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Fauna Assessment Report Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 Threatened and Migratory Species Lot 4 on Plan SP117921 Kirknie, Queensland Commonwealth Department of Environment Document Control Summary NRA Environmental Consultants F:\AAA\180_DEWH\180015 - MNES Fauna Assessment Ayr- Job No: Burdekin\Rpt\Kirknie\MNES Fauna Assessment_Kirknie_R01.docx Status: Working copy Project Manager: Peter Buosi Fauna Assessment Report: Commonwealth Environment Protection Title: and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, Threatened & Migratory Species. Lot 4 on Plan SP117921, Kirknie, Queensland Author/s: Peter Buosi Client: Commonwealth Department of Environment Client Contact: Manny Hernandez, Senior Compliance Officer Date of Issue: 22 April 2016 No. of Copies: 1 PDF Dispatched Via: Email Other Info or Working copy for client review and comment prior to preparation Requirements: of final report. Report Summary Threatened and Migratory species, Commonwealth Department of Key Words Environment, EPBC Act, Kirknie, Queensland Abstract The clearing of approximately 400 ha of ‘remnant vegetation’ for cropping (sorghum, wheat and/or legumes) is proposed for Lot 4 SP117921. The potential for this development to impact on EPBC Act-listed Threatened or Migratory fauna, or their habitat, is assessed. Quality Assurance Approved for Issue by Technical Document Author Editor QA Manager Review Version Date Signature Tim Anderson Peter Buosi MAgrSc, BAgrSc Caitlin Harris R01 22/4/16 BAppSc (Hons) (Hons) © Natural Resource Assessments Pty Ltd This document is the property of Natural Resource Assessments Pty Ltd. Apart from any use as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968 all other rights are reserved. Unauthorised use of this document in any form whatsoever is prohibited. Certified Integrated Management System AS/NZS ISO 9001:2008 (Quality) AS/NZS ISO 14001:2004 (Environment) AS/NZS 4801:2001 (Safety) Limitations of this Report The information in this report is for the exclusive use of Commonwealth Department of Environment, the only intended beneficiary of our work. NRA cannot be held liable for third party reliance on this document. This disclaimer brings the limitations of the investigations to the attention of the reader. The information herein could be different if the information upon which it is based is determined to be inaccurate or incomplete. The results of work carried out by others may have been used in the preparation of this report. These results have been used in good faith, and we are not responsible for their accuracy. The information herein is a professionally accurate account of the site conditions at the time of investigations; it is prepared in the context of inherent limitations associated with any investigation of this type. It has been formulated in the context of published guidelines, field observations, discussions with site personnel, and results of laboratory analyses. NRA’s opinions in this document are subject to modification if additional information is obtained through further investigation, observations or analysis. They relate solely and exclusively to environmental management matters, and are based on the technical and practical experience of environmental practitioners. They are not presented as legal advice, nor do they represent decisions from the regulatory agencies charged with the administration of the relevant Acts. Any advice, opinions or recommendations contained in this document should be read and relied upon only in the context of the document as a whole and are considered current as of the date of this document. Table of Contents 1. Introduction .............................................................................................. 1 2. Methods .................................................................................................... 5 2.1 Desk-based Review ...........................................................................5 2.2 Site Visit .............................................................................................5 3. Results ...................................................................................................... 6 3.1 Landscape Context ............................................................................6 3.2 Vegetation Types ...............................................................................7 3.3 Threatened and Migratory Fauna .......................................................9 4. Discussion – Potential Impacts ............................................................. 11 4.1 Proposed Action and Threats ...........................................................11 4.2 Potential Impacts on Threatened and Migratory Fauna .................... 12 4.2.1 EPBC Act Migratory-listed Species ............................................... 12 4.2.2 EPBC Act Threatened Fauna Species .......................................... 13 5. Conclusion ............................................................................................. 17 6. References .............................................................................................. 19 Tables Table 1: Regional Ecosystems (REs) mapped by the Queensland Government over Lot 4 on Plan SP117921 ................................................... 8 Table 2: Potential impacts of vegetation clearing associated with the proposed action on the identified Threatened species1 .............................. 16 Figures Figure 1: Location and regional context of proposed cropping areas on Lot 4 on Plan SP117921, Kirknie, Queensland ....................................................... 2 Figure 2: Regional Ecosystem mapping, proposed cropping areas and NRA observation points (March 2016) on Lot 4 Plan SP117921 .......................... 3 Figure 3: Location of potential Black-throated Finch habitat and historical sighting records ............................................................................................... 4 Appendices Appendix A: Queensland Department of State Development, Infrastructure and Planning Decision Notice SDA-0415-019831 Appendix B: EPBC Act Protected Matters Report Fauna Assessment Report: C’wth EPBC Act 1999 Threatened & Migratory Species Department of Environment Lot 4 on Plan SP117921 1. Introduction The clearing of approximately 400 ha of ‘remnant vegetation’1 for cropping (sorghum, wheat and/or legumes) is proposed for Lot 4 on Plan SP117921, Kirknie, Queensland (Figures 1 & 2). State approval for this activity under the Queensland Sustainable Planning Act 2009 was granted in May 2015 (Appendix A)2. This approved clearing area is hereafter referred to as the ‘cropping area’, and Lot 4 on Plan SP117921 is hereafter referred to as ‘the Lot’. Where necessary, the cropping area is described with reference to the southern, central and northern portions (Figure 3). NRA Environmental Consultants (NRA) was commissioned by the Commonwealth Department of Environment (DoE) to advise on the potential presence of Threatened or Migratory3 terrestrial fauna or their habitat within the receiving environment of the proposed cropping area, and the potential for the proposed action to impact on these species. The specific scope of works for this assessment is as follows. • Undertake a desk-based review of readily available information, and a site visit. • Identify the known or potential presence of Threatened or Migratory fauna, or their habitat, within the proposed cropping area. • Assess the likelihood of significant impacts on Threatened or Migratory fauna should the proposed action as described in the State approval proceed. • Identify mitigation or avoidance measures (if required) that may reduce the level of impact on Threatened or Migratory fauna to below the significance threshold. • Describe unavoidable impacts and their likelihood to result in a significant impact on Threatened or Migratory fauna. • Report on limitations and assumptions associated with assessments. • Advise on the potential need for further work to address data deficiencies. 1 As defined under the Queensland Vegetation Management Act 1999 (VM Act). 2 Burdekin Shire Council IDAS Number CONS15/0008 being for ‘Material Change of Use – Intensive Agriculture’, and dated 26/05/2015. Queensland Department of State Development, Infrastructure and Planning (DSDIP) as Concurrence Agency Decision Notice SDA-0415-019831, dated 15/05/2015. 3 As defined under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). NRA Environmental Consultants 1 22 April 2016 Fauna Assessment Report: C’wth EPBC Act 1999 Threatened & Migratory Species Department of Environment Lot 4 on Plan SP117921 2. Methods The fauna assessment involved a desk-based review of relevant information, and a site visit. Habitats within and near the proposed clearing area were assessed to determine the potential threats of the proposed action to Threatened and Migratory fauna. 2.1 Desk-based Review Information from the following data sources was used to inform the advice contained in this report. • Queensland Government Regional Ecosystem (Version 8.0) and Broad Vegetation Group mapping. • Regional Ecosystem Description Database. • Results from searches undertaken in April 2016 of the following databases. − EPBC Act Protected Matters Search Tool. An EPBC Act Protected Matters Report was generated for the area within a 20 km radius of -19.924°, 147.230° (Appendix B). − EHP Wildlife Online Database. A 20 km search radius from -19.924°, 147.230° was applied. − Atlas of Living

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