Fauna Assessment
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Fauna Assessment Pinjarra - Williams Road (SLK 14 – 67) Dwellingup April 2017 Version 4 On behalf of: Main Roads Western Australia Robertson Drive PO Box 5010 BUNBURY WA 6231 Prepared by: Greg Harewood Zoologist PO Box 755 BUNBURY WA 6231 M: 0402 141 197 E: [email protected] PINJARRA - WILLIAMS ROAD (SLK 14.0 – 67.0) – FAUNA ASSESSMENT – APRIL 2017 – V4 TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1. INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................. 1 2. SCOPE OF WORKS ......................................................................................... 1 3. METHODS ........................................................................................................ 2 3.1 POTENTIAL FAUNA INVENTORY – LITERATURE REVIEW ......................... 2 3.1.1 Database Searches ................................................................................ 2 3.1.2 Previous Fauna Surveys in the Area ...................................................... 2 3.1.3 Existing Publications ............................................................................... 3 3.1.4 Fauna of Conservation Significance ....................................................... 4 3.1.5 Invertebrates ........................................................................................... 5 3.1.6 Likelihood of Occurrence – Fauna of Conservation Significance ........... 6 3.1.7 Taxonomy and Nomenclature ................................................................. 7 3.2 SITE SURVEYS ................................................................................................ 7 3.2.1 Fauna Habitat Assessment ..................................................................... 7 3.2.2 Black Cockatoo Habitat Assessment ...................................................... 8 3.2.3 Opportunistic Fauna Observations ......................................................... 8 4. SURVEY CONSTRAINTS ................................................................................ 9 5. RESULTS ....................................................................................................... 10 5.1 POTENTIAL FAUNA INVENTORY – LITERATURE REVIEW ....................... 10 5.2 SITE SURVEYS .............................................................................................. 10 5.2.1 Fauna Habitat Assessment ................................................................... 10 5.2.2 Black Cockatoo Habitat Assessment .................................................... 14 5.2.3 Opportunistic Fauna Observations ....................................................... 15 5.3 FAUNA INVENTORY – SUMMARY ............................................................... 16 PINJARRA - WILLIAMS ROAD (SLK 14.0 – 67.0) – FAUNA ASSESSMENT – APRIL 2017 – V4 5.3.1 Vertebrate Fauna .................................................................................. 16 5.3.2 Invertebrate Fauna................................................................................ 19 6. FAUNA VALUES ............................................................................................ 19 6.1 CONSERVATION SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY AREA .......................... 19 6.2 VALUE OF THE STUDY AREA AS AN ECOLOGICAL LINKAGE/WILDLIFE CORRIDOR .................................................................................................... 20 7. POTENTIAL IMPACTS ................................................................................... 20 8. LEGISLATIVE OBLIGATIONS ........................................................................ 23 8.1 WILDLIFE CONSERVATION ACT 1950 ........................................................ 23 8.2 ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION ACT 1986 ............................................... 23 8.3 ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION & BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION ACT 1999 ................................................................................................................ 25 8.3.1 Black Cockatoos ................................................................................... 26 8.3.2 Other Listed Threatened Fauna Species .............................................. 30 8.3.3 Migratory Species ................................................................................. 33 9. RECOMMENDATIONS ................................................................................... 34 10. CONCLUSION ................................................................................................ 37 11. REFERENCES ............................................................................................... 