Indian Ocean Drive Passing Lanes: SLK 52.49 to 54.82, 56.07 to 57.77, 61.08 to 62.7 and 64 to 65.83 Biological Survey September/October 2016
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Indian Ocean Drive Passing Lanes: SLK 52.49 to 54.82, 56.07 to 57.77, 61.08 to 62.7 and 64 to 65.83 Biological Survey September/October 2016 Prepared for Main Roads Western Australia Report Reference: 8207-16-BISR-1Rev0_161124 This page has been left blank intentionally. Indian Ocean Drive Passing Lanes: SLK 52.49 to 54.82, 56.07 to 57.77, 61.08 to 62.7 and 64 to 65.83 Biological Survey Prepared for Main Roads Western Australia Job Number: 8207-16 Reference: 8207-16-BISR-1Rev0_161124 Revision Status Rev Date Description Author(s) Reviewer A. Bott A 15/11/2016 Draft Issued for Client Review K. Strelein J. Trainer A. Bott 0 24/11/2016 Final Issued for Information J. Trainer K. Strelein J. Atkinson Approval Rev Date Issued to Authorised by Name Signature A 15/11/2016 E. Fitzgerald S Pearse 0 24/11/2016 E. Fitzgerald S. Pearse © Copyright 2016 Astron Environmental Services Pty Ltd. All rights reserved. This document and information contained in it has been prepared by Astron Environmental Services under the terms and conditions of its contract with its client. The report is for the clients use only and may not be used, exploited, copied, duplicated or reproduced in any form or medium whatsoever without the prior written permission of Astron Environmental Services or its client. Main Roads Western Australia Indian Ocean Drive Passing Lanes: SLK 52.49 to 54.82, 56.07 to 57.77, 61.08 to 62.7 and 64 to 65.83 – Biological Survey, September/October 2016 Abbreviations Abbreviation Definition Astron Astron Environmental Services cm Centimetres DAFWA Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia DBH Diameter at breast height DotEE Department of the Environment and Energy EPA Environmental Protection Authority EPBC Act Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 ESA Environmentally Sensitive Area GDA94 Geocentric Datum of Australia 1994 GPS Global Position Systems ha Hectares IBRA Interim Biogeographic Regionalisation for Australia km Kilometres mm Millimetres Main Roads Main Roads Western Australia MGA50 Map Grid of Australia MNES Matters of National Environmental Significance P Priority Parks and Wildlife Department of Parks and Wildlife PEC Priority Ecological Community SCP Swan Coastal Plain SLK Straight line kilometre subsp. Subspecies TEC Threatened Ecological Community TPFL Threatened and Priority Flora Database (administered by Parks and Wildlife) TP List Threatened and Priority Flora List (administered by Parks and Wildlife) WAHerb Western Australian Herbarium WC Act Wildlife Conservation Act 1950 WoNS Weeds of National Significance Page | ii Main Roads Western Australia Indian Ocean Drive Passing Lanes: SLK 52.49 to 54.82, 56.07 to 57.77, 61.08 to 62.7 and 64 to 65.83 – Biological Survey, September/October 2016 Executive Summary Astron was engaged to undertake a biological survey along Indian Ocean Drive for four proposed passing lanes between Lancelin and Jurien Bay. The survey area consisted of four sections: x SLK 52.49 to 54.82 (29.2 ha) x SLK 56.07 to 57.77 (23.4 ha) x SLK 61.08 to 62.7 (27.6 ha) x SLK 64 to 65.83 (31.5 ha). Six vegetation types were recorded and mapped within the survey area. Areas of vegetation type W02 mapped as ‘good’ condition have some affinity with the ‘Banksia Woodlands of the Swan Coastal Plain’ Endangered threatened ecological community. Although this vegetation meets the minimum patch size and condition criteria, it is considered a poor representation of the community given its low native species richness and disturbed condition. No other MNES nor State-listed threatened and priority ecological communities were recorded. The survey area does not overlap any conservation reserves or wetlands. The survey area included 89 ha of native vegetation, of which approximately 20% has been cleared for roads and tracks, and is rated as ‘completely degraded’. Thirty per cent of the survey area was rated as ‘degraded’ and just over one quarter of the survey area is rated as ‘excellent’. No Threatened flora was recorded within the survey area. Two Priority species were recorded; Dodonaea hackettiana P4 was recorded from one opportunistic location in the section between SLK 61.08 to 62.7 and Lepidobolus densus P4 was recorded from within four quadrats, in SLK sections 56.07 to 57.77 and 64 to 65.83. Weed species diversity was considered high, with 45 weed species recorded within the survey area. One declared pest, *Echium plantagineum (Paterson’s curse), was recorded at five separate locations between SLK 61.08 and 62.7(Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia 2016). The survey area contains 57.4 ha of black cockatoo foraging habitat, including 14 species that are known foraging resources for Carnaby’s black-cockatoos and five trees that have a diameter at breast height over 50 cm, classified as mature trees according the referral guidelines. None of the mature trees have hollows and no roosting or breeding records exist in the survey area. Greater than the 1 ha threshold of quality foraging habitat for Carnaby’s black-cockatoo occurs, and as such the proposed clearing may result in a ‘high risk of significant impact’. Although the survey area contains suitable habitat for the rainbow bee-eater it is likely to only support individuals, due to its close proximity to the roadside and the disturbances associated. Page | iii Main Roads Western Australia Indian Ocean Drive Passing Lanes: SLK 52.49 to 54.82, 56.07 to 57.77, 61.08 to 62.7 and 64 to 65.83 – Biological Survey, September/October 2016 This page has been left blank intentionally. Page | iv Main Roads Western Australia Indian Ocean Drive Passing Lanes: SLK 52.49 to 54.82, 56.07 to 57.77, 61.08 to 62.7 and 64 to 65.83 – Biological Survey, September/October 2016 Table of Contents 1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Project Background ..................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Scope and Objectives .................................................................................................. 1 2 Environmental Context .................................................................................................................... 3 2.1 Geology ....................................................................................................................... 3 2.2 Surface Water and Hydrology ..................................................................................... 3 2.3 Biological Environment ............................................................................................... 3 2.3.1 Interim Biogeographic Regionalisation of Australia ................................................... 3 2.3.2 Land Systems ............................................................................................................... 3 2.3.3 Pre-European Vegetation ............................................................................................ 4 2.3.4 Vegetation Complexes ................................................................................................ 4 2.3.5 State and Commonwealth Conservation Categories and Management .................... 5 2.4 Introduced Flora (Weeds) ........................................................................................... 5 2.5 Conservation Reserves ................................................................................................ 6 3 Methodology ................................................................................................................................... 7 3.1 Desktop Assessment ................................................................................................... 7 3.1.1 Database Searches ...................................................................................................... 7 3.1.2 Literature Review ........................................................................................................ 8 3.1.3 Likelihood of Occurrence Assessment ........................................................................ 8 3.2 Field Survey ................................................................................................................. 9 3.2.1 Weather ...................................................................................................................... 9 3.2.2 Flora and Vegetation Survey ..................................................................................... 10 3.2.3 Terrestrial Fauna Survey ........................................................................................... 11 3.3 Limitations ................................................................................................................. 12 4 Results ........................................................................................................................................... 15 4.1 Desktop Assessment ................................................................................................. 15 4.1.1 Flora and Vegetation ................................................................................................. 15 4.1.2 Terrestrial Fauna ....................................................................................................... 16 4.1.3 Black Cockatoos ........................................................................................................ 16 Page | v Main Roads Western Australia Indian Ocean Drive Passing Lanes: SLK 52.49 to