Dotee Additional Information Requests
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Bingara Gorge – EPBC Assessment Report Appendix A: DotEE additional information requests © ECO LOGICAL AUSTRALIA PTY LTD 169 Bingara Gorge – EPBC Assessment Report Table 23: Summary of additional information provided RELEVANT INFORMATION REQUESTED BY DotEE – April 2015 SECTION 1. Description of the action; The DotEE considered that actions within the Environmental Protection and Recreation (EP&R) lands may impact on MNES and/or their suitable habitat that occur within and/or adjacent to these areas. Please provide further information relating to works to be undertaken and elements of the action that may impact MNES. These include: a. Further information clarifying the location of the Golf Course, cart bridges, Section 2 and outdoor classroom and pathways within the proposed EP&R lands, including a map Figure 3. clearly indicating the location of all components of the action, preferable with a satellite image indicating the location of all components of the action, preferably with a satellite image overlay. These components of the action will result in the Section 8.8 and fragmentation of areas of SSTF from the broader patch, however the extent of this is Figure 20 unclear based on the maps provided. b. Page 8 of your management plan refers to a buffer zone with component including: stormwater controls, asset protection zones, recreational paths, fences and gates. Based on your description of the buffer zones, any MNES within these areas are considered likely to be impacted by the action. As such, the DotEE requires the location of the buffer zone components, including associated footprints (ha), and the locations of the relevant MNES. Please provide further information regarding the location and size of proposed residential buffer zones, with details described and mapped. 2. A description of the existing environment and relevant matters of national environmental significance Please provide further descriptions of the existing environment and relevant matters of national environmental significance, including: a. Further information to determine whether SSTF windrow and under-scrubbed vegetation meet the condition thresholds for this community, as defined in the EPBC Act listing advice, and confirmation of the area of SSTF to be impacted by the action. While both windrows and under-scrubbed vegetation are characterised by canopy trees common to SSTF, the condition of the mid and understorey is not comprehensively known. Please provide further information regarding whether this vegetation meets the STFF condition criteria, in particular the percentage of the perennial understorey vegetation cover that is made up of native species and the number of trees with hollows or large locally indigenous trees (>80cm dbh). Please note, according to the condition thresholds, perennial understorey vegetation cover includes vascular plant species of both the ground layer and mid/shrub layer (where present) with a lifestyle of more than two growing seasons. Measurements of perennial understorey vegetation cover exclude annuals, cryptograms, leaf litter or exposed soil. b. Confirmation that the SSTF vegetation on site is/is not contiguous with a larger patch of the SSTF community to the north-east. According to 2002 NPWS vegetation mapping presented in the referral, vegetation to the north-east of the development site is SSTF and therefore onsite Section 4, section 0, SSTF is likely to contribute substantially to landscape connectivity and function. section 6 and c. Further information specifying the extent and condition of Forest Red Gum throughout the subject site. Based on the Commonwealth listing advice, Eucalyptus tereticornis (Forest Red section 7. Gum) is a key foraging species for the Swift Parrot and Grey-headed Flying-fox. Please provide further information so that we are able to adequately assess the impacts the proposed project with have on the Forest Red Gum and subsequently the Swift Parrot and Grey-headed Flying-fox. d. Further clarification regarding the likelihood of occurrence of the Koala both within the subject site and in the immediately surrounding woodlands. A total of 55 Koala records exist within a 10 km radius of the subject site. Additionally, the habitat on site is assessed as being critical to the survival of the Koala according to the EPBC Act referral guidelines for the vulnerable Koala (2014). Although Koala surveys were performed around the site in 2006, as part of the Koala Plan of Management for the Wilton Area, insufficient information is given to determine if these were performed in accordance with requirements of the EPBC Act Koala referral guidelines. Additional surveys were also performed by ELA on the subject site, but, according to the EPBC Act