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F lo r a a n d h a b i t a t a s se s sm e n t o f Lo t s 1 8 4 a n d 1 8 5 DP 7 5 32 8 2 , H u n t er S t r e e t , G l e n I n n es
© E CO LO G ICA L A U S T RA L IA P T Y LT D i
Flora and habitat assessment Lots 184 and 185 DP 753282 Hunter Street, Glen Innes, NSW Prepared for Glen Innes Severn Council
25 June 2014
F lo r a a n d h a b i t a t a s se s sm e n t o f Lo t s 1 8 4 a n d 1 8 5 DP 7 5 32 8 2 , H u n t er S t r e e t , G l e n I n n es
© E CO LO G ICA L A U S T RA L IA P T Y LT D ii
DOCUMENT TRACKING
Item Detail
Project Name Flora and habitat assessment Lots 184 and 185 DP 753282, Hunter Street, Glen Innes
Project Number
14COFECO-0006
File location H:\Synergy\Projects\14COFECO\14COFECO-0006 Hunter Street, Glen Innes - Flora and habitat assessment for Urban Release Area\Photos
Prepared by Liz Brown and Lachlan Copeland
Approved by Peter Knock
Status FINAL
Version Number 1
Last saved on 14 August 2014
Project Name Flora and habitat assessment of Lots 184 and 185 DP 753282, Hunter Street, Glen Innes
Cover photo Lots 184 and 185 DP 753282, Hunter Street, Glen Innes. Liz Brown.
This report should be cited as „Eco Logical Australia September 2014. Flora and fauna habitat assessment of Lots 184 and 185 DP 753282, Hunter Street, Glen Innes, NSW. Prepared for Glen Innes Severn Council‟
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This document has been prepared by Eco Logical Australia Pty Ltd.
Disclaimer
This document may only be used for the purpose for which it was commissioned and in accordance with the contract between
Eco Logical Australia Pty Ltd and Glen Innes Severn Council. The scope of services was defined in consultation with Glen Innes
Severn Council, by time and budgetary constraints imposed by the client, and the availability of reports and other data on the
subject area. Changes to available information, legislation and schedules are made on an ongoing basis and readers should
obtain up to date information.
Eco Logical Australia Pty Ltd accepts no liability or responsibility whatsoever for or in respect of any use of or reliance upon this
report and its supporting material by any third party. Information provided is not intended to be a substitute for site specific
assessment or legal advice in relation to any matter. Unauthorised use of this report in any form is prohibited.
Template 22/08/13
F lo r a a n d h a b i t a t a s se s sm e n t o f Lo t s 1 8 4 a n d 1 8 5 DP 7 5 32 8 2 , H u n t er S t r e e t , G l e n I n n es
© E CO LO G ICA L A U S T RA L IA P T Y LT D iii
CONTENTS
1 INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................................... 6
2 CONTEXTUAL INFORMATION ................................................................................................... 7
2.1 Description of the study area ........................................................................................................ 7
2.2 Description of the proposal ........................................................................................................... 7
3 METHODS .................................................................................................................................. 10
3.1 Mapping ...................................................................................................................................... 10
3.2 Audit of flora and fauna values ................................................................................................... 10
3.3 Site inspection ............................................................................................................................ 11
4 RESULTS ................................................................................................................................... 12
4.1 Audit of flora and fauna values ................................................................................................... 12
4.2 Site inspection ............................................................................................................................ 12
4.2.1 Geology ...................................................................................................................................... 12
4.2.2 Flora species .............................................................................................................................. 12
4.2.1 TSC Act listed threatened species and/or ecological communities ............................................ 13
4.2.2 EPBC Act listed threatened species and/or ecological communities ......................................... 13
4.1 Vegetation................................................................................................................................... 16
4.1.1 Tree regeneration, hollows and sizes ......................................................................................... 16
4.1.1 Border Rivers-Gwydir catchment vegetation mapping ............................................................... 16
4.1.2 Plant communities ...................................................................................................................... 16
4.2 Habitat corridors ......................................................................................................................... 20
4.3 Koala habitat ............................................................................................................................... 20
4.4 Habitat assessment .................................................................................................................... 21
4.5 Condition classes ....................................................................................................................... 21
5 RELEVANT LEGISLATION AND POLICIES ............................................................................ 24
5.1 Legislation ................................................................................................................................... 24
5.1.1 Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) .......................... 24
5.1.2 Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (EP&A Act) ............................................... 24
5.1.3 Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 (TSC Act) ............................................................. 25
5.1.4 Native Vegetation Act 2003 No 103 (NV Act) ............................................................................. 25
5.2 Local Planning Instruments ........................................................................................................ 26
5.2.1 Glen Innes Severn Local Environmental Plan 2012 ................................................................... 26
5.2.2 Glen Innes Severn Council Development Control Plan 2008 .................................................... 26
5.3 State Planning Instruments ........................................................................................................ 26
5.3.1 SEPP 44: Koala Habitat Protection ............................................................................................ 26
F lo r a a n d h a b i t a t a s se s sm e n t o f Lo t s 1 8 4 a n d 1 8 5 DP 7 5 32 8 2 , H u n t er S t r e e t , G l e n I n n es
