue-billed Duck Moderate other waterbodies Total: 2 waterbodies Cleared areas Mammals: Microbats (7), Spotted-tailed Quoll Moderate Cleared including Derived Total: 8 Landscapes Grasslands
# Based on a combination of the DECC (2009a) Vegetation types database and DECC (2009b) Threatened Species Profile Database
PAGE 24 Mount Victoria to Lithgow Great Western Highway Upgrade Route Options Development Biodiversity Working Paper
3.6. Migratory fauna
A total of 12 migratory fauna species were identified in the EPBC Act Protected Matters Report (October 2008) as potentially occurring in the study area. These migratory species are listed in Table 3-5 along with their preferred habitat requirements and a preliminary assessment of their likely presence in the study area.
Table 3-5 Potential occurrence of migratory species (EPBC Act) Common Species Preferred habitat Likely presence Name MIGRATORY TERRESTRIAL SPECIES Black-faced Monarcha Rainforests, eucalypt forests and coastal Possible Monarch melanopsis scrubs White-bellied Haliaeetus Predominantly ocean shores and estuaries, Low probability. Sea Eagle leucogaster occasionally inland rivers and streams. White- Hirundapus An aerial foraging species which occupies a Potentially fly over, forage and throated caudacutus range of habitats from open modified refuge in the study area. Needletail landscapes to woodland and forest. Rufous Fantail Rhipidura Predominantly rainforest and forests Possible. rufifrons Rainbow Bee- Merops Predominantly woodland and timbered plains Possible. eater ornatus Regent Xanthomyza A nomadic species typically associated with Low possibility. Honeyeater phrygia forest and woodland habitats with the presence of suitable foraging species such as Yellow Box and Red Ironbark Satin Myagra Predominantly forests, in particular thick Possible Flycatcher cyanoleuca vegetation in gullies MIGRATORY WETLAND/MARINE SPECIES Latham’s Gallinago Wetlands, wet meadows, flooded grassy Not expected. snipe hardwickii paddocks, open grassland and drainage areas Painted snipe Rostratula Wetlands, reedlands, marshes and swamps Not expected australis) Cattle Egret Ardea ibis Grasslands, woodlands and wetlands, and is Potential habitat present in modified not common in arid areas. It also uses rural landscapes. pastures and croplands, especially where drainage is poor. Often seen with cattle. Great Egret Ardea alba Prefers shallow water, particularly when Possible, although habitat not well flowing, but may be seen on any watered represented area, including damp grasslands. Fork-tailed Apus pacificus The species breeds in Asia and migrate to Potential to occasionally fly over and Swift Australia in the summer from which they forage in the region however unlikely spend their entire life-cycle on the wing, to be specific populations dependent hunting, resting and sleeping. on the study area.
PAGE 25 Mount Victoria to Lithgow Great Western Highway Upgrade Route Options Development Biodiversity Working Paper
3.7. Priority Fauna Habitat and wildlife corridors
Priority Fauna Habitats and wildlife corridors have been mapped within the region by the Department of Environment and Climate Change. Priority Fauna Habitats are fauna habitats that have exceptional importance for the conservation of vertebrate fauna, particularly threatened species, and these can be used to guide conservation efforts toward areas that will have the greatest outcomes for fauna. Priority Fauna Habitats were identified by the fauna field assessment projects undertaken in the Greater Southern Sydney Region, and habitats were then mapped across the whole of the Catchment Management Authority region using existing vegetation mapping. The intent is for Priority Fauna Habitats to assist land management decisions including feral animal management, fire management, threatened species management actions, management of Key Threatening Processes and land acquisitions for conservation purposes.
Only one type of Priority Fauna Habitat has been identified within the study area (Riverflat Forests), although Grassy Woodlands are located to the south-west of the study area. Remnant patches of Riverflat Forests are situated along the banks of the waterways within the study area, predominately along the River Lett in the vicinity of Hartley, as shown in Figure 3-4.
Figure 3-4 also shows the location of the Blue Mountains Western Escarpment wildlife corridor, which has been identified by the Department of Environment and Climate Change as a fauna movement corridor within the region. The wildlife corridor generally follows the eastern boundary of the study area, avoiding the populated areas of Mount Victoria. As can be seen, the wildlife corridor within the study area is generally narrower than the areas to the north and south of the study area, indicating its importance in providing a connection to these wider areas. Potential severance of this corridor is therefore an important consideration. Potential impacts to priority fauna habitats and wildlife corridors are summarised in Table 3-6.
Table 3-6: Potential impacts of each corridor on fauna habitats and wildlife corridors
Corridor Potential Impacts to priority fauna habitats Potential impacts to fauna corridors Modified Orange An area of Priority Fauna Habitat will potentially be There is potential for some impacts to (Option 1 and 2) impacted with 7 ha of River-flat forest mapped as priority the identified Blue Mountains Western habitat within the corridor. There is potential for impacts to Escarpment corridor, however there is areas of high quality woodland habitats surrounding the only 9-10 ha of the mapped wildlife existing highway. corridor within the proposed corridor. Modified Red An area of Priority Fauna Habitat will potentially be There is potential for impacts to the (Option 1 and 2) impacted with 2.3 ha of River-flat forest mapped as priority identified Blue Mountains Western habitat within the corridor. There is potential for impacts to Escarpment corridor, with 13 ha of the areas of high quality woodland habitats surrounding River mapped wildlife corridor within the Lett and sclerophyll forest surrounding Mount Victoria and proposed corridor. Lithgow. Modified Green A small area of Priority Fauna Habitat will potentially be There is potential for significant impacted comprising 0.4-0.5 ha of River-flat forest. There impacts to the identified Blue is potential for impacts to areas of high quality fauna Mountains Western Escarpment habitats on the Darling Causeway and woodland habitats corridor, with 200 ha of the mapped surrounding River Lett. wildlife corridor within the proposed corridor. Modified Purple A small area of Priority Fauna Habitat will potentially be There is potential for significant impacted comprising 0.4 ha of River-flat forest. There is impacts to the identified Blue potential for impacts to areas of high quality fauna habitats Mountains Western Escarpment on the Darling Causeway. corridor, with 251 ha of the mapped wildlife corridor within the proposed corridor.
PAGE 26 Mount Victoria to Lithgow Great Western Highway Upgrade Route Options Development Biodiversity Working Paper
Figure 3-4: Approximate location of threatened fauna recorded in the study area
PAGE 27 Mount Victoria to Lithgow Great Western Highway Upgrade Route Options Development Biodiversity Working Paper
Figure 3-5: Wildlife corridor and priority fauna habitat
PAGE 28 Mount Victoria to Lithgow Great Western Highway Upgrade Route Options Development Biodiversity Working Paper
4. Corridor assessment
The vegetation communities and habitat types within the confirmed corridors were assessed and the potential ecological constraints have been tabulated for each corridor.
4.1. Potential vegetation impacts
The total area of vegetation intersecting each corridor was quantified using GIS software and the results are summarised below in Figure 4-1.
600
500
400
300 Area (ha)
200
100
0
Proposed Route Option
Figure 4-1: Total area of vegetation within each corridor
4.2. Biodiversity values
The conservation value of each of the vegetation communities in the study area as mapped by Tozer et al (2006) has been assessed based on a number of conservation criteria (refer to Appendix B). These criteria include:
Number of threatened flora species with potential to occur in the vegetation community based on the known distribution and habitat requirements (refer to Table 3-3; Appendix A).
Number of threatened fauna species to occur in the vegetation community based on the known distribution and habitat requirements (refer to Table 3-4; Appendix C).
Whether the community is consistent with threatened ecological communities listed under state and federal legislation.
The percentage of the community that has been cleared in the region and the area of the community in conservation reserves (Tozer et al 2006 and DECC Vegetation Database).
PAGE 29 Mount Victoria to Lithgow Great Western Highway Upgrade Route Options Development Biodiversity Working Paper
A ranking system was used to classify the conservation value of the vegetation communities into moderate, high or very-high conservation classes. The ranking system is based on the above characteristics which were each assigned a score. Further details on the methodology of this approach are provided in Appendix B. The conservation value of the vegetation communities mapped in the study area are summarised in Table 4-1, and the total area of each community and conservation value class intersected by each corridor is provided in Table 4-2.
