Public Agenda Briefing Forum 8 December 2020 Attachments Attachment 10.2.1.2 City of Kalamunda Biodiversity Conservation Action Plan 2020 – 2030 2020 KALAMUNDA LOCAL BIODIVERSITY STRATEGY Technical Report October 2020 Prepared by Nam Natura Consulting 0 City of Kalamunda 852 Public Agenda Briefing Forum 8 December 2020 Attachments Attachment 10.2.1.2 Document Tracking Item Detail Project Name Review and update of the City of Kalamunda Local Biodiversity Strategy Client City of Kalamunda Prepared by Renata Zelinova Status Draft Technical Report Version 4 Number Last saved on Disclaimer This document may only be used for the purpose for which it was commissioned and in accordance with the contract between the City of Kalamunda and Nam Natura Consulting. The scope of services was defined in consultation with the client, by time and budgetary constraints imposed by the client, and the availability of reports and other data on the subject area. 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Unauthorised use of this report in any form is prohibited. 1 City of Kalamunda 853 Public Agenda Briefing Forum 8 December 2020 Attachments Attachment 10.2.1.2 PURPOSE .................................................................................................................... 4 1 INTRODUCTION – WHY HAVE A LOCAL BIODIVERSITY STRATEGY? ............... 4 1.1 Benefits of conserving biodiversity locally .................................................................................. 6 1.2 Legislation and Policy supporting biodiversity conservation .................................................... 7 1.3 Local Biodiversity Strategy Scope .............................................................................................. 12 2 BIODIVERSITY ASSETS ........................................................................................ 14 2.1 Vegetation, threatened and priority ecological communities ............................................... 15 2.2 Conservation significance plants - Threatened and priority flora .......................................... 20 2.3 Fungi ............................................................................................................................................... 23 2.4 Conservation significance animals – Threatened and Priority Fauna .................................... 24 2.4 Wetlands and waterways ............................................................................................................ 29 3 THREATS TO BIODIVERSITY ................................................................................... 32 4 LOCAL BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION VISION AND OBJECTIVES ................... 38 5 IMPLEMENTATION ................................................................................................ 38 5.1 Identifying high conservation value areas ................................................................................ 38 5.1.1 Prioritisation of local natural areas....................................................................................... 38 5.1.2 Ecological linkages and vegetation connectivity ............................................................ 44 5.2 Towards local biodiversity conservation objectives ................................................................ 47 5.2.1 Opportunities to increase protection and retention of local natural areas ................... 51 5.2.2 MANAGEMENT OF SIGNIFICANT BIODIVERSITY ................................................................... 61 5.2.3 INTEGRATION OF BIODIVERSITY CONSIDERATION INTO LOCAL GOVERNMENT BUSINESS .......................................................................................................................................................... 67 5.2.4 COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT .................................................................................................. 67 6 ACTION PLAN ................................................................................................... 69 REFERENCES .............................................................................................................. 0 GLOSSARY ................................................................................................................. 3 2 City of Kalamunda 854 Public Agenda Briefing Forum 8 December 2020 Attachments Attachment 10.2.1.2 LIST OF APPENDICES A: Vegetation Statistics B: Vegetation Complex Descriptions C: Maps D: Vegetation Connectivity Modelling E: Review of the 2008 Local Biodiversity Strategy Report F: City of Kalamunda Reserves Prioritisation G: Guide to viewing the Local Biodiversity Strategy mapping via LGmap. ABBREVIATIONS 2008 LBS Shire of Kalamunda Local Biodiversity Strategy as adopted in October 2008 DBCA Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (current) KEAC Kalamunda Environmental Advisory Committee EPP Environmental Planning Policy LPS 3 Local Planning Scheme No 3 PEC Priority Ecological Community TEC Threatened Ecological Community WALGA Western Australian Local Government Association WAPC Western Australian Planning Commission 3 City of Kalamunda 855 Public Agenda Briefing Forum 8 December 2020 Attachments Attachment 10.2.1.2 PURPOSE The purpose of this report and its Appendices is to document the data and methodologies used to inform the revised City of Kalamunda Local Biodiversity Strategy. 1 INTRODUCTION – WHY HAVE A LOCAL BIODIVERSITY STRATEGY? Biodiversity is the variety of all life forms —the different plants, animals and micro- organisms, the genes they contain, and the ecosystems they form. Biodiversity is usually considered at three levels: genetic diversity, species diversity and ecosystem diversity. The reasons why biodiversity conservation forms an important consideration in decision making go beyond the recognition of the great variety of unique or charismatic plants or animals. The interactions of these living entities, their contribution to functional values at the ecosystem level are well documented as being critical to human wellbeing. Many aspects of biodiversity conservation are regulated via legislation. For example, the protection of rare or threatened plants, animals or plant (ecological) communities is regulated at both State and Federal government levels. Yet, key findings of the latest Australian State of the Environment (SOE) Report (2016) showed the number of threatened species and ecological communities continue to increase, also there was no evidence of decreased pressures on biodiversity and that the cumulative impacts of multiple pressures amplify the threats to biodiversity. While protection of biodiversity via a network of formal reserves forms an important component of biodiversity conservation, the SOE report found the current network of protected areas is not yet comprehensive, representative or adequate (Cresswell and Murphy, 2016). The 2016 SOE report also highlighted many activities that significantly contribute to biodiversity conservation but sit outside regulatory process, such as the significant contribution of citizen scientists to improving our understanding of biodiversity and the management of the numerous threatening processes, demonstrating the need for a multi- stakeholder approach to biodiversity conservation, including Local Government and communities. Biodiversity conservation depends on a whole-of-community approach. While protection of representative natural areas via establishment of reserves can be legislated, the long-term viability of these protected features depends on adequate management and on the management of surrounding lands. A Local Biodiversity Strategy provides a process for assessing the significance of local natural areas in the broader landscape context, for identification of local conservation priorities and outlines a process for improving the conservation status of biodiversity by considering the local opportunities and protection constraints. 4 City of Kalamunda 856 Public Agenda Briefing Forum 8 December 2020 Attachments Attachment 10.2.1.2 A Local Biodiversity Strategy that considers local biodiversity values in the regional context and is integrated into the local land use planning aids transparency and consistency in decision making. The City of Kalamunda was one of three local governments piloting a local biodiversity conservation planning process developed via the Western Australian Local Government Association in 2004. When publishing its 2008 Local Biodiversity Strategy, the City was the first local government in Western Australia to adopt a strategy developed in accordance with the State Government endorsed methodology for biodiversity conservation planning at local level (Environmental Protection Authority 2008). Review of the City’s 2008 Local Biodiversity Strategy found the Strategy was not used effectively to support land use planning decisions or to increase the protection status of identified significant natural areas in the City. Since 2008, there was less than a 1% increase in formally protected areas recorded in the City (via conservation type Crown lands) and over 630 hectares of native vegetation lost (Appendix E). The key achievements of