38 FIGURES FIGURE 1: Study Area FIGURE 2: Habitat Trees (trees with hollows - SLK 14.0 to 16.0) FIGURE 3: Habitat Trees (trees with hollows - SLK 19.7 and 20.8) FIGURE 4: Habitat Trees (trees with hollows - SLK 26.5 and 67.0) PINJARRA - WILLIAMS ROAD (SLK 14.0 – 67.0) – FAUNA ASSESSMENT – APRIL 2017 – V4 TABLES TABLE 1: Summary of Habitat Trees (DBH >50cm) with Hollows TABLE 2: Summary of Potential Vertebrate Fauna Species TABLE 3: Likelihood of Occurrence and Degree of Potential Impact – Fauna Species of Conservation Significance TABLE 4: Assessment of Significant Impact on Black Cockatoos using Criteria for Vulnerable/Endangered Species (DotE 2013) TABLE 5: Assessment of Significant Impact on the Chuditch using Criteria for Vulnerable Species (DotE 2013) PLATES PLATE 1: Granite Outcrops with Marri over Acacia Shrubland (~SLK 14.0 to 16.0). PLATE 2: Paddock with planted Acacia, Flooded Gum and Swamp Paperbark (~SLK 17.38). PLATE 3: Jarrah-Marri Woodland over Low Open Shrubland (~SLK 19.70 and 20.80). PLATE 4: Jarrah-Marri Woodland Bordering Road Reserve (Looking East ~SLK 27.25). PLATE 5: Plantation of Unknown Eucalypts (~SLK 40.0). PLATE 6: Wandoo and Jarrah bordering Northern Road Verge (~SLK 55.0). APPENDICES APPENDIX A: Conservation Categories APPENDIX B: Fauna Observed or Potentially in Study Area APPENDIX C: NatureMap & EPBC Database Search Results APPENDIX D: Habitat Tree Details APPENDIX E: Significant Species Profiles PINJARRA - WILLIAMS ROAD (SLK 14.0 – 67.0) – FAUNA ASSESSMENT – APRIL 2017 – V4 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This report details the results of a fauna assessment along a section of the Pinjarra-Williams Road (between SLK 14.0 and 67.0) near Dwellingup in south west Western Australia (Figure 1). Proposed works on Pinjarra Williams Road (SLK 14.0 – 67.0) include: x Realignment to the south at Greens Hill (SLK 14.0-16.0) x Culvert extension at SLK 17.38 x Realignment to the north between SLK 19.70 and 20.80. x Construction of a climbing lane between SLK 26.5 and 28.5 with widening on south side SLK 26.80 – 27.98 and on the north side SLK 27.80 – 28.60. The works will be within the road reserve which is approximately 8.5m from existing edge line on the north side section. x Widening and clear zone improvements from SLK 28.5 to 67.0. Information obtained as part of this fauna assessment report will also be used in conjunction with other environmental investigations to allow regulatory authorities to assess the potential impact of the proposal. Field survey work within the survey area was carried out by Greg Harewood (B.Sc. Zoology) on the 9th, 11th and 12th August 2011. The report was updated in April 2017 to ensure the most recent information on fauna species distributions, conservation status and legislative requirements have been used when assessing likely impacts. This recent review has not resulted in any significant changes to conclusions drawn in the original assessment. A description of the broadly defined fauna habitats within the study area (based on vegetation units and observed landforms) is given below. The approximate extent of remnant vegetation in the wider area is depicted in Figure 1. Plates 1 to 6 illustrate the nature of the vegetation units/habitats present. x Remnant Native Vegetation: Vegetation is mainly representative of that of the Jarrah forest, displaying a structural homogeneity in overstorey species, dominated by Jarrah (Eucalyptus marginata), Marri (Corymbia calophylla) and, on deeper valley soils, Blackbutt (Eucalyptus patens) and Flooded Gum (Eucalyptus rudis). Some areas of Wandoo (E. wandoo) in the far east. Granite outcrops present in the far west. Includes remnant vegetation along road verges that adjoin cleared paddocks. x Plantations: Plantations of non-endemic tree species occur at several points along the Pinjarra-Williams road including two small Pine plantation (Pinus sp). Page i PINJARRA - WILLIAMS ROAD (SLK 14.0 – 67.0) – FAUNA ASSESSMENT – APRIL 2017 – V4 x Existing Cleared Areas: These areas included previously cleared road verges and Paddocks. Paddock areas are dominated by introduced pasture grasses with occasional scattered trees and degraded sedgelands. x Rivers and Ephemeral Streams: The study area crosses over the Hotham River at about SLK 61.0. Several other small watercourses within the study area appear to be all ephemeral streams with variable flows controlled by seasonal conditions. The quality of native remnant vegetation within the various sections of the study area varies but most areas within 10 metres either side of the existing road show significant degrees of historical disturbance from logging, frequent fire, clearing for plantations and previous road/track/powerline construction activities. The habitat tree assessment identified a total of 117 trees with a DBH of >50cms that contained hollows. Eighty eight (~75%) of the trees contained one or more “small” hollows (less than ~12cm entrance size) considered