18 Biodiversity This chapter provides a summary of the biodiversity impacts associated with the M4-M5 Link project (the project). A detailed biodiversity assessment report (BAR), including an arboriculture impact assessment, has been prepared for the project and is included in Appendix S (Technical working paper: Biodiversity). The Secretary of the NSW Department of Planning and Environment (DP&E) has issued environmental assessment requirements for the project. These are referred to as the Secretary's Environmental Assessment Requirements (SEARs). Table 18-1 sets outs these requirements and the associated desired performance outcomes that relate to biodiversity, and identifies where they have been addressed in this environmental impact statement (EIS). Table 18-1 SEARs - biodiversity Desired SEARs Where addressed in the EIS performance outcome 1. Environmental 2. It is the Proponent’s responsibility to An assessment of the project impact assessment determine whether the project needs to be on matters of national process referred to the Commonwealth Department of environmental significance is the Environment for an approval under the included in section 18.3. The process for Commonwealth Environment Protection and assessment of the A referral to the Australian Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC proposal is Government Department of the Act). The Proponent must contact the transparent, Environment and Energy for an Commonwealth Department of the balanced, well approval under the EPBC Act Environment immediately if it is determined focused and legal. is not required for the project. that an approval is required under the EPBC The assessment process and Act, as supplementary environmental determination that the project assessment requirements may need to be does not need to be referred to issued to ensure a streamlined assessment the Australian Government under the Bilateral agreement can be Department of the Environment achieved. and Energy is included in Chapter 2 (Assessment process). 6. Biodiversity 1. The Proponent must assess biodiversity The biodiversity assessment impacts in accordance with the current was undertaken by an The project design guidelines including the Framework for accredited assessor, in considers all feasible Biodiversity Assessment (FBA) and be accordance with the measures to avoid carried out by a person accredited in requirements of the FBA and and minimise accordance with section 142B(1)(c) of the relevant legislation (refer to impacts on terrestrial Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 section 18.1 and Appendix S and aquatic (NSW). (Technical working paper: biodiversity. Biodiversity)). Offsets and/or 2. The Proponent must assess any impacts An assessment of biodiversity supplementary on biodiversity values not covered by the impacts which are not covered measures are FBA. Impacts on species, populations and by the FBA is provided in assured which are ecological communities that will require section 18.3 and Appendix S equivalent to any further consideration and provision of (Technical working paper: remaining impacts of information specified in section 9.2 of the Biodiversity). project construction FBA include any identified through and operation. The methodology adopted for, consultation with the Office of Environment and the findings of the targeted and Heritage (OEH). species surveys are included in WestConnex M4-M5 Link 18-1 Roads and Maritime Services Environmental Impact Statement Desired SEARs Where addressed in the EIS performance outcome Species specific surveys shall be undertaken section 18.1, section 18.2 and for those species and in accordance with the Appendix S (Technical survey requirements specified by the OEH. working paper: Biodiversity). The Proponent must identify whether the A determination of whether the project as a whole, or any component of the project would be classified as a project, would be classified as a Key Key Threatening Process is Threatening Process (KTP) in accordance included in section 18.3 and with the listings in the Threatened Species Appendix S (Technical Conservation Act 1995 (TSC Act), Fisheries working paper: Biodiversity). Management Act 1994 (FM Act) and Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). 3. The Proponent must assess any impacts An assessment of the project’s on trees within the project area. Impacts impact on trees is included in should be minimised; following the hierarchy section 18.3. An arboricultural of avoid, minimise and mitigate impacts on impact assessment is included trees. as Annexure G of Appendix S (Technical working paper: Biodiversity). 