Searoad Ferries Sorrento Terminal Upgrade: Flora and Fauna Assessment
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Searoad Ferries Sorrento Terminal upgrade: Flora and fauna assessment FINAL REPORT Prepared for Searoad Ferries 20 October 2017 Biosis offices Document information AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY Report to: Searoad Ferries Pty Ltd Canberra Prepared by: Claire Hollier Phone: (02) 6102 1200 Ben Howells Email: [email protected] Chris Jones Biosis project no.: 22270 NEW SOUTH WALES File name: 22270.Sorrento Terminal.FFA.FIN.20161123.Docx Newcastle Citation: Biosis 2017. Searoad Ferries Sorrento terminal upgrade. Report Phone: (02) 4911 4040 Email: [email protected] for Searoad Ferries. Authors: Hollier C, Howells B and Jones C, Biosis Pty Ltd, Melbourne. Project no. 22270 Sydney Phone: (02) 9101 8700 Email: [email protected] Document control Wollongong Phone: (02) 4201 1090 Version Internal reviewer Date issued Email: [email protected] Draft version 01 MV 28/10/16 Final version 01 AJH 20/10/17 QUEENSLAND Brisbane Phone: (07) 3831 7400 Email: [email protected] Acknowledgements TASMANIA Biosis acknowledges the contribution of the following people and Hobart organisations in undertaking this study: Phone: (03) 8686 4821 Email: [email protected] Searoad Ferries Pty Ltd Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning for access to VICTORIA the Victorian Biodiversity Atlas and Native Vegetation Information Tools Ballarat Phone: (03) 5304 4250 Department of the Environment and Energy for access to the Email: [email protected] Protected Matters Search Tool of the Australian Government Melbourne (Head Office) BirdLife Australia for access to the New Atlas of Australian Birds Phone: (03) 8686 4800 Fax: (03) 9646 9242 1998-2013. Email: [email protected] Biosis staff involved in this project were: Wangaratta Phone: (03) 5718 6900 Jordan Whitmore (assistance in the field) Email: [email protected] Lauren Harley and Lachlan Milne (mapping) Biosis Pty Ltd This document is and shall remain the property of Biosis Pty Ltd. The document may only be used for the purposes for which it was commissioned and in accordance with the Terms of the Engagement for the commission. Unauthorised use of this document in any form whatsoever is prohibited. Disclaimer: Biosis Pty Ltd has completed this assessment in accordance with the relevant federal, state and local legislation and current industry best practice. The company accepts no liability for any damages or loss incurred as a result of reliance placed upon the report content or for any purpose other than that for which it was intended. © Biosis 2017 - Leaders in Ecology and Heritage Consulting - www.biosis.com.au i Contents 1. Introduction ................................................................................................................................................. 6 1.1 Project background ......................................................................................................................................... 6 1.2 Scope of assessment ....................................................................................................................................... 6 1.3 Location of the study area ............................................................................................................................. 7 2. Methods ........................................................................................................................................................ 9 2.1 Database review .............................................................................................................................................. 9 2.2 Definitions of significance ............................................................................................................................ 10 2.3 Likelihood of occurrence .............................................................................................................................. 10 2.4 Site investigation ............................................................................................................................................ 10 2.4.1 Terrestrial flora assessment ............................................................................................................. 10 2.4.2 Terrestrial fauna assessment ........................................................................................................... 11 2.4.3 Aquatic flora and fauna assessment .............................................................................................. 11 2.5 Qualifications .................................................................................................................................................. 12 2.6 Legislation and policy .................................................................................................................................... 12 2.6.1 Permits ................................................................................................................................................. 12 2.7 Mapping ........................................................................................................................................................... 13 3. Results ........................................................................................................................................................ 14 3.1 Terrestrial flora & fauna habitat .................................................................................................................. 14 3.2 Aquatic flora & fauna habitat....................................................................................................................... 15 3.3 Landscape context ......................................................................................................................................... 16 3.4 Significant species and ecological communities ...................................................................................... 16 3.4.1 EPBC Act and FFG Act listed species ............................................................................................... 16 3.4.2 DELWP advisory list of rare and threatened species ................................................................... 17 3.4.3 Significant ecological communities ................................................................................................. 17 3.4.4 Threatening processes ...................................................................................................................... 17 4. Biodiversity legislation and government policy ................................................................................... 19 4.1 Commonwealth ............................................................................................................................................. 19 4.1.1 Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 ............................................ 19 4.2 State ................................................................................................................................................................. 20 4.2.1 Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988 (FFG Act) ............................................................................ 20 4.2.2 Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994 (CaLP Act) .................................................................. 20 4.2.3 Coastal Management Act 1995 ........................................................................................................ 20 4.2.4 Planning and Environment Act 1987 (incl. Planning Schemes) .................................................. 21 4.2.5 Environment Effects Act 1978 .......................................................................................................... 22 4.2.6 Fisheries Act 1995 ............................................................................................................................... 23 4.2.7 Environment Protection Act 1970: State Environmental Protection Policy (Waters of Victoria) 2003 ....................................................................................................................................... 24 5. Key ecological values and recommendations ...................................................................................... 25 © Biosis 2017 – Leaders in Ecology and Heritage Consulting II Appendix 1 Flora ....................................................................................................................................... 29 Appendix 2 Fauna ..................................................................................................................................... 33 Tables Table 1 Criteria for determining significance of species & ecological communities ................................. 10 Table 2 Summary of EPBC and FFG Act listed species most likely to occur in the study area ................. 16 Table 3 Assessment of project in relation to the EPBC Act ........................................................................... 19 Table 4 Summary of key ecological values, potential implications of developing the study area and recommendations to minimise ecological impacts during the design phase. ...................... 25 Figures Figure 1 Location of the study area, Sorrento, Victoria .................................................................................... 8 Figure 2 Ecological features of the study area, Sorrento, Victoria ................................................................ 18 Photos Plate 1 Planted native vegetation