Appendix 20 Fauna, Vegetation & Flora Assessment – Proposed Mt Emerald Wind Farm Prepared by RPS
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Environmental Impact Statement - VOLUME 3 Appendix 20 Fauna, Vegetation & Flora Assessment – Proposed Mt Emerald Wind Farm Prepared by RPS PR100246 / R72894; Volume 3 Fauna, Vegetation & Flora Assessment - Proposed Mt Emerald Wind Farm Prepared by: Prepared for: RPS AUSTRALIA EAST PTY LTD TRANSFIELD SERVICES PTY LTD 135 Abbott Street Level 4, 52 Merivale Street PO Box 1949 South Brisbane QLD 4101 CAIRNS QLD 4870 T: +61 7 3248 8765 T: +61 4031 1336 F: +61 7 3248 8790 F: +61 4031 2942 W: www.transfieldservices.com E: [email protected] Report Number: PR100246/R69701 Version / Date: 1/August 2011 rpsgroup.com.au Fauna, Vegetation & Flora Assessment - Proposed Mt Emerald Wind Farm IMPORTANT NOTE Apart from fair dealing for the purposes of private study, research, criticism, or review as permitted under the Copyright Act, no part of this report, its attachments or appendices may be reproduced by any process without the written consent of RPS Australia East Pty Ltd. All enquiries should be directed to RPS Australia East Pty Ltd. We have prepared this report for the sole purposes of Transfield Services Pty Ltd (“Client”) for the specific purpose of only for which it is supplied (“Purpose”). This report is strictly limited to the purpose and the facts and matters stated in it and does not apply directly or indirectly and will not be used for any other application, purpose, use or matter. In preparing this report we have made certain assumptions. We have assumed that all information and documents provided to us by the Client or as a result of a specific request or enquiry were complete, accurate and up-to-date. Where we have obtained information from a government register or database, we have assumed that the information is accurate. Where an assumption has been made, we have not made any independent investigations with respect to the matters the subject of that assumption. We are not aware of any reason why any of the assumptions are incorrect. This report is presented without the assumption of a duty of care to any other person (other than the Client) (“Third Party”). The report may not contain sufficient information for the purposes of a Third Party or for other uses. Without the prior written consent of RPS Australia East Pty Ltd: (a) this report may not be relied on by a Third Party; and (b) RPS Australia East Pty Ltd will not be liable to a Third Party for any loss, damage, liability or claim arising out of or incidental to a Third Party publishing, using or relying on the facts, content, opinions or subject matter contained in this report. If a Third Party uses or relies on the facts, content, opinions or subject matter contained in this report with or without the consent of RPS Australia East Pty Ltd, RPS Australia East Pty Ltd disclaims all risk and the Third Party assumes all risk and releases and indemnifies and agrees to keep indemnified RPS Australia East Pty Ltd from any loss, damage, claim or liability arising directly or indirectly from the use of or reliance on this report. In this note, a reference to loss and damage includes past and prospective economic loss, loss of profits, damage to property, injury to any person (including death) costs and expenses incurred in taking measures to prevent, mitigate or rectify any harm, loss of opportunity, legal