Environmental Consulting Options Tasmania ECOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT OF THE PROPOSED SCOTTSDALE IRRIGATION SCHEME, NORTHEAST TASMANIA: CAMDEN DAM EXTENSION SURVEY Environmental Consulting Options Tasmania (ECOtas) for Tasmanian Irrigation Pty Ltd 12 April 2015 Mark Wapstra ABN 83 464 107 291 28 Suncrest Avenue email: [email protected] (03) 62 283 220 Lenah Valley, TAS 7008 web: www.ecotas.com.au 0407 008 685 ECOtas…providing options in environmental consulting ECOtas…providing options in environmental consulting CITATION This report can be cited as: ECOtas (2015). Ecological Assessment of the Proposed Scottsdale Irrigation Scheme, Northeast Tasmania: Camden Dam Extension Area. Report by Environmental Consulting Options Tasmania (ECOtas) for Tasmanian Irrigation Pty Ltd, 12 April 2015. AUTHORSHIP Field assessment: Mark Wapstra Report production: Mark Wapstra Habitat and vegetation mapping: Mark Wapstra Base data for mapping: TheList, Tasmanian Irrigation Pty Ltd Digital and aerial photography: Mark Wapstra, GoogleEarth, TheList ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Kathryn Pugh (TI) provided background information and field assistance (burrowing crayfish survey). Alastair Richardson (ECOtas) undertook burrowing crayfish surveys and identifications. Marlaina Pickering (TI) undertook some GIS analyses of threatened fauna records. Miguel de Salas and Matthew Baker (Tasmanian Herbarium) confirmed some plant identifications. COVER ILLUSTRATIONS View of the Camden Rivulet through callidendrous rainforest. Please note: the blank pages in this document are deliberate to facilitate double-sided printing. Ecological Assessment of Scottsdale Irrigation Scheme (Camden Dam), Tasmania i ECOtas…providing options in environmental consulting Ecological Assessment of Scottsdale Irrigation Scheme (Camden Dam), Tasmania ii ECOtas…providing options in environmental consulting CONTENTS SUMMARY ......................................................................................................................... 1 PURPOSE, SCOPE, LIMITATIONS AND QUALIFICATIONS OF THE SURVEY .................................. 5 Purpose .................................................................................................................... 5 Scope ....................................................................................................................... 5 Limitations ................................................................................................................ 6 Qualifications ............................................................................................................. 6 Permit ...................................................................................................................... 6 THE STUDY AREA ............................................................................................................... 7 METHODS ......................................................................................................................... 7 Nomenclature ............................................................................................................ 7 Preliminary investigation ........................................................................................... 10 Field assessment ...................................................................................................... 10 Botanical survey – threatened flora ............................................................................ 11 Botanical survey – declared and environmental weeds .................................................. 11 Botanical survey – vegetation classification ................................................................. 11 Zoological survey ..................................................................................................... 11 Masked owl survey .............................................................................................. 12 Spotted-tailed quoll and Tasmanian devil survey ..................................................... 13 Growling grass frog survey ................................................................................... 13 Wedge-tailed eagle survey ................................................................................... 13 Grey goshawk habitat analysis .............................................................................. 15 Burrowing crayfish survey .................................................................................... 15 RESULTS ........................................................................................................................ 15 Vegetation types ...................................................................................................... 15 Comments on TASVEG mapping ............................................................................ 15 Vegetation types recorded as part of the present study ............................................ 17 Plant species ........................................................................................................... 18 General observations (flora) ................................................................................. 18 Priority flora species known from the study area ..................................................... 18 Analysis of records of priority flora from vicinity of study area .................................. 18 Fauna species .......................................................................................................... 20 General observations (fauna) ................................................................................ 20 Priority fauna species known from the study area (or potentially present) .................. 20 Other ecological values ............................................................................................. 27 Additional “Matters of National Environmental Significance” ...................................... 27 Ecological Assessment of Scottsdale Irrigation Scheme (Camden Dam), Tasmania iii ECOtas…providing options in environmental consulting Weed species ...................................................................................................... 27 Rootrot pathogen, Phytophthora cinnamomi ........................................................... 27 Myrtle wilt .......................................................................................................... 28 Myrtle rust ......................................................................................................... 28 Chytrid fungus and other freshwater pathogens ...................................................... 28 DISCUSSION ................................................................................................................... 29 Summary of key findings ........................................................................................... 29 Legislative and policy implications .............................................................................. 31 Recommendations .................................................................................................... 33 REFERENCES ................................................................................................................... 34 APPENDIX A. Vegetation community structure and composition ............................................. 36 APPENDIX B. Vascular plant species recorded from study area .............................................. 39 APPENDIX C. Vertebrate fauna recorded from study area ...................................................... 42 APPENDIX D. Details of key fauna point locations ................................................................ 45 APPENDIX E. Analysis of database records of threatened flora ............................................... 48 APPENDIX F. Analysis of database records of threatened fauna.............................................. 51 APPENDIX G. Notes on Juncus amabilis (gentle rush) ........................................................... 55 APPENDIX H. Notes on Pimelea curviflora var. gracilis (slender curved riceflower).................... 59 APPENDIX I. Notes on Epilobium pallidiflorum (showy willowherb) ......................................... 63 APPENDIX J. Identification of Engaeus species from project area ........................................... 67 APPENDIX K. Commentary on growling grass frog (Litoria raniformis) .................................... 70 APPENDIX L. Presence of “Alpine Sphagnum Bogs and Associated Fens” ................................. 72 APPENDIX M. DPIPWE’s Natural Values Atlas report for study area ......................................... 82 APPENDIX N. Forest Practices Authority’s Biodiversity Values Atlas report for study area .......... 82 APPENDIX O. CofA’s Protected Matters report for study area ................................................. 82 OTHER ATTACHMENTS ..................................................................................................... 82 Ecological Assessment of Scottsdale Irrigation Scheme (Camden Dam), Tasmania iv ECOtas…providing options in environmental consulting SUMMARY General Tasmanian Irrigation Pty Ltd engaged Environmental Consulting Options Tasmania (ECOtas) to undertake an assessment of part of the proposed Scottsdale Irrigation Scheme (SIS), to inform project planning in the context of the ecological values of the site. The primary focus of the present assessment and report is on the “extension area” previously unassessed for its ecological significance. Additional