Ecological Response for Preliminary Documentation
Lot 99 DP 823635 Hickey Street Iluka Clarence Valley LGA
For: Stevens Holdings Pty Ltd
REF: CVC 14-695 16th May 2018
Keystone Ecological Pty Ltd ABN 13 099 456 149 PO Box 5095 Empire Bay NSW 2257 Telephone 1300 651 021 Email [email protected]
Ecological Response for Preliminary Documentation
Lot 99 DP 823635 Hickey Street Iluka Clarence Valley LGA
REF: CVC 14 - 695 16th May 2018
Authors:
Elizabeth Ashby and Ashleigh McTackett
This document may be cited as:
Ashby, E. and McTackett, A. (2018) Ecological Response for Preliminary Documentation, Hickey Street, Iluka, Clarence Valley LGA. Unpublished report, Keystone Ecological
Keystone Ecological
Flora and Fauna Specialists Relatively intact vegetation to be Cover photograph: retained in bushland Park A. Mail: PO Box 5095 Empire Bay NSW 2257
Telephone: (02) 4368 1106 Photo: 14th October 2014, E. Ashby Email: [email protected]
ABN: 13 099 456 149
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1 BACKGROUND ...... 1 2 SCOPE ...... 2 3 PROPOSAL - DESCRIPTION OF THE ACTION ...... 4 3.1 Proposed Layout ...... 4 3.2 Proposed Actions ...... 5 4 SURVEY AND RESULTS ...... 14 4.1 Survey for Relevant Matters ...... 14 4.2 Survey Results - General ...... 31 4.3 Survey Results – Target Species ...... 42 5 WORLD HERITAGE PROPERTY AND ITS VALUES ...... 108 5.1 Iluka Nature Reserve and World Heritage ...... 108 5.2 Relevant World Heritage Selection Criteria ...... 111 5.3 Outstanding Universal Values ...... 117 6 IMPACTS ON WORLD HERITAGE PROPERTY AND ITS VALUES ...... 141 6.1 Constituent OUV Species ...... 141 6.2 Impact Assessment – First Factor ...... 149 6.3 Impact Assessment – Second Factor ...... 151 6.4 Impact Assessment – Third Factor ...... 152 6.5 Impact Assessment – Fourth Factor ...... 153 7 IMPACTS ON SUBJECT SPECIES ...... 155 7.1 Koala ...... 155 7.2 Acronychia littoralis ...... 159 7.3 Spot-tailed Quoll ...... 161 7.4 Grey-headed Flying-fox ...... 163 8 AMELIORATION AND OFFSETTING OF IMPACT ...... 165 8.1 Koala ...... 165 8.2 Acronychia littoralis ...... 170 8.3 Spot-tailed Quoll ...... 173 8.4 Grey-headed Flying-fox ...... 175 8.5 Birds of OUV ...... 179 8.6 Microbats of OUV...... 180 9 REFERENCES ...... 184
TABLE OF CONTENTS
FIGURES
Figure 1: Masterplan of the proposed development...... 8 Figure 2: Staging of the proposed development...... 9 Figure 3: Vegetation zones and Asset Protection Zones...... 10 Figure 4: Fauna survey...... 20 Figure 5: Additional localities...... 22 Figure 6: Vegetation map...... 35 Figure 7: Acronychia littoralis collection sites...... 43 Figure 8: Acronychia littoralis at Sea Acres NR...... 44 Figure 9: Acronychia littoralis at Esk River ...... 44 Figure 10: Acronychia littoralis at Bluff Point...... 45 Figure 11: Acronychia littoralis potential habitat ...... 47 Figure 12: Koala food trees...... 49 Figure 13: Koala potential habitat...... 54 Figure 14: Spot-tailed Quoll potential habitat ...... 58 Figure 15: Grey-headed Flying-fox camps within 20km...... 64 Figure 16: Grey-headed Flying-fox potential habitat...... 65 Figure 17: White-eared Monarch potential habitat...... 69 Figure 18: Wonga Pigeon potential habitat...... 73 Figure 19: Wompoo Fruit-dove potential habitat...... 77 Figure 20: Rose-crowned Fruit-dove potential habitat...... 81 Figure 21: Superb Fruit-dove potential habitat...... 85 Figure 22: Rufous Fantail potential habitat...... 90 Figure 23: Eastern Freetai-bat potential habitat...... 97 Figure 24: Little Bentwing-bat potential habitat...... 103 Figure 25: Eastern Long-eared Bat potential habitat...... 107 Figure 26: Littoral Rainforest in Iluka Nature Reserve...... 110 Figure 27: White-eared Monarch records near the site...... 121 Figure 28: Wonga Pigeon records near the site...... 122 Figure 29: Wompoo Fruit-dove records near the site...... 124 Figure 30: Rose-crowned Fruit-dove records near the site...... 125 Figure 31: Superb Fruit-dove records near the site...... 128 Figure 32: Rufous Fantail records near the site...... 129 Figure 33: Eastern Freetai-bat records near the site...... 132 Figure 34: Little Bentwing-bat records near the site...... 133 Figure 35: Eastern Long-eared Bat records near the site...... 135 Figure 36: Grey-headed Flying-fox records near the site...... 138 Figure 37: Spot-tailed Quoll records near the site...... 140
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLES
Table 1: Fauna survey effort...... 16 Table 2: Survey considerations ...... 23 Table 3: Flora species recorded...... 32 Table 4: Fauna recorded during survey...... 36 Table 5: Acronychia littoralis vegetation...... 46 Table 6: Koala scat surveys...... 51 Table 7: Koala vegetation...... 52 Table 8: Spot-tailed Quoll vegetation...... 56 Table 9: Grey-headed Flying-fox vegetation...... 61 Table 10: White-eared Monarch vegetation...... 67 Table 11: Wonga Pigeon vegetation...... 71 Table 12: Wompoo Fruit-dove vegetation...... 75 Table 13: Rose-crowned Fruit-dove vegetation...... 79 Table 14: Superb Fruit-dove vegetation...... 83 Table 15: Rufous Fantail vegetation...... 88 Table 16: Eastern Freetail-bat vegetation...... 92 Table 17: Little Bentwing-bat vegetation ...... 99 Table 18: Eastern Long-eared Bat vegetation ...... 105 Table 19: Offset plantings...... 169 Table 20: Summary of Ameliorative and Offsetting Measures...... 182
Ecological Response Hickey Street, Iluka, NSW
1 BACKGROUND
Keystone Ecological has been contracted by the Stevens Holdings Pty Ltd to prepare an assessment of the likely impact of a proposed development upon nationally and state listed threatened flora and fauna and their habitats. It is proposed to subdivide Lot 99 DP 823635, Hickey Street, Iluka in the Clarence Valley Local Government Area (LGA) for residential development.
The proposal has been investigated for its ecological impact by Keystone Ecological since 2014, with their findings detailed in a number of reports:
• Flora and Fauna Impact Assessment (Ashby and McTackett 2015) (FFIA); • Additional Flora and Fauna Impact Assessment (Ashby and McTackett 2016) (AFFIA); • Addendum Impact Assessment (Ashby and McTackett 2017) (AIA); and • Updated Impact Assessment of Matters of National Environmental Significance (Ashby and McTackett 2017) (UIAMNES).
The proposal was referred to the Commonwealth Department of Environment and Energy (DEE) on 7th August 2017, primarily in reference to the potential impacts on Phascolarctos cinereus Koala.
A determination was provided by the DEE on 25th October 2017, in which a delegate of the Minister decided that the proposed action is a controlled action and that it will be assessed by preliminary documentation. Details of the requirements were provided and further clarified at a subsequent meeting with DEE officers on 23rd January 2018.
This document is provided in partial fulfilment of the preliminary documentation requirements, and should be read as part of the bundle of documents prepared by Ocean Park Consulting.
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2 SCOPE
The scope of this material prepared for the PD is defined by the Commonwealth Department of Environment and Energy’s Determination. Therefore, the potential impacts on the following matters are addressed herein:
• Listed threatened species
The following species are considered by the DEE to be significantly impacted by the proposed development:
o Acronychia littoralis Scented Acronychia – listed as an Endangered species under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and NSW Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 o Phascolarctos cinereus Koala – listed as a Vulnerable species under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and NSW Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 o Dasyurus maculatus maculatus Spot-tailed Quoll (SE mainland population) – listed as an Endangered species under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and a Vulnerable species under the NSW Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 o Pteropus poliocephalus Grey-headed Flying-fox – listed as a Vulnerable species under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and NSW Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016
• World Heritage Values of Iluka Nature Reserve
Consideration of potential impacts are also extended to the following species that were found on site or likely to occur that constitute some of the Outstanding Universal Values (OUV) of Iluka Nature Reserve:
o Monarcha leucotis White-eared Monarch – not listed under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, but listed as a Vulnerable species under the NSW Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 o Leucosarcia melanoleuca Wonga Pigeon – not listed under Commonwealth or NSW legislation o Ptilinopus magnificus Wompoo Fruit-Dove - not listed under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity
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Conservation Act 1999, but listed as a Vulnerable species under the NSW Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 o Ptilinopus regina Rose-crowned Fruit-dove - not listed under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, but listed as a Vulnerable species under the NSW Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 o Ptilinopus superbus Superb Fruit-Dove - not listed under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, but listed as a Vulnerable species under the NSW Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 o Rhipidura rufifrons Rufous Fantail – listed as a Migratory species under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 but not listed under the NSW Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 o Mormopterus norfolkensis Eastern Free-tail Bat - not listed under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, but listed as a Vulnerable species under the NSW Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 o Miniopterus australis Little Bentwing Bat - not listed under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, but listed as a Vulnerable species under the NSW Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 o Nyctophilus bifax Eastern Long-eared Bat - not listed under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, but listed as a Vulnerable species under the NSW Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 o Pteropus poliocephalus Grey-headed Flying-fox – listed as a Vulnerable species under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and NSW Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 o Dasyurus maculatus maculatus Spot-tailed Quoll (SE mainland population) – listed as an Endangered species under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and a Vulnerable species under the NSW Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016
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3 PROPOSAL - DESCRIPTION OF THE ACTION
3.1 Proposed Layout
The site is 19.41 hectares in area and it is proposed to construct a residential community subdivision, including some 140 residential lots, access streets, pathways, street landscaping, Asset Protection Zones (APZ) and retained bushland occurring along the western and eastern boundaries, and in patches along the southern boundary and in the north-eastern corner of the site. These areas of retained bushland are to occur as one patch of landscaped park, one patch of bushfire trail and four patches of conservation bushland within a residual lot. The reserved areas have been located in order to capture the highest value habitats as well as provide important corridors for the local movement of fauna.
The proposal detailed herein is the same as the one detailed in the Referral.
The layout of the proposed development is shown in the Masterplan (prepared by Urbandesignstudio, Drawing number PO147-04, dated June 2017), reproduced at Figure 1.
In terms of biodiversity responses, the essential elements of the proposal are: • the proposed Parks A to F; • the wide verges; • central access spine; and • short local roads.
The proposed staging of the development is shown in Figure 2. This development staging will also be reflected in the procession of clearing across the site.
The treatment of the site in terms of bushland management is shown in Figure 3. The important features are:
The distribution of the parks. These have been located to protect important ecological features on site. These features include the best Koala habitat, the area identified as the best potential habitat for Acronychia littoralis, the area with the least disturbed and most intact vegetation and landform, and the area of Coastal Cypress Woodland endangered ecological community.
Connectivity. The conservation areas have been located in order to retain connectivity for the biota known to use the site or likely to occur on site. Connectivity has been maintained in all directions.
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Separation of the parks from the lots. No residential lots abut the conservation zones as a means of protection from accidental indirect impacts (such as herbicide drift, spills of polluted materials), a buffer for garden escapes, and to discourage dumping of garden refuse and other rubbish.
The location of the Asset Protection Zones. The APZs are located outside of the retained bushland areas, and take advantage of the roads and verges.
Use of wide verges for tree planting. The wide verges provide an opportunity to plant trees that can facilitate fauna movement through the site in the post- development landscape. These design features are detailed in the treatments in the Landscape Plan and the Habitat Management Plan. Planting design is informed particularly by best practice planning guidelines prepared for the express purpose of conservation of the Koala in a residential setting (McAlpine et al. 2007). The tree species to be planted are also intended to benefit fruit-eating birds and blossom-feeding bats.
3.2 Proposed Actions
The proposed development will involve a number of activities, from clearing to construction, and then occupation. The following is a summary of these actions.
• Works are to be staged, including clearing of vegetation, so that there will be an incremental loss of vegetative cover in the development footprint.
• All works will be guided by construction plans and the Habitat Management Plan.
• All civil contractors will be inducted by the Project Ecologist into the special ecological sensitivities of the site and potential animal welfare issues.
• Prior to clearing, the clearing area and works area will be clearly delineated to prevent accidental damage to retained vegetation or areas not yet planned for clearing.
• Although safety of works personnel will be paramount, animal welfare protocols will be observed in order to minimise harm to resident fauna during clearing. To that end, vegetation removal will be undertaken under ecological supervision and in accordance with the Habitat Management Plan.
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• A special protocol for felling hollow-bearing trees will be detailed in the Habitat Management Plan and implemented, and will include:
o Supervision by the Project Ecologist; o Staged removal of vegetation around hollow-bearing trees, with temporary retention of natural escape routes for resident fauna; o An agreed felling methodology for each hollow-bearing tree, (such as sectional dismantling) according to its characteristics, type of fauna likely to be resident, and safety requirements; o Seasonal considerations so that, where possible, clearing is undertaken when resources are at a maximum; and o A wildlife rescue plan.
• Best practice environmental protections (such as sediment and erosion controls) will be implemented during works.
• In accordance with the Habitat Management Plan, weed control protocols will also be observed during clearing in order to minimise the risk of spread of serious weeds. Each protocol will depend on the characteristics of the weed species. For example, Tradescantia fluminensis, Tradescantia zebrina and Bryophyllum delagoense all have the potential to grow from fragments, and so careful disposal to an appropriate green waste facility is required when clearing areas that contain these weeds.
• After clearing, minor earthworks will be undertaken to shape the ground in accordance with the stormwater and sewer plans. Infrastructure will then be constructed, including water supply, sewerage, electricity (above and below ground), telecommunications, stormwater drainage, streets, 6 metre wide verges, street lighting, pathways and bicycle ways.
• APZs will be established and maintained incrementally around the assets as they are completed.
• The Parks will be established and conservation management undertaken in accordance with the Habitat Management Plan.
• The housing will be constructed as each stage is available. The bushland / housing interface will be managed as an APZ.
• To prevent Koalas climbing into enclosed yards and potentially being attacked by dogs, external boundary fences will be designed to be Koala- proof. The design finishes are detailed in the Landscape Plan and will be of
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a smooth material (such as a Colourbond fence), with additional barrier material at their bases.
• Overhanging branches, shrubs and trees will be removed where the property boundaries temporarily adjoin bushland during the staged construction. This is intended to prevent Koala access.
• For similar reasons, external plantings are prohibited in perpetuity that would provide Koala access to enclosed yards.
• All residents will be provided with an Education Package. This will be an accessible but informative document that highlights the special features of the site and surrounds, as well as the important obligations of the community to minimise adverse impacts on those special features. Such obligations include such things as responsible pet ownership and responsible gardening, provision of escape ropes in pools for Koalas, traffic calming, and external lighting controls.
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Figure 1: Masterplan of the proposed development.
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Figure 2: Staging of the proposed development.
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Figure 3: Vegetation zones and Asset Protection Zones.
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4 SURVEY AND RESULTS
4.1 Survey for Relevant Matters
Substantial survey work has been conducted within and adjacent to the subject site and its environs between 2014 and 2017. The details of the survey effort are therefore scattered across a number of reports, and are consolidated herein to provide the Department the opportunity to consider the adequacy of survey effort, but particularly for the MNES and species of concern.
The flora and fauna survey was conducted according to best practice, observing the 6 step process recommended in Commonwealth guidelines. Survey was directed in the first instance by a desktop analysis of the scientific literature and past reports, and an assessment of habitats and disturbances on site as revealed by interpretation of aerial photography. Relevant databases1 were interrogated for records of significant species within 10 kilometres of the site, and a preliminary analysis undertaken of the likelihood of each species to occur on the site.
Characteristics and habitats of the site were then determined on the ground during an initial site visit, and a survey design was then developed and implemented. These surveys were intended to address all habitats on site, target entities of particular interest (principally threatened species and communities), as well as provide a description of the biodiversity of the site as a whole.
Formal flora and fauna survey of the site and surrounds was undertaken in spring 2014, summer 2016, autumn 2016, and winter 2016 on the following dates:
12th October 2014 13th October 2014 14th October 2014 15th October 2014 16th October 2014 11th November 2014 12th November 2014 13th November 2014 14th November 2014 15th November 2014 16th November 2014
1 BioNet, Atlas of Living Australia, PlantNet, and the EPBC database using the Protected Matters Search Tool.
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17th November 2014 18th November 2014 19th November 2014 20th November 2014 21st November 2014 22nd November 2014 23rd November 2014 24th November 2014 25th November 2014 26th November 2014 27th November 2014 13th February 2016 14th February 2016 15th February 2016 19th May 2016 20th May 2016 21st May 2016 22nd May 2016 23rd May 2016 24th May 2016 28th June 2016 29th June 2016 30th June 2016
Survey comprised the following activities: camera trapping; spotlighting; stagwatching of tree hollows at dusk; recording and identification of calls of microbats; nocturnal and diurnal searches for reptiles; habitat searches and assessment; diurnal bird survey by active searches and audio recording; nocturnal bird survey by call playback and spotlighting; scat searches for predators, Emu and Koala; call playback of Koala and Grey Headed Flying Fox; and terrestrial and arboreal hair funnels for mammals.
All formal survey activities during these periods are detailed in Table 1 and shown in Figure 4.
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Table 1: Fauna survey effort on site. Survey efforts included comprehensive survey of diurnal and nocturnal species with targeted surveying undertaken for threatened species known to occur within the area.
Survey Effort Fauna Group Survey Technique Time spent No of Date Comment (person hours) people 40 minutes 1 11th November 2014 40 minutes 1 12th November 2014 40 minutes 1 13th November 2014 Habitat searches and opportunistic Diurnal searches 0.5 hours 1 25th November 2014 surveys undertaken during all diurnal 0.5 hours 1 26th November 2014 survey. 0.5 hours 1 27th November 2014 0.5 hours 1 28th November 2014 Amphibians Overnight NA 11th -12th October 2014 Call recording 1 hour 1 11th November 2014 1 hour 1 12th November 2014 0.5 hours 1 13th November 2014 Nocturnal searches Spotlighting and active listening 1 hour 1 25th November 2014 undertaken during all nocturnal 0.5 hours 1 26th November 2014 survey. 0.5 hours 1 27th November 2014 0.5 hours 1 28th November 2014 16 hours 2 10th October 2014 6 hours 2 11th October 2014 5 hours 2 12th October 2014 2 hours 2 13th October 2014 4 hours 1 14th October 2014 Habitat searches and opportunistic Reptiles Diurnal habitat searches surveys undertaken during all diurnal th 9 hours 3 15 October 2014 survey. 13 hours 2 16th October 2014 40 minutes 1 11th November 2014 40 minutes 1 12th November 2014 40 minutes 1 13th November 2014
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Survey Effort Fauna Group Survey Technique Time spent No of Date Comment (person hours) people 0.5 hours 1 25th November 2014 0.5 hours 1 26th November 2014 0.5 hours 1 27th November 2014 0.5 hours 1 28th November 2014 1 hour 2 12th October 2014 0.5 hour 2 14th October 2014 1 hour 1 11th November 2014 1 hour 1 12th November 2014 Nocturnal spotlight searches 0.5 hour 1 13th November 2014 Total 6.5 person hours. 1 hour 1 25th November 2014 0.5 hour 1 26th November 2014 0.5 hour 1 27th November 2014 0.5 hour 1 28th November 2014 16 hours 2 10th October 2014 6 hours 2 11th October 2014 5 hours 2 12th October 2014 5 hours 2 13th October 2014 4 hours 1 14th October 2014 9.5 hours 3 15th October 2014 th 13 hours 2 16 October 2014 Total of 44 person hours active Opportunistic searches Diurnal Birds 1 hour 1 11th November 2014 listening during all survey activities. 0.5 hour 1 12th November 2014 0.5 hour 1 13th November 2014 0.5 hour 1 25th November 2014 0.5 hour 1 26th November 2014 0.5 hour 1 27th November 2014 0.5 hour 1 28th November 2014 Audio recording 1 hour NA 11th October 2014 Recorded calls at dusk and dawn.
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Survey Effort Fauna Group Survey Technique Time spent No of Date Comment (person hours) people 1 hour NA 12th October 2014 Active listen undertaken during Targeted Survey 1.5 hours 2 13th October 2014 targeted survey. 1 hour 2 12th October 2014 Calls broadcast of: Powerful Owl Barking Owl Nocturnal Birds Call broadcast 1.5 hour 1 14th October 2014 Sooty Owl
16 hours 2 10th October 2014 6 hours 2 11th October 2014 5 hours 2 12th October 2014 0.5 hour 2 13th October 2014 4 hours 1 14th October 2014 9.5 hours 3 15th October 2014 Scats, tracks and signs 13 hours 2 16th October 2014 Incidental survey during other searches 1 hour 1 11th November 2014 activities. 1 hour 1 12th November 2014 Terrestrial Mammals 1 hour 1 13th November 2014 1 hour 1 25th November 2014 1 hour 1 26th November 2014 0.5 hour 1 27th November 2014 0.5 hour 1 28th November 2014 Predator scats, tracks and 5 hours 2 13th October 2014 Targeted search for predator scats. signs searches Total 240 camera trap hours (5 full 120 hours NA 11th -16th October 2014 days, 2 cameras). Camera traps 11th – 27th November Total 12,288 camera trap hours (16 full 384 hours NA 2014 days, 32 cameras ). Arboreal Mammals Koala Scat counts 5 hours 1 12th November 2014
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Survey Effort Fauna Group Survey Technique Time spent No of Date Comment (person hours) people 2 hours 1 26th November 2014 Total of 14 person hours in Koala scat survey with a total of 14 searches 7 hours th 1 27 November 2014 undertaken. 1 hour 2 12th October 2014 Targeted Call Broadcast Call broadcast of Koala 15 minutes 1 14th October 2014 30 x hair funnels NA 10th - 16th October 2014 over 6 nights 10 x hair funnels Hair Funnels NA 11th - 16th October 2014 Total 254 trap nights. over 5 nights 6 hair funnels NA 12th - 16th October 2014 over 4 nights 1 hour 2 13th October 2014 Spotlighting along internal and Spotlighting 1 hour 1 14th October 2014 perimeter tracks. 1 hour 2 13th October 2014 Spotlighting along internal and Megachiropteran Bats Spotlighting 1 hour 1 14th October 2014 perimeter tracks. 36 hours NA 13th – 16th October 2014 Microchiropteran Bats Call recording 12th – 15th November Total 72 recording hours. 36 hours NA 2014
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Figure 4: Formal fauna survey activities in 2014. Diurnal tracks not shown for reasons of clarity.
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In addition to the formal survey activities on the subject site, the surrounding areas were also investigated. These investigations were intended to provide context for the biodiversity of the subject site and its ecological value, as well as insight into the characteristics of the World Heritage Nature Reserve and how it might interact with the subject site. Observations were made at the following 15 additional locations (see Figure 5): 1 – in Bundjalung NP and Iluka NR to the east of the subject site, observation of vegetation rehabilitation for comparison with the subject site; observations of Koala food trees; bird survey 2 – in Littoral Rainforest in Iluka NR to the east of the subject site, bird survey (but particularly fruit-doves) 3 – observation of trees on the golf course to the north of the subject site, particularly in terms of Koala feed trees; other bird survey 4 - in Littoral Rainforest around Bluff Point in Bundjalung NP to the east of the subject site, targeted search for Acronychia littoralis 5 – to the north west of the subject site, habitat assessment of the area previously reported by Fitzgerald (2005) as supporting Phaius australis, for comparison with habitats available on the subject site; assessment of trees and habitat value for all species, but particularly Koala 6 – in adjacent vegetation to the west of the subject site, survey for Koala scats and signs using SAT methodology; general observations of habitat value for Koala and other fauna; flora random meander 7 – in vegetation to the south of the subject site, intensive targeted vegetation survey for Coastal Cypress Pine Forest; targeted survey for Acronychia littoralis; opportunistic survey for other flora and birds 8 – in Littoral Rainforest in Iluka NR to the south east of the subject site, observations of vegetation; opportunistic bird survey 9 – in vegetation to the south east of the township, inspection of regrowth vegetation following sand mining 10 – in the township, inspection of urban trees and habitats available for Koala, Grey-headed Flying-fox and other fauna 11 – along the Clarence River, observation of estuarine habitats and birds, particularly the Eastern Osprey 12 – to the north west of the subject site, observations of vegetation types adjacent to Bundjalung NP 13 – in Bundjalung NP to the east of the subject site, observation of vegetation rehabilitation and floristic composition for comparison with the subject 14 – along Iluka Road through Bundjalung NP, observations of vegetation types and disturbances 15 - at the Esk River population of Acronychia littoralis, observations of reproductive status
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Figure 5: Additional locations investigated for biodiversity values.
In order to guide the Department in its consideration of the adequacy of this comprehensive survey for the species of interest, compliance is explored for each in Table 2. The following species are addressed:
o Acronychia littoralis Scented Acronychia o Phascolarctos cinereus Koala o Dasyurus maculatus maculatus Spot-tailed Quoll (SE mainland population) o Pteropus poliocephalus Grey-headed Flying-fox o Monarcha leucotis White-eared Monarch o Leucosarcia melanoleuca Wonga Pigeon o Ptilinopus magnificus Wompoo Fruit-Dove o Ptilinopus regina Rose-crowned Fruit-dove o Ptilinopus superbus Superb Fruit-Dove o Rhipidura rufifrons Rufous Fantail o Mormopterus norfolkensis Eastern Free-tail Bat o Miniopterus australis Little Bentwing Bat o Nyctophilus bifax Eastern Long-eared Bat
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Table 2: Survey consideration of subject MNES. The source Survey considerations are applicable Commonwealth and State guidelines, A = Threatened Biodiversity Guidelines NSW DEC (2004) B = EPBC Act Referral Guidelines for the vulnerable Koala (2014), C = Survey Guidelines for Australia’s Threatened Mammals (2011), D = Survey Guidelines for Australia’s Threatened Bats (2010),
Survey guidelines Survey effort Adequacy of survey Acronychia littoralis Scented Acronychia Initial survey of the flora of the site in 6 full floristics quadrats and random meander across the site in October and November 2014. Amalgamation of all identification features from all No formal survey guidelines are available. relevant identification keys and descriptive texts2. Known from transition zones between littoral Inspection of all specimens held in the NSW National rainforest and swamp sclerophyll forest; between Herbarium of NSW, Royal Botanic Gardens of this species littoral and coastal cypress pine communities; and Targeted survey undertaken during the required months, with and its hybrid parents, and measurement of specimens margins of littoral forest. total targeted survey on site being at least 110 person hours. against relevant identification features extracted above. Occurs south from Fraser Island, Queensland to This was a test of the reliability of different identification Port Macquarie, mid north coast of NSW. It is considered that this species has been addressed characters, as well as a training exercise to aid in field The literature indicates that it is a species that satisfactorily, using best practice techniques and sufficient identification. requires expert identification, and the best possible effort. Consultation with recognised experts for guidance samples are required. regarding habitat, identification, and known populations. The relevant profile (Profile ID 10030) of the NSW The presence of this species on site was not confirmed, Consultation with the National Herbarium of NSW, Royal Office of Environment and Heritage Threatened although potential habitat is recognised. Botanic Gardens regarding the identification and fate of Species Profile Database indicates that survey previous collections purportedly from the subject site. needs to be conducted for this species in May, June, Consultation with Alex Floyd and the Coffs Harbour July or August. herbarium the National Herbarium of NSW, Royal Botanic Gardens regarding the identification and fate of previous collections purportedly from the subject site.
2 Richards, P.G. and Porteners, M.F. (1991) Acronychia. In Flora of NSW Vol 2, ed. G. Harden. UNSW Press Alex Floyd (2008) Rainforest Trees of Mainland South-east Australia. Terania Creek Publishing, The Channon Harden, G.J., McDonald W.J.F., and Williams, J.B. (2006) Rainforest Trees and Shrubs – a field guide to their identification. Gwen Harden Publishing Hartley, T. G. (1974). A revision of the genus Acronychia (Rutaceae). In J. Arnold Arb. 55: 469-567 Hartley, T. and Williams, J. (1983) A new species of Acronychia (Rutaceae) from Australia. Brunonia 6:251- Hartley, T.G. (2013) Acronychia littoralis in Wilson, A.J.G. (ed.) (2013), Acronychia. Flora of Australia Vol 26, pp117
Keystone Ecological 23 Ref: CVC 14-695 – May 2018 Ecological Response Hickey Street, Iluka, NSW
Survey guidelines Survey effort Adequacy of survey Tracking of reproductive status of a reference population at Sea Acres Nature Reserve, Port Macquarie for fruiting, in order to time survey at the subject site when most likely in fruit. Targeted survey of the site and surrounds during flowering in February 2016, during early fruit set in May 2016, and during later development of fruit in June 2016. Collection of material for identification and submission to the National Herbarium of NSW, Royal Botanic Gardens: o Collection of 20 flowering specimens in February 2016, of which 17 were submitted to the National Herbarium of NSW, Royal Botanic Gardens. o Collection of 90 samples (including 41 fertile samples), with a representative set sent to the National Herbarium of NSW, Royal Botanic Gardens for identification. Phascolarctos cinereus Koala Spotlighting on foot 2 x 1 hour sessions over 1 km, Spotlighting by foot traverse on 2 occasions x 1 hr sessions walking at approximately 1km per hour on 2 (13th and 14th October 2014). separate nights A Survey undertaken using a variety of direct and indirect Call playback on 2 occasions (12th and 14th October 2014). Call playback at 2 locations, twice on 2 separate methods of survey (spotlight, call broadcast, camera trap, Scat counts using the Spot Assessment Technique3 at 14 nights A predator scats, scratches, and Spot Assessment Technique locations for a total of 14 person hours. Search of scats and signs for 30 minutes in each surveys). Targeted search for predator scats for 10 person hours on relevant habitat, including trees for scratch marks A 13th October 2014, plus opportunistic collections at all Opportunistic collection of predator scats for hair Survey considered adequate for this species. other times on site. analysis A Inspection of smooth-barked trees for scratches during The relevant profile (Profile ID 10616) of the NSW The presence of this species on site was confirmed in a single SAT counts and during examination of vegetation for flora Office of Environment and Heritage Threatened camera trap image. quadrats. Species Profile Database indicates that survey may Camera traps employed as an additional survey technique be conducted any time of year. Potential habitat for the Koala on site is recognised. for this species as is it was successful in detecting a Koala Surveys must be conducted by a suitably qualified during the first field session. In all, 32 cameras were specialist (tertiary educated/trained in ecology or
3 Phillips, S. and Callaghan, J. (2011) The Spot Assessment Technique: a tool for determining localised levels of habitat use by Koalas Phascolarctos cinereus. Australian Zoologist 35(3):774-780
Keystone Ecological 24 Ref: CVC 14-695 – May 2018 Ecological Response Hickey Street, Iluka, NSW
Survey guidelines Survey effort Adequacy of survey environmental science), with demonstrated skill deployed across the site for a total of 12,528 camera trap and experience in conducting vegetation and/or hours. koala surveys. B Field survey teams led by qualified, experienced, and Sampling rather than census is appropriate for licenced ecologists at each session of work: large study areas of several hectares or more. B o Elizabeth Ashby, all field work except November Remote sensor activated cameras are usefully 2014. deployed where presence has already been o Paul Shelley, November 2014 field work. confirmed. B Site sampled rather than a census undertaken due to size Detection dogs may be effective where Koalas are at of site and difficulty to move through dense weed low to moderate densities. B infestations. Scat counts using an appropriate techniques (SAT, RGB-SAT, or KRAM). B
Dasyurus maculatus Spot-tailed Quoll Four hollow-bearing trees were stagwatched prior to spotlighting in October 2014. Aerial photo interpretation and site analysis established the absence of rocky dens. Stagwatch for emerging fauna. C Consideration of results from community consultation Identification of potential den sites in caves or survey undertaken by Lunney and Matthews (2001)4. Survey undertaken using a variety of direct and indirect boulder fields by aerial photography and site Targeted search for predator scats for 10 person hours on methods of survey (stagwatch, spotlight, community survey, inspection. C 13th October 2014, plus opportunistic collections at all camera trap, predator scats, hair funnels). Community consultation. C other times on site.
Collection and analysis of scats. C 46 Faunatech ‘Universal’ hair funnels were deployed for a Survey considered adequate for this species. Hair sampling devices. C total of 254 trap nights in terrestrial and arboreal
Traps may be used (wire or box-type). C situations from 10th to 16th October 2014. Approximately Potential habitat for the Spot-tailed Quoll on site is recognised. Baited camera traps using “chuditch” bait of meat half were baited with a sardine and rolled oats mix. meal, sardines, fish oil, chicken oil and rolled oats. Trapping was not used due to the anticipated low rate of return and high stress for the animals. 32 camera traps were deployed across the site for a total of 12,528 camera trap hours.
4 Lunney, D. and Matthews, A. (2001) The contribution of the community to defining the distribution of a vulnerable species, the spotted-tailed quoll, Dasyurus maculatus. Wildlife Research 28:537-545
Keystone Ecological 25 Ref: CVC 14-695 – May 2018 Ecological Response Hickey Street, Iluka, NSW
Survey guidelines Survey effort Adequacy of survey Pteropus poliocephalus Grey-headed Flying-fox LOCAL AREA CAMP DYNAMICS Of the 15 known flying-fox camp locations within 20 kilometres of the subject site, only 4 have been observed to contain Grey-headed Flying-foxes between November 2012 and August 20175: o Maclean – permanently occupied by large numbers of Grey-headed Flying-foxes (sometimes >50,000 individuals) o Bolorobo Island – occupied in November 2013 by a small number of Grey-headed Flying-foxes (1-499) Review known flying-fox camps in the project area Survey undertaken using appropriate direct and indirect o Iluka – occupied by Grey-headed Flying-foxes in and wider general area. D methods (monitoring of local camps, spotlighting, audio August 2014 (2500-9,999) and again in May 2016 Daytime field survey on site for camps. D recording). (500-2,499) Field survey by qualified botanist to confirm o Yamba Shores - occupied from November 2012 to vegetation communities and the presence of food Survey considered adequate for this species. February 2015 in low (1-499) to moderate (2,500- plants in the project area. D 9,999) numbers Conduct nocturnal survey by walking transects All of the observed occupations of the satellite camps Potential habitat for the Grey-headed Flying-fox on site is (100m apart) for feeding and flying bats. D coincided with and are assumed to be in response to recognised. Nocturnal audio recording is an alternative survey activities to disperse the animals from the Maclean colony.6 method. D The nearest to the subject site (Iluka – in estuarine vegetation along the Clarence River foreshore), was established in 2004 and continuously occupied until sometime prior to November 2012. It was not occupied during the survey period for this project. Site survey established no habitat for camps of this species. Vegetation survey established the presence of potential food plants suitable for this species, and is dominated by the spring and summer blossom of the myrtaceous trees, the soft fruits (e.g. Lilly Pilly) available in autumn, as well
5 National Flying-fox Monitoring Viewer at http://www.environment.gov.au/webgis-framework/apps/ffc-wide/ffc-wide.jsf 6 Roberts, B.J., Eby, P., Catterall, C.P., Kanowski, J. and Bennett, G. (2011) The outcomes and costs of relocating flying-fox camps: insights from the case of Maclean, Australia. Pp 277-287 in The Biology and Conservation of Australasian Bats, edited by Bradley Law, Peggy Eby, Daniel Lunney and Lindy Lumsden. Royal Zoological Society of NSW, Mosman
Keystone Ecological 26 Ref: CVC 14-695 – May 2018 Ecological Response Hickey Street, Iluka, NSW
Survey guidelines Survey effort Adequacy of survey as the more important winter-flowering species 7 Banksia integrifolia, Eucalyptus tereticornis, and Melaleuca quinquenervia (on site) and Eucalyptus robusta (on the golf course and in vegetation to the north west). Nocturnal survey on site included spotlighting by foot traverse and audio recording after dusk and pre-dawn. Monarcha leucotis White-eared Monarch Area search method is recommended for diurnal Spot counts were carried out across the site in October and birds, with a search conducted in each stratification November 2014. Survey undertaken using appropriate direct and indirect unit. A Opportunistic observations of diurnal birds were made methods (observations in spot counts, opportunistic survey, The relevant profile (Profile ID 10540) of the NSW during all other survey periods, including summer, autumn targeted survey of offsite Littoral Rainforest, audio recording). Office of Environment and Heritage Threatened and winter of 2016.
