Springbrook Cableway Technical Note
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Technical Note - Ecology Springbrook Cableway Technical Note - Ecology Springbrook Cableway NE30019 Prepared for Urbis 3 September 2020 3 September 2020 Cardno i Technical Note - Ecology Springbrook Cableway Contact Information Document Information Cardno (Qld) Pty Ltd Prepared for Urbis ABN 57 051 074 992 Project Name Springbrook Cableway Level 11 File Reference Technical Note Ecology 515 St Paul’s Terrace Fortitude Valley QLD 4006 Job Reference NE30019 Australia Date 3 September 2020 www.cardno.com Version Number 2 Phone +61 7 3369 9822 Fax +61 7 3369 9722 Author(s): David Francis Effective Date 3/09/2020 Senior Principal Ecologist Approved By: Sophie St John Date Approved 3/09/2020 Environment Lead Document History Version Effective Date Description of Revision Prepared by Reviewed by 1 10/7/2020 For client consideration DF SS 2 03/09/2020 Final DF SS © Cardno. Copyright in the whole and every part of this document belongs to Cardno and may not be used, sold, transferred, copied or reproduced in whole or in part in any manner or form or in or on any media to any person other than by agreement with Cardno. This document is produced by Cardno solely for the benefit and use by the client in accordance with the terms of the engagement. Cardno does not and shall not assume any responsibility or liability whatsoever to any third party arising out of any use or reliance by any third party on the content of this document. Our report is based on information made available by the client. The validity and comprehensiveness of supplied information has not been independently verified and, for the purposes of this report, it is assumed that the information provided to Cardno is both complete and accurate. Whilst, to the best of our knowledge, the information contained in this report is accurate at the date of issue, changes may occur to the site conditions, the site context or the applicable planning framework. This report should not be used after any such changes without consulting the provider of the report or a suitably qualified person. NE30019 | 3 September 2020 | Commercial in Confidence ii Technical Note - Ecology Springbrook Cableway Table of Contents 1 Introduction 1 2 Desktop review 2 2.1 Documents 2 2.2 Other projects 4 2.3 GIS and Databases 7 3 Discussion 11 3.1 Ecological Opportunities 11 3.2 Ecological Considerations 11 4 References 12 Appendices Appendix A ALA RECORDS OF SPECIES OF CWS Tables Table 2-1 City-wide strategies and studies 3 Table 2-2 Springbrook studies 4 Table 2-3 Environmental impacts and mitigation measures associated with comparable cableway projects 6 Table 2-4 Remnant vegetation within the Study Area 7 Table 2-5 Vegetation categories within the Study Area 8 Table 2-6 Areas in National Park and Conservation Park that can be restored 9 NE30019 | 10 July 2020 | Commercial in Confidence iii Technical Note - Ecology Springbrook Cableway 1 Introduction This technical note addresses ecological matters in the broader Springbrook locality as they relate to a potential cableway development. The Study Area that is the focus of this technical note is illustrated in Figure 1. The purpose of this technical note is to provide high-level guidance regarding some of the opportunities and constraints relating to establishing such infrastructure in the broad locality and is not intended to provide detailed ecological advice or assessment. Further investigation and studies will be necessary to inform both the detailed design and environmental management requirements. NE30019 | 10 July 2020 | Commercial in Confidence 1 Technical Note - Ecology Springbrook Cableway 2 Desktop review 2.1 Documents 2.1.1 World Heritage Parts of the Study Area are within the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Area (GRAWHA). To achieve World Heritage status a location must be of outstanding universal value and meet at least one out of ten selection criteria. While at the time of nomination in 1992 (Government of Australia, 1992), the nomination criteria were different to those of today, the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia (then named Central Eastern Rainforest Reserves of Australia) met the following: outstanding examples representing the major stages of the earth's evolutionary history. outstanding examples representing significant ongoing geological processes, biological evolution and man's interaction with his natural environment. contain the most important and significant habitats where threatened species of plants and animals of outstanding universal value from the point of view of science and conservation still survive. Figure 1 illustrates the extent of GRAWHA within the Study Area. The nomination document does not specifically identify any values