Table 4-1: Summary of conservation values for each vegetation community Community (Tozer et al 2006) Area (ha) Total Reserved Estimated % Legal Status No. of threatened No. threatened No. Relative extant in area extant (ha) / of pre- flora predicted (High- flora predicted threatened Conservation the study known proportion cleared area Very High (Moderate fauna spp. Value area (ha) reserved remaining Likelihood)1 Likelihood)2 predicted Blue Mountains ridgetop forest (DSF136) 1226.747 28600 21000 / 73% 55-70% 9 10 26 High Megalong-Tonalli sandstone forest 147.581 29400 26200 / 89% 80-95% 9 10 26 Moderate (DSF244) Kowmung-Wollondilly gorge woodland 10.558 26100 24500 / 94% >85% 9 11 26 Moderate (DSF37) Tableland ridge forest (DSF8) 110.554 44500 25600 / 58% 80-90% 9 10 25 High Tableland hills grassy woodland (GW23) 68.511 18800 720 / 4% 20-40% 1 1 20 High Tableland grassy box-gum woodland 854.763 17800 10 / <1% <1% 1 1 20 Very High (GW24) Tableland granite grassy woodland (GW420) 357.181 8600 10 / <1% <1% 2 1 19 Very High High range sheltered forest (WSF66) 1.999 20900 14100 / 67% 55-75% 4 5 21 High Cool montane wet forest (WSF73) 940.921 103200 60300 / 58% 35-55% 4 5 21 High Riverbank forest (FoW32) 13.86 9200 3900 / 42% 25-45% 1 3 9 Moderate Blue Mountains-Shoalhaven hanging 12.026 5200 3600 / 69% 60-75% V-TSC Act; E- 5 2 4 Very High swamps (FrW130) EPBC Act
PAGE 30 Mount Victoria to Lithgow Great Western Highway Upgrade Route Options Development Biodiversity Working Paper
Community (Tozer et al 2006) Area (ha) Total Reserved Estimated % Legal Status No. of threatened No. threatened No. Relative extant in area extant (ha) / of pre- flora predicted (High- flora predicted threatened Conservation the study known proportion cleared area Very High (Moderate fauna spp. Value area (ha) reserved remaining Likelihood)1 Likelihood)2 predicted Tableland swamp meadow (FrW57) 53.066 1300 180 / 14% <5% V-TSC Act; E- 5 2 4 Very High EPBC Act Blue Mountains heath (H124) 188.825 8000 6200 / 78% 70-85% V-TSC Act; E- 5 7 12 Very High EPBC Act Sandstone scarp warm temperate rainforest 4.854 7200 6200 / 86% 80-95% E-TSC Act 1 2 3 Moderate (RF114) Footnote: Details on predicted presence of threatened species in each of the vegetation communities has been sourced from a combination of the DECC (2009a) Vegetation types database, and DECC (2009b) Threatened Species Profile Database 1. Indicates the predicted number of threatened flora species with a High to Very High likelihood of occurring within the associated vegetation community. 2. Indicates the predicted number of threatened flora species with a Moderate likelihood of occurring within the associated vegetation community. 3. Indicates predicted number of threatened fauna species likely to occur in the associated vegetation community based on the habitat preferences of the species and known distribution.
PAGE 31 Mount Victoria to Lithgow Great Western Highway Upgrade Route Options Development Biodiversity Working Paper
Table 4-2: Area of vegetation communities intersected by each corridor Community (Tozer et al 2006) Orange Option 1 Orange Option 2 Red Option 1 Red Option 2 Green Purple Total in Study Area (ha)
Blue Mountains heath (H124) 4.0 0.9 4.0 0.9 18.2 40.7 188.8 Tableland swamp meadow (FrW57) 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 2.4 11.9 53.1 Blue Mountains-Shoalhaven hanging swamps (FrW130) 0.9 0.9 0.9 0.9 2.3 2.3 12.0 Tableland grassy box-gum woodland (GW24) 34.7 35.1 37.4 37.4 121.6 167.6 854.8 Tableland granite grassy woodland (GW420) 140.3 141.4 46.5 46.5 7.3 7.4 357.2 Total - Very High Conservation Value 179.8 178.3 88.7 85.7 151.8 230.0 1465.9 Tableland hills grassy woodland (GW23) 28.1 28.4 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 68.5 High range sheltered forest (WSF66) 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 Cool montane wet forest (WSF73) 46.2 44.8 66.5 65.2 118.5 87.3 940.9 Blue Mountains ridgetop forest (DSF136) 52.4 48.1 52.8 48.6 102.2 156.7 1226.7 Tableland ridge forest (DSF8) 23.8 23.8 27.0 27.0 26.8 26.8 110.6 Total - High Conservation Value 152.4 147.1 148.4 142.8 249.6 272.8 2348.7 Riverbank forest (FoW32) 6.4 6.4 1.5 1.5 0.0 13.9 Megalong-Tonalli sandstone forest (DSF244) 17.1 18.0 11.6 12.4 8.4 0.0 147.6 Kowmung-Wollondilly gorge woodland (DSF37) 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 10.6 Sandstone scarp warm temperate rainforest (RF114) 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 4.9 Total - Moderate Conservation Value 23.5 24.4 13.1 13.9 8.4 0.0 176.9 Total 356 350 250 242 410 503 3991
PAGE 32 Mount Victoria to Lithgow Great Western Highway Upgrade Route Options Development Biodiversity Working Paper
4.3. Impact analysis
4.3.1. Potential vegetation impacts
The area of vegetation in each corridor in the three conservation value classes is graphically displayed in Figure 4-2. The Modified Purple corridor has the highest area of very-high conservation value vegetation (230 ha), followed by the Modified Orange (Option 1 and 2) corridors (c.180 ha), the Modified Green (c.152 ha) corridor and the Modified Red (Option 1 and 2) corridors (c.89 ha). The distribution of these vegetation conservation classes has been mapped (adapted from Tozer et al 2006) and is provided in Figure 4-5. Vegetation conservation classes have also been mapped relative to each individual corridor and these are provided in Appendix D.
Corridor
Figure 4-2: Summary of area of vegetation community conservation classes within each corridor
4.3.2. Threatened species habitat
The threatened species habitat quality was determined through assessing the number of species each vegetation community potentially provides habitat for. The results are summarised in Figures 4-3 and 4-4 and mapped in Figure 4-6 and 4-7.
PAGE 33 Mount Victoria to Lithgow Great Western Highway Upgrade Route Options Development Biodiversity Working Paper
A scale of very low value to very-high value has been used based on the number of threatened species predicted to occur in each of the habitats identified as shown below:
Threatened fauna Threatened flora 0 Very Low 0 Low 1-5 Low 1-2 Moderate 6-10 Moderate 3-5 High 11-20 High 6-10 Very High
21+ Very High
Corridor
Figure 4-3: Summary of area of threatened fauna habitat conservation classes within each corridor
The Modified Green and Modified Purple corridors support the largest areas of very-high quality habitat for threatened fauna species, mainly comprising the areas of wet and dry sclerophyll forest along the Darling Causeway. The Modified Purple and Modified Orange (Option 1 and 2) corridors support the largest areas of high quality habitat for threatened fauna species including grassy woodland areas in the Hartley Valley, and for the Modified Purple corridor hanging swamps/heathlands along the Darling Causeway.
PAGE 34 Mount Victoria to Lithgow Great Western Highway Upgrade Route Options Development Biodiversity Working Paper
Corridor
Figure 4-4: Summary of area of threatened flora habitat conservation classes within each corridor
The Modified Purple corridor supports the largest areas of very-high quality habitat for threatened flora species, closely followed by the Modified Green corridor, comprising the areas of dry sclerophyll forest along the Darling Causeway. The Modified Purple corridor and Modified Green corridor support the largest areas of high quality habitat for threatened flora species including wet sclerophyll forests and heathlands in the Darling Causeway area and on slopes at the northern end of the study area. The Modified Orange (Option 1 and 2) corridors support the largest area of moderate quality habitat for threatened species.
PAGE 35 Mount Victoria to Lithgow Great Western Highway Upgrade Route Options Development Biodiversity Working Paper
Figure 4-5: Vegetation Community Conservation Values
PAGE 36 Mount Victoria to Lithgow Great Western Highway Upgrade Route Options Development Biodiversity Working Paper
Figure 4-6: Threatened Fauna Habitat Conservation Values
PAGE 37 Mount Victoria to Lithgow Great Western Highway Upgrade Route Options Development Biodiversity Working Paper
Figure 4-7: Threatened Flora Habitat Conservation Values
PAGE 38 Mount Victoria to Lithgow Great Western Highway Upgrade Route Options Development Biodiversity Working Paper
4.3.3. Priority fauna habitat and wildlife corridors
The area of Priority Fauna Habitats and the Blue Mountains Western Escarpment wildlife corridor as defined by the Department of Environment and Climate Change (2005) within each corridor has been calculated and is graphically displayed in Figure 4-8.
Corridor
Figure 4-8: Summary of area of mapped Priority Fauna Habitat and Blue Mountains Western Escarpment Corridor (DECC 2005) within each corridor
4.3.4. Blue Mountains National Park
The Modified Green and Modified Purple corridors could potentially have impacts on the Blue Mountains National Park on the eastern side of the Darling Causeway, including threatened hanging swamp communities. There is potential for indirect impacts to areas of the Blue Mountains National Park from the construction and operation of a highway along the Darling Causeway, in particular changes to groundwater and increased surface runoff potentially altering the hydrological regimes of threatened swamp communities downstream of the causeway.
