Coliban Water Castlemaine Link - Sandhurst Reservoir Alignment Options Flora and Fauna Assessment August 2016

Executive summary

The Castlemaine Link Harcourt Modernisation Project is a three-stage project. This report relates to a portion of Stage 2, the Castlemaine Link Project (the project), which consists of 13 km of pipe and is in the approvals phase. In 2011 Biosis conducted a flora and fauna assessment of the original alignment through the Sandhurst Reservoir area. The original alignment is no longer a viable option as a number of assets have been built over the proposed construction corridor since the original assessments were undertaken in 2011. As such, Coliban Water has developed two alternative pipeline alignment options within the Sandhurst Reservoir area.

The purpose of this report is to identify the ecological values and constraints associated with the two alternative alignment options within the Sandhurst Reservoir area, to identify ways to avoid and minimise impacts to native vegetation and fauna habitat, and to determine the legislative implications that may arise for the two alignments, compared to the implications for the original alignment. WTP Alignment Summary

Impacts on vegetation in the WTP Alignment would be limited to planted indigenous and non-indigenous vegetation as well as a small patch of native regrowth (0.04 ha) where the WTP Alignment is that of the original alignment (see section 4.1.1 for details). Proposed impacts to vegetation along the WTP Alignment are unlikely to require assessment under the Biodiversity Assessment Guidelines, and will not require additional permits, approvals or vegetation offsets.

It is estimated that the WTP Alignment would have approximately the same impact on native vegetation as the original alignment.

No flora or fauna species or communities listed under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) or the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988 (FFG Act) were identified during the field assessment, or are considered likely to occur within the WTP Alignment option.

Superpipe Alignment Summary

Potential impacts on native vegetation within this alignment would be 0.24 ha (0.15 Habitat hectares) of Box Ironbark Forest (EVC 61), and two remnant scattered trees (see section 4.1.2 for details). Any impacts on native vegetation along the Superpipe Alignment would contribute to the overall area of native vegetation removal that the broader project requires to be documented and offset, when being assessed by the relevant authority. Approximately 69 individuals of the rare Grevillea dryophylla (Goldfields Grevillea) (listed on the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) Advisory List of Rare or Threatened Plants in Victoria (VROTS)) were observed within the alignment corridor.

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The woodland habitat present along the Superpipe Alignment may provide habitat for a number of threatened fauna species, including the EPBC-listed Swift Parrot (Lathamus discolor). However, given the small amount of disturbance relative to the area of better quality habitat surrounding the proposed alignment, it is considered unlikely that the proposed construction would have a significant impact on the threatened fauna species. No flora or fauna communities listed under the EPBC Act or the FFG Act were identified during the field assessment of the Superpipe Alignment, or are considered likely to occur within the Superpipe Alignment option. Implications for existing project obligations under the Environment Effects Act 1978

As a part of the original approvals process for the broader project, the Castlemaine Link project in 2011, the Castlemaine Link project was referred under the Victorian Environment Effects Act 1978 (EE Act) (Referral number 2011R-05). The project was deemed not to require an Environment Effects Statement (EES), subject to a number of conditions (Appendix A). These conditions are based on the impacts to vegetation and fauna habitat across the broader project area, including the impacts associated with the original alignment through the Sandhurst Reservoir area.

One purpose of this report was to address the potential implications of an alignment change for the project’s existing legislative obligations under EE Act. The adverse impacts to native vegetation and fauna habitat would be greater for the Superpipe Alignment option than the WTP Alignment option, and the original alignment. However, compared with the original alignment, the Superpipe Alignment impacts are not considered a material increase to ecological impacts to the project as a whole.

Adopting either of the alternative alignment options will not result in the project violating the existing conditions under the EE Act for the project. Therefore, if either of the two alternative alignment options are adopted, an amendment to the existing referral under the EE Act is unlikely to be required.

This report is subject to, and must be read in conjunction with, the limitations set out in section 1.4 and the assumptions and qualifications contained throughout the Report.

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Abbreviations

CALP Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994

CMA Catchment Management Authority DBH Diameter at Breast Height

DELWP Victorian Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (formerly DEPI/DSE) DEPI Victorian Department of Primary Industries

DNRE Victorian Department of Natural Resources and Environment

DotE Commonwealth Department of the Environment DSE Victorian Department of Sustainability and Environment (now DELWP) EE Act Victorian Environment Effects Act 1978

EPBC Act Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999

EVC Ecological Vegetation Class

FFG Act Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988

GHD GHD Pty Ltd

HabHa Habitat Hectare

HZ Habitat Zone

NCCMA North Central Catchment Management Authority

PMST Protected Matters Search Tool

TPZ Tree Protection Zone

VBA Victorian Biodiversity Atlas VROTS Species listed on DELWP’s Advisory List of Rare or Threatened Plants in Victoria

WONS Weed of National Significance

WTP Veolia Water Treatment Plant

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Table of contents

Executive summary ...... i Abbreviations ...... iii 1. Introduction...... 1 1.1 Background ...... 1 1.2 Purpose and scope ...... 1 1.3 Study area ...... 2 1.4 Limitations ...... 2 1.5 Assumptions ...... 3 1.6 Acknowledgements ...... 4 2. Methods...... 6 2.1 Desktop review ...... 6 2.2 Site assessment ...... 6 2.3 Nomenclature and conservation status ...... 7 3. Desktop assessment ...... 9 3.1 Previous reports: Original alignment ...... 9 3.2 Desktop assessment for two alternative alignments ...... 9 4. Site assessment ...... 12 4.1 Site description ...... 12 4.2 Flora site assessment results ...... 13 4.3 Fauna site assessment results ...... 17 5. Comparison of the alignment options ...... 22 5.1 Summary of impacts for the two alternative alignment options ...... 22 5.2 Comparison of impacts between three alignment options ...... 22 6. Policy and legislative implications ...... 24 7. References ...... 27

Table index

Table 1 Protected flora species (FFG Act) recorded within the Superpipe Alignment construction corridor during the field assessment ...... 14 Table 2 Noxious weeds identified during the field assessment ...... 15 Table 3 Habitat Hectare Summary for the Sandhurst Superpipe Alignment ...... 17 Table 4 Comparison of potential impacts to native vegetation between the WTP alignment and Superpipe alignment options ...... 22 Table 5 Impacts to native vegetation under each alignment option ...... 23 Table 6 Summary of legislative requirements for each of the two alternative alignment options ...... 24

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Figure index

Figure 1 Overview Map ...... 5 Figure 2 Vegetation map of the alignment options at the Sandhurst Reservoir area ...... 21

Appendices

Appendix A – Referral decision under the Environment Effects Act 1978

Appendix B – Rare and Threatened Flora species recorded within 10 km of the Sandhurst Reservoir alignment options

Appendix C – Flora Species identified during the field assessment

Appendix D – Likelihood of occurrence of threatened fauna species for Superpipe Alignment at Sandhurst Reservoir

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1. Introduction

1.1 Background The Castlemaine Link Harcourt Modernisation Project is a three-stage project that aims to provide approximately 35 km of pipeline infrastructure between Sandhurst Reservoir and Barkers Creek Reservoir, and Barkers Creek Reservoir to McCay Reservoir, with approximately 50 km of reticulated feeds into the Harcourt rural area. Stage 1 comprises the Harcourt Rural System Modernisation Project and is close to completion. Stage 2 comprises the Castlemaine Link Project, which consists of 13 km of pipe and is in the approvals phase. Stage 3 is the last 2 km in the southern section of the alignment. It is unknown when that will be progressed further.

As part of the Castlemaine Link Harcourt Modernisation Project a flora and fauna assessment of an original alignment was undertaken in 2011 (Biosis 2011). The Primary alignment in Figure 1 is the original alignment assessed by Biosis (2011), as it relates to the Castlemaine Link Project. The portion of this alignment around Sandhurst Reservoir forms the subject of this report (see Figure 2). At Sandhurst Reservoir this alignment ran through the fenced Veolia Water Treatment Plant (WTP) property along the south western boundary of the Sandhurst reservoir. The original alignment is no longer a viable option as a number of assets have been built over the proposed construction corridor since the original assessments were undertaken in 2011. As such, Coliban Water has developed two alternative alignment options within the Sandhurst Reservoir area (see Figure 2).

1.2 Purpose and scope The purpose and scope of this flora and fauna assessment is to identify the ecological values and constraints associated with two alternative alignment options at the Sandhurst Reservoir area of the Castlemaine Link Project, to identify ways to avoid and minimise impacts to native vegetation and fauna habitat, and to determine the legislative implications that may arise for the two alignments (see Figure 2).

As a part of the original approvals process for the broader project, in 2011 it was referred to the Victorian Planning Minister under the Victorian Environment Effects Act 1978 (EE Act) (Referral number 2011R-05). The broader project was deemed not to require an Environment Effects Statement (EES), subject to a number of conditions (Appendix A).

This report aims to address the potential implications of an alignment change for the project’s existing legislative obligations under the EE Act. Coliban Water and GHD have been advised by DELWP (Pers. Comm. Fiona Murray DELWP) that changes to the alignment do not necessarily mean a new referral would be required, as long as the impacts to the vegetation and fauna habitats are not significantly greater in the newly proposed alternative alignment. If the impacts to native vegetation and fauna habitat are considered similar (or less), then a brief letter-style report outlining the changes should suffice.

