2014 Annual Compliance Report for Biodiversity Offset & Cliffline
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2014 Annual Compliance Report for Biodiversity Offset & Cliffline Management Areas (EPBC ref 2009/5252) Prepared for Ulan Coal Mines Limited 13 February 2015 2014 Annual Compliance Report (EPBC ref 2009/5252) 2014 Annual Compliance Report for Biodiversity Offset & Cliffline Management Areas EPBC ref 2009/5252 PREPARED FOR Ulan Coal Mines Limited PROJECT NO 742 DATE 13 February 2015 © ECO LOGICAL AUSTRALIA P T Y L T D ii 2014 Annual Compliance Report (EPBC ref 2009/5252) DOCUMENT TRACKING ITEM DETAIL Project Name 2014 UCML EPBC Compliance Report Project Number 742 File location W:\Projects\Mudgee\13MUDECO\13MUDECO-0038 UCML Floristic Monitoring Spring 2013 Prepared by Rachel Murray, Sarah Dickson-Hoyle, Kurtis Lindsay Approved by Dr Paul Frazier Status Final Version Number v1 Last saved on 13 February 2015 Flora monitoring sites BOB14, BOBE1 and RPA9 (Tammy Paartalu, ELA 2011) and Harp Cover photo trap along cliffline at BOB1 (Glenn Hoye, Fly By Night Bat Surveys 2011) ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This document has been prepared by Eco Logical Australia Pty Ltd with input from Glenn Hoye (Fly By Night Bat Surveys Pty Ltd) and Dr Martin Denny (Biodiversity Monitoring Services) and support from Ulan Coal Mines Limited. Disclaimer This document may only be used for the purpose for which it was commissioned and in accordance with the contract between Eco Logical Australia Pty Ltd and the Ulan Coal Mines Limited. The scope of services was defined in consultation with Ulan Coal Mines Limited, by time and budgetary constraints imposed by the client, and the availability of reports and other data on the subject area. Changes to available information, legislation and schedules are made on an ongoing basis and readers should obtain up to date information. Eco Logical Australia Pty Ltd accepts no liability or responsibility whatsoever for or in respect of any use of or reliance upon this report and its supporting material by any third party. Information provided is not intended to be a substitute for site specific assessment or legal advice in relation to any matter. Unauthorised use of this report in any form is prohibited. © ECO LOGICAL AUSTRALIA P T Y L T D i 2014 Annual Compliance Report (EPBC ref 2009/5252) Contents Contents .....................................................................................................................................................ii List of Figures............................................................................................................................................ v List of Tables .............................................................................................................................................vi Abbreviations............................................................................................................................................vii 1 Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 1 1.1 Project Area ............................................................................................................................. 1 2 EPBC Conditions & Compliance ............................................................................................. 4 2.1 EPBC Conditions of Approval.................................................................................................. 4 2.2 EPBC Compliance................................................................................................................... 9 2.2.1 Condition 1 ......................................................................................................................... 9 2.2.2 Condition 2 – Variation to Conditions Attached to Approval (23 July 2014) ...................... 9 2.2.3 Condition 3 ......................................................................................................................... 9 2.2.4 Condition 4 – Variation to Conditions Attached to Approval (23 July 2014) .................... 16 2.2.5 Condition 5 ....................................................................................................................... 16 2.2.6 Condition 6 ....................................................................................................................... 17 2.2.7 Condition 7 ....................................................................................................................... 17 2.2.8 Condition 8 ....................................................................................................................... 18 2.2.9 Condition 9 ....................................................................................................................... 18 2.2.10 Condition 10 ..................................................................................................................... 18 3 Biodiversity Offset & Cliffline Management Areas................................................................. 19 3.1 Biodiversity Management Plan .............................................................................................. 19 3.1.1 Biodiversity Offsets........................................................................................................... 19 3.1.2 Biodiversity Offset and Cliffline Management Area Objectives........................................ 20 3.1.3 Monitoring......................................................................................................................... 21 4 Biodiversity Offset and Cliffline Management Area Monitoring ............................................. 24 4.1 Methodology .......................................................................................................................... 24 4.1.1 Floristic Monitoring Methodology ..................................................................................... 24 4.1.1.1 Residual Vegetation Monitoring (Analogue Sites) ........................................................... 25 4.1.1.2 Revegetation/Regeneration Area Vegetation Monitoring................................................. 27 © ECO LOGICAL AUSTRALIA P T Y L T D ii 2014 Annual Compliance Report (EPBC ref 2009/5252) 4.1.2 Landscape Function Analysis Methodology..................................................................... 29 4.1.2.1 Geographic Setting of the Site ......................................................................................... 31 4.1.2.2 Landscape Organisation .................................................................................................. 31 4.1.2.3 Soil Surface Assessment ................................................................................................. 32 4.1.2.4 Vegetation Dynamics ....................................................................................................... 32 4.1.3 Fauna (excluding Microbats)............................................................................................ 33 4.1.4 Fauna (Microbats) ............................................................................................................ 38 4.1.4.1 General Fauna Monitoring Sites ...................................................................................... 38 4.1.4.2 Targeted Cliffline Microbat Monitoring ............................................................................. 38 4.1.5 Weather Conditions.......................................................................................................... 40 4.2 Results................................................................................................................................... 43 4.2.1 Floristic Surveys ............................................................................................................... 43 4.2.2 Landscape Function Analysis .......................................................................................... 51 4.2.3 Fauna (excluding Microbats)............................................................................................ 53 4.2.3.1 Mammals (excluding Microbats) ...................................................................................... 54 4.2.3.2 Birds ................................................................................................................................. 54 4.2.3.3 Reptiles ............................................................................................................................ 56 4.2.3.4 Amphibians....................................................................................................................... 56 4.2.3.5 Fauna Habitat................................................................................................................... 56 4.2.4 Fauna (Microbats) ............................................................................................................ 57 4.2.4.1 General Fauna Sites ........................................................................................................ 57 4.2.4.2 Targeted Microbat Cliffline Monitoring ............................................................................. 57 5 Discussion & Recommendations........................................................................................... 59 5.1 Floristic Monitoring................................................................................................................. 59 5.2 Landscape Function Analysis................................................................................................ 62 5.3 Fauna (excluding