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5. Summary and conclusions
5.1. Summary of key issues
The conservation value of the vegetation within each corridor is summarised below including the area of very-high and high conservation values for vegetation communities, threatened species habitat and priority habitats and corridors. The total column to the far right provides an indication of the combined conservation values of each of the corridors.
A map of each of the corridors overlaid onto the identified conservation values of the vegetation communities is provided in Appendix D.
Table 4-3: Summary of the potential impacts for each of the identified conservation value criteria Conservation Conservation Conservation Priority fauna Value Vegetation Value Fauna Value Flora habitat and Total Corridor (ha) Habitat (ha) Habitat (ha) corridors (ha) (ha) Very Very Very Very High High High High High High Corridors Habitat Modified Orange Option 1 203 55 141 207 93 52 7 9 767 Modified Orange Option 2 205 54 137 206 90 49 7 11 759 Modified Red Option 1 84 71 160 88 91 73 12 2 581 Modified Red Option 2 84 70 155 85 88 68 13 2 565
Modified Green 131 123 258 147 137 139 0.51 201 1136.51
Modified Purple 187 92 273 216 184 130 0.44 248 1330.44
5.1.1. Modified Orange (Option 1 and 2)
The Modified Orange (Option 1 and 2) corridors essentially follow the existing highway alignment. There are a large number of threatened flora and fauna species recorded in dry sclerophyll forests and heaths in the vicinity of Mount Victoria which will be potentially impacted. However the Modified Orange (Option 1 and 2) corridors support a smaller area of these high and very-high quality threatened species habitats due to the corridor width being reduced in this area.
The Modified Orange (Option 1 and 2) corridors support large areas of very-high value vegetation and include all three of the highly-cleared mapped grassy woodland vegetation communities. However considering this corridor also supports disturbed lands such as road easements and cleared agricultural areas adjacent to the existing highway these high conservation communities could potentially be avoided.
5.1.2. Modified Red (Option 1 and 2)
The Modified Red (Option 1 and 2) corridors extend through Mount Victoria and enters the Hartley Valley in the vicinity of Berghofer’s Pass, before travelling in a north-west direction along the foothills of the western side of the Mount York escarpment traversing through largely cleared areas. There is some potential for impacts to threatened flora species on
PAGE 41 Mount Victoria to Lithgow Great Western Highway Upgrade Route Options Development Biodiversity Working Paper
the escarpment in the Mount Victoria area however significantly less than the Modified Purple and Modified Green corridors. The Modified Red (Option 1 and 2) corridors support a smaller area of these very-high quality threatened species habitats and vegetation communities as these corridors avoid larger patches of remnant vegetation and due to the corridor width being reduced in width in several areas.
The corridor continues to travel across the valley, where there is potential to directly affect and potentially fragmented areas of very-high conservation value vegetation including grassy woodlands. The Modified Red (Option 1 and 2) also passes in proximity to the recorded site of the endangered plant species Asterolasia buxifolia. This species was only recently re-discovered in 2000 and is currently only known to occur in this one location. The population size is estimated to be in the order of 50-100 plants. There is some potential for the red corridor to have indirect impacts to the habitat for Asterolasia buxifolia.
The Modified Red corridor will potentially result in severance of habitats and existing wildlife corridors in the Hartley Valley area.
5.1.3. Modified Green
The Modified Green corridor is similar to the Modified Purple corridor outlined below, except it enters into the valley to the south of the latter and travels on the southern side of the River Lett. It traverses through a smaller area of dry sclerophyll forest on the Darling Causeway; however the close proximity to River Lett and tributaries increases the potential for this option to impact upon high and very-high conservation value vegetation including priority fauna habitats and grassy woodlands.
There is potential for the Modified Green corridor to fragment the Blue Mountains Western Escarpment wildlife corridor (DECC 2005). In addition, consideration also needs to be given regarding the proximity of the corridor to the Blue Mountains National Park and the World Heritage Area that is situated along the eastern edge of the study area.
5.1.4. Modified Purple
This corridor generally follows the eastern and northern boundaries of the study area. It will potentially impact on large areas of remnant vegetation including dry sclerophyll forests and areas of the high conservation value hanging swamps (vulnerable under the NSW Threatened Species Conservation Act and endangered under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act) along the Darling Causeway. There is a high potential for threatened flora and fauna species to be present in these communities with numerous records in vegetation surrounding the township of Mount Victoria, in particular Bynoe’s wattle (Acacia bynoeana), Flockton wattle (Acacia flocktoniae), needle geebung (Persoonia acerosa), smooth-bush-pea (Pultenaea glabra) and numerous threatened fauna including spotted-tail quoll, powerful owl and red-crowned toadlet to name a few.
The Modified Purple corridor enters the valley in the vicinity of Hartley Vale Road and follows the foothills of the northern escarpment, on the north side of River Lett. In this area very-high conservation value grassy woodland communities have been identified (Tozer et al 2006) and will potentially be impacted. These woodland areas may also provide high quality habitat attributes for threatened fauna including woodland bird species, microbats and spotted-tail quoll.
The Modified Purple corridor would generally follow the alignment of an identified north-south wildlife corridor and therefore has the potential to result in the significant severance of this corridor, particularly in the location of the valley. This corridor contain the largest area (c. 250 ha) of the identified Blue Mountains Western Escarpment wildlife corridor (DECC 2005). Consideration also needs to be given regarding the proximity of the corridor to the Blue Mountains National Park and the World Heritage Area that is situated along the eastern edge of the study area.
PAGE 42 Mount Victoria to Lithgow Great Western Highway Upgrade Route Options Development Biodiversity Working Paper
5.2. Implications for route option development
A range of ecological opportunities and constraints should inform the placement of route options within the confirmed corridors. These considerations are outlined below.
5.2.1. Key opportunities
There are a number of opportunities associated with the development of route options that may assist in minimising the potential ecological impacts of the proposed upgrade:
Route options within the Modified Orange (Option 1 and 2) corridors could potentially avoid impacts to high conservation vegetation, severance of wildlife corridors and fragmentation habitats, if disturbed lands and cleared agricultural areas adjacent to the existing highway are utilised.
Route options within the Modified Red (Option 1 and 2) corridors could potentially result in minimal vegetation removal and avoid high quality threatened species habitats.
Route options within the Modified Orange (Option 1 and 2) corridors could potentially avoid significantly fragmenting wildlife corridors and habitats through widening of the existing Great Western Highway.
There is potential for ecological impacts to be offset through the acquisition and conservation of existing habitats on freehold lands in the local area.
To minimise potential impacts to wildlife corridors there are opportunities to incorporate fauna crossing structures into the road design such as designated fauna underpasses and habitat rehabilitation in adjacent areas to improve habitat connectivity where required.
5.2.2. Key constraints
Based on the current knowledge of the ecological attributes of each of the corridors, there are a number of areas that need careful consideration in the development and placement of route options:
Route options within the Modified Purple and Modified Green corridors will potentially have significant impacts to very-high value vegetation communities including threatened species habitats and endangered communities in the Darling Causeway area, and result in the fragmentation of the identified Blue Mountains Western Escarpment wildlife corridor (DECC 2005).
Route options within the Modified Red (Option 1 and 2) corridor will potentially fragment existing wildlife corridors in the Hartley Valley area and there is potential for indirect impacts to habitat for the endangered flora species Asterolasia buxifolia which is present downstream of these corridors on the River Lett.
Route options within the Modified Orange (Option 1 and 2) corridors will potentially impact areas of very-high conservation value grassy woodlands in the Hartley Valley.
Route options within the Blue Mountains National Park and World Heritage Area will have ecological implications, particularly regarding indirect impacts to threatened species habitat and endangered ecological communities.
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References
DECC (2005). Regional Biodiversity Corridors in the Hawkesbury-Nepean Catchment Management Authority Area. GIS data layer. Department of Environment and Climate Change (NSW).
DECC (2009a). Vegetation types database. Department of Environment and Climate Change (NSW) http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/biobanking/vegtypedatabase.htm
DECC (2009b). Threatened species profile database. Department of Environment and Climate Change (NSW) http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/biobanking/biobankingtspd.htm
Keith D A and Benson D H (1988) The natural vegetation of the Katoomba1:100,000 map sheet. Cunninghamia 2:107- 143.
Smith, P. and Smith, J. (1998). Sensitive vegetation units in the City of Blue Mountains. Report to Blue Mountains Conservation Society. P & J Smith Ecological Consultants, Blaxland.
Tozer, M., Turner, K., Simpson, C., Keith, D., Beukers, P., MacKenzie, B., Tindall, D. and Pennay, C (2006). Native vegetation of southeast NSW: a revised classification and map for the coast and eastern tablelands. Prepared for the NSW Department of Environment and Conservation and the NSW Department of Natural Resources.