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1.3 Study area

This report refers to both study area and study site. For the purposes of this assessment, the term study site refers to the construction corridors of the two alignment options described below (shown in Figure 2):  WTP Alignment – this alignment option is approximately 540 m long, 440 m of which is within the WTP and 100 m of which is outside the WTP fence boundary. NB. The WTP Alignment follows a similar path to the original alignment inside the WTP boundary, and that of the original alignment once outside the WTP boundary (see Figure 2). This option will largely avoid impacts to native vegetation outside the WTP boundary through previously documented mitigation measures including boring and reducing the width of the alignment in certain sections, as per the original alignment (Biosis 2011).  Superpipe Alignment – this alignment is approximately 615 m long, 200 m of which is within the WTP boundary and 415 m is within a woodland area adjacent to a track west of the WTP (see Figure 2). The width of the construction corridor along each alignment option varies between 10 m and 15 m depending on the width of the existing track, site limitations, and the previously documented avoidance measures (Biosis 2011). The term study area refers to a broader region surrounding the study site (i.e. includes areas that are outside the proposed impact areas). The study area for this assessment includes the area within 10 km of the study site. This description covers a much broader area than the expected zone of impact, and the additional information captured has been used to provide context to determine the significance of ecological features identified within the study site (for example, whether they are part of a larger area, or whether there are potential impacts on ecological features outside the study site). The broader study area was only assessed at a desktop level.

According to DELWP’s Biodiversity Interactive Map1 the entire study area occurs within the Goldfields Bioregion, and within the North Central Catchment Management Authority (NCCMA) area. It occurs in the Greater Bendigo Local Government Area.

1.4 Limitations This report has been prepared by GHD Pty Ltd (GHD) for Coliban Water and may only be used and relied on by Coliban Water for the purpose agreed between GHD and Coliban Water as set out in Section 1 of this report. This report is not designed to be a stand-alone report, and the results of this options assessment are to be incorporated in to broader environmental and approvals documents for the overall project.

GHD otherwise disclaims responsibility to any person other than Coliban Water arising in connection with this report. GHD also excludes implied warranties and conditions, to the extent legally permissible.

The services undertaken by GHD in connection with preparing this report:

 Were limited to those specifically detailed in the report and are subject to the scope limitations stated in this section and also set out in the report;

1 http://mapshare2.dse.vic.gov.au/MapShare2EXT/imf.jsp?site=bim (last accessed by GHD June 2016)

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 Were limited to an ecological assessment of vascular plant species (ferns, conifers and flowering plants) and terrestrial vertebrate fauna (mammals, birds, reptiles and frogs). Non-vascular flora (e.g. mosses, liverworts, lichens), fungi and terrestrial invertebrates have not been considered in detail as part of this assessment, except where listed threatened species are known or suspected to occur, or where bryophytes comprise part of the EVC benchmark used for the habitat hectare assessment (e.g. cover of Bryophytes);

 Aquatic fauna (fish and aquatic invertebrates) and marine fauna have not been considered within this assessment;  Included a field investigation during winter, which is not considered to be an optimal time of year for conducting flora assessments, as many native flora species are difficult or impossible to locate or identify at this time of year, due to a lack of reproductive material and/or the seasonal nature of some species (in particular, native orchids and forbs that may flower for limited periods during spring or at other times of the year). Additional native species are likely to be recorded at the site at other times of the year. Therefore, it is considered possible that threatened flora species may be present, but were not detected during the survey because of the timing of the survey (e.g. threatened species that emerge in spring/early summer would not have been detected). This limitation is somewhat overcome by consideration of records from the Victorian Biodiversity Atlas (VBA) databases, which span all seasons and many years; and

 Involved the use of Collector for ArcGIS version 10.3.3 mapping application to record site information. This mapping tool was accurate to within ten metres on site.

The opinions, conclusions and any recommendations in this report are based on conditions encountered, observations made and information reviewed up to the date of preparation of the report. Flora and fauna (whether in type or quantity) can also change and fluctuate at different times throughout the year (due to factors including seasonal changes, external events or third party intervention), and it is generally not possible to observe such changes or fluctuations where only discrete site(s) visits have taken place. GHD has no responsibility or obligation to update this report to account for events or changes occurring subsequent to the date that the report was prepared.

GHD has prepared this report on the basis of information provided by Coliban Water and others (including Government authorities and other consultants). GHD has not independently verified or checked this information beyond the agreed scope of work. GHD does not accept liability in connection with such unverified information, including errors and omissions in the report which were caused by errors or omissions in that information.

The opinions, conclusions and any recommendations in this report are based on assumptions made by GHD and described in this report. GHD disclaims liability arising from any of the assumptions being incorrect.

1.5 Assumptions The following assumptions were applied when undertaking the flora and fauna assessment:

 There will be no impacts to native vegetation outside of the construction corridor shown in Figure 2 for the alignment options.

 The information in the previous report provided to GHD from the original flora and fauna assessment (Biosis 2011) for the original alignment is accurate and reliable for comparison of impacts between alignment options.

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1.6 Acknowledgements

GHD acknowledges the assistance, advice and/or information provided by the following:  The Victorian Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) for access to the VBA database and Biodiversity Interactive Maps

 The Commonwealth Department of the Environment (DOtE) for access to its Protected Matters Search Tool (PMST)

GHD | Report for Coliban Water - Castlemaine Link - Sandhurst Reservoir Alignment Options, 31/33964 | 4 LOCKWOOD BIG HILL AXE Patons Rd MARONG Crusoe Rd HIGH LEVEL CREEK RESERVOIR RESERVOIR Nankervis Rd P H LOCKWOOD Superpipe Alternate SANDHURST BASIN RESERVOIR

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White Gum Rd ALEXANDER B C a ld er Fw y Peelers Rd

Creasys Rd Midland Hwy VIC Woodbrook Rd TO Muckleford - Castlemaine Rd GO RIA LDF N IEL Salathiel Rd DS R S AI p L e c d W i m R Blakeley Rd l A l e i Y n Richards Rd H

Muckleford - Walmer Rd G s u g l Daws Rd ly in EXPEDITION n R n d e PASS J RESERVOIR Myring St Harmony Way Golden Point Rd

Downes Rd LAKE Blackfellows Gate Rd JOHANNA Calder Fwy d R

Sawmill Rd e g CASTLEMAINE n a r G Forest St n o t MUCKLEFORD Duke St t Maldon Rd u Elizabeth St S -

Barker St Stage 3 o ig d BE n ND e Main Rd IG B O L Main Rd Pyrenees Hwy INE Metcalfe - Elphinstone Rd Rilens Rd Ranters Gully Rd Pyrenees Hwy

Johnstone St POVERTY Princess St GULLY Adelaide St RESERVOIR MCCAY Fryers Rd RESERVOIR LEGEND Modified Combined Alternate Collector River LGA Boundary Approvals Corridor (2016- 07-27) Road Tracks Stream Freeway Lake Channel Alignment Options Highway Pondage Drain/Channel/Other Original Arterial Swamp Railway

Job Number 31-33964 Paper Size A3 Coliban Water Revision 0 0 500 1,000 2,000 3,000 Castlemaine Link Date 10 Aug 2016 Metres Map Projection: Transverse Mercator Horizontal Datum: GDA 1994 Grid: GDA 1994 MGA Zone 55 Alternate Alignments Overview Figure 1 G:\31\33964\GIS\Maps\Deliverables\3133964_000_KBM_A3P.mxd [KBM: 24] 180 Lonsdale Street Melbourne VIC 3000 Australia T 61 3 8687 8000 F 61 3 8687 8111 E [email protected] W www.ghd.com © 2016. Whilst every care has been taken to prepare this map, GHD (and DATA CUSTODIAN) make no representations or warranties about its accuracy, reliability, completeness or suitability for any particular purpose and cannot accept liability and responsibility of any kind (whether in contract, tort or otherwise) for any expenses, losses, damages and/or costs (including indirect or consequential damage) which are or may be incurred by any party as a result of the map being inaccurate, incomplete or unsuitable in any way and for any reason. Data source: DELWP, VicMap, 2016; Coliban Water, Imagery (MtAlexander/Hepburn Sep-Oct 2014), (Bendigo LGA Feb 2015), 2016; Created by: splaird

2. Methods

2.1 Desktop review A desktop assessment of ecological values known or predicted to be present at the study site or within the study area was undertaken and included a review of the following government databases and spatial datasets:

 Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) Protected Matters Search Tool (PMST) (maintained by the Department of the Environment (DotE)) 2 (10 km buffer of the study site)

 The Victorian Biodiversity Atlas (VBA) database for flora and fauna species recorded within the local area (10 km buffer of the study site)

 Biodiversity Interactive Maps – which provides GIS mapping, maintained by DELWP3, including modelled mapping of extant and pre-1750 Ecological Vegetation Classes (EVCs), Location Risk Mapping and known threatened species records

 Background review of previous reports pertaining to the area (including Biosis 2011 and Biosis 2013)

 Aerial imagery of the study site

2.2 Site assessment The site assessment was undertaken on 28 June 2016 to verify the results of the desktop assessment, to assess the condition and extent of native vegetation and fauna habitat within the alignment options, and to identify any additional ecological values that may be present within the alignment options.

The survey corridor for the flora and fauna assessment was approximately 10-15 m.

