Grampians Peaks Trail: Native vegetation offset assessment Prepared for Parks Victoria 9 August 2017 Biosis offices Document information AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY Report to: Parks Victoria Canberra Prepared by: Matthew Gibson Phone: (02) 6102 1200 Email: [email protected] Biosis project no.: 21554 File name: 21554.GPT.OffsetReport.FIN04.20170809 NEW SOUTH WALES Citation: Biosis 2017. Grampians Peaks Trail native vegetation offset assessment. Report for Parks Victoria. Author: Gibson, M., Biosis Pty Ltd. Newcastle Project no. 21554. Phone: (02) 4911 4040 Email: [email protected] Document control Sydney Phone: (02) 9101 8700 Email: [email protected] Version Internal reviewer Date issued Wollongong Version 01 JDM 27/04/2017 Phone: (02) 4201 1090 Email: [email protected] Version 02 MSG 26/06/2017 Version 03 MSG 07/07/2017 QUEENSLAND Version 04 MSG 09/08/2017 Brisbane Phone: (07) 3831 7400 Email: [email protected] Acknowledgements Biosis acknowledges the contribution of the following people and TASMANIA organisations in undertaking this study: Hobart Phone: (03) 8686 4821 • Parks Victoria: Anne Wilson, Rod Spinks, David Roberts, Mark Gallon, Email: [email protected] Mike Stevens • Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning for access to VICTORIA the Victorian Biodiversity Atlas and Native Vegetation Information Ballarat Tools Phone: (03) 5304 4250 Email: [email protected] Biosis staff involved in this project were: Melbourne (Head Office) • Michael Goddard, Rohan Simkin, Shana Nerenberg and Tim Dredge Phone: (03) 8686 4800 (assistance in the field) Fax: (03) 9646 9242 Email: [email protected] • Martin Lee (data entry) Wangaratta • James Shepherd (mapping) Phone: (03) 5718 6900 Email: [email protected] Biosis Pty Ltd This document is and shall remain the property of Biosis Pty Ltd. The document may only be used for the purposes for which it was commissioned and in accordance with the Terms of the Engagement for 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 2017 - Leaders in Ecology and Heritage Consulting - www.biosis.com.au i Contents Summary ................................................................................................................................................................... iv 1. Introduction .................................................................................................................................................... 5 1.1 Project background .............................................................................................................................................5 1.2 Objectives ..............................................................................................................................................................5 1.3 Previous studies ...................................................................................................................................................6 1.4 Location of the study area .................................................................................................................................7 2. Impact areas and steps taken to avoid and minimise impacts ............................................................. 8 2.1 Areas requiring clearance of native vegetation ............................................................................................8 2.1.1 New walking tracks ..................................................................................................................................8 2.1.2 Hiker camps and access tracks .............................................................................................................9 2.1.3 Trailheads ............................................................................................................................................... 11 2.2 Steps taken to avoid and minimise impacts to native vegetation ......................................................... 12 3. Assessment methods................................................................................................................................... 14 3.1 Database review ................................................................................................................................................ 14 3.2 Field habitat hectare assessment.................................................................................................................. 14 3.2.1 Sites on new sections of track ............................................................................................................ 15 3.2.2 Trailheads ............................................................................................................................................... 17 3.2.3 Hiker camps ............................................................................................................................................ 17 3.2.4 Survey dates ........................................................................................................................................... 17 3.2.5 Permits .................................................................................................................................................... 17 3.3 GIS analysis ......................................................................................................................................................... 18 3.3.1 Data sources........................................................................................................................................... 18 3.3.2 Calculating vegetation impacts .......................................................................................................... 18 3.4 Qualifications ..................................................................................................................................................... 18 3.5 Legislation and policy ....................................................................................................................................... 19 4. Vegetation quality assessment results .................................................................................................... 20 4.1 Significant species recorded ........................................................................................................................... 22 4.1.1 Modelled habitat for DELWP advisory list of rare and threatened species ............................. 26 5. Victoria's biodiversity assessment guidelines ........................................................................................ 30 5.1 Proposed removal of native vegetation....................................................................................................... 31 5.1.1 Habitat hectares .................................................................................................................................... 31 5.2 Determining the risk-based pathway ........................................................................................................... 31 5.3 Offset requirements ......................................................................................................................................... 31 5.3.1 Offset requirements for stage 1 ........................................................................................................ 31 5.3.2 Offset requirements for completion of the GPT ............................................................................ 32 5.4 Offset assessment ............................................................................................................................................ 36 5.4.1 Meeting the general offset requirement ......................................................................................... 36 © Biosis 2017 – Leaders in Ecology and Heritage Consulting II 5.4.2 Meeting the specific offset requirements ........................................................................................ 39 5.4.3 Potential offset arrangements to satisfy specific offset requirements ..................................... 41 6. Conclusion ..................................................................................................................................................... 43 References ................................................................................................................................................................ 44 Appendices ............................................................................................................................................................... 45 Appendix 1 Flora species recorded .......................................................................................................... 46 Appendix 2 Vegetation quality assessment results .............................................................................. 62 Appendix 3 Biodiversity impact and offset requirement report ....................................................... 66 Appendix 4 Glossary – Biodiversity assessment guidelines ..............................................................