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Appendix A Threatened flora species
Table A-1: Distribution and habitat requirements of threatened flora species Species Status Distribution and Habitat Requirements Potential Broad Habitat Type to occur in Study Area EPBC Act TSC Act RoTAP Mainly restricted to coastal south-east Queensland and north-east NSW, where it occurs north from Mullumbimby. Most Unlikely plants are on private property. In or near lowland subtropical rainforest, in adjacent eucalypt forest and in regrowth of considering Rainforest and wet Acacia bakeri - V - both. Usually occurs in the understorey but may occur as a large canopy tree. natural sclerophyll forest distribution Restricted to the Sydney region, occurring on the Kings Tableland in the central Blue Mountains and with sporadic Low occurrences on the Woronora Plateau in the Royal National Park, Mt. Keira district and at Wedderburn. May also occur Acacia baueri 2RC on the escarpment/Woronora Plateau in the Flat Rock Junction and Stanwell Tops area of the Illawarra. Occurs in low, - V Heath subsp. aspera - damp heathlands, often on exposed rocky outcrops over a wide range of climatic and topographical conditions. Appears to prefer open conditions; rarely observed where there is any shrub or tree canopy development; and many of the observations of this species have been made following fire, suggesting the species prefers early successional habitats. Found in central eastern NSW, from the Hunter District south to the Southern Highlands and west to the Blue Mountains. Very High It has recently been found in the Colymea and Parma Creek areas west of Nowra. Occurs in heath or dry sclerophyll Acacia 3VC Heath and dry V E forest on sandy soils. Seems to prefer open, sometimes slightly disturbed sites such as trail margins, edges of roadside bynoeana - sclerophyll forest spoil mounds and in recently burnt patches. Associated overstorey species include Corymbia gummifera, Eucalyptus haemastoma, Eucalyptus parramattensis, Banksia serrata and Angophora bakeri. Acacia clunies- 2RC Kanangra Wattle grows in the Kowmung and Coxs River areas entirely within Kanangra-Boyd and Blue Mountains Moderate Dry sclerophyll forest - V rossiae -t National Parks. Grows in dry sclerophyll forest on skeletal soils on rocky slopes, or on alluvium along creeks. and riparian areas Acacia 2VC The Flockton Wattle is found only in the Southern Blue Mountains at Mt Victoria, Megalong Valley and Yerranderie. Very High V V Dry sclerophyll forest flocktoniae - Grows in dry sclerophyll forest on sandstone.
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Species Status Distribution and Habitat Requirements Potential Broad Habitat Type to occur in Study Area EPBC Act TSC Act RoTAP Restricted, from Faulconbridge to Lawson, South of Bilpin and near Kings Tableland, in the Blue Mountains area, all Moderate within the Central Coast Botanical Subdivision, currently known from 27 sites. Grows in sheltered gullies beneath waterfalls and drip zones of rock overhangs and cliff faces, usually with a south-east to south-west aspect. Typically Wet sclerophyll found in areas where there is a more or less constant supply of water. Usually grows in shale interbeds at the base of forest and cliffs Acrophyllum 2VC V V small cliffs, in crevices on the sandstone rock face or on talus slopes. The rock overhangs are of Hawkesbury or where there is australe i Narrabeen Sandstone. Associated species commonly include Callicoma serratifolia, Dracophyllum secundum, Todea constant supply of barbata, Allania endlicheri and Blechnum ambiguum. Found adjacent to open forest of Eucalyptus piperita and water Angophora costata and closed forest of Doryphora sassafras and Ceratopetalum apetalum. Frequently growing on very thick layers of moss. Known from four sites, three of which are within Wollemi National Park near Gospers Mountain and Coorongooba Creek, Moderate the fourth of which is about 2 km from Glen Davis. Occurs in dry sclerophyll forest on slopes with a north to north-westerly Apatophyllum 2EC E - aspect. It typically grows near cliffs (i.e. near the base or just above). The soils at sites are sandy and skeletal, mostly on Dry sclerophyll forest constablei - Narrabeen sandstone. Found in association with Eucalyptus piperita, E. punctata, E. sparsifolia, Banksia serrata, Acacia linifolia, Cleistochloa rigida and Lomandra obliqua. Asterolasia Known from a single site at a granite outcrop in the riparian zone of the Lett River. Rediscovered in 2000, little is known Very High - E - Riparian areas buxifolia about the species. Astrotricha V Occurs near Patonga (Gosford LGA), and in Royal NP and on the Woronora Plateau (Sutherland and Campbelltown Moderate 2VC Dry sclerophyll forest crassifolia V LGAs). There is also a record from near Glen Davis (Lithgow LGA). Also in Victoria. Occurs in dry sclerophyll woodland - and woodland on sandstone. Dense Cord-rush has been recorded from the Kanangra-Boyd area to the Southern Tablelands but all populations are High small. Populations have been recorded in Blue Mountains National Park, Kanangra-Boyd National Park, Penrose State Baloskion 2VC Forest (in Hanging Rock Swamp), Morton National Park (The Vines), the Clyde Mountain area and Ballalaba (south of Freshwater swamps - V longipes i Braidwood). Commonly found in swamps or depressions in sandy alluvium, sometimes growing with sphagnum moss. and swales Also occurs in swales within tall forest, and in Black Gum (Eucalyptus aggregata) Woodland. Produces new shoots from underground stems (rhizomes), but little is known about its biology. There are scattered populations of Deane's Boronia between the far south-east of NSW and the Blue Mountains High Heath and Boronia deanei V V 2VC (including the upper Kangaroo River near Carrington Falls, the Endrick River near Nerriga and Nalbaugh Plateau), mainly freshwater swamps in conservation reserves. Grows in wet heath, often at the margins of open forest adjoining swamps or along streams.
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Species Status Distribution and Habitat Requirements Potential Broad Habitat Type to occur in Study Area EPBC Act TSC Act RoTAP Occurs in the Sydney area, Wyong, Ulladulla and Braidwood. Populations in Kiama and Queanbeyan are presumed Low Caladenia 3VC V E extinct. Has been recorded in the Huskisson area in the 1930s. Generally found in grassy sclerophyll woodland on clay Grassy woodlands tesselata a loam or sandy soils, however the population near Braidwood is in low woodland with stony soil. Carex Found in only three locations, from the Blue Mountains (at Blackheath and Mt Werong) to the Southern Highlands (at Moderate - E Freshwater swamps klaphakei Penrose). Grows with other native sedges and rushes in swamps on sandstone at altitudes of greater than 600 m. Recorded from as far north as Gibraltar Range National Park south into Victoria around the coast as far as Orbost. It is Low known historically from a number of localities on the NSW south coast and has been observed in recent years at many sites between Batemans Bay and Nowra although it is uncommon at all sites. Also recorded at Nelson Bay, Wyee, 3VC Washpool National Park, Nowendoc State Forest, Ku-Ring-Gai Chase National Park, Ben Boyd National Park. Does not Cryptostylis Swampy heath and V V - appear to have well defined habitat preferences and is known from a range of communities, including swamp-heath and hunteriana woodland areas woodland. The larger populations typically occur in woodland dominated by Scribbly Gum (Eucalyptus sclerophylla), Silvertop Ash (E. sieberi), Red Bloodwood (Corymbia gummifera) and Black She-oak (Allocasuarina littoralis). Seems to prefer open areas in the understorey of this community and is often found in association with the Large Tongue Orchid (Cryptostylis subulata) and the Tartan Tongue Orchid (Cryptostylis erecta). Occurs as local disjunct populations in coastal NSW with a couple of isolated populations in the Blue Mountains. It has Moderate Darwinia 3RC - V been recorded from Brooklyn, Berowra, Galston Gorge, Hornsby, Bargo River, Glen Davis, Mount Boonbourwa and Kings Dry sclerophyll forest peduncularis i Tableland. Usually grows on or near rocky outcrops on sandy, well drained, low nutrient soil over sandstone. Restricted to the western Blue Mountains, near Clarence, near Mt Horrible, on Nullo Mountain and in the Coricudgy High Derwentia Wet and dry - V 2K Range. Occurs at fewer than 20 locations, none of which is in a conservation reserve. Occurs in eucalypt forest, often in blakelyi sclerophyll forests moist areas. The Buttercup Doubletail has been recorded in Kanangra-Boyd National Park, Gurnang State Forest, towards Wombeyan Very High 3VC Caves, the Taralga - Goulburn area, and the ranges between Braidwood, Tarago and Bungendore. The Type collection Diuris aequalis V E Grassy woodland - (from the 19th Century) is from Liverpool, west of Sydney. Recorded in forest, low open woodland with grassy understorey and secondary grassland on the higher parts of the Southern and Central Tablelands