costs, compensation, interest and any other direct, indirect, consequential or financial or other loss. Document Status RPS QA Issue Version Purpose of Document Orig Review Review Date Release Review Date Approval 1 Prelim Assessment SG & JM DF 09/08/11 09/08/11 09/08/11 09/08/11 PR100246/R69701; 1/August 2011 Page ii Fauna, Vegetation & Flora Assessment - Proposed Mt Emerald Wind Farm Contents EXECUTIVE SUMMARY VII 1.0 INTRODUCTION 8 1.1 Site Description 8 PART 1 – FAUNA ASSESSMENT 10 2.0 SOURCES OF INFORMATION – FAUNA ASSESSMENT 11 2.1 Existing Information 11 3.0 FIELD METHODOLOGY 12 3.1 Survey Timing 12 3.2 Survey Methodology 12 3.2.1 Pitfall Trapping (May 2010 only) 14 3.2.2 Elliott Trapping (May 2010 only) 14 3.2.3 Funnel Trapping (May 2010 only) 14 3.2.4 Harp Trapping (May 2010 only) 14 3.2.5 Microchiropteran Bat Call Detection (May 2010, March-April 2011, June-July 2011) 14 3.2.6 Diurnal Bird Surveys (May 2010 & March-April 2011) 15 3.2.7 Spotlighting (May 2010 & March-April 2011) 15 3.2.8 Owl Call Playback (March-April 2011) 16 3.2.9 Active Searches 16 3.2.10 Raptor Searches (March-April 2011) 16 3.2.11 Opportunistic Observations 16 3.2.12 Camera Trapping (Targeted Northern Quoll Survey) 17 4.0 RESULTS 18 4.1 Habitat Assessment 18 4.2 Fauna Species Occurrence 18 4.2.1 Mammals 20 4.2.2 Birds 23 4.2.3 Reptiles 23 4.2.4 Amphibians 23 4.3 Potential Faunal Movement through the Landscape 24 5.0 POTENTIAL FAUNAL IMPACTS 25 5.1 Turbine Collisions and Barotrauma 25 5.1.1 Bird & Bat Collisions 25 5.1.2 Barotrauma 26 5.2 Habitat Alienation due to Turbine Avoidance 27 5.3 Habitat Modification 28 PR100246/R69701; 1/August 2011 Page iii Fauna, Vegetation & Flora Assessment - Proposed Mt Emerald Wind Farm 5.4 Increased Predation Risk Adjacent to Access Tracks 29 5.5 Potential Impacts on the Endangered Northern Quoll 29 6.0 POTENTIAL MITIGATION OPTIONS AND FURTHER WORK 31 6.1 Rotor Strike/Barotrauma 31 6.2 Habitat Modification 31 6.3 Increased Predation Pressure 33 7.0 CONCLUSION 34 PART 2 – VEGETATION & FLORA ASSESSMENT 38 8.0 METHODS – VEGETATION & FLORA ASSESSMENT 39 8.1 Desktop Review 39 8.1.1 Flora and Vegetation Survey Methods 40 9.0 RESULTS OF DESKTOP REVIEW - VEGETATION 41 9.1 Regional Ecosystem Mapping 41 9.1.1 Amendment to Regional Ecosystem Mapping 43 9.2 Essential Habitat 44 9.3 Wildlife Online Database Search - Flora 45 9.4 Protected Matters Database Search - Flora 46 9.5 HERBRECS – Queensland Herbarium Records 47 9.6 Regional Vegetation Management Codes 48 9.7 Watercourses 48 9.8 Wetlands 49 10.0 FIELD INVESTIGATION – VEGETATION & FLORA 50 10.1 Flora and Vegetation Assessment 50 10.1.1 Vegetation Overview and Condition 50 10.1.2 Effects of Fire 52 10.1.3 Flowering and Fruiting Phenology 52 10.1.4 Regional Ecosystem Mapping Amendment 53 10.2 Description of Vegetation Survey Sites 54 10.2.1 Vegetation Survey Site 1 (Land surrounding Granite Creek) 55 10.2.2 Vegetation Survey Site 2 56 10.2.3 Vegetation Survey Site 3 56 10.2.4 Vegetation Survey Site 4 57 10.2.5 Vegetation Survey Site 5 57 10.2.6 Vegetation Survey Site 6 58 10.2.7 Vegetation Survey Site 7 58 10.2.8 Vegetation Survey Site 8 58 10.2.9 Vegetation Survey Site 9 59 10.2.10 Vegetation Survey Site 10 59 PR100246/R69701; 1/August 2011 Page iv Fauna, Vegetation & Flora Assessment - Proposed Mt Emerald Wind Farm 10.2.11 Vegetation Survey Site 11 60 10.2.12 Vegetation Survey Site 12 60 10.2.13 Vegetation Survey Site 13 61 10.2.14 Vegetation