Appendix E Biodiversity assessment Burrill Lake Bridge Appendix E Review of Environmental Factors Biodiversity Assessment BURRILL LAKE, NSW FEBRUARY 2014 suite 1, 216 carp st (po box 470) bega nsw 2550 australia t 61 2 6492 8333 www.nghenvironmental.com.au e [email protected] room 15, 341 havannah st (po box 434) unit 18, level 3, 21 mary st suite 1, 39 fitzmaurice st (po box 5464) bathurst nsw 2795 australia surry hills nsw 2010 australia wagga wagga nsw 2650 australia 0488 820 748 t (02) 8202 8333 t (02) 6971 9696 unit 17, 27 yallourn st (po box 1037) 37 peron ave (po box 1037) fyshwick act 2609 australia dunsborough wa 6281 australia t (02) 6280 5053 (08) 9759 1985 Document Verification Project Title: Biodiversity Assessment Burrill Lake, NSW Project Number: 5299 Project File Name: Burrill Lake Biodiversity Assessment Revision Date Prepared by (name) Reviewed by (name) Approved by (name) Draft V1 12/12/13 Deb Frazer Brooke Marshall Brooke Marshall Dave Maynard Raphael Morgan Final V1 8/1/14 Deb Frazer Raphael Morgan Raphael Morgan Dave Maynard Final v1.1 12/2/14 Deb Frazer Raphael Morgan Raphael Morgan Dave Maynard nghenvironmental prints all documents on environmentally sustainable paper including paper made from bagasse (a by- product of sugar production) or recycled paper. nghenvironmental is a registered trading name of NGH Environmental Pty Ltd; ACN: 124 444 622. ABN: 31 124 444 622 suite 1, 216 carp st (po box 470) bega nsw 2550 australia t 61 2 6492 8333 www.nghenvironmental.com.au e [email protected] room 15, 341 havannah st (po box 434) unit 18, level 3, 21 mary st suite 1, 39 fitzmaurice st (po box 5464) bathurst nsw 2795 australia surry hills nsw 2010 australia wagga wagga nsw 2650 australia 0488 820 748 t (02) 8202 8333 t (02) 6971 9696 unit 17, 27 yallourn st (po box 1037) 37 peron ave (po box 1037) fyshwick act 2609 australia dunsborough wa 6281 australia t (02) 6280 5053 (08) 9759 1985 Biodiversity Assessment Burrill Lake, NSW EXECUTIVE SUMMARY NSW Roads and Maritime Services (Roads and Maritime) is proposing to replace the Burrill Lake Bridge which is located over Burrill Lake on the Princes Highway south of Ulladulla, NSW. The structural integrity of the existing bridge is compromised due to the immersion of the bridge piles within the saline environment of Burrill Lake which has resulted in cracking and deterioration. This Biodiversity Assessment (BA) was undertaken to identify potential biodiversity constraints and recommend mitigation measures for the proposal. The proposal includes raising the approaches to the bridge and associated changes to local traffic conditions. An initial constraints assessment was undertaken by GHD (2012) in which the existing landscape was characterised, vegetation communities mapped and general flora and fauna surveys undertaken to define the biodiversity constraints of the study area. This BA cites results presented in GHD (2012) and builds on existing information. It provides the results of the targeted surveys recommended by GHD and provides an impact assessment for the proposal. Diurnal and nocturnal (day and night) surveys were undertaken by two nghenvironmental ecologists between October and December 2013. Targeted surveys were undertaken for microchiropteran bats, Green and Golden Bell Frog (Litoria aurea), threatened shorebirds and migratory birds, and East Lynne Midge Orchid (Genoplesium vernale). Visual assessment and transect surveys of seagrass were undertaken to update the terrestrial and aquatic vegetation mapping completed by GHD (2012). The targeted surveys were primarily focused within the ‘subject site’; however some vegetation mapping and orchid surveys were undertaken in additional areas adjacent to the works areas (the broader ‘study area’). Four native vegetation communities occur within the study area and are detailed below, including their total extent of distribution within the study area: 1. Seagrass Meadows (4 hectares) 2. Estuarine Saltmarsh (0.5 hectares) 3. Coastal Sand Forest (4.8 hectares) 4. Estuarine Fringe Forest (1.7 hectares) A total of 0.9 hectares of native vegetation (including seagrass) would be removed by the proposal. Of the four vegetation types identified in the study area, three are threatened ecological communities (TECs) listed under the NSW Threatened Species Conservation Act (TSC Act). Some areas of the Coastal Sand Forest constitute Bangalay Sand Forest; the Estuarine Saltmarsh constitutes Coastal Saltmarsh; and some areas of the Estuarine Fringe Forest constitute Swamp Oak Forest. The condition of these TECs is mostly poor to moderate, with the exception of the Coastal Saltmarsh and a patch of Bangalay Sand Forest in the north of the study area which are in good condition. No EECs listed under the Commonwealth Environment Biodiversity Protection and Conservation Act (EPBC Act) are present within the study area, or considered likely to occur. Thirty-nine flora species were recorded across the study area and include: 24 native species 15 exotic species: one of these species was listed as a Class 4 noxious weeds by the Shoalhaven City Council (Blackberry, Rubus fruticosus) No threatened flora species were observed during the surveys or are considered likely to occur within the proposed work areas. 