Species Profile Database indicates that survey may Suitable off site habitat (Littoral Rainforest) was also Survey considered adequate for this species. be conducted any time of year. However, there is surveyed in Iluka NR.
confusion about whether it is mostly a summer In the local area, this species is irregularly observed by migrant or just more obvious at certain times of the others from August to May, with a peak in December. 8 Potential habitat for the White-eared Monarch on site is year. Iluka NR is a hotspot for this species, with birdwatchers recognised. It is therefore more obvious or mostly present reporting observations of it regularly from 2007 to 2016,
between October to January. except for the year of spring survey carried out on the subject site (2014). 9 Leucosarcia melanoleuca Wonga Pigeon Spot counts were carried out across the site in October and Survey undertaken using appropriate direct and indirect November 2014. methods (observations in spot counts, opportunistic survey, Area search method is recommended for diurnal Opportunistic observations of diurnal birds were made targeted survey of offsite Littoral Rainforest, audio recording). birds, with a search conducted in each stratification during all other survey periods, including summer, autumn
unit. A and winter of 2016.
Suitable off site habitat (e.g. Littoral Rainforest) was also
surveyed in Iluka NR.
7 Eby, P. (2016) Planting to conserve threatened nomadic pollinators in NSW. NSW Office of Environment and Heritage 8 Atlas of Living Australia, records within 5 km of site, https://biocache.ala.org.au/occurrences/search?q=taxon_name:%22Carterornis%20leucotis%22&lat=- 29.3956247&lon=153.35294479999993&radius=5#tab_recordsView. 9 eBird citizen science database, available at https://ebird.org/australia/map/whemon1?neg=true&env.minX=153.2747303890626&env.minY=- 29.430084451826534&env.maxX=153.4395253109376&env.maxY=-29.36727105997829&zh=true&gp=false&ev=Z&mr=1- 12&bmo=1&emo=12&yr=all&byr=1900&eyr=2018
Keystone Ecological 27 Ref: CVC 14-695 – May 2018 Ecological Response Hickey Street, Iluka, NSW
Survey guidelines Survey effort Adequacy of survey Public databases indicate that it is observed all-year round, Survey considered adequate for this species as it was observed with a peak in October. 10 nearby but off site, and an image recorded on site by a camera Iluka NR is a hotspot for this species, with birdwatchers trap in November 2014. reporting observations of it regularly from 2009 to 201711, including the period of spring survey carried out on the subject site (2014). Ptilinopus magnificus Wompoo Fruit-Dove Survey undertaken using appropriate direct and indirect methods (observations in spot counts, opportunistic survey, Spot counts were carried out across the site in October and targeted survey of offsite Littoral Rainforest, audio recording). November 2014. Area search method is recommended for diurnal Opportunistic observations of diurnal birds were made Survey considered adequate for this species. birds, with a search conducted in each stratification during all other survey periods, including summer, autumn unit. A and winter of 2016. Suitable off site habitat (e.g. Littoral Rainforest) was also Potential habitat for the Wompoo Fruit-Dove on site is surveyed in Iluka NR. recognised.
Ptilinopus regina Rose-crowned Fruit-dove Survey undertaken using appropriate direct and indirect Spot counts were carried out across the site in October and methods (observations in spot counts, opportunistic survey, November 2014. targeted survey of offsite Littoral Rainforest, audio recording). Opportunistic observations of diurnal birds were made Area search method is recommended for diurnal during all other survey periods, including summer, autumn Survey considered adequate for this species as it was heard birds, with a search conducted in each stratification and winter of 2016. calling on one occasion on site and observed nearby in Iluka unit. A Suitable off site habitat (e.g. Littoral Rainforest) was also NR. surveyed in Iluka NR.
10 Atlas of Living Australia, records within 5 km of site, available at https://biocache.ala.org.au/occurrences/search?q=taxon_name:%22Leucosarcia%20melanoleuca%22&lat=- 29.3956247&lon=153.35294479999993&radius=5#tab_recordsView 11 eBird citizen science database, available at https://ebird.org/australia/map/wonpig1?neg=true&env.minX=153.2747303890626&env.minY=- 29.430084451826534&env.maxX=153.42321748012705&env.maxY=-29.36727105997829&zh=true&gp=false&ev=Z&mr=1- 12&bmo=1&emo=12&yr=all&byr=1900&eyr=2018
Keystone Ecological 28 Ref: CVC 14-695 – May 2018 Ecological Response Hickey Street, Iluka, NSW
Survey guidelines Survey effort Adequacy of survey Ptilinopus superbus Superb Fruit-Dove
Spot counts were carried out across the site in October and Survey undertaken using appropriate direct and indirect November 2014. methods (observations in spot counts, opportunistic survey, Opportunistic observations of diurnal birds were made Area search method is recommended for diurnal targeted survey of offsite Littoral Rainforest, audio recording). during all other survey periods, including summer, autumn birds, with a search conducted in each stratification and winter of 2016. unit. A Survey considered adequate for this species as it was heard Suitable off site habitat (e.g. Littoral Rainforest) was also calling on one occasion on site. surveyed in Iluka NR.
Rhipidura rufifrons Rufous Fantail
Spot counts were carried out across the site in October and Survey undertaken using appropriate direct and indirect November 2014. methods (observations in spot counts, opportunistic survey, Opportunistic observations of diurnal birds were made targeted survey of offsite Littoral Rainforest, audio recording). Area search method is recommended for diurnal during all other survey periods, including summer, autumn birds, with a search conducted in each stratification and winter of 2016. Survey considered adequate for this species as it was observed unit. A Suitable off site habitat (e.g. Littoral Rainforest) was also foraging on a number of occasions, images caught on camera, surveyed in Iluka NR. and a pair was observed nesting in the vines in the vegetation of the western end of the site.
Mormopterus norfolkensis Eastern Freetail-bat Appropriate survey methods for this species Survey undertaken used appropriate methods (stagwatching, includes stagwatching hollow-bearing trees, call recording) in an appropriate season (spring). trapping with a harp trap, or ultrasonic call Four suitable hollow-bearing trees were stagwatched prior
detection. A to spotlighting in October 2014. Harp trapping was not undertaken as it provides poor returns Although the relevant profile (Profile ID 10544) of Ultrasonic calls were recorded using an Anabat Express for effort and is very stressful for the bats. the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage unit and a SM2Bat Songmeter for a total of 72 nocturnal
Threatened Species Profile Database indicates that hours on the 13th to 16th October and 12th to 15th Survey considered adequate for this species as calls were survey can be conducted any time of year, other November 2014. recorded that were identified to a “definite” level of certainty. guidelines recommend that survey is conducted
between October and March. A Miniopterus australis Little Bentwing Bat Appropriate survey methods for this species Four suitable hollow-bearing trees were stagwatched prior
includes searching caves and other potential roost to spotlighting in October 2014.
Keystone Ecological 29 Ref: CVC 14-695 – May 2018 Ecological Response Hickey Street, Iluka, NSW
Survey guidelines Survey effort Adequacy of survey sites, stagwatching hollow-bearing trees, trapping Ultrasonic calls were recorded using an Anabat Express Survey undertaken used appropriate methods (stagwatching, with a harp trap, ultrasonic call detection. A unit and a SM2Bat Songmeter for a total of 72 nocturnal call recording) in an appropriate season (spring). Although the relevant profile (Profile ID 10533) of hours on the 13th to 16th October and 12th to 15th the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage November 2014. Specific habitat searching was not undertaken due to the Threatened Species Profile Database indicates that absence of suitable features. survey can be conducted any time of year, other guidelines recommend that survey is conducted Harp trapping was not undertaken as it provides poor returns between October and March. A for effort and is very stressful for the bats. Call detection should be undertaken using 2 detectors over two nights Call recording was undertaken over several nights using two recording devices.
Survey considered adequate for this species as calls were recorded that were identified to a “definite” level of certainty.
Nyctophilus bifax Eastern Long-eared Bat Harp trapping was not undertaken as it provides poor returns for effort and is very stressful for the bats. Four suitable hollow-bearing trees were stagwatched prior Guidelines recommend inspection of roost sites (in to spotlighting in October 2014. hollow-bearing trees and vegetation) and the use of Call recording was undertaken over several nights using two Ultrasonic calls were recorded using an Anabat Express harp traps. A recording devices. unit and a SM2Bat Songmeter for a total of 72 nocturnal
hours on the 13th to 16th October and 12th to 15th Survey considered adequate for this species as calls were November 2014. recorded that were identified to a “possible” level of certainty.
Keystone Ecological 30 Ref: CVC 14-695 – May 2018 Ecological Response Hickey Street, Iluka, NSW
4.2 Survey Results - General
A complete list of flora species observed during survey is provided in Table 3.
The map of vegetation types on the subject site is provided at Figure 6, and in summary (other than cleared land within the fire break) is made up of:
187 Coastal Cypress Pine shrubby open forest, 0.25 hectares in a patch along the site’s southern boundary. Another 0.2 hectares in the centre may also qualify as this vegetation type 190 Coast Banksia Woodland and open forest of coastal dunes, 0.41 hectares 193 Pink Bloodwood – Brush Box open forest on coastal dunes and sandplains, 18.15 hectares, comprising 5 sub-types – o 193a Dominated by Acacia disparrima, 10.41 hectares o 193b Eucalyptus tereticornis in canopy, 1.14 hectares o 193c Mixed canopy, 3.15 hectares o 193d Highly disturbed with infestations of transformer weeds, 2.66 hectares o 193e Highly disturbed with infestations of transformer weeds and regenerating Littoral Rainforest vines and trees, 0.80 hectares
A complete list of fauna species observed during survey on and near the site and surrounds is provided in Table 4, and in summary comprised 125 vertebrate species. Of those, the following were recorded on the subject site: 5 common species of reptiles 53 species of birds, including the following 7 threatened species - o Dromaius novaehollandiae Emu o Ptilinopus regina Rose-crowned Fruit-dove o Ptilinopus superbus Superb Fruit-dove o Calyptorhynchus lathami Glossy Black-Cockatoo o Merops ornatus Rainbow Bee-eater o Rhipidura rufifrons Rufous Fantail o Daphoenositta chrysoptera Varied Sittella 21 mammal species, including the following 5 threatened species - o Phascolarctos cinereus Koala o Nyctophilus bifax Eastern Long-eared Bat o Saccolaimus flaviventris Yellow-bellied Sheathtail-bat o Mormopterus norfolkensis Eastern Freetail-bat o Miniopterus australis Little Bentwing-bat
Keystone Ecological 31 Ref: CVC 14-695 – May 2018 Ecological Response Hickey Street, Iluka, NSW
Table 3: Flora species recorded in quadrats during all field survey. Abundance ratings are a modified 7 point Braun-Blanquet scale. RM = Random Meander, MF = reported by Mark Fitzgerald during previous survey. N = Nearby, * = exotic.
Family Scientific Name Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q5 Q6 Q7 A B C D E F G H K L M N RM MF Acanthaceae Thunbergia alata* N Amaranthaceae Deeringia amaranthoides 2 Anacardiaceae Euroschinus falcatus var. falcatus x Apocynaceae Parsonsia straminea 2 2 1 1 1 Araliaceae Polyscias elegans 2 2 2 4b 1 1 2 1 2 2 Araliaceae Schefflera actinophylla* 2 4b 2 N Arecaceae Archontophoenix cunninghamiana 1 3 Arecaceae Livistona australis 2 1 N Arecaceae Syagrus romanzoffiana* N Asparagaceae Asparagus aethiopicus* 4b 4b 3 1 1 N 1 2 2 3 2 4b 4b 3 3 2 Asparagaceae Asparagus densiflorus* 4b 4b Aspleniaceae Asplenium australasicum N 1 N 2 Asteliaceae Cordyline stricta 1 1 Asteraceae Conyza sp.* 1 Asteraceae Delairea odorata* N 1 Asteraceae Senecio amygdalifolius 1 Bignoniaceae Pandorea pandorana N 2 1 Blechnaceae Blechnum cartilagineum 1 Casuarinaceae Allocasuarina littoralis N N Commelinaceae Commelina cyanea 1 2 1 1 1 1 2 2 1 Commelinaceae Tradescantia fluminensis* 4b 6 3 Commelinaceae Tradescantia zebrina* N 4a Convolvulaceae Ipomoea cairica* x Crassulaceae Bryophyllum delagoense* N Cupressaceae Callitris columellaris 4b 1 1 1 1 5 4b 4b Cyperaceae Cyperus stradbrokensis 1 2 2 1 1 3 2 2 3 1 3 3 3 Cyperaceae Cyperus tetraphyllus 2 2 Davalliaceae Nephrolepis cordifolia x Dennstaedtiaceae Pteridium esculentum 3 3 4b 3 2 1 1 3 1 2 2 2 3 1 1 Dilleniaceae Hibbertia scandens N 1 1 1 Dioscoreaceae Dioscorea transversa 2 1 Elaeocarpaceae Elaeocarpus obovatus N Ericaceae Leucopogon leptospermoides 1 Ericaceae Monotoca elliptica 2 N 2 Ericaceae Trochocarpa laurina 4b 2 1 1 1 1 1 2 Euphorbiaceae Breynia oblongifolia 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Euphorbiaceae Claoxylon australe 1 Euphorbiaceae Glochidion ferdinandi var. ferdinandi N 4b Fabaceae Senna pendula var. glabrata* 1 N 1 Lamiaceae Clerodendrum tomentosum 1 x Lamiaceae Gmelina leichhardtii x
Keystone Ecological 32 Ref: CVC 14-695 – May 2018 Ecological Response Hickey Street, Iluka, NSW
Family Scientific Name Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q5 Q6 Q7 A B C D E F G H K L M N RM MF Lauraceae Beilschmiedia obtusifolia 1 Lauraceae Cinnamomum camphorum* x Lauraceae Cryptocarya glaucescens 2 Lauraceae Endiandra discolor 1 Lauraceae Endiandra sieberi 1 1 1 Lauraceae Neolitsea australiensis 1 Lomandraceae Lomandra filiformis var. filiformis 1 Lomandraceae Lomandra longifolia 3 3 1 3 1 N 1 1 1 1 3 1 3 3 2 2 1 2 Luzuriagaceae Eustrephus latifolius 2 2 1 Luzuriagaceae Geitonoplesium cymosum 1 1 1 1 1 2 Malvaceae Commersonia bartramia 1 Malvaceae Sterculia quadrifida x Meliaceae Synoum glandulosum 1 1 Menispermiaceae Stephania japonica var. discolor 3 3 1 1 nby Mimosaceae Acacia disparrima subsp. disparrima 2 5 4b 4b 4b 4b 5 5 6 6 4b 5 5 4b 4b 4b Mimosaceae Acacia maidenii 4b 4b N 2 Monimiaceae Wilkiea huegeliana N 1 Moraceae Ficus elastica* N Moraceae Maclura cochinchinensis 2 N Myrsinaceae Myrsine variabilis x Myrtaceae Acmena hemilampra N 4b N Myrtaceae Austromyrtus dulcis x Myrtaceae Corymbia intermedia 5 4b 4b 4b 1 1 3 3 Myrtaceae Eucalyptus propinqua var. propinqua N Myrtaceae Eucalyptus tereticornis 4b nby Myrtaceae Leptospermum laevigatum N 1 Myrtaceae Leptospermum polygalifolium subsp. polygalifolium 1 Myrtaceae Lophostemon confertus 4b 4b 1 N N 4b 4b Myrtaceae Melaleuca quinquenervia 1 4b 4b Myrtaceae Pilidiostigma glabrum x Myrtaceae Psidium cattleyanum var. cattleyanum* x Myrtaceae Syzygium australe 1 Myrtaceae Syzygium luehmannii 4b Ochnaceae Ochna serrulata* 3 4b 1 Oleaceae Notelaea longifolia forma intermedia 1 1 1 Orchidaceae Corybas sp 1 2 Orchidaceae Cymbidium madidum 1 Orchidaceae Cymbidium suave N Orchidaceae Pterostylis nutans 1 3 Orchidaceae Zeuxine oblonga 1 1 1 Passifloraceae Passiflora herbertiana 3 N 1 2 Phormiaceae Dianella caerulea 2 2 N Phyllanthaceae Bridelia exaltata x
Keystone Ecological 33 Ref: CVC 14-695 – May 2018 Ecological Response Hickey Street, Iluka, NSW
Family Scientific Name Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q5 Q6 Q7 A B C D E F G H K L M N RM MF Pinaceae Pinus sp.* N Poaceae Cynodon dactylon Poaceae Entolasia stricta 2 Poaceae Megathyrsus maximus* 4a 4b 7 4b 4b 4b 6 6 6 6 6 5 6 5 3 5 5 5 Poaceae Oplismenus aemulus 1 Poaceae Paspalum urvillei* N Polypodiaceae Platycerium bifurcatum 3 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 3 Proteaceae Banksia integrifolia subsp. integrifolia 2 2 1 4b 1 1 1 1 1 1 3 4b 1 Proteaceae Banksia serrata 1 Proteaceae Persoonia stradbrokensis N 1 2 Pteridaceae Pellaea falcata 1 Rhamnaceae Alphitonia excelsa 1 1 Rhamnaceae Pomaderris vellea 1 Rosaceae Rubus rosifolius N Rubiaceae Caelospermum paniculatum 1 Rubiaceae Coffea arabica* N Rubiaceae Morinda jasminoides 2 1 2 Rubiaceae Pomax umbellata N 1 Rutaceae Acronychia imperforata 4b 3 1 2 2 4b 4b 1 2 1 1 2 2 3 4b 2 2 Rutaceae Acronychia oblongifolia 2 x Rutaceae Melicope micrococca nby 1 3 Sapindaceae Cupaniopsis anacardioides 4b 3 3 2 3 3 1 2 Sapindaceae Mischocarpus pyriformis 2 1 1 1 1 1 3 1 2 1 2 2 1 1 2 Smilacaceae Smilax australis 3 3 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 Solanaceae Solanum nigrum* 2 1 1 Solanaceae Solanum seaforthianum* 2 1 1 Verbenaceae Lantana camara* 6 6 5 6 4b 4b 7 6 5 4b 5 3 4b 5 4b 4b Vitaceae Cayratia clematidea 1 1 1 Vitaceae Cissus hypoglauca 2 1 4b 2 Vitaceae Cissus sterculiifolia N
Keystone Ecological 34 Ref: CVC 14-695 – May 2018 Ecological Response Hickey Street, Iluka, NSW
Figure 6: Vegetation map of the subject site.
Keystone Ecological 35 Ref: CVC 14-695 – May 2018 Ecological Response Hickey Street, Iluka, NSW
Table 4: Fauna recorded on and near the subject site. * = introduced. Species listed under BC Act 2016 or EPBC Act 1999 are indicated in bold with a superscript. Superscript abbreviations: V=Vulnerable; E=Endangered; EPop=Endangered Population; M=Migratory species. All species recorded by Keystone Ecological unless otherwise noted. ‘Site’ denotes whether a species was recorded on site or close enough to the subject site for that species to be considered likely or able to use the habitats of the subject site.
Fauna Scientific Name Common Name Type of Record Site Group Reptiles Varanus varius Lace Monitor Observed Yes Egernia major Land Mullet Camera trap image Yes Eulamprus quoyii Eastern Water Skink Observed nearby Yes Sphenomorphus tympanum Water skink Observed Yes Amphibolurus muricatus Jacky Lizard Observed Yes Notechis scutatus Tiger Snake Observed Vermicella annulata Bandy Bandy Snake Observed dead on road nearby Yes Dromaius novaehollandiae EPop, - Emu Scats Yes Phalacrocorax melanoleucos Little Pied Cormorant Observed in local area No Birds Phalacrocorax sulcirostris Little Black Cormorant Observed in local area No Ardea alba Great Egret Observed in local area No Ardea ibis -, M Cattle Egret Observed in local area No Ardea pacifica White-necked Heron Observed in local area No Butorides striatus Striated Heron Observed in local area No Egretta novaehollandiae White-faced Heron Observed in local area No Threskiornis molucca Australian White Ibis Observed in local area No Chenonetta jubata Australian Wood Duck Observed nearby Yes Observed at nest in local area; Pandion cristatus V, - Eastern Osprey No Observed flying over Observed in local area Haliastur sphenurus Whistling Kite Yes Observed flying over Lophoictinia isura V, - Square-tailed Kite Observed nearby Yes Haliaeetus leucogaster V, M White-bellied Sea-eagle Observed at nest in local area No
Keystone Ecological 36 Ref: CVC 14-695 – May 2018 Ecological Response Hickey Street, Iluka, NSW
Fauna Scientific Name Common Name Type of Record Site Group Haliastur indus Brahminy Kite Observed in local area No Falco longipennis Australian Hobby Observed overhead Yes Birds Nest mound observed; Alectura lathami Australian Brush-turkey Yes Camera trap image Haemotopus fuliginosus V, - Sooty Oystercatcher Observed in local area No Haemotopus longirostris E, - Australian Pied Oystercatcher Observed in local area No Charadrius leschenaulti V,M Greater Sand-plover Observed in local area No Arenaria interpres -, M Ruddy Turnstone Observed in local area No Calidris ruficollis -, M Red-necked Stint Observed in local area No Limosa lapponica -, M Bar-tailed Godwit Observed in local area No Sterna hirundo -, M Common Tern Observed in local area No Vanellus miles Masked Lapwing Observed nearby No Larus novaehollandiae Silver Gull Observed in local area No Sternula albifrons E,M Little Tern Observed in local area No Columba leucomela White-headed Pigeon Observed nearby Yes Geopelia humeralis Bar-shouldered Dove Observed Yes Observed nearby; Leucosarcia melanoleuca Wonga Pigeon Yes Camera trap image Macropygia amboinensis Brown Cuckoo-Dove Heard Yes Ocyphaps lophotes Crested Pigeon Observed Yes Observed nearby in Iluka NR; Ptilinopus regina V, - Rose-crowned Fruit-dove Yes Heard on site Ptilinopus superbus V, - Superb Fruit-Dove Heard on site Yes Streptopelia chinensis* Spotted Dove Observed Yes Cacatua galerita Sulphur-crested Cockatoo Observed nearby Yes Cacatua sanguinea Little Corella Observed nearby Yes Cacatua roseicapilla Galah Observed nearby Yes
Keystone Ecological 37 Ref: CVC 14-695 – May 2018 Ecological Response Hickey Street, Iluka, NSW
Fauna Scientific Name Common Name Type of Record Site Group Calyptorhynchus funereus Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo Observed nearby Yes Evidence of foraging activity on site Calyptorhynchus lathami V, - Glossy Black-Cockatoo Yes documented by Fitzgerald (2005) Birds Trichoglossus chlorolepidotus Scaly-breasted Lorikeet Observed nearby Yes Trichoglossus haematodus Rainbow Lorikeet Observed Yes Platycercus eximius Eastern Rosella Observed Yes Eudynamys scolopacea Eastern Koel Heard nearby Yes Cacomantis flabelliformis Fan-tailed Cuckoo Observed Yes Chrysococcyx lucidus Shining Bronze-Cuckoo Heard Yes Scythrops novaehollandiae Channel-billed Cuckoo Observed Yes Podargus strigoides Tawny Frogmouth Feather Yes Hirundapus caudacutus -, M White-throated Needletail Observed overhead Yes Dacelo novaeguineae Laughing Kookaburra Observed Yes Todiramphus sanctus Sacred Kingfisher Observed nearby Yes Observed foraging; Merops ornatus -, M Rainbow Bee-eater Yes Observed at nest Eurystomus orientalis Dollarbird Observed nearby Yes Hirundo neoxena Welcome Swallow Observed nearby Yes Coracina lineata V, - Barred Cuckoo-shrike Observed nearby Yes Coracina novaehollandiae Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike Observed Yes Coracina papuensis White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike Observed Yes Coracina tenuirostris Cicadabird Observed Yes Lalage sueurii White-winged Triller Observed Yes Rhipidura fuliginosa Grey Fantail Observed Yes Rhipidura leucophrys Willie Wagtail Observed nearby Yes Observed foraging; Rhipidura rufifrons -, M Rufous Fantail Observed at nest; Yes Camera trap image
Keystone Ecological 38 Ref: CVC 14-695 – May 2018 Ecological Response Hickey Street, Iluka, NSW
Fauna Scientific Name Common Name Type of Record Site Group Colluricincla harmonica Grey Shrike-thrush Observed Yes Colluricincla megarhyncha Little Shrike-thrush Observed Yes Falcunculus frontatus Crested Shrike-tit Observed Yes Pachycephala pectoralis Golden Whistler Observed Yes Pachycephala rufiventris Rufous Whistler Observed at nest Yes Sphecotheres viridis Figbird Observed Yes Birds Oriolus sagittatus Olive-backed Oriole Observed Yes Observed; Eopsaltria australis Eastern Yellow Robin Yes Camera trap image Myiagra rubecula Leaden flycatcher Observed Yes Observed; Psophodes olivaceus Eastern Whipbird Yes Camera trap image Malurus cyaneus Superb Fairy-wren Observed Yes Malurus lamberti Variegated Fairy-wren Observed Yes Acanthiza pusilla Brown Thornbill Observed Yes Gerygone mouki Brown Gerygone Observed Yes Sericornis frontalis White-browed Scrubwren Observed Yes Daphoenositta chrysoptera V, - Varied Sittella Observed Yes Anthochaera chrysoptera Little Wattlebird Observed Yes Lichmera indistincta Brown Honeyeater Observed Yes Manorina melanocephala Noisy Miner Observed Yes Meliphaga lewinii Lewin’s Honeyeater Observed Yes Phylidonyris nigra White-cheeked Honeyeater Observed Yes Entomyzon cyanotis Blue-faced Honeyeater Observed nearby Yes Dicaeum hirundinaceum Mistletoe Bird Observed Yes Zosterops lateralis Silvereye Observed Yes Neochmia temporalis Red-browed Finch Observed Yes
Keystone Ecological 39 Ref: CVC 14-695 – May 2018 Ecological Response Hickey Street, Iluka, NSW
Fauna Scientific Name Common Name Type of Record Site Group Acridotheres tristis* Common Myna Observed nearby Yes Sturnus vulgaris* Common Starling Observed nearby Yes Sericulus chrysocephalus Regent Bowerbird Observed Yes Birds Grallina cyanoleuca Australian Magpie-Lark Observed Yes Cracticus nigrogularis Pied Butcherbird Observed nearby Yes Cracticus torquatus Grey Butcherbird Observed Yes Cracticus tibicen Australian Magpie Observed Yes Strepera graculina Pied Currawong Observed nearby Yes Corvus coronoides Australian Raven Observed Yes Mammals Pseudocheirus peregrinus Common Ringtail Possum Observed Yes Hair sample; Trichosurus vulpecula Brushtail Possum Yes Hair in Dog scat Perameles nasuta Long-nosed Bandicoot Camera trap image Yes Camera trap image; Phascolarctos cinereus V,V Koala Yes Scats identified by Fitzgerald (2005) Observed nearby; Macropus giganteus Eastern Grey Kangaroo Yes Camera trap image Wallabia bicolor Swamp Wallaby Camera trap image Yes Nyctophilus bifax V, - Eastern Long-eared Bat Call recorded - possible Yes Saccolaimus flaviventris V, - Yellow-bellied Sheathtail-bat Call recorded - definite Yes Tadarida australis White-striped Freetail-bat Call recorded - possible Yes Mormopterus norfolkensis V, - Eastern Freetail-bat Call recorded - definite Yes Mormopterus sp. Freetail-bat Call recorded - definite Yes Miniopterus australis V, - Little Bentwing-bat Call recorded - definite Yes Scotorepens sp. Broad-nosed Bat Call recorded - possible Yes Scotorepens greyii Little Broad-nosed Bat Call recorded - possible Yes Vespadelus pumilus Eastern Forest Bat Call recorded - definite Yes
Keystone Ecological 40 Ref: CVC 14-695 – May 2018 Ecological Response Hickey Street, Iluka, NSW
Fauna Scientific Name Common Name Type of Record Site Group Hair sample; Rattus tunneyi Pale field Rat Yes Camera trap image Mammals Rattus rattus* Black Rat Hair in Fox scat Canis familiaris* Dog Camera trap image Yes Scat; Vulpes vulpes* European Red Fox Yes Camera trap image Felis catus* Cat Observed in local area Yes Oryctolagus cuniculus* Rabbit Observed in local area Yes Ovis aries* Sheep Jaw fragment of one of these species in predator No Capra hircus* Goat scat
Keystone Ecological 41 Ref: CVC 14-695 – May 2018 Ecological Response Hickey Street, Iluka, NSW
4.3 Survey Results – Target Species
The DEE’s Determination requires the following for each of the target species: Results of all surveys, Description of the distribution and abundance of the species, including, but not limited to: o the estimated size, density and location of occurrences on-site and in the region, and o identification of any relevant important populations of vulnerable species (particularly for the Grey-headed Flying-fox). Quantification and description of the extent of suitable habitat on-site and in the region, including whether the habitat is critical to the survival of the species.
The “region” addressed for each species is in accordance with that identified at the meeting with DEE in January 2018, and comprises the Iluka peninsula and vegetated lands to the north as far as the Esk River. For Pteropus poliocephalus Grey-headed Flying-fox, the regional distribution also considers lands within 20 kilometres of the subject site, as this is regarded as a standard distance regularly traversed from camps to foraging habitat.
The vegetation mapping relied upon to quantify the available habitats across the region is principally sourced from the map prepared by the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage for Bundjalung National Park and Iluka Nature Reserve (CoastVeg_NE_NSW_E_3885, OEH 2011), as these comprise the major component of the vegetated land in that region. These reserved lands account for 2,290 hectares (or 84%) of the region as defined here, while vegetated terrestrial habitats external to the reserves approximately totals a further 430 hectares. Of this 2,720 hectares of vegetated land in the region, the 19.41 hectares of the subject site represents just 0.7%.
4.3.1 Acronychia littoralis Scented Acronychia
Collections of Acronychia species were made across the site in accordance with Figure 7. Of note are the multiple collections of specimens in the area previously identified by others as supporting this species in the south eastern corner of the site. None of these specimens were identified as Acronychia littoralis.
Keystone Ecological 42 Ref: CVC 14-695 – May 2018 Ecological Response Hickey Street, Iluka, NSW
Figure 7: Acronychia collections from the site and surrounds.
This species was identified otherwise from observations and collections at other sites during survey, being from Sea Acres Nature Reserve (Figure 8), the Esk River population (Figure 9), and from the vegetation around Bluff Point in Bundjalung National Park (Figure 10).
The relevant profile (Profile ID 10030) of the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage Threatened Species Profile Database indicates that this species is known from 21 Plant Community Types, as per Table 5.
After consideration of the habitats available on site, the vegetation types from which it has been found in the local area and across the region and North Coast Bioregion, the area of available habitat within the region just in reserved land has been estimated as approximately 486 hectares, as shown in Figure 11. In addition, of the vegetation outside of reserves in the region, approximately 275 hectares of sclerophyll forest provides potential habitat for this species.
The subject site also contains potential habitat for this species, across approximately 15.5 hectares of type 193 Pink Bloodwood – Brush Box Open Forest (sub-forms a, b, c and e), 0.45 hectares 187 Coast Cypress Pine shrubby Forest, and 0.41 hectares of type 190 Coast Banksia Woodland. The potential habitat on
Keystone Ecological 43 Ref: CVC 14-695 – May 2018 Ecological Response Hickey Street, Iluka, NSW
site represents approximately 2.1% of the estimated potential habitat available in the region.
Figure 8: Acronychia littoralis at Sea Acres Nature Reserve, Port Macquarie, 19 May 2016
Figure 9: Acronychia littoralis at Esk River, Bundjalung National Park, 20 May 2016
Keystone Ecological 44 Ref: CVC 14-695 – May 2018 Ecological Response Hickey Street, Iluka, NSW
Figure 10: Acronychia littoralis (Left) at Bluff Point, Bundjalung National Park, 20 May 2016.
Keystone Ecological 45 Ref: CVC 14-695 – May 2018 Ecological Response Hickey Street, Iluka, NSW
Table 5: Vegetation formations, classes and types associated with Acronychia littoralis on the NSW North Coast.
Formation Class Plant Community Type Blackbutt - Needlebark Stringybark shrubby open forest on coastal sands of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Coast Cypress Pine shrubby open forest of the NSW Coastal Dune Dry North Coast Bioregion Dry Sclerophyll Sclerophyll Forest Scribbly Gum - Needlebark Stringybark heathy open Forest (shrubby forest of coastal lowlands of the northern NSW sub-formation) North Coast Bioregion Smooth-barked Apple heathy open forest on sands of the NSW North Coast Blackbutt - bloodwood dry heathy open forest on North Coast Dry Quaternary sands of the northern NSW North Coast Sclerophyll Forest Bioregion Coastal Heath Wet heathland and shrubland of coastal lowlands of Forested Wetlands Swamps the NSW North Coast Bioregion Northern Montane Coastal heath on sands of the NSW North Coast Heathlands Heaths Bioregion Black Bean - Weeping Lilly Pilly riparian rainforest of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Dry Rainforest Hoop Pine - Yellow Tulipwood dry rainforest of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Tuckeroo - Riberry - Yellow Tulipwood littoral Littoral Rainforests Rainforests rainforest of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Soft Corkwood - Yellow Carabeen - Cryptocarya spp. subtropical rainforest of the NSW North Coast Subtropical Bioregion Rainforests White Booyong - Fig subtropical rainforest of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Blackbutt - Tallowwood tall moist forest of the far north east of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Pink Bloodwood - Tallowwood moist open forest of the far northern ranges of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Tallowwood - Brush Box - Sydney Blue Gum moist Wet Sclerophyll shrubby forest of the southern NSW North Coast North Coast Wet Forests (shrubby Bioregion Sclerophyll Forests sub-formation) Tallowwood - Brush Box moist open forest of the coastal ranges of the central NSW North Coast Tallowwood - Sydney Blue Gum moist open forest of the northern ranges of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Turpentine moist open forest of the coastal hills and ranges of the NSW North Coast Bioregion
Keystone Ecological 46 Ref: CVC 14-695 – May 2018 DRAFT Ecological Response Hickey Street, Iluka, NSW
Figure 11: Acronychia littoralis potential habitat (blue) across the region as defined by DEE and on site. Extent of development footprint indicated as a white dotted line. Source vegetation map: CoastVeg_NE_NSW_E_3885 (OEH 2011).
Keystone Ecological 47 Ref: CVC 14-695 – May 2018 DRAFT Ecological Response Hickey Street, Iluka, NSW
4.3.2 Phascolarctos cinereus Koala
This species was recorded on the subject site during survey in 2014. A single image of this species was captured on 14th October 2014 by a camera trap placed on the ground near an existing but overgrown track in the site’s western half.
The animal was walking along the ground, heading from south to north. As it was not in the canopy, it was likely moving through the site. It is not known if it forages on site, but suitable forage trees are scarce in the area where it was detected.
The camera image initiated additional targeted survey for this species on site. All relevant survey activities included:
Incidental searches for scats, tracks and signs; October 2014, November 2014, February 2016, May 2016, June 2016. Searches for and analysis of predator scats; October 2014, November 2014, February 2016, May 2016, June 2016. Camera traps; 240 camera trap hours October 2014, 12,288 camera trap hours November 2014. Koala Scat Counts; 14 counts using the Spot Assessment Technique (SAT) of Phillips and Callaghan (2011). Call broadcast; 2 occasions October 2104. Spotlighting; 2 occasions October 2104. Forage tree mapping; October 2014, November 2014, February 2016, May 2016, June 2016, supplemented by resident survey (date unknown).
Koala scat surveys were undertaken in accordance with the Spot Assessment Technique (SAT) utilised by the Australian Koala Foundation. Koala Scat survey results are detailed in Table 6.
Other than the initial camera image, the Koala was not detected on site again, and no scats attributable to Koalas were found beneath trees.
In the local area, residents have posted recent Koala sightings on social media:
In early January 2017, video was posted of a Koala being relocated by Essential Energy into bushland at the corner of Hogan and Elizabeth Street. This is 300m to the west of the proposed development area. This animal was reportedly chased by dogs when it took refuge up a power pole; In June 2017, a photograph was posted of a Koala in a tree, reportedly taken in April 2017 in Cypress Close. This is 460m north west of the development area; In May 2016, video was posted of a Koala climbing a tree in bushland, reportedly from “Frazer Reef Iluka”. Presumably this is Frazers Reef Road, which is in Iluka
Keystone Ecological 48 Ref: CVC 14-695 – May 2018 DRAFT Ecological Response Hickey Street, Iluka, NSW
Nature Reserve and between 920m and 1.5km north east of the development area.
It is unclear if these are multiple sightings of one individual, but the markings of the relocated animal and the one in the photograph are similar.
The relevant profile (Profile ID 10616) of the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage Threatened Species Profile Database indicates that this species is known from 70 Plant Community Types, as per Table 7 overleaf.
Suitable habitat for the Koala across the subject site is best represented by the number of foraging trees. A total of 4 species of foraging tree occur on the subject site: Eucalyptus tereticornis Forest Red Gum Eucalyptus propinqua Small-fruited Grey Gum Lophostemon confertus Brush Box Corymbia intermedia Pink Bloodwood
Eucalyptus tereticornis Forest Red Gum is the main primary food source for the Koala, and occurs within 1.14 hectares of vegetation type 193 Pink Bloodwood – Brush Box Open Forest. The distribution of suitable food trees across the subject site are shown in Figure 12.
Figure 12: Koala food tree distribution on site. Pink: Eucalyptus tereticornis; white: Eucalyptus propinqua; orange: Corymbia intermedia; yellow: Lophostemon confertus. K = Koala image captured.
