Kentbruck Green Power Hub: Interim Flora and Fauna Existing Conditions Prepared for Neoen Australia Pty Ltd 21 December 2020 Biosis offices Document information NEW SOUTH WALES Report to: Neoen Australia Pty Ltd Albury Prepared by: Ian Smales, Matt Gibson, Inka Veltheim, Caitlin Potts Phone: (02) 6069 9200 Email: [email protected] Biosis project no.: 33361 File name: 33361.KGPW.FFEC.FIN02.20201210 Newcastle Phone: (02) 4911 4040 Citation: Biosis 2020. Kentbruck Green Power Hub: Interim Email: [email protected] Flora and Fauna Existing Conditions. Report for Neoen Australia Pty Ltd. Smales, I., Gibson, M., Veltheim, I. & Sydney Potts, C. Biosis Pty Ltd. Port Melbourne, VIC. Project no Phone: (02) 9101 8700 Email: [email protected] 33361. Western Sydney Phone: (02) 9101 8700 Document control Email: [email protected] Wollongong Version Internal reviewer Date issued Phone: (02) 4201 1090 Email: [email protected] Draft version 01 MJAL 06/08/2020 Final version 01 MJAL 14/08/2020 Final version 02 MSG/IS 10/12/2020 VICTORIA Ballarat Acknowledgements Phone: (03) 5304 4250 Email: [email protected] Biosis acknowledges the contribution of the following people and Melbourne (Head Office) organisations in undertaking this study: Phone: (03) 8686 4800 Email: [email protected] • Neoen Australia Pty Ltd: Matt Parton and Damien Hegarty Wangaratta • AECOM: David Knight Phone: (03) 5718 6900 Email: [email protected] • Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning for access to the Victorian Biodiversity Atlas and Native Vegetation Information Tools • Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment for access to the Protected Matters Search Tool of the Australian Government Biosis staff involved in this project were: • Matt Jones, Kristin Campbell, John Muchan, Dan Gilmore (assistance in the field) • Julian Turner, James Shepherd (mapping) • Matt Looby (quality assurance) © Biosis Pty Ltd This document is subject to copyright and may only be used for the purposes in respect of which it was commissioned and in accordance with the Terms of Engagement of the commission. Unauthorised use of this document in any form whatsoever is prohibited. Disclaimer: Biosis Pty Ltd has completed this assessment in accordance with the relevant federal, state and local legislation and current industry best practice. The company accepts no liability for any damages or loss incurred as a result of reliance placed upon the report content or for any purpose other than that for which it was intended. © Biosis 2020 - Leaders in Ecology and Heritage Consulting - www.biosis.com.au i Contents Purpose of this report .............................................................................................................................................. 1 1. Introduction .................................................................................................................................................... 2 1.1 Project background .............................................................................................................................................2 1.2 Description of the project ..................................................................................................................................2 1.2.1 Wind farm site ...........................................................................................................................................2 1.2.2 Transmission line options ......................................................................................................................3 1.2.3 Battery storage facility.............................................................................................................................3 1.2.4 Other project elements ...........................................................................................................................3 1.3 Scope of assessment ..........................................................................................................................................4 1.3.1 Environmental Effects Statement Scoping Requirements ..............................................................4 1.3.2 Key issues identified in the EES Scoping Requirements for the project ......................................5 1.4 Study area ........................................................................................................................................................... 10 2. Site context .................................................................................................................................................... 11 2.1 Bioregions, landform and geology ................................................................................................................ 11 2.2 Land use and landscape context ................................................................................................................... 11 2.2.1 Pine plantations ..................................................................................................................................... 11 2.2.2 Blue-gum plantations ........................................................................................................................... 12 2.2.3 Grazing land ........................................................................................................................................... 12 2.2.4 Nearby conservation reserves ........................................................................................................... 12 2.2.5 Glenelg Estuary and Discovery Bay Ramsar site ............................................................................ 13 2.2.6 Groundwater dependent ecosystems ............................................................................................. 14 2.2.7 Connectivity and fauna movement ................................................................................................... 15 3. Methods ......................................................................................................................................................... 16 3.1 Permits ................................................................................................................................................................ 16 3.2 Definitions .......................................................................................................................................................... 16 3.2.1 Taxonomy ............................................................................................................................................... 16 3.2.2 Significant species ................................................................................................................................. 16 3.3 Consultation with government authorities ................................................................................................. 17 3.4 Community consultation ................................................................................................................................. 17 3.5 Database and literature review ..................................................................................................................... 17 3.5.1 Information sources ............................................................................................................................. 17 3.5.2 Investigation area .................................................................................................................................. 18 3.6 Mapping .............................................................................................................................................................. 18 3.7 Site investigation ............................................................................................................................................... 18 3.8 Qualifications ..................................................................................................................................................... 18 3.9 Personnel ............................................................................................................................................................ 18 3.10 Vegetation and habitat mapping ................................................................................................................... 19 3.11 General flora surveys ....................................................................................................................................... 20 © Biosis 2020 – Leaders in Ecology and Heritage Consulting 2 3.12 General fauna surveys ..................................................................................................................................... 20 3.13 Targeted surveys for listed threatened flora species ............................................................................... 20 3.14 Targeted surveys for listed threatened fauna species ............................................................................. 25 3.14.1 Southern Bent-wing Bat (SBWB) ........................................................................................................ 25 3.14.2 South-eastern Red-tailed Black Cockatoo ....................................................................................... 29 3.14.3 Orange-bellied Parrot........................................................................................................................... 30 3.14.4 Brolga