Appendix C: Additional Ecological Assessment Pacific Highway and Wyong Road intersection upgrade Appendix C Submissions report NSW Roads and Maritime Services Pacific Highway and Wyong Road Intersection Ecological Survey Report 24 April 2013 Document information Client: NSW Roads and Maritime Services Title: Pacific Highway and Wyong Road Intersection Ecological Survey Report Document No: 2106558A PR_0110 Date: 24 April 2013 Rev Date Details 0 09/04/2013 Original Draft A 24/04/2013 Final Author, Reviewer and Approver details Nathan Cooper, Prepared by: Date: 24/04/2013 Signature: Debbie Landenberger Reviewed by: Allan Richardson Date: 09/04/2013 Signature: Toby Lambert, Approved by: Date: 24/04/2013 Signature: Alex Cockerill Distribution NSW Roads and Maritime Services, Parsons Brinckerhoff file, Parsons Brinckerhoff Library ©Parsons Brinckerhoff Australia Pty Limited 2013 Copyright in the drawings, information and data recorded in this document (the information) is the property of Parsons Brinckerhoff. This document and the information are solely for the use of the authorised recipient and this document may not be used, copied or reproduced in whole or part for any purpose other than that for which it was supplied by Parsons Brinckerhoff. Parsons Brinckerhoff makes no representation, undertakes no duty and accepts no responsibility to any third party who may use or rely upon this document or the information. Document owner Parsons Brinckerhoff Australia Pty Limited ABN 80 078 004 798 Level 3 51-55 Bolton Street Newcastle NSW 2300 PO Box 1162 Newcastle NSW 2300 Australia Tel: +61 2 4929 8300 Fax: +61 2 4929 8382 Email: [email protected] www.pbworld.com Certified to ISO 9001, ISO 14001, AS/NZS 4801 A GRI Rating: Sustainability Report 2011 NSW Roads and Maritime Services Pacific Highway and Wyong Road Intersection Ecological Survey Report Contents Page number Glossary iii Executive summary vi 1. Introduction 1 2. Methods 2 2.1 Definitions 2 2.2 Personnel 2 2.3 Nomenclature 3 2.4 Literature and database review 3 2.5 Field survey 4 2.6 Likelihood of occurrence 9 2.7 Limitations 10 3. Existing environment 11 3.1 Surrounding land uses 11 3.2 Vegetation communities 11 3.3 Threat-listed flora species 11 3.4 Terrestrial fauna habitats 18 3.5 Species of animal 18 4. Impact assessment summary 22 5. Conclusions 25 6. References 27 Parsons Brinckerhoff | 2106558A PR_0110 i NSW Roads and Maritime Services Pacific Highway and Wyong Road Intersection Ecological Survey Report List of tables Page number Table 2.1 Contributors and their roles 2 Table 2.2 Database searches 3 Table 2.3 Weather conditions 4 Table 2.4 Fauna habitat features assessed 8 Table 2.5 Likelihood of occurrence of threat-listed species 9 Table 3.1 Vegetation communities identified in the study area 11 Table 3.2 Summary of the ‘Melaleuca biconvexa’ within the proposed construction footprint 13 Table 3.3 Summary of ‘Melaleuca biconvexa’ density samples plots in the study area 14 Table 3.4 Summary of the Melaleuca biconvexa estimated population in the study area and locality 16 Table 3.5 Fauna habitat with corresponding vegetation description 18 Table 4-1 Summary of TSC Act and EPBC Act significance assessments for threat-listed flora, frog, microbat and endangered ecological communities likely to occur with a moderate or greater likelihood 23 List of figures Page number Figure 2.1 Survey Locations 5 Figure 3.1 ‘Melaleuca biconvexa’ and threat-listed fauna species locations 15 List of photographs Page number Photo 3.1 Dense Melaleuca biconvexa thicket to the south of Area 1 13 Photo 3.2 ‘Melaleuca biconvexa’ sapling in area 1 14 Photo 3.3 Syzygium paniculatum in area 3 18 Photo 3.4 Aquatic habitat (Freshwater Wetlands), north of Wyong Road 20 Photo 3.5 Aquatic habitat associated with Tuggerah Creek 20 Photo 3.6 Swamp forest, south of Wyong Road within the study area 21 List of appendices Appendix A Threatened Plant Species Appendix B Species of animal recorded Appendix C Threatened Animal Species Appendix D Bat Sonograms Parsons Brinckerhoff | 2106558A PR_0110 ii NSW Roads and Maritime Services Pacific Highway and Wyong Road Intersection Ecological Survey Report Glossary Biodiversity The biological diversity of life is commonly regarded as being made up of the following three components: Genetic diversity — the variety of genes (or units of heredity) in any population. Species diversity — the variety of species. Ecosystem diversity — the variety of communities or ecosystems. Bioregion (region) A bioregion defined in a national system of bioregionalisation. The study area is in the Brigalow Belt South bioregion as defined in the Interim Biogeographic Regionalisation for Australia (Thackway & Cresswell 1995). Critical Habitat The whole