© E CO LO G ICA L A U S T RA L IA P T Y LT D iv
5.4 Key Threatening Processes ....................................................................................................... 27
5.4.1 Clearing of native vegetation ...................................................................................................... 27
5.4.2 Invasion of native plant communities by exotic perennial grasses ............................................. 27
5.4.3 Removal of dead wood and dead trees ...................................................................................... 28
6 POTENTIAL IMPACTS .............................................................................................................. 29
7 RECOMMENDATIONS .............................................................................................................. 31
8 VEGETATION MANAGEMENT GUIDELINES .......................................................................... 33
REFERENCES ........................................................................................................................................ 37
APPENDIX A: Box Gum Woodland Criteria ........................................................................................ 41
APPENDIX B: Flora species list recorded within the study area, Glen Innes (12/6/2014). ............ 44
APPENDIX C: TSC / EPBC Act Threatened species data search results ........................................ 46
List of Figures
Figure 1: LEP zones covering the study area under Glen Innes Severn LEP 2012 ................................. 8
Figure 2: Overview of the subject site, Lots 184 and 185 DP 753282, Hunter Street, Glen Innes ........... 9
Figure 3: Vegetation communities recorded within the subject site, Lots 184 and 185 DP 753282,
Hunter Street, Glen Innes ......................................................................................................................... 15
Figure 4: Vegetation condition classes recorded within the subject site, Lots 184 and 185 DP 753282,
Hunter Street, Glen Innes ......................................................................................................................... 23
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© E CO LO G ICA L A U S T RA L IA P T Y LT D v
Abbreviations
Abbreviation Description
DEC Department of Environment and Conservation
DCP Development Control Plan
DNG Derived Native Grassland
DoE Department of Environment
DSEWPaC Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities
EEC Endangered Ecological Community
EP&A Act Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979
EPBC Act Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999
GIS Geographic Information System
GISC Glen Innes Severn Council
KTP Key Threatening Process
LEP Local Environment Plan
NV Act Native Vegetation Act 2003 No 103
OEH Office of Environment and Heritage
PKFT Preferred Koala Food Trees
PMST Protected Matters Search Tool
SEPP State Environmental Planning Policy
TEC Threatened Ecological Community
TSC Act Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995
TSSC Threatened Species Scientific Committee
VMP Vegetation Management Plan
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© E CO LO G ICA L A U S T RA L IA P T Y LT D 6
1 INTRODUCTION
Eco Logical Australia Pty Ltd (ELA) was commissioned by Keiley Hunter (Keiley Hunter Urban Planner)
on behalf of Glen Innes Severn Council („the client‟) to undertake an flora and fauna habitat assessment
of Lots 184 and 185 DP 753282, located at the corner of Hunter and Taylor Streets, Glen Innes, NSW.
The requirements of this assessment within the subject site were as follows:
Identify the floristic composition of the vegetation;
Identify any threatened flora species;
Identify any Endangered and/or Threatened Ecological Communities (EECs and/or TECs);
Undertake a fauna habitat assessment;
Undertake a hollow-bearing tree assessment;
Identify any threatened fauna habitat;
Provide detailed vegetation mapping; and
Identify any constraints associated with future vegetation modification (Section 6).
The data search, literature review, fieldwork results and mapping provided in this report are intended to
inform the process of developing a site-specific residential Master Plan and Development Control Plan
(DCP) to guide design and development of the proposed „Hunter Street Urban Release Area‟ as
identified within the Glen Innes Severn LEP 2012.
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© E CO LO G ICA L A U S T RA L IA P T Y LT D 7
2 CONTEXTUAL INFORMATION
2.1 Descript ion of the study area
The proposed two-lot land release at Lots 184 and 185 DP 753282, located at the corner of Hunter and
Taylor Streets, Glen Innes (the subject site) is located approximately one kilometre (km) north-east of
the Glen Innes township, NSW (Figure 2). The subject site is located between the New England Hwy to
the west and Gwydir Highway to the east (Figure 2) and south of the existing Glen Innes Cemetery.
The two Lots cover approximately 19.6 hectares (ha), with Lot 184 covering 10.3 ha, Lot 185 covering
8.0 ha and the privately-owned, closed road easement dividing Lots 184 and 185 covering 1.2 ha
(Figure 2).
The subject site is bounded to the north and east by rural agricultural lands, to the west by Hunter
Street and rural agricultural lands, and to the south by Taylors Street and privately-owned urban land
(Figures1, 2 and 3).
Within the subject site, approximately 18 hectares (93%) supports threatened native vegetation in a
variety of conditions, with a history of selective logging of mature remnant trees, grazing and weed
incursion.
Approximately 1.24 hectares (7%) of the site is modified or cleared and comprising an access road, a
residential dwelling, four farm dams and ornamental landscape plantings (Figure 3). The subject site is
currently zoned „R1- General Residential and is surrounded by RU1 – Primary Production (Figure 1)
under Glen Innes Severn Local Environmental Plan (LEP) 2012. The subject site is located on a gentle
westerly slope with a westerly-flowing drainage line running through the privately-owned, closed road
easement dividing Lots 184 and 185. The elevation is approximately 1130 – 1135 ASL.
2.2 Descript ion of the proposal
GISC is developing a site-specific residential Master Plan and Development Control Plan (DCP) to
guide design and development of the proposed „Hunter Street Urban Release Area‟ as identified within
the Glen Innes Severn LEP 2012. The ecological assessment undertaken during the current survey
aims to inform this process.
A series of written guidelines and associated mapping addressing the ecological features of the subject
site is required by GISC. These guidelines aim to ensure that the Hunter Street Urban Release Area is
developed in an ecologically sensitive manner.
In the event of future residential development of these Lots, there is potential for portions of the native
vegetation within the subject site to be lost via clearing, or be significantly altered through partial
clearing and/or „under-scrubbing‟. It is important that the threatened native vegetation of this site is
either protected or appropriately considered in any planning development situation.
