Vegetation Offsets, Matted Flax-Lily & Studley Park
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Expert Evidence: Vegetation offsets, Matted Flax-lily & Studley Park gum North East Link Project Project No: VEP19-002(06) Prepared for North East Link Project 15 July 2019 Prepared for North East Link Project Doc No.: VEP19-002(06)--01| Version: B Expert Evidence: Vegetation offsets, Matted Flax-lily & Studley Park gum North East Link Project This page has been left blank intentionally. Project number: VEP19-002(06)|15 July 2019 Page ii Prepared for North East Link Project Doc No.: VEP19-002(06)--01| Version: B Expert Evidence: Vegetation offsets, Matted Flax-lily & Studley Park gum North East Link Project In the matter of the North East Link Project Inquiry and Advisory Committee Proponent: North East Link Project Expert Witness Statement by Cameron Miller - Bachelor of Science (Biol) - Masters of Science (Ecology and Management) - Graduate Certificate in Arboriculture (AQF Level 8) Emerge Environmental Services Pty Ltd Project No. VEP19-002(06) By _______________________ Cameron Miller 15 July 2019 © 2019 Emerge Associates All Rights Reserved. Copyright in the whole and every part of this document belongs to Emerge Associates and may not be used, sold, transferred, copied or reproduced in whole or in part in any manner or form or in or on any media to any person without the prior written consent of Emerge Associates. Project number: VEP19-002(06)|15 July 2019 Page iii Prepared for North East Link Project Doc No.: VEP19-002(06)--01| Version: B Expert Evidence: Vegetation offsets, Matted Flax-lily & Studley Park gum North East Link Project This page has been left blank intentionally. Project number: VEP19-002(06)|15 July 2019 Page iv Prepared for North East Link Project Doc No.: VEP19-002(06)--01| Version: B Expert Evidence: Vegetation offsets, Matted Flax-lily & Studley Park gum North East Link Project 1 Summary of key issues, opinions and recommendations The following section presents a summary of key issues, opinions and recommendations in relation to the three matters considered within this report. 1.1 Matted Flax-lily Dianella amoena 1.1.1 Key issues Matted Flax-lily is listed as endangered under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act), listed under the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988 (FFG Act) and is considered endangered under the Advisory list of Victoria Rare or Threatened Species (VROTS) (DEPI, 2014). Aproximately 95 plants/patches, including one large patch (15 x 2 m) of Matted Flax-lily may be subject to removal, primarily from Simpson Barracks. The population of Matted Flax-lily at Simpson Barracks is well documented, with the site listed as supporting a ‘significant population’ on the National Recovery Plan for the species, where it was originally recorded as possessing a population of 10 plants (Carter, 2010). Subsequent assessments have determined the population to be substantially larger. The removal of approximately 83 plants and 11.23 hectares of Matted Flax-lily habitat at Simpson Barracks has the potential to cause significant impact to the species. 1.1.2 Opinions and recommendations The proponent is proposing to mitigate impacts to Matted Flax-lily through the implementation of a salvage and translocation plan. It is my opinion that this the implementation of a successful salvage and translocation plan will significantly reduce residual impacts to the species. The Department of Environment and Energy (DoEE) is required to determine whether there remains the potential for residual impact, and therefor requirements for Commonwealth offsets. Given the potential for significant impact to the species, I believe that salvaged plant material should be translocated to two recipient sites. This will have the benefit of spreading the risk thus providing an ‘insurance’ site. In addition, established sites will contribute to the over-arching population distribution and area of occupancy. 1.2 Studley Park gum Eucalyptus X studleyensis 1.2.1 Key issues Studley Park gum is a fertile hybrid taxon between River Red gum Eucalyptus camaldulensis subsp. camaldulensis and Swamp gum E. ovata subsp. ovata. Studley Park gum is one of eight described eucalypt hybrids formally accepted by the National Herbarium of Victoria and is one of two named intersectional Victorian hybrids in the genus (Emerge Associates, 2019). Studley Park gum is considered endangered under the VROTS list (DEPI, 2014). It is not protected under the Commonwealth EPBC Act nor Victoria’s FFG Act. Species on the Department of Environment, Land, Project number: VEP19-002(06)|15 July 2019 Page v Prepared for North East Link Project Doc No.: VEP19-002(06)--01| Version: B Expert Evidence: Vegetation offsets, Matted Flax-lily & Studley Park gum North East Link Project