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Species Status Distribution and Habitat Requirements Potential Broad Habitat Type to occur in Study Area EPBC Act TSC Act RoTAP Occurs in the Blue Mountains, west of Sydney. Found at 72 sites within three creek catchments. The creeks occur in an Moderate altitude range of 810 - 940 m a.s.l. and are all located on the northern side of the escarpment and flow into the Grose Valley. All known sites occur within a radius of approximately 5 km. Has a very specific habitat, being found on or Escarpment areas adjacent to Narrabeen sandstone cliffs alongside perennial creeks, often below plateau hanging swamps. The soil where there is a Epacris 2EC generally has a spongy/peat-like consistency, with very high moisture content. Sites are found at the sheltered base of constant supply of E E hamiltonii i cliffs adjacent to wet gully or swamp vegetation, usually where a perennial or virtually perennial source of water, such as water including cliff seepages, is present. Associated species include King Fern (Todea barbara), Rough Tree Fern (Cyathea australis) riparian and swampy and Coral Fern (Gleichenia rupestris). Sundews (Drosera binata) are also common on the cliff face. Occasionally occurs habitats beside small creek lines which are vegetated with moist gully forest species (Callicoma serratifolia, Doryphora sassafras and Ceratopetalum apetalum). Restricted to the western side of the Blue Mountains from Mount Piper in the south to the Mudgee area in the north. Low There are also populations to the west in Winburndale Nature Reserve and adjacent state forests. Occurs in several local Grassy woodlands Eucalyptus 2VC government areas including Greater Lithgow City, Rylstone and Bathurst City. Occurs at more than 55 different locations. V V and sclerophyll cannonii i Occurs on a wide variety of geological types and soil substrates across a wide altitudinal range. Although also found in a forests variety of topographic locations, it is commonly found on footslopes. Commonly found in ecotonal areas such as the boundaries of Tablelands Grassy Woodland Complex communities and Talus Slope Woodland vegetation. Only two individual trees are known, at Wentworth Falls in the Blue Mountain, though the second tree was struck by Low lightning and killed. A larger population is thought to have occurred historically in the locality. Due to the number of Eucalyptus Riparian and E E 2E records, the habitat is not known. The records coincide with swampy areas along creek lines; however occurrences may copulans swampy habitats not be restricted to this type of habitat. Associated species include Grevillea acanthifolia, Hakea dactyloides, Eucalyptus stricta, Gleichenia dicarpa, Leptospermum juniperinum and Petrophile pulchella. The Silver-leafed Gum is found in two quite separate areas, the Lithgow to Bathurst area and the Monaro (Bredbo, Very High Eucalyptus Bombala areas). Grows in shallow soils as an understorey plant in open forest, typically dominated by Brittle Gum Dry sclerophyll V V 3V pulverulenta (Eucalyptus mannifera), Red Stringybark (E. macrorhyncha), Broad-leafed Peppermint (E. dives), Silvertop Ash (E. forests sieberi) and Apple Box (E. bridgesiana). Endemic to the upper Blue Mountains. Confined to wet or damp vertical sandstone rock faces on major cliff-lines facing Low Euphrasia 2VC south or east, growing in small pockets of damp, sandy soil on ledges or at the cliff base. May rarely occur in damp sites V V Moist cliff faces bowdeniae it at the top of cliffs. Sites are associated with the Hassans Walls soil landscape with steep Narrabeen Sandstone cliffs colluvial talus slopes developed over Illawarra Coal Measures.
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Species Status Distribution and Habitat Requirements Potential Broad Habitat Type to occur in Study Area EPBC Act TSC Act RoTAP Grammitis In NSW it has been found on the south, central and north coasts and as far west as Mount Kaputar National Park near Moderate Rainforest and wet - E - stenophylla Narrabrai. Inhabits moist places, usually near streams, on rocks or in trees, in rainforest and moist eucalypt forest. sclerophyll forest Within NSW, has only ever been recorded at three sites, to the west of Sydney, near the Colo, Georges and Nepean Moderate Rivers. The most recent sighting was of a single male plant near the Colo River within Wollemi National Park. The Gyrostemon 2KC Sclerophyll forests - E species has not been recorded from the Nepean and Georges Rivers for 90 and 30 years respectively, despite searches. thesioides - and riparian areas Also occurs also in Western Australia, South Australia, Victoria and Tasmania. Grows on hillsides and riverbanks and may be restricted to fine sandy soils. The known locations of this species are confined to a very narrow distribution on the north shore of Sydney. Associated Low Haloragodendr E E - with dry sclerophyll forest. Reported to grow in moist sandy loam soils in sheltered aspects, and on gentle slopes below Sclerophyll forests on lucasii cliff-lines near creeks in low open woodland. Restricted to a very small area in the Blackheath district of the Blue Mountains on the Central Tablelands. The entire Moderate Dry sclerophyll forest Isopogon 2VC V V known population occurs within Blue Mountains National Park. Restricted to moist sheltered cliffs within the spray zone of and heath near fletcheri at a waterfall. Grows in dry sclerophyll forest and heath on sandstone and is confined to sheltered moist positions. waterfalls Lastreopsis In NSW occurs in the Blue Mountains. Also occurs in southern Victoria and Tasmania. Grows in wet forests, frequently Moderate Rainforest and wet - E - hispida under Nothofagus antarcticus. Often rotting on logs. sclerophyll forest Occurs at 10 sites in the upper Blue Mountains, within a 12 km range between Katoomba and Blackheath. Potential Moderate Leionema 2EC habitat occurs in the Megalong and Jamison Valleys. Populations occur on exposed sandstone cliff tops and terraces, at E E Heath lachnaeoides i 960 - 1000m altitude and with aspects from south-east to south-west. Habitat vegetation is montane heath and commonly includes Eucalyptus stricta, Allocasuarina nana, Dillwynia retorta, Epacris microphylla and Caustis flexuosa. Currently known from 3 locations (at Blackheath and Wentworth Falls). All known sites occur within Blue Mountains Moderate Lepidosperma Wet sandstone cliff - V - National Park, although they are near the boundary of the reserve. It grows on wet sandstone cliff faces in the Blue evansianum faces Mountains in the central tablelands of New South Wales. Microstrobos All currently-known populations occur in the upper Blue Mountains between Wentworth Falls and Katoomba, a range of Low fitzgeraldii nine kilometres. Pre-1950 records occur at Katoomba Falls, Leura Falls and Bonnie Doon Falls. Found within the spray Escarpment areas 2EC E E zone or associated drip lines and seepage areas of waterfalls on steep, sandstone cliffs and ledges, at altitudes between near seepage and (Syn. i Pherosphaera 680 and 1000 metres above sea level. The sites face south-east to south-west, and being on near-vertical to vertical waterfall areas fitzgeraldii) slopes or under overhangs, are heavily shaded.
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Species Status Distribution and Habitat Requirements Potential Broad Habitat Type to occur in Study Area EPBC Act TSC Act RoTAP The Needle Geebung has been recorded only on the central coast and in the Blue Mountains, from Mt Tomah in the north Very High Persoonia 2VC Dry sclerophyll V V to as far south as Hill Top where it is now believed to be extinct. Mainly in the Katoomba, Wentworth Falls, Springwood acerosa - forests area. Occurs in dry sclerophyll forest, scrubby low-woodland and heath on low fertility soils. Persoonia Restricted to the Newnes Plateau in the Blue Mountains, north of Lithgow. Was only discovered in 1989 and all known Very High Dry sclerophyll forest - E 2V hindii locations occur within Newnes State Forest. Occurs in dry sclerophyll forests and woodlands on sandy soils. and woodland The Hairy Geebung has been recorded in the Sydney coastal area, the Blue Mountains area and the Southern Highlands. Moderate Dry sclerophyll open Persoonia 3KC E E Found in sandy soils in dry sclerophyll open forest, woodland and heath on sandstone. forest, woodland and hirsuta i heath Known from only four disjunct locations on the Central Tablelands and Central Coast. Core of the species distribution is Moderate within Clandulla State Forest, west of Kandons. Disjunct populations occur; to the north at Dingo Creek and Mount Persoonia Dry sclerophyll open V V 2V Dangar within the Wollemi and Goulburn River National Parks; to the south within Ben Bullen State Forest, south-east of marginata forest Capertee; and to the south-east at Devils Hole, north of Colo Heights within Parr State Recreation Area. Grows in dry sclerophyll forest and woodland communities on sandstone. Brown Pomaderris is found in a very limited area around the Nepean and Hawkesbury Rivers, including the Bargo area. It Moderate Wet sclerophyll Pomaderris 2VC V V also occurs at Walcha on the New England tablelands and in far eastern Gippsland in Victoria. Brown Pomaderris grows forests and riparian brunnea - in moist woodland or forest on clay and alluvial soils of flood plains and creek lines. areas The type specimen is from "moist meadows towards the Georges River" in the Sydney area. The species is likely to be Very High extinct from this area. Harden (1993) states that it is confined to the Blue Mountains area. However, some authorities Prasophyllum Heath and seepage V V 2V believe Prasophyllum species from this area are not Prasophyllum fuscum, but an un-described species. In addition, fuscum lines some authorities believe it is identical to Prasophyllum uroglossum which occurs in the Wingecarribee area. Grows in moist heath, often along seepage lines. Occurs in restricted areas but over a fairly broad range from the Lithgow and Sandy Hollow Districts into the Border Moderate Rivers/Gwydir Catchment and up into Queensland. Ocurs in the Wollemi National Park and is likely to also occur within Prostanthera the Goulburn River National Park. At Glen Davis, occurs in open forest dominated by Eucalyptus fibrosa. Other eucalypt cryptandroides species may be present as sub-dominants. In the Denman-Gungal and Widden-Baerami Valley areas, occurs on rocky Dry sclerophyll forest V V - subsp. ridgelines on Narrabeen Group Sandstones in association with a range of communities. Associated communities include: and heath cryptandroides Narrabeen Rocky Heath, Narrabeen Acacia Woodland, Narrabeen Exposed Woodland; Open Heath of Calytrix tetragona, Leptospermum parviflorum, Isopogon dawsonii; and Open Scrubland of Eucalyptus dwyeri, Baeckea densifolia, Dillwynia floribunda, Aotus ericoides and Hemigenia cunefolia.
