Erskineville Station Upgrade Ecology Assessment March 2021
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Transport for NSW Erskineville Station Upgrade Supporting Studies Artist's impression of the proposed St Marys Station Commuter Car Park Expansion, subject to change during detailed design Artist's impression of the Erskineville Station Upgrade, subject to detailed design March 2021 FLORA AND FAUNA ASSESSMENT REPORT TAP 3 Erskineville Station Upgrade 141294-7 D2 10 March 2021 rpsgroup.com REPORT Document status Version Purpose of document Authored by Reviewed by Approved by Review date Shelomi Doyle D1 For client review Valerie Donat Mark Aitkens 16/12/2020 Mark Aitkens Valerie D2 For client review Mark Aitkens Donat/Deborah Mark Aitkens 03/02/2021 Dinardo Valerie D3 For client review Mark Aitkens Donat/Deborah Mark Aitkens 23/02/2021 Dinardo Valerie R1 FINAL Mark Aitkens Donat/Deborah Mark Aitkens 10/03/2021 Dinardo Approval for issue Mark Aitkens 10 March 2021 This report was prepared by RPS within the terms of RPS’ engagement with its client and in direct response to a scope of services. This report is supplied for the sole and specific purpose for use by RPS’ client. The report does not account for any changes relating the subject matter of the report, or any legislative or regulatory changes that have occurred since the report was produced and that may affect the report. RPS does not accept any responsibility or liability for loss whatsoever to any third party caused by, related to or arising out of any use or reliance on the report. Prepared by: Prepared for: RPS Transport for NSW Mark Aitkens Principal Ecologist Unit 2A, 45 Fitzroy Street 7 Harvest Street Carrington NSW 2294 Macquarie Park NSW 2113 T +61 2 4940 4200 T E [email protected] E 141294-7 | Flora and Fauna Assessment Report | D2 | 10 March 2021 rpsgroup.com Page i REPORT Contents ABBREVIATIONS .............................................................................................................................................. 1 1 INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................................................... 3 1.1 Overview ........................................................................................................................................ 3 1.1.1 Need for the Proposal ....................................................................................................... 3 1.1.2 Key features ...................................................................................................................... 3 1.1.3 Location of the Proposal ................................................................................................... 3 1.2 Purpose of report ........................................................................................................................... 2 1.3 Legislation and policy ..................................................................................................................... 2 1.3.1 NSW Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 ............................................... 2 1.3.2 NSW Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 ........................................................................ 2 1.3.3 NSW Biosecurity Act 2015 ................................................................................................ 3 1.3.4 State Environmental Planning Policy (Koala Habitat Protection) 2020 ............................ 3 1.3.5 Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 .......... 3 1.4 Qualifications and Licensing .......................................................................................................... 3 1.4.1 Qualifications .................................................................................................................... 3 1.4.2 Licencing ........................................................................................................................... 4 2 METHODOLOGY ..................................................................................................................................... 5 2.1 Desktop Research .......................................................................................................................... 5 2.1.1 Spatial datasets ................................................................................................................ 5 2.1.2 Database ........................................................................................................................... 5 2.2 Likelihood of occurrence ................................................................................................................ 5 2.3 Field investigations ......................................................................................................................... 6 2.3.1 Flora .................................................................................................................................. 6 2.3.2 Fauna ................................................................................................................................ 7 2.3.3 Survey effort ...................................................................................................................... 7 2.3.4 Data recording .................................................................................................................. 7 2.4 Nomenclature ................................................................................................................................. 7 2.4.1 Plant taxonomy ................................................................................................................. 7 2.4.2 Fauna taxonomy ............................................................................................................... 7 2.5 Limitations ...................................................................................................................................... 8 2.5.1 Seasonality ....................................................................................................................... 8 2.5.2 Data availability and accuracy .......................................................................................... 8 2.5.3 Fauna ................................................................................................................................ 8 2.5.4 Flora .................................................................................................................................. 8 3 RESULTS ................................................................................................................................................. 9 3.1 Desktop assessment ...................................................................................................................... 9 3.1.1 Spatial datasets ................................................................................................................ 9 3.1.2 Database searches .........................................................................................................10 3.2 Field Investigation ........................................................................................................................11 3.2.1 Flora ................................................................................................................................11 3.2.2 Fauna ..............................................................................................................................12 4 IMPACT ANALYSIS...............................................................................................................................14 4.1 Avoidance .....................................................................................................................................14 4.2 Residual direct impacts ................................................................................................................14 4.2.1 Vegetation loss ...............................................................................................................14 4.2.2 Threatened flora .............................................................................................................15 4.2.3 Threatened Fauna ..........................................................................................................15 4.2.4 Threatened Ecological Communities ..............................................................................15 4.2.5 Habitat loss .....................................................................................................................15 4.3 Residual indirect impacts .............................................................................................................15 141294-7 | Flora and Fauna Assessment Report | D2 | 10 March 2021 rpsgroup.com Page ii REPORT 4.3.1 Exotic flora ......................................................................................................................15 4.3.2 Runoff .............................................................................................................................15 4.4 Key Threatening Processes .........................................................................................................15 5 IMPACT ASSESSMENT ........................................................................................................................16 5.1 Assumptions .................................................................................................................................16 5.2 BC Act ‘Test of Significance’ (Section 7.3 of