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Monitoring Fauna Sensitive Road Design in a Woodland Environment – Is There a Conflict Between Short-Term Compliance and Long-Term Research Values?

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Monitoring Fauna Sensitive Road Design in a Woodland Environment – Is There a Conflict Between Short-Term Compliance and Long-Term Research Values? MONITORING FAUNA SENSITIVE ROAD DESIGN IN A WOODLAND ENVIRONMENT – IS THERE A CONFLICT BETWEEN SHORT-TERM COMPLIANCE AND LONG-TERM RESEARCH VALUES? AMY EVANS MONITORING FAUNA SENSITIVE ROAD DESIGN IN A WOODLAND ENVIRONMENT My Background MONITORING FAUNA SENSITIVE ROAD DESIGN IN A WOODLAND ENVIRONMENT Location (Source: Google Maps, 2014) MONITORING FAUNA SENSITIVE ROAD DESIGN IN A WOODLAND ENVIRONMENT Fauna Mitigation Examples Glider Crossings Rope Bridges Glider Poles MONITORING FAUNA SENSITIVE ROAD DESIGN IN A WOODLAND ENVIRONMENT Fauna Mitigation Examples Nest Boxes MONITORING FAUNA SENSITIVE ROAD DESIGN IN A WOODLAND ENVIRONMENT Fauna Mitigation Examples Bird Underpasses MONITORING FAUNA SENSITIVE ROAD DESIGN IN A WOODLAND ENVIRONMENT Fauna Mitigation Examples Fauna Friendly Culverts MONITORING FAUNA SENSITIVE ROAD DESIGN IN A WOODLAND ENVIRONMENT Fauna Mitigation Examples Widened Median Plantings Coarse Woody Debris Placement MONITORING FAUNA SENSITIVE ROAD DESIGN IN A WOODLAND ENVIRONMENT Examples to Discuss 1. Nest Box Monitoring Program 2. Squirrel Glider Monitoring Program at Thurgoona 3. Landscaping as a mitigation measure MONITORING FAUNA SENSITIVE ROAD DESIGN IN A WOODLAND ENVIRONMENT Nest Box Monitoring Program • The Duplication of the Hume Highway from Sturt Hwy to Tabletop resulted in removal of 231 hollow bearing trees, containing 580 hollows. • The Ministerial Conditions of Approval (MCoA) for the project outline the proponent’s duties with regard to hollow dependent fauna and nest boxes. The MCoA state: “The Proponent shall install nest boxes and relocated hollows to offset the loss of tree hollows/habitat. Structures to replace hollows shall be installed prior to or during the early stages of clearing, other than minor clearing (except where threatened species, populations or communities would be impacted).” • Five year monitoring program undertaken by Australian National University (ANU) (Photo Source: Mason Crane, ANU) MONITORING FAUNA SENSITIVE ROAD DESIGN IN A WOODLAND ENVIRONMENT Nest Box Monitoring Program Results so far • 10% of boxes are being occupied. • Detection rates have varied over the four years – Year 1 = 12.8% – Year 2 = 16.1% – Year 3 = 14% – Year 4 = 9.5% • Since installation – 8% failed to be functional (Photo Source: Mason Crane, ANU) MONITORING FAUNA SENSITIVE ROAD DESIGN IN A WOODLAND ENVIRONMENT Nest Box Monitoring Program • Does the mitigation measure line up with the monitoring program timeline? • Whose responsibility is it after the CoA have been met? • Short term success versus long term failure (Photo Source: Sachiko Okada, ANU) MONITORING FAUNA SENSITIVE ROAD DESIGN IN A WOODLAND ENVIRONMENT Squirrel Glider Monitoring Program at Thurgoona • Albury-Wodonga National Highway (14.7kms long) was opened in 2007. • Five year monitoring program was implemented, being conducted bi-annually in spring and autumn which commenced in spring 2008 and finished in autumn 2013. • Primary objective was to evaluate the effects of the operation of the new Highway on target species such as the Squirrel Glider. MONITORING FAUNA SENSITIVE ROAD DESIGN IN A WOODLAND ENVIRONMENT Squirrel Glider Monitoring Program at Thurgoona • So far, the population is successfully breeding and persisting in the environment. • No evidence of individuals crossing the highway at this area. • What would the results be in another 5 or 10 years of monitoring. • Where to now? MONITORING FAUNA SENSITIVE ROAD DESIGN IN A WOODLAND ENVIRONMENT Landscaping as a Mitigation Measure • Landscaping is vital to providing future connectivity across the landscape. • Imperative that landscaping treatments are undertaken in and around fauna crossing zones. • In southern NSW, weather plays a vital role in determining how successful landscaping is. MONITORING FAUNA SENSITIVE ROAD DESIGN IN A WOODLAND ENVIRONMENT Landscaping as a Mitigation Measure • On average glider poles are expected to last 25 -30 years. • Ongoing maintenance is required for glider crossings, which RMS is committed to = long term commitment and ongoing costs. • No landscaping monitoring is undertaken beyond the defect period. MONITORING FAUNA SENSITIVE ROAD DESIGN IN A WOODLAND ENVIRONMENT Conclusion • Confusion and conflict between the short term goals versus the long term research goals. • Often, conditions of approval are generally short term natured. • Ongoing research is expensive to gain adequate data. • So, who is responsible – Who should fund further research monitoring. Thanks goes to: • Mason Crane – ANU • Rodney van der Ree – ARCUE • Roads and Maritime – South West Region • Kylie Soanes - ARCUE • Roads and Maritime – Hume Highway Office • Erwin Budde – NGH environmental • Roads and Maritime – Biodiversity Section Sydney MONITORING FAUNA SENSITIVE ROAD DESIGN IN A WOODLAND ENVIRONMENT Questions .
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