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Species Status Distribution and Habitat Requirements Potential Broad Habitat Type to occur in Study Area EPBC Act TSC Act RoTAP Restricted to the higher Blue Mountains and has been recorded from the Katoomba-Hazelbrook and Mount Victoria Very High Wet and dry Pultenaea 3VC areas, with unconfirmed sightings in the Mount Wilson and Mount Irvine areas. All known populations occur within the sclerophyll forest, V V glabra a Blue Mountains Local Government Area. Grows in swamp margins, hillslopes, gullies and creekbanks and occurs within swampy areas and dry sclerophyll forest and tall damp heath on sandstone. heath Pultenaea Has a patchy distribution within NSW, occurring within the South and Central Coasts and Southern Tablelands. The Moderate villifera population of P. villifera in the Blue Mountains Local Government Area is disjunct from other known populations and 3RC Dry sclerophyll forest population in - E2 occurs only at a few small sites in the Springwood-Woodford Area. One of these populations occurs within Blue - and woodlands the Blue Mountains National Park. Grows in dry sclerophyll forest and woodlands on sandy soil and appears to favour sheltered Mountains LGA spots. Occurs from south-east Queensland to south-east NSW. In NSW, currently known from fewer than 10 locations, including Moderate Rhizanthella 3KC near Bulahdelah, the Watagan Mountains, the Blue Mountains, Wiseman's Ferry area, Agnes Banks and near Nowra. Sclerophyll forests - V slateri - Habitat requirements are poorly understood and no particular vegetation type has been associated with the species, and heaths although it is known to occur in sclerophyll forest. Austral Toad-flax is found in very small populations scattered across eastern NSW, along the coast, and from the Moderate Thesium 3VC Northern to Southern Tablelands. It is also found in Tasmania and Queensland and in eastern Asia. Occurs in grassland Grassy woodland V V australe i+ or grassy woodland. Often found in damp sites in association with Kangaroo Grass (Themeda australis). A root parasite areas that takes water and some nutrient from other plants, especially Kangaroo Grass. Occurs along the banks of the Boyd River in the Kanangra Boyd National Park, approximately 200 km west of Sydney. Unlikely Trachymene Restricted to flat or gently sloping ground in the riparian zone of Boyd River. At one site, the species is distributed along a scapigera (syn. E E - Riparian areas tea-tree (Leptospermum sp.) thicket that borders the banks of the river within eucalypt woodland. At another site, T. saniculifolia) individuals occur upon a gravel patch situated beside the river. Only known from the Hawkesbury district and upper Hunter Valley. Found in shallow depressions on Hawkesbury Moderate Shallow depressions Velleia 2VC sandstone shelves or under cliffs. Occurs on fairly shallow soils of sandy loam texture. Generally found growing on moss on sandstone V V perfoliata - mats formed on the rock shelf. shelves and under cliffs
PAGE 53 Mount Victoria to Lithgow Great Western Highway Upgrade Route Options Development Biodiversity Working Paper
Species Status Distribution and Habitat Requirements Potential Broad Habitat Type to occur in Study Area EPBC Act TSC Act RoTAP Has a disjunct distribution north and west of Sydney, in the Baulkham Hills, Hawkesbury, Hornsby and Blue Mountains Very High LGAs. Recent records for the species come from 22 populations in the catchments of the Macdonald, Colo and Hawkesbury Rivers—between Melon Creek and Mogo Creek in the north to Little Cattai Creek and Wheeny Creek in the south, and from a single population in the upper Blue Mountains north of Katoomba. Occurs primarily on Hawkesbury Zieria 2VC Wet and dry V E sandstone. Also occurs on Narrabeen Group sandstone and on Quaternary alluvium. Found primarily in sheltered forests involucrata a sclerophyll forest on mid- to lower slopes and valleys, such as in or adjacent to gullies which support sheltered forest, however some populations extend upslope into drier vegetation. Also known from at least two atypical ridgetop locations. The canopy typically includes Syncarpia glomulifera subsp. glomulifera, Angophora costata, Eucalyptus agglomerata and Allocasuarina torulosa. 2VC Velvet Zieria is found in the Blue Mountains at Mt Tomah and on the southern tablelands where it has been recorded in Moderate Zieria murphyi V V Dry sclerophyll forest - Morton National Park in the Bundanoon area. The Velvet Zieria is found in gullies in dry sclerophyll forest with sandy soil. Sources: * Distribution and habitat requirement information adapted from the Department of Environment and Climate Change (updated 2005) Threatened Species Website (http://www.threatenedspecies.environment.nsw.gov.au/tsprofile/browse_allspecies.aspx) + Rare or Threatened Australian Plants (RoTAP) Briggs, JD; Leigh, JH [1979] (1996). Rare or Threatened Australian Plants, Fourth Edition, CSIRO Publishing
PAGE 54 Mount Victoria to Lithgow Great Western Highway Upgrade Route Options Development Biodiversity Working Paper
Appendix B Vegetation community conservation values
The conservation value of the vegetation communities in the study area was ranked using the following scoring method which is tallied for each vegetation community. The scores generated are between 0 and 140, with 140 being the highest conservation value score possible. Table B-1 summarises the conservation value scores for each community, and Table B-2 provides further details of conservation values. Number of threatened flora species with a high to very-high and moderate potential of occurring in the study area: No. of threatened species (high- Score No. of threatened species Score very high) (moderate) 0 0 0 0 1-2 10 1-3 5 3-5 15 4+ 10 6-10 20 Number of threatened fauna species potential to occur in the habitat type in the study area: No. of threatened species Score 0 0 1-5 10 6-10 15 11-20 20 21+ 30 Threatened Ecological Community: Legal Status Score State Listed 20 Federal Listed 20 Proportion of community remaining: Proportion remaining Score 1-25% 20 26-50% 15 51-75% 10 76-90% 5 91-100% 0 Proportion of community reserved: Proportion reserved Score 1-25% 20 26-50% 15 51-75% 10 76-90% 5 91-100% 0
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Table B-1: Conservation value scores Community (Tozer et al Reserved Estimated Threatened Threatened Threatened Legal Total Conservation 2006) extant proportion of flora habitat flora fauna Status Score Value Class* pre-clearing (High-Very habitat habitat area High) (Moderate)
Blue Mountains ridgetop 5 5 20 10 30 70 High forest (DSF136) Megalong-Tonalli 0 0 20 10 30 60 Moderate sandstone forest (DSF244) Kowmung-Wollondilly 0 0 20 10 30 60 Moderate gorge woodland (DSF37) Tableland ridge forest 5 0 20 10 30 65 High (DSF8) Tableland hills grassy 20 15 10 5 20 70 High woodland (GW23) Tableland grassy box- 20 20 10 5 20 75 Very High gum woodland (GW24) Tableland granite grassy 20 20 10 5 20 75 Very High woodland (GW420) High range sheltered 5 5 15 10 30 65 High forest (WSF66) Cool montane wet forest 5 10 15 10 30 70 High (WSF73) Riverbank forest 10 15 10 5 15 55 Moderate (FoW32) Blue Mountains- 5 5 15 5 10 40 80 Very High Shoalhaven hanging swamps (FrW130) Tableland swamp 15 20 15 5 10 40 105 Very High meadow (FrW57) Blue Mountains heath 0 5 15 10 20 40 90 Very High (H124) Sandstone scarp warm 0 5 10 5 10 20 45 Moderate temperate rainforest (RF114)
* Score Conservation Value 75+ Very High 61-74 High 0-60 Moderate