or any part or parts of an area or areas of land comprising the habitat of an Endangered species, an Endangered population or an Endangered Ecological Community that is critical to the survival of the species, population or ecological community (Department of Environment and Conservation 2004). Critical habitat is listed under either the TSC Act or the EPBC Act and both the state (Office of Environment and Heritage) and Federal (Department of the Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities) Both of these departments maintain a register of this habitat. Capitalisation of the term ‘Critical Habitat’ in this report refers to the habitat listed specifically under the relevant state and Commonwealth legislation. Department of The department develops and implements national policy, programs and legislation to Sustainability, protect and conserve Australia’s natural environment and cultural heritage and Environment, Water, administers the EPBC Act. The Commonwealth Department of Department of Population and Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities was known previously Communities (SEWPAC) as: Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts (DEWHA). Department of Environment and Heritage (DEH). Department of the Environment and Water Resources (DEWR). Department of Trade and This department aims to attract investment to NSW and support innovative, sustainable Investment, Regional and globally competitive industries through technical knowledge. The department Infrastructure and includes forestry and fisheries and administers the FM Act. Formerly known as: Services (DTIRIS) Department of Industry and Investment. Department of Primary Industries. Ecological community An assemblage of species occupying a particular area. Environmental weed Any plant that is not native to a local area that has invaded native vegetation. EPBC Act Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 Exotic Introduced from outside the area (Royal Botanic Gardens 2011). Used in the context of this report to refer to species introduced from overseas. FM Act Fisheries Management Act 1994 GPS Global Positioning System- a navigational tool which uses radio receivers to pick up signals from four or more special satellites to provide precise determination of location. Habitat An area or areas occupied, or periodically or occasionally occupied, by a species, population or ecological community, including any biotic or abiotic components. Indigenous Native to the area: not introduced (Royal Botanic Gardens 2011). Introduced Not native to the area: not indigenous (Royal Botanic Gardens 2011). Refers to both exotic and non-indigenous Australian native species of plants and animals. Parsons Brinckerhoff | 2106558A PR_0110 iii NSW Roads and Maritime Services Pacific Highway and Wyong Road Intersection Ecological Survey Report Key Threatening A process that threatens, or could threaten, the survival, abundance or evolutionary Processes development of native species, populations or ecological communities (Department of Environment and Conservation 2004). Key threatening processes are listed under the TSC Act, the FM Act and the EPBC Act. Capitalisation of the term ‘Key Threatening Processes’ in this report refers to those processes listed specifically under the relevant state and Commonwealth legislation. Likely Taken to be a real chance or possibility (Department of Environment and Conservation 2004). Local population The population that occurs within the site, unless the existence of contiguous or proximal occupied habitat and the movement of individuals or exchange of genetic material across the boundary can be demonstrated as defined by Department of Environment and Climate Change (2007b). Locality The area within a 10 km of the site. Migratory species Species listed as Migratory under the EPBC Act relating to international agreements to which Australia is a signatory. These include Japan-Australia Migratory Bird Agreement, China-Australia Migratory Bird Agreement, Republic of Korea-Australia Migratory Bird Agreement and the Bonn Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals. Capitalisation of the term ‘Migratory’ in this report refers to those species listed as Migratory under the EPBC Act. Noxious weed An introduced species listed under the Noxious Weeds Act 1993. Under the Act, noxious weeds have specific control measure and reporting requirements. NSW New South Wales Office of Environment Following the 2011 NSW elections, the Department of Environment, Climate Change and Heritage and Water was abolished as a Division of the Government Service and was added to the NSW Department of Premier and Cabinet, as the Office of Environment and Heritage. Broadly, the Office of Environment