Keystone Ecological 49 Ref: CVC 14-695 – May 2018 DRAFT Ecological Response Hickey Street, Iluka, NSW
After consideration of the habitats available on site, the vegetation types from which it has been found in the local area and across the region and North Coast Bioregion (of which the site is a part), the area of available habitat within the region just in reserved land has been estimated as approximately 1,792 hectares, as shown in Figure 13. In addition, of the vegetation outside of reserves in the region, approximately 275 hectares of sclerophyll forest provides potential habitat for this species.
The subject site also contains potential habitat for this species, across approximately 0.41 hectares of type 190 Coast Banksia woodland and open forest of coastal dunes and approximately 15.50 hectares of type 193 Pink Bloodwood – Brush Box Open Forest (sub- forms 193a, 193b, 193c and 193e). The potential habitat on site represents approximately 0.8% of the estimated potential habitat in the region.
However, it is noted that the habitat across the site is very patchy in its values to this species. Preferred food trees are concentrated in the north eastern corner, the western strip and the eastern edge. Within the development footprint, preferred food trees occur generally in three separated strips. While the footprint area may provide shelter in its canopy and some connectivity function, it is otherwise regarded as of lesser value than the areas with higher concentrations of suitable forage trees, which occur across approximately 4.1 hectares.
Keystone Ecological 50 Ref: CVC 14-695 – May 2018 DRAFT Ecological Response Hickey Street, Iluka, NSW
Table 6: Koala scat survey results. Surveys were undertaken in accordance with the Spot Assessment Technique (SAT) utilised by the Australian Koala Foundation. The SAT is used to assess the Koala activity within the immediate area surrounding a tree known to be utilised by the species or is considered to be of importance to the species conservation.
Numbers of tree species within search zone Koala Koala Corymbia Eucalyptus Melaleuca Scat Lophostemon Eucalyptus scats Date Trigger tree species intermedia propinqua quinquenervia Search confertus Rainforest sp. Acacia sp. Banksia sp. Melaleuca sp. tereticornis found Pink Small-fruited Broad-leaved No. Brush Box Forest Red Gum Yes/No Bloodwood Grey Gum Paperbark Corymbia intermedia 12.11.14 KSS 1 3 6 7 14 No Pink Bloodwood Corymbia intermedia 12.11.14 KSS 2 8 22 No Pink Bloodwood Corymbia intermedia 12.11.14 KSS 3 2 1 27 No Pink Bloodwood Corymbia intermedia 12.11.14 KSS 4 6 4 4 12 4 No Pink Bloodwood Corymbia intermedia 12.11.14 KSS 5 6 2 8 1 13 No Pink Bloodwood Corymbia intermedia 12.11.14 KSS 6 4 5 4 17 No Pink Bloodwood Eucalyptus tereticornis 12.11.14 KSS 7 4 2 3 18 4 No Forest Red Gum Lophostemon confertus 27.11.14 KSS 8 1 28 1 No Brush Box Eucalyptus tereticornis 27.11.14 KSS 9 7 3 19 1 No Forest Red Gum Corymbia intermedia 26.11.14 KSS 10 3 1 3 6 No Pink Bloodwood Corymbia intermedia 26.11.14 KSS 11 2 26 2 No Pink Bloodwood Eucalyptus propinqua 27.11.14 KSS 12 2 26 2 No Small-fruited Grey Gum Eucalyptus propinqua 27.11.14 KSS 13 23 6 1 No Small-fruited Grey Gum Corymbia intermedia 27.11.14 KSS 14 9 16 5 No Pink Bloodwood
Keystone Ecological 51 Ref: CVC 14-695 – May 2018 DRAFT Ecological Response Hickey Street, Iluka, NSW
Table 7: Vegetation formation, classes and types associated with Phascolarctos cinereus Koala on the NSW North Coast.
Formation Class Plant Community Type Dry Sclerophyll Forest Eucalyptus ophitica - White Mahogany open forest on serpentinite near (shrub/grass sub-formation) Baryulgil of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Grey Box - Grey Ironbark grassy open forest of the Clarence Valley lowlands of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Grey Box - Small-fruited Grey Gum shrubby forest of the far north of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Grey Gum - Grey Ironbark open forest of the Clarence lowlands of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Grey Gum - Spotted Gum open forest of the southern Clarence lowlands of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Orange Gum (Eucalyptus bancroftii) open forest of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Red Ironbark open forest of the coastal lowlands of the NSW North Coast Clarence Dry Sclerophyll Forests Bioregion Spotted Gum - Blackbutt open forest of the lower Clarence Valley of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Spotted Gum - Grey Box - Grey Ironbark dry open forest of the Clarence Valley lowlands of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Spotted Gum - Grey Box grassy open forest of the Richmond Range of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Spotted Gum - Grey Ironbark - Pink Bloodwood open forest of the Clarence Valley lowlands of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Spotted Gum dry grassy open forest of the foothills of the northern NSW North Coast Yellow Box - Grey Box grassy open forest in the Glenugie area of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Large-fruited Blackbutt shrubby open forest of the Broken Bago Range of the Hunter-Macleay Dry Sclerophyll NSW North Coast Bioregion Forests Spotted Gum - Grey Ironbark open forest of the Macleay Valley lowlands of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Broad-leaved Stringybark - Mountain Ribbon Gum - Messmate open forest of New England Dry Sclerophyll Forests the NSW North Coast Bioregion and New England Tableland Bioregion Broad-leaved Stringybark - Blakely's Red Gum grassy woodlands of the northern gorges of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Forest Red Gum grassy open forest of the coastal ranges of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Forest Redgum - Broad-leaved Apple dry open forest of the gorges of NSW North Coast Bioregion Forest Redgum - Pink Bloodwood open forest of the foothills and ranges of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Grey Box - Pink Bloodwood open forest of the gorges of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Northern Gorge Dry Sclerophyll Grey Gum - Broad-leaved Apple dry open forest of the gorges of the NSW Forests North Coast Bioregion Grey gum - stringybark open forest of the gorges of the NSW North Coast Bioregion and New England Tableland Bioregion Grey Ironbark - Grey Gum open forest of the northern escarpment ranges of the NSW North Coast Bioregion New England Blackbutt - stringybark grassy forest the eastern New England Tableland Bioregion and NSW North Coast Bioregion Spotted Gum - Tallowwood dry open forest of the escarpment and foothills of the New England Tableland Bioregion and NSW North Coast Bioregion Thin-leaved Stringybark - Grey Gum - Broad-leaved Apple shrub - grass tall open forest on ranges of the lower North Coast Dry Sclerophyll Forests Coastal Dune Dry Sclerophyll Forests Smooth-barked Apple heathy open forest on sands of the NSW North Coast (shrubby sub-formation) Blackbutt - Spotted Gum shrubby open forest on sandstones of the lower Clarence Valley of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Blackbutt - Turpentine dry heathy open forest on sandstones of the lower North Coast Dry Sclerophyll Forests Clarence of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Scribbly Gum - Red Bloodwood heathy open forest of the coastal lowlands of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Blue Mountain Ash - New England Blackbutt tall open forest of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Eurabbie tall open forest of the escarpment ranges of the NSW North Coast Northern Escarpment Dry Sclerophyll Bioregion Forests New England Blackbutt - Diehard Stringybark dry open forest of the escarpment ranges of the eastern New England Tableland Bioregion and NSW North Coast Bioregion Forested Wetlands Swamp Oak swamp forest of the coastal lowlands of the NSW North Coast Coastal Floodplain Wetlands Bioregion Paperbark swamp forest of the coastal lowlands of the NSW North Coast Bioregion and Sydney Basin Bioregion Swamp Box swamp forest of the coastal lowlands of the NSW North Coast Coastal Swamp Forests Bioregion Swamp Mahogany swamp forest on coastal lowlands of the NSW North Coast Bioregion and northern Sydney Basin Bioregion Grassy Woodlands Cabbage Gum open forest or woodland on flats of the North Coast Coastal Valley Grassy Woodlands Narrow-leaved Red Gum woodlands of the lowlands of the North Coast Manna Gum - Rough-barked Apple - Yellow Box grassy woodland/open forest of the New England Tableland Bioregion and NSW North Coast Bioregion Tableland Clay Grassy Woodlands Ribbon Gum - Rough-barked Apple - Yellow Box grassy woodland/open forest of the New England Tableland Bioregion and NSW North Coast Bioregion
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Formation Class Plant Community Type Snow Gum woodland of the New England Tableland Bioregion and NSW North Coast Bioregion Wet Sclerophyll Forests (grassy Northern Hinterland Wet Sclerophyll Tallowwood dry grassy forest of the far northern ranges of the NSW North sub-formation) Forests Coast Bioregion Dorrigo White Gum open forest of the escarpment ranges of the NSW North Northern Tableland Wet Sclerophyll Coast Bioregion and New England Tableland Bioregion Forests Silvertop Stringybark - Tallowwood open forest of the escarpment ranges of the New England Tableland Bioregion and NSW North Coast Bioregion Wet Sclerophyll Forests (shrubby Blackbutt - Tallowwood tall moist forest of the far north east of the NSW sub-formation) North Coast Bioregion Blackbutt tall moist forest of the coastal ranges of the central and southern NSW North Coast Bioregion Brush Box - Tallowwood shrubby moist forest of the escarpment ranges of central NSW North Coast Bioregion Dunn's White Gum tall open forest of the ranges of the northern NSW North Coast Bioregion Pink Bloodwood - Tallowwood moist open forest of the far northern ranges of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Spotted Gum - Brush Box moist forest of ranges of the southern Clarence Valley of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Spotted Gum - Grey Ironbark shrubby open forest of the Richmond Range of the NSW North Coast North Coast Wet Sclerophyll Forests Steel Box shrubby open forest of the ranges of the northern NSW North Coast Tallowwood - Brush Box - Sydney Blue Gum moist shrubby forest of the southern NSW North Coast Bioregion Tallowwood - Brush Box moist open forest of the coastal ranges of the central NSW North Coast Tallowwood - Narrow-leaved White Mahogany - Spotted Gum moist open forest in the Washpool area of the NSW North Coast Tallowwood - Narrow-leaved White Mahogany open forest of the hinterland ranges of the North Coast Tallowwood - Sydney Blue Gum moist open forest of the northern ranges of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Tallowwood - Turpentine moist open forest of the ranges of the Nymboida area of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Turpentine moist open forest of the coastal hills and ranges of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Brown Barrel - gum moist open forest of the escarpment ranges of NSW North Coast Bioregion and New England Tableland Bioregion Brush Box - Tallowwood shrubby open forest of the northern ranges of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Brush Box - Tallowwood tall moist forest in the Washpool area of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Messmate open forest of the tableland edge of the NSW North Coast Bioregion and New England Tableland Bioregion New England Blackbutt - Tallowwood moist shrubby forest of the escarpment Northern Escarpment Wet Sclerophyll ranges of the NSW North Coast Bioregion and New England Tableland Forests Bioregion New England Blackbutt tall moist forest of the escarpment ranges of the northern NSW North Coast Bioregion Silvertop Stringybark - Round-leaved Gum open forest of the tableland edge of the New England Tableland Bioregion and NSW North Coast Bioregion Sydney Blue Gum - Tallowwood - Soft Corkwood moist forest of the escarpment ranges of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Sydney Blue Gum open forest of the northern ranges of the NSW North Coast Bioregion
Keystone Ecological 53 Ref: CVC 14-695 – May 2018 DRAFT Ecological Response Hickey Street, Iluka, NSW
Figure 13: Phascolarctos cinereus Koala potential habitat (blue) across the region as defined by DEE and on site. Source vegetation map: CoastVeg_NE_NSW_E_3885 (OEH 2011).
Keystone Ecological 54 Ref: CVC 14-695 – May 2018 DRAFT Ecological Response Hickey Street, Iluka, NSW
4.3.3 Dasyurus maculatus maculatus Spot-tailed Quoll (SE mainland population)
This species was not recorded on the subject site during survey. It has previously been recorded within a range of vegetation types from rainforest, open forest, woodland, coastal heathland and inland riparian forest (Edgar and Belcher 1995).
The subject site is likely to be used as a movement corridor for this species with very little suitable habitat occurring on site.
The relevant profile (Profile ID 10207) of the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage Threatened Species Profile Database indicates that this species is known from 93 Plant Community Types, as per Table 8 overleaf.
After consideration of the habitats available on site, the vegetation types from which it has been found in the local area and across the region and North Coast Bioregion, the area of available habitat within the region just in reserved land has been estimated as approximately 1,467 hectares, as shown in Figure 14. In addition, of the vegetation outside of reserves in the region, approximately 275 hectares of sclerophyll forest provides potential habitat for this species.
The subject site is considered to contain habitat that is likely to be unsuitable for this species except for occasional foraging and as part of a potential movement corridor. Such potential habitat occurs across 19.41 hectares on the subject site. This represents approximately 1.1% of the estimated potential habitat in the region.
Keystone Ecological 55 Ref: CVC 14-695 – May 2018 DRAFT Ecological Response Hickey Street, Iluka, NSW
Table 8: Vegetation formations, classes and types associated with Dasyurus maculatus maculatus Spot-tailed Quoll on the NSW North Coast.
Formation Class Plant Community Type Dry Sclerophyll Forests Eucalyptus ophitica - White Mahogany open forest on serpentinite near Baryulgil of the NSW (shrub/grass sub-formation) North Coast Bioregion Grey Box - Grey Ironbark grassy open forest of the Clarence Valley lowlands of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Grey Box - Small-fruited Grey Gum shrubby forest of the far north of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Grey Gum - Grey Ironbark open forest of the Clarence lowlands of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Grey Gum - Spotted Gum open forest of the southern Clarence lowlands of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Orange Gum (Eucalyptus bancroftii) open forest of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Clarence Dry Sclerophyll Red Ironbark open forest of the coastal lowlands of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Forests Spotted Gum - Blackbutt open forest of the lower Clarence Valley of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Spotted Gum - Grey Box - Grey Ironbark dry open forest of the Clarence Valley lowlands of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Spotted Gum - Grey Box grassy open forest of the Richmond Range of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Spotted Gum - Grey Ironbark - Pink Bloodwood open forest of the Clarence Valley lowlands of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Spotted Gum dry grassy open forest of the foothills of the northern NSW North Coast Yellow Box - Grey Box grassy open forest in the Glenugie area of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Blue-leaved Stringybark - Blackbutt open forest of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Large-fruited Blackbutt shrubby open forest of the Broken Bago Range of the NSW North Hunter-Macleay Dry Coast Bioregion Sclerophyll Forests Spotted Gum - Grey Ironbark open forest of the Macleay Valley lowlands of the NSW North Coast Bioregion New England Dry Sclerophyll Broad-leaved Stringybark - Mountain Ribbon Gum - Messmate open forest of the NSW North Forests Coast Bioregion and New England Tableland Bioregion Broad-leaved Apple - Scribbly Gum woodland in the Guy Fawkes River area of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Broad-leaved Stringybark - Blakely's Red Gum grassy woodlands of the northern gorges of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Forest Red Gum grassy open forest of the coastal ranges of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Forest Redgum - Broad-leaved Apple dry open forest of the gorges of NSW North Coast Bioregion Forest Redgum - Pink Bloodwood open forest of the foothills and ranges of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Northern Gorge Dry Grey Box - Pink Bloodwood open forest of the gorges of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Sclerophyll Forests Grey Gum - Broad-leaved Apple dry open forest of the gorges of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Grey gum - stringybark open forest of the gorges of the NSW North Coast Bioregion and New England Tableland Bioregion Grey Ironbark - Grey Gum open forest of the northern escarpment ranges of the NSW North Coast Bioregion New England Blackbutt - stringybark grassy forest the eastern New England Tableland Bioregion and NSW North Coast Bioregion Spotted Gum - Tallowwood dry open forest of the escarpment and foothills of the New England Tableland Bioregion and NSW North Coast Bioregion Dry Sclerophyll Forests Blackbutt - Needlebark Stringybark shrubby open forest on coastal sands of the NSW North (shrubby sub-formation) Coast Bioregion Coast Cypress Pine shrubby open forest of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Coastal Dune Dry Sclerophyll Red Bloodwood - Smooth-barked Apple heathy woodland on coastal sands of the Central and Forests lower North Coast Scribbly Gum - Needlebark Stringybark heathy open forest of coastal lowlands of the northern NSW North Coast Bioregion Smooth-barked Apple heathy open forest on sands of the NSW North Coast Angophora paludosa shrubby forest and woodland on sandstone or sands of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Angophora robur shrubby forest and woodland on sandstones of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Bailey's Stringybark - Needlebark Stringybark heathy woodland on sandstones of the lower Clarence Valley of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Blackbutt - bloodwood dry heathy open forest on Quaternary sands of the northern NSW North Coast Bioregion Blackbutt - bloodwood dry heathy open forest on sandstones of the northern NSW North Coast Bioregion Blackbutt - Spotted Gum shrubby open forest on sandstones of the lower Clarence Valley of Northern Coast Dry the NSW North Coast Bioregion Sclerophyll Forests Blackbutt - Turpentine dry heathy open forest on sandstones of the lower Clarence of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Needlebark Stringybark - Large-fruited Blackbutt heathy open forest on sandstones of the northern NSW North Coast Bioregion Needlebark Stringybark - Red Bloodwood heathy woodland on sandstones of the lower Clarence of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Needlebark Stringybark - Turpentine heathy open forest of the Clarence lowlands of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Pink Bloodwood - Red Mahogany - Smudgy Apple shrubby open forest on sandstone of northern NSW North Coast Bioregion Scribbly Gum - Red Bloodwood heathy open forest of the coastal lowlands of the NSW North Coast Bioregion
Keystone Ecological 56 Ref: CVC 14-695 – May 2018 DRAFT Ecological Response Hickey Street, Iluka, NSW
Formation Class Plant Community Type Blue Mountain Ash - New England Blackbutt tall open forest of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Northern Escarpment Dry Eurabbie tall open forest of the escarpment ranges of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Sclerophyll Forests New England Blackbutt - Diehard Stringybark dry open forest of the escarpment ranges of the eastern New England Tableland Bioregion and NSW North Coast Bioregion Forested Wetlands Coastal Floodplain Wetlands Swamp Oak swamp forest of the coastal lowlands of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Swamp Box swamp forest of the coastal lowlands of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Coastal Swamp Forests Swamp Mahogany swamp forest on coastal lowlands of the NSW North Coast Bioregion and northern Sydney Basin Bioregion Grassy Woodlands Cabbage Gum - Broad-leaved Apple open forest of the eastern escarpment, NSW North Coast Bioregion and South Eastern Queensland Bioregion Coastal Valley Grassy Cabbage Gum open forest or woodland on flats of the North Coast Woodlands Forest Red Gum - Swamp Box of the Clarence Valley lowlands of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Manna Gum - Rough-barked Apple - Yellow Box grassy woodland/open forest of the New England Tableland Bioregion and NSW North Coast Bioregion Tableland Clay Grassy Ribbon Gum - Rough-barked Apple - Yellow Box grassy woodland/open forest of the New Woodlands England Tableland Bioregion and NSW North Coast Bioregion Snow Gum woodland of the New England Tableland Bioregion and NSW North Coast Bioregion Rainforests Black Bean - Weeping Lilly Pilly riparian rainforest of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Hoop Pine - Yellow Tulipwood dry rainforest of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Dry Rainforests Sandpaper Fig - Whalebone Tree warm temperate rainforest Shatterwood - Giant Stinging Tree - Yellow Tulipwood dry rainforest of the NSW North Coast Bioregion and northern Sydney Basin Bioregion Littoral Rainforests Tuckeroo - Riberry - Yellow Tulipwood littoral rainforest of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Soft Corkwood - Yellow Carabeen - Cryptocarya spp. subtropical rainforest of the NSW North Subtropical Rainforests Coast Bioregion White Booyong - Fig subtropical rainforest of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Western Vine Thickets Native Olive - Gorge Alectryon vine thicket of the gorges of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Wet Sclerophyll Forests (grassy Blackbutt - Tallowwood dry grassy open forest of the central parts NSW North Coast sub-formation) Bioregion Northern Hinterland Wet Blackbutt grassy open forest of the lower Clarence Valley of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Sclerophyll Forests Brush Box tall moist forest of the northern ranges of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Tallowwood dry grassy forest of the far northern ranges of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Dorrigo White Gum open forest of the escarpment ranges of the NSW North Coast Bioregion and New England Tableland Bioregion Mountain Ribbon Gum - Messmate open forest of escarpment ranges of the NSW North Coast Northern Tableland Wet Bioregion and New England Tableland Bioregion Sclerophyll Forests Silvertop Stringybark - Tallowwood open forest of the escarpment ranges of the New England Tableland Bioregion and NSW North Coast Bioregion Snow Gum - Mountain Gum - Mountain Ribbon Gum open forest on ranges of the NSW North Coast Bioregion and eastern New England Tableland Bioregion Wet Sclerophyll Forests Blackbutt - Tallowwood tall moist forest of the far north east of the NSW North Coast (shrubby sub-formation) Bioregion Blackbutt tall moist forest of the coastal ranges of the central and southern NSW North Coast Bioregion Brush Box - Tallowwood shrubby moist forest of the escarpment ranges of central NSW North Coast Bioregion Dunn's White Gum tall open forest of the ranges of the northern NSW North Coast Bioregion Pink Bloodwood - Tallowwood moist open forest of the far northern ranges of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Spotted Gum - Brush Box moist forest of ranges of the southern Clarence Valley of the NSW North Coast Wet Sclerophyll North Coast Bioregion Forests Spotted Gum - Grey Ironbark shrubby open forest of the Richmond Range of the NSW North Coast Steel Box shrubby open forest of the ranges of the northern NSW North Coast Tallowwood - Brush Box - Sydney Blue Gum moist shrubby forest of the southern NSW North Coast Bioregion Tallowwood - Sydney Blue Gum moist open forest of the northern ranges of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Tallowwood - Turpentine moist open forest of the ranges of the Nymboida area of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Turpentine moist open forest of the coastal hills and ranges of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Brown Barrel - gum moist open forest of the escarpment ranges of NSW North Coast Bioregion and New England Tableland Bioregion Brush Box - Tallowwood shrubby open forest of the northern ranges of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Brush Box - Tallowwood tall moist forest in the Washpool area of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Messmate open forest of the tableland edge of the NSW North Coast Bioregion and New Northern Escarpment Wet England Tableland Bioregion Sclerophyll Forests New England Blackbutt - Tallowwood moist shrubby forest of the escarpment ranges of the NSW North Coast Bioregion and New England Tableland Bioregion New England Blackbutt tall moist forest of the escarpment ranges of the northern NSW North Coast Bioregion Sydney Blue Gum - Tallowwood - Soft Corkwood moist forest of the escarpment ranges of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Sydney Blue Gum open forest of the northern ranges of the NSW North Coast Bioregion
Keystone Ecological 57 Ref: CVC 14-695 – May 2018 DRAFT Ecological Response Hickey Street, Iluka, NSW
Figure 14: Dasyurus maculatus maculatus Spot-tailed Quoll potential habitat (blue) across the region as defined by DEE and on site. Source vegetation map: CoastVeg_NE_NSW_E_3885 (OEH 2011).
Keystone Ecological 58 Ref: CVC 14-695 – May 2018 DRAFT Ecological Response Hickey Street, Iluka, NSW
4.3.4 Pteropus poliocephalus Grey-headed Flying-fox
This species was not recorded on the subject site during survey. It has previously been recorded within a range of vegetation types within the NSW North Coast Bioregion with roosting camps typically found within gullies that are close to water and foraging habitats (OEH 2018).
A total of 15 camps have previously been recorded within 20 kilometres of the subject site (see Figure 15). Data relevant to these camps have been collected as part of the National Monitoring of Flying-fox Populations.1 For this program, the numbers of each of the species of Flying-fox (Grey-headed, Spectacled, Black, Little Red) are estimated in 4 population categories at known camps four times a year (February, May, August, November), starting from November 2012.
Of these 15 camps:
The camp at Maclean (camp 56) is the only nationally recognised camp, with between 16,000 to >50,000 individuals of Pteropus poliocephalus Grey-headed Flying-fox recorded at every survey. This is a permanent camp, known to be occupied from at least the 1830s, when white settlers occupied the region; Three camps have been occupied between November 2012 and August 2017: o Yamba Shores (camp 519) in the Clarence Estuary Nature Reserve near The Mainbrace at Yamba, 3.4 kilometres to the south west of the subject site. This was the camp most used outside of the Maclean camp. Except for August 2013, bats were observed in all surveys from November 2012 to February 2015. Numbers mostly ranged from a few hundred to 2,4999 individuals, with a peak of category 3 between 2,500 and 9,999. o Bolorobo Island, Iluka (camp 15) in North Arm of the lower Clarence River, 1.5 kilometres to the north west of the subject site. This camp was occupied on one occasion, with a few hundred animals (1-499) observed in November 2013. o Iluka (camp 243) in North Arm of the lower Clarence River, only 580 metres to the south west of the subject site, in Mangroves at the end of Cave Street. This camp was recorded irregularly on 6 occasions: from May to August 2013, in May and August 2014, and again in May 2016. The remaining 11 camps have been unoccupied during every survey since November 2012.
1 Data available at National Flying-fox monitoring viewer http://www.environment.gov.au/webgis- framework/apps/ffc-wide/ffc-wide.jsf
Keystone Ecological 59 Ref: CVC 14-695 – May 2018 DRAFT Ecological Response Hickey Street, Iluka, NSW
The camps outside of Maclean were only occupied when there were dispersal activities at that important camp. After dispersal activities stopped, partially due to protest by residents near the new camps, the animals returned to Maclean. However, the seasonal use of the Iluka camp nearest the subject site indicates that there is likely to be a food source available in autumn and winter in the coastal lowlands.
This phenomenon of seasonal migration to exploit winter-flowering plants is well- documented for this species (e.g. Eby 20162). Tree species relied upon include Banksia integrifolia Coast Banksia, Melaleuca quinquenervia Broad-leaved Paperbark, Eucalyptus tereticornis Forest Red Gum, and Eucalyptus robusta Swamp Mahogany.
The relevant profile (Profile ID 10697) of the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage Threatened Species Profile Database indicates that this species is known from 93 Plant Community Types, as per Table 9 overleaf.
After consideration of the habitats available on site, the vegetation types from which it has been found in the local area and across the region and North Coast Bioregion, the area of available habitat within the region just in reserved land has been estimated as approximately 2,002 hectares, as shown in Figure 16. This comprises 1,927 hectares of potential foraging habitat and 75 hectares of potential roosting habitat in mangroves. In addition, of the vegetation outside of reserves in the region, approximately 275 hectares of sclerophyll forest provides potential foraging habitat for this species.
The subject site supports a number of the species relied upon for autumn-winter forage in this region, namely Banksia integrifolia Coast Banksia, Melaleuca quinquenervia Broad- leaved Paperbark, and Eucalyptus tereticornis Forest Red Gum. Eucalyptus robusta Swamp Mahogany, another important winter-flowering species, occurs to the north west in swamp sclerophyll habitats and as remnant trees on the golf course.
Suitable resources on site are within 190 Coast Banksia woodland and open forest of coastal dunes (Banksia integrifolia Coast Banksia is relatively common and Melaleuca quinquenervia Broad-leaved Paperbark is a major component), and 193 Pink Bloodwood – Brush Box Open Forest (sub-types 193b and 193c in which Banksia integrifolia Coast Banksia is relatively common, and 193e that contain rainforest trees and vines). These vegetation types total 5.50 hectares on site.
The potential foraging habitat on site for this species represents approximately 0.2% of the estimated potential habitat in the region.
2 Eby, P. (2016) Planting to conserve threatened nomadic pollinators in NSW. Saving Our Species. NSW Office of Environment and Heritage, Sydney
Keystone Ecological 60 Ref: CVC 14-695 – May 2018 DRAFT Ecological Response Hickey Street, Iluka, NSW
Table 9: Vegetation formations, classes and types associated with Pteropus poliocephalus Grey-headed Flying-fox on the NSW North Coast.
Formation Class Plant Community Type Eucalyptus ophitica - White Mahogany open forest on serpentinite near Baryulgil of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Grey Box - Grey Ironbark grassy open forest of the Clarence Valley lowlands of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Grey Box - Small-fruited Grey Gum shrubby forest of the far north of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Grey Gum - Grey Ironbark open forest of the Clarence lowlands of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Grey Gum - Spotted Gum open forest of the southern Clarence lowlands of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Orange Gum (Eucalyptus bancroftii) open forest of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Red Ironbark open forest of the coastal lowlands of the NSW North Coast Clarence Dry Sclerophyll Forests Bioregion Spotted Gum - Blackbutt open forest of the lower Clarence Valley of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Spotted Gum - Grey Box - Grey Ironbark dry open forest of the Clarence Valley lowlands of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Spotted Gum - Grey Box grassy open forest of the Richmond Range of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Spotted Gum - Grey Ironbark - Pink Bloodwood open forest of the Clarence Valley lowlands of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Spotted Gum dry grassy open forest of the foothills of the northern NSW North Coast Yellow Box - Grey Box grassy open forest in the Glenugie area of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Blue-leaved Stringybark - Blackbutt open forest of the NSW North Coast Dry Sclerophyll Forests Bioregion (shrub/grass sub-formation) Large-fruited Blackbutt shrubby open forest of the Broken Bago Range of the Hunter-Macleay Dry Sclerophyll Forests NSW North Coast Bioregion Spotted Gum - Grey Ironbark open forest of the Macleay Valley lowlands of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Broad-leaved Stringybark - Mountain Ribbon Gum - Messmate open forest of the New England Dry Sclerophyll Forests NSW North Coast Bioregion and New England Tableland Bioregion Broad-leaved Apple - Scribbly Gum woodland in the Guy Fawkes River area of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Broad-leaved Stringybark - Blakely's Red Gum grassy woodlands of the northern gorges of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Forest Red Gum grassy open forest of the coastal ranges of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Forest Redgum - Broad-leaved Apple dry open forest of the gorges of NSW North Coast Bioregion Forest Redgum - Pink Bloodwood open forest of the foothills and ranges of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Grey Box - Pink Bloodwood open forest of the gorges of the NSW North Coast Northern Gorge Dry Sclerophyll Forests Bioregion Grey Gum - Broad-leaved Apple dry open forest of the gorges of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Grey gum - stringybark open forest of the gorges of the NSW North Coast Bioregion and New England Tableland Bioregion Grey Ironbark - Grey Gum open forest of the northern escarpment ranges of the NSW North Coast Bioregion New England Blackbutt - stringybark grassy forest the eastern New England Tableland Bioregion and NSW North Coast Bioregion Spotted Gum - Tallowwood dry open forest of the escarpment and foothills of the New England Tableland Bioregion and NSW North Coast Bioregion Blackbutt - Needlebark Stringybark shrubby open forest on coastal sands of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Coast Cypress Pine shrubby open forest of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Red Bloodwood - Smooth-barked Apple heathy woodland on coastal sands of the Coastal Dune Dry Sclerophyll Forests Central and lower North Coast Scribbly Gum - Needlebark Stringybark heathy open forest of coastal lowlands of the northern NSW North Coast Bioregion Smooth-barked Apple heathy open forest on sands of the NSW North Coast Angophora paludosa shrubby forest and woodland on sandstone or sands of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Angophora robur shrubby forest and woodland on sandstones of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Dry Sclerophyll Forests (shrubby Bailey's Stringybark - Needlebark Stringybark heathy woodland on sandstones sub-formation) of the lower Clarence Valley of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Blackbutt - bloodwood dry heathy open forest on Quaternary sands of the northern NSW North Coast Bioregion Blackbutt - bloodwood dry heathy open forest on sandstones of the northern North Coast Dry Sclerophyll Forests NSW North Coast Bioregion Blackbutt - Spotted Gum shrubby open forest on sandstones of the lower Clarence Valley of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Blackbutt - Turpentine dry heathy open forest on sandstones of the lower Clarence of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Needlebark Stringybark - Large-fruited Blackbutt heathy open forest on sandstones of the northern NSW North Coast Bioregion Needlebark Stringybark - Red Bloodwood heathy woodland on sandstones of the lower Clarence of the NSW North Coast Bioregion
Keystone Ecological 61 Ref: CVC 14-695 – May 2018 DRAFT Ecological Response Hickey Street, Iluka, NSW
Formation Class Plant Community Type Needlebark Stringybark - Turpentine heathy open forest of the Clarence lowlands of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Pink Bloodwood - Red Mahogany - Smudgy Apple shrubby open forest on sandstone of northern NSW North Coast Bioregion Scribbly Gum - Red Bloodwood heathy open forest of the coastal lowlands of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Blue Mountain Ash - New England Blackbutt tall open forest of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Eurabbie tall open forest of the escarpment ranges of the NSW North Coast Northern Escarpment Dry Sclerophyll Bioregion Forests New England Blackbutt - Diehard Stringybark dry open forest of the escarpment ranges of the eastern New England Tableland Bioregion and NSW North Coast Bioregion Swamp Oak swamp forest of the coastal lowlands of the NSW North Coast Coastal Floodplain Wetlands Bioregion Paperbark swamp forest of the coastal lowlands of the NSW North Coast Bioregion and Sydney Basin Bioregion Forested Wetlands Swamp Box swamp forest of the coastal lowlands of the NSW North Coast Coastal Swamp Forests Bioregion Swamp Mahogany swamp forest on coastal lowlands of the NSW North Coast Bioregion and northern Sydney Basin Bioregion Wet heathland and shrubland of coastal lowlands of the NSW North Coast Freshwater Wetlands Coastal Heath Swamps Bioregion Cabbage Gum - Broad-leaved Apple open forest of the eastern escarpment, NSW North Coast Bioregion and South Eastern Queensland Bioregion Coastal valley Grassy Woodlands Forest Red Gum - Swamp Box of the Clarence Valley lowlands of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Manna Gum - Rough-barked Apple - Yellow Box grassy woodland/open forest of Grassy Woodlands the New England Tableland Bioregion and NSW North Coast Bioregion Ribbon Gum - Rough-barked Apple - Yellow Box grassy woodland/open forest of Tableland Clay Grassy Wpoodlands the New England Tableland Bioregion and NSW North Coast Bioregion Snow Gum woodland of the New England Tableland Bioregion and NSW North Coast Bioregion Coastal headland heaths of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Coastal Headland Heaths Coastal mallee of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Heathlands Coastal heath on sands of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Northern Montane Heaths Kunzea - Leptospermum novae-angliae heath on granite outcrops of the New England Tableland Bioregion and NSW North Coast Bioregion Black Bean - Weeping Lilly Pilly riparian rainforest of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Hoop Pine - Yellow Tulipwood dry rainforest of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Dry Rainforests Sandpaper Fig - Whalebone Tree warm temperate rainforest Shatterwood - Giant Stinging Tree - Yellow Tulipwood dry rainforest of the NSW North Coast Bioregion and northern Sydney Basin Bioregion Tuckeroo - Riberry - Yellow Tulipwood littoral rainforest of the NSW North Littoral Rainforests Coast Bioregion Rainforests Coachwood - Soft Corkwood - Crabapple warm temperate rainforest of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Northern Warm Temperate Rainforests Sassafras - Crabapple - Soft Corkwood warm temperate rainforest of the North Coast Soft Corkwood - Yellow Carabeen - Cryptocarya spp. subtropical rainforest of the Subtropical Rainforests NSW North Coast Bioregion White Booyong - Fig subtropical rainforest of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Native Olive - Gorge Alectryon vine thicket of the gorges of the NSW North Coast Western Vine Thickets Bioregion Mangrove - Black Mangrove low closed forest of the northern NSW North Coast Bioregion Saline Wetlands Mangrove Swamps Mangrove - Milky Mangrove low closed forest of the North Coast Mangrove - Spider Mangrove low closed forest of the northern North Coast Blackbutt - Tallowwood dry grassy open forest of the central parts NSW North Coast Bioregion Blackbutt grassy open forest of the lower Clarence Valley of the NSW North Northern Hinterland Wet Sclerophyll Coast Bioregion Forests Brush Box tall moist forest of the northern ranges of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Tallowwood dry grassy forest of the far northern ranges of the NSW North Coast Wet Sclerophyll Forests (grassy Bioregion sub-formation) Dorrigo White Gum open forest of the escarpment ranges of the NSW North Coast Bioregion and New England Tableland Bioregion Mountain Ribbon Gum - Messmate open forest of escarpment ranges of the NSW Northern Tableland Wet Sclerophyll North Coast Bioregion and New England Tableland Bioregion Forests Silvertop Stringybark - Tallowwood open forest of the escarpment ranges of the New England Tableland Bioregion and NSW North Coast Bioregion Snow Gum - Mountain Gum - Mountain Ribbon Gum open forest on ranges of the NSW North Coast Bioregion and eastern New England Tableland Bioregion Blackbutt - Tallowwood tall moist forest of the far north east of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Blackbutt tall moist forest of the coastal ranges of the central and southern NSW North Coast Bioregion Wet Sclerophyll Forests (shrubby Brush Box - Tallowwood shrubby moist forest of the escarpment ranges of North Coast Wet Sclerophyll Forests sub-formation) central NSW North Coast Bioregion Dunn's White Gum tall open forest of the ranges of the northern NSW North Coast Bioregion Pink Bloodwood - Tallowwood moist open forest of the far northern ranges of the NSW North Coast Bioregion
Keystone Ecological 62 Ref: CVC 14-695 – May 2018 DRAFT Ecological Response Hickey Street, Iluka, NSW
Formation Class Plant Community Type Spotted Gum - Brush Box moist forest of ranges of the southern Clarence Valley of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Tallowwood - Brush Box - Sydney Blue Gum moist shrubby forest of the southern NSW North Coast Bioregion Tallowwood - Sydney Blue Gum moist open forest of the northern ranges of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Tallowwood - Turpentine moist open forest of the ranges of the Nymboida area of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Turpentine moist open forest of the coastal hills and ranges of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Brown Barrel - gum moist open forest of the escarpment ranges of NSW North Coast Bioregion and New England Tableland Bioregion Brush Box - Tallowwood shrubby open forest of the northern ranges of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Brush Box - Tallowwood tall moist forest in the Washpool area of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Messmate open forest of the tableland edge of the NSW North Coast Bioregion and New England Tableland Bioregion Northern Escarpment Wet Sclerophyll New England Blackbutt - Tallowwood moist shrubby forest of the escarpment Forests ranges of the NSW North Coast Bioregion and New England Tableland Bioregion New England Blackbutt tall moist forest of the escarpment ranges of the northern NSW North Coast Bioregion Silvertop Stringybark - Round-leaved Gum open forest of the tableland edge of the New England Tableland Bioregion and NSW North Coast Bioregion Sydney Blue Gum - Tallowwood - Soft Corkwood moist forest of the escarpment ranges of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Sydney Blue Gum open forest of the northern ranges of the NSW North Coast Bioregion
Keystone Ecological 63 Ref: CVC 14-695 – May 2018 DRAFT Ecological Response Hickey Street, Iluka, NSW
Figure 15: Flying-fox camps known to occur within 20km radius of the subject site and their occupation status regarding Pteropus poliocephalus Grey-headed Flying-fox.