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© E CO LO G ICA L A U S T RA L IA P T Y LT D 8
Under the Section 6, Clause 6.3 (c) of the Glen Innes Severn LEP 2012, a DCP must provide for “an
overall landscaping strategy for the protection and enhancement of riparian areas and remnant
vegetation, including visually prominent locations, and detailed landscaping requirements for both the
public and private domain”. As such, a development design which is sensitive to any remnant
vegetation and/or habitat features within the subject site will be required as part of any future
development associated with this land. This may include consideration of individual covenants which
protect specific ecological features (e.g. basalt rocky habitat, stands of remnant trees, native grassland)
retained within rural residential lots.
Figure 1: LEP zones covering the study area under Glen Innes Severn LEP 2012
Source: www.legislation.nsw.gov.au
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© E CO LO G ICA L A U S T RA L IA P T Y LT D 9
Figure 2: Overview of the subject site, Lots 184 and 185 DP 753282, Hunter Street, Glen Innes
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© E CO LO G ICA L A U S T RA L IA P T Y LT D 10
3 METHODS
The survey methodology and effort have been adapted to comply with the former NSW Department of
Environment and Conservation (now the Office of Environment and Heritage or OEH) Draft Threatened
Biodiversity Survey and Assessment: Guidelines for Developments and Activities (2004) and the
specific requirements of the subject site, given available communities, habitats, likelihood of occurrence
of targeted threatened species and the locations of the proposed residential dwellings.
3.1 Mapping
Geographic information system (GIS) layers utilised for analysis and mapping for this project were
derived from a variety of sources and include:
Digital cadastre (Land and Property Information);
Border Rivers-Gwydir catchment vegetation mapping (Eco Logical Australia 2009) was further
refined during site inspection;
Threatened species data sourced from the Bionet (Office of Environment and Heritage) and
Water Heritage and the Arts (DEWHA) threatened species report;
State Environment Protection Policy (SEPP) mapping (Department of Planning); and
Bing maps aerial imagery (Microsoft).
3.2 Audit of f lora and fauna values
A preliminary list of threatened flora and fauna species, populations and ecological communities likely to
occur within the study area was prepared by searching the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage
(OEH) Wildlife Atlas records for species listed under the NSW Threatened Species Conservation Act
1995 (TSC Act), and the Department of Environment (DoE) (formerly the Department of Sustainability,
Environment, Water, Population and Communities or DSEWPaC) database for threatened species and
Matters of National Environmental Significance as listed under the Commonwealth Environment
Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) Protected Matters Search Tool (PMST).
Threatened species data searches were undertaken on the 13th June, 2014.
The OEH Wildlife Atlas and EPBC data searches were based upon a five kilometre radius from a point
located at the centre of the subject site from a point located at Easting 29.73403 Northing 151.75236
(Figure 2).
Resultant lists were then filtered to identify threatened species considered likely to occur on, or utilise,
the subject site, based upon information obtained during the site inspection (Appendix C). Any SEPP
features that may affect the subject site, as well as local environmental planning instruments, such as
the GISC LEP 2012 and GISC DCP 2008 were also considered. The resultant list of likely species was
further filtered to identify those species considered likely to be affected by any future development of the
site, and would therefore require an assessment of significance (Seven-part test) under Part 5 of the
F lo r a a n d h a b i t a t a s se s sm e n t o f Lo t s 1 8 4 a n d 1 8 5 DP 7 5 32 8 2 , H u n t er S t r e e t , G l e n I n n es
© E CO LO G ICA L A U S T RA L IA P T Y LT D 11
Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (EP&A Act) in the event of future residential
development of the subject site.
3.3 Site inspection
ELA flora ecologist Liz Brown conducted a site inspection on 12th June 2014 for a total of 2.5 hours.
The aim of the site inspection was to delineate the type, extent and location of vegetation communities
and to conduct an assessment of the presence and quality of threatened species habitat and hollow-
bearing trees. A random meander search for threatened plant species was also undertaken during the
site inspection. This level of assessment is considered more than adequate in relation to the suggested
survey effort provided in the (former) Department of Environment and Conservation‟s (DEC) Survey
Guidelines (DEC, 2004).
Further survey (during December or January) has the potential to reveal the Federally „Vulnerable‟
species Thesium australe (Austral Toadflax) in areas supporting Themeda australis (Kangaroo Grass)
within the subject site. The Federally „Vulnerable‟ species Dichanthium setosum (Bluegrass) also has
the potential to be detected during these months, as both these threatened species can occur in higher
altitude sites on basalt geology and soils.
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© E CO LO G ICA L A U S T RA L IA P T Y LT D 12
4 RESULTS
4.1 Audit of f lora and fauna values
The data search of TSC Act and EPBC Act threatened species, populations and communities produced
a total of eight threatened fauna species, three threatened ecological communities and 30 threatened
fauna species known to occur, or considered likely to occur, within five km of the subject site (note that
marine fish, sea birds, marine mammals, marine reptiles and migratory wetland birds were excluded
from this search). These species are listed in Appendix C, with those occurring or considered likely to
occur on / utilise the subject site highlighted in bold.
4.2 Site inspection
4.2.1 Geology
The subject site represents a „cap‟ overlying basaltic geology, with scattered embedded basalt rocks
present throughout the site.
Scattered embedded basalt rocks within Lot 184 Photo: Liz Brown
4.2.2 Flora species
A total of 58 plant species were recorded during the current site assessment, of which 22
(approximately 38%) were introduced species and one was a planted native species (Callitris
glaucophylla). A list of plant species recorded within the subject site and adjacent vegetation is
provided as Appendix B. Note that it is likely that not all plant species present on the subject site were
recorded during this assessment due to seasonality and other factors.
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4.2.1 TSC Act listed threatened species and/or ecological communities
Ribbon Gum-Mountain Gum-Snow Gum Grassy Forest/Woodland of the New England Tableland
Bioregion
The area mapped as NSW EEC Ribbon Gum-Mountain Gum-Snow Gum Grassy Forest/Woodland of
the New England Tableland Bioregion (Figure 3) comprises approximately 1.0 ha within the subject site.
