WEST BELCONNEN PROJECT STRATEGIC ASSESSMENT Strategic Assessment Report FINAL March 2017 WEST BELCONNEN PROJECT STRATEGIC ASSESSMENT Strategic Assessment Report FINAL Prepared by Umwelt (Australia) Pty Limited on behalf of Riverview Projects Pty Ltd Project Director: Peter Cowper Project Manager: Amanda Mulherin Report No. 8062_R01_V8 Date: March 2017 Canberra 56 Bluebell Street PO Box 6135 O’Connor ACT 2602 Ph. 02 6262 9484 www.umwelt.com.au This report was prepared using Umwelt’s ISO 9001 certified Quality Management System. Executive Summary A Strategic Assessment between the Commonwealth The proposed urban development includes the Government and Riverview Projects commenced in provision of 11,500 dwellings, with associated services June 2014 under Part 10 of the Environment Protection and infrastructure (including the provision of sewer and Biodiversity Act 1999 (EPBC Act). The purpose of mains, an extension of Ginninderra Drive, and upgrade which was to seek approval for the proposed works to three existing arterial roads). It will extend development of a residential area and a conservation the existing Canberra town centre of Belconnen to corridor in west Belconnen (the Program). become the first cross border development between NSW and the ACT. A network of open space has also The Project Area for the Strategic Assessment been incorporated to link the WBCC to the residential straddles the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) and component and encourage an active lifestyle for the New South Wales (NSW) border; encompassing land community. west of the Canberra suburbs of Holt, Higgins, and Macgregor through to the Murrumbidgee River, and The aim of the WBCC is to protect the conservation between Stockdill Drive and Ginninderra Creek. values of the Project Area from the impacts of urban development. Ecological studies were conducted early The need for urban development in the ACT region has in the planning phase so that areas of high been identified in numerous planning documents. environmental value could act as a constraint on Population projections for the region indicate that development from the outset. In addition to its approximately 55,000 new houses would be required conservation role, the WBCC will also provide bushfire before 2050. The Program aims to provide a portion of mitigation and recreational values for the community, these by extending the residential areas within the adding to the sense of place and community vitality. Belconnen district that successfully balances These activities as well as the associated infrastructure ecological, economic, and social values. provision will be managed by the environmental management trust (EMT) through the WBCC Reserve Planning for the Program has been driven by Management Plan (RMP). community and expert consultation, targeted studies for the Project Area (including ecological, heritage, and The Project Area also contains a portion of the land infrastructure), Walter Burley Griffin’s planning legacy that was included in the Molonglo Strategic for Canberra, and the criteria for the Green Building Assessment. As such, the relevant commitments of the Council of Australia’s Green Star Community pilot Molonglo Strategic Assessment are incorporated into rating program (with the goal of achieving a six star the Program. rating: ‘a world leader in sustainability’). This Strategic Assessment analyses the impacts of the The Program is comprised of two key components: the Program on matters of national environmental urban development component and the west significance (MNES) and its outcomes in relation to the Belconnen Conservation Corridor (WBCC). requirements of the EPBC Act. It comprises two reports which should be read in conjunction with each other: i 1. The Program Report which sets out the planned o superb parrot (Polytelis swainsonii) development and associated works, actions, and (vulnerable); management, and funding arrangements that will achieve appropriate outcomes for MNES. o regent honeyeater (Anthochaera phrygia) (endangered); 2. The Strategic Assessment Report (this document) which analyses the potential impacts and o swift parrot (Lathamus discolor) (endangered); outcomes of the Program in relation to the and requirements of the EPBC Act. o painted honeyeater (Grantiella picta). Existing Environment • The aquatic and wetland habitat within the Land within the Project Area is predominantly defined Murrumbidgee River and Ginninderra Creek by the riparian corridors and associated gorges, and its provide habitat (known and potential) for the history of agricultural land use. following threatened bird, fish, and amphibian species: Vegetation that occurs on the gentler topography in the eastern two thirds of the Project Area o Australian