Keystone Ecological 64 Ref: CVC 14-695 – May 2018 DRAFT Ecological Response Hickey Street, Iluka, NSW
Figure 16: Pteropus poliocephalus Grey-headed Flying-fox potential habitat (blue) across the region as defined by DEE and on site. Source vegetation map: CoastVeg_NE_NSW_E_3885 (OEH 2011).
Keystone Ecological 65 Ref: CVC 14-695 – May 2018 DRAFT Ecological Response Hickey Street, Iluka, NSW
4.3.5 Monarcha leucotis White-eared Monarch
The relevant profile (Profile ID 10540) of the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage Threatened Species Profile Database indicates that this species is known from 24 Plant Community Types, as per Table 10 overleaf.
After consideration of the habitats available on site, the vegetation types from which it has been found in the local area and across the region and North Coast Bioregion, the area of available habitat within the region just in reserved land has been estimated as approximately 905 hectares, as shown in Figure 17. In addition, of the vegetation outside of reserves in the region, approximately 275 hectares of sclerophyll forest provides potential habitat for this species.
The subject site also contains potential habitat for this species, across approximately 0.41 hectares of type 190 Coast Banksia woodland and open forest of coastal dunes and approximately 15.50 hectares of type 193 Pink Bloodwood – Brush Box Open Forest (sub- forms 193a, 193b, 193c and 193e). The potential habitat on site represents approximately 1.3% of the estimated potential habitat in the region.
Keystone Ecological 66 Ref: CVC 14-695 – May 2018 DRAFT Ecological Response Hickey Street, Iluka, NSW
Table 10: Vegetation formations, classes and types associated with Monarcha leucotis White- eared Monarch on the NSW North Coast.
Formation Class Plant Community Type Forested Wetlands Coastal Floodplain Swamp Oak swamp forest of the coastal lowlands of Wetlands the NSW North Coast Bioregion Paperbark swamp forest of the coastal lowlands of the NSW North Coast Bioregion and Sydney Basin Bioregion Coastal Swamp Swamp Box swamp forest of the coastal lowlands of Forests the NSW North Coast Bioregion Swamp Mahogany swamp forest on coastal lowlands of the NSW North Coast Bioregion and northern Sydney Basin Bioregion Rainforests Black Bean - Weeping Lilly Pilly riparian rainforest of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Hoop Pine - Yellow Tulipwood dry rainforest of the Dry Rainforests NSW North Coast Bioregion Shatterwood - Giant Stinging Tree - Yellow Tulipwood dry rainforest of the NSW North Coast Bioregion and northern Sydney Basin Bioregion Tuckeroo - Riberry - Yellow Tulipwood littoral Littoral Rainforests rainforest of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Coachwood - Soft Corkwood - Crabapple warm Northern Warm temperate rainforest of the NSW North Coast Temperate Bioregion Rainforests Sassafras - Crabapple - Soft Corkwood warm temperate rainforest of the North Coast Soft Corkwood - Yellow Carabeen - Cryptocarya spp. subtropical rainforest of the NSW North Coast Subtropical Rainforests Bioregion White Booyong - Fig subtropical rainforest of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Wet Sclerophyll Northern Hinterland Brush Box tall moist forest of the northern ranges of Forests (grassy Wet Sclerophyll sub-formation) Forests the NSW North Coast Bioregion Wet Sclerophyll Blackbutt - Tallowwood tall moist forest of the far Forest (shrubby north east of the NSW North Coast Bioregion sub-formation) Blackbutt tall moist forest of the coastal ranges of the central and southern NSW North Coast North Coast Wet Bioregion Sclerophyll Forests Brush Box - Tallowwood shrubby moist forest of the escarpment ranges of central NSW North Coast Bioregion Dunn's White Gum tall open forest of the ranges of the northern NSW North Coast Bioregion
Keystone Ecological 67 Ref: CVC 14-695 – May 2018 DRAFT Ecological Response Hickey Street, Iluka, NSW
Formation Class Plant Community Type Pink Bloodwood - Tallowwood moist open forest of the far northern ranges of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Spotted Gum - Brush Box moist forest of ranges of the southern Clarence Valley of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Spotted Gum - Grey Ironbark shrubby open forest of the Richmond Range of the NSW North Coast Steel Box shrubby open forest of the ranges of the northern NSW North Coast Tallowwood - Brush Box moist open forest of the coastal ranges of the central NSW North Coast Tallowwood - Sydney Blue Gum moist open forest of the northern ranges of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Turpentine moist open forest of the coastal hills and ranges of the NSW North Coast Bioregion
Keystone Ecological 68 Ref: CVC 14-695 – May 2018 DRAFT Ecological Response Hickey Street, Iluka, NSW
Figure 17: White-eared Monarch potential habitat (blue) across the region as defined by DEE and on site. Source vegetation map: CoastVeg_NE_NSW_E_3885 (OEH 2011).
Keystone Ecological 69 Ref: CVC 14-695 – May 2018 DRAFT Ecological Response Hickey Street, Iluka, NSW
4.3.6 Leucosarcia melanoleuca Wonga Pigeon
This is not a threatened species and therefore has no ecological profile in the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage Threatened Species Profile Database to provide guidance regarding habitat preferences. Thus, the potential habitats for this species within the region have been identified based on the scientific literature, particularly Date et al. (1996)3 and Pizzey and Knight (2012).4
These data sources indicate that this species is known from rainforests, wet eucalypt forests, timbered gullies, drier woodlands, plantations, and quiet gardens near bushland. These broad categories have been applied to the vegetation mapping of Bundjalung National Park and Iluka Nature Reserve and 21 Vegetation Communities (sensu E_3885), identified as potential habitat, as per Table 11 overleaf.
After consideration of the habitats available on site, the vegetation types from which it has been found in the local area and across the region, and North Coast Bioregion, the area of available habitat within the region just in reserved land has been estimated as approximately 1,225 hectares, as shown in Figure 18. In addition, of the vegetation outside of reserves in the region, approximately 275 hectares of sclerophyll forest provides potential habitat for this species.
The subject site also contains potential habitat for this species, across the entire area of 19.41 hectares. The potential habitat on site represents approximately 1.3% of the estimated potential habitat in the region.
3 Date, E.M., Recher, H.F., Ford, H.A. and Stewart, D.A. (1996) The conservation and ecology of rainforest pigeons in northeastern New South Wales. Pacific Conservation Biology 2:299-308 4 Pizzey, G. and Knight, F. (2012) The Field Guide to the Birds of Australia. Ninth edition. HarperCollins Publishers:Sydney
Keystone Ecological 70 Ref: CVC 14-695 – May 2018 DRAFT Ecological Response Hickey Street, Iluka, NSW
Table11: Vegetation formations, sub formations and communities associated with Wonga Pigeon in the Bundjalung NP and Iluka NR (E_3885).
Formation Sub Formation Community Acacia aulacocarpa var. aulacocarpa Angophora woodsiana Banksia integrifolia ssp. integrifolia Banksia integrifolia ssp. integrifolia/Acacia aulacocarpa var. aulacocarpa Casuarina equisetifolia ssp. incana Corymbia gummifera Corymbia intermedia Corymbia intermedia/Acacia aulacocarpa var. aulacocarpa Corymbia intermedia-Eucalyptus tereticornis Dry Sclerophyll Forest Corymbia intermedia-Eucalyptus tereticornis/Acacia and Woodland aulacocarpa var. aulacocarpa Corymbia variegata-Eucalyptus siderophloia Eucalyptus eugenioides-Eucalyptus siderophloia- Corymbia intermedia Eucalyptus pilularis Eucalyptus pilularis-Angophora costata/Corymbia gummifera/Eucalyptus planchoniana Eucalyptus pilularis-Corymbia intermedia Eucalyptus planchoniana Eucalyptus signata Lophostemon suaveolens-Corymbia intermedia- Eucalyptus tereticornis Corymbia intermedia Forest and Corymbia intermedia-Eucalyptus siderophloia- Woodland Eucalyptus tereticornis Eucalyptus grandis/Melaleuca quinquenervia Eucalyptus grandis/Corymbia intermedia Wet Sclerophyll Eucalyptus grandis/Lophostemon confertus- Forest Corymbia intermedia Lophostemon confertus Lophostemon confertus-Corymbia intermedia Lophostemon confertus-Corymbia intermedia/Melaleuca quinquenervia Cupaniopsis anacardioides Cupaniopsis anacardioides/Acacia aulacocarpa var. aulacocarpa Syzygium luehmannii-Acmena hemilampra ssp. Littoral Rainforest hemilampra Syzygium luehmannii-Acmena hemilampra ssp. hemilampra/Lophostemon confertus Cupaniopsis anacardioides/Foredune complex Subtropical Archontophoenix cunninghamiana Rainforest Eucalyptus resinifera ssp. hemilampra-Melaleuca sieberi Melaleuca quinquenervia Swamp Sclerophyll Melaleuca quinquenervia-Livistona australis Forest and Woodland Melaleuca quinquenervia-Lophostemon suaveolens or Eucalyptus tereticornis Melaleuca sieberi
Keystone Ecological 71 Ref: CVC 14-695 – May 2018 DRAFT Ecological Response Hickey Street, Iluka, NSW
Formation Sub Formation Community Wet Sclerophyll Melaleuca sieberi Shrubland Shrubland (Scrub) Dry Sclerophyll Banksia aemula Shrubland Banksia oblongifolia-Leptospermum liversidgei- Lepyrodia interrupta-Sprengelia sprengelioides- Heathland Wet Heathland Xanthorrhoea fulva Banksia oblongifolia-Leptospermum polygalifolium- Melaleuca nodosa Sod Grassland Sod Grassland Themeda australis
Keystone Ecological 72 Ref: CVC 14-695 – May 2018 DRAFT Ecological Response Hickey Street, Iluka, NSW
Figure 18: Wonga Pigeon potential habitat (blue) across the region as defined by DEE and on site. Source vegetation map: CoastVeg_NE_NSW_E_3885 (OEH 2011).
Keystone Ecological 73 Ref: CVC 14-695 – May 2018 Ecological Response Hickey Street, Iluka, NSW
4.3.7 Ptilinopus magnificus Wompoo Fruit-Dove
The relevant profile (Profile ID 10707) of the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage Threatened Species Profile Database indicates that this species is known from 43 Plant Community Types, as per Table 12 overleaf.
After consideration of the habitats available on site, the vegetation types from which it has been found in the local area and across the region and North Coast Bioregion, the area of available habitat within the region just in reserved land has been estimated as approximately 400 hectares, as shown in Figure 19. In addition, of the vegetation outside of reserves in the region, approximately 275 hectares of sclerophyll forest provides potential habitat for this species.
The subject site also contains potential habitat for this species, across approximately 1.21 hectares of vegetation of type 190 Coast Banksia woodland and open forest of coastal dunes (0.41 hectares) and 193 Pink Bloodwood – Brush Box Open Forest (sub-form 193e) (0.80 hectares). The potential habitat on site represents approximately 0.2% of the estimated potential habitat in the region.
Keystone Ecological 74 Ref: CVC 14-695 – May 2018 Ecological Response Hickey Street, Iluka, NSW
Table 12: Vegetation formations, classes and types associated with Ptilinopus magnificus Wompoo Fruit-Dove on the NSW North Coast.
Formation Class Plant Community Type Black Bean - Weeping Lilly Pilly riparian rainforest of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Brown Myrtle - Lilly Pilly dry rainforest on ranges of the Central and lower North Coast Hoop Pine - Yellow Tulipwood dry rainforest of the Dry Rainforests NSW North Coast Bioregion Sandpaper Fig - Whalebone Tree warm temperate rainforest Shatterwood - Giant Stinging Tree - Yellow Tulipwood dry rainforest of the NSW North Coast Bioregion and northern Sydney Basin Bioregion Tuckeroo - Lilly Pilly - Coast Banksia littoral rainforest Tuckeroo - Riberry - Yellow Tulipwood littoral Littoral Rainforests rainforest of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Tuckeroo - Yellow Tulipwood - Red fruited Olive Plum Littoral Rainforest of the lower North Coast Coachwood - Soft Corkwood - Crabapple warm temperate rainforest of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Lilly Pilly - Grey Myrtle - Rasp Fern warm temperate Rainforests rainforest on ranges of the Central and lower North Coast Northern Warm Sassafras - Crabapple - Soft Corkwood warm Temperate Rainforests temperate rainforest of the North Coast Sassafras - Prickly Ash - Lilly Pilly warm temperate rainforest on ranges of the Barrington Tops and lower North Coast Weeping Lilly Pilly - Water Gum riparian warm temperate rainforest of the lower North Coast Black Booyong - Brown Beech - Soft Corkwood - Rosewood Subtropical Rainforest on the escarpment of the lower North Coast Black Booyong - Giant Stinging Tree - Rosewood - Moreton Bay Fig lowland subtropical rainforest of the lower North Coast Subtropical Rainforests Rosewood - Brown Beech sub-tropical rainforest on ranges of the lower North Coast and Barrington Tops Soft Corkwood - Yellow Carabeen - Cryptocarya spp. subtropical rainforest of the NSW North Coast Bioregion White Booyong - Fig subtropical rainforest of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Northern Hinterland Brush Box tall moist forest of the northern ranges of Wet Sclerophyll Forests the NSW North Coast Bioregion Wet Sclerophyll Forests Silvertop Stringybark - Tallowwood open forest of the (grassy sub-formation) Northern Tableland escarpment ranges of the New England Tableland Wet Sclerophyll Forests Bioregion and NSW North Coast Bioregion Blackbutt - Tallowwood tall moist forest of the far Wet Sclerophyll Forests North Coast Wet north east of the NSW North Coast Bioregion (shrubby sub-formation) Sclerophyll Forests Blackbutt tall moist forest of the coastal ranges of the central and southern NSW North Coast Bioregion
Keystone Ecological 75 Ref: CVC 14-695 – May 2018 Ecological Response Hickey Street, Iluka, NSW
Formation Class Plant Community Type Brush Box - Tallowwood shrubby moist forest of the escarpment ranges of central NSW North Coast Bioregion Dunn's White Gum tall open forest of the ranges of the northern NSW North Coast Bioregion Flooded Gum - Brush Box - Tallowwood mesic tall open forest on ranges of the lower North Coast Pink Bloodwood - Tallowwood moist open forest of the far northern ranges of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Spotted Gum - Brush Box moist forest of ranges of the southern Clarence Valley of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Spotted Gum - Grey Ironbark shrubby open forest of the Richmond Range of the NSW North Coast Steel Box shrubby open forest of the ranges of the northern NSW North Coast Tallowwood - Brush Box - Sydney Blue Gum moist shrubby forest of the southern NSW North Coast Bioregion Tallowwood - Brush Box moist open forest of the coastal ranges of the central NSW North Coast Tallowwood - Narrow-leaved White Mahogany - Spotted Gum moist open forest in the Washpool area of the NSW North Coast Tallowwood - Sydney Blue Gum moist open forest of the northern ranges of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Tallowwood - Turpentine moist open forest of the ranges of the Nymboida area of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Turpentine moist open forest of the coastal hills and ranges of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Brown Barrel - gum moist open forest of the escarpment ranges of NSW North Coast Bioregion and New England Tableland Bioregion Brush Box - Tallowwood shrubby open forest of the northern ranges of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Brush Box - Tallowwood tall moist forest in the Washpool area of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Messmate open forest of the tableland edge of the NSW North Coast Bioregionand New England Tableland Bioregion Northern Escarpment New England Blackbutt - Tallowwood moist shrubby Wet Sclerophyll Forests forest of the escarpment ranges of the NSW North Coast Bioregion and New England Tableland Bioregion New England Blackbutt tall moist forest of the escarpment ranges of the northern NSW North Coast Bioregion Sydney Blue Gum - Tallowwood - Soft Corkwood moist forest of the escarpment ranges of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Sydney Blue Gum open forest of the northern ranges of the NSW North Coast Bioregion
Keystone Ecological 76 Ref: CVC 14-695 – May 2018 Ecological Response Hickey Street, Iluka, NSW
Figure 19: Wompoo Fruit Dove potential habitat (blue) across the region as defined by DEE and on site. Source vegetation map: CoastVeg_NE_NSW_E_3885 (OEH 2011).
Keystone Ecological 77 Ref: CVC 14-695 – May 2018 Ecological Response Hickey Street, Iluka, NSW
4.3.8 Ptilinopus regina Rose-crowned Fruit-dove
The relevant profile (Profile ID 10708) of the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage Threatened Species Profile Database indicates that this species is known from 21 Plant Community Types, as per Table 13 overleaf.
After consideration of the habitats available on site, the vegetation types from which it has been found in the local area and across the region and North Coast Bioregion, the area of available habitat within the region just in reserved land has been estimated as approximately 400 hectares, as shown in Figure 20. In addition, of the vegetation outside of reserves in the region, approximately 275 hectares of sclerophyll forest provides potential habitat for this species.
The subject site also contains potential habitat for this species, across approximately 1.21 hectares of vegetation of type 190 Coast Banksia woodland and open forest of coastal dunes (0.41 hectares) and 193 Pink Bloodwood – Brush Box Open Forest (0.80 hectares). The potential habitat on site represents approximately 0.2% of the estimated potential habitat in the region.
Keystone Ecological 78 Ref: CVC 14-695 – May 2018 Ecological Response Hickey Street, Iluka, NSW
Table 13: Vegetation formations, classes and types associated with Rose-crowned Fruit-Dove on the NSW North Coast.
Formation Class Plant Community Type Black Bean - Weeping Lilly Pilly riparian rainforest of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Hoop Pine - Yellow Tulipwood dry rainforest of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Dry Rainforests Shatterwood - Giant Stinging Tree - Yellow Tulipwood dry rainforest of the NSW North Coast Bioregion and northern Sydney Basin Bioregion Tuckeroo - Lilly Pilly - Coast Banksia littoral rainforest Rainforests Littoral Rainforests Tuckeroo - Riberry - Yellow Tulipwood littoral rainforest of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Coachwood - Soft Corkwood - Crabapple warm Northern Warm temperate rainforest of the NSW North Coast Temperate Rainforests Bioregion Soft Corkwood - Yellow Carabeen - Cryptocarya spp. subtropical rainforest of the NSW North Subtropical Rainforests Coast Bioregion White Booyong - Fig subtropical rainforest of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Wet Sclerophyll Forests Northern Hinterland Brush Box tall moist forest of the northern (grassy sub-formation) Wet Sclerophyll Forests ranges of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Brush Box - Tallowwood shrubby moist forest of the escarpment ranges of central NSW North Coast Bioregion Dunn's White Gum tall open forest of the ranges of the northern NSW North Coast Bioregion Pink Bloodwood - Tallowwood moist open forest of the far northern ranges of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Spotted Gum - Grey Ironbark shrubby open forest of the Richmond Range of the NSW North North Coast Wet Coast Sclerophyll Forests Steel Box shrubby open forest of the ranges of the northern NSW North Coast Tallowwood - Brush Box - Sydney Blue Gum Wet Sclerophyll Forests moist shrubby forest of the southern NSW North (shrubby sub- Coast Bioregion formation) Tallowwood - Narrow-leaved White Mahogany - Spotted Gum moist open forest in the Washpool area of the NSW North Coast Tallowwood - Sydney Blue Gum moist open forest of the northern ranges of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Brush Box - Tallowwood tall moist forest in the Washpool area of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Northern Escarpment New England Blackbutt - Tallowwood moist Wet Sclerophyll Forests shrubby forest of the escarpment ranges of the NSW North Coast Bioregion and New England Tableland Bioregion
Keystone Ecological 79 Ref: CVC 14-695 – May 2018 Ecological Response Hickey Street, Iluka, NSW
Formation Class Plant Community Type New England Blackbutt tall moist forest of the escarpment ranges of the northern NSW North Coast Bioregion Sydney Blue Gum - Tallowwood - Soft Corkwood moist forest of the escarpment ranges of the NSW North Coast Bioregion
Keystone Ecological 80 Ref: CVC 14-695 – May 2018 Ecological Response Hickey Street, Iluka, NSW
Figure 20: Rose-crowned Fruit-dove potential habitat (blue) across the region as defined by DEE and on site. Source vegetation map: CoastVeg_NE_NSW_E_3885 (OEH 2011).
Keystone Ecological 81 Ref: CVC 14-695 – May 2018 Ecological Response Hickey Street, Iluka, NSW
4.3.9 Ptilinopus superbus Superb Fruit-Dove
The relevant profile (Profile ID 10709) of the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage Threatened Species Profile Database indicates that this species is known from 31 Plant Community Types, as per Table 14 overleaf.
After consideration of the habitats available on site, the vegetation types from which it has been found in the local area and across the region and North Coast Bioregion, the area of available habitat within the region just in reserved land has been estimated as approximately 484 hectares, as shown in Figure 21. In addition, of the vegetation outside of reserves in the region, approximately 275 hectares of sclerophyll forest provides potential habitat for this species.
The subject site also contains potential habitat for this species, across approximately 1.21 hectares of vegetation of type 190 Coast Banksia woodland and open forest of coastal dunes (0.41 hectares) and 193 Pink Bloodwood – Brush Box Open Forest (0.80 hectares). The potential habitat on site represents approximately 0.2% of the estimated potential habitat in the region.
Keystone Ecological 82 Ref: CVC 14-695 – May 2018 Ecological Response Hickey Street, Iluka, NSW
Table 14: Vegetation formations, classes and types associated with Ptilinopus superbus Superb Fruit-Dove on the NSW North Coast.
Formation Class Plant Community Type Paperbark swamp forest of the coastal lowlands of the NSW North Coast Bioregion and Sydney Basin Bioregion Forested wetlands Coastal Swamp Forests Swamp Mahogany swamp forest on coastal lowlands of the NSW North Coast Bioregion and northern Sydney Basin Bioregion Black Bean - Weeping Lilly Pilly riparian rainforest of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Hoop Pine - Yellow Tulipwood dry rainforest of Dry Rainforests the NSW North Coast Bioregion Shatterwood - Giant Stinging Tree - Yellow Tulipwood dry rainforest of the NSW North Coast Bioregion and northern Sydney Basin Bioregion Tuckeroo - Lilly Pilly - Coast Banksia littoral rainforest Littoral Rainforests Tuckeroo - Riberry - Yellow Tulipwood littoral Rainforests rainforest of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Coachwood - Soft Corkwood - Crabapple warm Northern Warm temperate rainforest of the NSW North Coast Temperate Rainforests Bioregion Soft Corkwood - Yellow Carabeen - Cryptocarya spp. subtropical rainforest of the NSW North Coast Subtropical Rainforests Bioregion White Booyong - Fig subtropical rainforest of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Native Olive - Gorge Alectryon vine thicket of the Western Vine Thickets gorges of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Mangrove - Black Mangrove low closed forest of Saline Wetlands Mangrove Swamps the northern NSW North Coast Bioregion Wet Sclerophyll Forests Northern Hinterland Brush Box tall moist forest of the northern ranges (grassy sub-formation) Wet Sclerophyll Forests of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Blackbutt - Tallowwood tall moist forest of the far north east of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Blackbutt tall moist forest of the coastal ranges of the central and southern NSW North Coast Bioregion Brush Box - Tallowwood shrubby moist forest of the escarpment ranges of central NSW North Coast Bioregion Dunn's White Gum tall open forest of the ranges of Wet Sclerophyll Forests the northern NSW North Coast Bioregion North Coast Wet (shrubby sub- Pink Bloodwood - Tallowwood moist open forest Sclerophyll Forests formation) of the far northern ranges of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Spotted Gum - Brush Box moist forest of ranges of the southern Clarence Valley of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Steel Box shrubby open forest of the ranges of the northern NSW North Coast Tallowwood - Brush Box - Sydney Blue Gum moist shrubby forest of the southern NSW North Coast Bioregion
Keystone Ecological 83 Ref: CVC 14-695 – May 2018 Ecological Response Hickey Street, Iluka, NSW
Formation Class Plant Community Type Tallowwood - Brush Box moist open forest of the coastal ranges of the central NSW North Coast Tallowwood - Narrow-leaved White Mahogany - Spotted Gum moist open forest in the Washpool area of the NSW North Coast Tallowwood - Sydney Blue Gum moist open forest of the northern ranges of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Tallowwood - Turpentine moist open forest of the ranges of the Nymboida area of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Turpentine moist open forest of the coastal hills and ranges of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Brush Box - Tallowwood shrubby open forest of the northern ranges of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Brush Box - Tallowwood tall moist forest in the Washpool area of the NSW North Coast Bioregion New England Blackbutt - Tallowwood moist shrubby forest of the escarpment ranges of the Northern Escarpment NSW North Coast Bioregion and New England Wet Sclerophyll Forests Tableland Bioregion New England Blackbutt tall moist forest of the escarpment ranges of the northern NSW North Coast Bioregion Sydney Blue Gum - Tallowwood - Soft Corkwood moist forest of the escarpment ranges of the NSW North Coast Bioregion
Keystone Ecological 84 Ref: CVC 14-695 – May 2018 Ecological Response Hickey Street, Iluka, NSW
Figure 21: Superb Fruit-Dove potential habitat (blue) across the region as defined by DEE and on site. Source vegetation map: CoastVeg_NE_NSW_E_3885 (OEH 2011).
Keystone Ecological 85 Ref: CVC 14-695 – May 2018 Ecological Response Hickey Street, Iluka, NSW
4.3.10 Rhipidura rufifrons Rufous Fantail
This is not a threatened species under NSW legislation and therefore has no ecological profile in the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage Threatened Species Profile Database to provide guidance regarding habitat preferences. However, as a Migratory species listed under the EPBC Act 1999, habitat information is available on the Species Profile and Threats Database1 and in the Referral Guidelines for Migratory species.2
In that part of Australia within which the subject site occurs, this species inhabits moist, dense habitats, including mangroves, rainforest, riparian forests and thickets, and wet eucalypt forests. Structural features of suitable habitat include a moderately dense canopy cover often with two lower strata: a 2-6 m high layer and a shrubby or heath understorey 1-2 m high.
When on passage, a wider range of wooded habitats are used, including dry eucalypt forests and woodlands, Brigalow shrublands and domestic gardens and parks and tropical islands.
This species generally migrates north in winter and south for the warmer months. Although individual birds may be sedentary, records available from reliable databases (Atlas of Living Australia3 and eBird4) indicate that this species probably starts its northerly migration from the local area in the late autumn (April), and returns in late winter (July) to breed over spring and summer.
The broad habitat categories have been applied to the vegetation mapping of Bundjalung National Park and Iluka Nature Reserve and 49 Vegetation Communities (sensu E_3885), identified as potential habitat, as per Table 15 overleaf.
After consideration of the habitats available on site, the vegetation types from which it has been found in the local area and across the region, and North Coast Bioregion, the area of available habitat within the region just in reserved land has been estimated as approximately 2,007 hectares, as shown in Figure 22.
1 Department of the Environment (2018) Rhipidura rufifrons in Species Profile and Threats Database, Department of the Environment, Canberra. Available from: http://www.environment.gov.au/sprat. Accessed Thu, 26 Apr 2018 09:07:20 +1000 2 Department of the Environment (2015) Draft referral guideline for 14 birds listed as migratory species under the EPBC Act, Commonwealth of Australia 3 Atlas of Living Australia records search, 5 km spatial filter reflecting the region as defined in this report: https://biocache.ala.org.au/occurrences/search?q=taxon_name:%22Rhipidura%20(Howeavis)%20rufifr ons%22&lat=-29.394891&lon=153.34929379999994&radius=5#tab_recordsView 4 eBird records search for Rufous Fantail within the region as defined in this report: https://ebird.org/australia/map/ruffan1?neg=true&env.minX=48.04500000000007&env.minY=- 52.33361440079696&env.maxX=- 143.20499999999993&env.maxY=7.866177724014258&zh=true&gp=false&ev=Z&mr=1- 12&bmo=1&emo=12&yr=all&byr=1900&eyr=2018
Keystone Ecological 86 Ref: CVC 14-695 – May 2018 Ecological Response Hickey Street, Iluka, NSW
In addition, of the vegetation outside of reserves in the region, approximately 275 hectares of sclerophyll forest provides potential habitat for this species.
The subject site also contains potential habitat for this species across all of the vegetation types present, occupying 19.41 hectares. The potential habitat on site represents approximately 0.9% of the estimated potential habitat in the region.
Keystone Ecological 87 Ref: CVC 14-695 – May 2018 Ecological Response Hickey Street, Iluka, NSW
Table 15: Vegetation formations, sub formations and communities associated with Rufous Fantail in the Bundjalung NP and Iluka NR (E_3885).
Formation Sub Formation Community Acacia aulacocarpa var. aulacocarpa Angophora woodsiana Banksia integrifolia ssp. integrifolia Banksia integrifolia ssp. integrifolia/Acacia aulacocarpa var. aulacocarpa Casuarina equisetifolia ssp. incana Corymbia gummifera Corymbia intermedia Corymbia intermedia/Acacia aulacocarpa var. aulacocarpa Corymbia intermedia-Eucalyptus tereticornis Dry Sclerophyll Forest Corymbia intermedia-Eucalyptus tereticornis/Acacia and Woodland aulacocarpa var. aulacocarpa Corymbia variegata-Eucalyptus siderophloia Eucalyptus eugenioides-Eucalyptus siderophloia- Corymbia intermedia Eucalyptus pilularis Eucalyptus pilularis-Angophora costata/Corymbia gummifera/Eucalyptus planchoniana Eucalyptus pilularis-Corymbia intermedia Eucalyptus planchoniana Eucalyptus signata Lophostemon suaveolens-Corymbia intermedia- Eucalyptus tereticornis Corymbia intermedia Corymbia intermedia-Eucalyptus siderophloia- Forest and Eucalyptus tereticornis Woodland Eucalyptus grandis/Melaleuca quinquenervia Eucalyptus grandis/Corymbia intermedia Wet Sclerophyll Eucalyptus grandis/Lophostemon confertus- Forest Corymbia intermedia Lophostemon confertus Lophostemon confertus-Corymbia intermedia Lophostemon confertus-Corymbia intermedia/Melaleuca quinquenervia Mangrove Forest and Avicennia marina var. australasica Woodland Cupaniopsis anacardioides Cupaniopsis anacardioides/Acacia aulacocarpa var. aulacocarpa Syzygium luehmannii-Acmena hemilampra ssp. Littoral Rainforest hemilampra Syzygium luehmannii-Acmena hemilampra ssp. hemilampra/Lophostemon confertus Cupaniopsis anacardioides/Foredune complex Subtropical Archontophoenix cunninghamiana Rainforest Casuarina glauca Eucalyptus resinifera ssp. hemilampra-Melaleuca Swamp Sclerophyll sieberi Forest and Woodland Eucalyptus robusta Eucalyptus robusta – Melaleuca quinquenervia Melaleuca quinquenervia
Keystone Ecological 88 Ref: CVC 14-695 – May 2018 Ecological Response Hickey Street, Iluka, NSW
Formation Sub Formation Community Melaleuca quinquenervia-Casuarina glauca Melaleuca quinquenervia-Livistona australis Melaleuca quinquenervia/Melaleuca sieberi Melaleuca quinquenervia-Lophostemon suaveolens or Eucalyptus tereticornis Melaleuca sieberi Wet Sclerophyll Melaleuca sieberi Shrubland Shrubland (Scrub) Dry Sclerophyll Banksia aemula Shrubland Banksia oblongifolia-Leptospermum liversidgei- Lepyrodia interrupta-Sprengelia sprengelioides- Heathland Wet Heathland Xanthorrhoea fulva Banksia oblongifolia-Leptospermum polygalifolium- Melaleuca nodosa Leptocarpus tenax – Restio pallens – Schoenus Sedgeland Sedgeland brevifolius Sod Grassland Sod Grassland Themeda australis
Keystone Ecological 89 Ref: CVC 14-695 – May 2018 Ecological Response Hickey Street, Iluka, NSW
Figure 22: Rufous Fantail potential habitat (blue) across the region as defined by DEE and on site. Source vegetation map: CoastVeg_NE_NSW_E_3885 (OEH 2011).
Keystone Ecological 90 Ref: CVC 14-695 – May 2018 Ecological Response Hickey Street, Iluka, NSW
4.3.11 Mormopterus norfolkensis Eastern Free-tail Bat
The relevant profile (Profile ID 10544) of the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage Threatened Species Profile Database indicates that this species is known from 98 Plant Community Types, as per Table 16 overleaf.
After consideration of the habitats available on site, the vegetation types from which it has been found in the local area and across the region and North Coast Bioregion, the area of available habitat within the region just in reserved land has been estimated as approximately 2,007 hectares, as shown in Figure 23. In addition, of the vegetation outside of reserves in the region, approximately 275 hectares of sclerophyll forest provides potential habitat for this species.
The subject site also contains potential habitat foraging for this species across all of the vegetation types present, occupying 19.41 hectares, and roosting habitat in the hollow- bearing trees. The potential habitat on site represents approximately 0.9% of the estimated potential habitat in the region.
Keystone Ecological 91 Ref: CVC 14-695 – May 2018 Ecological Response Hickey Street, Iluka, NSW
Table 16: Vegetation formations, classes and types associated with Mormopterus norfolkensis Eastern Freetail-bat on the NSW North Coast.
