6583830 GRWP Works Approval Application Appendix I Ecology & Planning Assessment Report CH2M Beca // 25 March 2021 6583830 // page 122 Report Ecology and Planning Assessment Report Prepared for Western Water Prepared by CH2M Beca Ltd 17 December 2020 6583830 Ecology and Planning Assessment Report Contents 1 Introduction ........................................................................................................ 1 1.1 Project description ...................................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Assumptions, limitations and definitions ...................................................................................... 1 2 Methods .............................................................................................................. 2 2.1 Desktop ecological assessment .................................................................................................. 2 2.2 Ecological field assessment ........................................................................................................ 2 2.2.1 Native vegetation............................................................................................................ 2 2.2.2 Planted native and non-native vegetation ....................................................................... 3 2.2.3 Fauna habitat ................................................................................................................. 3 2.3 Likelihood of occurrence assessment.......................................................................................... 3 2.4 Desktop planning assessment .................................................................................................... 4 3 Legislative and Policy Summary ...................................................................... 5 4 Desktop Assessment Results .......................................................................... 7 4.1 Ecology ...................................................................................................................................... 7 4.1.1 Ecological Vegetation Classes ........................................................................................ 7 4.1.2 Threatened Communities ............................................................................................... 7 4.1.3 Threatened Species ....................................................................................................... 7 4.1.4 Wetlands ........................................................................................................................ 8 4.2 Planning ..................................................................................................................................... 9 4.2.1 Land Tenure ................................................................................................................... 9 4.2.2 Key Planning Scheme Provisions ................................................................................... 9 4.2.3 Planning Assessment ....................................................................................................12 4.2.4 Cultural Heritage Management Plan ..............................................................................13 4.3 Existing Planning Permit ............................................................................................................13 5 Field Assessment Results .............................................................................. 15 5.1 Native Vegetation ......................................................................................................................15 5.2 Threatened Ecological Communities ..........................................................................................19 5.3 Threatened Species...................................................................................................................19 5.3.1 Threatened species listed under the EPBC Act and FFG Act .........................................19 5.3.2 Rare and threatened species listed on the VicAdv .........................................................19 5.3.3 Protected flora listed under the FFG Act ........................................................................19 5.4 Noxious weeds and declared pest species .................................................................................20 6 Potential Impacts to Native Vegetation ......................................................... 21 7 Mitigation .......................................................................................................... 21 7.1 Avoid and minimise....................................................................................................................21 7.2 Mitigation measures...................................................................................................................21 8 Legislative and Policy Implications ............................................................... 22 CH2M Beca // 17 December 2020 6583830 // page 1 6583830 Ecology and Planning Assessment Report 9 Conclusion and Next Steps ............................................................................ 23 9.1 Conclusion ................................................................................................................................23 9.2 Next Steps .................................................................................................................................23 10 References ....................................................................................................... 24 Appendices Concept Design Layout ................................................................. 26 Threatened Species ......................................................................... 1 Certificate of Title ............................................................................. 1 Habitat Hectare Assessment Results ............................................ 1 Remnant Tree Register .................................................................... 1 Planning Permit ................................................................................ 1 Habitat Management Services Offset Plan .................................... 1 CH2M Beca // 17 December 2020 6583830 // page 2 6583830 Ecology and Planning Assessment Report 1 Introduction CH2M Beca has been engaged by Western Water to prepare a combined Ecology and Planning Assessment of the proposed works for Stage 1 of the Gisborne Recycled Water Plant (RWP) Upgrade. 1.1 Project description Gisborne Recycled Water Plant (RWP) is owned and operated by Western Water (WW) and is located on Haywood Drive, Gisborne approximately 15km north-west of Sunbury and 40km north-west of Melbourne. The site is bordered by rural and agricultural land to the north, low density rural living to the east and south and the Calder Freeway to the west. The Gisborne RWP treats wastewater from Gisborne, New Gisborne and Macedon townships and treated effluent produced by the plant is either supplied to customers through the Gisborne recycled water network or discharged under an EPA licence to Jacksons Creek. The plant is currently reaching the limit of its capacity. Growth in flows and loads to the plant are projected to increase in line with population from approximately 14,000 people to approximately 21,000 in 2035. To avoid negative impacts on Jacksons Creek, it is proposed to undertake the following upgrades to the plant: ◼ New common inlet screening and grit removal facility ◼ New odour control facility for inlet works consisting of a biotrickling filter with activated carbon polishing ◼ New membrane bioreactor (MBR) activated sludge process with provisions for future capacity augmentations ◼ Ferric sulphate dosing facility (or other suitable chemical phosphorus removal chemical) ◼ New effluent discharge pipework to Jacksons Creek ◼ Sludge dewatering, including polymer dosing facilities ◼ Electrical and ancillary services ◼ Site power supply upgrade ◼ Site road works 1.2 Assumptions, limitations and definitions Information from the desktop assessment is based on existing data only and is, therefore, only as reliable as the number of surveys previously undertaken (i.e. an area where many surveys have been taken in the past, will, most likely, have a more extensive list of species than areas where very little survey work has been undertaken). The accuracy of past surveys is also variable and point locations can be out by up to 1 km. In addition to the number of previous surveys undertaken, there are other reasons why species, including threatened species, may not have previously been recorded. For example, at the time of historical site visits some plant species may not have been flowering and therefore not identified as being present within the area surveyed. Also, the data collected is likely to consist of opportunistic observations only, and, therefore, listed fauna species moving in and out of the area may not have been observed or recorded. The field survey undertaken was a preliminary survey and thus the only recorded species were those that can be easily identified, heard or have distinctive signs, such as tracks, scats, diggings, etc. Many cryptic and nocturnal species would not have been identified during such a survey. CH2M Beca // 17 December 2020 6583830 // page 1 6583830 Ecology and Planning Assessment Report 2 Methods 2.1 Desktop ecological assessment A high-level desktop assessment was completed. A review