18.1 Assessment methodology 18.1.1 Overview The key components of the biodiversity assessment included: · Desktop analysis to describe the existing environment and landscape features of the study area and to identify threatened terrestrial and aquatic values potentially affected by the project · Field surveys to identify the biodiversity values of the project footprint and to determine the likelihood of threatened species and their habitats occurring in the project footprint or being affected by the project · Qualitative assessment of potential impacts of the project on biodiversity values, including threatened species · An arboricultural impact assessment, including a visual tree assessment for trees potentially affected by the project. A summary of the tasks undertaken to inform the BAR is included in section 18.1.3 and section 18.1.4. The arboricultural impact assessment is located in Annexure G of Appendix S (Technical working paper: Biodiversity). Study area The study area for the biodiversity assessment comprises a 550 metre buffer around the project footprint, as required by the Framework for Biodiversity Assessment (FBA) (NSW Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH) 2014b). The study area includes existing roads, motorways, residential areas, industrial areas, urban landscaped areas, and exotic vegetation and is shown in Figure 18-1. Figure 18-1 also shows the corridor assessed for matters of national environmental significance (MNES), groundwater dependant ecosystems (GDEs) and riparian ecosystems. Riparian ecosystems are those associated with (and often located adjacent or close to) waterbodies, or dependent on surface or subsurface drainage. GDEs are defined and discussed in further detail in section 18.2.6. WestConnex M4-M5 Link 18-2 Roads and Maritime Services Environmental Impact Statement Some desktop assessment tools for biodiversity have a minimum search area of a 10 kilometre radius. This area is referred to as the locality in this chapter (see section 18.2). WestConnex M4-M5 Link 18-3 Roads and Maritime Services Environmental Impact Statement KEY # Boundaries Parramatta River «!N Construction ancillary facilities V ic Corridor assessed for MNES, t o r GDE’s and riparian ecosystems i a Iron Cove Link CHISWICK Drummoyne R o Study area as required by the FBA a surface works BIRCHGROVE Park d Tunnel extent of proposed future ABBOTSFORD Western Harbour Tunnel and DRUMMOYNE Beaches Link (WHTBL) ad o R connections (by M4-M5 Link) BALMAIN s n Iro EAST yo n WAREEMBA L B C rid o ve g d e Rozelle x m e surface works . RUSSELL ROZELLE BALMAIN a e v C8 r LEA ! a y a o e B _ i t y C King George h d u W t Park V s FIVE n ic _ t y o o t r ri i DOCK a s RODD I R PYRMONT r o e Five Dock a v POINT Easton d i d Park o Park !C7 i Wattle Street An B za _ d c B surface works a rid P o ge 4 R a y B A B l _ Timbrell n l e B a i l 7 a z e a c Park LILYFIELD R o y k 7 w 6 lm C6 a C5 ! a 1 B ! t t 9 l e 4 Bicentennial 0 k 6 t Blackmore in Park _ ee City We st L 1 tr Park 0 S C4 0 tle ! _ at C1a 8 !C3a W ! Pioneers 1 Algie Memorial k Wentworth H e C CC22ab Park e Park _ ! Park r ! S C I E s ad _ e k o 5 C1 t b i ! e h e R M C3b HABERFIELD e g 4 ! r l W rid GLEBE M C a B \ n t LEICHHARDT E ANNANDALE s n a o L n C o G t t N e tree Pyrm d Marion S s Parramatta Roa I n n S r h _ o Jo h D t X Ashfield w Victoria M a C9 \ ! CAMPERDOWN s Park H Park p Road The University a atta M arram Camperdown of Sydney _ P 2 0 Park Royal Prince \ S Alfred Hospital I PETERSHAM Odea E _ Petersham Reserve 0 1 t \ ree SUMMER Park t S S I g G HILL STANMORE in K 9 9 . 4 \ y Road a r St e u an r b LEWISHAM a er mo t re k n R r a o o ASHFIELD C ad w d l o r O NEWTOWN i v n ENMORE E Marrickville & INDEX DULWICH h Park c HILL e T Option A . 4 C1a Henson \ ! Wattle Street civil and tunnel site Enmore 7 Park 7 Park 6 C2a 1 ! Haberfield civil and tunnel site MARRICKVILLE 9 S 4 y 0 6 C3a d \ ! e Northcote Street civil site P n - h a e Sydney v m nel i Option B R r HURLSTONE Park D oa han \ C1b d l 1 ! ParramatPtaA RKoad West civil and tunnel site n C a 0 er n 0 a P C C2b East F ! 5 Haberfield civil site a r C D am d C3b n Y ! p a S Parramatta Road East civil site b x e U C10 ll R e ! l A Park \ A \ o ad Both options 7 !C4 1 Darley Road civil and tunnel site ST 0 C 2 / k o C5 o PETERS 8 ! 0 Rozelle civil and tunnel site / R s 6 : i e r e C6 v ! The Crescent civil site t y St Peters a EARLWOOD D a !C7 w surface works d Victoria Road civil site h e ig t n MASCOT i C8 H r ! s P Iron Cove Link civil site e c TEMPE S n I ri C9 G ! Pyrmont Bridge Road tunnel site P M C10 O ! Campbell Road civil and tunnel site C 0 0.5 1 km E A LEGEND Existing features New M5 M4-M5 Link M4-M5 Link M4-M5 Link M4-M5 Link Waterway Railway Surface road Mainline Rozelle interchange Iron Cove Link Proposed future Subarterial road Light rail Tunnel Surface road Surface road Surface road WHTBL connections Arterial road Suburb boundary M4 East Tunnel Tunnel Tunnel (civil construction only) Surface road Surface road Tunnel Tunnel Figure 18-1 Biodiversity assessment study area 18-4 18.1.2 Legislation and policy framework The BAR has been prepared to assess the impacts of the project in accordance with relevant legislation as described in Table 18-2.