For the purpose of this assessment, scattered trees within or adjacent to the alignments have been mapped and have had a Tree Protection Zone (TPZ) applied 4, as per the Biodiversity assessment handbook – Permitted clearing of native vegetation. When determining the potential impacts of the proposed alternative alignments, scattered trees have been considered lost (i.e., killed) if encroachment of the construction corridor into the TPZ is greater than 10 percent5.

The field assessment included:

 A Habitat Hectare (HabHa) assessment of patches of native vegetation not previously assessed within (and immediately adjacent to) the new proposed alignment corridors, in accordance with the current method available on the DELWP website (as outlined in the Vegetation Quality Assessment Manual – guidelines for applying the habitat hectare scoring method (DSE 2004)) which:

– Defines and maps the relevant EVCs within the footprint area – Estimates cover and health of plants – Delineates any areas of observable differences in condition into distinct Habitat Zones

2 http://www.environment.gov.au/webgis-framework/apps/pmst/pmst.jsf (last accessed by GHD June 2016) 3 http://mapshare2.dse.vic.gov.au/MapShare2EXT/imf.jsp?site=bim (last accessed by GHD June 2016) 4 A Tree Protection Zone is an area around the trunk of the tree which has a radius of 12 x the diameter at breast height to a maximum of 15 metres but no less than 2 metres (DSE 2010) 5 DELWP (2015) Biodiversity assessment handbook – Permitted clearing of native vegetation. Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, Victorian Government. May 2015

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 Mapping the location of all Scattered Remnant Trees within (and immediately adjacent to) the two alternative alignment options, recording the tree species and the Diameter at Breast Height (DBH).  Collecting an inventory of incidental observations of both native and non-native flora species encountered during the field assessment, together with conservation status, origin and weed status.  Active searches for the presence of two rare flora species Grevillea dryophylla (Goldfields Grevillea) and Pterostylis smaragdyna (Emerald-lip Greenhood), both listed as rare under the Advisory List of Rare or Threatened Plants in Victoria 2014 (VROTS), as identified by previous assessments as being present or potentially present respectively (Biosis 2013).

 Identifying the presence of significant weed species including those declared under relevant state and national legislation, policy or strategy, e.g. Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994 (CALP Act) and any Weeds of National Significance (WONS).

 Identify the types of fauna habitats within the study site, and assess their condition.

 Record fauna species encountered opportunistically within the study site (including indirect records such as scats and tracks).

 Collect information to help identify wildlife corridors (if present) within, adjacent to, or incorporating the study site.

Following the field investigation, all incidental flora and fauna records collected by GHD were entered into the VBA database, as required by DELWP.

2.3 Nomenclature and conservation status

2.3.1 Flora species Common and scientific names for plants follow the VBA database (current version).

2.3.2 Vegetation communities

Native vegetation in Victoria is classified into units known as Ecological Vegetation Classes (EVCs), which are described according to a combination of floristic, life form and ecological characteristics, and through an inferred fidelity to particular environmental attributes. Each EVC occurs under a common regime of ecological processes within a given biogeographic range, and may contain multiple floristic communities (DNRE 2002).

Other vegetation types that may occur in Victoria include flora communities listed as threatened under the Commonwealth EPBC Act and/or the Victorian FFG Act. These two Acts both have vegetation classification systems that are separate to each other and separate to the EVC classification system. As such, any single patch of native vegetation would be classifiable as a particular EVC, and it may also be separately classified as a different vegetation community under the EPBC Act, and/or as another vegetation community under the FFG Act.

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2.3.3 Native vegetation

Native vegetation is defined in the Victoria Planning Provisions as ‘plants that are indigenous to Victoria, including trees, shrubs, herbs and grasses’. For the purpose of the Biodiversity assessment guidelines (DEPI 2013), native vegetation is classified into two categories:

 A remnant patch of native vegetation is either a) an area of native vegetation6, with or without trees, where at least 25% of the total perennial understorey plant cover is native plants, or b) an area with three or more native canopy trees where the tree canopy cover is at least 20%.  Scattered trees comprise native canopy trees that do not form part of a remnant patch of native vegetation.

2.3.4 Vegetation quality assessment

During the site assessment, the quality and quantity of native vegetation within the study site was assessed in accordance with the Habitat Hectares approach, as outlined in the Vegetation Quality Assessment Manual – guidelines for applying the habitat hectare scoring method (DSE 2004). Native vegetation was assessed using version 1.3 of the ‘Vegetation Quality Field Assessment Sheet’ provided by DELWP and EVC benchmarks for the Goldfields Bioregion.

Vegetation was classified based on the biophysical characteristics outlined in the EVC benchmarks such as geology, vegetation structure and species composition.

2.3.5 Weeds

During the field survey, a list of all flora species observed within the study site was created. This includes environmental weeds and noxious weeds listed under the Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994). All such weed species are listed in Appendix C.

2.3.6 Fauna species Unless otherwise noted, common and scientific names for fauna follow the VBA database (current version).

Fauna conservation significance was determined in accordance with the EPBC Act, FFG Act, and DELWP’s Advisory Lists (DSE 2009; DSE 2013).

2.3.7 Fauna communities Unlike flora and the use of EVCs, there is no official widespread classification system for fauna communities in Victoria. Both the EPBC Act and the FFG Act list a small number of fauna communities that are considered to be threatened, at a national or state scale, respectively. Fauna communities known or potentially occurring within the study site or surrounds are only considered in this report if they are listed under either of these two Acts.

6 Continuous and unbroken native vegetation. A break in remnant patch will occur where the definition of remnant patch has not been met for a continuous width of at least 10 m (DEPI 2013).

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3. Desktop assessment

3.1 Previous reports: Original alignment Two assessments have been previously carried out in the area covered by this assessment at Sandhurst Reservoir:

Biosis 2011. Castlemaine Link and Harcourt Modernisation Project Victoria: Flora, Fauna and Habitat Hectares Assessment, 30 March 2011, Report to Coliban Water Biosis 2013. Bendigo Water Treatment Plant – Sludge Facility and Sewer Outfall Upgrade Works. Flora and Fauna Assessment, 9 July 2013, Report for Veolia Water Australia

An assessment of the originally proposed alignment (similar route to the WTP Alignment) was addressed in the Biosis (2011) report. The original alignment was to avoid a remnant patch of vegetation to the south east of the treatment plant via designated bored and narrowed alignment sections (Biosis 2011). However, the vegetation inside the fenced WTP property was not described in the Biosis (2011) report.

The majority of the original alignment, in the area of the alternative alignments, runs through areas previously disturbed, predominantly concreted areas through the WTP property. The original alignment is no longer a viable option as a number of assets have been built over the proposed construction corridor since the original assessments were undertaken in 2011.

An unrelated assessment was carried out by Biosis in June 2013 (Biosis 2013) as part of a proposal for a Sludge Facility, which had not been constructed at the time of the current survey. The area assessed in the 2013 report was situated between the WTP property and the access track that the Superpipe Alignment runs parallel to. As such the Biosis (2013) assessment area overlaps with the current assessment area for the Superpipe alignment option for a length of approximately 250 m along the track. The Biosis (2013) report describes two habitat zones comprising Box Ironbark Forest (EVC 61) and recorded a population of the VROTS listed rare Grevillea dryophylla (Goldfields Grevillea). The report also highlights the potential for the VROTS listed rare Pterostylis smaragdyna (Emerald-lip Greenhood) to be present within the patch of Box Ironbark Forest, and that this vegetation may provide habitat for a number of threatened fauna species including Swift Parrot (Lathamus discolor), Brush-tailed Phascogale (Phascogale tapoatafa) and a number of other threatened woodland birds.

The Biosis (2013) report did not specifically assess the vegetation inside the WTP, but describes the area through the treatment plant as mostly cleared, with some areas supporting plantings of native species, both indigenous and non-indigenous. Tree species present include Yellow Gum, Yellow Box, Red Ironbark, Grey Box, and Red Box (Biosis 2013).

3.2 Desktop assessment for two alternative alignments

3.2.1 Flora desktop assessment

Flora Species The VBA database has records of 862 flora species (603 native species and 259 introduced species) within 10 km of the Sandhurst Reservoir alignments. A total of 42 rare or threatened species were identified in the VBA database and/or PMST report as listed under one or more of the EPBC Act (nine species), the FFG Act (nine species) and/or the Victorian Advisory List for Rare or Threatened Species (VROTS) (37 species). A summary of these species is included in Appendix B.

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Additionally, the DELWP Biodiversity Interactive Map (BIM) website showed one record of Grevillea dryophylla (Goldfields Grevillea) (listed as rare under the VROTS) nearby the study site. Additional listed flora species may also occur within the alignment options for which there are currently no local records on the VBA databases, and/or they are not predicted to occur in the local area by the PMST. This can only be determined with detailed on-ground surveys, preferably undertaken at the appropriate time of the year. As a general rule, listed flora species are most likely to occur in areas of intact native vegetation, and are least likely to occur in areas of non-native vegetation.

Ecological Vegetation Classes (EVCs) Remnant native vegetation within the study area has been previously mapped by DELWP at a scale of 1:25,000. Extant (2005) mapping within the Superpipe Alignment identifies the likely presence of Box Ironbark Forest (EVC 61). No EVCs were identified as occurring along the WTP Alignment based on the modelled DELWP mapping.

