Nocturnal Fauna Survey and Assessment of Ecological Impact of New Pedestrian Lighting at Lagoon Park, Manly by GIS Environmental Consultants August 2016 Prepared for Parks and Reserves Northern Beaches Council 45 Austin Avenue, North Curl Curl 2099 M: 0419 438672, Ph: 9939 5129 [email protected] www.ecology.net.au Nocturnal Fauna Survey and Assessment, Manly Lagoon Park Table of Contents 1 Introduction .......................................................................................................... 5 1.1 Background ................................................................................................................................. 5 1.2 The Study Site ............................................................................................................................. 5 1.3 The Habitat on the Site ............................................................................................................... 5 1.4 Disturbance History ..................................................................................................................... 6 1.5 Ecological Values in the Locality ................................................................................................. 6 1.6 Literature Review ........................................................................................................................ 6 1.7 The Proposed Lighting ................................................................................................................ 7 1.7.1 Bollard navigation lights: EDGE Series ...................................................................................................................... 8 1.7.2 Pole safety Lights: AE2 (All-In-One) .......................................................................................................................... 8 2 Methods .............................................................................................................. 10 2.1 Desk-top Assessment ............................................................................................................... 10 2.1.1 Literature Search ...................................................................................................................................................... 10 2.1.2 Aerial Photos and Vegetation Maps ......................................................................................................................... 10 2.1.3 Historic Fauna Records Search ............................................................................................................................... 10 2.2 Field Survey Methods ............................................................................................................... 10 2.2.1 Fauna Survey Methods ............................................................................................................................................ 10 2.2.3 Targeted Threatened Species Search ..................................................................................................................... 11 2.3 Qualifications and Experience of the Field Ecologist and Authors ............................................ 14 2.4 Relevant Ecological Legislation ................................................................................................ 14 2.5 Assumptions and Limitations .................................................................................................... 14 3 Results ................................................................................................................ 15 3.1 Wildlife Corridors ....................................................................................................................... 15 3.2 Fauna Habitat within the Site .................................................................................................... 15 3.3 Fauna Species Recorded .......................................................................................................... 15 3.4 Threatened Fauna Species ....................................................................................................... 16 3.5 Historic Records of Fauna and Habitat at or near the Site ....................................................... 16 4 Discussion .......................................................................................................... 25 4.1 Area Affected by Light Spill ....................................................................................................... 25 4.2 Intensity of Light ........................................................................................................................ 25 4.3 Increased Use of the Park ......................................................................................................... 25 4.4 Other Potential Changes to Habitat .......................................................................................... 26 4.5 Scientific Studies on Impacts of Artificial Lighting to Fauna ...................................................... 26 4.6 Assessment of Impacts to Fauna .............................................................................................. 27 4.7 Manly LEP 2013 Assessment of Clause 6.5 (3) and (4) relating to Terrestrial Biodiversity ...... 29 Clause 6.5 (3) Assessment ................................................................................................................................................... 29 Clause 6.5 (4) Assessment ................................................................................................................................................... 30 4.8 Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 ............................................. 30 5 Conclusions ........................................................................................................ 31 6 Ameliorative Recommendations ...................................................................... 31 7 References and Relevant Literature ................................................................. 32 8 Appendix A. Assessments of Significance (7-Part Tests) ............................. 33 8.1 Assessment of Significance for the Grey-headed Flying-fox (Pteropus poliocephalus) ........... 33 8.2 Assessment of Significance (7-Part Test) for Powerful Owl (Ninox strenua) ............................ 35 8.3 Assessment of Significance (7-Part Test) for Microbats ........................................................... 38 9 Appendix B: EPBC Act 1999 Protected Matters Report ................................. 42 10 Appendix C: Bollard Type Lighting Specifications ......................................... 43 11 Appendix D: Pole Type Lighting Specifications ............................................. 44 12 September 2016 Page 2 of 44 Nocturnal Fauna Survey and Assessment, Manly Lagoon Park List of Tables Table 1: Targeted Threatened Fauna Species .......................................................................................... 11 Table 2: Fauna Found During Survey or Historically Recorded Near the Site .......................................... 19 Table 3: Habitat Suitability Assessment for Threatened Fauna Species .................................................. 22 List of Figures and Maps Map 1: Habitat Features at the Site ........................................................................................................... 18 List of Photos Cover Photograph : an Aerial photograph of the site showing site boundary and path location Photograph 1: The pathway and surrounding vegetation in the central section of Lagoon Park. ............... 7 Photograph 2: East end of lagoon park looking west showing the esturine beach that is used extensively for off leash dog walking. ..................................................................................................................... 7 Photograph 3: The trial bollard EDGE type light with solar power pole in background. .............................. 9 Photograph 4: The trial pole AE2 type light. ................................................................................................ 9 Photograph 5: Native Water Rat footprints in the wet sand at the beach a Lagoon Park ......................... 16 Photograph 6: Trial EDGE Series lights at Lagoon Park, Manly ............................................................... 26 Photograph 7: Trial AE2 lights at Lagoon Park, Manly .............................................................................. 26 12 September 2016 Page 3 of 44 Nocturnal Fauna Survey and Assessment, Manly Lagoon Park Approved for release by Director: Nicholas Skelton, B.Sc. (Hons), M.App. Sc. Principal Ecological Scientist Approval Date: 8th September 2016 GIS Environmental Consultants 45 Austin Ave, North Curl Curl, NSW 2099 Phone: (02) 9939 5129 Mobile: 0419 438 672 Email: [email protected] Web: www.ecology.net.au Required Licences: NSW Department of Primary Industries, Animal Care and Ethics Committee: 12/4838 NSW Department of Primary Industries, Animal Research Authority: 12/4838 Office of Environment and Heritage, Section 132C Scientific Licence: SL101070 Office of Environment and Heritage, BioBanking and Bio Certification Assessor: 0119 Office of Environment and Heritage, Data Licence Agreement: CON97043 Copyright GIS Environmental Consultants, All rights Reserved © 2016. GIS Environmental Consultants (Publisher) is the owner of the copyright subsisting in this publication. Other than