Formation Class Plant Community Type Eucalyptus ophitica - White Mahogany open forest on serpentinite near Baryulgil of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Grey Box - Grey Ironbark grassy open forest of the Clarence Valley lowlands of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Grey Box - Small-fruited Grey Gum shrubby forest of the far north of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Grey Gum - Grey Ironbark open forest of the Clarence lowlands of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Grey Gum - Spotted Gum open forest of the southern Clarence lowlands of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Orange Gum (Eucalyptus bancroftii) open forest of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Clarence Dry Red Ironbark open forest of the coastal lowlands of Sclerophyll Forests the NSW North Coast Bioregion Spotted Gum - Blackbutt open forest of the lower Clarence Valley of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Spotted Gum - Grey Box - Grey Ironbark dry open forest of the Clarence Valley lowlands of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Spotted Gum - Grey Box grassy open forest of the Richmond Range of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Spotted Gum - Grey Ironbark - Pink Bloodwood open forest of the Clarence Valley lowlands of the NSW Dry Sclerophyll North Coast Bioregion Forests (shrub/grass Spotted Gum dry grassy open forest of the foothills of sub-formation) the northern NSW North Coast Yellow Box - Grey Box grassy open forest in the Glenugie area of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Blue-leaved Stringybark - Blackbutt open forest of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Large-fruited Blackbutt shrubby open forest of the Hunter-Macleay Dry Broken Bago Range of the NSW North Coast Sclerophyll Forests Bioregion Spotted Gum - Grey Ironbark open forest of the Macleay Valley lowlands of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Broad-leaved Apple - Scribbly Gum woodland in the Guy Fawkes River area of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Broad-leaved Stringybark - Blakely's Red Gum grassy woodlands of the northern gorges of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Forest Red Gum grassy open forest of the coastal Northern Gorge Dry ranges of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Sclerophyll Forests Forest Redgum - Broad-leaved Apple dry open forest of the gorges of NSW North Coast Bioregion Forest Redgum - Pink Bloodwood open forest of the foothills and ranges of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Grey Box - Pink Bloodwood open forest of the gorges of the NSW North Coast Bioregion
Keystone Ecological 92 Ref: CVC 14-695 – May 2018 Ecological Response Hickey Street, Iluka, NSW
Formation Class Plant Community Type Grey Gum - Broad-leaved Apple dry open forest of the gorges of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Grey gum - stringybark open forest of the gorges of the NSW North Coast Bioregion and New England Tableland Bioregion Grey Ironbark - Grey Gum open forest of the northern escarpment ranges of the NSW North Coast Bioregion New England Blackbutt - stringybark grassy forest the eastern New England Tableland Bioregion and NSW North Coast Bioregion Spotted Gum - Tallowwood dry open forest of the escarpment and foothills of the New England Tableland Bioregion and NSW North Coast Bioregion Blackbutt - Needlebark Stringybark shrubby open forest on coastal sands of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Coast Cypress Pine shrubby open forest of the NSW Coastal Dune Dry North Coast Bioregion Sclerophyll Forests Scribbly Gum - Needlebark Stringybark heathy open forest of coastal lowlands of the northern NSW North Coast Bioregion Smooth-barked Apple heathy open forest on sands of the NSW North Coast Angophora paludosa shrubby forest and woodland on sandstone or sands of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Angophora robur shrubby forest and woodland on sandstones of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Bailey's Stringybark - Needlebark Stringybark heathy woodland on sandstones of the lower Clarence Valley of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Blackbutt - bloodwood dry heathy open forest on Quaternary sands of the northern NSW North Coast Bioregion Blackbutt - bloodwood dry heathy open forest on Dry Sclerophyll sandstones of the northern NSW North Coast Forests (shrubby sub- Bioregion formation) Blackbutt - Spotted Gum shrubby open forest on sandstones of the lower Clarence Valley of the NSW North Coast Bioregion North Coast Dry Blackbutt - Turpentine dry heathy open forest on Sclerophyll Forests sandstones of the lower Clarence of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Needlebark Stringybark - Large-fruited Blackbutt heathy open forest on sandstones of the northern NSW North Coast Bioregion Needlebark Stringybark - Red Bloodwood heathy woodland on sandstones of the lower Clarence of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Needlebark Stringybark - Turpentine heathy open forest of the Clarence lowlands of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Pink Bloodwood - Red Mahogany - Smudgy Apple shrubby open forest on sandstone of northern NSW North Coast Bioregion Scribbly Gum - Red Bloodwood heathy open forest of the coastal lowlands of the NSW North Coast Bioregion
Keystone Ecological 93 Ref: CVC 14-695 – May 2018 Ecological Response Hickey Street, Iluka, NSW
Formation Class Plant Community Type Blue Mountain Ash - New England Blackbutt tall open forest of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Eurabbie tall open forest of the escarpment ranges of Northern Escarpment the NSW North Coast Bioregion Dry Sclerophyll New England Blackbutt - Diehard Stringybark dry Forests open forest of the escarpment ranges of the eastern New England Tableland Bioregion and NSW North Coast Bioregion Coastal Floodplain Swamp Oak swamp forest of the coastal lowlands of Wetlands the NSW North Coast Bioregion Paperbark swamp forest of the coastal lowlands of the NSW North Coast Bioregion and Sydney Basin Bioregion Forested wetlands Coastal Swamp Swamp Box swamp forest of the coastal lowlands of Forests the NSW North Coast Bioregion Swamp Mahogany swamp forest on coastal lowlands of the NSW North Coast Bioregion and northern Sydney Basin Bioregion Wet heathland and shrubland of coastal lowlands of Freshwater Wetlands Costal Heath Swamps the NSW North Coast Bioregion Cabbage Gum - Broad-leaved Apple open forest of the eastern escarpment, NSW North Coast Bioregion and Coastal Valley Grassy Grassy Woodlands South Eastern Queensland Bioregion Woodlands Forest Red Gum - Swamp Box of the Clarence Valley lowlands of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Coastal headland heaths of the NSW North Coast Coastal Headland Bioregion Heaths Coastal mallee of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Heathlands Northern Montane Coastal heath on sands of the NSW North Coast Heaths Bioregion Graminoid clay heaths of the coastal lowlands of the Wallum Sand Heaths NSW North Coast Bioregion Black Bean - Weeping Lilly Pilly riparian rainforest of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Hoop Pine - Yellow Tulipwood dry rainforest of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Dry Rainforests Sandpaper Fig - Whalebone Tree warm temperate rainforest Shatterwood - Giant Stinging Tree - Yellow Tulipwood dry rainforest of the NSW North Coast Bioregion and northern Sydney Basin Bioregion Tuckeroo - Riberry - Yellow Tulipwood littoral Littoral Rainforests Rainforests rainforest of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Northern Warm Coachwood - Soft Corkwood - Crabapple warm Temperate temperate rainforest of the NSW North Coast Rainforests Bioregion Soft Corkwood - Yellow Carabeen - Cryptocarya spp. subtropical rainforest of the NSW North Coast Subtropical Bioregion Rainforests White Booyong - Fig subtropical rainforest of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Western Vine Native Olive - Gorge Alectryon vine thicket of the Thickets gorges of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Mangrove - Black Mangrove low closed forest of the Mangrove Swamps Saline wetlands northern NSW North Coast Bioregion Saltmarshes Saltmarsh complex of the NSW North Coast Bioregion
Keystone Ecological 94 Ref: CVC 14-695 – May 2018 Ecological Response Hickey Street, Iluka, NSW
Formation Class Plant Community Type Blackbutt - Tallowwood dry grassy open forest of the central parts NSW North Coast Bioregion Blackbutt grassy open forest of the lower Clarence Northern Hinterland Valley of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Wet Sclerophyll Brush Box tall moist forest of the northern ranges of Forests the NSW North Coast Bioregion Tallowwood dry grassy forest of the far northern Wet Sclerophyll ranges of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Forests (grassy sub- Dorrigo White Gum open forest of the escarpment formation) ranges of the NSW North Coast Bioregion and New England Tableland Bioregion Northern Tableland Mountain Ribbon Gum - Messmate open forest of Wet Sclerophyll escarpment ranges of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Forests and New England Tableland Bioregio Silvertop Stringybark - Tallowwood open forest of the escarpment ranges of the New England Tableland Bioregion and NSW North Coast Bioregion Wet Sclerophyll Blackbutt - Tallowwood tall moist forest of the far Forests (shrubby sub- north east of the NSW North Coast Bioregion formation) Blackbutt tall moist forest of the coastal ranges of the central and southern NSW North Coast Bioregion Brush Box - Tallowwood shrubby moist forest of the escarpment ranges of central NSW North Coast Bioregion Dunn's White Gum tall open forest of the ranges of the northern NSW North Coast Bioregion Pink Bloodwood - Tallowwood moist open forest of the far northern ranges of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Spotted Gum - Brush Box moist forest of ranges of the southern Clarence Valley of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Spotted Gum - Grey Ironbark shrubby open forest of the Richmond Range of the NSW North Coast North Coast Wet Steel Box shrubby open forest of the ranges of the Sclerophyll Forests northern NSW North Coast Tallowwood - Brush Box - Sydney Blue Gum moist shrubby forest of the southern NSW North Coast Bioregion Tallowwood - Brush Box moist open forest of the coastal ranges of the central NSW North Coast Tallowwood - Narrow-leaved White Mahogany - Spotted Gum moist open forest in the Washpool area of the NSW North Coast Tallowwood - Sydney Blue Gum moist open forest of the northern ranges of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Tallowwood - Turpentine moist open forest of the ranges of the Nymboida area of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Turpentine moist open forest of the coastal hills and ranges of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Brown Barrel - gum moist open forest of the Northern Escarpment escarpment ranges of NSW North Coast Bioregion Wet Sclerophyll and New England Tableland Bioregion Forests Brush Box - Tallowwood shrubby open forest of the northern ranges of the NSW North Coast Bioregion
Keystone Ecological 95 Ref: CVC 14-695 – May 2018 Ecological Response Hickey Street, Iluka, NSW
Formation Class Plant Community Type Brush Box - Tallowwood tall moist forest in the Washpool area of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Messmate open forest of the tableland edge of the NSW North Coast Bioregionand New England Tableland Bioregion New England Blackbutt - Tallowwood moist shrubby forest of the escarpment ranges of the NSW North Coast Bioregion and New England Tableland Bioregion New England Blackbutt tall moist forest of the escarpment ranges of the northern NSW North Coast Bioregion Silvertop Stringybark - Round-leaved Gum open forest of the tableland edge of the New England Tableland Bioregion and NSW North Coast Bioregion Sydney Blue Gum - Tallowwood - Soft Corkwood moist forest of the escarpment ranges of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Sydney Blue Gum open forest of the northern ranges of the NSW North Coast Bioregion
Keystone Ecological 96 Ref: CVC 14-695 – May 2018 Ecological Response Hickey Street, Iluka, NSW
Figure 23: Eastern Freetail-bat potential habitat (blue) across the region as defined by DEE and on site. Source vegetation map: CoastVeg_NE_NSW_E_3885 (OEH 2011).
Keystone Ecological 97 Ref: CVC 14-695 – May 2018 Ecological Response Hickey Street, Iluka, NSW
4.3.12 Miniopterus australis Little Bentwing Bat
The relevant profile (Profile ID 10533) of the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage Threatened Species Profile Database indicates that this species is known from 84 Plant Community Types, as per Table 17 overleaf.
After consideration of the habitats available on site, the vegetation types from which it has been found in the local area and across the region and North Coast Bioregion, the area of available habitat within the region just in reserved land has been estimated as approximately 1,361 hectares, as shown in Figure 24. In addition, of the vegetation outside of reserves in the region, approximately 275 hectares of sclerophyll forest provides potential foraging habitat for this species.
The subject site also contains potential foraging habitat for this species, across approximately 15.91 hectares of vegetation of type 190 Coast Banksia woodland and open forest of coastal dunes (0.41 hectares) and type 193 Pink Bloodwood – Brush Box Open Forest (sub-forms 193a, 193b, 193c and 193e) (15.5 hectares). The potential habitat on site represents approximately 1% of the estimated potential habitat in the region.
Keystone Ecological 98 Ref: CVC 14-695 – May 2018 Ecological Response Hickey Street, Iluka, NSW
Table 17: Vegetation formations, classes and types associated with Miniopterus australis Little Bentwing-bat on the NSW North Coast.
Formation Class Plant Community Type Eucalyptus ophitica - White Mahogany open forest on serpentinite near Baryulgil of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Grey Box - Grey Ironbark grassy open forest of the Clarence Valley lowlands of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Grey Box - Small-fruited Grey Gum shrubby forest of the far north of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Grey Gum - Grey Ironbark open forest of the Clarence lowlands of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Grey Gum - Spotted Gum open forest of the southern Clarence lowlands of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Orange Gum (Eucalyptus bancroftii) open forest of Clarence Dry the NSW North Coast Bioregion Sclerophyll Forests Red Ironbark open forest of the coastal lowlands of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Spotted Gum - Blackbutt open forest of the lower Clarence Valley of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Spotted Gum - Grey Box - Grey Ironbark dry open forest of the Clarence Valley lowlands of the NSW Dry Sclerophyll Forests North Coast Bioregion (shrub/grass sub- Spotted Gum - Grey Box grassy open forest of the formation) Richmond Range of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Spotted Gum - Grey Ironbark - Pink Bloodwood open forest of the Clarence Valley lowlands of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Spotted Gum dry grassy open forest of the foothills of the northern NSW North Coast Yellow Box - Grey Box grassy open forest in the Glenugie area of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Blue-leaved Stringybark - Blackbutt open forest of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Large-fruited Blackbutt shrubby open forest of the Hunter-Macleay Dry Broken Bago Range of the NSW North Coast Sclerophyll Forests Bioregion Spotted Gum - Grey Ironbark open forest of the Macleay Valley lowlands of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Grey gum - stringybark open forest of the gorges of the NSW North Coast Bioregion and New England Northern Gorge Dry Tableland Bioregion Sclerophyll Forests New England Blackbutt - stringybark grassy forest the eastern New England Tableland Bioregion and NSW North Coast Bioregion Blackbutt - Needlebark Stringybark shrubby open Dry Sclerophyll Forests forest on coastal sands of the NSW North Coast Coastal Dune Dry (shrubby sub- Bioregion Sclerophyll Forests formation) Coast Cypress Pine shrubby open forest of the NSW North Coast Bioregion
Keystone Ecological 99 Ref: CVC 14-695 – May 2018 Ecological Response Hickey Street, Iluka, NSW
Formation Class Plant Community Type Scribbly Gum - Needlebark Stringybark heathy open forest of coastal lowlands of the northern NSW North Coast Bioregion Smooth-barked Apple heathy open forest on sands of the NSW North Coast Angophora paludosa shrubby forest and woodland on sandstone or sands of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Angophora robur shrubby forest and woodland on sandstones of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Bailey's Stringybark - Needlebark Stringybark heathy woodland on sandstones of the lower Clarence Valley of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Blackbutt - bloodwood dry heathy open forest on Quaternary sands of the northern NSW North Coast Bioregion Blackbutt - bloodwood dry heathy open forest on sandstones of the northern NSW North Coast Bioregion Blackbutt - Spotted Gum shrubby open forest on sandstones of the lower Clarence Valley of the NSW North Coast Bioregion North Coast Dry Blackbutt - Turpentine dry heathy open forest on Sclerophyll Forests sandstones of the lower Clarence of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Needlebark Stringybark - Large-fruited Blackbutt heathy open forest on sandstones of the northern NSW North Coast Bioregion Needlebark Stringybark - Red Bloodwood heathy woodland on sandstones of the lower Clarence of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Needlebark Stringybark - Turpentine heathy open forest of the Clarence lowlands of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Pink Bloodwood - Red Mahogany - Smudgy Apple shrubby open forest on sandstone of northern NSW North Coast Bioregion Scribbly Gum - Red Bloodwood heathy open forest of the coastal lowlands of the NSW North Coast Bioregion New England Blackbutt - Diehard Stringybark dry Northern Escarpment open forest of the escarpment ranges of the eastern Dry Sclerophyll Forests New England Tableland Bioregion and NSW North Coast Bioregion Coastal Floodplain Swamp Oak swamp forest of the coastal lowlands of wetlands the NSW North Coast Bioregion Paperbark swamp forest of the coastal lowlands of the NSW North Coast Bioregion and Sydney Basin Bioregion Forested wetlands Swamp Box swamp forest of the coastal lowlands of Coastal Swamp Forests the NSW North Coast Bioregion Swamp Mahogany swamp forest on coastal lowlands of the NSW North Coast Bioregion and northern Sydney Basin Bioregion Wet heathland and shrubland of coastal lowlands of Freshwater wetlands Coastal Heath Swamps the NSW North Coast Bioregion
Keystone Ecological 100 Ref: CVC 14-695 – May 2018 Ecological Response Hickey Street, Iluka, NSW
Formation Class Plant Community Type Cabbage Gum - Broad-leaved Apple open forest of the eastern escarpment, NSW North Coast Bioregion Coastal Valley grass Grassy woodlands and South Eastern Queensland Bioregion woodlands Forest Red Gum - Swamp Box of the Clarence Valley lowlands of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Coastal headland heaths of the NSW North Coast Coastal Headland Bioregion Heaths Heathlands Coastal mallee of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Graminoid clay heaths of the coastal lowlands of the Wallum Sand Heaths NSW North Coast Bioregion Black Bean - Weeping Lilly Pilly riparian rainforest of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Hoop Pine - Yellow Tulipwood dry rainforest of the Dry Rainforests NSW North Coast Bioregion Shatterwood - Giant Stinging Tree - Yellow Tulipwood dry rainforest of the NSW North Coast Bioregion and northern Sydney Basin Bioregion Tuckeroo - Riberry - Yellow Tulipwood littoral Littoral Rainforests rainforest of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Rainforests Coachwood - Soft Corkwood - Crabapple warm Northern Warm temperate rainforest of the NSW North Coast Temperate Rainforests Bioregion Soft Corkwood - Yellow Carabeen - Cryptocarya spp. subtropical rainforest of the NSW North Coast Subtropical Rainforests Bioregion White Booyong - Fig subtropical rainforest of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Native Olive - Gorge Alectryon vine thicket of the Western Vine Thickets gorges of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Mangrove - Black Mangrove low closed forest of the Saline Wetlands Mangrove Swamps northern NSW North Coast Bioregion Blackbutt - Tallowwood dry grassy open forest of the central parts NSW North Coast Bioregion Blackbutt grassy open forest of the lower Clarence Northern Hinterland Valley of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Wet Sclerophyll Forests Brush Box tall moist forest of the northern ranges of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Tallowwood dry grassy forest of the far northern ranges of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Wet Sclerophyll Forests Dorrigo White Gum open forest of the escarpment (grassy sub-formation) ranges of the NSW North Coast Bioregion and New England Tableland Bioregion Mountain Ribbon Gum - Messmate open forest of Northern Tableland escarpment ranges of the NSW North Coast Wet Sclerophyll Forests Bioregion and New England Tableland Bioregion Silvertop Stringybark - Tallowwood open forest of the escarpment ranges of the New England Tableland Bioregion and NSW North Coast Bioregion Blackbutt - Tallowwood tall moist forest of the far north east of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Blackbutt tall moist forest of the coastal ranges of Wet Sclerophyll Forests North Coast Wet the central and southern NSW North Coast (shrubby sub- Sclerophyll Forests Bioregion formation) Brush Box - Tallowwood shrubby moist forest of the escarpment ranges of central NSW North Coast Bioregion
Keystone Ecological 101 Ref: CVC 14-695 – May 2018 Ecological Response Hickey Street, Iluka, NSW
Formation Class Plant Community Type Dunn's White Gum tall open forest of the ranges of the northern NSW North Coast Bioregion Pink Bloodwood - Tallowwood moist open forest of the far northern ranges of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Spotted Gum - Brush Box moist forest of ranges of the southern Clarence Valley of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Spotted Gum - Grey Ironbark shrubby open forest of the Richmond Range of the NSW North Coast Steel Box shrubby open forest of the ranges of the northern NSW North Coast Tallowwood - Brush Box - Sydney Blue Gum moist shrubby forest of the southern NSW North Coast Bioregion Tallowwood - Brush Box moist open forest of the coastal ranges of the central NSW North Coast Tallowwood - Narrow-leaved White Mahogany - Spotted Gum moist open forest in the Washpool area of the NSW North Coast Tallowwood - Sydney Blue Gum moist open forest of the northern ranges of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Tallowwood - Turpentine moist open forest of the ranges of the Nymboida area of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Turpentine moist open forest of the coastal hills and ranges of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Brown Barrel - gum moist open forest of the escarpment ranges of NSW North Coast Bioregion and New England Tableland Bioregion Brush Box - Tallowwood shrubby open forest of the northern ranges of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Brush Box - Tallowwood tall moist forest in the Washpool area of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Messmate open forest of the tableland edge of the NSW North Coast Bioregionand New England Tableland Bioregion New England Blackbutt - Tallowwood moist shrubby forest of the escarpment ranges of the NSW Northern Escarpment North Coast Bioregion and New England Tableland Wet Sclerophyll Forests Bioregion New England Blackbutt tall moist forest of the escarpment ranges of the northern NSW North Coast Bioregion Silvertop Stringybark - Round-leaved Gum open forest of the tableland edge of the New England Tableland Bioregion and NSW North Coast Bioregion Sydney Blue Gum - Tallowwood - Soft Corkwood moist forest of the escarpment ranges of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Sydney Blue Gum open forest of the northern ranges of the NSW North Coast Bioregion
Keystone Ecological 102 Ref: CVC 14-695 – May 2018 Ecological Response Hickey Street, Iluka, NSW
Figure 24: Little Bentwing-bat potential habitat (blue) across the region as defined by DEE and on site. Source vegetation map: CoastVeg_NE_NSW_E_3885 (OEH 2011).
Keystone Ecological 103 Ref: CVC 14-695 – May 2018 Ecological Response Hickey Street, Iluka, NSW
4.3.13 Nyctophilus bifax Eastern Long-eared Bat
The relevant profile (Profile ID 10567) of the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage Threatened Species Profile Database indicates that this species is known from 25 Plant Community Types, as per Table 18 overleaf.
After consideration of the habitats available on site, the vegetation types from which it has been found in the local area and across the region and North Coast Bioregion, the area of available habitat within the region just in reserved land has been estimated as approximately 388 hectares, as shown in Figure 25. In addition, of the vegetation outside of reserves in the region, approximately 275 hectares of sclerophyll forest provides potential habitat for this species.
The subject site also contains potential habitat for this species, across approximately 2.35 hectares of vegetation of type 190 Coast Banksia woodland and open forest of coastal dunes (0.41 hectares) and type 193 Pink Bloodwood – Brush Box Open Forest (sub-forms 193b and 193e) (1.94 hectares). The potential habitat on site represents approximately 0.4% of the estimated potential habitat in the region.
Keystone Ecological 104 Ref: CVC 14-695 – May 2018 Ecological Response Hickey Street, Iluka, NSW
Table 18: Vegetation formations, classes and types associated with Nyctophilus bifax Eastern Long-eared Bat on the NSW North Coast.
Formation Class Plant Community Type Coastal Floodplain Swamp Oak swamp forest of the coastal lowlands of wetlands the NSW North Coast Bioregion Paperbark swamp forest of the coastal lowlands of the NSW North Coast Bioregion and Sydney Basin Bioregion Forested Wetlands Swamp Box swamp forest of the coastal lowlands of Coastal Swamp Forests the NSW North Coast Bioregion Swamp Mahogany swamp forest on coastal lowlands of the NSW North Coast Bioregion and northern Sydney Basin Bioregion Black Bean - Weeping Lilly Pilly riparian rainforest of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Hoop Pine - Yellow Tulipwood dry rainforest of the Dry Rainforests NSW North Coast Bioregion Shatterwood - Giant Stinging Tree - Yellow Tulipwood dry rainforest of the NSW North Coast Bioregion and northern Sydney Basin Bioregion Tuckeroo - Riberry - Yellow Tulipwood littoral Littoral Rainforests Rainforests rainforest of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Coachwood - Soft Corkwood - Crabapple warm Northern Warm temperate rainforest of the NSW North Coast Temperate Rainforests Bioregion Soft Corkwood - Yellow Carabeen - Cryptocarya spp. subtropical rainforest of the NSW North Coast Subtropical Rainforests Bioregion White Booyong - Fig subtropical rainforest of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Northern Hinterland Brush Box tall moist forest of the northern ranges of Wet Sclerophyll Forests the NSW North Coast Bioregion Wet Sclerophyll Forests Dorrigo White Gum open forest of the escarpment (grassy sub-formation) Northern Tableland ranges of the NSW North Coast Bioregion and New Wet Sclerophyll Forests England Tableland Bioregion Blackbutt - Tallowwood tall moist forest of the far north east of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Dunn's White Gum tall open forest of the ranges of the northern NSW North Coast Bioregion Pink Bloodwood - Tallowwood moist open forest of the far northern ranges of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Spotted Gum - Grey Ironbark shrubby open forest of the Richmond Range of the NSW North Coast North Coast Wet Wet Sclerophyll Forests Steel Box shrubby open forest of the ranges of the Sclerophyll Forests (shrubby sub- northern NSW North Coast formation) Tallowwood - Narrow-leaved White Mahogany open forest of the hinterland ranges of the North Coast Tallowwood - Sydney Blue Gum moist open forest of the northern ranges of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Turpentine moist open forest of the coastal hills and ranges of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Northern Escarpment rush Box - Tallowwood shrubby open forest of the Wet Sclerophyll Forests northern ranges of the NSW North Coast Bioregion
Keystone Ecological 105 Ref: CVC 14-695 – May 2018 Ecological Response Hickey Street, Iluka, NSW
Formation Class Plant Community Type New England Blackbutt tall moist forest of the escarpment ranges of the northern NSW North Coast Bioregion Sydney Blue Gum - Tallowwood - Soft Corkwood moist forest of the escarpment ranges of the NSW North Coast Bioregion Sydney Blue Gum open forest of the northern ranges of the NSW North Coast Bioregion
Keystone Ecological 106 Ref: CVC 14-695 – May 2018 Ecological Response Hickey Street, Iluka, NSW
Figure 25: Eastern Long-eared Bat potential habitat (blue) across the region as defined by DEE and on site. Source vegetation map: CoastVeg_NE_NSW_E_3885 (OEH 2011).
Keystone Ecological 107 Ref: CVC 14-695 – May 2018 Ecological Response Hickey Street, Iluka, NSW
5 WORLD HERITAGE PROPERTY AND ITS VALUES
5.1 Iluka Nature Reserve and World Heritage
Iluka Nature Reserve, which is at its closest point 60 metres from the south eastern corner of the subject site, is part of the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage. In the DEE’s determination, it was concluded that Iluka Nature Reserve’s world heritage values are also a surrogate for the property’s national heritage values. This report therefore addresses the world heritage and national heritage values collectively in terms of the potential impact of the proposal on the Iluka Nature Reserve’s Outstanding Universal Values (or OUV) shared by the proposed development site.
Iluka Nature Reserve is approximately 136 hectares in area, with over half (90 hectares) made up of Littoral Rainforest (NPWS 1997). The extent of its Littoral Rainforest and its relationship to the development site is shown in Figure 26.
Iluka Nature Reserve adjoins Bundjalung National Park to the north, residential development to the west and south, and Iluka Beach to the east. The Nature Reserve was dedicated in 1976, with Bundjalung National Park following in 1980 (NPWS 1997).
Iluka Nature Reserve is part of a large contiguous area of coastal vegetation stretching for over 100 kilometres from Corindi to Broadwater, making it a part of the longest stretch of vegetated coastline along the east coast of Australia. Most of this vegetated coastline is protected in National Parks and Nature Reserves.
To be considered for a World Heritage listing, Iluka Nature Reserve had to meet at least one of 10 criteria set out by the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO). The ten selection criteria are:
(i) to represent a masterpiece of human creative genius;
(ii) to exhibit an important interchange of human values, over a span of time or within a cultural area of the world, on developments in architecture or technology, monumental arts, town-planning or landscape design;
(iii) to bear a unique or at least exceptional testimony to a cultural tradition or to a civilization which is living or which has disappeared;
(iv) to be an outstanding example of a type of building, architectural or technological ensemble or landscape which illustrates (a) significant stage(s) in human history;
Keystone Ecological 108 Ref: CVC 14-695 – May 2018 Ecological Response Hickey Street, Iluka, NSW
(v) to be an outstanding example of a traditional human settlement, land- use, or sea-use which is representative of a culture (or cultures), or human interaction with the environment especially when it has become vulnerable under the impact of irreversible change;
(vi) to be directly or tangibly associated with events or living traditions, with ideas, or with beliefs, with artistic and literary works of outstanding universal significance. (The Committee considers that this criterion should preferably be used in conjunction with other criteria);
(vii) to contain superlative natural phenomena or areas of exceptional natural beauty and aesthetic importance;
(viii) to be outstanding examples representing major stages of earth's history, including the record of life, significant on-going geological processes in the development of landforms, or significant geomorphic or physiographic features;
(ix) to be outstanding examples representing significant on-going ecological and biological processes in the evolution and development of terrestrial, fresh water, coastal and marine ecosystems and communities of plants and animals;
(x) to contain the most important and significant natural habitats for in- situ conservation of biological diversity, including those containing threatened species of outstanding universal value from the point of view of science or conservation.
Criteria (i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (v) and (vi) were assigned by UNESCO to address cultural criteria of a site and criteria (vii), (viii), (ix) and (x) were assigned to address the natural criteria of a World Heritage listed site. Of these 10 criteria, the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage listing satisfied 3 of the 10 criteria, those being criteria (viii), (ix) and (x).
In addition to meeting at least one of these criteria, Iluka Nature Reserve also had to meet integrity conditions, authenticity, and have an adequate system of protection and management for its future.
In their determination, the DEE identified that the proposed development could potentially impact on two of the criteria set out by UNESCO, being criteria (ix) and (x). These criteria and the relevant OUVs as detailed by DEE are summarised in following sections.
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Figure 26: Extent of Littoral Rainforest within Iluka Nature Reserve and its proximity to the subject site. Source: Department of the Arts, Sport the Environment and Territories (1992).
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5.2 Relevant World Heritage Selection Criteria
5.2.1 Criterion (ix)
Criterion (ix): To be outstanding examples representing significant on-going ecological and biological processes in the evolution and development of terrestrial, fresh water, coastal and marine ecosystems and communities of plants and animals.
Iluka Nature Reserve is located on a sand peninsula, which in turn is part of an extensive vegetated coastal plain, and contains an intact series of terrestrial vegetation zones. This is a rare occurrence, as such coastal habitats are favoured for human occupation and agriculture, and have also been exploited for sand mining in the recent past.
Much of the extensive coastal plain from Corindi to Broadwater is reserved in large National Parks and Nature Reserves, including Iluka Nature Reserve. Protected areas of this scale are able to maintain landscape-scale ecological processes, and support large viable populations of plants and animals. This surrounding context of extensive reserved natural systems also delivers the integrity and protection mechanisms required for World Heritage listing.
In particular, Iluka Nature Reserve is part of the estate of the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, and its conservation management is detailed in the ‘Broadwater National Park, Bundjalung National Park and Iluka Nature Reserve Plan of Management’ (NPWS 1997).
General management plan objectives for all National Parks and Nature Reserves are (NPWS 1997):
the protection and preservation of their scenic and natural features; · the conservation of wildlife; the maintenance of natural processes as far as is possible; · the preservation of Aboriginal sites and historic features; · the provision of appropriate recreation opportunities; and · the encouragement of scientific and educational inquiry into environmental features and processes, prehistoric and historic features, and park use patterns.
Management objectives specific to the subject protected lands include (NPWS 1997):
The protection of the planning area as part of a regionally important system of national parks and nature reserves on the north coast of NSW. ·
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The protection of geomorphological and hydrological features within Broadwater and Bundjalung National Parks. · The maintenance of biodiversity with priority given to the protection of those communities in the planning area containing endangered and vulnerable species, particularly heathlands and littoral rainforest communities in Iluka Nature Reserve and Bundjalung National Park. Protection of the natural values and the recreational setting of the Esk River within Bundjalung National Park. · Protection of the remote natural area setting within the designated Primitive Area of Bundjalung National Park. · The protection of Aboriginal sites and places, and the provision of opportunities for the Aboriginal community to be involved in the management of the planning area. · Promotion of public awareness and appreciation of the planning area with emphasis on: o the importance of the planning area in the regional pattern of conservation areas on the NSW north coast; o the physical and biological significance of the coastal environment for the conservation of native plants and animals; o appropriate use of the of the two national parks and the nature reserve, and o appreciation of Aboriginal and historic heritage. Ensuring that the pattern and level of outdoor recreation is appropriate to the conservation objectives for the planning area with emphasis on the provision of a range of vehicle and walking access opportunities and low key facilities.
These management objectives recognise the special World Heritage values of the Iluka Nature Reserve and its constituent elements of Gondwana Rainforest.
Being a very dry continent, Australia’s share of Rainforests is very small, with only 5% of the world’s total Rainforest species (Hunter 2004). Nevertheless, the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia – including Iluka Nature Reserve - provide exceptional examples of natural processes and evolution of species.
Floristic taxa and flora species of the Littoral Rainforest, such as in Iluka Nature Reserve, have probably evolved from ancestral subtropical rainforests in response to increasingly dry climatic conditions (Hunter 2004). Thus they provide a glimpse into the evolution of the Australian biota, reflecting its evolutionary history with direct connections to taxa dating from the Carboniferous period, approximately 320 million years ago.
The dominant species that occur within the Littoral Rainforest in Iluka Nature Reserve are (NPWS 1997):
Syzygium hemilampra Broad-leaved Lilly Pilly
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Syzygium leuhmannii Riberry Livistona australis Cabbage Tree Palm Archontophoenix cunninghamiana Bangalow Palm
These four common species are within the Myrtaceae and Arecaceae families, which have lineages dating from the Late Cretaceous period (100 million years ago).
The Myrtaceae particularly is an iconic and critical component of the contemporary Australian flora. It is likely that rainforest taxa gave rise to the now dominant dry-adapted species of this family, which includes the eucalypts (Hunter 2004). Thus, the Gondwana Rainforests, including those of Iluka Nature Reserve, are a living museum of these ancient taxonomic relationships and provide opportunities for the study of the ongoing biological evolution of flora and fauna communities with Gondwana origins.
Ongoing geological processes continue to occur in the Iluka Nature Reserve, with at least 4 geological ages in evidence:
The ‘Age of the Pteridophytes’ of the Carboniferous Period; The ‘Age of Conifers’ of the Jurassic Period; The ‘Age of the Angiosperms’ of the Early Cretaceous Period; and Assemblages of rainforest that represent the ‘golden age’ of the Early Tertiary Period
The development and expression of Littoral Rainforest in Iluka Nature Reserve is unique also in that it occurs on quaternary sands; Littoral Rainforest is otherwise usually found on clay-based soil profiles.
Littoral Rainforest has a distinctive structure and a characteristic floristic composition. These attributes have evolved in response to the ongoing geological, ecological and biological processes that continue to occur today, such as proximity to salt-laden winds and fire patterns.
5.2.2 Criterion (x)
Criterion (x): To contain the most important and significant natural habitats for in- situ conservation of biological diversity, including those containing threatened species of outstanding universal value from the point of view of science or conservation.
Iluka Nature Reserve supports a number of significant natural habitats, including beaches, low scrub on sand dunes, and various forest types (including Littoral Rainforest) in the hind dunes. It is part of a large expanse of (mostly protected) coastal environments that
Keystone Ecological 113 Ref: CVC 14-695 – May 2018 Ecological Response Hickey Street, Iluka, NSW stretch virtually uninterrupted over a distance of more than 100 kilometres. The immediate vicinity of Iluka Nature Reserve also includes estuarine habitats and floodplains associated with the Clarence River, with saltmarshes, mangrove swamps, freshwater swamps and swamp forests.
Iluka Nature Reserve therefore supports important habitats in its own right, but also benefits from its landscape context and the nature of surrounding lands. The diversity of habitats support a diversity of species and vegetation types. It is this inherent genetic diversity that increases the value of Gondwana Rainforest habitats for threatened flora and fauna species.
Gondwana Rainforests provide habitat for more than 270 threatened species of flora and fauna. Locally, Iluka Nature Reserve and surrounding lands include many endangered vegetation communities (e.g. Littoral Rainforest), endangered populations (e.g. Dromaius novaehollandiae Emu), threatened species (e.g. Dasyurus maculatus Spot-tailed Quoll), species that perform important ecosystem services (e.g. Pteropus poliocephalus Grey- headed Flying-fox), iconic species (e.g. Phascolarctos cinereus Koala), and species recognised as being of OUV, but not otherwise of conservation significance (e.g. Leucosarcia melanoleuca Wonga Pigeon).
Iluka Nature Reserve contains at least 187 flora species from 73 families, with the dominant families being Sapindaceae, Myrtaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Rutaceae and Moraceae (Department of the Arts, Sport the Environment and Territories 1992). Within the Iluka Nature Reserve and Bundjalung National Park, 48 species of flora are considered to have important ecological significance, with 5 currently listed as endangered or vulnerable under NSW and / or Commonwealth legislation (NPWS 1997):
Acronychia littoralis Scented Acronychia; Aldrovanda vesiculosa Waterwheel Plant; Phaius australis Lesser Swamp Orchid; Rutidosis heterogama; and Tinospora tinosporoides Arrow-head Vine.
Within the local region more than 280 fauna species have been recorded (NPWS 1997). Although the fauna are comprised of reptiles, birds and mammals, the majority are birds with 205 bird species recorded from Iluka Nature Reserve, Bundjalung National Park and Broadwater National Park (NPWS 1997). Many of the fauna known from the local region are threatened and / or migratory species, including at least 2 frogs, 26 birds and 14 mammals.
The invertebrate fauna of the Gondwana Rainforest is also notable. Geological patterns can be important in the distribution and speciation of invertebrates, with many insects
Keystone Ecological 114 Ref: CVC 14-695 – May 2018 Ecological Response Hickey Street, Iluka, NSW and arachnids containing direct connections to their prehistoric ancestors. Iluka Nature Reserve supports a diverse array of insects, spiders and moths.
Stygofauna are a specialised group of underground-dwelling fauna (such as snails and worms). They are found in different types of groundwater environments, including aquifers (fresh and saline), and in small porous spaces such as cracks and fissures typically found within rock (excluding limestone) or sediment (Subterranean Ecology 2018).
There are approximately 238 taxa of stygofauna known within Australia, with almost half being specialised forms. A significant portion of these fauna display Gondwana affinities (Hunter 2004); 16 such species (all snails) have been recorded from Iluka Nature Reserve and surrounds.
5.2.3 The Development Site and World Heritage Criteria
The development site is part of a set of vegetated lands that lie outside of, but near to, the protected network of Iluka Nature Reserve and Bundjalung National Park. Therefore, as part of the extensive vegetated coastal plain, it contributes to some of the ecological processes and services of that expanse of (mostly protected) habitat. It therefore may contribute to, or express, or have an influence on some of the other criteria that ae part of the Gondwana Rainforest World Heritage listing.
The development site can be regarded as contributing to or influencing the World Heritage values of Iluka Nature Reserve by either a physical or functional connection. In terms of biodiversity, these types of connections may be direct or indirect, but they all may facilitate the gene flow of flora and fauna. For example, the development site may contain habitat features common to the World Heritage place that are exploited by species common to both areas.
Alternatively, the development site may share other types of World Heritage values (e.g. shared evolutionary or geological histories), and therefore reflect and contribute to the regional context of that shared feature.