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Table B-2: Summary of conservation value Community (Tozer Area Area Estimated Estimated Threatened flora habitat (High-Very Threatened flora habitat (Moderate) Legal Conservation et al 2006) extant in extant reserved percentage High) Status Value the study (ha) extant (ha) / of pre- area (ha) proportion clearing reserved area Blue Mountains 1226.7 28600 21000 / 55-70% Acacia bynoeana, Acacia Acacia clunies-rossiae, Apatophyllum High ridgetop forest 73% flocktoniae, Derwentia blakelyi, constablei, Astrotricha crassifolia, (DSF136) Diuris aequalis, Eucalyptus Darwinia peduncularis, Persoonia hirsuta, pulverulenta, Persoonia acerosa, Persoonia marginata, Pultenaea villifera, Persoonia hindii, Pultenaea glabra, Rhizanthella slateri, Velleia perfoliata, Zieria involucrata (9) Zieria murphyi (10)
Megalong-Tonalli 147.6 29400 26200 / 80-95% Acacia bynoeana, Acacia Acacia clunies-rossiae, Apatophyllum Moderate sandstone forest 89% flocktoniae, Derwentia blakelyi, constablei, Astrotricha crassifolia, (DSF244) Diuris aequalis, Eucalyptus Darwinia peduncularis, Persoonia hirsuta, pulverulenta, Persoonia acerosa, Persoonia marginata, Pultenaea villifera, Persoonia hindii, Pultenaea glabra, Rhizanthella slateri, Velleia perfoliata, Zieria involucrata (9) Zieria murphyi (10)
Kowmung- 10.6 26100 24500 / >85% Acacia bynoeana, Acacia Acacia clunies-rossiae, Apatophyllum Moderate Wollondilly gorge 94% flocktoniae, Derwentia blakelyi, constablei, Astrotricha crassifolia, woodland (DSF37) Diuris aequalis, Eucalyptus Darwinia peduncularis, Isopogon fletcheri, pulverulenta, Persoonia acerosa, Persoonia hirsuta, Persoonia marginata, Persoonia hindii, Pultenaea glabra, Pultenaea villifera, Rhizanthella slateri, Zieria involucrata (9) Velleia perfoliata, Zieria murphyi (11)
Tableland ridge 110.6 44500 25600 / 80-90% Acacia bynoeana, Acacia Acacia clunies-rossiae, Apatophyllum High forest (DSF8) 58% flocktoniae, Derwentia blakelyi, constablei, Astrotricha crassifolia, Diuris aequalis, Eucalyptus Darwinia peduncularis, Persoonia hirsuta, pulverulenta, Persoonia acerosa, Persoonia marginata, Pultenaea villifera, Persoonia hindii, Pultenaea glabra, Rhizanthella slateri, Velleia perfoliata, Zieria involucrata (9) Zieria murphyi (10)
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Community (Tozer Area Area Estimated Estimated Threatened flora habitat (High-Very Threatened flora habitat (Moderate) Legal Conservation et al 2006) extant in extant reserved percentage High) Status Value the study (ha) extant (ha) / of pre- area (ha) proportion clearing reserved area Tableland hills 68.5 18800 720 / 4% 20-40% Diuris aequalis (1) Thesium australe (1) High grassy woodland (GW23) Tableland grassy 854.8 17800 10 / <1% <1% Diuris aequalis (1) Thesium australe (1) Very High box-gum woodland (GW24) Tableland granite 357.2 8600 10 / <1% <1% Diuris aequalis, Asterolasia buxifolia Thesium australe (1) Very High grassy woodland (2) (GW420) High range 2 20900 14100 / 55-75% Acrophyllum australe, Derwentia Grammitis stenophylla, Lastreopsis High sheltered forest 67% blakelyi, Pultenaea glabra, Zieria hispida, Lepidosperma (WSF66) involucrata (4) evansianum, Pomaderris brunnea, Rhizanthella slateri (5) Cool montane wet 940.9 103200 60300 / 35-55% Acrophyllum australe, Derwentia Grammitis stenophylla, Lastreopsis High forest (WSF73) 58% blakelyi, Pultenaea glabra, Zieria hispida, Lepidosperma involucrata (4) evansianum, Pomaderris brunnea, Rhizanthella slateri (5) Riverbank forest 13.9 9200 3900 / 42% 25-45% Asterolasia buxifolia (1) Acacia clunies-rossiae, Gyrostemon Moderate (FoW32) thesioides, Pomaderris brunnea (3)
Blue Mountains- 12 5200 3600 / 69% 60-75% Baloskion longipes, Boronia deanei,, Thesium australe, Carex klaphakei (2) V, TSC Very High Shoalhaven Persoonia hindii, Prasophyllum Act; E, hanging swamps fuscum, Pultenaea glabra (5) EPBC (FrW130) Act
Tableland swamp 53.1 1300 180 / 14% <5% Baloskion longipes, Boronia deanei,, Thesium australe, Carex klaphakei (2) V, TSC Very High meadow (FrW57) Persoonia hindii, Prasophyllum Act; E, fuscum, Pultenaea glabra (5) TSC Act; E, EPBC Act
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Community (Tozer Area Area Estimated Estimated Threatened flora habitat (High-Very Threatened flora habitat (Moderate) Legal Conservation et al 2006) extant in extant reserved percentage High) Status Value the study (ha) extant (ha) / of pre- area (ha) proportion clearing reserved area Blue Mountains 188.8 8000 6200 / 78% 70-85% Baloskion longipes, Boronia deanei,, Carex klaphakei, Darwinia peduncularis, V, TSC Very High heath (H124) Persoonia hindii, Prasophyllum Leionema lachnaeoides, Persoonia Act; E, fuscum, Pultenaea glabra (5) hirsuta, Prostanthera cryptandroides, TSC Rhizanthella slateri Thesium australe (7) Act; E, EPBC Act Sandstone scarp 4.9 7200 6200 / 86% 80-95% Acrophyllum australe (1) Grammitis stenophylla, Lastreopsis E, TSC Moderate warm temperate hispida (2) Act rainforest (RF114)
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PAGE 60 Mount Victoria to Lithgow Great Western Highway Upgrade Route Options Development Biodiversity Working Paper
Appendix C Potentially occurring threatened fauna species
Table C-1: Threatened fauna species distribution and habitat requirements and potential to occur in the study area Species Status Distribution and habitat requirements* Suitable habitat in study area Potential to
occur in the study area ct ct EPBC A TSC A Mammals Eastern Pygmy Possum - V Found in a broad range of habitats from rainforest through to wet and dry Sclerophyll forests, heath and Very High (Cercartetus nanus ) sclerophyll forest and woodland to heath, but in most areas woodlands and woodlands heath appear to be preferred. Large-eared Pied Bat V V Forages over a broad range of open forest and woodland habitats, this species Sclerophyll forests and woodlands, Very High (Chalinolobus dwyeri) is a cave roosting bat which favours sandstone escarpment habitats for potential roosting habitat in rocky roosting, in the form of shallow overhangs, crevices and caves. escarpments. Spotted-tailed Quoll E V Wet and dry sclerophyll forests and rainforests, and adjacent open agricultural Extensive areas of suitable habitat, Very High (Dasyurus maculatus) areas. Generally associated large expansive areas of habitat to sustain and a considerable number of territory size. records in the study area. Eastern False Pipistrelle - V Occurs in a variety of open forest and woodland habitats, where hollow- Sclerophyll forests and woodlands. Very High (Falsistrellus tasmaniensis) bearing trees are present and required for roosting, may forage in younger regrowth and modified environments. Southern Brown Bandicoot E E Typically associated with coastal heaths or open forest habitats with a heathy Dry sclerophyll forest Very High (Isoodon o. obesulus) understorey on sandy soils. Eastern Bent-wing Bat - V Forages in a variety of habitat types including, dry sclerophyll forests and Dry sclerophyll forests, woodlands Very High (Miniopterus schreibersii) woodlands, as well as cleared and modified urban environments, a cave and derived grasslands, agricultural roosting species requiring caves and artificial tunnels for breeding and areas. roosting. Eastern Freetail Bat - V Occur in dry sclerophyll forest and woodland east of the Great Dividing Range. Dry sclerophyll forests, woodlands Very High (Mormopterus norfolkensis) Roosts mainly in tree hollows but will also roost under bark or in man-made and derived grasslands, agricultural structures. areas Large-footed Myotis - V Generally roost in groups close to water in caves, mine shafts, hollow-bearing Freshwater wetlands, swamps, Very High (Myotis adversus) trees, storm water channels, buildings, under bridges and in dense foliage. creeks and adjacent forest and Forages over streams and pools catching insects and small fish. woodland habitats.
