Environmental Consulting Options Tasmania ECOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT OF THE PROPOSED DUCK IRRIGATION SCHEME (PIPELINES), TASMANIA Environmental Consulting Options Tasmania (ECOtas) for Tasmanian Irrigation Pty Ltd 15 January 2016 Mark Wapstra ABN 83 464 107 291 28 Suncrest Avenue email: [email protected] business ph.:(03) 62 283 220 Lenah Valley, TAS 7008 web: www.ecotas.com.au mobile ph.: 0407 008 685 ECOtas…providing options in environmental consulting ECOtas…providing options in environmental consulting CITATION This report can be cited as: ECOtas (2016). Ecological Assessment of the Proposed Duck Irrigation Scheme (Pipelines), Tasmania. Report by Environmental Consulting Options Tasmania (ECOtas) for Tasmanian Irrigation Pty Ltd, 15 January 2016. AUTHORSHIP Field assessment: Mark Wapstra, Phil Bell Report production: Mark Wapstra Habitat and vegetation mapping: Mark Wapstra, Phil Bell Base data for mapping: TheList, TasMap, GoogleEarth, Tasmanian Irrigation GIS mapping: Mark Wapstra Digital and aerial photography: Mark Wapstra, Phil Bell, GoogleEarth, TheList ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Paul Ellery (Tasmanian Irrigation) facilitated access and provided background information. Miguel de Salas (Tasmanian Herbarium) confirmed my identification of Centipeda species. COVER ILLUSTRATION Main image: Black River at approximate location of pipeline crossing. Insets (L-R): Gratiola pubescens (hairy brooklime), Epilobium pallidiflorum (showy willowherb). Please note: the blank pages in this document are deliberate to facilitate double-sided printing. Ecological Assessment of Duck Irrigation Scheme (Pipelines), Tasmania i ECOtas…providing options in environmental consulting Ecological Assessment of Duck Irrigation Scheme (Pipelines), 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 ................................................................................................................ 5 Qualifications ............................................................................................................. 6 Permit ...................................................................................................................... 6 THE PROPOSAL.................................................................................................................. 6 THE STUDY AREA ............................................................................................................... 7 METHODS ......................................................................................................................... 8 Nomenclature ............................................................................................................ 8 Preliminary investigation ............................................................................................. 8 Botanical survey ........................................................................................................ 9 Zoological survey ....................................................................................................... 9 Masked owl, Tyto novaehollandiae subsp. castanops ................................................ 10 Wedge-tailed eagle, Aquila audax subsp. fleayi ....................................................... 10 Green and golden frog, Litoria raniformis ............................................................... 10 Tasmanian devil, Sarcophilus harrisii & quoll species, Dasyurus spp. .......................... 10 Giant freshwater crayfish, Astacopsis gouldi & Australian grayling, Prototroctes maraena ............................................................................................................ 10 Tasmanian azure kingfisher, Ceyx azureus subsp. diemenensis ................................. 10 Grey goshawk, Accipiter novaehollandiae ............................................................... 10 FINDINGS ....................................................................................................................... 11 Vegetation types ...................................................................................................... 11 Comments on TASVEG mapping ............................................................................ 11 Vegetation types recorded as part of the present study ............................................ 12 Comments on conservation significance of vegetation types ..................................... 14 Plant species ........................................................................................................... 41 General observations ........................................................................................... 41 Priority species recorded from the study area ......................................................... 41 Comments on priority flora recorded from databases ............................................... 48 Fauna species .......................................................................................................... 48 General observations ........................................................................................... 48 Priority fauna – sightings and potential habitat ....................................................... 48 Comments on priority fauna recorded from databases ............................................. 53 Ecological Assessment of Duck Irrigation Scheme (Pipelines), Tasmania iii ECOtas…providing options in environmental consulting Other ecological values ............................................................................................. 53 Additional “Matters of National Environmental Significance” – threatened ecological communities ....................................................................................................... 53 Weed species ...................................................................................................... 53 Rootrot pathogen, Phytophthora cinnamomi ........................................................... 55 Myrtle wilt .......................................................................................................... 55 Myrtle rust ......................................................................................................... 55 Chytrid fungus and other freshwater pathogens ...................................................... 56 DISCUSSION ................................................................................................................... 56 Summary of key findings ........................................................................................... 56 Legislative and policy implications .............................................................................. 58 Recommendations .................................................................................................... 62 REFERENCES ................................................................................................................... 63 APPENDIX A. Vegetation community structure and composition ............................................. 66 APPENDIX B. Vascular plant species recorded from study area .............................................. 69 APPENDIX C. Vertebrate fauna recorded from study area ...................................................... 76 APPENDIX D. Analysis of database records of threatened flora............................................... 80 APPENDIX E. Analysis of database records of threatened fauna ............................................. 85 APPENDIX F. Annotated images of threatened flora .............................................................. 90 APPENDIX G. Annotated images of potential habitat of threatened fauna ................................ 92 APPENDIX H. Annotated images of weeds ........................................................................... 94 APPENDIX I. DPIPWE’s Natural Values Atlas report for assessment area ................................. 97 APPENDIX J. CofA’s Protected Matters report for assessment area ......................................... 97 OTHER ATTACHMENTS ..................................................................................................... 97 Ecological Assessment of Duck Irrigation Scheme (Pipelines), Tasmania iv ECOtas…providing options in environmental consulting SUMMARY General Tasmanian Irrigation Pty Ltd engaged Environmental Consulting Options Tasmania (ECOtas) to undertake an ecological assessment of the proposed Duck Irrigation Scheme, specifically the proposed off-take and transfer pipeline and the distribution pipeline routes, primarily to facilitate further land use planning though local, State and Commonwealth government environmental planning approvals protocols. The study area was assessed on 8-10 December 2015 by Mark Wapstra and Phil Bell. Summary of key findings Non-priority flora (e.g. species of biogeographic significance) x No species of high conservation significance detected – no special management actions required. Non-priority fauna (e.g. species of biogeographic significance) x No species