Threatened Flora communities A search of the PMST database identified the three threatened flora communities listed under the EPBC Act that are known to occur or may occur within 10 km of the study site:  Buloke Woodlands of the Riverina and Murray-Darling Depression Bioregions (listed as Endangered)

 Grey Box (Eucalyptus microcarpa) Grassy Woodlands and Derived Native Grasslands of South-eastern Australia (listed as Endangered)

 White Box– Yellow Box– Blakely’s Red Gum Grassy Woodland and Derived Native Grassland (listed as Critically Endangered)

A search of the Biodiversity Interactive Maps indicates that there were modelled patches of two FFG Act-listed flora communities within 10 km of the Sandhurst Reservoir alternative alignment study site as follows:  Creekline Grassy Woodland (FFG number 368, EVC number 68, 81)

 Northern Plains Grassland (FFG Number 210, EVC number 803)

There were no modelled patches of FFG Act-listed communities mapped as intersecting the study site.

Location Risk Mapping DELWP Biodiversity interactive mapping7 indicates that both of the alternative alignment options occur within areas mapped as Location Risk Area A.

3.2.2 Fauna desktop assessment

A total of 301 terrestrial fauna species (281 native and 20 non-native) are known or predicted to occur within 10 km of the study site (VBA and PMST) 8.

7 http://mapshare2.dse.vic.gov.au/MapShare2EXT/imf.jsp?site=bim (accessed by GHD June 2016) 8 These numbers exclude aquatic (fish and aquatic invertebrates). These species are not included in this assessment. The project considers terrestrial fauna only.

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For the purpose of this assessment, fauna of conservation significance include species and communities listed as threatened or Migratory under the Commonwealth EPBC Act, threatened under the Victorian FFG Act, and/or included on the Advisory Lists of Threatened Vertebrate (DSE 2013) or Invertebrate Fauna (DSE 2009) in Victoria.

A total of 43 threatened species were identified in the VBA database and/or PMST report as listed under one or more of the EPBC Act (12 species), the FFG Act (34 species) and/or the Advisory Lists of Threatened Fauna in Victoria (43 species) (DSE 2009, DSE 2013).

One fauna community listed as threatened under the FFG Act occurs within the study area: Victorian Temperate Woodland Bird Community. This community has key indicator bird species and associated bird species (see section 4.3.3). Eighteen key indicator species and 15 associated bird species have been recorded historically (VBA) within 10 km of the study site.

Seventeen species of native birds identified by the desktop assessment are listed as Migratory under the EPBC Act. The Marine status of fauna species (as indicated under the EPBC Act) was not considered because the study site is not in or near a Commonwealth marine area.

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4. Site assessment

4.1 Site description The Sandhurst Reservoir occurs just beyond the outskirts of Bendigo and borders the Greater Bendigo National Park to the south and the Bendigo Regional Park to the north and east. As such, it is surrounded by large patches of intact native vegetation and woodland habitat.

4.1.1 WTP Alignment The proposed WTP alignment through the WTP property traverses largely through areas of existing infrastructure devoid of vegetation, such as roads, as well as patches of planted vegetation (Plate 1). There are some scattered planted native trees present (Plate 2). Outside the boundary of the WTP property, the alignment is that of the original alignment, and traverses patches of native woodland. However, this section of the alignment is proposed to be bored and the construction corridor width will be reduced to avoid impacting the native vegetation identified (Biosis 2011). The exception to this is an area mapped as regrowth vegetation to the south of the WTP property (See Figure 2, Plate 4). Here the vegetation is highly disturbed and has been cleared historically in association with the construction of overhead powerlines. GHD (2016) described nearby vegetation under the powerlines as regrowth and planted vegetation less than 10 years old. Biosis (2011) notes that Goldfields Grevillea recorded nearby in the cleared area through the Greater Bendigo National Park appears to have been planted as part of reinstatement works or offset works from other utility installations.

Plate 1 Vegetation along WTP Plate 2 Vegetation along WTP Alignment Alignment

4.1.2 Superpipe Alignment The Superpipe refers to the existing Central Highland Water pipeline that runs from Sandhurst Reservoir to Ballarat via a separate alignment to the Castlemaine Link pipeline. It is proposed to install the Castlemaine Link pipeline parallel to the Superpipe for a short distance around the WTP site.

The proposed alignment would run along the eastern edge of an existing track and require the removal of a narrow linear stretch of native vegetation adjacent to the eastern edge of the track (see Figure 2). The native vegetation along the edge of the track proposed for removal is shown in Plate 3.

Where the Superpipe Alignment diverts from the original alignment to the south of the WTP property (See Figure 2), there is a patch of regrowth vegetation, as described above in Section 4.1.1.

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The portion of the alignment that occurs inside the WTP property largely runs through areas of existing infrastructure, as well as planted vegetation and two scattered remnant trees (Plate 5 and Plate 6).

Plate 3 Vegetation along Superpipe Plate 4 Regrowth Vegetation along Alignment (Habitat Zone 1) Superpipe Alignment

Plate 5 Planted Vegetation along Plate 6 Planted Vegetation and the Superpipe Alignment inside the remnant scattered trees along WTP Superpipe Alignment inside the WTP

4.2 Flora site assessment results

4.2.1 Flora species summary A total of 48 flora species were observed during the field assessment, including 41 native and seven introduced species.

4.2.2 Rare and threatened9 flora species

WTP Alignment

There were no rare or threatened flora species recorded, or likely to occur, along the WTP Alignment.

One species listed as protected under the FFG Act (DELWP 2015) was identified within the WTP Alignment corridor. This was Cassinia arcuata (Drooping Cassinia). Approximately 25-50 individuals were recorded.

9 Listed in a threat category under one or more of the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act 1999, the Victorian Flora and Fauna Guarantee (FFG) Act 1988 and/or the Advisory List of Rare or Threatened Plants in Victoria (VROTS)

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Superpipe Alignment

One species listed as rare under the Advisory List of Rare or Threatened Plants in Victoria 2014 (VROTS) was identified during the field assessment: Grevillea dryophylla (Goldfields Grevillea). There were approximately 69 records of this species inside the Superpipe Alignment construction corridor. These are shown in Figure 2, where each of the individual points of Goldfields Grevillea contain one or more individuals). One additional species that was identified as having the potential to occur within the study site, Pterostylis smaragdyna (Emerald-lip Greenhood), was not observed in the study site. Given the current survey was conducted at the appropriate time of year to observe this species, this species can be considered to be absent from the Superpipe alignment option construction corridor.

Fourteen species listed as protected under the FFG Act (DELWP 2015) were identified within the Superpipe Alignment corridor (see Table 1 and Appendix C for a list of all species recorded). An estimate of the number of individuals of each protected species present within the proposed construction corridor10 are included in Table 1.

Table 1 Protected flora species (FFG Act) recorded within the Superpipe Alignment construction corridor during the field assessment

Scientific Name Common Name No. of individuals within the proposed footprint

Acacia acinacea s.s. Gold-dust Wattle 1

Acacia genistifolia Spreading Wattle 1

Acacia pycnantha Golden Wattle 25-50

Acrotriche serrulata Honey-pots 5-10

Brachyloma daphnoides Daphne Heath 1

Cassinia arcuata Drooping Cassinia 200

Cyrtostylis reniformis Small Gnat-orchid 25-50

Grevillea dryophylla Goldfields Grevillea 69

Olearia sp. Daisy-bush 2-5

Orchidaceae sp. Orchid 25-50

Pterostylis sp. Greenhood 200

Senecio quadridentatus Cotton Fireweed 10-20

Thelymitra sp. Sun Orchid 1

Thysanotus patersonii Twining Fringe-lily 2-5

4.2.3 Weeds

Two noxious weed species were identified during the field assessment, listed as Restricted within the NCCMA. See Appendix C for a list of weed species recorded during the site assessment.

10 This information will need to be included in any permit applications for the removal of protected species under the FFG Act.

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Table 2 Noxious weeds identified during the field assessment

Species Name Common Name Classification

Oxalis pes-caprae Soursob Restricted

Watsonia sp. Watsonia Restricted

4.2.4 Vegetation communities

WTP Alignment

The field assessment identified areas of native vegetation in the WTP Alignment in the WTP property as being patches of planted vegetation comprising of indigenous and non- indigenous species, as well as four scattered planted trees. The planted trees consisted of two Eucalyptus polyanthemos (Red Box), one Eucalyptus leucoxylon (Yellow Gum) and one Eucalyptus tricarpa (Red Ironbark).

Additionally, there is a patch of regrowth vegetation where the WTP Alignment is that of the original alignment, to the south of the WTP boundary. The vegetation appears to be slashed or cleared regularly as a part of ongoing maintenance under the powerlines, and the regrowth is dominated by Cassinia arcuata (Drooping Cassinia). A small section of this regrowth (0.04 ha) is intersected by the proposed construction corridor for the original/WTP alignment option.

However, as it is considered likely that this vegetation was lawfully cleared, and as it appears to be regularly slashed or cleared, this vegetation is classified as regrowth less than ten years old, and is not considered to be native vegetation requiring a permit or offsetting, according to the table of exemptions in section 52.17-7 of the Greater Bendigo Planning Scheme.

No flora communities listed under the EPBC Act or the FFG Act were identified during the field assessment, nor are they considered likely to occur within the proposed alignment option.

Superpipe Alignment

The field assessment identified native vegetation consistent with Box Ironbark Forest (EVC 61) within and adjacent to the Superpipe Alignment.

