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Table 2 Results of desktop survey

Species Legislation1 Record Discussion Likelihood of occurrence location2 Endangered species Stylidium ensatum TWPC Act, 1 record 15 km An annual herb to 22 cm tall flowering June-July. Preferred Unlikely – no peaty/clay soils that stay damp well into EPBC Act south of site habitat is poorly drained grassy flats with damp peaty or heavy the dry season are present on site (although there may clay soils, which stay damp well into the dry season (TSSC, 2016). be suitable habitat in areas of wetland along but Poorly drained sandy soils have also been associated with this outside of the southern boundary of the site). A 2016 species (Green & Cuff, 2016). It has been recorded growing with survey by the NT Herbarium of the Litchfield local sedges, perennial grasses and herbs, and shrubs including government area, including numerous sites in suitable Melaleuca viridiflora, Lophostemon lactifluus, Banksia dentata and habitat in Tree Point Conservation Park and vicinity, did Osbornia sp. (Bean, 2000; TSSC, 2016). not find this species (Green & Cuff, 2016a). It was not observed during the field survey (but an earlier fire had burnt out suitable habitat). Vulnerable species Crepidium TWPC Act 3 records 10-13 A deciduous terrestrial orchid with a flower stem to 50 cm, Unlikely – littoral rainforest/monsoon vine thicket is marsupichila (Malaxis) km north of site flowering and fruiting January-May. It grows in colonies in soils present on the site, but it is heavily impacted by regular (formerly Malaxis with abundant leaf litter, favouring moist, shady sites along the human visitation. Shady sites on the margins of this marsupichila) margins of littoral or monsoon rainforest. It is an NT endemic only vine thicket are particularly popular with campers and recorded from two populations, both at the extreme north of have been compacted and regularly disturbed. It was Gunn Point (AVH, 2017; Kerrigan & Cowie, 2006b). not observed during the field survey (although the season was not correct for surveys for this species, and an earlier fire had burnt suitable habitat). Cycas armstrongii TWPC Act 40 records on A locally abundant cycad to 6 m tall, endemic to the NT and with Present – a common species on site, with population (Armstrong’s cycad) site and across the main population from Gunn Point south to Mt Bundey and the densities in excess of 1000/ha in the eastern third. It is greater Darwin Litchfield National Park, including records from the Tiwi Islands. It less common in the western third of the site. region prefers open grassy woodlands on well drained soils (AVH, 2017; Kerrigan et al., 2006). Freycinetia excelsa TWPC Act 1 record 13 km A woody climber (a pandanus) found in wet, evergreen lowland Unlikely – the site does not contain wet, evergreen north of site and spring fed rainforests, sometimes in sandstone gullies rainforest, and this species was not recorded in the (Northern Territory Herbarium, 2015; Kerrigan & Cowie, 2006a). field survey. Typhonium TWPC Act 23 records 5-8 A perennial geophyte (ie a predominately subterranean herb) Possible – suitable woodland habitat is present on site praetermissum km north of site emergent between November and January/February. This species and populations have been located in the Gunn Point is endemic to the Darwin/Litchfield area. It has been seldom area. Green and Cuff (2016b) have mapped a corridor collected, but is known to occur in woodland, sometimes in full of potential habitat for this species in the eastern third sun, in red-brown clay soil and shallow or gravelly lateritic soil. It of the project site (see Figure 5). It was not observed is a generally cryptic species that appears to be naturally rare during the field survey (although the season was not (Northern Territory Herbarium, 2015; Westaway & Cowie, 2012). correct for surveys for this species). Near threatened species