In the local region (as defined by the DEE for this report), Iluka Nature Reserve and Bundjalung National Park account for 2,290 hectares of vegetation. The vegetated lands outside of the reserve system comprise approximately another 430 hectares, of which the development site is 19.41 hectares.
Thus, the development site represents 0.7% of the 2,720 hectares of vegetated land within the region. This is dwarfed by the 84% of vegetated land contributed by the reserved lands, including Iluka Nature Reserve. Therefore, on a numerical basis alone, the
Keystone Ecological 115 Ref: CVC 14-695 – May 2018 Ecological Response Hickey Street, Iluka, NSW development site contributes relatively little to the habitats in both a regional context and as part of the much larger expanse of vegetated coastal plain.
A superficial analysis of the distribution of woody vegetation in that region indicates that the development site is part of a corridor linking the reserved lands to the east (including Iluka Nature Reserve) with the vegetated lands to the west and north west. However, the vegetation on site is generally in very poor condition, being highly modified after past clearing, burning, sand mining, further earthworks, potentially inappropriate rehabilitation works, severe weed infestations, and (probably) repeated hot fires. Thus, its value to wildlife as part of a corridor is diminished in accordance with its poor habitat values.
It is also separated from the reserved lands to the east by Iluka Road, and for most of its length in the region, this road passes through bushland. As the road is only two lanes wide, it is relatively easily traversed by species not averse to crossing open spaces. However, the speed limit is high and as the only road servicing the township, it carries a lot of traffic. Thus there are significant numbers of injured wildlife handed to WIRES each year, and even greater numbers of unreported and / or unnoticed roadkill.
Given these local features, the north-south link through the protected lands that are actively managed for conservation is a far superior wildlife corridor servicing the World Heritage lands than the east-west link involving the development site. However, the development site is still likely to be used on occasion as a stepping stone to adjacent habitats by terrestrial species, but more often by highly mobile species such as birds and bats.
The vast majority of the vegetation of the site does not express any structural or floristic elements of Littoral Rainforest. While there are some elements of this World Heritage attribute present (e.g. a small number of Syzygium hemilampra), in general these are overwhelmingly dominated by species of other vegetation communities, being communities 187 Coastal Cypress Pine shrubby open forest (0.25 hectares), 190 Coast Banksia Woodland and open forest of coastal dunes (0.41 hectares), and 193 Pink Bloodwood – Brush Box open forest on coastal dunes and sandplains (18.15 hectares). The dominant vegetation type (community 193) is in turn dominated by a dense canopy of Acacia disparrima, with a much reduced floristic diversity.
However, the species and landform elements common with Littoral Rainforest that occur on site occur in the following:
Community 190 – this vegetation type is confined to the western end of the site where the impacts from sand mining land use have not been as severe and the dune and swale landform is still apparent. The vegetation is relatively intact here, and
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has a number of species common with Littoral Rainforest. However, it does not express the suite of species or structural features of Littoral Rainforest; Community 193e - this vegetation type occurs in the site’s north eastern corner. This area has been subject to the full suite of severe disturbances, and is characterised by infestations of transformer weeds with some emerging native species. These native species include some trees and vines common with Littoral Rainforest; and Community 193c – this generally occurs in the site’s south western part where there is a relatively diverse canopy and sub-canopy that includes some species also known to occur in Littoral Rainforest.
Thus, although not sharing the vegetation community of Littoral Rainforest, the site contains some plant species in common with the World Heritage area, and therefore may exchange genetic material and contribute to local genetic diversity.
The severe land use history has disrupted and irretrievably altered the dune crest and swale landscape pattern that should be in evidence in this narrow peninsula of sand. Sand mining for rutile has also transformed the soil’s structure, as well as its elemental and nutrient profile. Therefore the development site no longer reflects the geological processes of the World Heritage area.
5.3 Outstanding Universal Values
In addition to the Criteria detailed above, a number of OUVs have been identified for Iluka Nature Reserve.
The OUVs are:
Protection and management of the remaining extent of exceptional rainforest; Important evolutionary flora assemblages, providing an insight into the ecological and biological evolution of Gondwana; Significant habitat for a range of fauna species with descendants linked to Gondwana, including a range of birds, vertebrate and invertebrate; Significant habitat for threatened flora and fauna species, and ‘rainforest specialist’ species; Important habitat diversity provided by the differing vegetation communities occurring within, or adjoining to Gondwana Rainforest; Important habitats and micro-ecosystems acting as nurseries for fauna species; Flora species limited by restricted reproductive activities, including low dispersal rates, genetic diversity, population size and the extent of suitable habitat; Fauna species restricted by the extent of suitable habitat within Gondwana Rainforests;
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The significant natural landscape arising from the ancient geological and geomorphological processes; Significant associations with a number of flora and fauna species of conservation significance; and Exceptional natural attractiveness.
Of these OUVs, the DEE require further assessment of the species that contribute to the OUV of Iluka Nature Reserve that occur or are considered likely to occur on the development site. These species are referred to as the OUV constituent species and comprise:
o Monarcha leucotis White-eared Monarch o Leucosarcia melanoleuca Wonga Pigeon o Ptilinopus magnificus Wompoo Fruit-Dove o Ptilinopus regina Rose-crowned Fruit-dove o Ptilinopus superbus Superb Fruit-Dove o Rhipidura rufifrons Rufous Fantail o Mormopterus norfolkensis Eastern Free-tail Bat o Miniopterus australis Little Bentwing Bat o Nyctophilus bifax Eastern Long-eared Bat o Pteropus poliocephalus Grey-headed Flying-fox o Dasyurus maculatus maculatus Spot-tailed Quoll (SE mainland population)
Each of these is addressed in in turn, detailing their ecology, occurrence on site and regional distribution. Maps of available habitat for each can be found in Section 4.
5.3.1 Monarcha leucotis White-eared Monarch
The White-eared Monarch is not listed under the schedules of the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. It is listed as Vulnerable under Schedule 1 of the NSW Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016.
The white-eared Monarch is a small, distinctively pied monarch-flycatcher that is approximately the same size as Rhipidura fuliginosa Grey Fantail. They are largely black above and pale grey below with a distinctive black and white face (OEH 2018a).
This species is endemic to coastal lowlands and the eastern slopes of the Great Dividing Range of eastern Australia known to occur from the Cape York Peninsula to north eastern NSW (OEH 2018a). The White-eared Monarch lives in a variety of habitats including broadleaved thicket, shrubland (OEH 2018a), littoral rainforest, dry sclerophyll forest, wet sclerophyll forest, as well as swamp forest (NPWS 2002). They appear to prefer the ecotone between rainforest and open vegetation such as along roads (OEH 2018a).
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They are observed high in the canopy and are highly active when foraging for insects, characteristically fluttering around the outer foliage of rainforest trees (OEH 2018a).
The White-eared Monarch breeds from September to March nesting along the edge of patches of rainforest, high in the canopy (Conole et al. 1995).
The distribution of this species occurs mostly in dry vegetation types, including Littoral Rainforest which occurs within Iluka Nature Reserve. It is known to occur within the NSW North Coast IBRA bioregion and within the following IBRA subregions (OEH 2018a):
Coffs Coast and Escarpment; Macleay Hastings; and Yuraygir
This species has been recorded at least 66 times within the local region. The latest record dates from the 24th November 2017 when this species was observed within Iluka Nature Reserve.
This species was not recorded on the subject site during surveys. Suitable habitat occurs across approximately 5.50 hectares of the subject site.
The DEE define the region as being the extent of the Iluka Peninsula, including connected areas, including Bundjalung National Park, depending on the extent of species habitats and populations.
Suitable habitat available within the local region has been estimated as approximately 905 hectares, including the 90 hectares of Littoral Rainforest within Iluka Nature Reserve. The extent of potential habitat on the subject site represents a very small area (approximately 1.3%) of potential habitat for this highly mobile species across the region.
A map of records of this species within the local area is shown in Figure 27.
5.3.2 Leucosarcia melanoleuca Wonga Pigeon
This species is not listed as a threatened entity under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act (1999) or the Biodiversity Conservation Act (2016). The Wonga Pigeon has been flagged as an important attribute to Gondwana Rainforests, specifically Iluka Nature Reserve.
This species occurs along the east coast of Australia from south-east Queensland to Gippsland, Victoria and is known to occur within a range of habitats, including forests, woodlands, shrublands and rural gardens.
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The Wonga Pigeon feeds on the seed of native and introduced plants and also on fallen fruits with the occasional insect. It forages exclusively on the ground, generally in the early morning and late afternoon.
It is a monogamous species, partnering for life with breeding pairs known to defend their nest sites and surrounding area. Nests are built in large trees, high off the ground. Nests are a round ‘saucer’ shaped platform of twigs and sticks that is then lines with softer plant materials (Birdlife Australia 2018).
This species is common to the east coast of Australia and little is known about its distribution and population size.
A total of 102 records of this species occur within the local region (see Figure 28) and it was recorded on site. This species is well- distributed within the Littoral Rainforest within the region, including Iluka Nature Reserve. This species is considered to be common however, it is also identified by the IUCN as in decline due to increasing threats from Climate Change and severe weather patterns (Birdlife International 2016).
The site provides suitable habitat for this species, and a total of 14.11 hectares of suitable habitat will be removed by the proposal.
The proposed development will not impact on the extent of suitable habitats occurring outside the subject site and the local region will continue to maintain and protect a very large extent of suitable habitat for this common species.
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24th November 2017 4 individuals recorded
Figure 27: White-eared Monarch within the local region near the site and in relation to the subject site (black outline) and the proposed footprint (grey). Source: BioNet, ALA and eBird Australia.
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24th November 2017 November 2017 4 individuals recorded Image captured during survey
24th November 2017 3 individuals observed
Figure 28: Wonga Pigeon within the local region near the site and in relation to the subject site (black outline) and the proposed footprint (grey). Source: BioNet, ALA and eBird Australia.
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5.3.3 Ptilinopus magnificus Wompoo Fruit-Dove
The Wompoo Fruit-Dove is listed as Vulnerable under the schedules of the NSW Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016. This species is not listed under the schedules of the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.
The Wompoo Fruit-dove is a large, multi-coloured rainforest pigeon, up to 56 cm long, with a pale grey head shading into rich green back and wings. There is a broken yellow band across each wing. The breast and belly are plum-purple and the underparts are yellow (OEH 2018a).
It occurs along the coast and ranges from the Hunter River in NSW north to Cape York Peninsula. It is rare south of Coffs Harbour with only historical records from the Illawarra (OEH 2018a).
It feeds alone or in loose flocks on a diverse range of tree and vine fruits in rainforest, low elevation moist eucalypt forest and brush box forests (OEH 2018a). It feeds almost entirely on fruit, and relies on a diversity of irregularly fruiting trees in a mosaic within large contiguous tract of forest (NPWS 2002). It is most often seen in mature forests, but is also found in remnant and regenerating rainforest (OEH 2018a).
Within the local region, suitable habitat for this species is abundant with the majority of bushland protected and managed within National Parks and Nature Reserves. It is known from only 3 records within the local region. Figure 29 shows the locations of those records.
Within the confines of the subject site approximately 1.21 hectares of suitable habitat will be removed by the proposed development. The remaining vegetation on site will continue to provide suitable habitat and connectivity to the local region for this highly mobile species.
5.3.4 Ptilinopus regina Rose-crowned Fruit-dove
The Rose-crowned Fruit-Dove is listed as Vulnerable under the schedules of the NSW Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016. This species is not listed under the schedules of the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.
The Rose-crowned Fruit-Dove is a small and colourful (adult) or plain green pigeon (juvenile) with a yellow belly and tail tip in adults (Slater et al. 1995). Males and females have a rose crown with grey/lavender on the remainder of the head and breast. Females are slightly paler in colour (Flegg 2002).
Keystone Ecological 123 Ref: CVC 14-695 – May 2018 Ecological Response Hickey Street, Iluka, NSW
2nd September 2011 One individual recorded
22nd February 2007 One individual recorded
Figure 29: Wompoo Fruit Dove within the local region near the site and in relation to the subject site (black outline) and the proposed footprint (grey). Source: BioNet, ALA and eBird Australia.
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24th November 2017 – November 2014 At least 35 individuals Heard during survey recorded from here, calling
14th November 2017 – At least 20 individuals observed, and several others heard
23rd December 2016 3 individuals recorded
Figure 30: Rose-crowned Fruit Dove within the local region near the site and in relation to the subject site (black outline) and the proposed footprint (grey). Source: BioNet, ALA and eBird Australia.
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This species is a common to rare resident in rainforest, forest, mangroves and melaleuca forests from Cape Leveque in Western Australia south to Newcastle in New South Wales (Slater et al. 1995). This species then becomes rare further south (Flegg 2002).
This species is notoriously difficult to sight in the forest canopy, and is often located from falling fruit (Slater et al. 1995). This species is less wary than other similar species (Flegg 2002). Nests consist of a flimsy twig platform, often in a bush or low tree (Slater et al. 1995).
Within the local region, suitable habitat for this species occurs across 400 hectares, with the majority being protected and managed within National Parks and Nature Reserves. It is known from only 3 records within the local region. Figure 30 shows the locations of records. It was heard calling on site and observed in Iluka Nature Reserve.
Within the confines of the subject site approximately 1.21 hectares of suitable habitat will be removed by the proposed development. The remaining vegetation on site will continue to provide suitable habitat and connectivity to the local region for this highly mobile species.
5.3.5 Ptilinopus superbus Superb Fruit-Dove
The Superb Fruit-dove is listed as Vulnerable under the schedules of the NSW Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016. This species is not listed under the schedules of the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.
The Superb Fruit-dove is a small colourful foliage-dwelling pigeon (Simpson and Day 1999). It forages high in the canopy, eating the fruits of many tree species such as figs and palms (OEH 2018a). This species is notoriously difficult to identify when in typical habitat, however falling fruit from feeding can assist. A loud whistle can be heard from the wings when this species is in flight (Slater et al. 1995).
It occurs principally from north-eastern in Queensland to north-eastern NSW in found in rainforest, adjoining mangroves and eucalyptus forests and scrublands containing fruiting species (Simpson and Day 1999). It becomes rarer the further south where it is largely confined to pockets of suitable habitat as far south as Moruya (OEH 2018a). There are also records of vagrants as far south as eastern Victoria and Tasmania (OEH 2018a). Hunter Bird Observers Club considers that this species needs very well established rainforest as their prime habitat and are virtually at their southern limit north of Newcastle (Fulton 2007). Moreover, any sightings south of Gloucester or Bulahdelah would need confirmation before being accepted by the Birdlife Australia Rarities Committee (Fulton 2007).
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Breeding takes place from September to January (OEH 2018a). The nest is a structure of fine interlocked forked twigs, giving a stronger structure than its flimsy appearance would suggest (OEH 2018a). It is usually 5-30 metres up in the fork of a tree in dense rainforest and rainforest edge tree and shrub species (OEH 2018a, Pizzey and Knight 1997). The male incubates the single egg by day, the female incubates at night (Higgins and Davies 1996).
Part of the population is migratory or nomadic (OEH 2018a). There are records of single birds (particularly young birds) flying into lighted windows and lighthouses, indicating that birds travel on their north – south movements at night. At least some of the population, particularly young birds, moves south through Sydney, especially in autumn.
Recognised threats to this species are the clearing and degradation of rainforest remnants (OEH 2018a). The proposal will not exacerbate this threat.
Within the local region, suitable habitat for this species occurs across 484 hectares, with the majority being protected and managed within National Parks and Nature Reserves. It is known from only 3 records within the local region near the site and was heard on site during survey. Figure 31 shows the locations of records.
Within the confines of the subject site approximately 1.21 hectares of suitable habitat will be removed by the proposed development. The remaining vegetation on site will continue to provide suitable habitat and connectivity to the local region for this highly mobile species.
5.3.6 Rhipidura rufifrons Rufous Fantail
The Rufous Fantail is listed as Migratory under the schedules of the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. This species is not listed under the schedules of the NSW Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016.
Within the local region, suitable habitat for this species occurs across over 2,000 hectares, with the majority being protected and managed within National Parks and Nature Reserves.
This species was observed foraging on site in several locations and nesting in the vegetation to be retained at the site’s western end. It is regularly observed in the local region. Figure 32 shows the locations of records.
Within the confines of the subject site approximately 1.21 hectares of suitable habitat will be removed by the proposed development. The remaining vegetation on site will continue to provide suitable habitat and connectivity to the local region for this highly mobile species.
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Heard during survey Spring 2014
21st November 1998 – one individual recorded
21st December 1998 – one individual recorded
Figure 31: Superb Fruit Dove within the local region near the site and in relation to the subject site (black outline) and the proposed footprint (grey). Source: BioNet, ALA and eBird Australia.
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24th November 2017 – 11 individuals recorded
Observed multiple occasions during survey Spring 2014
230 records – many duplicates
Figure 32: Rufous Fantail within the local region near the site and in relation to the subject site (black outline) and the proposed footprint (grey). Source: BioNet, ALA and eBird Australia.
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5.3.7 Mormopterus norfolkensis Eastern Free-tail Bat
The Eastern Freetail-bat is listed as Vulnerable under Schedule 1 of the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016. This species is not listed under the schedules of the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.
The Eastern Freetail-bat has dark brown to reddish brown fur on the back and is slightly paler below. Like other freetail-bats it has a long (3 - 4 cm) bare tail protruding from the tail membrane (OEH 2018a). It is an insectivore but nothing specific is known about its diet (Churchill 1998, 2008).
It is found along the east coast from south eastern Queensland to southern NSW (OEH 2018a). Most records are from dry eucalypt forest and woodland, although a number have been caught flying low over a rocky river through rainforest and wet sclerophyll forest (Hoye et al. 2008). Research in coastal forests near Coffs Harbour have shown that it is more active on upper slopes where the flyways are open and uncluttered, rather than along creeks (Hoye et al. 2008).
Recent research (McConville and Law 2013) suggests that Mormopterus norfolkensis Eastern Freetail-bat is adapted to open landscapes and that they do not move far (only up to 2 kilometres) from roost sites to foraging areas. While longer range movements have been recoded (e.g. 5 kilometres at Urbenville - McConville and Law 2013), the data suggest this species has a smaller foraging range than other Mormopterus species (e.g. 12 kilometres by Mormopterus species 4 – Lumsden et al. 2008).
They occur in small colonies (sometimes perhaps only 2 bats), and roosts have been recorded in the roof of a hut, under bark and the caps of telegraph poles. However, it is more usually found in hollows in large mature trees (Churchill 2008). All natural roost sites have been found in large mature eucalypts and they will use paddock trees and remnant vegetation in farmland (Hoye et al. 2008). In agricultural landscapes, trees in roadside reserves may provide critical for this species (McConville and Law 2013). They will also roost in artificial roosts, with a colony in NSW known to use the same boxes for over 5 years (Churchill 2008).
Young are born in late November or early December and are free-flying by late January (Hoye et al. 2008).
A survey of the fauna of the large sandstone-based reserves around the northern Sydney fringe found that this species was infrequently recorded within these reserves. In this area, it is thought that they may prefer the larger alluvial valleys and coastal plains (DEC 2005, DECC 2008).
Keystone Ecological 130 Ref: CVC 14-695 – May 2018 Ecological Response Hickey Street, Iluka, NSW
This species has not been recorded within the region prior to this study, being known only from within the broader study area – see Figure 33. During survey for this study, foraging calls were recorded that were identified to a “definite” level of certainty.
Potential habitat for this species is abundant in the region, being over 2,000 hectares, mostly in reserved lands. All of the habitats within the development site are considered to provide potential forging habitat for this species.
5.3.8 Miniopterus australis Little Bentwing Bat
The Little Bentwing-bat is listed as Vulnerable under the schedules of the NSW Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016. This species is not listed under the schedules of the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.
These bats have a distribution running along the east coast of Australia from Cape York to northern New South Wales (Churchill 1998). In tropical areas, it ranges from the coast to higher elevations but further south it is largely restricted to the coast (Hoye and Hall 2008).
In the southern part of their range, Little Bentwing-bats may hibernate during winter months (Churchill 1998) but are known to remain active through much of winter, emerging to feed on many nights (Hoye and Hall 2008). It forages via aerial pursuit of small insects (moths, wasps and ants) beneath the canopy of densely-vegetated habitats including rainforest, paperbark swamps and wet and dry sclerophyll forest (Hoye and Hall 2008).
This species roosts communally in caves or similar suitable spaces, often with Miniopterus schreibersii oceanensis Eastern Bentwing-bat (Hoye and Hall 2008) and may form mixed clusters in winter (OEH 2018a). Females gather in large maternity colonies in summer (Menkhorst and Knight 2001), and only five such sites are known across Australia (OEH 2018a). A single young is born in December (Strahan 1995) and males and juveniles disperse in summer (OEH 2018a).
Non-breeding roost sites have included one observation of use of a tree hollow, but it is not known whether this occurs regularly (Hoye and Hall 2008).
This species has been recorded from within two locations in Iluka Nature Reserve prior to this study– see Figure 34. During survey for this study, foraging calls were recorded that were identified to a “definite” level of certainty.
Potential habitat for this species is abundant in the region, being over almost 1,500 hectares, mostly in reserved lands. Most of the habitats within the development site are considered to provide potential forging habitat for this species.
Keystone Ecological 131 Ref: CVC 14-695 – May 2018 Ecological Response Hickey Street, Iluka, NSW
1994 Recorded 1.5km north at Woody Head
Spring 2014 Recorded foraging during survey
2002 Recorded 3km north west at Palmers Island
Figure 33: Eastern Freetail-bat within the local region near the site and in relation to the subject site (black outline) and the proposed footprint (grey). Source: BioNet and ALA.
Keystone Ecological 132 Ref: CVC 14-695 – May 2018 Ecological Response Hickey Street, Iluka, NSW
Spring 2014 Foraging calls recorded during survey
1992 – trapped/netted
2008 – call recorded
Figure 34: Little Bentwing-bat within the local region near the site and in relation to the subject site (black outline) and the proposed footprint (grey). Source: BioNet and ALA.
Keystone Ecological 133 Ref: CVC 14-695 – May 2018 Ecological Response Hickey Street, Iluka, NSW
5.3.9 Nyctophilus bifax Eastern Long-eared Bat
Nyctophilus bifax is listed as Vulnerable under the schedules of the NSW Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016. This species is not listed under the schedules of the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.
It is a small to medium-sized long-eared bat that can be distinguished from the common species by its fur colour, nose and penis morphology and ear size (OEH 2018a).
It occurs from Cape York south to northern NSW, and in NSW appears to be confined to the coastal plain and adjacent ranges (OEH 2018a). Its southern limit is typically around the Clarence River area, with some records as far south as Coffs Harbour (OEH 2018a). Although restricted in its range, it can be locally common (OEH 2018a).
It has been found in lowland subtropical rainforest, as well as wet and swamp eucalypt forest and adjacent moist eucalypt forests. A large number of records come from coastal rainforest and patches of coastal scrub (OEH 2018a). Foraging habitat is listed as wet forest types including rainforest, monsoon forest, riverine forests of paperbark, sometimes in tall open forest, dry sclerophyll forest and woodlands.
It roosts in a number of microhabitats: tree hollows, the hanging foliage of palms, in dense clumps of foliage of rainforest trees, under bark and in shallow depressions on trunks and branches, among epiphytes, in the roots of strangler figs, among dead fronds of tree ferns and less often in buildings (OEH 2018a).
Breeding habitat is more restricted, with maternity sites known only in tree hollows (OEH 2018a). A study on the population in Iluka Nature Reserve concluded that they do not travel far and that the animals captured within the Nature Reserve probably do not venture outside of it for its foraging or roosting needs (Lunney et al. 1995). Further study of the thermal characteristics of roosts and hibernation in this same population in winter revealed large individual differences in roost site selection, doubtless reflecting very different microclimates (Stawski et al. 2009) and perhaps explaining different individual daily torpor patterns. It is not known to exhibit any migratory behaviour and is detectable all year (OEH 2018a).
Recognised threats to this species include land clearing, loss of breeding and roosting sites, invasion of its habitat by weeds (particularly Bitou Bush) and the use of pesticides (OEH 2018a).
A total of 13 locations have been identified in the region. Of these, 2 locations contain 16 and 17 records respectively (see Figure 35). Foraging calls were recorded on the development site during survey and identified to a “possible” level of certainty.
Keystone Ecological 134 Ref: CVC 14-695 – May 2018 Ecological Response Hickey Street, Iluka, NSW
Spring 2014 Possible foraging call recorded during survey
A total of 16 records – of these, 14 records occur from the 25th November 1984.
A total of 17 records mostly occurring in 2008.
Figure 35: Eastern Long-eared Bat within the local region near the site and in relation to the subject site (black outline) and the proposed footprint (grey). Source: ALA (2018).
Keystone Ecological 135 Ref: CVC 14-695 – May 2018 Ecological Response Hickey Street, Iluka, NSW
5.3.10 Pteropus poliocephalus Grey-headed Flying-fox
The Grey-headed Flying-fox is listed as Vulnerable under Schedule 1 of the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016. This species is listed as Vulnerable under the schedules of the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.
The Grey-headed Flying-fox is a large flying-fox with a white or greyish head, reddish mantle around the neck and thick, shaggy fur extending to the ankles (Strahan 1995). This species has a distribution along eastern coastal Australia from Rockhampton in Queensland to western Victoria (Churchill 2008). The Grey-headed Flying-fox occurs in a variety of habitats including subtropical and temperate rainforests, sclerophyll forests, woodlands, as well as urban areas (OEH 2018a). It also frequents mangroves, paperbark swamps and cultivated areas (Churchill 1998). It is usually seen in large, noisy colonies, or in day ‘camps’ usually placed close to water in gullies with dense forest canopies (Tidemann 1995). This is a highly mobile species, and camps are regularly moved in response to local food availability (Churchill 1998). Most births occur around October (Strahan 1995).
They forage widely at night mainly for rainforest fruits and native blossoms (Strahan 1995), and this species is likely to be an important pollinator for many native species (Tidemann 1995). Seventy-five percent of foraging forays are within 20 kilometres of the camp but some individuals may commute 50 kilometres to a productive food sources (Tidemann et al. 2008).
They have been recorded as feeding on 201 plant species of 50 families, with almost half of these in the Myrtaceae (Churchill 2008) but the pollen and nectar of Eucalyptus, Melaleuca and Banksia (Eby 2000) are their principal foods. Native figs are also important and they also appear to eat the salt glands from mangrove trees (Churchill 2008).
The availability of native fruits, nectar and pollen varies over time and throughout the range of the species. This species is highly nomadic in response to the uneven distribution of their food plants, sometimes travelling hundreds of kilometres to find suitable resources and / or feeding in domestic gardens, parks and orchards. Such characteristics make it very difficult to define key habitat areas (Eby and Lunney 2002). Also, the areas that offer foraging resources at any time are small and vary in location between years (Eby and Lunney 2002).
Although variable, a general pattern of movement can be discerned. Almost half of the eucalypt species used by the Grey-headed Flying-fox flower in summer and such summer- flowering species are distributed throughout their range. Thus, in summer, this species is generally widely dispersed.
Keystone Ecological 136 Ref: CVC 14-695 – May 2018 Ecological Response Hickey Street, Iluka, NSW
However, the winter-flowering species they use are largely restricted to the woodlands of the western slopes or the lowland coastal communities (Eby and Lunney 2002). Thus, they are usually highly aggregated in winter, depending on where the nectar is flowing.
This winter convergence makes the species vulnerable to changes in these coastal communities, particularly as it coincides with the areas of greatest development. High rates of mortality can result from result from losses of small areas of key winter habitat (Eby and Lunney 2002). These losses are compounded by removal and fragmentation of other resource patches used at other times. Even in areas of remaining forest, nectar flow itself is impacted upon by dieback, drought, fire, and local fluctuations in temperature and rainfall (Eby and Lunney 2002).
The spring also presents potential bottlenecks for this species as several key spring- flowering trees are primarily confined to relatively flat and fertile land such as has already been extensively cleared and is still favoured by development (Eby and Lunney 2002). This also coincides with the time of birth of young when there is an added nutritional requirement and the females do not venture far from the maternity camp to feed.
These camps may contain tens of thousands animals, depending upon the abundance of locally available food sources. They are generally located in close proximity (20 km or less) to a regular food source, often in stands of riparian rainforest, Paperbark or Casuarina forest (Eby 1995). Site fidelity is high and some camps in NSW have been used for over a century (Eby 2000). Such a permanent long term camp is located at Maclean, approximately 16.5 kilometres to the south west of the subject site.
Being so highly mobile, connectivity of forest patches is not critical for this species to be able to exploit different areas of vegetation. However, they are impacted by direct loss of habitat as well as via long term changes on critical features such as nectar flow wrought by dieback and other consequences of forest fragmentation.
A recent study of threatened nomadic pollinators in NSW (Eby 2016) has concluded that a resource bottleneck for vertebrate pollinators occurs in winter and early spring. The tree species relied upon by the Grey-headed Flying-fox at that time in coastal habitats is Banksia integrifolia Coast Banksia, Corymbia maculata Spotted Gum, Eucalyptus robusta Swamp Mahogany, Eucalyptus sideroxylon Mugga Ironbark, and Melaleuca quinquenervia Broad-leaved Paperbark; and the early spring flowering Eucalyptus siderophloia Northern Grey Ironbark.
A total of 7 records occur on the Iluka peninsula (see Figure 36), with one location with 16 records, largely from 2008, being from a temporary camp. This camp was occupied while dispersal activities were being undertaken at the permanent camp in Maclean. It was not recorded on the development site during survey.
Keystone Ecological 137 Ref: CVC 14-695 – May 2018 Ecological Response Hickey Street, Iluka, NSW
16 records, largely from 2008.
Figure 36: Grey-headed Flying-fox records within the local region near the site and in relation to the subject site (black outline) and the proposed footprint (grey). Source: ALA (2018).
Keystone Ecological 138 Ref: CVC 14-695 – May 2018 Ecological Response Hickey Street, Iluka, NSW
5.3.11 Dasyurus maculatus Spot-tailed Quoll
The Spot-tailed Quoll is listed as Vulnerable under the schedules of the NSW Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016. This species is listed as Endangered under the schedules of the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.
This species has a distribution ranging from Fraser Island in Queensland to south west Victoria and Tasmania (Menkhorst and Knight 2001) but has contracted considerably since European settlement (OEH 2018a). Most recent estimates indicate that 41% of its distribution occurs within the estate of the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (OEH 2018b).
This species occupies a wide variety of habitats, and has been recorded from rainforest, open forest, woodland, coastal heathland and inland riparian forest (Edgar and Belcher 1995). They require large areas of relatively intact vegetation for foraging (NSW NPWS 1999) and is an opportunistic hunter and scavenger. This species usually spends the day sleeping in a den in a crevice, cave, hollow log, hollow tree, boulder field or rocky cliff face (Menkhorst and Knight 2001, OEH 2018a). They use latrines, usually located on the tops of boulders or logs in prominent high places (Belcher et al. 2008), presumably as a means of communication. These latrines may be used by a number of individuals (OEH 2018a).
Females are territorial and have a home range of up to 750 hectares with their home ranges generally along densely vegetated creeklines (OEH 2018a). Males are not territorial and their large overlapping home ranges of between 2,000 and 5,000 hectares encompass many females (Belcher et al. 2008). Males may move up to 5 kilometres during their daily activities and are known to travel up to 8 kilometres in a single night (Belcher et al. 2008). They usually traverse their home ranges along densely vegetated creek lines (OEH 2018a).
They are mostly nocturnal but will hunt during the day. Although it spends most of the time on the ground, it is an excellent climber and is known to raid possum and glider dens and prey on roosting birds (OEH 2018a). Prey items are varied and include gliders, possums, small wallabies, rats, birds, bandicoots, rabbits and insects as well as carrion and domestic fowl.
Breeding generally occurs between April and July (Edgar and Belcher 1995). The average litter size is five and both sexes mature at about one year of age (OEH 2018a).
A total of 6 records occur in the local region with the most recent being from 2004 – see Figure 37. It was not recorded during survey.
Keystone Ecological 139 Ref: CVC 14-695 – May 2018 Ecological Response Hickey Street, Iluka, NSW
2006 – individual reported as part of OEH Community Wildlife Survey
Figure 37: Spot-tailed Quoll within the local region near the site and in relation to the subject site (black outline) and the proposed footprint (grey). Source: BioNet and ALA.
Keystone Ecological 140 Ref: CVC 14-695 – May 2018 Ecological Response Hickey Street, Iluka, NSW
6 IMPACTS ON WORLD HERITAGE PROPERTY AND VALUES
The potential impacts of the development on each of the 11 nominated OUV constituent species have been assessed using the four criteria detailed within DEE’s determination, being:
A description of the direct and indirect impacts that the action will have, or is likely to have, on species and their habitats within the subject site and on adjacent land. This should include:
i) Impacts that occur outside Iluka Nature Reserve such as habitat clearing, fragmentation, obstruction to fauna movement, increased mortality risks, light pollution. ii) Impacts that may be experienced within Iluka NR, such as weed invasion, increased risk of predation by domestic pets (cats and dogs). iii) A discussion of the extent to which the above impacts may impact on the distribution and abundance of these species within Iluka NR, an in turn how the likely extent to which the OUV may be degraded, damaged, altered, modified, obscured or diminished. iv) A discussion of the extent to which the proposed action is likely to affect the existing integrity, management and protective arrangements of Iluka Nature Reserve.
6.1 Constituent OUV Species
6.1.1 Monarcha leucotis White-eared Monarch
The White-eared Monarch was not recorded on or near the subject site during surveys. Potential habitat for this species in the local region is shown in Section 4 and records close to the development site in Section 5. It has previously been recorded 66 times within the local region. The latest record dates from the 24th November 2017 when 4 individuals were recorded in Iluka Nature Reserve. The closest record of this species dates from the 14th November 2017 when an individual was observed and two others heard along the Bluff Road walking track.
This species prefers ecotones between rainforest and other open vegetation types, and the edges of rainforest, such as along roads (OEH 2018a). They forage around the outer foliage of rainforest trees, usually high in the canopy or sub canopy.
The potential habitat on site represents approximately 1.3% of the estimated potential habitat in the region.
Keystone Ecological 141 Ref: CVC 14-695 – May 2018 Ecological Response Hickey Street, Iluka, NSW
The area of potential habitat for the White-eared Monarch that is to be cleared within the subject site totals 11.48 hectares, which is 1% of the area of habitat estimated as available within the region. This habitat occurs within the central core of the site.
The area of potential habitat to be retained for this species within the subject site is 4.43 hectares. This habitat occurs in Park A (western boundary), Park B (north eastern corner), Park D (eastern boundary), and Park E (south eastern corner).
6.1.2 Leucosarcia melanoleuca Wonga Pigeon
The Wonga Pigeon was recorded on the subject site in a remote camera image and nearby during surveys. It is known from 102 records within the local region. Potential habitat for this species in the local region is shown in Section 4 and records close to the development site in Section 5. The latest record dates from the 24th November 2017 when 4 individuals were recorded in Iluka Nature Reserve. Other than site the records from the site, the closest record dates from the 14th November 2017 when individuals were recorded along the walking track of Bluff Road to Iluka.
This species occurs in many types of forests (dense coastal forests, rainforests, and scrubs) and often seen in clearings such as picnic areas, walking tracks, carparks, and roadsides, as well as gardens. It feeds on seeds of native and introduced plants as well as fallen fruit and the occasional insect, and forages exclusively on the ground, often walking long distances along well-defined routes.
The potential habitat on site represents approximately 1.3% of the estimated potential habitat in the region.
The area of potential habitat for the Wonga Pigeon species that is to be cleared within the subject site totals 5.3 hectares, which is 0.4% of the area of habitat estimated as available within the region. This habitat occurs within the central core of the site.
The area of potential habitat to be retained for this species within the subject site is 14.11 hectares. This habitat occurs in Park A (western boundary), Park B (north eastern corner), Park C (southern boundary), Park D (eastern boundary), and Park E (south eastern corner).
6.1.3 Ptilinopus magnificus Wompoo Fruit-Dove
The Wompoo Fruit-dove was not recorded on the subject site or nearby during survey. It is known from only 3 records within the local area. Potential habitat for this species in the local region is shown in Section 4 and records close to the development site in Section 5. The latest record dates from the 2nd September 2011 when this species was observed
Keystone Ecological 142 Ref: CVC 14-695 – May 2018 Ecological Response Hickey Street, Iluka, NSW within Iluka Nature Reserve. Another record of this species nearby dates from the 22nd February 2007 when an individual was recorded within rainforest, also in Iluka Nature Reserve.
It occurs in or near rainforest, low elevation moist eucalypt forest and brush box forests. It feeds on a diverse range of fruits of trees and vines and is locally nomadic by following ripening fruit. It is thought to be an effective vector for seed dispersal over medium to long distances (OEH 2018a). Most often seen in mature forest, but will also use remnant and regenerating rainforest
The potential habitat on site represents approximately 0.2% of the estimated potential habitat in the region.
The area of potential habitat for the Wompoo Fruit-Dove that is to be cleared within the subject site totals 0.03 hectares, which is 0.004% of the area of habitat estimated as available within the region. This habitat occurs within the western edge and north eastern corner of the site.
The area of potential habitat to be retained for this species within the subject site is 1.18 hectares. This habitat occurs in Park A (western boundary) and Park B (north eastern corner).