White Box Yellow Box Blakely’s Red Gum Woodland
The area mapped as NSW EEC White Box Yellow Box Blakely’s Red Gum Woodland or Box-Gum
Grassy Woodland (Figure 3) comprises approximately 1.17 ha within the privately-owned road reserve,
and 17.3 ha across the subject site as a whole (Figure 3).
Therefore, approximately 18 ha (93% of the site) of NSW „Endangered‟ vegetation communities have
the potential to be affected via clearing or degrading processes associated with future residential
development.
Listings for this community differ under both state and Commonwealth legislation, with state legislation
generally incorporating vegetation in a wider range of conditions than the Commonwealth.
Furthermore, this community is listed as „Critically Endangered‟ under the EPBC Act. A set of criteria
for determining the presence of the EEC at a site has been prepared for the TSC Act, and has been
included in Appendix A.
Threatened species
No further species listed under the TSC Act were recorded during the current assessment.
Several rare or threatened plant species have been recorded within five km of the subject site. It must
be emphasised that the timing of the survey (mid-June) was not ideal, and more than one additional
threatened flora species may be present that are not visible during early winter.
4.2.2 EPBC Act listed threatened species and/or ecological communities
The area mapped as the Federally-listed Threatened Ecological Community (TEC) White Box-Yellow
Box-Blakely's Red Gum Grassy Woodland and Derived Native Grassland represents an example of the
NSW EEC White Box Yellow Box Blakely‟s Red Gum Woodland or Box-Gum Grassy Woodland
(Section 4.2.4 and Figure 3). This vegetation community comprises approximately 1.17 ha within the
privately-owned road reserve and 17.3 ha across the subject site as a whole (as detailed in Section
4.2.4).
Therefore, approximately 17 ha (89% of the site) of a Federally „Critically Endangered‟ vegetation
community has the potential to be affected via clearing or degrading processes associated with future
residential development. Derived Native Grassland (DNG) forms part of the woodland TEC component
of the vegetation within the subject site.
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No further species listed under the EPBC Act were recorded during the current assessment.
Further survey (during December or January) has the potential to reveal the Federally „Vulnerable‟
species Thesium australe (Austral Toadflax) in areas supporting Themeda australis (Kangaroo Grass)
within the subject site. The Federally „Vulnerable‟ species Dichanthium setosum (Bluegrass) also has
the potential to be detected during these months, as both these threatened species can occur in higher
altitude sites on basalt geology and soils.
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Figure 3: Vegetation communities recorded within the subject site, Lots 184 and 185 DP 753282, Hunter Street, Glen Innes
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© E CO LO G ICA L A U S T RA L IA P T Y LT D 16
4.1 Vegetat ion
4.1.1 Tree regeneration, hollows and sizes
This community supports scattered, immature eucalypts (less than a metre high), which indicates
potential for regeneration of this community if grazing pressures were removed. No hollow-bearing
trees were recorded within the subject site during the current survey. Trees sizes range throughout the
property from saplings of approximately 15cm Diameter-at-Breast-Height (DBH) up to mature trees of
approximately 100cm DBH.
Regenerating Eucalyptus viminalis (Ribbon gum) in Lot 184 Photo: Liz Brown
4.1.1 Border Rivers-Gwydir catchment vegetation mapping
Border Rivers-Gwydir catchment mapping defined a patch of remnant vegetation to the east of the
subject site as the EEC Box-Gum Grassy Woodland. The extent and vegetation type of this mapping
required refinement considering the findings of the current assessment, as described below.
4.1.2 Plant communities
1. White Box-Yellow Box-Blakely's Red Gum Grassy Woodland and Derived Native Grassland TEC (Box-Gum Grassy Woodland)
The majority of the native vegetation community within the subject site represents a variant of the
vegetation unit White Box-Yellow Box-Blakely's Red Gum Grassy Woodland and Derived Native
Grassland (Figure 3) which is listed under the EPBC Act as „Critically Endangered‟. Much of this
vegetation represents a variation of Derived Native Grassland (DNG) which has been impacted by
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© E CO LO G ICA L A U S T RA L IA P T Y LT D 17
grazing practices and historic selective logging of mature trees. This vegetation community occurs on
the lower flats and depressions of the subject site.
White Box-Yellow Box-Blakely's Red Gum Grassy Woodland and Derived Native Grassland TEC within the north-westerly portion of Lot 184. Photo: Liz Brown
There are very few native shrubs within this community, except for scattered occurrences of the
prostrate shrubs or sub-shrubs Pimelea curviflora var. divergens and P. linifolia (Slender Rice Flower).
Several invasive, exotic species such as Crataegus monogyna (Hawthorn), Pyracantha angustifolia
(Orange Firethorn), Ligustrum sinense (Small-leaved Privet) and Blackberry (Rubus anglocandicans)
are present in low numbers, controlled by grazing pressure.
Canopy species present in this community include Eucalyptus blakelyi (Blakely‟s Red Gum) and E.
melliodora (Yellow Box). The derived grassland at the ground layer supports native grasses such as
Poa sieberiana var. sieberiana (Snow Grass), Aristida personata (Purple Wire-grass), Bothriochloa
macra (Red-leg Grass), Chloris truncata (Windmill Grass), Rytidosperma racemosum, Sporobolus
creber (Western Rat-tail Grass), Dichanthium sericeum subsp. sericeum (Queensland Bluegrass) and
Microlaena stipoides var. stipoides (Weeping Grass).