5299 Final v1.1 ii Biodiversity Assessment Burrill Lake, NSW Forty-two fauna species were detected within the study area and include: 35 bird species 2 frog species 5 fish species One threatened fauna species listed under the TSC Act was recorded in the study area, the Pied Oystercatcher (Haemotopus longirostris). The EPBC Act listed Migratory Great Egret (Ardea alba) was also recorded. Habitat within Burrill Lake and its margins (seagrass and mudflats) supports some foraging habitat for shorebird species, however the remaining habitat within the study area is unsuitable for threatened fauna species. Assessments of significance were undertaken for three TECs and eight fauna species with the potential to occur within the study area: Bangalay Sand Forest (TSC Act - EEC) Coastal Saltmarsh (TSC Act - EEC) Swamp Oak Floodplain Forest (TSC Act - EEC) White-fronted Chat (TSC Act – Vulnerable species) Sooty Oystercatcher (TSC Act – Vulnerable species) Pied Oystercatcher (TSC Act – Endangered species) Little Tern (TSC Act – Endangered species) Bar-tailed Godwit (EPBC Act – Migratory species) Double-banded Plover (EPBC Act – Migratory species) Eastern Curlew (EPBC Act – Migratory species) Great Egret (EPBC Act – Migratory species) The proposal is considered unlikely to result in a significant impact on any NSW or Commonwealth listed species of flora or fauna, or TECs. Therefore a Species Impact Statement (SIS) or referral to the Commonwealth Department of Environment (DoE) is not required for the proposal. The potential impacts from the proposal include: 0.9 hectares of direct loss of native vegetation (including seagrass) / habitat Injury and mortality to resident fauna Increase in weeds, pests and pathogens Changed hydrology and seagrass impacts within Burrill Lake Increase of key threatening processes Cumulative impacts Measures required to mitigate the specific impacts of the proposal have been recommended in this report. These have been developed to prevent undue damage to the surrounding environment during replacement of the Burrill Lake bridge. Mitigation measures include strategies to prevent over-clearing, erosion and/or disturbance to Burrill Lake hydrology, manage noxious weeds, prevent excessive disturbance to habitat features, and revegetate areas of disturbance after construction activities. 5299 Final v1.1 iii Biodiversity Assessment Burrill Lake, NSW CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .......................................................................................................................... II 1 INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 BACKGROUND TO THIS ASSESSMENT ..................................................................................................1 1.2 AIM OF THIS ASSESSMENT ...................................................................................................................1 1.3 NEED FOR THE PROJECT .......................................................................................................................2 1.4 PROJECT DESCRIPTION .........................................................................................................................2 1.4.1 Direct and Indirect Impacts ................................................................................................................... 3 1.5 ASSESSMENT TERMINOLOGY ...............................................................................................................3 1.6 LEGISLATIVE REQUIREMENTS ..............................................................................................................3 1.6.1 Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Commonwealth) ........................... 3 1.6.2 NSW Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (EP&A Act) ................................................... 4 1.6.3 NSW Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 (TSC Act) .................................................................. 4 1.6.4 NSW Fisheries Management Act 1994 (FM Act) .................................................................................... 4 1.6.5 NSW Native Vegetation Act 2003 .........................................................................................................