Biodiversity Impact Assessment Fingerboards Mineral Sands Project, Glenaladale, Victoria Presentation Aaron Organ Director / Principal Ecologist www.ehpartners.com.au www.ehpartners.com.au
Objectives of Study Objectives: • Define the relevant legislation, standards and guidelines • Describe the survey methods • Characterise the existing environment relevant to biodiversity • Assessment of likely and potential direct and indirect impacts • Against significant impact thresholds for significant species and ecological communities) • Outline avoidance, mitigation and management measures to reduce the significance of impacts • State and Commonwealth biodiversity offsets under the relevant policy and EPBC Act www.ehpartners.com.au 2
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Desktop Assessment Methods De Desktop Ass ssessment • DELWP’s NatureKit Online interactive map • Ecological Vegetation Class benchmarks • The Victorian Biodiversity Atlas • The Flora Information System • Atlas of Victorian Wildlife • The Department of the Environment and Energy’s Protected Matters Search Tool under the EPBC Act • Relevant listings under the FFG Act and DELWP’s Threatened Species Advisory Lists • The Planning Maps Online and Planning Schemes Online • Aerial photography • Previous ecological or other relevant assessments of the project area www.ehpartners.com.au 4
Detailed Field Surveys • Vegetation surveys completed by two qualified Botanists over a five-day period between 6 and 10 June 2016, a three-day period between 19 and 21 March 2018, a five-day period between 10 and 14 October 2018; • Terrestrial fauna surveys completed by two qualified Zoologists over a five-day period between 24 and 28 October 2016 (excluding the subsequent collection of deployed remote cameras on 11 November 2016), a three-day period between 19 and 21 March 2018, and a five-day period between 10 and 14 October 2018; • Targeted flora surveys and updated vegetation mapping completed by two qualified Botanists over a two five-day survey events between 24 and 28 October 2016, and 7 and 11 November 2016; • Targeted Giant Burrowing Frog and additional nocturnal surveys were undertaken over 4 days between 27 and 30 November 2018; • Aquatic ecology assessment completed by a qualified Aquatic Ecologist over a three-day period between 6 and 8 June 2016, and targeted aquatic surveys for the nationally threatened Australian Grayling. Dwarf Galaxias and other aquatic species were undertaken between 27 and 29 November 2018; • Additional flora and fauna assessments completed by two qualified Botanists at the proposed Fanning’s rail siding and the road upgrade at Racecourse Road roundabout on 11 January 2019; and • Groundwater Dependent Ecosystem modelling and risk assessment. The above surveys were undertaken across over 2,000 ha, encompassing areas of public land (road reserves), Kalbar owned land and private property where landowners had granted access. www.ehpartners.com.au 5
Field Assessment Methods Flo lora Survey • >300 person hours surveying native vegetation, ecological communities and listed flora species • The targeted surveys were undertaken • Areas of remnant native vegetation were traversed at five metre intervals • Hand-held GPS units were used to record the location of any listed species www.ehpartners.com.au 6
Field Assessment Methods Fauna Survey Meth thods • Terrestrial and aquatic fauna assessments were undertaken within the project area during early winter and spring 2016 • >140-person hours undertaken • Diurnal bird and herpetofauna surveys • Spotlighting • Stag-watching • Call play-back surveys • Opportunistic sightings of fauna and indirect evidence of fauna activity, such as scats, diggings, scratch marks, etc; • Anabat surveys • Remote camera surveys • Nocturnal frog call census surveys (e.g. targeted surveys for Growling Grass Frog and Green and Golden Bell Frog) www.ehpartners.com.au 7
Flora Results Spec ecie ies div iver ersit ity • A diverse assemblage of plants and animals, with 178 flora species (46 introduced) and 97 fauna species (eight introduced) recorded during the field surveys. Rem emnant Veg egetation • 302.4 ha of remnant vegetation represented by 10 Ecological Vegetation Classes (EVCs): – Aquatic Herbland (EVC 653) (Endangered) (1.03 ha) – Box Ironbark Forest (EVC 61) (Vulnerable) (7.50 ha) – Lowland Forest (EVC 16) (Vulnerable) (34.10 ha) – Lowland Herb-rich Forest (EVC 877) (Depleted) (13.8 ha) – Plains Grassy Forest (EVC 151) (Endangered) (64.18 ha) – Plains Grassy Wetland (EVC 125) (Endangered) (0.31 ha) – Plains Grassy Woodland (EVC 55) (Endangered) (42.1 