Scattered native herbs at the groundlayer include Ammobium alatum, Chrysocephalum apiculatum
(Common Everlasting), Cymbonotus lawsonianus (Bear‟s-ear), Vittadinia cuneata (Fuzzweed),
Convolvulus graminetinus, Asperula conferta (Common Woodruff), Acaena sp. (Bidgy Widgee), Urtica
incisa (Stinging Nettle), Scleranthus biflorus (Knawel), Leucochrysum albicans subsp. albicans,
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Veronica calycina (Hairy Speedwell) and Desmodium varians (Slender Tick-trefoil).
Within this community, patches of grassland dominated by Themeda australis (Kangaroo Grass) exist
within Lot 185, and these areas support species such as Rhodanthe anthemoides (Chamomile Sunray).
These areas may potentially contain the cryptic threatened species Thesium australe (Austral Toadflax),
commonly detected during more favourable survey seasons (December - January).
Embedded basalt rocks within an area dominated by Kangaroo Grass which supports Chamomile Sunray (Lot 185). Photo: Liz Brown
The derived grassland vegetation is in moderate condition due to disturbance by previous logging
practices, grazing and weed incursion of invasive grass species such as Dactylis glomerata
(Cocksfoot), Eragrostis curvula (African Lovegrass), E. lugens, Festuca pratensis (Meadow Fescue)
and Paspalum dilatatum (Paspalum). A range of exotic herbs are present throughout this layer,
including Plantago lanceolata (Plantain), Hypochaeris radicata (Catsear) and Leucanthemum vulgare
(Ox-eye Daisy).
A portion of this TEC also occurs within the privately-owned, closed road reserve (Figure 3).
The patch of mapped vegetation to the east of the subject site (ELA 2009) was previously classified as
„Box-Gum Grassy Woodland‟, whereas the findings of the current survey suggest this community
supports the EEC Ribbon Gum-Mountain Gum-Snow Gum Grassy Forest/Woodland of the New
England Tableland Bioregion (Figure 3). This EEC is described below.
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2. Ribbon Gum-Mountain Gum-Snow Gum Grassy Forest/Woodland of the New England Tableland Bioregion EEC
Two smaller patches of this vegetation community co-occurs with White Box-Yellow Box-Blakely's Red
Gum Grassy Woodland and Derived Native Grassland within the subject site, and is characterised by a
canopy of Eucalyptus viminalis (Ribbon Gum). Ribbon Gum-Mountain Gum-Snow Gum Grassy
Forest/Woodland of the New England Tableland Bioregion is listed under the TSC Act as an
„Endangered Ecological Community‟. This community occurs on ridges or rises within the northerly
portion of the subject site (Figure 3), and is commonly found on basaltic substrate.
Ribbon Gum-Mountain Gum-Snow Gum Grassy Forest/Woodland of the New England Tableland Bioregion EEC
within the northerly portion of Lot 184. Photo: Liz Brown
The shrub and derived grassland vegetation within this community, is similar to that described above for
White Box-Yellow Box-Blakely's Red Gum Grassy Woodland and Derived Native Grassland, and is also
controlled by grazing pressure.
The derived grassland at the ground layer is dominated by Snow Grass, along with a mixture of native
grasses and scattered native herbs. It is in moderate condition due to disturbance by previous logging
practices, grazing and weed incursion of invasive grass and herb species as described above.
The patch of mapped vegetation to the east of the subject site (ELA 2009) was previously classified as
„Box-Gum Grassy Woodland‟, whereas the findings of the current survey suggest this community forms
part of this patch of Ribbon Gum-Mountain Gum-Snow Gum Grassy Forest/Woodland of the New
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England Tableland Bioregion (Figure 3).
3. Modified lands and dams
The remainder of the subject site is mapped as modified land comprising an access road, a residential
dwelling, four farm dams and ornamental landscape plantings (Figure 3), covering approximately 1.24
ha (7% of the site). These plantings are introduced and native trees, none of which support hollows.
This assessment considers that clearing of ornamental landscape plantings within the subject site would
not pose any significant habitat loss to the study area.
A previously cleared and more heavily grazed area exists immediately west of the existing residential
dwelling (Figure 3) within Lot 185. The area is dominated by weed species, and as such does not
represent derived grassland within the TEC White Box-Yellow Box-Blakely's Red Gum Grassy
Woodland and Derived Native Grassland mapped across the majority of the subject site.
Modified, grazed and weedy grassland adjacent to residential dwelling within Lot 185 Photo: Liz Brown
4.2 Habitat corridors
At a landscape scale, the remnant vegetation of the subject site does not form part of any mapped key
habitats or corridors within the region.
4.3 Koala habitat
Approximately one hectare of Ribbon Gum-Mountain Gum-Snow Gum Grassy Forest/Woodland of the
New England Tableland Bioregion EEC exists within Lot 184 of the subject site, which supports mature
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Ribbon Gum. Ribbon Gum is a Preferred Koala Food Tree (PKFT) listed under Schedule 2 of the State
Environmental Planning Policy (SEPP) 44 – Koala Habitat Protection.
No evidence of Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) usage of these trees was noted during the current
assessment, and no SEPP 44 mapping exists within the subject site.
4.4 Habitat assessment
The native vegetation of the subject site supports the following fauna habitat features:
Ribbon Gum Koala present as PKFT;
Clusters of basalt rocks as potential reptile habitat;
Small to medium sized farm dams;
Scattered small to medium logs on the ground (coarse woody debris); and
A seasonal nectar resource in parts of the overstorey canopy such as various eucalypts.
Left: Common Wallaroo on-site. Right: Clusters of basalt rocks in Lot 185. Photos: Liz Brown.
