Public Environment Report Ecological Thinning Trial in New South Wales River Red Gum Forests © 2014 State of NSW and Office of Environment and Heritage This report was prepared by the New South Wales Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH) National Parks and Wildlife Service with the assistance of AECOM Australia Pty Ltd and Regeneration Solutions Pty Ltd. The document has been compiled in good faith, exercising all due care and attention. No representation is made about the accuracy, completeness or suitability of the information in this publication for any particular purpose. OEH shall not be liable for any damage which may occur to any person or organisation taking action or not on the basis of this publication. Readers should seek appropriate advice when applying the information to their specific needs. This document may be subject to revision without notice and readers should ensure they are using the latest version. Reference: EPBC 2013/6713 This Public Environment Report has been authorised by: Michael Wright Deputy Chief Executive National Parks and Wildlife Service PO Box A290 Sydney South NSW 1232 Published by: Office of Environment and Heritage 59 Goulburn Street, Sydney NSW 2000 PO Box A290, Sydney South NSW 1232 Phone: (02) 9995 5000 (switchboard) Phone: 131 555 (environment information and publications requests) Phone: 1300 361 967 (national parks, general environmental enquiries, and publications requests) Fax: (02) 9995 5999 TTY users: phone 133 677, then ask for 131 555 Speak and listen users: phone 1300 555 727, then ask for 131 555 Email: [email protected] Website: www.environment.nsw.gov.au Report pollution and environmental incidents Environment Line: 131 555 (NSW only) or [email protected] See also www.environment.nsw.gov.au ISBN 978 1 74359 738 5 OEH 2014/0621 August 2014; revised October 2015 i Addendum to Public Environment Report - Ecological Thinning Trial in New South Wales River Red Gum Forests (EPBC2013/6713) Figures one and two detail the updated site names, locations, haulage routes and haulage distances for the ecological thinning trial. Figure One: Site Names & Haulage distances (single one-way trip) to stockpile site Site Common name Precinct Distance (km) 1 Rushy Road Moira 33 2 Coolamon Crossing Moira 14 3 Middle Road Millewa 5 4 Sandhills Road Millewa 9 5 James Swamp Road Millewa 13 6 Western Millewa River Road Millewa 13 7 Glens Road Millewa 18 8 Millewa River Road Millewa 18 9 Sams Road Millewa 24 10 Toupna Crossing Road Millewa 24 11 Box Plain Road Millewa 24 12 Millewa River Road East Millewa 27 13 Seven Mile Creek East Millewa 35 14 Seven Mile Creek West Millewa 37 15 Ferry Road Moira 45 16 Swifts Creek Road Moira 21 17 Porters Creek Road Moira 16 18 Poverty Point Road Moira 17 19 Log Dump Road Moira 4 20 Gerapna Road Millewa 7 21 Dudleys Road Millewa 15 22 Fishermans Bend Road Millewa 17 Average distance (km) 20 Ecological Thinning Trial in New South Wales River Red Gum Forests ii Figure Two: Site Locations & Haulage Routes Ecological Thinning Trial in New South Wales River Red Gum Forests iii Contents List of acronyms .................................................................................................................... xi Executive summary .............................................................................................................. xv Background ...................................................................................................................... xv Objectives of the ecological thinning trial .......................................................................... xv Proposed ecological thinning trial activities ..................................................................... xvi Description of the environment ........................................................................................ xvi Risks and potential impacts ......................................................................................... xvi Management of potential impacts during the trial ........................................................ xvii 1. General information ..................................................................................................... 1 1.1. Title of the action ................................................................................................... 1 1.2. Proponents ............................................................................................................ 1 1.3. Objectives of the action ......................................................................................... 1 1.4. Location ................................................................................................................. 2 1.5. Background to the development of the action ........................................................ 2 1.5.1. Decline in health of river red gum forests ........................................................... 2 1.5.2. Recommendation for an ecological thinning trial ................................................ 3 1.5.3. Rationale for the ecological thinning trial ............................................................ 4 1.6. How the action relates to other known actions ....................................................... 5 1.6.1. Perricoota and Koondrook State Forests ............................................................ 5 1.6.2. Gunbower State Forest ...................................................................................... 6 1.7. Current status of the action .................................................................................... 6 1.8. Consequences of not proceeding with the action ................................................... 7 2. Description of the action .............................................................................................. 8 2.1. Design of the ecological thinning trial ..................................................................... 8 2.2. Planning and site selection .................................................................................. 10 2.2.1. River red gum site quality, stem density and canopy condition ......................... 11 2.2.2. Logging and fire history .................................................................................... 11 2.2.3. Minimising impacts on matters of national environmental significance and native vegetation .............................................................................................. 17 2.3. Trial activities ....................................................................................................... 18 2.3.1. Establishment phase ........................................................................................ 18 2.3.2. Treatment phase .............................................................................................. 21 2.3.3. Site monitoring phase ....................................................................................... 27 2.4. Additional development sites ............................................................................... 27 Ecological Thinning Trial in New South Wales River Red Gum Forests iv 2.5. Supporting infrastructure ..................................................................................... 27 3. Feasible alternatives ................................................................................................. 28 3.1. Taking no action .................................................................................................. 28 3.2. Alternative trial approaches deemed to be unfeasible .......................................... 29 4. Description of the environment .................................................................................. 32 4.1. General ............................................................................................................... 32 4.1.1. Altitude ............................................................................................................. 32 4.1.2. Rainfall ............................................................................................................. 32 4.1.3. Land systems ................................................................................................... 32 4.1.4. Hydrology ......................................................................................................... 33 4.2. Method for determining presence and extent of EPBC Act-listed matters of national environmental significance ..................................................................... 33 4.2.1. Desktop assessment and field surveys ............................................................. 33 4.2.2. Understanding vegetation and threatened ecological community extent ........... 34 4.2.3. Likelihood of occurrence of matters of national environmental significance ...... 34 4.3. Matters of national environmental significance with a moderate or high potential to occur in the river red gum forests..................................................................... 47 4.3.1. Cattle egret Ardea ibis ...................................................................................... 47 4.3.2. Eastern great egret Ardea modesta .................................................................. 49 4.3.3. Fork-tailed swift Apus pacificus ........................................................................ 51 4.3.4. Rainbow bee-eater Merops ornatus ................................................................. 53 4.3.5. Superb parrot Polytelis