6.1.4 Ptilinopus regina Rose-crowned Fruit-Dove
The Rose-crowned Fruit-dove was recorded during survey. An individual of this species was heard calling on the subject site and an individual was also observed nearby within Iluka Nature Reserve.
Potential habitat for this species in the local region is shown in Section 4 and records close to the development site in Section 5. It is known from 72 records within the local region. The latest record dates from the 24th November 2017 when at least 35 individuals were observed and heard foraging within Iluka Nature Reserve. Approximately 20 individuals were also observed, and several others heard calling within the Rainforest of Iluka Nature Reserve on the 14th November 2017.
This species occurs mainly in sub-tropical and dry rainforest and occasionally in moist eucalypt forest and swamp forest, where fruit is plentiful. They feed entirely on fruit from vines, shrubs, large trees, and palms, and are thought to be locally nomadic as they follow the ripening of fruits (OEH 2018a).
The potential habitat on site represents approximately 0.2% of the estimated potential habitat in the region.
Keystone Ecological 143 Ref: CVC 14-695 – May 2018 Ecological Response Hickey Street, Iluka, NSW
The area of potential habitat for the Rose-crowned Fruit-dove that is to be cleared within the subject site totals 0.03 hectares, which is 0.004% of the area of habitat estimated as available within the region. This habitat occurs within the western edge and north eastern corner of the site.
The area of potential habitat to be retained for this species within the subject site is 1.18 hectares. This habitat occurs in Park A (western boundary) and Park B (north eastern corner).
6.1.5 Ptilinopus superbus Superb Fruit-Dove
The Superb Fruit-Dove was recorded on the subject site during survey, with an individual heard calling. Potential habitat for this species in the local region is shown in Section 4 and records close to the development site in Section 5. It is known from only one record within the local area dating from 1998.
This species inhabits rainforest and similar closed forests where it forages high in the canopy, eating the fruits of many tree species such as figs and palms. It may also forage in eucalypt or acacia woodland, but only if fruit-bearing trees are present (OEH 2018a).
The potential habitat on site represents approximately 0.2% of the estimated potential habitat in the region.
The area of potential habitat for the Superb Fruit-dove that is to be cleared within the subject site totals 0.03 hectares, which is 0.004% of the area of habitat estimated as available within the region. This habitat occurs within the western edge and north eastern corner of the site.
The area of potential habitat to be retained for this species within the subject site is 1.18 hectares. This habitat occurs in Park A (western boundary) and Park B (north eastern corner).
6.1.6 Rhipidura rufifrons Rufous Fantail
The Rufous Fantail was recorded on the subject site during survey. This species was regularly observed foraging across the subject site during surveys and a nest was observed within vegetation along the western boundary. Potential habitat for this species in the local region is shown in Section 4 and records close to the development site in Section 5. It is known from 109 records within the local region. The latest record dates from the 24th November 2017 when 11 rufous fantails were observed in Iluka Nature Reserve. Several other sightings of this species have occurred recently with 8 observed
Keystone Ecological 144 Ref: CVC 14-695 – May 2018 Ecological Response Hickey Street, Iluka, NSW within the rainforest of Iluka Nature Reserve on the 14th November 2017 and 5 individuals recorded within Iluka Nature Reserve on the 27th September 2016.
It mainly occurs in moist forest habitats, and forages on insects by aerial sallying, leaf gleaning and occasionally from the ground. They are at least partially migratory, with records from the population at Iluka indicating it is generally absent during the winter months.
The potential habitat on site represents approximately 0.9% of the estimated potential habitat in the region.
The area of potential habitat for the Rufous Fantail that is to be cleared within the subject site totals 14.11 hectares, which is 0.6% of the area of habitat estimated as available within the region. This habitat occurs within the central core of the site.
The area of potential habitat to be retained for this species within the subject site is 5.3 hectares. This habitat occurs in Park A (western boundary), Park B (north eastern corner), Park C (southern boundary), Park D (eastern boundary), and Park E (south eastern corner).
6.1.7 Mormopterus norfolkensis Eastern Freetail-bat
A definite call of the Eastern Freetail-bat was recorded on the subject site during survey in November 2014. It is known from only 2 records within the broader study area – no previous records occur within the local region. Potential habitat for this species in the local region is shown in Section 4 and records close to the development site in Section 5. The closest and most recent record of this species dates from 2002 and occurs approximately 3 kilometres west of the subject site.
This species is known from a range of forest types and is generally a species that forages in open spaces. Critical to this species is the availability of roost sites, principally in hollow-bearing trees. Although highly mobile, they generally forage close to their roosts, with radio-tracking data suggesting that they may move only a few kilometres (McConville and Law 2013).
The potential habitat on site represents approximately 0.9% of the estimated potential habitat in the region.
The area of potential habitat for the Eastern Free-tail Bat that is to be cleared within the subject site totals 14.11 hectares, which is 0.6% of the area of habitat estimated as available within the region. This habitat occurs within the central core of the site.
Keystone Ecological 145 Ref: CVC 14-695 – May 2018 Ecological Response Hickey Street, Iluka, NSW
The area of potential habitat to be retained for this species within the subject site is 5.3 hectares. This habitat occurs in Park A (western boundary), Park B (north eastern corner), Park C (southern boundary), Park D (eastern boundary), and Park E (south eastern corner).
6.1.8 Miniopterus australis Little Bentwing-bat
A definite call of Little Bentwing-bat was recorded on the subject site during surveys. Potential habitat for this species in the local region is shown in Section 4 and records close to the development site in Section 5. It is known from 39 records within the broader study area and only 4 records within the local region. The most recent record in the local region dates from 2008 when a call of this species was recorded using an ultrasonic recording device.
This species roosts in caves and tunnels (although one roost site was in a basal hollow of a rainforest tree) (Schulz 1997), and breeds in limestone caves. Its only nursery site in NSW is from the Willi Willi cave system west of Kempsey (NPWS no date). It forages under the tree canopy for flying insects.
The potential habitat on site represents approximately 1% of the estimated potential habitat in the region.
The area of potential habitat for the Little Bentwing Bat that is to be cleared within the subject site totals 11.48 hectares, which is 0.7% of the area of habitat estimated as available within the region. This habitat occurs principally around the central core of the site.
The area of potential habitat to be retained for this species within the subject site is 4.43 hectares. This habitat occurs in Park A (western boundary), Park B (north eastern corner), Park D (eastern boundary), and Park E (south eastern corner).
6.1.9 Nyctophilus bifax Eastern Long-eared Bat
A possible call of Eastern Long-eared Bat was recorded on the subject site during surveys. Potential habitat for this species in the local region is shown in Section 4 and records close to the development site in Section 5. It is known from 39 records within the local region. The majority of records date from 1984 however, the most recent record dates from 2008, as part of a survey undertaken by NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service.
In NSW they are probably confined to the coastal plain and nearby coastal ranges, extending south to the Clarence River area, with a few records further south around Coffs Harbour (OEH 2018a). It is known from lowland subtropical rainforest, wet sclerophyll
Keystone Ecological 146 Ref: CVC 14-695 – May 2018 Ecological Response Hickey Street, Iluka, NSW forest and swamp sclerophyll forest, but Littoral Rainforest and patches of coastal scrub are particularly favoured (OEH 2018a).
This species can be locally common within its restricted range and it roosts in tree hollows, the hanging foliage of palms, in dense clumps of foliage of rainforest trees, under bark and in shallow depressions on trunks and branches, among epiphytes, in the roots of strangler figs, among dead fronds of tree ferns and less often in buildings (OEH 2018a).
The potential habitat on site represents approximately 0.4% of the estimated potential habitat in the region.
The area of potential habitat for the Eastern Long-eared Bat that is to be cleared within the subject site totals 0.18 hectares, which is 0.03% of the area of habitat estimated as available within the region. This habitat occurs along the western boundary and in the north eastern corner of the site.
The area of potential habitat to be retained for this species within the subject site is 2.17 hectares. This habitat occurs in Park A (western boundary), and Park B (north eastern corner).
6.1.10 Pteropus poliocephalus Grey-headed Flying-fox
The Grey-headed Flying-fox was not recorded during surveys. Potential habitat for this species in the local region is shown in Section 4 and records close to the development site in Section 5. It is known from only 4 records within the local region. There is a permanent (and nationally recognised) camp at nearby Maclean, and other satellite camps have been on occasion when dispersal attempts have been undertaken at this permanent camp.
The closest temporary camp (used in 2012) was near the subject site in Swamp Oak Forest in the Clarence River estuary, and important winter forage is provided for this species in coastal heath and scrub, but most particularly in the blossom of Banksia integrifolia subsp. integrifolia Coast Banksia, and, to a lesser extent on this sand plain, by Eucalyptus robusta Swamp Mahogany and Eucalyptus tereticornis Forest Red Gum.
The potential foraging habitat on site for this species represents approximately 0.2% of the estimated potential habitat in the region.
The area of potential habitat for the Grey-headed Flying-fox that is to be cleared within the subject site totals 3.09 hectares, which is 0.1% of the area of habitat estimated as available within the region. This habitat occurs principally in the south western part of the site.
Keystone Ecological 147 Ref: CVC 14-695 – May 2018 Ecological Response Hickey Street, Iluka, NSW
The area of potential habitat to be retained for this species within the subject site is 2.41 hectares. This habitat occurs in Park A (western boundary) and Park B (north eastern corner).
6.1.11 Dasyurus maculatus Spot-tailed Quoll
The Spot-tailed Quoll was not recorded on the subject site during survey. Potential habitat for this species in the local region is shown in Section 4 and records close to the development site in Section 5. It is known from 6 records within the local region. The most recent record dates from 2004, reportedly from within Iluka Nature Reserve approximately 200 metres south east of the subject site. However, this and all but two of the other records arise from a survey of the local community, and therefore the locations and time of observation may be unreliable and may include multiple records of the same animal. The other records are of an animal trapped in 1992 (in the Iluka township), and a hair sample collected during a survey of Bundjalung National Park in 1994.
It is known to use a broad range of habitat types, including rainforest, open forest, woodland, coastal heath, and inland riparian forest, from the sub-alpine zone to the coastline (OEH 2018a). As den sites, it is known to use hollow-bearing trees, fallen logs, small caves, rock outcrops and rocky-cliff faces. It is a generalist predator and will prey on any species of a suitable size but prefers medium-sized mammals (500 grams to 5 kilograms) (OEH 2018a).
This species is considered to be very rare locally and that the site provides sub-optimal habitat only. However, the site may be within the home range of individuals using better habitat elsewhere and nearby, and therefore may at least contribute to corridor habitat.
The potential habitat on site represents approximately 1.1% of the estimated potential habitat in the region.
The area of potential habitat for the Spot-tailed Quoll that is to be cleared within the subject site totals 14.11 hectares, which is 0.8% of the area of habitat estimated as available within the region. This habitat occurs within the central core of the site.
The area of potential habitat to be retained for this species within the subject site is 5.30 hectares. This habitat occurs in Park A (western boundary), Park B (north eastern corner), Park C (southern boundary), Park D (eastern boundary), and Park E (south eastern corner).
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6.2 OUV Impact Assessment – First Factor
DEE require consideration of “Impacts that occur outside Iluka NR such as habitat clearing, fragmentation, obstruction to fauna movement, increased mortality risks, light pollution”.
Potential direct impacts of the proposed development include:
Loss of fauna habitat; Habitat fragmentation; and Displacement of fauna.
Potential indirect impacts of the proposed development include:
Stormwater runoff from hard surfaces; Increased risk of ‘edge effects’, such as encouragement of weed infestations; Increased risk of erosion; Light pollution from increased artificial lighting; and Increased risk of predation by domestic pets.
Within the footprint, the proposal includes the conservation management of the Parks, and establishment of a series of treed verges. The conservation management of the Parks will directly benefit these species on site by the improved condition of habitat, and indirectly in off-site habitats by the removal of weed propagules. Treed verges will facilitate movements through the site and through the landscape, as well as provide direct foraging habitat.
While the local fragmentation of their habitat will increase to some degree as a result of the removal of vegetation within the footprint, connectivity through the landscape will be sufficiently maintained for these highly mobile species. In particular:
The configuration of parks around the perimeter of the development maintain maximum edge to off-site habitats for all species and not interrupt existing connectivity; The preferred “edge” habitat of White-eared Monarch will be retained and maintained around the perimeter of the development site, and around the edges of the retained parks; and Fruit-dove habitat occurs in Parks A and B, and these areas provide the greatest connectivity in all directions;
The proposal will have the potential to increase traffic volume to some small degree, and therefore the potential to increase the risk of car strike. However, this is not a recognised threat to the survival of the OUV species other than for the Spot-tailed Quoll (OEH 2018a).
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Similarly, traffic control is not identified as a management action for their conservation (OEH 2018b). For the recovery of the Spot-tailed Quoll, one of the recovery actions recognised is for authorities to, at the site scale, “incorporate methods to reduce the numbers of spotted-tailed quolls killed at sections of roads where road kills are frequently reported. Assess the effectiveness of different mitigation methods” (OEH 2018b).
There is no evidence of this area being a hotspot for road kill of the Spot-tailed Quoll. However, traffic calming measures within the development itself and provision of education material to residents will both contribute to amelioration of this potential impact. The most effective strategy to combat roadkill is, however, speed restrictions on main thoroughfares such as Iluka Road. Such powers lie with the NSW State agencies, and not private landholders.
The proposed action will result in the removal of some hollow-bearing trees, which may provide roost sites for the microchiropteran bats Mormopterus norfolkensis Eastern Freetail-bat and Nyctophilus bifax Eastern Long-eared Bat. The potential for direct harm to resident fauna will be ameliorated by the ecological supervision of tree felling, which will eb detailed within the Approved HMP. The loss of habitat will be directly offset by the installation of appropriate nest boxes. The specifications of these artificial roost sites, and their installation, maintenance and monitoring will also be detailed in the Approved HMP.
A study of microchiropteran bat activity found that dark parks were more important for bat diversity and activity (six species groups in the darkest park) than were artificially lit parkland areas (three species groups in the flood-lit park) (Scanlon 2006, Scanlon and Petit 2008). Chalinolobus gouldii Gould’s wattled bat and Mormopterus species 4 (94% of calls) were advantaged in urban parklands, being the only species recorded when lights were on at sports parks, whereas five species groups occurred when the lights were off.
Street lighting is also known to interrupt natural foraging behaviour of the threatened species Miniopterus orianae oceanensis Eastern Bentwing-bat (Hoye and Hall 2008). Other species may also be disadvantaged by the presence of artificial lighting.
Therefore, lighting of the development will be minimised in time and space, limited to the areas where and when lighting is required for amenity or security, and of a type that reduces spill and glare.
Suitable sections of felled trees (particularly large, hollow sections) will be repurposed as terrestrial habitat. This will be of benefit to a number of species, but particularly for the Spot-tailed Quoll, a constituent OUV species.
Potential impacts during construction will be ameliorated and managed under a Construction Environmental Management Plan (CEMP or similar), and in the long term by implementation of an Approved Habitat Management Plan (HMP).
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6.3 OUV Impact Assessment – Second Factor
DEE require consideration of “Impacts that may be experienced within Iluka NR, such as weed invasion, increased risk of predation by domestic pets (cats and dogs)”.
The subject lot and the development footprint are located respectively approximately 60 and 123 metres away from Iluka Nature Reserve at their closest points. The proposed actions will require the removal of some native vegetation within the confines of the development site, but distant from Iluka Nature Reserve.
Currently the development site supports large areas of significant weeds, including transformer weeds such as Lantana. Therefore, there is the potential for the site to contribute now to weed invasion into Iluka Nature Reserve by the spreading of propagules by wind, water, and agents such as birds.
The proposed development is concentrated in the areas of least habitat value – where weeds are dominant – and so the clearing for the footprint itself will result in the removal of such material from the local environment.
Clearing will be conducted under an Approved HMP, which will rely on low-risk protocols for removal of weeds to minimise spread during removal (e.g. clearing when not weeds not in fruit), and their ultimate disposal.
The retained bushland on site will be managed under an Approved HMP. This will reduce the chance of the spread of weeds to Iluka Nature Reserve through the reduction of weed load. One of the main objectives of this HMP is to establish self-sustaining healthy bushland with few weeds, using low impact methods such as bush regeneration.
Although the site itself does not support Littoral Rainforest, the management actions will be informed by the Draft Recovery Plan for Littoral Rainforest (DEE 2017), as well as the Plan of Management currently in place for Iluka Nature Reserve (NPWS 1997). These restoration activities will therefore support the management objectives and actions already in place for Iluka Nature Reserve.
Although the chances are slim (given the distance and the intervening topography), other potential indirect impacts may arise due to mobilisation of soil during clearing. Standard erosion and sedimentation controls during construction will be implemented in order to minimise the potential for such impacts.
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The implementation of erosion and sedimentation control fencing will also assist in the management of the potential spread of weeds from the subject site that may be dispersed through runoff.
In order to minimise the potential for dumping of garden refuse into the retained bushland areas (and thus further degrade that bushland and contribute to relevant flow- on effects), the proposal is designed so that all bushland edges are bordered by a verge and internal roadway. This will have an open aesthetic appeal and help to foster a sense of ownership among the residents for the bushland parks.
Community education is an important strategy identified in the Draft Recovery Plan for Littoral Rainforest (DEE 2017) and is otherwise recognised for ameliorating potential impacts on other important biota on and around the site. To that end, an education package will be prepared for distribution to all new residents to explain the significance of the surrounding bushland, and include a checklist of appropriate strategies to protect those important features. This will include actions that will be of benefit or prevent further harm to this species and its habitat, as well as the features of nearby Iluka Nature Reserve.
Information regarding the potential for garden plants to become weeds (and thus degrade the value of the habitat for this species) will be included, as well as the need for domestic pets to be suitably controlled at all times. Such matters will also be incorporated into the Approved HMP.
Plantings across the subject site in public spaces will also be prescribed by a Landscape Plan relying heavily on local species. This will reduce the risk of spreading introduced flora across the landscape, including into Iluka Nature Reserve.
6.4 OUV Impact Assessment – Third Factor
DEE require consideration of “A discussion of the extent to which the above impacts may impact on the distribution and abundance of these species within Iluka NR, and in turn how the likely extent to which the OUV may be degraded, damaged, altered, modified, obscured or diminished”.
Even if not so observed in both the subject site and Iluka Nature Reserve, all of the constituent OUV species have the capacity to exploit suitable habitats in both areas. Therefore, impacts to individuals on the subject site have the potential to influence the individuals that use Iluka Nature Reserve.
The direct loss of habitat suitable for all of the constituent OUV species from the subject site is small in scale, representing between 0.004 and 1% of potential habitat in the region. The scale of such direct loss is unlikely to be sufficient to significantly influence the size
Keystone Ecological 152 Ref: CVC 14-695 – May 2018 Ecological Response Hickey Street, Iluka, NSW or viability of any of the local populations, particularly given that the vast majority of such habitats are secure in reserves.
The best wildlife corridor for all of the constituent OUV species is the uninterrupted band of reserved vegetation on the eastern side of Iluka Road, connecting habitats from north to south. However, the subject site could also contribute to connectivity from east to west, although it is interrupted by Iluka Road and cleared areas outside of the subject site. Nevertheless, the pattern of retained habitats within the proposed parks is likely to be sufficient to continue to enable the movements of these highly mobile species across the landscape from east to west.
Therefore, it is considered that the development proposal is unlikely to interfere with the movement of these species through the landscape.
While the proposal will remove potential habitat, it will also result in the improvement of retained habitat. The proposed weed removal and weed control works as part of the conservation management of the retained habitats are likely to be of benefit to the constituent OUV species on site. These actions will also provide indirect off-site benefits to the habitat within Iluka Nature Reserve.
6.5 OUV Impact Assessment – Fourth Factor
DEE require consideration of “A discussion of the extent to which the proposed action is likely to affect the existing integrity, management and protective arrangements of Iluka Nature Reserve”.
According to the Operational Guidelines for the Implementation of the World Heritage Convention (UNESCO 2012), integrity requires consideration of the extent to which the property:
Includes all elements necessary to express its Outstanding Universal Value; Is of adequate size to ensure the complete representation of the features and processes which convey the properties significance; and Suffers from adverse effects of development and/or neglect.
The proposed development of the subject site is unlikely to significantly impact any of the constituent OUV species that it shares with Iluka Nature Reserve. Therefore, it will not diminish the elements “necessary to express its Outstanding Universal Value”.
The proposed action is distant from Iluka Nature Reserve and separated by retained vegetation in Park D, vegetated road reserve, and Bundjalung National Park. This intervening vegetation will act as a visual buffer, noise buffer, and a buffer to other indirect impacts such as dust, mobilised soil, or weed propagules.
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The area prescribed for Iluka Nature Reserve will not be reduced as a result of the development. Also, the areas to be cleared from the site are not relied upon by the processes in Iluka Nature Reserve that comprise its World Heritage Values.
Iluka Nature Reserve is protected under the National Parks and Wildlife Act (1974), and managed in accordance with the Broadwater National Park, Bundjalung National Park and Iluka Nature Reserve Plan of Management (NPWS 1997). The reserve is not pristine, in that it contains some modified areas that reflect past land uses (for example, weed infestations along the old industrial tramway line from The Bluff to the Clarence River mouth). However, its dedication and conservation management arrangements are not impacted by the proposed action at the development site.
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7 IMPACTS ON SUBJECT SPECIES
7.1 Phascolarctos cinereus Koala
The Koala is listed as a Vulnerable species under the Schedules of the EPBC Act 1999. It is also listed as a Vulnerable species under the Schedules of the BC Act 2016. Controls are also in place under the EPA Act 1979, including the subordinate planning instrument State Environmental Planning Policy No. 44 — Koala Habitat Protection.
Recovery planning is well advanced, with an approved plan in place in NSW (DECC 2008), and an endorsed national conservation and management strategy (NRMMC 2009). Clarence Valley Council has also adopted a Comprehensive Koala Plan of Management for the Ashby, Woombah and Iluka localities (the CKPoM).
This species was recorded on site during survey: an individual was photographed by remote wildlife camera walking through the site on 14th October 2014. No further individuals were sighted or other evidence observed during subsequent intensive survey across the site. Three records of individual sightings in the region (as defined here) in May 2016, January 2017, and April 2107 have been posted on social media by local residents.
The population of the region has been well studied by researchers from NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (e.g. Lunney et al. 2002, Moon 1990), and consultants for Council (e.g. BioLink 2012). These studies reported that Iluka supported a very large population of Koalas in the 1970s, and documented its inexorable decline since.
Population Viability Analysis (Lunney et al. 2002) established that:
• the assumed and observed levels of mortality and fertility were unable to support the population; and • substantial improvements in mortality and fertility alone were unlikely to prevent the population declining towards extinction.
Therefore, this population has been declared functionally extinct (Lunney et al. 2002, DECC 2008). Immigration was identified as considerably more important in maintaining an ongoing Koala population than had previously been understood (Lunney et al. 2002). Repeated hot fires in its source population to the north in Bundjalung National Park have interrupted that immigration (BioLink 2012).
The continued presence of a low number of individuals in the Iluka locality is evidenced by occasional resident sightings, the results from the current study, and occasional calls
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to WIRES of animals in distress from road trauma or dog attack. The most recent, standardised and extensive survey undertaken by BioLink for the CKPoM did not find any animals during the formal survey, but opportunistically found scats beneath trees at the northern end of the golf course (920m north of the development area) and near the Old Ferry Crossing Picnic Area (1.7km north west of the development area).
BioLink (2012) has estimated for the Iluka locality a population of between 5 and 10 individuals that are highly dispersed, and inferred the presence of at least one breeding female. However, the CKPoM has determined that the Iluka area no longer contains a breeding population.
Although the handful of records in the Iluka area is encouraging, this does not indicate that the population has recovered, particularly given the continuation of landscape-scale processes (principally repeated hot fires) that prevents the restocking of the population from the north (BioLink 2012).
This inability of a Koala population to recover from a very low base has been observed in other locations, such as in the Bega Valley (DECC 2008). Koalas were very common in this area in the 1800s, sufficient to support two Koala skinning factories in the Bega district (DECC 2008). However, the population eventually crashed in the early 1900s – succumbing to hunting pressure, drought and disease – and has not recovered in the century since, despite the presence and conservation of very large areas of available habitat, supplemented by restoration activities.
The distribution and extent of habitat for the Koala in the region and on site are explored in detail in Section 4 of this report. The region covers 2,933 hectares made up of natural vegetation (e.g. bushland, swamps, estuarine habitats), cleared farmland, the (mostly cleared) golf course, the township of Iluka, and associated infrastructure.
Natural vegetation occurs across 2,720 hectares (or 93%) of the region. This vegetation is overwhelmingly reserved, with 2,290 hectares (or 84% of the vegetation in the region) in Bundjalung National Park and Iluka Nature Reserve. The remaining 430 hectares (or 16%) of vegetation in the region occurs outside of the National Park estate; the 19.41 hectares of vegetation within the subject site is part of this 430 hectares, and represents just 0.7% of the vegetation in the region.
The area of vegetation that is likely to contain suitable potential habitat for the Koala across the region is 2,067 hectares, with 1,792 hectares in reserves (or 87% of that regional habitat), and 275 hectares off-reserve (or 13% of the regional habitat).
Applying a broad definition of Koala habitat, the development site contains potential Koala habitat across its majority (15.91 hectares), in the vegetation types that support
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both food tree species and shelter trees. This area represents 0.8% of the habitat available in the region.
However, as a folivore, the Koala relies on a narrow set of tree species, and is also very selective about individual trees within a stand. The site supports only 4 species recognised as Koala preferred food trees (as detailed in the regional list in the CKPoM). Eucalyptus tereticornis Forest Red Gum and Eucalyptus propinqua Small-fruited Grey Gum are primary food tree species, Corymbia intermedia Pink Bloodwood is a secondary food tree species, and Lophostemon confertus Brush Box is a supplementary food tree species. Supplementary food tree species are only used by Koalas when they occur in association with primary and secondary species.
Therefore, the Koala habitat on site can be better defined on site by the distribution of these 4 tree species, as shown in Figure 12. Primary trees are concentrated in the north eastern corner, and the secondary and supplementary tree species concentrated in 5 bands, with most occurring along the eastern and western boundaries. This patchy distribution of food trees means that the preferred Koala habitat occurs across only 4.1 hectares of the site. This area represents 0.2% of the habitat available in the region.
In summary:
• the region is overwhelmingly dominated by vegetated lands; • an overwhelming majority of that vegetation is reserved; • an overwhelming majority of the areas identified as potential Koala habitat are in reserves; • the subject site is small in this context, contributing less than 0.7% of the vegetation in the region; • the area of potential Koala habitat on the subject site is small in this context. Of the Koala habitat available across the region, the site contains 0.8% of habitat defined in a broad sense, or 0.2% of habitat defined more finely by the extent of preferred food trees.
The proposal has the potential to impose both direct and indirect impacts on this species as a result of loss of habitat, fragmentation of habitat, degradation of habitat, and introduction of additional known threats such as dogs, cars and swimming pools. These potential impacts are detailed below. Proposed ameliorative measures and offsets are discussed in Sections 8 and 9 respectively.
Direct loss of foraging habitat. The proposed footprint will permanently remove potential foraging habitat for the Koala in the 216 trees identified within the footprint that are preferred food tree species. These comprise 13 Primary food trees (11 Eucalyptus tereticornis Forest Red Gum and 2 Eucalyptus propinqua Small-fruited Grey Gum), 164 Secondary food trees (Corymbia intermedia Pink Bloodwood), and 39 Supplementary
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food trees (Lophostemon confertus Brush Box). These trees to be removed occupy approximately 1.5 hectares of the site.
Direct loss of sheltering habitat. Trees that occur in conjunction with food trees are considered to provide sheltering habitat for the Koala. The proposed footprint will permanently remove approximately 9.98 hectares of such habitat.
Therefore, a total of 11.48 hectares of sheltering and foraging habitat that occurs within the footprint will be permanently removed. This represents 0.6% of the 2,067 hectares of potential suitable habitat estimated to occur in the region.
The project is a staged development. Therefore clearing will occur primarily during construction, with some temporal overlap with the occupation phase of those parts of the site completed in the project’s initial stages.
Fragmentation. The currently uninterrupted patch of vegetation will have the central part removed. This loss of vegetation for the footprint will result in additional fragmentation of habitat and partial interruption of the existing corridor of vegetation. However, such fragmentation will not be permanent, as the footprint will be planted out with rows of appropriate trees to facilitate movement through the estate.
Edge effects. There is the potential for indirect impacts to occur to bushland adjacent to developed areas. Such impacts may be long term and ongoing, primarily manifesting as increased weediness with concomitant degradation of habitat for Koalas. Such impacts may arise as a result of the following:
• mobilisation of soil during clearing; • alteration of hydrological processes due to additional hardstand • delivery of nutrients in stormwater runoff from gardens; • delivery of pollutants (such as oils from roads) in stormwater; • additional exposure to vegetation that was previously protected in intact forest; • accidental / natural spread of weed propagules from adjacent gardens through the action of wind, water and animal vectors; • spread of weeds through the dumping of garden refuse; and • degradation of habitat through the dumping of rubbish (e.g. contaminated building waste).
Road strike. Death and injury from vehicle collision is a recognised major factor of mortality of Koalas in this area. As the proposal will result in additional residents, it follows that the local traffic will also increase, and thus increase the risk of car strike.
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Dog attack. Death and injury of Koalas from attacks by domestic pets is also a recognised important mortality factor in this area. An increase in new residents has the potential to increase the population of domestic Dogs. This will probably be a permanent (although unquantified) increase in the potential for predatory behaviour.
Mortality in swimming pools. Koalas are known to drown in backyard pools and presumably the increase in new residents will increase the number of backyard pools. This will be a permanent (although unquantified) increase in drowning risk.
7.2 Acronychia littoralis Scented Acronychia
Acronychia littoralis is listed as an Endangered species under the Schedules of the EPBC Act 1999. It is also listed as an Endangered species under the Schedules of the BC Act 2016.
There is no publicly-available recovery plan for this species, although the SPRAT profile refers to a Species Recovery Plan (Hunter et al. 1992, quoted in Department of Environment 2018). Some recovery activities have occurred at specific sites (e.g. translocation for the Chinderah bypass), but the principal recovery planning mechanism is restricted to the Saving Our Species program administered by the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage. As part of that process, Acronychia littoralis is classified as being within the ‘site-managed species’ stream. Such species are those considered best secured by conservation projects at specific sites, and 8 key management sites have been identified for this species. One of these sites is within the Clarence Valley LGA in Bundjalung National Park.
There are no reliable, verified records of this species from the site or its immediate surrounds (see Ashby and McTackett 2016 for a full discussion). However, within the region as defined for this study, it is now confirmed to occur at two locations.
The first is a well-known location at the Esk River 5 kilometres to the north west. Its continued presence was confirmed again during this study, with a fruiting specimen observed (see Figure 9). This site is one of the key management sites mentioned above, and it is estimated to comprise a population size of only one tree (OEH 2018b).
The second location was discovered during this study, with a fruiting specimen observed in the vegetation surrounding the Iluka Bluff picnic area in Bundjalung National Park, 1.3 kilometres to the north east of the subject site (see Figure 10).
The survey process has been exhaustive in relation to this species (see Section 4). As a result of that work, this species is considered to be absent from the subject site. However, it is recognised that the site does contain potential habitat for this species in the areas of 193 Pink Bloodwood – Brush Box Open Forest least impacted by weed infestations (15.5 hectares in sub-forms a, b, c, and e), 0.45 hectares 187 Coast Cypress Pine shrubby Forest,
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and the area of 190 Coast Banksia Woodland along the site’s western boundary (0.41 hectares). The area of potential habitat on site represents 2.1% of the potential habitat available in the region.
The total estimated area of vegetation that is likely to contain suitable potential habitat for Acronychia littoralis across the region is 761 hectares, with 486 hectares in reserves (or 64% of that regional habitat), and 275 hectares off-reserve (or 36% of the regional habitat).
The proposal has the potential to impose both direct and indirect impacts on the potential habitat of this species as a result of loss, fragmentation, and degradation. These impacts are detailed below. Proposed ameliorative measures and offsets are discussed in Sections 8 and 9 respectively.
Loss of potential habitat. The development will permanently remove 10.51 hectares of potential habitat within the footprint, which represents 1.4% of the estimated potential habitat within the region.
Fragmentation of potential habitat. The currently uninterrupted patch of vegetation will have the central part removed, some of which is potential habitat for Acronychia littoralis. This loss of vegetation for the footprint will result in additional fragmentation of habitat and partial interruption of the existing corridor of vegetation. The population dynamics of this species is poorly understood, but it is possible that seeds are dispersed by frugivorous birds and / or Grey-headed Flying-foxes.
Degradation of potential habitat. There is the potential for indirect impacts to occur to bushland adjacent to developed areas. Such impacts may be long term and ongoing, primarily manifesting as increased weediness with concomitant degradation of habitat for Acronychia littoralis. Such impacts may arise as a result of the following:
• mobilisation of soil during clearing; • alteration of hydrological processes due to additional hardstand • delivery of nutrients in stormwater runoff from gardens; • delivery of pollutants (such as oils from roads) in stormwater; • additional exposure to vegetation that was previously protected in intact forest; • accidental / natural spread of weed propagules from adjacent gardens through the action of wind, water and animal vectors; • spread of weeds through the dumping of garden refuse; and • degradation of habitat through the dumping of rubbish (e.g. contaminated building waste).
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7.3 Dasyurus maculatus Spot-tailed Quoll
The Spot-tailed Quoll is listed as an Endangered species under the Schedules of the EPBC Act 1999. It is also listed as a Vulnerable species under the Schedules of the BC Act 2016.
The principal recovery planning mechanism is restricted to the Saving Our Species program administered by the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage. As part of that process, the Spot-tailed Quoll is classified as being within the ‘landscape species’ management stream. Such species are distributed across relatively large areas and subject to threatening processes that generally act at the landscape scale (e.g. habitat loss or degradation) rather than at distinct locations.
This species was not detected on or near the site during survey. Publicly-available databases indicate that it is known in the region from only a small number of records (11), with all but 2 arising from a community survey. Therefore, the locations and time of observations may be unreliable and may include multiple records of the same animal. The 2 other records are of an animal trapped in 1992 (in the Iluka township), and another identified from hair during a survey of Bundjalung National Park in 1994.
This species requires large areas of relatively intact vegetation for foraging (NSW NPWS 1999) and is an opportunistic hunter and scavenger. It usually spends the day sleeping in a den in a crevice, cave, hollow log, hollow tree, boulder field or rocky cliff face (Menkhorst and Knight 2001, OEH 2018a). They use latrines, usually located on the tops of boulders or logs in prominent high places (Belcher et al. 2008), presumably as a means of communication. These latrines may be used by a number of individuals (OEH 2018a).
Of these habitat features, the subject site supports some hollow-bearing trees.
Females are territorial and have a home range of up to 750 hectares with their home ranges generally along densely vegetated creek lines (OEH 2018a). Males are not territorial and their large overlapping home ranges of between 2,000 and 5,000 hectares encompass many females (Belcher et al. 2008). Males may move up to 5 kilometres during their daily activities and are known to travel up to 8 kilometres in a single night (Belcher et al. 2008). They usually traverse their home ranges along densely vegetated creek lines (OEH 2018a).
Prey items are varied and include gliders, possums, small wallabies, rats, birds, bandicoots, rabbits and insects as well as carrion and domestic fowl (OEH 2018a).
Records indicate that this species is very rare in the region. The site is considered to provide sub-optimal habitat only due to the absence of den sites and the poor quality habitat for many potential prey species. However, the site may be within the home range
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of individuals using better habitat elsewhere and nearby (such as in the National Park estate), and therefore may at least contribute to corridor habitat.
The entire site has the potential to provide such corridor habitat, and the 19.41 hectares on site represents approximately 1.1% of the estimated potential habitat in the region.
The total estimated area of vegetation that is likely to contain suitable potential habitat for the Spot-tailed Quoll across the region is 1,742 hectares, most of which occurs in the reserves.
The proposal has the potential to impose both direct and indirect impacts on the potential habitat of this species as a result of loss, fragmentation, and degradation. These impacts are detailed below. Proposed ameliorative measures and offsets are discussed in Sections 8 and 9 respectively.
Loss of potential habitat. The development will permanently remove 14.11 hectares of potential habitat within the footprint, which represents 0.8% of the estimated potential habitat within the region.
Fragmentation of potential habitat. The currently uninterrupted patch of vegetation will have the central part removed. This loss of vegetation for the footprint will result in additional fragmentation of habitat and partial interruption of the existing corridor of vegetation.
Degradation of potential habitat. There is the potential for indirect impacts to occur to bushland adjacent to developed areas. Such impacts may be long term and ongoing, primarily manifesting as increased weediness with concomitant degradation of habitat for the Spot-tailed Quoll. Such impacts may arise as a result of the following:
• mobilisation of soil during clearing; • alteration of hydrological processes due to additional hardstand • delivery of nutrients in stormwater runoff from gardens; • delivery of pollutants (such as oils from roads) in stormwater; • additional exposure to vegetation that was previously protected in intact forest; • accidental / natural spread of weed propagules from adjacent gardens through the action of wind, water and animal vectors; • spread of weeds through the dumping of garden refuse; and • degradation of habitat through the dumping of rubbish (e.g. contaminated building waste).