4.5 Condition c lasses
Remnant Box Gum grassy woodlands exist in three different states or condition classes, as defined in
advice given to the Minister for the Environment and Heritage from the Threatened Species Scientific
Committee (TSSC) on amendments to the list of threatened species under the Environment Protection
and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act), for the TEC White Box - Yellow Box - Blakely's
Red Gum Grassy Woodlands and Derived Native Grasslands.
Those three condition classes are as follows:
An overstorey of eucalypt trees exists, but there is no substantial native understorey.
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A native understorey exists, but the trees have been cleared.
Both a native understorey and an overstorey of eucalypts exist in conjunction (TSSC 2006).
Table 1 provides an estimation of the areas of different condition classes of remnant vegetation within
the subject site, which has been broken down into condition classes in accordance with the EPBC Act
Conservation Advice (TSSC 2006) for White Box - Yellow Box - Blakely's Red Gum Grassy Woodlands
and Derived Native Grasslands. Condition classes of remnant vegetation within the subject site are
also depicted in Figure 4 below.
Table 1: Area comparison between different vegetation condition classes within the subject site.
Condition class Definition Area (ha)
4 Both a native understorey and an overstorey of
eucalypts exist in conjunction 4.18
3 A native understorey exists, but the trees have been
cleared 14.14
2 An overstorey of eucalypt trees exist, but there is no
substantial native understorey; N/A
1 Modified (cleared and / or cultivated lands) 1.26
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Figure 4: Vegetation condition classes recorded within the subject site, Lots 184 and 185 DP 753282, Hunter Street, Glen Innes
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5 RELEVANT LEGISLATION AND POLICIES
5.1 Legislation
5.1.1 Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act)
The Commonwealth EPBC Act establishes a requirement for Australian Government environmental
assessment and approval of:
actions that are likely to have a significant impact on matters of national environmental
significance;
actions that are likely to have a significant impact on the environment on Commonwealth land;
actions taken on Commonwealth land that are likely to have a significant impact on the
environment anywhere; and
actions by the Commonwealth that are likely to have a significant impact on the environment
anywhere.
The matters of national environmental significance (commonly referred to as matters of NES) are:
World Heritage properties and National heritage places.
Wetlands of international importance (Ramsar wetlands).
Listed migratory species, threatened species and ecological communities.
Commonwealth marine areas.
Nuclear actions (including uranium mining).
The following TEC listed under the EPBC Act occurs within the subject site:
White Box-Yellow Box-Blakely's Red Gum Grassy Woodland and Derived Native Grassland
(approximately 17 ha).
Further survey (during December or January) has the potential to reveal the Federally „Vulnerable‟
species Austral Toadflax in areas supporting Kangaroo Grass within the subject site. The Federally
„Vulnerable‟ species Bluegrass also has the potential to be detected during these months, as both
these threatened species can occur in higher altitude sites on basalt geology and soils.
5.1.2 Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (EP&A Act)
The EP&A Act is the principal planning legislation in NSW. Part 3 of the EP&A Act sets the framework
for preparation of environmental planning instruments such as Local Environment Plans (LEPs).
Parts 3A, 4 and 5 of the EP&A Act outline the decision-making processes for assessment of proposed
development and activities. When deciding if a proposal should be approved, the consent/determining
authority (e.g. PMHC) must consider a range of environmental matters including maintenance of
biodiversity and the likely impact on threatened species, populations or ecological communities.
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The NSW Assessment of Significance (Seven-part test) is a statutory mechanism under Section 5A of
the EP&A Act for assessing whether a proposed development activity may have a significant impact
on threatened species, populations or ecological communities or their habitats as listed under the
Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 (TSC Act). The results of this test are used to determine if
a Species Impact Statement (SIS) is required for each species potentially occurring within the subject
site.
When a threatened species or community known to occur within the vicinity of a subject site is not
recorded during a survey, the presence of potential habitat for this species is used to determine the
need to undertake a Seven-part test. Where there is no potential habitat in the subject site for
threatened species or communities, there is unlikely to be any impact on these species or community
and therefore Seven-part tests are not required for these species.
Seven-part tests relevant to this proposal are not included in the scope of this project, which aims to
inform potential development via a Master Plan for the subject site. In the event a DA is lodged for
residential development of the site, assessment/s of significance under Section 5A of the EP&A Act
would then be undertaken for the threatened vegetation communities and/or species recorded within
the subject site.
5.1.3 Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 (TSC Act)
The TSC Act (and amendments in 2002 and 2005) identifies threatened species, communities and
populations. The TSC Act outlines the assessment process for proposed development that is likely to
have a significant effect on threatened species. Council is the primary agency for determining whether
a significant effect is likely to occur, irrespective of whether a recovery plan exists. Council has a
responsibility to ensure that it makes decisions relating to threatened species, communities and
populations, on the best available information.
The following EECs listed under the TSC Act occur within the subject site:
1. Ribbon Gum-Mountain Gum-Snow Gum Grassy Forest/Woodland of the New England
Tableland Bioregion (approximately 1.0 ha).
2. White Box Yellow Box Blakely’s Red Gum Woodland (approximately 17 ha).
5.1.4 Native Vegetation Act 2003 No 103 (NV Act)
The objects of this Act include the protection of “native vegetation of high conservation value having
regard to its contribution to such matters as water quality, biodiversity, or the prevention of salinity or
land degradation”. Within Clause 7 of this Act, the definition of clearing native vegetation (relevant to
the subject site) is as follows:
“cutting down, felling, thinning, logging or removing native vegetation”.
The Minister is the consent authority for clearing native vegetation, and for any DA made under that
Act for any clearing that requires development consent.
