Appendix 3 Striped Legless Lizard Data
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Salvage & Translocation of Striped Legless Lizard in the Urban Growth Areas of Melbourne: Operational Plan Salvage & translocation of Striped Legless Liz ard in the urban growth area of Melbourne Operational plan I Salvage & Translocation of Striped Legless Lizard in the Urban Growth Areas of Melbourne: Operational Plan Published by the Victorian Government Department of Sustainability and Environment Melbourne, March 2011 © The State of Victoria Department of Sustainability and Environment 2011 This publication is copyright. No part may be reproduced by any process except in accordance with the provisions of the Copyright Act 1968 . This document was prepared by the Department of Sustainability and Environment based on work prepared by Biosis Research Pty Ltd. Authorised by the Victorian Government, 8 Nicholson Street, East Melbourne. ISBN 978-1-74287-022-9 (online) For more information contact the DSE Customer Service Centre 136 186 Disclaimer This publication may be of assistance to you but the State of Victoria and its employees do not guarantee that the publication is without flaw of any kind or is wholly appropriate for your particular purposes and therefore disclaims all liability for any error, loss or other consequence which may arise from you relying on any information in this publication. Accessibility If you would like to receive this publication in an accessible format, such as large print or audio, please telephone 136 186, or through the National Relay Service (NRS) using a modem or textphone/teletypewriter (TTY) by dialling 1800 555 677, or email [email protected] This document is also available in PDF format on the Internet at www.dse.vic.gov.au Cover Photo: Biosis Research Pty Ltd. I Salvage & Translocation of Striped Legless Lizard in the Urban Growth Areas of Melbourne: Operational Plan Abbreviations AVW Atlas of Victorian Wildlife (DSE) DSEWPaC Commonwealth Department of Sustainability, the Environment, Water, Population and Communities DSE Department of Sustainability and Environment, Victoria EPBC Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cth) FFG Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988 (Vic.) PV Parks Victoria SLL Striped Legless Lizard SLLNRT Striped Legless Lizard National Recovery Team SLLWG Striped Legless Lizard Working Group sp. Species (one species) spp. Species (more than one species) II Salvage & Translocation of Striped Legless Lizard in the Urban Growth Areas of Melbourne: Operational Plan Contents 1.0 INTRODUCTION.......................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Background ................................................................................................................ 1 1.2 Objectives ................................................................................................................... 2 1.3 Plan refinements ........................................................................................................ 2 1.4 Summary of process.................................................................................................. 2 2.0 SALVAGE GUIDELINES............................................................................................. 4 2.1 Resources................................................................................................................... 4 2.2 Timing ......................................................................................................................... 5 2.3 Priority salvage areas ................................................................................................ 5 2.4 Salvage technique...................................................................................................... 7 2.5 Process when SLL found .......................................................................................... 9 2.6 Occupational health and safety.............................................................................. 10 2.7 Contingency for Grassland Earless Dragon.......................................................... 10 2.8 Non-target species................................................................................................... 11 2.9 Responsibilities........................................................................................................ 11 3.0 TRANSLOCATION AND RELEASE ......................................................................... 13 3.1 Responsibilities........................................................................................................ 13 4.0 REFERENCES & FURTHER READING ................................................................... 14 APPENDICES........................................................................................................................... 15 III Salvage & Translocation of Striped Legless Lizard in the Urban Growth Areas of Melbourne: Operational Plan 1.0 Introduction 1.1 Background The Striped Legless Lizard (SLL) is listed vulnerable in Australia on Schedule 1 of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act), Endangered in Victoria (DSE 2007) and is listed as threatened under Victoria’s Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988 (FFG Act). The Prescription for Striped Legless Lizard (DSE 2010) (the Prescription ), pursuant to Delivering Melbourne’s Newest Sustainable Communities Program (the Program) for Melbourne’s Urban Growth Area (DPCD 2009) outlines circumstances in which removal of SLL habitat is permitted for development within the Urban Growth Areas of Melbourne. The Prescription calls for salvage and translocation where clearing of SLL habitat is permitted. The SLL is a cryptic species and difficult to detect as it spends time within soil cracks and under surface rocks. For this reason salvage will entail mechanical soil disturbance using applications based on previous DSE approved salvage projects. In accord with the Prescription a fully costed plan for salvage and translocation must be prepared to the satisfaction of DSE and must comply with DSE protocol developed for the purpose. A Salvage and Translocation for Striped Legless Lizard in the Urban Growth Areas of Melbourne: Strategic Approach (DSE 2011) (the Strategic Approach ) provides the background, rationale and framework for application of the salvage and translocation aspects of the Prescription . This Salvage and Translocation for Striped Legless Lizard in the Urban Growth Areas of Melbourne: Operational Plan (the Operational Plan ) provides detailed requirements and methodologies to be used for salvage and translocation of the species. It also outlines responsibilities of all parties and has been prepared to enable developers to plan appropriate salvage and translocation of the species. The Operational Plan has been developed in consultation with the Victorian Striped Legless Lizard Working Group. Other key documents which provide reference for conservation and management of the species in Victoria are: • National recovery plan for the Striped Legless Lizard (Delma impar) 1999-2003 (Smith & Robertson 1999) • Flora & Fauna Guarantee Action Statement #17 Striped Legless Lizard Delma impar (DSE 2003) 1 Salvage & Translocation of Striped Legless Lizard in the Urban Growth Areas of Melbourne: Operational Plan 1.2 Objectives The broader objectives of salvage and translocation of SLL are to contribute to the conservation and recovery of the species by meeting the requirements set out in the Program Prescription for Striped Legless Lizard , the National Recovery Plan for the Striped Legless Lizard and the FFG Act Action Statement for the species. This Operational Plan has been developed with a view to meeting requirements of DSE with the following objectives: 1. Defining the process to be followed by developers when undertaking works in areas that may include habitat for SLL and where habitat removal is permitted. 2. Describing the procedure to determine priority areas for SLL salvage within a given site or land parcel. 3. Outlining a protocol for SLL salvage. 4. Defining roles and responsibilities. Note that salvage and translocation is considered to be a last resort and is not a substitute for any of the other mitigation steps described in the Prescription . 1.3 Plan refinements The present issue of the Operational Plan provides a framework for immediate salvage and translocation of the species. However, as a number of uncertainties presently exist about aspects of the biology and proposed management for SLL, the present document will be regularly reviewed and updated. If significant issues arise in the first year of operation, or important new information becomes available on the ecology of the species and its management, the Operational Plan will be updated as required. If this occurs all relevant parties will be consulted and the latest version will be made available on the DSE website. If significant issues do not arise in the first year of operation the Operational Plan will operate in its current form until 30 June 2012, and will be reviewed together with the Strategic Approach by that date. It will then be reviewed together with the Strategic Approach on an annual basis. 1.4 Summary of process This Operational Plan applies when a permit granted for subdivision, buildings and/or works on a site stipulates that a fully costed Striped Legless Lizard translocation / salvage plan must be prepared to the satisfaction of the DSE prior to the commencement of any works. 2 Salvage & Translocation of Striped Legless