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Flora and Fauna Assessment of Part of Lot 4 Dp 771597 & Portion 4 Off Leo Drive, Narrawallee December 2006 (Ref: 6266F)

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Flora and Fauna Assessment of Part of Lot 4 Dp 771597 & Portion 4 Off Leo Drive, Narrawallee December 2006 (Ref: 6266F) FLORA AND FAUNA ASSESSMENT OF PART OF LOT 4 DP 771597 & PORTION 4 OFF LEO DRIVE, NARRAWALLEE DECEMBER 2006 (REF: 6266F) Conacher Travers Pty Ltd - ABN 49 083 610 173 ; Central Coast - 40 The Avenue Mt Penang Parklands, Central Coast Highway, Kariong NSW 2250, PO Box 7128, Kariong NSW 2250 Phone: (02) 4340 0677 Fax: (02) 4340 2367 Email: [email protected] & [email protected] North Coast - 75 Elliott Road, South Lismore NSW 2480, PO Box 561, Lismore NSW 2480 Phone: (02) 6622 7522 Fax: (02) 6622 7533 Email: [email protected] FLORA AND FAUNA ASSESSMENT OF PART OF LOT 4 DP 771597 & PORTION 4 OFF LEO DRIVE, NARRAWALLEE DECEMBER 2006 Conacher Travers Environmental Consultants Conacher Travers Pty Ltd A.B.N. 49 083 610 173 40, The Avenue Mt Penang Parklands, Central Coast Highway Kariong NSW 2250 Mail: PO Box 7128 Kariong NSW 2250 (ph) 4340 0677 (fax) 4340 2367 email: [email protected] This document is copyright © Document No Prep’. date Description Issue Verification by Approved by Author/s Director 6266F December 2006 Final December 2006 JT JT EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This Flora and Fauna Assessment Report has been prepared by Conacher Travers Pty Ltd to identify the flora and fauna characteristics of Lot 4, DP 771597, and Portion 4 off Leo Drive, Narawallee. The document forms the basis of assessment required by Section 5A of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act (1979). This assessment determines if future development of the site is likely to have a significant effect on threatened species, populations and/or endangered ecological communities. In respect of matters required to be considered in the Environmental Planning & Assessment Act (1979) and relating to the species / provisions of the Threatened Species Conservation Act (1995), seven (7) threatened fauna species, no threatened flora species and one (1) threatened ecological communities were recorded within or in close proximity to the subject site. These species included, Osprey (Pandion haliaetus), Gang-gang Cockatoo (Callocephalon fimbriatum), Powerful Owl (ninox strenua), Sooty Owl (Tyto tenebricosa), Masked Owl (Tyto novaehollandiae), Grey-headed Flying-fox (Pteropus poliocephalus), and Eastern False Pipistrelle (Falsistrellus tasmaniensis) and Swamp Sclerophyll Forest on Coastal Floodplains. This project has undergone significant ecological surveys and assessment since early 2003, incorporating independent peer reviews initially by Bangalay Botanical Services and subsequently by David Robertson of Cumberland Ecology and Kevin Mills and Associates, on behalf of and in conjunction with, Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) and Department of Natural Resources (DNR) (formerly the Department of Infrastructure Planning Natural Resources). This extensive consultation and independent review process has resulted in the completion of considerable additional survey effort and assessment to the acceptance of all previous consent authorities. The cumulation of previous additional surveys and assessment have been prepared in the two addendum reports (Conacher Travers January 2004 and July 2004) attached as stand alone documents to this assessment. The results, methodology and assessment of these addendums, in combination with recent additional surveys and assessment have been incorporated within this report. Following extensive survey of the site and significant peer review it is concluded that the proposed development will not cause a significant impact upon threatened species, populations and endangered ecological communities. Therefore a Species Impact Statement should not be required for the proposed development. In respect of matters required to be considered in the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (1999) one (1) threatened fauna species, Grey-headed Flying- fox (Pteropus poliocephalus), was recorded. A referral to Department of the Environment & Heritage should not be required. In respect of matters relative to the Fisheries Management Act 1994 there are no matters requiring further consideration. John Justin Travers B.App.Sc. / Ass. Dip. Alexander John Cockerill – B. Sc (Hons) (Parks & Wildlife) Senior Botanist Director Conacher Travers Pty Ltd Conacher Travers Pty Ltd Mathew Makeham – B. App Sc (Protected Area John Whyte - B. Bio (Zoology, Botany) Management) Botanist Fauna Ecologist Conacher Travers Pty Ltd Conacher Travers Pty Ltd Corey Mead - B.App Sc. (Coastal Management) Fauna Technician Conacher Travers Pty Ltd Licences – National Parks and Wildlife Service Individual staff members are licensed under Clause 20 of the National Parks and Wildlife (Land Management) Regulation 1995 and Section 120 & 131 of the National Parks and Wildlife Act, 1974 to conduct flora and fauna surveys within service and non-service areas. NPWS Scientific Licence Numbers: S10359 & S10618. Department of Agriculture The staff of Conacher Travers are licensed under an Animal Research Authority issued by the Department of Agriculture. This authority allows Conacher Travers staff to conduct various fauna surveys of native and introduced fauna for the purposes of environmental consulting throughout New South Wales. TABLE OF CONTENTS FLORA AND FAUNA ASSESSMENT SECTION 1 INTRODUCTION 1 1.1 Aim of the Assessment 1 1.2 Information Collation 1 1.3 Statutory Requirements 2 1.4 Development Proposal 3 1.5 Site Description 3 SECTION 2 SURVEY TECHNIQUES 4 2.1 Flora Survey Techniques 4 2.2 Fauna Survey Techniques 5 SECTION 3 SURVEY RESULTS 12 3.1 Flora Survey Results 12 3.2 Fauna Survey Results 12 SECTION 4 ECOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT 13 4.1 Previous Surveys Reviewed 13 4.2 Vegetation Communities 16 4.3 Vegetation Connectivity 18 4.4 Flora Species 18 4.5 Regional Significance 19 4.6 Threatened Flora 19 4.7 Endangered Ecological Communities 20 4.8 Fauna Species 21 4.9 Habitat Types 23 4.10 Habitat 23 4.11 Threatened Fauna 24 SECTION 5 7 PART TEST OF SIGNIFICANCE 25 (SECTION 5A EPA ACT 1979) SECTION 6 CONCLUSION 39 BIBLIOGRAPHY 40 APPENDIX 1 FLORA AND FAUNA SPECIES LISTS APPENDIX 2 FAUNA SURVEY DETAILS APPENDIX 3 HOLLOW BEARING TREE DATA APPENDIX 4 INITIAL RESPONSE TO DIPNR (2003) APPENDIX 5 REVIEW OF FLORA AND FAUNA BY KEVIN MILLS AND ASSOCIATES (2004) APPENDIX 6 ADDENDUM FLORA AND FAUNA ASSESSMENT REPORT (CONACHER TRAVERS, JANUARY 2004) APPENDIX 7 ADDENDUM FLORA AND FAUNA ASSESSMENT REPORT (CONACHER TRAVERS, JULY 2004) FLORA AND FAUNA ASSESSMENT OF PART OF LOT 4 DP 771597 & PORTION 4 OFF LEO DRIVE, NARRAWALLEE SECTION 1.0 – INTRODUCTION Conacher Travers Pty Ltd previously prepared a Flora and Fauna Assessment Report (Conacher Travers 2003) that identifies the flora and fauna characteristics of Part of Lot 4 DP 771597 and Portion 4 off Leo Drive, Narrawallee. After extensive consultation and assessment of the proposed development by the former Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources (DIPNR) in Mid 2003 and 2004 a number of additional flora and fauna survey works were required to be undertaken over the site. These additional requirements have been previously dealt within the Addendum Flora and Fauna Assessment Reports prepared in January 2004 and July 2004. This current Flora and Fauna Assessment Report (Conacher Travers 2006) has been prepared to update the previous Flora and Fauna Assessment Report (Conacher Travers 2003) to address the current environmental legislation. The information collated in the Addendum Flora and Fauna Assessment Reports (Conacher Travers January 2004 and July 2004) has also been incorporated into this report. Since our previous reports were prepared there have been minor amendments to the development design. The totality of these amendments have been considered in this report. Also the updating of this report required additional fauna survey works to ensure the veracity of our earlier works and an updated assessment in line with the revised relevant legislation. Figure 1 provides an aerial appraisal of vegetation and landuses within and adjacent to the subject site. 1.1 Aims of the Assessment The aims of the flora and fauna assessment are to: • Carry out a botanical survey to describe the vegetation communities and their condition in accordance with the guidelines adopted by Shoalhaven City Council; • Carry out a fauna survey for the detection and assessment of fauna and their habitats in accordance with the guidelines adopted by Shoalhaven City Council; • Complete target surveys for threatened species, populations and ecological communities; and • Prepare a flora and fauna impact assessment in accordance with the requirements of the Threatened Species Conservation (TSC) Act (1995) and guidelines issued by the National Parks and Wildlife Service. 1.2 Information Collation To achieve the above aims, Conacher Travers Pty Ltd carried out field surveys on • 10, 11, 12,13,14,15 September 2002 • 1, 2, 3, 4 December 2003 • 27, 28, 29 April 2004 • 4, 5, 6,18, 19, 20, 21 May 2004 and • 9, 10 December 2006. Flora and Fauna Assessment – Leo Drive, Narawallee (Ref: 6266F) © Conacher Travers Pty Ltd Ph: (02) 43400677 1 A review of the relevant information pertinent to the subject site was undertaken prior to the initiation of field surveys as background to the study. Information sources reviewed include the following: • Aerial photographs (scale 1:25000) and Topographical maps (scale 1:25000) • Atlas of NSW Wildlife (DEC 2006) for the relevant 1:100,000 scale map sheet • The schedules of the Threatened Species Conservation Act (1995) • The schedules of the Fisheries Management Act (1994)
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