Biosis Research
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
BIOSIS RESEARCH Ecological assessment of the Diamond Gully Structure Plan area, Castlemaine, Victoria June 2008 Biosis Research Natural & Cultural Heritage Consultants 449 Doveton Street North (PO Box 18N) Ballarat Victoria 3350 BIOSIS RESEARCH Report to Mount Alexander Shire Council Ecological assessment of the Diamond Gully Structure Plan area, Castlemaine, Victoria June 2008 Final Report Melbourne: 38 Bertie Street, Port Melbourne VIC 3207 Ph: (03) 9646 9499 Fax: (03) 9646 9242 email: [email protected] prepared by Sydney: 15-17 Henrietta Street, Chippendale NSW 2008 Ph: (02) 9690 2777 Fax: (02) 9690 2577 John Miller email: [email protected] Ballarat: Ruth Marr 449 Doveton Street North, Ballarat VIC 3354 Ph: (03) 5331 7000 Fax: (03) 5331 7033 email: [email protected] Queanbeyan: 55 Lorne Road (PO Box 1963), Queanbeyan NSW 2620 Ph: (02) 6284 4633 Fax: (02) 6284 4699 Project no. 6861 email: [email protected] Wollongong: 8 Tate Street, Wollongong NSW 2500 Ph: (02) 4229 5222 Fax: (02) 4229 5500 email: [email protected] © Biosis Research Pty. Ltd. This document is and shall remain the property of Biosis Research Pty. Ltd. The document may only be used for the purposes for which it was commissioned and in accordance with the Terms of BIOSIS RESEARCH Pty. Ltd. A.B.N. 65 006 175 097 the Engagement for the commission. Unauthorised use of this document in any form whatsoever Natural & Cultural Heritage Consultants is prohibited. Ecological assessment of Diamond Gully, Castlemaine, Victoria ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Biosis Research wishes to acknowledge the contribution of the following people and organisations in undertaking this study: Mount Alexander Shire Council • Fiona McMahon, Manager Sustainable Development • Kevin Jackson, Project Manager • Wayne Bell, ITC Manager • John Anthony – Environment Officer, Mount Alexander Shire Council • Virginia Adrian – Landcare Coordinator, Mount Alexander Shire Council The Diamond Gully Ecological Assessment Workshop Group • Frank Panter – Friends of the Box Ironbark Forest • Jan Hall – McKenzie Hill Landcare Group • Natalie daMaccus – Castlemaine Field Naturalists Club. • Jenny Thomas – DSE, Bendigo • Noel Muller - Parks Victoria, Castlemaine. • Philip Slessar – North Central CMA Landholders and local people with an interest in flora and fauna • Lisa Hall – resident adjoining the Structure Plan area • Debbie Worland – for bird observation records in the local area • Mr and Mrs Murley • All landholders who provided permission for access to their properties Department of Sustainability and Environment • Vanessa Stubbs • Peter Johnson • Alison Oppermann • Andrea Keleher • for access to ecological databases (Atlas of Victorian Wildlife, Flora Information System) Biosis Research Pty. Ltd. • Maria Pham, for mapping • Victoria Allen, for database searches • Rebecca Steer, for report review BIOSIS RESEARCH Acknowledgements & Abbreviations III Ecological assessment of Diamond Gully, Castlemaine, Victoria ABBREVIATIONS AVW Atlas of Victorian Wildlife (DSE 2005) BA Birds Australia CAMBA China – Australia Migratory Bird Agreement DBH Diameter at breast height (130 cm above ground surface) DEWHA Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts DSE Department of Sustainability & Environment EPBC Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 EVC Ecological vegetation class FFG Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988 (Vic.) FIS Flora Information System (DSE 2005) IUCN International Union for the Conservation of Nature JAMBA Japan – Australia Migratory Bird Agreement ROKAMBA Australia- Republic of Korea Migratory Bird Agreement sp. Species (one species) spp. Species (more than one species) Biosis Research Pty. Ltd. has completed this assessment in accordance with the relevant federal, state and local legislation and current industry best practice. The company accepts no liability for any damages or loss incurred as a result of reliance placed upon the report content or for any purpose other than that for which it was intended. BIOSIS RESEARCH Acknowledgements & Abbreviations IV Ecological assessment of Diamond Gully, Castlemaine, Victoria CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ......................................................................................................... III ABBREVIATIONS .....................................................................................................................IV CONTENTS ................................................................................................................................V SUMMARY ...............................................................................................................................VII 1.0 INTRODUCTION.......................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Project Background................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Objectives................................................................................................................... 1 1.3 Study Area .................................................................................................................. 1 2.0 METHODS ................................................................................................................... 2 2.1 Classification.............................................................................................................. 2 2.2 Literature and Database Review............................................................................... 2 2.3 Site Visit ......................................................................................................................2 2.3.1 Ecological assessment ................................................................................................ 2 2.3.2 Vegetation Quality Assessment for Net Gain .............................................................. 3 2.4 Qualifications ............................................................................................................. 3 2.5 Defining Significant Species and Communities ..................................................... 4 3.0 RESULTS .................................................................................................................... 5 3.1 Flora ............................................................................................................................ 5 3.1.1 Species ........................................................................................................................ 5 3.1.2 Ecological Vegetation Classes..................................................................................... 6 3.1.3 Condition of Native Vegetation .................................................................................... 9 3.2 Vegetation quality assessment for Net Gain........................................................... 9 3.2.1 Vegetation in Patches ................................................................................................ 10 3.2.2 Scattered Trees ......................................................................................................... 14 3.3 Terrestrial Fauna...................................................................................................... 15 3.3.1 Species ...................................................................................................................... 15 3.3.2 Terrestrial Habitats..................................................................................................... 15 3.3.3 Landscape Context .................................................................................................... 17 4.0 ECOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE ................................................................................ 18 4.1 Significance of the Structure Plan area................................................................. 18 4.2 Previous assessments of significance.................................................................. 19 4.3 Significant Flora Species ........................................................................................ 20 4.3.1 National significance .................................................................................................. 20 4.3.2 State significance....................................................................................................... 20 4.3.3 Regional significance ................................................................................................. 21 4.4 Significant Vegetation Communities ..................................................................... 21 4.5 Significant Terrestrial Fauna Species.................................................................... 22 4.5.1 National significance .................................................................................................. 22 4.5.2 State significance....................................................................................................... 24 4.5.3 Regional Significance ................................................................................................ 26 4.6 Significant Fauna Communities ............................................................................. 28 5.0 BIODIVERSITY LEGISLATION AND GOVERNMENT POLICY .............................. 29 BIOSIS RESEARCH Contents V Ecological assessment of Diamond Gully, Castlemaine, Victoria 5.1 Commonwealth .......................................................................................................