Survey Site 14 61 10.2.15 Vegetation Survey Site 15 61 10.2.16 Vegetation Survey Site 16 62 10.2.17 Vegetation Survey Site 17 62 10.2.18 Vegetation Survey Site 18 63 10.2.19 Vegetation Survey Site 19 63 10.2.20 Vegetation Survey Site 20 64 10.2.21 Vegetation Survey Site 21 64 10.2.22 Vegetation Survey Site 22 65 10.2.23 Vegetation Survey Site 23 66 10.2.24 Vegetation Survey Site 24 66 10.2.25 Vegetation Survey Site 25 67 10.2.26 Vegetation Survey Site 26 67 10.3 Important Vegetation Communities and Habitats 68 10.3.1 Summary of Habitat Types 69 10.3.2 Significant Flora 70 11.0 POTENTIAL IMPACTS TO VEGETATION AND FLORA 72 11.1 Vegetation & Flora Impacts 72 12.0 IMPACT MITIGATION – VEGETATION & FLORA 75 12.1 Vegetation Clearing 75 12.2 Weed Management 75 12.3 Vegetation Mapping 76 12.4 Vegetation Connectivity 77 12.5 Vegetation Integrity 77 12.6 Rare and Threatened Plants 77 12.7 Landscape Rehabilitation 77 12.8 Fire Management 78 13.0 CONCLUSION – VEGETATION & FLORA 79 14.0 REFERENCES & BIBLIOGRAPHY 81 PR100246/R69701; 1/August 2011 Page v Fauna, Vegetation & Flora Assessment - Proposed Mt Emerald Wind Farm Tables Fauna Assessment Table 1 List of fauna species of conservation significance recorded or predicted to occur on the site 19 Vegetation & Flora Assessment Table 1 Description of regional ecosystems mapped in the project area 43 Table 2 Descriptions of RE 7.12.30 and 7.12.65 from the Regional Ecosystem Description Database 44 Table 3 Plant species shown to have essential habitat in the study area. 45 Table 4 Regional ecosystems corresponding with essential habitat 46 Table 5 Conservation significant flora as listed in the Wildlife Online database 46 Table 6 Conservation significant flora as listed in the EPBC Act’s Protected Matters database 47 Table 7 Summary of HERBRECS data for conservation significant flora 48 Figures Figure 1 Site Location 9 Figure 2 Fauna Survey Site Locations 13 Figure 3 Targeted Northern Quoll Camera Trap Survey 21 Plates Fauna Assessment Plate 1 One of the many Northern Quolls 22 Vegetation & Flora Assessment Plate 1 Grevillea glossadenia. 72 Plate 2 Homoranthus porteri 72 Appendices FAUNA ASSESSMENT Appendix A1: LOCATION OF FAUNA SURVEY SITES AND SURVEY METHODOLOGY USED Appendix B1: LIST OF FAUNA SPECIES RECORDED OR PREDICTED TO OCCUR ON THE SITE Appendix C1: QLD WILDLIFE ONLINE SEARCH RESULTS (FAUNA ONLY) Appendix D1: EPBC PROTECTED MATTERS SEARCH TOOL RESULTS Appendix E1: MICROCHIROPTERAN BAT ANALYSIS REPORTS VEGETION & FLORA ASSESSMENT Appendix A2: VEGETATION SURVEY SITES Appendix B2: CURRENT REGIONAL ECOSYSTEM MAPPING Appendix C2: REGIONAL ECOSYSTEM DESCRIPTIONS Appendix D2: AMENDED REGIONAL ECOSYSTEM MAPPING Appendix E2: DERM WILDLIFE ONLINE DATABASE SEARCH Appendix F2: HERBRECS - LOCATION OF CONSERVATION SIGNIFICANT FLORA Appendix G2: ADDRESS TO REGIONAL VEGETATION MANAGEMENT CODES Appendix H2: WATERCOURSES (DERM) Appendix I2: PROVISIONAL CHECKLIST OF FLORA Appendix J2: VEGETATION STRUCTURAL DESCRIPTIONS – VEGETATION SURVEY SITES PR100246/R69701; 1/August 2011 Page vi Fauna, Vegetation & Flora Assessment - Proposed Mt Emerald Wind Farm EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Mt Emerald wind farm at completion is proposed to include up to 75 turbines on land described as Lot 7 on Plan SP235244 located approximately 5 km west of the township of Walkamin at the northernmost extension of the Herberton Range, which forms part of the Great Dividing Range.