Review of Environmental Factors Proposed construction and operation of conservation fencing and associated infrastructure and reintroduction of locally extinct mammals in the Pilliga State Conservation Area A report prepared for Australian Wildlife Conservancy on behalf of NSW Office of Environment and Heritage August 2017 Report No. 17.REF-010 Citation EnviroKey Pty. Ltd (2017) Review of Environmental Factors: Proposed construction and operation of conservation fencing and associated infrastructure and reintroduction of locally extinct mammals in the Pilliga State Conservation Area. A report prepared by EnviroKey for Australian Wildlife Conservancy on behalf of NSW Office of Environment and Heritage. Report No. 17.REF-010. This project is being delivered under the NSW Governments Saving our Species program, which aims to secure threatened species in the wild for the next 100 years. Commercial In Confidence All intellectual property rights, including copyright, in materials created by EnviroKey for this document remain the property of EnviroKey. This document contains intellectual property owned by Australian Wildlife Conservancy. The information contained within this document is confidential. It may only be used by the person to whom it is provided for the stated purpose for which it is provided. The document must not be imparted to any third person without the prior written approval of EnviroKey. Disclaimer This report was prepared by Australian Wildlife Conservancy in good faith exercising all due care and attention, but no representation or warranty, express or implied, is made as to the relevance, accuracy, completeness or fitness for purpose of this document in respect of any particular user’s circumstances. Users of this document should satisfy themselves concerning its application to, and where necessary seek expert advice in respect of, their situation. The views expressed within are not necessarily the views of the Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH) and may not represent OEH policy. © Copyright State of NSW and the Office of Environment and Heritage Front Cover Image Bilby (Photo: AWC) ii Definitions & Acronyms used within this REF APZ Asset Protection Zone ASL Above Sea Level AWC Australian Wildlife Conservancy BC Act NSW Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016. CFAI Conservation Fencing and Associated Infrastructure CMA Catchment Management Authority CPE Canid Pest Ejector DBH Diameter at breast height DOEE Commonwealth Department of the Environment and Energy EEC Endangered Ecological Community EMA Extinct Mammal Agreement EP&A Act NSW Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 EPBC Act Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 EHMF Ecological Health Monitoring Framework ESD Ecologically Sustainable Development FM Act NSW Fisheries Management Act 1994 HBT Hollow-bearing tree LEP Local Environmental Plan LGA Local Government Area Likely Taken to be a real chance or possibility LMZ Land Management Zone Locality Means the area within a 10 km radius of the proposal. Local population The population comprises those individuals that are likely to occur in (migratory or nomadic the study area from time to time. fauna) Local population The population comprises those individuals known or likely to occur (resident fauna) in the study area, as well as any individuals occurring in adjoining areas (contiguous or otherwise) that are known or likely to use habitats in the study area. Local population The population comprises those individuals occurring in the study (threatened flora) area or the cluster of individuals that extend into habitat adjoining and contiguous with the study area that could reasonably be expected to be cross-pollinating with those in the study area. Migratory species A species specified in the schedules of the Commonwealth EPBC Act. NES National Environmental Significance NP National Park NPWS NSW National Park and Wildlife Service NP&W Act NSW National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 iii NSC Narrabri Shire Council OEH NSW Office of Environment and Heritage PCT Plant Community Type PoM Plan of Management Proposal The area to be directly affected by the proposal. That is, the footprint of the proposal, including the construction and operation of the CFAI. REF Review of Environmental Factors Region Means a biogeographical region that has been recognised and documented such as the Interim Biogeographical Regions of Australia (IBRA) (Thackway and Creswell, 1995). The study area is located within the Brigalow Belt South Bioregion. RFS NSW Rural Fire Service SCA State Conservation Area SEPP State Environmental Planning Policy SFAZ Strategic Fire Advantage Zone SMI Statement of Management Intent SOP Standard Operating Procedure SOS Saving our Species Study area The study area includes the subject site and any additional areas that are likely to be affected by the proposal, either directly or indirectly. Subject site The area to be directly affected by the proposal. That is, the footprint of the proposal. TEC Threatened ecological community (includes those communities listed as vulnerable, endangered or critically endangered). Threatened biota Means those threatened species, endangered populations or endangered ecological communities considered known or likely to occur in the study area. Threatened species A species specified in the schedules of the BC Act, FM Act or the EPBC Act. iv Declaration This Review of Environmental Factors provides a true and fair review of the proposed activity in relation to its potential effects on the environment. It addresses to the fullest extent possible, all of the factors listed in Clause 228 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation 2000. Signed: Name: Steve Sass Delegation: Director/Principal Ecologist, EnviroKey Pty. Ltd. Date: 14 June 2017 I have examined this REF and the certification and accept the REF on behalf of NSW Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH). Signed ……………………………………… Name ……………………………………… Delegation ……………………………………… Date ……………………………………… Fees OEH is the proponent for the proposal. No fees apply. v Review of Environmental Factors: Proposed Conservation fencing and associated infrastructure and reintroduction of locally extinct mammals in Pilliga State Conservation Area. Report No. 17.REF-010 Table of Contents 1 INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................... 1 1.1 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPOSAL ........................................................ 2 1.2 PROPONENT’S DETAILS ..................................................................................... 3 2 PERMISSIBILITY ......................................................................................... 7 2.1 LEGAL PERMISSIBILITY ...................................................................................... 7 2.1.1 NSW National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 .................................................... 7 2.1.2 NSW Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 .............................. 8 2.1.3 NSW Wilderness Act 1987 ............................................................................ 9 2.1.4 NSW Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 ...................................................... 9 2.1.5 Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 ...................................................................................................................... 9 2.1.6 NSW Fisheries Management Act 1994 .........................................................11 2.1.7 NSW Heritage Act 1977 ................................................................................11 2.1.8 State Environmental Planning Policy No. 44 – Koala Habitat Protection .......11 2.1.9 Rural Fires Act and bushfire management plans ..........................................12 2.2 CONSISTENCY WITH OEH POLICY AND PROGRAMS .....................................12 2.2.1 Statement of Management Intent: Pilliga NP and Pilliga SCA .......................12 2.2.2 Managing Parks prior to Plan of Management Policy ....................................12 2.2.3 Saving our Species .......................................................................................13 2.2.4 Beekeeping Policy ........................................................................................13 2.2.5 NSW permits, licenses and approvals for activities related to wildlife ............15 2.2.6 Other policies ...............................................................................................15 2.3 OTHER RELEVANT LEGISLATION, POLICIES OR PLANS ................................16 2.3.1 Ecologically Sustainable Development .........................................................16 2.3.2 Narrabri Local Environmental Plan 2012.......................................................16 2.3.3 Permits, licenses and approvals from non-NSW administrations ..................17 3 CONSULTATION ....................................................................................... 18 3.1 Forestry Corporation NSW ...................................................................................18 3.2 NSW Department of Primary Industries (Fisheries) ..............................................18 3.3 Other consultation ................................................................................................18 4 THE PROPOSAL ....................................................................................... 21 4.1 ANALYSIS OF THE OPTIONS .............................................................................21