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Under Part 1, Section 5 of the NV Act, land excluded from operation of this Act includes „R1 General
Residential‟ zones such as the subject site, as follows:
(c) the land described or referred to in Part 3 of Schedule 1 (Urban areas).
5.2 Local Planning Instruments
5.2.1 Glen Innes Severn Local Environmental Plan 2012
The Glen Innes Severn (GIS) Local Environmental Plan 2012 (GIS LEP, 2012) provides the statutory
framework for land use management in the GIS LGA, subject to overriding planning controls in SEPPs
and other State legislation.
The subject site is zoned as „R1- General Residential‟ under the GIS LEP (Figures 2 and 3).
GISC requires that a series of written guidelines and associated mapping addressing the ecological
features of the subject site. These guidelines will ensure that the Hunter Street Urban Release Area is
developed in an ecologically sensitive manner.
Under the Section 6, Clause 6.3 (c) of the GIS LEP 2012, a DCP must provide for “an overall
landscaping strategy for the protection and enhancement of riparian areas and remnant vegetation,
including visually prominent locations, and detailed landscaping requirements for both the public and
private domain” (GIS LEP, 2012).
As such, a development design which is sensitive to any remnant vegetation and / or habitat features
within the subject site will be required as part of any future development associated with this land.
The remnant vegetation within the subject site constitutes the following communities:
3. TSC ACT-listed EEC Ribbon Gum-Mountain Gum-Snow Gum Grassy Forest/Woodland of the
New England Tableland Bioregion (approximately 1.0 ha).
4. EPBC Act-listed TEC White Box-Yellow Box-Blakely's Red Gum Grassy Woodland and
Derived Native Grassland and/or TSC Act-listed EEC White Box Yellow Box Blakely’s Red
Gum Woodland (approximately 17 ha).
5.2.2 Glen Innes Severn Council Development Control Plan 2008
The Glen Innes Severn Council (GISC) Development Control Plan (DCP) 2008 supports the provisions
of GIS LEP 2012 and provides a set of development objectives and provisions.
5.3 State Planning Instruments
5.3.1 SEPP 44: Koala Habitat Protection
This Policy aims to encourage the proper conservation and management of areas of natural vegetation
that provide habitat for koalas to ensure a permanent free-living population over their present range
and reverse the current trend of koala population decline.
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SEPP 44 applies to the „Severn‟ LGA, and therefore to the subject site.
No current Koala Plan of Management is in place which covers the subject site.
5.4 Key Threatening Processes
5.4.1 Clearing of native vegetation
The proposed actions would constitute "clearing of native vegetation" as a Key Threatening Process
(KTP) as defined in the Final Determination of the Scientific Committee on Schedule 3 of the TSC Act.
The definition of clearing under this KTP is as follows:
“… the destruction of a sufficient proportion of one or more strata (layers) within a stand or stands of
native vegetation so as to result in the loss, or long term modification, of the structure, composition and
ecological function of stand or stands. The definition of clearing does not preclude management
activities to control exotic species, or Australian species growing outside their natural geographic
range”.
The Scientific Committee has found that:
“1. Clearing of native vegetation is recognised as a major factor contributing to loss of biological
diversity.
2. Land Clearance is listed as a KTP under the Commonwealth's EPBC Act.
3. In NSW since 1788 at least 61% of the original native vegetation has been cleared, thinned or
substantially or significantly disturbed (Environment Protection Authority, 1997). The proportion of
area cleared varies between region and community type (Native Vegetation Advisory Council, 1999)
and in some cases has exceeded 90% [e.g. South East Grassy Forests (Keith & Bedward 1999)].
4. Clearing of any area of native vegetation, including areas less than two hectares in extent, may
have significant impacts on biological diversity”.
5.4.2 Invasion of native plant communities by exotic perennial grasses
Invasion of native plant communities by exotic perennial grasses is a KTP relevant to this proposal, as
defined in the Final Determination of the Scientific Committee on Schedule 3 of the TSC Act.
The definition of exotic perennial grasses under this KTP is as follows “...those that are not native to
NSW and have a life-span of more than one growing season”.
This definition would include the spread of established species such as Dactylis glomerata
(Cocksfoot), Eragrostis curvula (African Lovegrass), E. lugens, Festuca pratensis (Meadow Fescue)
and Paspalum dilatatum (Paspalum) within the native vegetation of the subject site, which have the
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potential to further adversely affect native plant communities and species.
5.4.3 Removal of dead wood and dead trees
This KTP is relevant to this proposal, as defined in the Final Determination of the Scientific Committee
on Schedule 3 of the TSC Act. Small and moderate sized logs exist within the native vegetation of the
subject site.
This KTP states “the removal of dead wood and dead trees includes: the removal of forest and
woodland waste left after timber harvesting, collecting fallen timber for firewood, burning on site,
mulching on site, the removal of fallen branches and litter as general tidying up, and the removal of
standing dead trees”.
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6 POTENTIAL IMPACTS
Threatened vegetation communities
The current site assessment recorded the following threatened vegetation communities within the
subject site:
NSW-listed EEC Ribbon Gum-Mountain Gum-Snow Gum Grassy Forest/Woodland of the New
England Tableland Bioregion (approximately 1.0 ha or 5% of the site).
Federally-listed TEC White Box-Yellow Box-Blakely's Red Gum Grassy Woodland and
Derived Native Grassland (approximately 1.17 ha within the privately-owned road reserve, and
17.3 ha across the subject site as a whole, or 88% of the site).
Therefore, approximately 18 ha (93% of the site) of threatened vegetation communities have the
potential to be affected via clearing or degrading processes associated with future residential
development. Any loss of this EEC and/or TEC as part of the future residential development would
require further negotiation with OEH and/or DoE.
