Ecological Assessment Proposed Residential Rezoning Macquariedale Road Appin April 2014 (REF: A13114REP) Ecological Assessment Proposed Residential Rezoning Macquariedale Road, Appin APRIL 2014 Report Authors: John Travers B. App. Sc. / Ass. Dip. / Grad. Dip. Managing - Director Michael Sheather-Reid B. Nat. Res. (Hons.) - Senior Ecologist Lindsay Holmes B. Sc. - Botanist Corey Mead B. App. Sc. - Fauna Ecologist Plans prepared: Nick Barclay, Trent Matheson, Peter Tolley Checked by: Michael Sheather-Reid on behalf of John Travers Date: 30th April 2014 File: A13114REP This document is copyright © Travers bushfire & ecology 2014 Disclaimer: This report has been prepared to provide advice to the client on matters pertaining to the particular and specific development proposal as advised by the client and / or their authorised representatives. This report can be used by the client only for its intended purpose and for that purpose only. Should any other use of the advice be made by any person including the client then this firm advises that the advice should not be relied upon. The report and its attachments should be read as a whole and no individual part of the report or its attachments should be interpreted without reference to the entire report. The mapping is indicative of available space and location of features which may prove critical in assessing the viability of the proposed works. Mapping has been produced on a map base with an inherent level of inaccuracy, the location of all mapped features are to be confirmed by a registered surveyor. ABN 64 083 086 677 38A The Avenue t: 02 4340 5331 Mt Penang Parklands f: 02 4340 2151 PO Box 7138 Central Coast Highway Kariong NSW 2250 Kariong NSW 2250 e: [email protected] Executive Summary Travers bushfire & ecology has been engaged by Walker Corporation to undertake a flora and fauna assessment for the proposed rezoning of selected lots located off Macquariedale Road, Appin. The report also examines potential mitigation measures to minimise or offset the loss of habitat as a result of the proposed residential zone. The total parcel of land affected by the proposed rezoning is located immediately west of the existing township. The specific Lot and DP numbers for the proposed rezoning include: Lot 201 DP 749272 Lot 1 DP 209779 Lot 2 DP 558807 Lot 1 DP 1000355 Recorded threatened flora, fauna and endangered ecological communities (EECs) Ecological survey and assessment has been undertaken in accordance with relevant legislation including the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (EP&A Act), the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 (TSC Act), the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) and the Fisheries Management Act 1994, (FM Act). In respect of matters required to be considered under the EP&A Act and relating to the species / provisions of the TSA Act, eleven (11) threatened fauna species, no threatened flora species, and two (2) endangered ecological communities (EECs) were recorded within the study area. Threatened fauna species recorded include: Powerful Owl (Ninox strenua), Glossy Black-Cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus lathami), Gang-gang Cockatoo (Callocephalon fimbriatum), Varied Sittella (Daphoenositta chrysoptera), Little Lorikeet (Glossopsitta pusilla), Grey-headed Flying-fox (Pteropus poliocephalus), Greater Broad-nosed Bat (Scoteanax rueppellii), East-coast Freetail Bat (Micronomus norfolkensis), Yellow-bellied Sheathtail-bat (Saccolaimus flaviventris), Eastern Bentwing-bat (Miniopterus orianae oceansis) and Cumberland Plain Land Snail (Meridolum corneovirens). Endangered ecological communities recorded include: Shale-Sandstone Transition Forest (SSTF) Cumberland Plain Woodland (CPW) In accordance with Section 5A of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979, the 7 part test of significance concluded that the proposed rezoning will likely have a significant impact on CPW and Cumberland Plain Land Snail. This is given that the proposal seeks to i remove all CPW present within the site boundary, and adjoining remnants outside of the site boundary are of low quality and largely persisting as canopy only vegetation. It is concluded that there will be no likely significant impact on any remaining state listed threatened species, populations or the EEC’s (including SSTF). Removal of EEC’s will also include removal of all ‘preferred’ habitats for the Cumberland Plain Land Snail causing a significant impact on Cumberland Plain Land Snail. This assessment conclusion is concurred by snail expert Michael Shea (see Appendix 6). However, Travers bushfire & ecology believes that the existing populations will persist at a reduced size within the proposed conservation areas provided that mitigation