GOLDEN BEACH GAS PROJECT Targeted Flora Surveys – Spring 2020 11 DECEMBER 2020 CONTACT FIONA SUTTON Principal Ecologist T Arcadis Level 32 140 William St E Melbourne 3000 Copyright © 2015 Arcadis. All rights reserved. arcadis.com GB ENERGY GOLDEN BEACH GAS PROJECT Targeted Flora Surveys – Spring 2020 Author Fiona Sutton Checker Approver Report No 30052213 Date 11/12/2020 Revision Text Final This report has been prepared for GB Energy in accordance with the terms and conditions of appointment for Golden Beach Gas Project – ecological services dated 11 May 2020. Arcadis Australia Pacific Pty Limited (ABN 76 104 485 289) cannot accept any responsibility for any use of or reliance on the contents of this report by any third party. REVISIONS Prepared Approved Revision Date Description by by 1 30/11/2020 First Draft Final version incorporating 2 11/12/2020 comments received V i CONTENTS SUMMARY .................................................................................................................................. 1 1 INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................................... 2 1.1 Study Area ........................................................................................................................... 2 2 METHODS ............................................................................................................................... 6 2.1 Field surveys ....................................................................................................................... 6 2.2 Limitations ........................................................................................................................... 6 2.3 Conservation status ............................................................................................................ 6 2.4 Nomenclature and taxonomy ............................................................................................. 7 3 RESULTS ................................................................................................................................ 8 3.1 Nationally significant species ............................................................................................ 8 3.2 State significant species .................................................................................................. 10 3.3 Other orchid species ......................................................................................................... 11 4 RECOMMENDATIONS AND IMPLICATIONS ...................................................................... 20 5 REFERENCES ....................................................................................................................... 21 APPENDICES LOCATION DETAILS FOR RARE OR THREATENED SPECIES AND OTHER ORCHIDS RECORDED DURING THE FIELD SURVEYS iii Golden Beach Gas Project: Targeted Flora Surveys – Spring 2020 SUMMARY The proposed Golden Beach Gas Project is currently undergoing the Environment Effects Statement process. To address the onshore biodiversity impacts, a Terrestrial and Freshwater Biodiversity Impact Assessment technical report has been prepared (Practical Ecology 2020) which recommended targeted surveys for six species listed under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act), as well as species listed under the (then) Victorian Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988 (FFG Act) and Victorian Advisory List. They include: • Maroon Leek-orchid Prasophyllum frenchii: EPBC Act Endangered, FFG Act listed, endangered in Victoria • Metallic Sun-orchid Thelymitra epipactoides: EPBC Act Endangered, FFG Act listed, endangered in Victoria • Thick-lip Spider-orchid Caladenia tessellata: EPBC Act Vulnerable, vulnerable in Victoria • Wellington Mint-bush Prostanthera galbraithiae: EPBC Act Vulnerable, FFG Act listed, vulnerable in Victoria • Trailing Hop-bush Dodonaea procumbens: EPBC Act Vulnerable, vulnerable in Victoria • Dwarf Kerrawang Commersonia prostrata: EPBC Act Endangered, FFG Act listed, endangered in Victoria • Gippsland Lakes Peppermint Eucalyptus arenicola: rare in Victoria Arcadis was commissioned to undertake the targeted surveys in early October and early November 2020 in areas of identified suitable habitat. Prior to each survey, nearby reference populations of Maroon Leek-orchid, Metallic Sun-orchid, Wellington Mint-bush, Trailing Hop-bush and Dwarf Kerrawang were visited to confirm their stage of development. No EPBC Act listed species were identified within the Construction Footprint, though some species occur immediately adjoining the construction zone. It is understood that Wellington Mint-bush also occurred along the alignment in one location – these plants have since died