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Species Status Distribution and habitat requirements* Suitable habitat in study area Potential to
occur in the study area ct ct EPBC A TSC A Yellow-bellied Glider - V Tall open forest habitats, favours mature wet sclerophyll forest and dense Wet and dry sclerophyll forest Very High (Petaurus australis) gullies. Squirrel Glider - V Forest and woodland habitats, particularly areas with a diversity of eucalypt Wet and dry sclerophyll forests, Very High (Petaurus norfolcensis) species in the canopy and other suitable food resources (shrubs and small woodlands and heaths. trees). Requires tree hollows for denning. Brush-tailed Rock Wallaby E E Open forest habitats on steep terrain with exposed rocks, rock overhangs and Dry sclerophyll ridgetop forests Very High (Petrogale penicillilata) platforms. Koala - V Open forests and woodlands with favoured food tree species. No records in Dry sclerophyll forest and Very High (Phascolarctos cinereus) the lower Blue Mountains although known from Wollemi National Park in the woodland upper regions. Long-nosed Potoroo V V Inhabits coastal heaths and dry and wet sclerophyll forests. Dense understorey Dry sclerophyll forest and High (Potorous t. tridactylus) with occasional open areas is an essential part of habitat, and may consist of woodland grass-trees, sedges, ferns or heath, or of low shrubs of tea-trees or melaleucas. A sandy loam soil is also a common feature. Grey-headed Flying-fox V V Occur in subtropical and temperate rainforests, tall sclerophyll forests and Suitable foraging habitat present. Very High (Pteropus poliocephalus) woodlands, heaths and swamps as well as urban gardens and cultivated fruit crops. Yellow-bellied Sheathtail-bat - V Forages in most habitats across its very wide range, with and without trees; Very High (Saccolaimus flaviventris) appears to defend an aerial territory. Roost in tree hollows and buildings. Wet and dry sclerophyll forest Greater Broad-nosed Bat - V Inhabits a broad range of forest and woodland habitats, including adjacent Wet and dry sclerophyll forest Very High (Scoteanax rueppellii) cleared lands. Birds Regent Honeyeater E E A nomadic species typically associated with forest and woodland habitats with Dry sclerophyll forest and Very High (Xanthomyza Phrygia) the presence of suitable foraging species such as Yellow Box and Red woodlands Ironbark Swift Parrot E E On the mainland they occur in areas where eucalypts are flowering profusely Dry sclerophyll forest and Very High (Lathamus discolour) or where there are abundant lerp (from sap-sucking bugs) infestations. woodlands Favoured feed trees include winter flowering species such as Swamp Mahogany Eucalyptus robusta, Spotted Gum Corymbia maculata, Red
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Species Status Distribution and habitat requirements* Suitable habitat in study area Potential to
occur in the study area ct ct EPBC A TSC A Bloodwood C. gummifera, Mugga Ironbark E. sideroxylon, and White Box E. albens. Gang-gang Cockatoo - V Moist and tall open forests, particularly in steep topographic areas. Numerous Wet and dry sclerophyll forest Very High (Callocephalon fimbriatum) records in the study area. Glossy Black-Cockatoo - V Open forest habitats with She-oak species (Allocasuarina spp.) required for Wet and dry sclerophyll forest Very High (Calyptorhynchus lathami) food. Brown Treecreeper - V Woodland bird species, favour dry sclerophyll forests and woodlands, Very High Dry sclerophyll forest and (Climacteris picumnus) generally with a sparse understorey, grassy areas and mature hollow-bearing woodlands trees. Hooded Robin - V Woodland bird species, favour dry sclerophyll forests and woodlands, Dry sclerophyll forest and High (Melanodryas cucullata) generally with a sparse understorey, grassy areas and logs. woodlands Black-chinned Honeyeater - V Woodland bird species, favour dry sclerophyll forests and woodlands, Dry sclerophyll forest and Very High (Melithreptus g. gularis) generally with a sparse understorey, grassy areas and logs. woodlands Barking Owl - V Forest and woodland habitats, particularly drier western slopes and riverine Dry sclerophyll forest, woodlands Very High (Ninox connivens) areas, hunts for birds and small mammals. Powerful Owl - V Open forests with dense wet gullies and creek areas, requires large mature Wet and dry sclerophyll forests, Very High (Ninox strenua) trees with hollows for breeding and dense areas of vegetation for prey and woodlands and rainforest roosting Masked Owl - V Lives in dry eucalypt forests and woodlands from sea level to 1100 m. Dry sclerophyll forest and Very High (Tyto novaehollandiae) woodlands Sooty Owl - V Occurs in rainforest, including dry rainforest, subtropical and warm temperate Wet sclerophyll forest Very High (Tyto tenebricosa) rainforest, as well as moist eucalypt forests. Blue-billed Duck - V Prefers deep water in large permanent wetlands and swamps with dense Open dams in agricultural areas Moderate (Oxyura australis) aquatic vegetation. Australian Painted Snipe - E Prefers fringes of swamps, dams and nearby marshy areas where there is a Densely vegetated swamps Moderate (Rostratula benghalensis) cover of grasses, lignum, low scrub or open timber. Reptiles Blue Mountains Water Skink - E Sedge swamps and hanging swamps in the upper Blue mountains area, Densely vegetated swamps Very High
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Species Status Distribution and habitat requirements* Suitable habitat in study area Potential to
occur in the study area ct ct EPBC A TSC A (Eulamprus leuraensis) Several records in the study area and surrounding landscape. Rosenberg's Goanna - V Occurs on the Sydney Sandstone in Wollemi National Park to the north-west of Heath, open forest and woodland High (Varanus rosenbergi) Sydney, in the Goulburn and ACT regions and near Cooma in the south. There are records from the South West Slopes near Khancoban and Tooma River. Also occurs in South Australia and Western Australia. Found in heath, open forest and woodland. Broad-headed Snake V V Shelters in rock crevices and under flat sandstone rocks on exposed cliff Dry sclerophyll forests on steep Very High (Hoplocephalus edges during autumn, winter and spring. Moves from the sandstone rocks to escarpments with exposed bungaroides) shelters in hollows in large trees within 200 m of escarpments in summer. sandstone rocks, boulders and platforms Amphibians Southern Barred Frog E E Forages and lives amongst deep, damp leaf litter in rainforests, moist eucalypt Rainforest streams Very High (Mixophyes iteratus) forest and nearby dry eucalypt forest, at elevations below 1000 m. They breed around shallow, flowing rocky streams from late spring to summer. Booroolong Frog - E A highland species (200 – 1000m asl) associated with western-flowing rocky Streams through wet sclerophyll Very High (Litoria booroolongensis) streams on the slopes and tablelands of the Great Dividing Range. Streams forests are slow-flowing and bordered by grassy vegetation. Stuttering Frog - E Permanent streams in moist and wet sclerophyll forests Rainforest streams (Mixophyes balbus) Giant Burrowing Frog V V Found in heath, woodland and open forest with sandy soils. Heath and woodland Very High (Heleioporus australiacus) Little John’s Tree Frog V V It occurs along permanent rocky streams with thick fringing vegetation Streams in wet and dry sclerophyll Very High (Litoria littlejohni) associated with eucalypt woodlands and heaths among sandstone outcrops. forest and heath Red-crowned Toadlet - V Occurs in open forests, mostly on Hawkesbury and Narrabeen Sandstones. Dry sclerophyll forest in steeper Very High (Pseudophryne australis) Inhabits periodically wet drainage lines below sandstone ridges that often have terrain with exposed, boulders, and shale lenses or cappings. Shelters under rocks and amongst masses of dense rocky slopes vegetation or thick piles of leaf litter.
PAGE 64 Mount Victoria to Lithgow Great Western Highway Upgrade Route Options Development Biodiversity Working Paper
Species Status Distribution and habitat requirements* Suitable habitat in study area Potential to
occur in the study area ct ct EPBC A TSC A Invertebrates Bathurst Copper Butterfly V E Inhabits open forest / woodland areas above 900m in elevation and prefers Dry sclerophyll forest and Very High (Paralucia spinifera) sites that receive full all-day sun. Also requires the presence of the Native woodland. Blackthorn (Bursaria spinosa ssp lasiophylla) in the understorey an important host plant critical for larvae. Several records near the study area. Giant Dragonfly - E Sedge swamps, freshwater wetlands and peat bogs. Several records near the Vegetated swamps and wetlands. Very High (Petalura gigantean) study area. Source:
* Distribution and habitat requirement information adapted from the Department of Environment and Climate Change (updated 2005) Threatened Species Website http://www.threatenedspecies.environment.nsw.gov.au/tsprofile/browse_allspecies.aspx)
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Mount Victoria to Lithgow Great Western Highway Upgrade Route Options Development Biodiversity Working Paper
Appendix D Maps of vegetation community conservation values for each of the corridors
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