referral guidelines for the vulnerable koala, results from these appear unlikely to indicate true absences as they lay spatial and temporal replication. Therefore, the Department notes that further information would be required to infer that Koalas are truly absent from this area. Alternatively, the Koala will be assumed present within this area of vegetation, and appropriate avoidance, mitigation, and offset measures will be required. e. Further surveys to be undertaken for the Giant Burrowing Frog, in accordance with the Survey Guidelines for Australia’s Threatened Frogs. EPBC Act survey guidelines 6.3, including any results of these surveys regarding the likely presence or absence of this species, and potential impact as a result of the proposed action. As no targeted fauna surveys were undertaken for © ECO LOGICAL AUSTRALIA PTY LTD 170 Bingara Gorge – EPBC Assessment Report RELEVANT INFORMATION REQUESTED BY DotEE – April 2015 SECTION the Giant Burrowing Frog, despite suitable habitat being present, the species may occur on- site and may be impacted by the proposed action. If further surveys are not undertaken, the species must be assumed to be present on site, and impacts assessed accordingly. f. Further information regarding the potential occurrence of the Hairy Persoonia (Persoonia hirsuta), Sydney Plains Greenhood (Pterostylis saxicola) and Yellow Gnat-orchid (Genoplesium baueri) both within the subject site and surrounding woodlands. These species have not been identified on the proposed development site, but have been recorded nearby. The Department considers that these may be present in the EP&R lands and could be impacted by the proposed action: I. This information should include results from targeted surveys determining the presence/absence of the Yellow Gnat-orchid as per the threatened orchid survey guidelines available at: http://www.environment.gov.au/resource/draft-survey- guidelines-australias-threatened-orchids. The Yellow Gnat-orchid was listed as Endangered in January 2014, after surveys had been undertaken. II. While targeted surveys were undertaken for Hairy Persoonia and Sydney Plains Greenhood, both species are difficult to detect. Further targeted surveys are required to determine the extent and distribution of these species. Further information regarding the regional context of the Small-flower Grevillea (Grevillea parviflora subsp. parviflora), Deane’s Melaleuca (Melaleuca deanei) and Bargo Geebung (Parsoonia bargoensis). All three plant species have been recorded within the EP&R lands as well as multiple times within a 10 km radius. Please undertake surveys in vegetation neighbouring the subject site within a 1 km radius to confirm if these individuals form part of larger populations and to therefore assist in determining the significance of any impacts to these species. 3. As assessment of the relevant impacts of the action The Department considers that the MNES present in the Environmental Protection and Recreation (EP&R) lands may be impacted as a result of the action. Please provide more information concerning the relevant impacts of the action including: a. An assessment of the potential impacts of the proposed action to the Giant Burrowing Frog, Koala, Swift Parrot and Grey-headed Flying-fox. b. Further information regarding the location and extent of indirect impacts to the ecological community proposed to be retained in the EP&R and golf course lands. These impacts are likely to result from: fragmentation, the maintenance of asset protection zones, the construction Section 0, section 6, and maintenance of proposed facilities such as walking tracks/paths and pedestrian bridges within the SSTF, run-off from residential areas resulting in the spread of weeds and section 7. degradation of the SSTF, littering, the construction of an outdoor classroom, seating and lighting across bridges within the SSTF. c. Further information regarding indirect impacts on the Small-flower Grevillea (Grevillea parviflora subsp. parviflora), Deane’s Melaleuca (Melaleuca deanei) Bargo Geebung (Persoonia bargoensis). The Department is concerned with the likelihood of indirect impacts affecting these species. Such impacts include: fragmentation, the construction and maintenance of proposed facilities such as walking tracks/paths and pedestrian bridges, signage, outdoor classroom, seating and lighting across bridges, littering and weeds from the residential area and the construction of an asset protection zone. d. Further information regarding indirect impacts to Hairy Persoonia (Persoonia hirsuta), Sydney Plains Greenhood (Pterostylis saxicoloa) and Yellow Gnat-orchid (Genoplesium baueri), if the presence of these species cannot be ruled out from further surveys described above. 4. Proposed safeguards and mitigation measures Please provide a greater