ha) – Riparian Shrubland (EVC 19) (Endangered) (7.58 ha) – Sedge Wetland (EVC 136) (Vulnerable) (3.85 ha) – Valley Grassy Forest (EVC 47) (Vulnerable) (95.49 ha) • 948 large trees (in patches and scattered), consisting predominately of large old eucalypts Lis Listed Ecol ological l Co Communit itie ies • 3.34 ha of the nationally significant (EPBC Act-listed) Gippsland Red Gum (Eucalyptus tereticornis subsp. mediana) Grassy Woodland and Associated Native Grassland (GRGGW) ecological community. • 5.95 ha of the State significant (Victorian Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988 [FFG Act] listed) Forest Red Gum Grassy Woodland ecological community. www.ehpartners.com.au 8
Significant Flora • The known occurrence of four State significant flora species: – Slender Wire-lily Laxmannia gracilis; – Blue Mat-rush Lomandra glauca s.s.; – Slender Tick-trefoil Desmodium varians; and, – Sandfly Zieria Zieria smithii subsp. smithii. • The potential occurrence (moderate or high likelihood) of three nationally significant flora species: – Swamp Everlasting Xerochrysum palustre; – Dwarf Kerrawang Commersonia prostrata; and, – Gaping Leek-orchid Prasophyllum correctum (e.g. along the Gippsland railway). • The potential occurrence (moderate or high likelihood) of over 30 State significant species within the project area www.ehpartners.com.au 9
Fauna Results Species div iversity • A total of 96 species of fauna including 88 native species and eight introduced species Species richness Fauna guild Native Introduced Birds 59 3 Mammals (non-bats) 6 5 Mammals (bats) 8 - Frogs 8 - Reptiles 7 - Total 88 8 Fauna habitats • Remnant forest, woodland, scattered trees, drainage lines, farm dams, plantations and pasture www.ehpartners.com.au 10
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Significant Fauna Fau auna Sp Specie ies • No natio tionally sig significant fau auna a species have been recorded within the project area (previously or during surveys) • Known occurrence of one St State sig significant fau auna a species (Yellow- bellied Sheathtail Bat Saccolaimus flaviventris • Low likelihood of four fauna species of national significance: • Swift Parrot Lathamus discolor • Painted Honeyeater Grantiella picta • Grey-headed Flying-fox Pteropus poliocephalus • Giant Burrowing Frog Heleioporus australiacus • Potential occurrence of 12 St State sig significant fau auna a species • Known occurrence of two reg egionally sig significan ant fau auna a (Emu and Eastern Long-necked Turtle) and the potential occurrence of an additional six regionally significant species www.ehpartners.com.au 13
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Impact Assessment Ov Overall ll Pre and post mitigation measures the impacts to these values at the Project Area (scale) are Moderate to High, whilst at the regional, State and national scales the project will have a very low (negligible) to low impact on biodiversity values Di Direct Imp mpacts • Vegetation removal and habitat loss (118 ha and 282 scattered trees) • Approximately 2.82 ha of the nationally significant GRGGW ecological community • 5.43 ha of the State significant Forest Red Gum Grassy Woodland ecological • State significant flora species: Slender Wire-lily (33 plants), Blue Mat-rush (three plants) and Sandfly Zieria (nine plants) • Removal of known habitat for the following fauna species of State and regional significance: – Yellow-bellied Sheathtail Bat - 283 scattered trees and 118 ha of remnant vegetation – Emu - Forest and woodland, wetland/ aquatic habitat and disturbed land – Eastern Long-necked Turtle - 0.87 ha of wetland/ aquatic habitat www.ehpartners.com.au 15
Mitigation Measures • Further avoidance of biodiversity values • Pre-clearing significant species surveys • Flora and fauna salvage/ translocation • Water quality monitoring • Reinstatement of fauna habitat • Establishment of ‘no - go areas’ • Installation of nest boxes • Dust, noise and light suppression / management • Contingency measures to manage unexpected discovery of listed flora and fauna species during construction and operation of the project • Staff and contractor inductions www.ehpartners.com.au 16
Management Plans • Offset Management Plan • Construction Environmental Management Plan • Biodiversity Management Plan – Protection measures – Pre and post construction monitoring • Pest Animal and Plant Management Plan • Restoration / Rehabilitation Plan www.ehpartners.com.au 17
Questions? Aaron Organ Director / Principal Ecologist www.ehpartners.com.au www.ehpartners.com.au 18
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