however a soil-stored seed bank may be present. Four species classified as rare in Victoria were recorded: • Gippsland Lakes Peppermint Eucalyptus arenicola: scattered in several locations • Slender Wire-lily Laxmannia gracilis: one plant located on Sandy Camp Road • Salt Lawrencia Lawrencia spicata: multiple plants located on the edge of Lake Reeve • Ribbed Thryptomene Thryptomene micrantha: multiple plants located west of Lake Reeve. Mitigation measures to avoid impacts to the EPBC Act listed species will be required, including No Go Zone fencing, reinstatement of habitat and construction personnel inductions. Provided these mitigation measures are followed, the Golden Beach Gas Project is not considered likely to have a significant impact on any rare or threatened flora species. 1 Golden Beach Gas Project: Targeted Flora Surveys – Spring 2020 1 INTRODUCTION The proposed Golden Beach Gas Project aims to develop the Golden Beach Gas Field located 3.8 km offshore and involves an onshore pipeline easement and associated track upgrades and infrastructure. The project is currently undergoing the Environment Effects Statement process to address the potential significant impacts to onshore and offshore biodiversity values as well as Aboriginal cultural heritage values. To address the onshore biodiversity impacts, a Terrestrial and Freshwater Biodiversity Impact Assessment technical report has been prepared (Practical Ecology 2020, herein referred to as the Technical Report) which recommended targeted surveys for six species listed under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act), as well as species listed under the Victorian Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988 (FFG Act) and Victorian Advisory List (DEPI 2014)1. They include: • Maroon Leek-orchid Prasophyllum frenchii: EPBC Act Endangered, FFG Act listed, endangered in Victoria • Metallic Sun-orchid Thelymitra epipactoides: EPBC Act Endangered, FFG Act listed, endangered in Victoria • Thick-lip Spider-orchid Caladenia tessellata: EPBC Act Vulnerable, vulnerable in Victoria • Wellington Mint-bush Prostanthera galbraithiae: EPBC Act Vulnerable, FFG Act listed, vulnerable in Victoria • Trailing Hop-bush Dodonaea procumbens: EPBC Act Vulnerable, vulnerable in Victoria • Dwarf Kerrawang Commersonia prostrata: EPBC Act Endangered, FFG Act listed, endangered in Victoria • Gippsland Lakes Peppermint Eucalyptus arenicola: rare in Victoria Arcadis was engaged by GB Energy on 28 September 2020 to undertake the required targeted flora surveys in spring 2020. In addition to the species listed above, other rare or threatened species were also targeted during the surveys. In order to protect the ongoing survival of some EPBC Act listed species, a confidential version of this report has been prepared containing all maps and location details. This publicly available version has had the specific location information removed. 1.1 Study Area Targeted surveys were recommended in the Technical Report for the following areas of the Project’s Construction Footprint (referred to as the Footprint): • Kilometre Point (KP) 0.3-2.5 & KP 5 - 6.5 for Maroon Leek-orchid, Metallic Sun- orchid, Thick-lip Spider-orchid • All areas of Damp Sands Herb-rich Woodland (EVC 3), Lowland Forest (EVC 16) and Heathy Woodland (EVC 48) for Wellington Mint-bush, Dwarf Kerrawang, Trailing Hop-bush and Gippsland Lakes Peppermint. While completing the surveys, additional potentially suitable habitat was also surveyed based on the observed habitat for nearby reference populations e.g. Dwarf 1 These currently accepted statuses are soon to be obsolete (FFG Amendment Act). 2 Golden Beach Gas Project: Targeted Flora Surveys – Spring 2020 Kerrawang and Trailing Hop-bush growing in Pine plantations. The full extent of the study area surveyed is show in Figure 1. 3 Golden Beach Gas Project: Targeted Flora Surveys – Spring 2020 Figure 1. The Golden Beach Gas Project Footprint and areas assessed as part of the targeted surveys. 5 Golden Beach Gas Project: Targeted Flora Surveys – Spring 2020 2 METHODS 2.1 Field surveys Two botanists, with a minimum of 13 years’ experience each, undertook the field surveys. In order to target the seasonal flowering time of the orchids, two surveys were completed: • 9th and 12th October 2020, KP 0.3-2.5 & KP 5 - 6.5 only • 9th to 12th November 2020, KP 0.3-2.5 & KP 5 - 6.5 and all other areas surveyed as illustrated in Figure 1. Nearby reference populations of Maroon Leek-orchid, Metallic Sun-orchid, Wellington Mint-bush, Trailing Hop-bush, Dwarf Kerrawang and Gippsland Lakes Peppermint were visited prior to surveys in order to confirm the flowering status and development. The field surveys were undertaken in accordance with relevant