unique to Springbrook that contribute to the outstanding universal values of the GRAWHA. This said, the location supports examples of all values that contribute to the GRAWHA listing. The Australian Rainforest Conservation Society website notes that Springbrook “represents the wet heartland of the entire World Heritage Area, and most closely resembles the palaeoclimatic conditions existing more than 25 million years ago when the ancestry of today’s flora and fauna evolved”. Some of the key values identified in the nomination document for Springbrook include: Springbrook National Park (NP) forms a significant remnant of a radial spur of the ancient Tweed Shield Volcano with plants and animal community relics of the fossil record. Springbrook National Park is home to numerous rare and threatened species including the cascade tree frog (Litoria pearsoniana), the poached frog (Assa darlingtoni), the marbled frogmouth (Podargus ocellatus plumiferus) and three species of Euastacus crayfish. A great diversity of plant species are present including at least 675 species that have been recorded to date. Species of interest include: o Springbrook NP and the surrounding areas contain the only lowland stand of coachwood (Ceratopetalum apetalum). o The only known Queensland population of the moss Sphagnum cuspidatum is found in E. oreades forest near Bilborough Falls in Springbrook NP. o Cliff ledges support the striking spear lily (Doryanthes palmeri) with one of the largest population occurring in Springbrook NP. Springbrook NP is of special refugia significance to the family of Charopidae snails, found in rainforests of eastern Australia and acknowledged to be Gondwanan in origin. 2.1.2 Springbrook National Park The Springbrook National Park and Springbrook Conservation Park Management Statement (DNPRSR, 2013) notes the following in relation to natural values of the location: Springbrook plateau is a remnant of the northern side of a once huge shield volcano1 in the region (~23 million years ago). About 10 million years ago the volcano started to subside and the remaining lava plugged its vents. Weathering and erosion helped shape the caldera landform. Springbrook Plateau receives 3,000 mm of rain per annum feeding streams and waterfalls. 1 Which is now the largest erosion caldera in the southern hemisphere. NE30019 | 10 July 2020 | Commercial in Confidence 2 Technical Note - Ecology Springbrook Cableway 11 of the 19 regional ecosystems (REs) within Springbrook NP have an Of Concern status under the Vegetation Management Act 1999 (VM Act) and one has an Endangered status. Antarctic beech (Nothofagus moorei), relics of an earlier cooler, wetter age, now occur only at high altitude. Endangered RE 12.3.1 provides habitat for the vulnerable Richmond birdwing butterfly (Ornithoptera richmondii) and endangered Coxen's fig-parrot (Cyclopsitta diophthalma coxeni). It also protects vulnerable macadamia species Macadamia integrifolia and M. tetraphylla. The endangered southern ochrosia (Ochrosia moorei) is only found in the Springbrook area. This understorey tree is threatened by small population size limiting its capacity to reproduce. 2.1.3 City-wide strategies and studies A number of documents prepared at a City-wide level are relevant to the natural values of the Study Area as discussed in Table 2-1. Table 2-1 City-wide strategies and studies Document Author Overview Key points Burleigh to Conics for Refinement of the The plateau region of Lamington National Park Springbrook Gold Coast Bioregional Corridors (west of Study Area) and the Springbrook National Bioregional City Council mapped by the Park is home to the powerful owl (Ninox strenua). Corridor Queensland Environmental The Bonogin Ridge (extends from the south- Study (2009) Protection Agency with eastern boundary eastward) is mostly undisturbed consideration to and important for ground-dwelling fauna lacking the constraints of urbanisation, ability to traverse the cleared areas of rural land uses and Tallebudgera Valley (outside of Study Area). fragmented habitats so that Gold Coast City The Tallebudgera Valley and Bonogin Ridge Council can prioritise and (eastern boundary and east of the Study Area) protect an ecological facilitate the dispersal of species that are altitudinal corridor. migrants (e.g. rose robin (Petroica rosea), rufous fantail (Rhipidura rufifrons), noisy pitta (Pitta versicolor) and grey goshawk (Accipiter novaehollandiae). Critical Ecosure for Maps corridors and Reaffirms the corridor discussed in Conics (2009). Corridor and Gold Coast significant remnants for the Substantial City Council City Remnant Mapping (2016) Our Natural Gold Coast A response to current and Springbrook forms part of several critical corridors City Strategy City Council emerging opportunities connecting in a north-south