painted snipe (Rostratula australis) predominantly consists of exotic grassland, with some (an endangered bird); small and isolated patches of native pasture. A history Macquarie perch (Macquaria australasica) (an of grazing and pasture improvement has resulted in o endangered fish); highly degraded ecosystems that no longer hold much environmental value. o Murray cod (Maccullochella peelii) (a vulnerable fish); Due to the steep topography, much of the woodland and forest communities within the riparian corridors trout cod (Maccullochella macquariensis) (an remain. Grazing has occurred within accessible areas, o endangered fish); and degrading the quality of these communities to varying degrees, though other areas are relatively o Booroolong frog (Litoria Booroolongensis) (an undisturbed. It is within these areas that most of the endangered amphibian). environmental values of the Project Area occur. MNES and their habitat which occur within the riparian Golden sun moth (Synemon plana) (critically corridors and contiguous woodland and forest are: endangered) also occurs within the route that the Ginninderra Drive extension is proposed to take, and • A nationally important population of pink-tailed also in land adjacent to the Project Area. worm-lizard (Aprasia parapulchella) (vulnerable) is known to occur within 162.8 hectares of rocky EPBC Act listed ecological community ‘Natural habitat within the Murrumbidgee River Corridor. temperate grassland of the south eastern highlands’ (natural temperate grassland) (critically endangered) • EPBC Act listed ‘white box – yellow box – Blakely’s occurs in small patches in Jarramlee and Macgregor red gum grassy woodland and derived native offset areas. Near to the route the Ginninderra Drive grassland’ (box gum woodland) (critically extension is proposed to take. It is also expected to endangered) is contiguous with riparian occur within the WBCC, generally coinciding with communities and occurs across 68.2 hectares of native grasslands associated with pink-tailed worm- land to the west of the Strathnairn Arts lizard habitat (see ‘Impacts to MNES’ section below). Association property and approximately 3.8 hectares along the Drake Brockman Drive upgrade The riparian corridors also play an important role for area in the south of the Project Area. regional connectivity. The Murrumbidgee River is an important branch of the Murray – Darling Basin and • The forest and woodland within the riparian connects to all key aquatic systems in the region. The corridors provides habitat for the following lowland woodland and forest habitat that occurs threatened bird species: within the riparian corridors links with montane and sub-alpine forests of southern ACT. ii Impacts to MNES Other MNES Pink-Tailed Worm-Lizard Impacts to other MNES have been assessed as unlikely to be significant subject to implementing In total, 16.4 hectares (10.2 hectares of high and 6.2 commitments of the Program. Direct impacts are hectares of low quality) of pink-tailed worm-lizard almost completely avoided (excluding the loss of a habitat will be directly impacted by the Program. The maximum of 28 trees within the WBCC) by the remaining 146.4 hectares (141.9 hectares of high and Program. Indirect and cumulative impacts may affect 4.5 hectares of low quality) will be protected within MNES that are protected within the WBCC as the WBCC. There will be no direct impact to pink-tailed discussed below. worm-lizard habitat as result of the sewer tunnel construction. The provision of infrastructure and Indirect, Cumulative, and Facilitated Impacts recreational facilities within the WBCC will result in no net loss of pink-tailed worm-lizard habitat within the MNES protected within the WBCC will still be at risk of WBCC. The WBCC RMP will include measures to avoid indirect, cumulative, and facilitated impacts resulting and mitigate these impacts as more detailed design is from the proximity of the urban development and undertaken and construction and operation phases ongoing recreational use of the corridor. The begin. mechanisms for managing this risk are discussed under ‘Key Outcomes’ below. Golden Sun Moth Impacts to Existing Offset Areas Impact to Golden sun moth habitat has been minimised to the greatest extent practicable by Implementation of the Program will result in an alignment selection for the Ginninderra Drive extension to Ginninderra Drive being constructed extension. The construction of the proposed road will through small portions of the existing Jarramlee and impact upon 1.8 hectares of golden sun moth habitat Macgregor offset areas. The assessment identifies that and fragment the remaining habitat within Jarramlee an appropriate response under the EPBC Act offset and Macgregor West Environmental Offset Areas. policy