measures are implemented and future restoration of CPW in the proposed offsets are likely to see the affected population recover over an extended period of time. Walker Corporation have commenced the preparation of biodiversity certification assessment documentation for the purposes of seeking biodiversity certification of the planning proposal. In the event that Biodiversity Certification is approved the impact on EEC’s and threatened species will be taken as ‘not significant’. A maintain and improve outcome has been demonstrated by the proposed offsets in the Preliminary Biodiversity Certification Assessment (Ecological Australia 2014) and Cumberland Plain Land Snail is also currently treated as an ecosystem credit. Therefore it is expected that the proposed offsets and mitigation measures will provide a net biodiversity gain. The proposed offsets at Macquariedale Road and Elladale Road , Appin, will also offset Cumberland Plain Land Snail habitat and the Elladale site has been investigated as a recipient area for translocation. Walker Corporation have committed to support the preparation of a Cumberland Plain Land Snail Translocation Protocol on the basis of preliminary advice given by Michael Shea and as recommended within this report. The commitment also supports undertaking appropriate monitoring and reporting requirements as part of the Translocation Protocol, to assist in understanding the impacts of such projects and mitigation measures on the existing CPLS population and its recovery. The Preliminary Biodiversity Certification Assessment (EcoLogical Australia 2014) identifies that the proposed planning scheme can be offset to achieve a maintain or improve outcome using the proposed Macquariedale Road conservation area and the Elladale Road offset site. EcoLogical Australia separately advises that based on the number of required credits a total biodiversity offset of 45-50ha consisting of the CPW (10ha) and SSTF (35-40ha) would sufficiently offset the planning proposal in accordance with the Biodiversity Certification Assessment Methodology (BCAM) subject to the mechanism of securing the offset sites. For the purposes of this assessment a total 54.7ha biodiversity offset area has been chosen to ensure the planning proposal meets the biodiversity certification requirements based on a 90% credit benefit under the BCAM. This is assuming that the site can be secured through a conservation agreement. In respect of matters required to be considered under the EPBC Act, one (1) threatened fauna species, one (1) protected migratory bird species, no threatened flora species, and two (2) EECs, listed under this Act were recorded within the site boundary. These include: Grey-headed Flying-fox (Pteropus poliocephalus) – threatened species, and White-throated Needletail (Hirundapus caudacutus) – migratory species. The endangered ecological communities recorded include: Shale-Sandstone Transition Forest, and ii Cumberland Plain Shale Woodlands and Shale-Gravel Transition Forest. The proposed subdivision development was considered to have a significant impact on matters of national environmental significance, that being Cumberland Plain Shale Woodlands and Shale-Gravel Transition Forest. As such a referral to Department of Environment (formerly SEWPAC) is required. It is concluded that there will be no likely significant impact on any remaining nationally listed threatened species, populations or the EEC’s. In respect of matters relative to the FM Act, the study area is not considered to provide suitable habitat for threatened marine or aquatic species and, as such, there are no matters requiring further consideration under this Act. Targeted fauna survey Following an initial flora and fauna survey program in November 2012 which recorded a number of threatened fauna species, targeted surveys were undertaken in February 2013 by Travers bushfire & ecology as well as birding expert Mr John Young. This survey was undertaken to determine the significance and extent of use of the site for Cumberland Plain Land Snail and threatened hollow dependent birds, and to identify any conservation or mitigation measures required to minimise the potential ecological impacts. The targeted survey and subsequent expert advice on large forest owls and other recorded hollow dependent threatened bird species was undertaken and prepared by birding expert Mr John Young. Mr Young recorded the following additional survey findings: A Gang-gang Cockatoo nesting hollow is located along the riparian corridor outside of the study area to the west. A Little Lorikeet nesting hollow is located within the proposed R2 Residential Zone. The study area is not a current breeding site or the main feeding site for Glossy Black-Cockatoo. An egg shell fragment