Water and Planning (DELWP) advisory list are not under direct statutory protection but are considered during State approval processes. Studley Park gum is of conservation significance due to scientific and evolutionary reasons (Cameron, Rule and Randall, 1999). The fact that Studley Park gum is fertile is significant as many hybrids are sterile. Hybrids such as Studley Park gum are considered to have significance due to their potential to become new species (Cameron, Rule and Randall, 1999). To my knowledge the survey effort for Studley Park gum has been the most comprehensive survey to date. In total 184 individuals were recorded across Melbourne (GHD, 2019a). Forty five individual Studley Park gums will be directly impacted (assumed to be lost) by the project. There is also the potential for a number of other individuals to suffer premature mortality or condition decline due to groundwater impacts of the project with numbers to be confirmed. No offsets for Studley Park gum are required under the Guidelines for the removal or lopping of native vegetation (DELWP, 2017a). North East Link Project is proposing to mitigate impacts to Studley Park gum as documented in Studley Park gum Mitigation Framework: North East Link Project (Emerge Associates, 2019). Essentially the goal of this Framework is to establish a new self-sustaining population of Studley Park gum that is capable of surviving in the long term. (Emerge Associates, 2019). 1.2.2 Opinions and recommendations It is my opinion that the proposed Studley Park gum Mitigation Framework will result in the establishment of a self-sustaining population of Studley Park gum and that this adequately mitigates the impact to the species. 1.3 Native vegetation offsets 1.3.1 Key issues North East Link will result in the loss of 60.341 hectares of native vegetation and 179 large trees. In order to offset the loss of native vegetation, the North East Link Project are required to secure: • 9.384 general habitat units (GHU) (Minimum strategic biodiversity value score 0.164) within Port Phillip and Westernport Catchment Management Authority (CMA) or the municipalities of Banyule, Boroondara, Manningham, Nillumbik and Whitehorse. • 22.945 species habitat units (SHU) for Grey-headed Flying-fox Pteropus poliocephalus • 179 large trees to be protected in either general, species or combination across all habitat units protected. The proponent is currently consulting with DELWP and an accredited a registered offset broker (Ecology and Heritage Partners) regarding offset requirements and the availability of offsets. Project number: VEP19-002(06)|15 July 2019 Page vi Prepared for North East Link Project Doc No.: VEP19-002(06)--01| Version: B Expert Evidence: Vegetation offsets, Matted Flax-lily & Studley Park gum North East Link Project Correspondence with this broker has confirmed the availability of: • 9.384 GHUs in the vicinity of the Port Phillip and Westernport CMA with a minimum strategic biodiversity value of 0.163 • >1000 large trees are currently available on the native vegetation offset register; and • Approximately 25 SHUs for the Grey-headed Flying-fox are available but are yet to be registered on the native vegetation offset register. 1.3.2 Opinions and recommendations The North East Link Project is proposing to secure offsets via a third-party process. It should be recognised that the requirements for 22.945 species units of habitat for Grey-headed Flying-fox are not currently registered on the native vegetation offset register, however, correspondence with a registered offset broker (Ecology and Heritage Partners) has indicated their availability. I believe that State offsets can be met and that the North East Link Project Ecological Offset Strategy (GHD, 2019b) provides a pathway to secure the offsets. Project number: VEP19-002(06)|15 July 2019 Page vii Prepared for North East Link Project Doc No.: VEP19-002(06)--01| Version: B Expert Evidence: Vegetation offsets, Matted Flax-lily & Studley Park gum North East Link Project This page has been left blank intentionally. Project number: VEP19-002(06)|15 July 2019 Page viii Prepared for North East Link Project Doc No.: VEP19-002(06)--01| Version: B Expert Evidence: Vegetation offsets, Matted Flax-lily & Studley Park gum North East Link Project Table of Contents 1 Summary of key issues, opinions and recommendations ...................................................................... iv 1.1 Matted Flax-lily Dianella amoena ..................................................................................................... v 1.1.1 Key issues .......................................................................................................................... v 1.1.2 Opinions and recommendations ......................................................................................