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Species Legislation1 Record Discussion Likelihood of occurrence location2 Avicennia integra TWPC Act 1 record 4 km A mangrove endemic to the NT (the only endemic mangrove in Unlikely –small areas of mangroves are present but are (stilted grey south of site Australia). It is found on poorly consolidated muds on the margins not likely to become brackish. It was not observed mangrove) of tidal rivers, particularly those that become brackish for a period during the field survey. of the year (Northern Territory Herbarium, 2015). Desmodium tiwiense TWPC Act 1 record 2 km A trailing ground herb with a perennial rootstock and annual Possible – suitable habitat (eucalypt woodland) is (Melville Island east of site stems. It is endemic to the NT, being found in ‘eucalypt savannah’ present and common on site and is contiguous with Desmodium) and open forest, primarily in the Tiwi Islands but with 3 records habitat for a previous record from within 2 km. It was from the mainland – one from 2006 located approximately 1.7 km not observed during the field survey (but an earlier fire east of the project site (AVH, 2017; Northern Territory Herbarium, had burnt out suitable habitat). 2015). Operculina turpethum TWPC Act 3 records on A twining vine growing to 4 m or more, recorded from Queensland Possible – collected from foredune forbland western to WA but mostly found in South East Asia. In NT recorded in vine immediately adjacent to the project site in 2000. It was boundary of site thicket beside mangroves, including from a dune on the project not observed during the field survey (but an earlier fire (from 1 site (but growing on the sand, not in vine thicket) (AVH, 2017). had burnt out the previous collection site). location) Pittosporum TWPC Act 2 records within A tree to 7 m tall growing in semi-deciduous vine thickets on Possible – suitable areas of vine thicket on stabilised moluccanum 2 km north and stabilised coastal sand dunes or laterite ledges (Northern Territory coastal sand dunes are present on site, and the species south of site Government 2015). has been found twice within 2 km of the project site, both to the north and south. It was not observed during the field survey. Data deficient species Goodenia kakadu TWPC Act 1 record 7 km Prostrate herb to 20 cm tall (Carolin, 1992). Recorded from Gunn Unlikely – suitable habitat generally not present, (Kakadu Goodenia) north east of Point growing in shallow water, from a seasonally inundated except in the wetland area just outside the south site swamp in the Shoal Bay Coastal Reserve near Howard Springs, and eastern corner of the project site. It was not observed elsewhere from the Kimberly to the Gulf of Carpentaria (9 records during the field survey (but an earlier fire had burnt out in total) always in damp soil or shallow water (AVH, 2017). suitable habitat). Lindernia sp. Robyn’s TWPC Act 1 record 7 km A small annual herb recorded from seepage areas or at the base of Unlikely – suitable habitat generally not present, showy anthers west of site cliffs, primarily further south in Kakadu National Park. Recorded 7 except in the wetland area just outside the south km west of the project site in Melaleuca sp. closed forest (AVH, eastern corner of the project site. It was not observed 2017; Northern Territory Government 2015). during the field survey (but an earlier fire had burnt out suitable habitat). Stylidium tenerrimum TWPC Act 4 records 9 km An annual herb to 30 cm tall, flowering/fruiting between April to Unlikely –suitable habitat generally not present, except south east of August. Associated with sandy soils that remain damp after the in the wetland area just outside the south eastern site wet season, and known to occur with Pandanus sp., Melaleuca sp. corner of the project site. It was not observed during and Grevillea pteridifolia (Bean, 2000). the field survey (but an earlier fire had burnt out suitable habitat). 1 EPBC Act = Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cth); TWPC Act = Territory Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act 2000 (NT) 2 Record locations from NR Maps (NT government, 2017)

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Figure 5 Location of NT government mapped potential habitat for Typhonium praetermissum

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Figure 6 Cycad population density mapping

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Figure 7 Weed mapping

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4 Conclusion In conclusion, the main flora values associated with this site are:

 A population of the vulnerable cycad Cycas armstrongii that may be as high as 80, 000 individuals over the entire site, with approximately 99% of these located in the Eucalyptus tetrodonta woodland on the laterite plain.  Potential habitat for the vulnerable terrestrial herb Typhonium praetermissum is mapped by the Northern Territory government along the run-off plain forming the western edge to the Koolpinyah plateau, primarily in E. tetrodonta woodland, Eucalyptus tectifica and Corymbia polysciada low woodland, and deciduous mixed species low woodland.  The near threatened twining herb Desmodium tiwiense may be present in E. tetrodonta woodland and E. tectifica and C. polysciada low woodland in the eastern two thirds of the project site. It has been previously recorded in similar habitat within two kilometres of the project site. It was not observed in the field survey, although this area had been severely burnt.  The near threatened vine Operculina turpethum may be present just off-site - it has been recorded previously in the foredune forbland community on the coastal sand plain, on the far western edge of the project site. It was not observed in the field survey, although this area had been severely burnt. It may also be present in the vine thicket habitat (also just off-site).  The near threatened small tree Pittosporum moluccanum may be present just off-site in the monsoon vine thicket patch located on the coastal sand plain along the extreme western edge of the project site. It has been recorded from within two kilometres of the site previously. It was not observed during the field survey.  Monsoon vine thicket is present with mangrove low closed forest in a mosaic along the foredune/swale system in the south west of the project area. These are sensitive communities under the Land Clearing Guidelines (Department of Natural Resources, Environment, the Arts and Sport, 2010) with a high woody plant species diversity relative to other communities.  Four vegetation communities meet the definition of a drainage area and one community meets the definition of a wetland under the Land Clearing Guidelines (Department of Natural Resources, Environment, the Arts and Sport, 2010). These communities need to be buffered from clearing by the appropriate distance (25 m for drainage areas, 200 m for wetlands).  A number of declared weed species are present on the coastal sand plain and immediately beside the main track to the beach and Tree Point Conservation Park. Gamba grass is of particular concern. However, weeds are generally absent from the proposed project site.

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Recommendations in relation to these values are:

 Cycas armstrongii is not evenly distributed across the site – concentrating development in the western third of the project site will ensure impacts on this species are minimised. An accurate, detailed population survey of this species within the project footprint should be conducted prior to the application for a clearing permit, and should be used to inform that process.  Pre-clearance surveys for T. praetermissum and D. tiwiense should be conducted in an appropriate season within the project disturbance footprint, including a 200 m buffer.  In addition, a less intensive pre-clearance survey should be conducted for O. turpethum, to determine if it is still present in the foredune forbland (as it may be impacted by fire regimes in future).  Monsoon vine thicket and mangrove low closed forest communities should be avoided and protected from impact from construction and operation activities, in particular any future hazard reduction or ecological burns.  A Weed Management Plan should be implemented prior to construction. The control of gamba grass and perennial mission grass should be a focus of this WMP, including ensuring that vehicle movements to and from site do not spread this weed further.

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5 References

AVH, 2017, Australia’s Virtual Herbarium, Council of Heads of Australasian Herbaria. Available online at http://avh.chah.org.au/, accessed on 24 July, 2017.

Bean, A.R., 2000, A revision of Stylidium subg. Andersonia (R.Br. ex G.Don) Mildbr. (Stylidiaceae). Austrobaileya 5 (4).

Brocklehurst, P., Lewis, D., Napier, D. and Lynch, D. 2007, Northern Territory Guidelines and Field Methodology for Vegetation Survey and Mapping. Technical Report No. 02/2007D. Department of Natural Resources, Environment and the Arts, Palmerston, Northern Territory.

Bureau of Meteorology, 2017, Weather records for Darwin airport, available from http://www.bom.gov.au/climate. Accessed 24 July, 2017.

Carolin, R.C. in George, A.S. (ed), 1992, Goodenia, in Flora of Australia 35, Australian Government Publishing Service, Canberra.

Cowie, I.D., Short, P.S. and Osterkamp Madsen, M., 2000, Floodplain Flora. A flora of the coastal floodplains of the Northern Territory, Australia. Australian Biological Resources Study (Flora) (ABRS), Canberra.

Department of Environment and Natural Resources, 2007, Northern Territory Weeds Dataset. Weed mapping shapefiles available online from https://nt.gov.au/environment/environment-data- maps/environment-data-requests. Accessed 30 July, 2017.

Department of Natural Resources, Environment and the Arts, 2004, Darwin Coastal Bioregion Conservation Values and Environmental Resources, Department of Natural Resources, Environment and the Arts, Palmerston, Northern Territory.

Department of Natural Resources, Environment, the Arts and Sport, 2010, Land Clearing Guidelines, Department of Natural Resources, Environment, the Arts and Sport, Darwin.