Box Ironbark Forest (EVC 61) generally occurs on gently undulating rises, low hills and peneplains on infertile, often stony soils derived from a range of geologies. This EVC usually has an overstorey to 20 m tall, consisting of a variety of eucalypts, often including one of the Ironbark species. The mid storey often forms a dense to open small tree or shrub layer over an open ground layer ranging from a sparse to well-developed suite of herbs and grasses11.

Two Habitat Zones (HZs) of Box ironbark Forest (EVC 61) were recorded in the survey site. Habitat Zone 1 (Plate 7) consists of an overstorey dominated by Eucalyptus polyanthemos (Red Box) and Eucalyptus macrorhyncha (Red Stringybark) over a mid-storey of mixed Acacias (Wattle), Cassinia arcuata (Drooping Cassinia) and Grevillea dryophylla (Goldfields Grevillea). The ground layer includes species such as Acrotriche serrulata. (Honey-pots), Hydrocotyle laxiflora (Stinking Pennywort), Lepidosperma spp. (Sedges), and Rytidosperma spp. (Wallaby Grasses).

11 http://www. dse.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/241915/Gold_EVCs_combined.pdf (accessed by GHD June 2016)

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The vegetation of Habitat Zone 2 is in a more disturbed condition, with fewer trees and less organic litter (Plate 8). It is composed of an overstorey of Eucalyptus macrorhyncha (Red Stringybark), Eucalyptus polyanthemos (Red Box), and Eucalyptus tricarpa (Red Ironbark) over a mid-storey of Cassinia arcuata (Drooping Cassinia), and Grevillea dryophylla (Goldfields Grevillea). The ground layer includes Rytidosperma spp. (Wallaby Grasses) and Lomandra filiformis (Wattle Mat-rush).

The locations of HZ 1 and 2 within the study site have been mapped in Figure 2, and the results of the Habitat Hectare assessment are outlined in Table 3. Additionally, where the Superpipe Alignment diverts from the original alignment to the south of the WTP property (See Figure 2), there is a 0.04 ha patch of regrowth vegetation within the Superpipe Alignment, as described above for the WTP Alignment.

The vegetation in the northern section of the Superpipe Alignment through the WTP property consists of planted native species, and two remnant scattered trees being a Eucalyptus leucoxylon (Yellow Gum) and a Eucalyptus tricarpa (Red Ironbark).

No flora communities listed under the EPBC Act or the FFG Act were identified during the field assessment, nor are they considered likely to occur within the proposed alignment option.

Plate 7 Vegetation of Habitat Zone Plate 8 Vegetation of Habitat Zone 1 at the Sandhurst Superpipe 2 at the Sandhurst Superpipe Alignment Alignment

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Table 3 Habitat Hectare Summary for the Sandhurst Superpipe Alignment

Habitat Zone HZ 1 HZ 2

EVC 61 61

EVC Name Box Ironbark Box Ironbark Forest Forest

Large Trees 0 0

Tree Canopy 3 0

Lack of Weeds 15 15

Understorey 20 15

Recruitment 3 3

Litter 3 5

Logs 0 2

Landscape Score Patch size 8 8

Neighbourhood 6 6

Distance to core area 4 4

Maximum Score 100 100

Total Score 62 58

Standardised score 0.62 0.58

4.3 Fauna site assessment results

4.3.1 Fauna habitats WTP Alignment

Through the WTP property, the proposed WTP alignment intercepts very little fauna habitat. There are some scattered planted native trees present which may provide habitat for common bird species, such as the Red Wattlebird (Anthochaera carunculata). There are also a number of established native trees that are also thought to be planted. No hollows were seen. Given the extent and condition of the surrounding woodland environment, it is possible that rare or threatened fauna species may forage on the trees along the alignment occasionally.

Outside the WTP property, the alignment runs through patches of woodland. These patches are in a fairly disturbed area, surrounded by WTP infrastructure and powerlines. This habitat provides similar features to the surrounding woodland, but is of poorer quality for fauna and is expected to be utilised to a lesser extent. More details of the woodland habitat values for fauna are described for the Superpipe Alignment. Superpipe Alignment

The fauna habitat within the Superpipe Alignment is predominantly along the edge of an existing access track and was identified as Box Ironbark Forest. It is a large patch contiguous with the surrounding woodlands and contained a range of tree sizes, a sparse mid-storey and understorey, and coarse woody debris. No hollow-bearing trees were seen, but within the patch there are large Yellow Gums and Red Ironbox, which are both favoured food trees for the EPBC-listed Swift Parrot (Lathamus discolor). This is discussed further in section 4.3.3.

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4.3.2 Wildlife corridors

Wildlife corridors are areas of habitat that facilitate the movement of fauna between two or more areas of habitat. Corridors play important roles in linking otherwise isolated areas of habitat. Typically, a wildlife corridor is a linear strip of habitat that connects two larger patches of habitat. However, isolated trees or patches of trees could be considered as wildlife corridors (often termed as ‘stepping stones’) if they facilitate the movement of species (mainly birds) between larger areas of habitat. Waterways and their associated aquatic and riparian vegetation are often considered to be wildlife corridors. Grasslands can also be considered corridors if they facilitate the movement of grassland-dependent or ground-dwelling fauna. The success of a corridor varies, and depends on its location (relative to other habitat patches), width, length, habitat features, and on the biology of the fauna species involved. Wildlife corridors often comprise valuable fauna habitat themselves, regardless of their connectivity value. Disrupting the ecological function of a corridor is likely to lead to further fragmentation of habitats, which should be avoided. Fragmentation of habitats is listed as a Potentially Threatening Process in accordance with Section 10 of the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988.

The vegetation proposed to be impacted by either alignment option is considered unlikely to impair the ecological function of a wildlife corridor in the broader area and will not cause further fragmentation of habitats.

4.3.3 Threatened fauna species

The likelihood of each species or community of conservation significance occurring within the study site was assessed on the basis of the species’ or community’s history of occurrence and its habitat requirements. For each species or community, the presence of suitable habitat within the study site was determined, along with the condition and approximate extent of suitable habitat within the study area and the broader context of the surrounding landscape. This was coupled with how recently each species or community had been recorded (if at all) within the study site or within 10 km of the study site (see Appendix D for the rationale). Resources such as the VBA database and DELWPs Biodiversity Interactive Mapping Tool were used to help determine likelihood.

WTP Alignment

There are minimal fauna habitat values along the WTP Alignment option. Threatened fauna are unlikely to use this area regularly or rely on the vegetation present.

Superpipe Alignment

The Superpipe Alignment option contains woodland habitat that may attract threatened fauna species. Below is a summary of the likelihood of occurrence for fauna species and communities for the Superpipe Alignment option, grouped by the legislation by which the species is listed. A full list of species of conservation significance and the likelihood of their occurrence within or near the study site is presented in Appendix D.

Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 - Threatened species Of the 43 threatened fauna species identified for the project, 12 are listed under the Commonwealth EPBC Act (Appendix D). Of these, 10 are considered unlikely to occur within the Superpipe Alignment due to suitable habitat being absent, or degraded to the point that it would be unlikely to support the species concerned. It is likely that two species, the Swift Parrot (Lathamus discolor) (Endangered) and Painted Honeyeater (Grantiella picta) (Vulnerable) occur within or near the study site at least occasionally.

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The Swift Parrot is endemic to south-eastern Australia but breeds in Tasmania only, and migrates to mainland Australia to forage during the winter months. In Victoria, the species is found in dry forests and woodlands of the box-ironbark region of the inland slopes of the Great Dividing Range, mainly between Stawell in the central west and Wodonga in the north-east. Because of their mobility, Swift Parrots have been recorded from hundreds of locations. These locations vary depending on the flowering of eucalypts and availability of other food resources such as lerp. The Swift Parrot is known from 84 records (most recently recorded in 2006) within 10 km of the study site (VBA). As the proposed impact to this habitat is restricted to the edge of an existing track and only one favoured food tree (Red Ironbark) is to be impacted, it is unlikely that there will be a significant impact to this species through impact to important habitat or the population.

The Painted Honeyeater feeds mainly on the fruit of mistletoe, but will also feed on nectar and invertebrates, usually in eucalypts. Given the extent of the surrounding woodland, it is likely that this species utilises the habitats present and may visit the Superpipe Alignment area on occasion. The habitat within the Superpipe Alignment is not considered critical to the survival of the species, and it is considered unlikely that the impacts from the proposed construction would have a significant impact on an important population of this species.

Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 –Migratory Fauna Seventeen species (all birds) known or predicted to occur within 10 km of the study site are listed as Migratory under the EPBC Act.

While it is acknowledged that some of these species may use or visit habitats within the Superpipe Alignment on occasion, it is considered unlikely that the area is important habitat for migratory species, or that the proposed construction would have a significant impact on a significant proportion of a population of a migratory species.

Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988 - Threatened species Thirty-four fauna species identified for the study area are listed as threatened under the FFG Act (Appendix D). Eleven of these are also listed under the EPBC Act and were discussed above. Of the remaining 23 species, six may occur within or near the Superpipe Alignment:  Brush-tailed Phascogale (Phascogale tapoatafa)

 Square-tailed Kite (Lophoictinia isura)

 Hooded Robin (Melanodryas cucullata)

 Chestnut-rumped Heathwren (Hylacola pyrrhopygia)

 Speckled Warbler (Chthonicola sagittata)  Diamond Firetail (Stagonopleura guttata) All of these species would use the habitats that surround the Sandhurst Reservoir and the protected woodland habitats in the surrounding Greater Bendigo National Park. These species may utilise the habitat present within the Superpipe Alignment.

Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988 - Threatened Fauna Community One fauna community listed as threatened under the FFG Act occurs within the study area: Victorian Temperate Woodland Bird Community. The description of this community identifies 24 key indicator bird species (the presence of which confirm the presence of the community) and 21 associated bird species (the presence of which indicate the potential presence of the community). Eighteen key indicator species and 15 associated bird species were identified by the desktop assessment as having been recorded historically (VBA) within 10 km of the study site. No key indicator or associated bird species were observed during the field investigation. This community occurs in the woodlands within and around the Superpipe Alignment.

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Victorian Advisory Lists - Threatened species In addition to the fauna species considered above under the EPBC Act and the FFG Act, eight fauna species known or predicted to occur within 10 km of the study sites are listed as threatened on the Advisory List of Threatened Vertebrate Fauna in Victoria (DSE 2013). None of these species are likely to occur within or near the Superpipe Alignment option.

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O

r W i g

i T n Habitat P a l A Zone 2 A

l l i i g g n n m m

e SANDHURST e n n RESERVOIR t t O

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Habitat Zone 1

Avoided during construction

LEGEND Alternate Alignment Scattered Tree (GHD) Regrowth vegetation Drain/Channel/Other Alignment Corridors Rare Species Point Vegetation Polygon Options Tree Protection Zones (GHD) (GHD) Road Railway Approved Boring Original Locations (Approximate Tree within Patch (GHD) Species Name Type Collector Only) Alternate Goldfields Grevillea Habitat Zone 1 Lake Veolia Fenceline Combined Approvals Boundary (Digitised from Habitat Zone 2 Stream Corridor (2016-06-27) Bendigo 2016 Imagery) Planted Vegetation Channel

Job Number 31-33964 Paper Size A3 Coliban Water Revision 0 0 55 110 Castlemaine Link Date 09 Aug 2016 Metres Map Projection: Transverse Mercator Native Vegetation - Sandhurst Reservoir Horizontal Datum: GDA 1994 Grid: GDA 1994 MGA Zone 55 Alternate and Original Alignment Figure 2 G:\31\33964\GIS\Maps\Deliverables\3133964_000_KBM_A3P.mxd [KBM: 10] 180 Lonsdale Street Melbourne VIC 3000 Australia T 61 3 8687 8000 F 61 3 8687 8111 E [email protected] W www.ghd.com © 2016. Whilst every care has been taken to prepare this map, GHD (and DATA CUSTODIAN) make no representations or warranties about its accuracy, reliability, completeness or suitability for any particular purpose and cannot accept liability and responsibility of any kind (whether in contract, tort or otherwise) for any expenses, losses, damages and/or costs (including indirect or consequential damage) which are or may be incurred by any party as a result of the map being inaccurate, incomplete or unsuitable in any way and for any reason. Data source: DELWP, VicMap, 2016; Coliban Water, Imagery (MtAlexander/Hepburn Sep-Oct 2014), (Bendigo LGA Feb 2015), 2016; GHD (Fieldwork Data - May-July 2016); GHD, EVC, Scattered Trees, Rare species points, 2016; SKM, Boring Locations, 2016 Created by: splaird

5. Comparison of the alignment options

5.1 Summary of impacts for the two alternative alignment options Both alignment options are within areas classified by DELWP as Location Risk A12. A comparison of the two alignment options by impact on native vegetation, in terms of the area of native vegetation patches and scattered trees, is presented in Table 4. The Superpipe Alignment potentially impacts on 0.24 ha (0.15 habitat hectares) of native vegetation of the EVC Box Ironbark Forest (EVC 61), and two remnant scattered trees. In contrast, the WTP Alignment does not impact on any remnant native vegetation or remnant scattered trees.

The Superpipe Alignment will impact areas that may provide habitat for some threatened fauna species such as Swift Parrot (Lathamus discolor). However, it is considered unlikely that the proposed Superpipe Alignment would have a significant impact on threatened fauna species. The WTP Alignment does not impact fauna habitat for threatened species. This comparison assumes, in accordance with mitigation measures suggested by Biosis (2011), that the length of the WTP Alignment beyond the perimeter of the WTP property is bored and that the construction corridor width is reduced where necessary to avoid impacts to native vegetation. It also excludes planted vegetation.

Table 4 Comparison of potential impacts to native vegetation between the WTP alignment and Superpipe alignment options

Alignment No. of EVC Habitat Habitat Area Habitat Hectares remnant number Zone Score (Hectares) Scattered Trees

WTP Alignment 0 N/A N/A N/A 0 N/A

1 0.62 0.20 0.12

Superpipe Alignment 2 0.58 0.05 0.02 2 61 Total Area of Native 0.24 0.15 Vegetation NB. The impacts to native vegetation do not include impacts to planted or regrowth vegetation, or areas assumed to be avoided via previously described measures (Biosis 2011).

5.2 Comparison of impacts between three alignment options The adverse impacts to native vegetation and fauna habitat would be greater for the Superpipe Alignment option than the WTP Alignment option, and the original alignment.

However, compared with the original alignment, the Superpipe Alignment impacts are not considered a material increase to ecological impacts to the project as a whole. Table 5 quantifies the difference in impacts to native vegetation between the two new alignments and the original alignment.

In considering the relative impacts of the alternative options it should be noted the future construction of the Sludge Facility will overlap with the Superpipe Alignment (i.e. avoidance of this route will only defer the impact rather than avoid it).

12 http://mapshare2.dse.vic.gov.au/MapShare2EXT/imf.jsp?site=bim (accessed by GHD 4 April 2016)

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Table 5 Impacts to native vegetation under each alignment option

Scattered Area of native Habitat Hectares Trees vegetation (ha)

Original Alignment* 0 0.00 0.00

Superpipe Alignment 2 0.24 0.15

WTP Alignment 0 0.00 0.00

*not assessed. NB. The impacts to native vegetation do not include impacts to planted or regrowth vegetation, or areas assumed to be avoided via previously described measures (Biosis 2011).

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6. Policy and legislative implications

Table 6 below outlines the potential legislative implications that may result from the removal of native vegetation and/or fauna habitat within the two alignment options.

If either of the alignments are modified, resulting in alterations to the impacts to native vegetation and/or fauna habitat, then the legislation section of this report will need to be updated to confirm the environmental permits and approvals required.

Table 6 Summary of legislative requirements for each of the two alternative alignment options

Federal Superpipe Alignment WTP Alignment

Environment There is potential habitat for the Swift Parrot No flora or fauna issues under EPBC Protection and the Painted Honeyeater along the Act and Superpipe alignment option. The proposed Biodiversity construction corridor shaves off the edge of Conservation Box Ironbark forest along the existing track. Act 1999 However, the proposed works are considered unlikely to have a significant impact on these species. No flora issues under EPBC Act.

State Superpipe Alignment WTP Alignment

Environment The Superpipe Alignment would have some There are no impacts to native Effects Act localised impacts to ecological values vegetation or fauna habitat associated 1978 (EE Act) including 0.24 ha (0.15 Habha) of EVC 61, with the WTP alignment. and two scattered trees. Impacts on the Superpipe Alignment also have a greater impact than the original alignment to fauna habitat, including potential habitat for threatened fauna species such as EPBC-listed Swift Parrot and FFG-listed Brush-tailed Phascogale. The impacts to vegetation and fauna habitat are not considered a substantial increase to the ecological impacts of the project as a whole when compared to the original alignment.

Adopting either of the two alternative alignment options will not result in the project violating the existing conditions under the EE Act for the project. Therefore, if either of the two alternative alignment options are adopted, an amendment to the existing referral under the EE Act is unlikely to be required.

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Federal Superpipe Alignment WTP Alignment

Planning and A permit under the Planning and Environment Planted vegetation, planted with Environment Act would be required for the removal of private funds on private land, is Act 1987 native vegetation in the Superpipe Alignment, exempt from requiring a permit to (P&E Act) and offsets would be required. remove, according to the table of exemptions in Section 52.17-7 of the Greater Bendigo Planning Scheme. As such, the planted vegetation in the WTP property does not require a permit for removal or offsetting. A small section of regrowth (0.04 ha) is intersected by the proposed construction corridor for this alignment option, where the alignment is that of the original alignment to the south of the WTP property. However, as it is considered likely that this vegetation is regrowth or planted vegetation less than ten years old, it is not considered to be native vegetation requiring a permit or offsetting, according to the table of exemptions in section 52.17-7 of the Greater Bendigo Planning Scheme. Other areas where native vegetation was identified have not been mapped where it is understood that it is being bored under or the width of the construction corridor is being narrowed to avoid impacts to native vegetation.