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7.4 Pteropus poliocephalus Grey-headed Flying-fox
The Grey-headed Flying-fox is listed as a Vulnerable species under the Schedules of the EPBC Act 1999. It is also listed as a Vulnerable species under the Schedules of the BC Act 2016.
Recovery planning is well advanced, with a draft national recovery plan in place (Commonwealth of Australia 2017).
Although this species has a transmissible population across its east coast range, for the purposes of this assessment, the local population is considered to comprise those animals within 20 kilometres (the assumed average foraging distance of this species) of the nationally important camp at Maclean.
This species relies on the availability of its favoured native blossom throughout the year and permanent camps are never far from reliable food resources. The coastal habitats of the north coast are particularly important in that they provide winter forage, principally in Banksia integrifolia Coast Banksia, Melaleuca quinquenervia Broad-leaved Paperbark, and Eucalyptus tereticornis Forest Red Gum, and Eucalyptus robusta Swamp Mahogany. All but the last of these are common across the local reserve system and occur also on site.
Suitable potential foraging habitat occurs on site within 5.5 hectares of vegetation. This represents 0.2% of the habitat available across the region.
The proposal has the potential to impose both direct and indirect impacts on the potential habitat of this species as a result of loss, fragmentation, and degradation. These impacts are detailed below. Proposed ameliorative measures and offsets are discussed in Sections 8 and 9 respectively.
Loss of potential habitat. The development will permanently remove 3.09 hectares of potential habitat within the footprint, which represents 0.14% of the estimated potential habitat within the region.
Fragmentation of potential habitat. The currently uninterrupted patch of vegetation will have the central part removed, some of which is potential habitat for the Grey-headed Flying-fox. This loss of vegetation for the footprint will result in additional fragmentation of habitat and partial interruption of the existing corridor of vegetation
Degradation of potential habitat. The potential habitat to remain within the Bushland Parks will not be further degraded but in fact, enhanced by bush regeneration efforts.
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Bush regeneration activities will include revegetation works with plantings of locally native species within the bushland parks. Plantings will include suitable winter-flowering species known to be favoured by the Grey-headed Flying-fox, including:
1. Banksia integrifolia Coast Banksia; 2. Eucalyptus tereticornis Forest Red Gum; and 3. Melaleuca quinquenervia Broad-leaved Paperbark
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8 AMELIORATING AND OFFSETTING IMPACTS
In general, the potential impacts of the proposed development on the species of interest can be summarised as:
The loss of habitat through direct clearing; The fragmentation of habitat and interruption of movement corridors; and The degradation of retained habitat arising from indirect effects.
Avoidance and mitigation measures to ameliorate these potential impacts are many, and they are delivered by the layout of the proposal, by the retention of the best habitats on the site, by the ongoing conservation management of those retained areas, and by direct actions during the clearing and construction phases.
These actions are further supplemented by the implementation of a number of offsets on site that involve replanting of trees and replacement of specific habitat features.
Most importantly, these activities are all included in a comprehensive Habitat Management Plan (HMP) that details objectives, actions, targets, and reporting regime. The HMP is a separate document and should be read in conjunction with this Ecological Response.
8.1 Phascolarctos cinereus Koala
The principal response to the use of the site by the Koala is the proposed retention of bushland (both quantum and location), and the conservation management of that bushland in perpetuity.
The Parks are located so as to capture the areas of best habitat in general, the areas of best habitat in particular for the Koala, and in a configuration that continues to serve movements of this species across the landscape.
Park A contains the areas least impacted by past land uses. Park B and Park D contain the majority of the primary food trees on site. Parks B, D and E maintain the current connections available for the Koala from Iluka Nature Reserve and Bundjalung National Park with habitat to the west and north west. The proposed additional plantings in the verges and in the Parks will further facilitate movement through the developed landscape.
At a local level, recovery strategies for this species are detailed in the CKPoM. Its three main management objectives for the Iluka area are:
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1. Undertake monitoring to ascertain further evidence of resident Koala population; 2. Ensure fire management activities aim to conserve individual Koalas, habitat and corridors; and 3. Protect Koala habitat.
The survey and assessment process for this development application has collected and collated further data regarding the presence of Koalas in the Iluka area. It is also recommended that Koala activity be monitored as part of the HMP. Thus it has contributed to the achievement of the first objective.
During consultation with local authorities, a hazard reduction burn for the site planned by the Rural Fire Service was abandoned due to the detection of the Koala during survey. Therefore, activities as part of the survey and assessment process have contributed to the achievement of the second objective.
The survey and assessment process has identified the Koala habitat attributes of the site and surrounds, thus aiding Council and others in their deliberations regarding the protection of habitat.
The proposal therefore achieves these ameliorative objectives.
The CKPoM further recognises that there is no longer a breeding population within the area and that:
“Given the limited areas left in Iluka with development potential however, it is considered appropriate that efforts in this area are concentrated to management activities rather than development controls.”
To that end,
“Any development will nevertheless need to maximise retention of preferred koala food trees and habitat within the broader provisions of Council’s Biodiversity Strategy and controls. Where koala food trees are to be removed for development purposes they must be offset with planting of primary food trees within Iluka.
Development within this locality should be accompanied by details of any existing koala food trees on the subject land, measures provided to minimise impacts from the proposed development on those trees and how controls related to the Biodiversity Strategy have been addressed.
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General Development Provisions outlined in Section 4.4 will also apply where relevant.”
The General Development Provisions refer to three matters, road design standards, the keeping of domestic dogs, and fencing.
The proposed development responds to each of these matters and incorporates the relevant controls.
The internal road design is such that straight sections of road are short, which is intended to discourage speeding. Additionally, speed limits will be low (maximum 50 kmh), which is in line with that recommended by the CKPoM for high value Koala habitat. Further, it is recommended that speed limits be variable so that lower speed limits are in force when Koalas are likely to be on the move during breeding season. Road signs will also alert drivers to the potential presence of Koalas.
It is noted that the high speed, high volume traffic on Iluka Road is a far greater threat to this species than low speed local traffic, irrespective of the presence of the proposed development. The responsibility for setting the speed limit on this public road is beyond the control of the proponent.
The intention is not to prohibit the keeping of domestic Dogs from the development, but it is recognised that attacks by Dogs are a particular threat to the Koala. As a community title subdivision, rules regarding the keeping of Dogs will be incorporated into the Community Management Statement. Specifically, this will require that Dogs are kept within their enclosed yards or leashed and under the control of a competent person when outside.
Fencing is also an important component of the Community response to potential Koala- Dog conflicts. Fences are to be of a type and size (e.g. Colorbond) that prevent Koalas climbing over and entering the yards. Overhanging vegetation or vegetation close enough to the fences to allow access are also prohibited and must be regularly controlled.
Thus the proposal incorporates all appropriate ameliorative measures detailed within the CKPoM.
During the clearing and construction process there is the potential for harm to individual animals resident in the vegetation to be cleared. Therefore, pre-clearing surveys will occur immediately prior to clearing, and all clearing will be closely supervised by an experienced Ecologist.
If a Koala is found to be resident in an area slated for clearing, protocols will be triggered that are primarily intended to protect the welfare of resident animals (such as clearing of
Keystone Ecological 167 Ref: CVC 14-695 – May 2018 Ecological Response Hickey Street, Iluka, NSW alternative areas to allow animals to move one of their own accord). Stress-inducing activities such as trapping and relocation are not recommended.
The offsetting of loss and fragmentation of habitat will be delivered by the following:
Parks. Reservation and conservation management of 5.15 hectares of bushland in Parks A, B, C, D and E will offset the loss of 1.5 hectares of foraging habitat. Landscape plantings. The planting of trees along the wide verges will facilitate movement of fauna – but particularly Koala – through the developed landscape. The 4,375 metres of available verge provides the potential for the planting of 220 trees at a spacing of 20 metres, which is recommended for Koala movements per McAlpine et al. (2007). Offset planting of preferred Koala food trees. In accordance with the CKPoM, the removal of the trees in the development area that are preferred Koala food trees will be offset by plantings of the same species to be removed. These plantings will be of local provenance material.
The potential numbers and locations of these offset plantings are provided in Table 19. It is proposed to plant the primary food trees in the areas where they already occur in the highest numbers - and therefore have the highest chance of success – being Parks B and D. These plantings will be part of habitat restoration.
In addition, the verges provide opportunities for the dual objective of planting up to 220 trees for landscape aesthetics, as well as for fauna habitat. These street trees will provide both foraging and movement habitat for the Koala.
The areas occupied by weed infestations and where reduction of Acacia disparrima canopy is to occur, provide the most ready locations for planting. Applying the observed density of Koala food trees on site (1 tree per 74 square metres), these areas alone allow for the planting of 140 trees.
The CKPoM requires that trees to be removed are replaced, but it is recommended here that the offset plantings replace the primary food trees at a greater than 1:1 ratio in order to enhance as well as restore the habitats for Koala.
Thus, it is proposed that the 11 Eucalyptus tereticornis Forest Red Gum trees to be removed be offset by the planting of 50 trees (offset ratio of 4.5:1), and the 2 Eucalyptus propinqua Small-fruited Grey Gum trees to be removed be offset by the planting of 30 trees (offset ratio of 15:1). The secondary and supplementary food trees will be offset at 1:1, giving an overall offset ratio of 1.3:1.
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Table 19: Minimum tree planting offsets. Koala food trees are denoted by superscripts: ‘KF 1’ = primary food trees, ‘KF 2’ = secondary food trees, ‘KF Sup’ = supplementary food trees.
Number to be Proposed Locations Species removed planted Park Park Park Verges A B D Eucalyptus tereticornis 11 50 0 30 20 0 Forest Red Gum KF 1 Eucalyptus propinqua Small-fruited Grey 2 30 0 15 15 0 Gum KF 1 Corymbia intermedia 164 165 5 5 5 150 Pink Bloodwood KF 2 Lophostemon confertus 39 39 20 15 10 0 Brush Box KF Sup Banksia integrifolia Unknown 23 - - - 23 Coast Banksia Cupaniopsis anacardioides Unknown 23 - - - 23 Tuckeroo Syzygium hemilampra Unknown 23 - - - 24 Broad-leaved Lilly Pilly 150 (KF trees) 284 TOTAL 216 25 65 50 70 (1.3:1) (other)
In summary:
The losses of Koala habitat on site are small in the regional context. The 1.5 hectares of foraging habitat to be removed is only 0.07% of the habitat available across the region, and will be replaced by offset plantings. The total area of habitat on site to be removed (including both sheltering and foraging habitat), represents only 0.6% of the habitat available across the region. The scale of such losses are unlikely to threaten the continued existence of this species across the region. The amelioration and offsets are considered sufficient, particularly given that the offsetting models underpinning the NSW Biodiversity Offset Scheme have classified the Koala as having a moderate sensitivity to loss but a high sensitivity to potential gain.
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Fragmentation of habitat is ameliorated by the conservation management of the Parks and plantings in the Parks and through the developed landscape. Other known threats (dogs and cars) are also addressed and ameliorated. The ameliorative and compensatory actions are designed to address recognised threats to the Koala and importantly, are drawn from the suite of recovery strategies from approved local, NSW and National plans. The potential interactions with and contributions to World Heritage Values will be maintained.
It is considered that the proposal is unlikely to pose a significant adverse impact on this species.
A summary of all ameliorative and offset actions and their interaction with this species is provided in Table 20.
8.2 Acronychia littoralis
The principal response to the potential for this species to occur on site is the retention and conservation management of the area most likely to provide potential habitat, together with the proposed retention of other areas of potential habitat in all of the bushland Parks.
The Parks are located so as to capture the areas of best habitat in general, and the areas of best potential habitat in particular for Acronychia littoralis.
Ten strategies have been listed by the Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH 2018a) appropriate to the recovery of this species:
1. Protect areas of known habitat from disturbance. The area considered most likely to contain this species has been retained in Park D; 2. Protect remaining areas of habitat from clearing and development. The site is considered to provide potential habitat only, and the best areas will be retained in the proposed Parks and managed for conservation purposes; 3. Control weeds in areas of known habitat. The site is considered to provide potential habitat only. The potential habitat within the proposed Parks will be managed for conservation purposes, including weed control with an emphasis on high threat weeds, using low impact bush regeneration techniques; 4. Always stay on designated four-wheel drive tracks. Not relevant to the study area; 5. Regenerate areas of known habitat, including planting of local rainforest species to protect Scented Acronychia from exposure to salt-laden winds. The site is considered to provide potential habitat only. The potential habitat
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within the proposed Parks will be managed for conservation purposes, including planting of local rainforest species; 6. Monitor population dynamics and threats of known populations. Not relevant to the study area or development project; 7. Exclude domestic stock from known habitat. Not relevant to the study area or development project; 8. Implement appropriate fire regime for habitat in which the species occurs. Not relevant to the study area or development project; 9. Provide advice to consent and planning authorities about the location and ecological requirements of the species. Not relevant to the study area or development project other than to provide locational data to OEH; and 10. Maintain viable ex-situ collection. Not relevant to the study area or development project.
Soil-borne pathogens are recognised as a threat to this species (DECCW 2010a), with the fungus Phellinus noxius causes root identified as responsible for the death of an individual Acronychia littoralis tree at Cape Byron State Conservation Area. It has a widespread distribution (from Cape York to northern NSW) and can also affect other tree species (including eucalypts). It generally spreads through root-to-root contact but can also spread via fallen branches of infected trees (DECCW 2010a).
Therefore, the following appropriate responses to the potential pathogen as identified in the Border Ranges Biodiversity Management Plan (DECCW 2010a) will be implemented as part of the HMP:
Incorporate an awareness in relevant personnel of this pathogen by highlighting it in the HMP; Implement hygiene protocols for equipment and clothing after accessing infected locations; and Implement hygiene protocols when removing infected plant material.
As Acronychia littoralis is a species of recent hybrid origin, it is thought that there is the potential for parent species to “swamp” the genetic make-up of offspring (Rossetto 2005) and if the balance in numbers between the taxa involved is changed, the effect may be enhanced which could lead to the loss of Acronychia littoralis at a site over time (DECCW 2010a).
Therefore, until there is a greater understanding of these reproductive ramifications, it is recommended by authorities that parent Acronychia species (wilcoxiana, oblongifolia, imperforata) are not used in replanting or rehabilitation programs in Acronychia littoralis habitat (DECCW 2010a, 2010b).
Accordingly, this recommendation has been adopted in the HMP.
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Chrysanthemoides monilifera subsp. rotundata Bitou Bush and Chrysanthemoides monilifera subsp. monilifera Boneseed are recognised as a threat to many priority conservation areas where Acronychia littoralis occurs (DECCW 2010a). The HMP includes control strategies for high threat weeds such as these.
As part of the Saving Our Species program (OEH 2018b) for the recovery of threatened species, Acronychia littoralis has been classified as a “Site-managed species”. This means that it is considered that the most effective conservation can be achieved by the identification and specific management of key sites. Eight such key sites have been identified for Acronychia littoralis and the Esk River is one of them (Site 6).
This key site is defined as being 1,050 hectares in extent - which accounts for almost all of the reserved land within the region as defined in this report – with an estimated population size of one.
Threats, objectives and conservation actions identified in this key site are:
Threat Objective Action Lack of distribution Determine area of Targeted survey information occupancy of the species Exclude from part / all of Inappropriate fire regime Fire planning the site Reduce and maintain weed Bitou Bush Site-based weed control densities at low levels Minimise accidental Manage human Rural / residential / damage on road / track disturbance – identify industrial development edges sensitive locations
The proposal satisfies these recovery management actions adjacent to this key site.
During construction, potential habitat will be protected by the use of exclusion fencing, and education / training of site personnel.
Hydrological processes and further degradation of retained habitat will be ameliorated by the implementation of water sensitive urban design principles. The stormwater management of the site will drain runoff away from the parklands into swales.
Erosion and sedimentation controls will be implemented as part of the construction process.
Other indirect modifications to the potential habitat will be controlled by the configuration of the layout: the bushland Parks have been separated from the roads and
Keystone Ecological 172 Ref: CVC 14-695 – May 2018 Ecological Response Hickey Street, Iluka, NSW development by a vegetated buffer. This will act as a barrier to accidental incursions by people and vehicles, rubbish, and nutrients. The separation of the bushland from the yards will also limit the opportunities for surreptitious dumping, especially of garden refuse.
In summary:
The losses of potential habitat for this species on site are small in the regional context. The area of potential habitat to be removed is only 1.5% of the habitat available across the region. The scale of such losses of potential habitat are unlikely to threaten the continued existence of this species across the region. The amelioration of impacts on potential habitat are considered sufficient. Fragmentation of habitat is ameliorated by the conservation management of the Parks. The ameliorative and compensatory actions to be implemented are those identified by authorities in other recovery management documents. The potential interactions with and contributions to World Heritage Values will be maintained by the retention and conservation management of the areas closest to and facing the Nature Reserve, which are then in turn maintain existing connections to vegetation to the north and west.
It is considered that the proposal is unlikely to pose a significant adverse impact on this species.
A summary of all ameliorative and offset actions and their interaction with this species is provided in Table 20.
8.3 Dasyurus maculatus Spot-tailed Quoll
The principal response to the potential for this species to occur on site is the retention and conservation management of the best habitats, together with the configuration of those retained bushland Parks to maintain sufficient connectivity across the landscape.
As part of the Saving Our Species program (OEH 2018b) for the recovery of threatened species, the Spot-tailed Quoll has been classified as a “Landscape-managed species”. The key threats to the viability of landscape-managed species are loss, fragmentation and degradation of habitat, and widespread pervasive factors such as impacts of climate change and disease.
The following 8 recovery strategies have been identified for this species as part of the Saving Our Species program:
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1. Conserve old-growth forest stands and other areas of known habitat under perpetual, funded conservation agreements such as BioBanking agreements, conservation property vegetation plans or inclusion in the conservation reserve system. Although this species is not known form the site, the proposal will retain the best and least disturbed parts of the site and manage these bushland Parks in perpetuity for conservation purposes. As a Community Title subdivision, the funding of the conservation actions are secure; 2. Identify and target restoration and revegetation projects at areas where connectivity between large areas of known habitat is compromised, with the aim of increasing the width, condition and security of critical landscape links. Although the potential habitat of the subject site is unlikely to provide a critical link for the movement of this species, it is probably contributing to the local wildlife corridor. This connectivity function will be maintained by the configuration of the retained bushland Parks. The ongoing conservation management of these Parks in accordance with the HMP also satisfies this strategy; 3. Implement (or augment coordinated), cross-tenure, landscape scale predator control programs in areas where significant populations of spotted-tailed quoll are known to occur, and monitor populations of the target introduced predator. Not relevant to the study area or development project; 4. Monitor significant spotted-tailed quoll populations to investigate the impact of fox and wild dog baiting. Not relevant to the study area and beyond the scope of the development project; 5. Design and distribute an educational brochure for designing 'quoll-proof' poultry runs and aviaries and distribute. Educational material will be provided for new residents to explain the special features of the site, including the potential habitat for this species; 6. Modify poultry runs and aviaries based on best-practice guidelines. Not relevant to the study area; 7. Incorporate methods to reduce the numbers of spotted-tailed quolls killed at sections of roads where road kills are frequently reported. Assess the effectiveness of different mitigation methods. Internal traffic calming measures will protect wandering animals on site. Control of threatening processes on Iluka Road is beyond the scope of this development project; and 8. Monitor survival of spotted-tailed quoll populations in habitat newly colonised by cane toads. Not relevant to the study area.
This is considered to be a rare species in the local region despite the presence of a great deal of potential habitat, most of which is in reserves. The potential habitat on site is not high quality, given the abundance of degraded vegetation, and the absence of den sites.
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The area of potential habitat to be impacted by the proposal is of a very small scale, being only 0.8% of available habitat in the region.
Retained bushland and habitats for its prey species will be protected during the construction phase, and undergo conservation management in perpetuity.
The salvaging and re-use of large logs will enrich the available denning habitat for this species.
The small scale losses of potential habitat are unlikely to result in a significant adverse impact on the local population of this species.
A summary of all ameliorative and offset actions and their interaction with this species is provided in Table 20.
8.4 Pteropus poliocephalus Grey-headed Flying-fox
This species was not recorded on or near the site during survey. The temporary camp near the site had not been used since May 2016, but the subject site is within the nightly feeding range of the Maclean camp. Therefore the foraging resources of the site are accessible to this highly mobile species.
The recovery planning process for this species is well advanced, with a draft national conservation strategy (Commonwealth of Australia 2017), and a Management Strategy for the Maclean population (Geolink 2010).
Of the management actions detailed in the NSW Priority Action Statement, the highest priority actions for the conservation of this species relevant to the project area are:
Increase the extent and viability of foraging habitat for Grey-headed Flying-foxes that is productive during winter and spring (generally times of food shortage), including habitat restoration/rehabilitation works; and Provide educational resources to improve public attitudes toward Grey-headed Flying-foxes.
The proposal is consistent with these actins in the restoration activities in the bushland Parks and the planting in the verges, plus the educational material to be supplied to new residents.
In the Draft National Recovery Plan (Commonwealth of Australia 2017), of the highest priority actions for species recovery, only one is relevant to the subject development:
Increase the extent and viability of foraging habitat for the Grey-headed Flying-fox
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that is productive during winter and spring.
This is addressed in the proposed development by the conservation management , restoration and planting of forage species in the bushland Parks and verges.
The Maclean management Strategy highlights the need for a mixture of landscape-scale actions in the short, medium and long term. Pertinent to the development area are:
Revegetate cleared land; and Educate residents of the benefits and ecological services provided by flying-foxes.
Again, these management strategies are fulfilled by the proposal.
As part of the Saving Our Species program (OEH 2018b) for the recovery of threatened species, the Grey-headed Flying-fox has been classified as a “Landscape-managed species”. This species is distributed across relatively large areas and is subject to threatening processes that generally act at the landscape scale (e.g. habitat loss or degradation) rather than at distinct, definable locations.
The key threats to the viability of landscape-managed species are loss, fragmentation and degradation of habitat, and widespread pervasive factors such as impacts of climate change and disease.
The following 6 recovery strategies have been identified for this species as part of the Saving Our Species program:
1. Increase the extent and viability of foraging habitat for the Grey-headed Flying-fox that is productive during winter and spring through dedicated habitat creation and restoration using guides published by OEH. Planting and rehabilitation actions in the bushland Parks will fulfil this strategy; 2. Negotiate agreements with landholders, particularly in-perpetuity covenants or stewardship agreements that promote the protection and retention of high quality foraging habitat and roost sites for grey-headed flying-foxes. Not relevant to the site or project area.; 3. Rehabilitate degraded flying-fox roost sites through weed management, planting new roost trees, managing understorey vegetation to maintain suitable microclimate conditions, establishing buffers between roost camps and nearby human settlements to minimise conflict. rehabilitation actions in the bushland Parks will fulfil this strategy; 4. Conduct dedicated engagement programs in communities affected by flying- fox roost sites, building the capacity of all stakeholders to engage in the process of decision-making and developing camp management plans.
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Provide information about mitigating the impacts of flying-foxes on nearby residences and businesses such as strategic vegetation management, and structural modifications like double-glazing, air conditioning and shade cloths. Education package to be provided to new residents; 5. Distribute public education materials to land managers and local community groups working with contentious flying-fox roost sites highlighting species status, reasons for being in urban areas, reasons for decline etc. Education package to be provided to new residents; and 6. Develop site-based heat stress response protocols for camps likely to be affected by heat stress events. Protocols should be based on best practice guidelines. Not relevant to the site or project area.
In a study ranking foraging habitat in north eastern NSW, Eby and Law (2008) determined that, although patchy, the feeding habitat on the coast from Iluka north to Evans Head (within Bundjalung National Park) is ranked highly (Rank 1).
Of the key forage species identified in that study (highly productive species and reliable in their flowering), 4 occur on site:
Corymbia intermedia Pink Bloodwood. Flowers December to March; Banksia integrifolia subsp. integrifolia Coast Banksia. Flowers April to August; Eucalyptus tereticornis Forest Red Gum. Flowers August to November on the coastal lowlands; and Melaleuca quinquenervia Broad-leaved Paperbark. Flowers February to July.
The proposal will retain almost all of the Eucalyptus tereticornis Forest Red Gum on site in Park B.
Banksia integrifolia subsp. integrifolia Coast Banksia is recognised as an important winter forage species and is highlighted for planting as a street tree and also is recommended as part of the restoration of the bushland Parks.
Corymbia intermedia Pink Bloodwood is recommended for planting and many individuals of this species occur in the retained bushland Parks.
Melaleuca quinquenervia Broad-leaved Paperbark on site is virtually restricted to Park A. All of the habitat supporting this species is to be retained and managed for conservation purposes.
Thus, the best areas of habitat will be retained or offset with compensatory plantings and restoration works in retained bushland.
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The principal response to the potential for this species to occur on site is the retention and conservation management of large parts of the area most likely to provide potential habitat, together with the proposed retention of other areas of potential habitat in all of the bushland Parks.
General habitat protections during construction will also benefit the foraging habitat for this species on site. The site provides no potential roosting habitat.
This is a highly mobile species that will feed even in the most disturbed urban areas. Its ability to interact with the World Heritage areas is unlikely to be interrupted by the relatively small-scale clearing and construction works.
Further degradation of retained habitat will be halted, ameliorated and reversed by the implementation of the restoration works detailed in the HMP.
The offsetting of loss and fragmentation of habitat across 3.09 hectares (0.1% of regional habitat) will be delivered by the following:
Parks. Reservation and conservation management of 4.43 hectares of bushland in Parks A, B, C, D and E will offset the loss of 3 foraging habitat. Offset planting of key food species. The removal of key trees in the development area will be offset by plantings of the same species to be removed. These plantings will be of local provenance material.
The potential numbers and locations of these offset plantings are provided in Table 19. It is proposed to plant Eucalyptus tereticornis Forest Red Gum in the areas where they already occur in the highest numbers - and therefore have the highest chance of success – being Parks B and D. These plantings will be part of habitat restoration.
In addition, the verges provide opportunities for the dual objective of planting up to 220 trees for landscape aesthetics, as well as for fauna habitat for the Grey- headed Flying-fox.
The areas occupied by weed infestations and where reduction of Acacia disparrima canopy is to occur, provide the most ready locations for planting.
It is recommended here that the offset plantings to replace Eucalyptus tereticornis Forest Red Gum at a greater than 1:1 ratio. This is principally driven by the needs of the Koala, but will benefit the Grey-headed Flying-fox as well.
Thus, it is proposed that the 11 Eucalyptus tereticornis Forest Red Gum trees to be removed be offset by the planting of 50 trees (offset ratio of 4.5:1), and the 2
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Eucalyptus propinqua Small-fruited Grey Gum trees to be removed be offset by the planting of 30 trees (offset ratio of 15:1).
The small scale losses of potential habitat wrought by the development are a result of the footprint being minimised. The best habitat for this species have been avoided. Losses are further ameliorated and offset by restoration and conservation management activities in the bushland Parks. These actions satisfy regional, state and Commonwealth recovery objectives and strategies.
It is considered unlikely that the proposal will result in a significant adverse impact on the Grey-headed Flying-fox. Importantly, the interaction of this species with the World Heritage estate is unlikely to be interrupted or diminished.
A summary of all ameliorative and offset actions and their interaction with this species is provided in Table 20.
8.5 Birds of OUV
The birds that comprise the constituent OUVs are considered together, being the White- eared Monarch, Wonga Pigeon, Wompoo Fruit-dove, Rose-crowned Fruit-dove, Superb Fruit-dove, and Rufous Fantail.
The configuration of the development footprint and the bushland Parks will retain the best of the habitats available on site.
The areas of habitat to be removed are all of a small scale for these species, with all losses being less than 1% (between 0.004% and 0.97%) of the extent of regional habitat available.
These species are all highly mobile (some even migratory) and therefore able to exploit widely-separated resources. The additional fragmentation of habitat is unlikely to prevent or interrupt localised movements of these birds. Therefore, the connection of the habitats for these OUVs with the World Heritage property in Iluka Nature Reserve will not be severed.
The conservation management of habitat within the bushland Parks will reverse current degradation and prevent degradation arising from potential indirect impacts of the proposed development.
The immediate pre-clearing surveys and ecological supervision of clearing will aid in the amelioration of potential disturbance to nesting during works. Other protections of habitat during works detailed elsewhere are also of benefit to these species and their habitats.
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Habitat enrichment (e.g. by the addition of coarse woody debris) will enhance the foraging opportunities for the Rufous Fantail, Wompoo Pigeon and White-eared Monarch. Restoration and planting of fruit-bearing rainforest species will be of benefit to the Fruit- doves.
It is considered unlikely that the proposal will result in a significant adverse impact on the constituent bird OUVs. Importantly, the interaction of this species with the World Heritage estate is unlikely to be interrupted or diminished.
A summary of all ameliorative and offset actions and their interaction with these species is provided in Table 20.
8.6 Microchiropteran bats of OUV
Mormopterus norfolkensis Eastern Freetail-bat has a broad ecological niche, while Nyctophilus bifax Eastern Long-eared Bat is more confined to cluttered forest with vines and shrubs. The losses of foraging habitat for these species represents 0.6% and 0.03% respectively of what is available in the region.
They both rely on hollow-bearing trees as roost sites.
Miniopterus australis Small Bentwing-bat roosts and breeds in caves so the subject site provides potential foraging habitat only. The area of loss of such habitat represents only 0.7% of what is available in the region.
The vast majority of the remaining habitat for all species in the region is reserved in Iluka Nature Reserve and Bundjalung National Park.
The proposal will retain the best of the foraging habitats on site in the bushland Parks. The implementation of the conservation management program under the HMP will reverse further degradation, restore the habitats in the Parks, and prevent potential indirect impacts on retained foraging habitats.
Potential direct impacts on animals resident in hollow-bearing trees during felling will be ameliorated by the close ecological supervision of such works. Any animals found during clearing will be released into nest boxes or retained hollow-bearing trees, or, if found injured, provided with appropriate veterinary care and rehabilitation.
All hollows to be removed that are judged suitable for microbats will be replaced by the installation of sets of robust nest boxes of an appropriate design in appropriate locations.
Further compensatory measures include offset planting of Eucalyptus tereticornis Forest
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Red Gum, Eucalyptus propinqua Small-fruited Grey Gum, Corymbia intermedia Pink Bloodwood and Lophostemon confertus Brush Box, supplemented by other plantings of trees with high value blossoms or fruit (see Table 19). As insectivores, all such plantings have the potential to improve their foraging habitat as these canopy trees will provide habitat for their insect prey.
Light pollution has the potential to interfere with foraging patterns of microchiropteran bats. Therefore, all lights to be installed will be of a type that minimises spill and glare, and only placed where needed for safety or amenity.
These species are all highly mobile and able to overcome any additional short distance fragmentation of habitat introduced by the development. Importantly, the ability to interact with the habitats of the World Heritage property will not be compromised or prevented.
The small scale impacts of the proposal, coupled with the ameliorative and compensatory measures to be implemented, mean that the proposed development is unlikely to result in significant adverse impacts on the local populations of these species.
A summary of all ameliorative and offset actions and their interaction with these species is provided in Table 20.
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Table 20: Measures to ameliorate and offset impacts, and the species advantaged by those measures.
Species of concern
Dove
fox
-
-
bat
- cata onarch
c eared Bat
Summary of Ameliorative and Offsetting Measures Dove - uoll - eared M - crowned Fruitcrowned headed Flying tailed q - - - Acronychia littoralis Scented Acronychia Carterornis leucotis White Leucosarcia pi Wonga Pigeon Ptilinopus magnificus Wompoo Fruit Dove Ptilinopus regina Rose Ptilinopus superbus Superb Fruit Rhipidura rufifrons Rufous Fantail Phascolarctos cinereus Koala Dasyurus maculatus Spot Pteropus poliocephalus Grey Mormopterus norfolkensis Eastern Freetail Nyctophilus bifax Eastern Long Preparation and implementation of a comprehensive Habitat Management Plan that incorporates all practical measures to ameliorate impacts, and enrich and improve habitats. Protection and rehabilitation of habitats in Parks A, B, C, D, and E. Implement staged incremental replacement strategy of Acacia disparrima in retained bushland with diverse canopy species, including Koala food trees. Weed control to target high threat weeds in retained bushland parks. Weed control methods appropriate for target species, with emphasis on those methods with least environmental impact e.g. if effective, bush regeneration favoured over use of herbicide. Maintain existing fire break along southern boundary. Planting of trees in Parks and verges to replace Koala food trees removed for the footprint. Planting of trees in Parks and verges to replace Grey-headed Flying-fox food trees removed for the footprint. Planting of trees in Parks and verges to replace Fruit-dove food trees removed for the footprint. Tree species selection and numbers to be planted in accordance with CKPoM. Tree planting spacing of 20-30m on the verges in accordance with best practice design guidelines for Koala. Retained bushland to be protected from damage during construction by temporary fencing that will prevent accidental incursions while still allowing fauna movements (e.g. high visibility flagging). Tag hollow-bearing trees prior to clearing. Identify escape route for resident fauna to retained bushland Pre-clearing inspection to identify areas of high threat weeds so that clearing can be conducted in the right season and using appropriate methods to prevent spread. Observe all hygiene protocols during clearing and construction works to minimise the potential for the spread of pathogens. No plantings of any Acronychia species. Clearing to be supervised and controlled by experienced, licenced, and vaccinated personnel in order to minimise impacts on resident fauna. Immediate pre-clearing survey for resident fauna (such as presence of Koalas, presence of breeding birds). Pre-clearing surveys to include inspections of hollow-bearing trees. Any animals found are to be relocated out of harm’s way in the immediate vicinity in accordance with the HMP and animal welfare controls. Induction of works staff regarding the important features of the site. Implementation of agreed protocols for felling of hollow-bearing trees. When safe, rely on least damaging techniques such as slow pushing of trees to the ground, or sectional dismantling. Where possible, the timing of the clearing is to avoid the breeding seasons of resident fauna and be carried out when resources are plentiful. In general, clearing over the summer months is preferable. Staged clearing to allow for escape routes for resident fauna. Installation of nest boxes prior to felling of hollow-bearing trees. Install nest boxes using low impact techniques (e.g. spikeless climbing). Nest box installation strategy a part of HMP that details appropriate designs, installation methods, monitoring and replacement.
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Species of concern
Dove
fox
-
-
bat
- cata onarch
c eared Bat
Summary of Ameliorative and Offsetting Measures Dove - uoll - eared M - crowned Fruitcrowned headed Flying tailed q - - - Acronychia littoralis Scented Acronychia Carterornis leucotis White Leucosarcia pi Wonga Pigeon Ptilinopus magnificus Wompoo Fruit Dove Ptilinopus regina Rose Ptilinopus superbus Superb Fruit Rhipidura rufifrons Rufous Fantail Phascolarctos cinereus Koala Dasyurus maculatus Spot Pteropus poliocephalus Grey Mormopterus norfolkensis Eastern Freetail Nyctophilus bifax Eastern Long Nest boxes to be of a sturdy and robust design and suitable for fauna species likely to be displaced, including possums, gliders, small to medium parrots, and microchiropteran bats. Nest boxes to be installed at a ratio of at least 2:1 for the hollows to be removed. Nest boxes monitored and maintained as part of the reporting protocols for the HMP for long term management of the community lot. Koala activity to be monitored as part of the HMP. An education package to be provided to all new residents that highlights the sensitive nature of the site and surrounds and their environmental obligations. This will include such things as animal control, disposal of garden refuse, and weed potential of garden plants. Targeted survey for Koala to occur immediately prior to clearing in suitable habitat across the site. an approved Habitat Management Plan. Exclusion fencing will be needed to be employed during staged construction to prevent access and recolonisation within the works area. Large sections of felled trees to be salvaged and relocated to enrich the coarse woody debris and thus terrestrial habitat in retained bushland. Hollow sections of felled trees are to be salvaged when possible and re-used as arboreal or terrestrial habitat in retained vegetation. Trees identified for retention and vulnerable to construction to be protected according to recommendations of an arborist. This may include measures such as trunk armouring or special root protections. All lighting to be kept to a minimum and of a type that reduces spill and glare. No lights are to be directed towards the entrances of hollows. Garbage bins to be of a design that cannot be accessed by animals. Install educational signage within the Parks that provides information regarding the high ecological values of the vegetation and habitats that the site contains. No barbed wire is to be used for any permanent or temporary fencing. Sediment controls to be strictly observed. Traffic calming delivered by design of internal roading (e.g. avoid long straight stretches that might encourage speeding). Traffic calming measures to be employed (such as speed bumps in strategic locations) in the internal streets. Fences around yards to be of a design that will prevent Koalas climbing over and into the yards (e.g. smooth material such as sheet metal). Dogs to be on leads and under control at all times when outside of the premises. Domestic pets are to be kept within fenced premises, and especially at night. Surreptitious dumping of garden refuse into bushland prevented by layout where no fences back onto bushland. Dumping of garden refuse in bushland areas is to be prohibited. Swimming pools to have design features that allow for escape of the Koala, such as shallow entry, sturdy escape rope permanently in place. Planted verge to provide a buffer zone between retained bushland and the footprint. Residents are to be encouraged to plant locally native species in their gardens and particularly avoid heavy nectar-bearing plants in order to avoid dominance by the aggressive Noisy Miner.
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