Doyle, N., 2001, Extractive Minerals within the Outer Darwin Area, Northern Territory Geological Survey, Report 14. Includes 1:100, 000 geological mapping.

Executive Steering Committee for Australian Vegetation Information (ESCAVI), 2003, Australian Vegetation Attribute Manual: National Vegetation Information System, Version 6.0. Department of Environment and Heritage, Canberra.

Green, C. and Cuff, N., 2016a, Threatened Species Distribution in the Greater Darwin Region. Stylidium ensatum. Mapped Distribution. Department of Land Resource Management, Northern Territory. Available from https://nt.gov.au/environment/native-plants/threatened-plants. Accessed July 2017.

Green, C. and Cuff, N., 2016b, Threatened Species Distribution in the Greater Darwin Region. Typhonium praetermissum. Mapped Distribution. Department of Land Resource Management, Northern Territory. Available from https://nt.gov.au/environment/native-plants/threatened-plants. Accessed 24 July 2017.

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Kerrigan, R. and Cowie, I., 2006a, Threatened Species of the Northern Territory: Freycinetia excelsa. Department of Land Resource Management, Northern Territory. Available from https://nt.gov.au/ environment/native-plants/threatened-plants. Accessed 24 July 2017.

Kerrigan, R. and Cowie, I., 2006b, Threatened Species of the Northern Territory: Malaxis marsupichila. Department of Land Resource Management, Northern Territory. Available from https://nt.gov.au/ environment/native-plants/threatened-plants. Accessed 24 July 2017.

Kerrigan, R., Cowie, I. and Liddle, D., 2006, Threatened Species of the Northern Territory: Cycas armstrongii. Department of Land Resource Management, Northern Territory. Available from https://nt.gov.au/environment/native-plants/threatened-plants. Accessed 24 July 2017.

Northern Territory Government, 2002, Litchfield Shire Remnant Vegetation, 1:100, 000 vegetation mapping. PDF map and shapefiles available from https://nt.gov.au/environment/environment-data- maps/environment-data-requests. Accessed 24 July, 2017.

Northern Territory government, 2015, Litchfield Municipality Land Units, PDF map and shapefiles available from https://nt.gov.au/environment/environment-data-maps/environment-data-requests. Accessed 24 July, 2017.

Northern Territory government, 2017, NR Maps. Online mapping resource available at http://nrmaps.nt.gov.au. Accessed 24 July 2017.

Northern Territory government, 2017a, List of Declared Weeds in the NT. Webpage available at https://nt.gov.au/environment/weeds/list-of-declared-weeds-in-the-nt. Accessed 30 July, 2017.

Northern Territory Herbarium, 2015, FloraNT Northern Territory Flora Online, Department of Land Resource Management, Northern Territory. Online database available at http://eflora.nt.gov.au /home. Accessed 24 July, 2017.

Smith, N.M., 2002, Weeds of the Wet/Dry Tropics of Australia. A Field Guide. Environment Centre NT, Darwin.

Thackway, R. and Lesslie, R. 2005, Vegetation Assets, States and Transitions (VAST): accounting for vegetation condition in the Australian landscape, Bureau of Rural Sciences, Australian government, Canberra.

Threatened Species Scientific Committee, 2016, Approved Conservation Advice for Stylidium ensatum. Canberra, Department of the Environment. Online pdf available from http://www. environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/species/pubs/86366-conservation-advice- 05052016.pdf. Accessed 24 July, 2017.

Westaway, J. and Cowie, I., 2012, Threatened Species of the Northern Territory: Typhonium praetermissum. Department of Land Resource Management, Northern Territory. Available from https://nt.gov.au/ environment/native-plants/threatened-plants. Accessed 24 July 2017.

Wilson, B.A., Brocklehurst, J.S., Clark, M.J. and Dickinson, K.J.M, 1990, Vegetation Survey of the Northern Territory, Australia, Technical Report #49, Northern Territory Conservation Commission, Darwin.

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Wood, B.G., Fogarty, P.J and Day, K.J., 1985, The Land Systems of the Darwin Region, Conservation Commission of the Northern Territory, Darwin. Includes 1:250, 000 land system mapping.

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