Flora and No flora or fauna species or communities No flora species or communities listed Fauna listed as threatened under the FFG Act were as threatened under the FFG Act were Guarantee identified during the current assessment. identified or likely to be present in the Act 1988 However, given the relatively intact nature of WTP Alignment. the vegetation in the Superpipe Alignment, One flora species, Cassinia arcuata listed flora species have the potential to be (Drooping Cassinia) listed as present in the Box Ironbark Forest (EVC 61) protected under the FFG Act was vegetation community, that were not present identified within the WTP Alignment. at the time of the current survey. A permit under the FFG Act would be Fourteen flora species listed as protected required for the removal of protected under the FFG Act13 were identified within flora species. areas of native vegetation proposed to be impacted in the Superpipe Alignment. A permit under the FFG Act would be required for the removal of protected flora species on Crown Land. One fauna community, the Victorian Temperate Woodland Bird Community is likely to utilise the habitat present along the Superpipe Alignment. It is considered unlikely that the proposed construction will impact on this community.

1313 http://www.depi.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0014/315401/201510-FFG-protected-flora-list.pdf (DELWP 2015)

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Federal Superpipe Alignment WTP Alignment

Permitted The location risk mapping (DELWP) confirms Areas of (non-exempt) native clearing of that the Superpipe Alignment intersects areas vegetation identified along the WTP native classified as Location Risk A. alignment are proposed to be bored vegetation: The vegetation along the Superpipe under or avoided through minimising Biodiversity Alignment will contribute to the area of native the width of the construction corridor, Assessment vegetation that the project as a whole therefore avoiding all impacts to native Guidelines requires to be assessed under the BAG and vegetation. (BAG) (DEPI offset, when being assessed by the relevant Therefore, no vegetation is proposed 2013) authority. to be removed within the WTP alignment that would require assessment under the BAG.

Wildlife Act Any persons engaged to remove, salvage, hold or relocate native fauna during 1975 construction must hold a current Management Authorisation under the Wildlife Act 1975 (e.g. if hollow-bearing trees are removed or fauna are rescued from open trenches during construction).

It is likely that a Management Authorisation under the Wildlife Act will be required for this project.

Catchment Two noxious weeds were identified during the There were no noxious weeds and Land field assessment in the Superpipe Alignment, identified in the WTP Alignment during Protection Act listed as Restricted within the North Central the field assessment. 1994 CMA. However, mitigation measures to Mitigation measures to prevent the spread of prevent the spread of any WONS or these species (and any other WONS or CaLP CaLP Act listed weed species will Act listed weed species) will need to be need to be incorporated into an incorporated into an environmental environmental management plan management plan (EMP)). (EMP)).

GHD | Report for Coliban Water - Castlemaine Link - Sandhurst Reservoir Alignment Options, 31/33964 | 26

7. References

Biosis 2011. Castlemaine Link and Harcourt Modernisation Project Victoria: Flora, Fauna and Habitat Hectares Assessment. 30 March 2011. Report to Coliban Water

Biosis 2013. Bendigo Water Treatment Plant – Sludge Facility and Sewer Outfall Upgrade Works. Flora and Fauna Assessment. 9 July 2013. Report for Veolia Water Australia DEPI 2013. Permitted Clearing of Native Vegetation – Biodiversity Assessment Guidelines. Department of Environment and Primary Industries, East Melbourne, Victoria DEPI 2014. Advisory List of Rare or Threatened Plants in Victoria - 2014. Department of Environment and Primary Industries, East Melbourne, Victoria DELWP 2015. Protected Flora List, October 2015, Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988, Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning DNRE 2002. Victoria’s Native Vegetation Management – A Framework for Action. Victorian Department of Natural Resources and Environment

DSE 2004. Vegetation Quality Assessment Manual – Guidelines for applying the habitat hectares scoring method. Version 1.3. October 2004. Victorian Department of Sustainability and Environment, East Melbourne, Victoria

DSE 2009. Advisory List of Threatened Invertebrate Fauna in Victoria – 2009. Victorian Department of Sustainability and Environment, East Melbourne, Victoria

DSE 2013. Advisory List of Threatened Vertebrate Fauna in Victoria – 2013. Victorian Department of Sustainability and Environment, East Melbourne, Victoria GHD 2016. Castlemaine Link Stage 2. Flora and Fauna Assessment. February 2016. Report to Coliban Water

GHD | Report for Coliban Water - Castlemaine Link - Sandhurst Reservoir Alignment Options, 31/33964 | 27

Appendices

GHD | Report for Coliban Water - Castlemaine Link - Sandhurst Reservoir Alignment Options, 31/33964

Appendix A – Referral decision under the Environment Effects Act 1978

GHD | Report for Coliban Water - Castlemaine Link - Sandhurst Reservoir Alignment Options, 31/33964

Appendix B – Rare and Threatened Flora species recorded within 10 km of the Sandhurst Reservoir alignment options

GHD | Report for Coliban Water - Castlemaine Link - Sandhurst Reservoir Alignment Options, 31/33964

Key to table VBA Victorian Biodiversity Atlas PMST Protected Matters Search Tool (EPBC Act) EPBC Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 FFG Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988 VICADV DELWP Advisory List of Rare and Threatened Flora in Victoria

Status of species: CR Critically Endangered under the EPBC Act EN Endangered under the EPBC Act VU Vulnerable under the EPBC Act

L Listed as threatened under the FFG Act N Nominated for listing as threatened under the FFG Act e Endangered under the DELWP Advisory List v Vulnerable under the DELWP Advisory List r Rare under the DELWP Advisory List k Poorly known under the DELWP Advisory List x Listed as extinct under the DELWP Advisory List

# Recorded by the PMST search only

GHD | Report for Coliban Water - Castlemaine Link - Sandhurst Reservoir Alignment Options, 31/33964

Scientific Name Common Name EPBC FFG VROT S Pimelea spinescens subsp. spinescens# Spiny Rice-flower CR Caladenia audasii McIvor Spider-orchid EN L e Caladenia tensa# Green-comb Spider-orchid EN Dianella amoena# Matted Flax-lily EN L e Westringia crassifolia Whipstick Westringia EN L e Amphibromus fluitans# River Swamp Wallaby-grass VU Caladenia versicolor# Candy Spider-orchid VU Glycine latrobeana# Clover Glycine VU L v Thelymitra matthewsii# Spiral Sun-orchid VU Adiantum capillus-veneris Venus-hair Fern L e Allocasuarina luehmannii Buloke L e Caladenia sp. aff. fragrantissima (Central Victoria) Bendigo Spider-orchid L e Philotheca difformis subsp. difformis Small-leaf Wax-flower L e Phebalium festivum Dainty Phebalium L v Leptorhynchos elongates Lanky Buttons e Acacia ausfeldii Ausfeld's Wattle X v Cassinia ozothamnoides Cottony Cassinia v Crowea exalata subsp. revoluta Whipstick Crowea v Dianella sp. aff. longifolia (Benambra) Arching Flax-lily v Dianella tarda Late-flower Flax-lily v Pterostylis maxima Large Rustyhood v Thelymitra X chasmogama Globe-hood Sun-orchid v Thelymitra X macmillanii Crimson Sun-orchid v Acacia flexifolia Bent-leaf Wattle r Acacia williamsonii Whirrakee Wattle X r Austrostipa hemipogon Half-bearded Spear-grass r Boronia anemonifolia subsp. aurifodina Goldfield Boronia r Cassinia diminuta Dwarf Cassinia r Choretrum glomeratum var. glomeratum Common Sour-bush r Eremophila gibbifolia Coccid Emu-bush r Eucalyptus polybractea Blue Mallee r Grevillea dryophylla Goldfields Grevillea r Melaleuca armillaris subsp. armillaris Giant Honey-myrtle r Olearia tubuliflora Rayless Daisy-bush r Prostanthera saxicola var. bracteolate Slender Mint-bush r Pseudanthus ovalifolius Oval-leaf Pseudanthus r Pterostylis smaragdyna Emerald-lip Greenhood r Rytidosperma setaceum var. brevisetum Short-bristle Wallaby-grass r Senecio cunninghamii var. cunninghamii Branching Groundsel r Desmodium varians Slender Tick-trefoil k Lepidium pseudohyssopifolium Native Peppercress k Sclerolaena muricata var. semiglabra Dark Roly-poly k

GHD | Report for Coliban Water - Castlemaine Link - Sandhurst Reservoir Alignment Options, 31/33964

Appendix C – Flora Species identified during the field assessment

GHD | Report for Coliban Water - Castlemaine Link - Sandhurst Reservoir Alignment Options, 31/33964

KEY P Protected under the FFG Act R Restricted under the CALP Act C Regionally Controlled under the CALP Act WONS Weed of National Significance ^ Native to Victoria but not indigenous to the area

Scientific Name Common Name Status NATIVE SPECIES Acacia acinacea s.s. Gold-dust Wattle P Acacia dealbata Silver Wattle Acacia genistifolia Spreading Wattle P Acacia paradoxa Hedge Wattle Acacia pycnantha Golden Wattle P Acrotriche serrulata Honey-pots P Amyema sp. Mistletoe Austrostipa sp. Spear-Grass Brachyloma daphnoides Daphne Heath P Cassinia arcuata Drooping Cassinia P Cassytha melantha Coarse Dodder-laurel Cyrtostylis reniformis Small Gnat-orchid P Dianella revoluta s.l. Black-anther Flax-lily Drosera sp. Sundew Eucalyptus leucoxylon Yellow Gum Eucalyptus macrorhyncha Red Stringybark Eucalyptus polyanthemos Red Box Eucalyptus tricarpa Red Ironbark Exocarpos cupressiformis Cherry Ballart Exocarpos sp. Ballart Goodeniaceae sp. N/A Grevillea dryophylla Goldfields Grevillea P Hakea decurrens subsp. physocarpa physocarpaphysocarpa Bushy Needlewood Hibbertia sp. Guinea-flower Hydrocotyle laxiflora Stinking Pennywort Variable Sword- Lepidosperma laterale sedge Lepidosperma sp. Sword Sedge Liliaceae sp. Lily Lomandra filiformis Wattle Mat-rush Melaleuca armillaris subsp. armillaris^ Giant Honey-myrtle Neurachne sp. Foxtail Mulga Grass Olearia sp. Daisy-bush P Orchidaceae spp. Orchids P

GHD | Report for Coliban Water - Castlemaine Link - Sandhurst Reservoir Alignment Options, 31/33964

Scientific Name Common Name Status Pterostylis sp. Greenhood P Rytidosperma spp. Wallaby-Grass Senecio quadridentatus Cotton Fireweed P Tetratheca ciliata Pink-bells Thelymitra sp. Sun Orchid P Thysanotus patersonii Twining Fringe-lily P Veronica plebeia Trailing Speedwell INTRODUCED SPECIES Erodium botrys Big Heron's-bill Fabaceae sp. N/A Hypochaeris radicata Cat's ear Monocotyledon sp. N/A Oxalis pes-caprae Soursob R Solanum nigrum Black Nightshade Watsonia sp. Watsonia R

GHD | Report for Coliban Water - Castlemaine Link - Sandhurst Reservoir Alignment Options, 31/33964

Appendix D – Likelihood of occurrence of threatened fauna species for Superpipe Alignment at Sandhurst Reservoir

GHD | Report for Coliban Water - Castlemaine Link - Sandhurst Reservoir Alignment Options, 31/33964

Note: Habitats along the WTP Alignment option are considered unlikely to attract threatened fauna species regularly or frequently.

Likelihood is based on the following rationale: One category of likelihood is assigned to each threatened species according to the following criteria: KNOWN - species was recorded within the study site during the current investigation, or has a recent confirmed record from the study area; POSSIBLE – suitable habitat occurs within the study site and species’ known range encompasses the study site. Generally, there are historical records within 10 km of the study site, and generally within the last 20 years though there may be exceptions to this (explanation in table). UNLIKELY – species’ known range encompasses the study site, but suitable habitat does not occur within study site, or occurs within study site but with generally low quality and quantity. Unless otherwise specified, the species has been recorded historically within 10 km of the study site, but generally not within the last 20 years.

Key to Table: EPBC Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 FFG Victorian Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988 DELWP Advisory List of Threatened Vertebrate Fauna in Victoria (DSE 2013) or Threatened Invertebrate Fauna in Victoria (DSE 2009)

Status of species: CR Critically Endangered EN Endangered VU Vulnerable NT Near Threatened L Listed as threatened under the FFG Act

GHD | Report for Coliban Water - Castlemaine Link - Sandhurst Reservoir Alignment Options, 31/33964

Common name Scientific Name Legislative status Likelihood of occurrence

EPBC FFG DELWP

Mammals

Possible - recent (2010) records in habitats around reservoir. May be present within reservoir boundaries and utilise the habitat present within the Superpipe Brush-tailed Phascogale Phascogale tapoatafa L VU Alignment.

Greater Glider Petauroides volans VU VU Unlikely - no records from within the area and no suitable habitat present.

Pteropus Grey-headed Flying-fox poliocephalus VU L VU Unlikely - no suitable habitat present. May be occasional visitor for foraging

Miniopterus Common Bent-wing Bat schreibersii (eastern ssp.) oceanensis L VU Unlikely - no suitable habitat present. May be occasional visitor for foraging.

Birds

Pedionomus Plains-wanderer torquatus CR L CR Unlikely - no suitable habitat present

Unlikely - Only one record and 40 years old, no suitable habitat present within Diamond Dove Geopelia cuneata L NT Superpipe Alignment

Baillon's Crake Porzana pusilla L VU Unlikely - no suitable habitat present within alignment

Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola VU Unlikely - no suitable habitat present within alignment

Rostratula australis Unlikely - no suitable habitat present within alignment Australian Painted Snipe (=benghalensis) EN L CR

Bush Stone-curlew Burhinus grallarius L EN Unlikely - no suitable habitat present within alignment

Australian Bustard Ardeotis australis L CR Unlikely - no suitable habitat present within alignment

Brolga Grus rubicunda L VU Unlikely - no suitable habitat present within alignment

Little Egret Egretta garzetta L EN Unlikely - no suitable habitat present within alignment

Ardea modesta Unlikely - no suitable habitat present within alignment Eastern Great Egret (=alba) L VU

Australasian Bittern Botaurus poiciloptilus EN L EN Unlikely - no suitable habitat present within alignment

GHD | Report for Coliban Water - Castlemaine Link - Sandhurst Reservoir Alignment Options, 31/33964

Common name Scientific Name Legislative status Likelihood of occurrence

EPBC FFG DELWP

Anseranas Unlikely - no suitable habitat present within alignment Magpie Goose semipalmata L NT

Australasian Shoveler Anas rhynchotis VU Unlikely - no suitable habitat present within alignment

Hardhead Aythya australis VU Unlikely - no suitable habitat present within alignment

Blue-billed Duck Oxyura australis L EN Unlikely - no suitable habitat present within alignment

Musk Duck Biziura lobata VU Unlikely - no suitable habitat present within alignment

Accipiter Grey Goshawk novaehollandiae L VU Unlikely - Records over 30 years old, no suitable habitat present within alignment

Haliaeetus Unlikely - Only one record and 24 years old, no suitable habitat present within White-bellied Sea-Eagle leucogaster L VU alignment

Possible - May use woodland vegetation within reservoir boundaries including Square-tailed Kite Lophoictinia isura L VU within Superpipe Alignment

Unlikely - Only one record and 50 years old, no suitable habitat present within Black Falcon Falco subniger VU alignment

Unlikely - Only one record and 50 years old, no suitable habitat present within Barking Owl Ninox connivens L EN alignment corridor

Unlikely - only four records from area and they are over 25 years old. Only marginal Powerful Owl Ninox strenua L VU habitat present within alignment corridor

Possible - recent (2006) records (84) surrounding reservoir and suitable foraging habitat within woodland in reservoir boundaries. May possibly use habitats within the Superpipe Alignment, especially the Yellow Gums and Red Ironbarks for Swift Parrot Lathamus discolor EN L EN foraging.

Hirundapus White-throated Needletail caudacutus VU Unlikely - may be possible fly over

Melanodryas Possible - May use woodland vegetation within reservoir boundaries including Hooded Robin cucullata L NT within Superpipe Alignment

Crested Bellbird Oreoica gutturalis L NT Unlikely - no suitable habitat present within alignment

GHD | Report for Coliban Water - Castlemaine Link - Sandhurst Reservoir Alignment Options, 31/33964

Common name Scientific Name Legislative status Likelihood of occurrence

EPBC FFG DELWP

Pomatostomus Unlikely - Only one record and 40 years old, no suitable habitat present within Grey-crowned Babbler temporalis L EN alignment corridor

Chestnut-rumped Possible - May use woodland vegetation within reservoir boundaries including Heathwren Hylacola pyrrhopygia L VU within Superpipe Alignment corridor

Possible - May use woodland vegetation within reservoir boundaries including Speckled Warbler Chthonicola sagittata L VU within Superpipe Alignment corridor

Possible – 17 records, most recent is 1991 and suitable habitat present. May be occasional visitor to the Superpipe Alignment and surrounding woodland vegetation Painted Honeyeater Grantiella picta VU L VU for foraging.

Anthochaera Regent Honeyeater (Xanthomyza) phrygia CR L CR Unlikely - considered to be regionally extinct so unlikely to be found in study site.

Purple-gaped Lichenostomus Unlikely - only one record from area and it is over 50 years old. Only marginal Honeyeater cratitius VU habitat present within alignment corridor

Stagonopleura Possible - May use woodland vegetation within reservoir boundaries including Diamond Firetail guttata L NT within Superpipe Alignment corridor

Reptiles

Unlikely - species known from Greater Bendigo National Park and can be found in some woodland vegetation. However the species has a restricted distribution and the woodland present within the Superpipe Alignment corridor is considered unsuitable for the species due to lack of submerged rock and other habitat Pink-tailed Worm-Lizard Aprasia parapulchella VU L EN requirements.

Striped Legless Lizard Delma impar VU L EN Unlikely - no suitable habitat present within alternative alignment corridor

Unlikely - only one record from area and it is 28 years old. Only marginal habitat Lace Goanna Varanus varius EN present within Superpipe Alignment.

Frogs

Pseudophryne Brown Toadlet bibronii L EN Unlikely - no suitable habitat present within alternative alignment corridor

Growling Grass Frog Litoria raniformis VU L EN Unlikely - no suitable habitat present within alternative alignment corridor

Invertebrates

GHD | Report for Coliban Water - Castlemaine Link - Sandhurst Reservoir Alignment Options, 31/33964

Common name Scientific Name Legislative status Likelihood of occurrence

EPBC FFG DELWP

Golden Sun Moth Synemon plana CR L CR Unlikely - no suitable habitat present within alternative alignment corridor

GHD | Report for Coliban Water - Castlemaine Link - Sandhurst Reservoir Alignment Options, 31/33964

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