Potential threatened flora species
The timing of the survey (mid-June) was not ideal, and more than one additional threatened flora
species may be present that are not visible during early winter. Further survey (during December or
January) has the potential to reveal the Federally „Vulnerable‟ species Thesium australe (Austral
Toadflax) in areas supporting Themeda australis (Kangaroo Grass) within the subject site. The
Federally „Vulnerable‟ species Dichanthium setosum (Bluegrass) also has the potential to be detected
during these months, as both these threatened species can occur in higher altitude sites on basalt
geology and soils.
Koala habitat
A portion of native vegetation within the subject site (approximately one hectare) supports preferred
Koala food trees (Ribbon Gum). Removal of Koala food trees would reduce potential availability of
habitat resources for this species.
Tree health
In the event of future residential development of this site, any retained trees and/or stands of treed
vegetation must retain a suitable Tree Protection Zone (TPZ) under the AS 4970-2009 specifications
(Committee EV-018, Aboriculture, 2009).
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Key Threatening Processes (KTPs)
Clearing of native vegetation (including EEC and/or TEC), increased grassy weed invasion and
removal of dead wood and/or trees are relevant KTPs associated with the current proposal.
Loss of native fauna
The potential for increased numbers of domestic cats and dogs as a result of the proposal may impact
on local fauna (e.g. ground-dwelling fauna) which utilise this native vegetation. Control mechanisms
should be a consideration for any new residential development within the GISC LGA (e.g. full
perimeter fencing).
Rock clusters as habitat
Removal of areas containing high levels of basalt rocks within the subject site has the potential to
reduce available habitat for ground-dwelling mammals, reptiles and/or amphibians in the locality.
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7 RECOMMENDATIONS
The issue of dealing with EECs and/or TECs throughout the GISC LGA on a site-by-site basis make it
difficult to address the broader issue of how to conserve threatened vegetation communities across the
Northern Tablelands. Fragmentation and loss of threatened native vegetation, species and habitat over
time throughout the Tablelands results in poor conservation outcomes at a local, regional and national
scale, and sets poor precedents for vegetation conservation within the Glen Innes LGA.
To help resolve this issue, a regional assessment of threatened vegetation throughout key areas likely
to experience future development pressure within the Glen Innes LGA needs to be conducted by local
and state government. Part of this assessment may be funded via the Department of Planning‟s (DoP)
Planning Reform Fund, upon application by GISC. This assessment should ideally define „high‟,
medium‟ and „low‟ conservation impact areas, and focus on key development areas of the LGA (e.g.
Glen Innes, Glencoe and Emmaville). This assessment would allow future re-zoning of high
conservation values within these areas (e.g. patches of remnant vegetation, habitat values and/or
corridors) to „E3 Environmental Management‟ zones under the GIS LEP 2012. A similar approach has
been undertaken in the 2012 Biodiversity Strategy for Uralla Shire Council.
This assessment would allow independent consideration of future residential development areas over
time. This landscape approach to vegetation management would be more cost-effective for Council in
the long-term, and would provide a robust and scientific framework for developers to use as a tool when
undertaking residential land developments.
A range of available options exist which would enable future residential development of the subject site,
including:
1. Negotiation of a strategy between GISC, OEH and/or DoE regarding an offset agreement to
address any potential clearing of EEC and/or TEC within the subject site. This offset area may
constitute management of an alternative area of native vegetation or land as defined by GISC
(e.g. the local GISC-owned quarry, local EEC and/or TEC native vegetation). In the event of
developing an offset agreement, a Vegetation Management Plan (VMP) would be required to
address issues such as revegetation, weed control works and improvement of the condition of
any offset vegetation. Any offset agreement is likely to include a nominal fee dedicated to GISC
by the site developer for ongoing vegetation management costs.
2. Developing covenants for individual residential lots within any future residential development
plan for the subject site. These covenants would require clear restrictions to be placed upon
landowners in terms of management of any threatened native vegetation retained within Lots,
and would travel with the sale of the land in perpetuity.
3. Development of a swale-edged (not curb and gutter) road reserve which incorporates a
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significant percentage of the treed vegetation within the subject site (Figure 4). This option is
likely to include a Section 94 Contribution (s94) towards provision or improvement of amenities
or services under the EP&A Act. These monetary contributions would be dedicated to GISC
and levied on developers at the DA stage of a development to help pay for ongoing vegetation
management costs associated with community facilities and/or infrastructure such as open
space.
4. Developing a „community title‟ lot in order to retain biodiversity values within the subject site.
The following measures are recommended to be included as part of the subject site design, in order to
retain biodiversity values and protect adjacent vegetation and potential habitat.
Any building envelopes should be placed well outside the remnant treed vegetation stands
(Figure 4), therefore restricting the impact upon native canopy.
Mature scattered trees should be retained within the subdivision layout.
Diagnostic species from locally mapped native vegetation (i.e. endemic „New England‟ tree
species) should be selected for landscaping and plantings within any future residential
development plan for the subject site, rather than introduced tree species (e.g. Poplars, Elms).
An additional, detailed pre-clearing survey by a qualified ecologist may be required, once a final
proposal footprint is defined for the subject site, in order to mark out any clearing and EEC / TEC
boundaries, as well as define any retained ecological features within the site (e.g. trees, stands of trees,
areas of basalt rocks). Any further site survey should be undertaken in an appropriate season to detect
potential threatened flora species such as Austral Toadflax and/or Bluegrass (December to January).
The report associated with this survey should clearly define limits to clearing, using materials such as
temporary plastic fencing, star pickets and fluorescent tape.
Best practice hygiene and soil management protocols during any future construction works are
recommended to prevent introduction of any weed seeds and propagules to the subject site. These
protocols would include:
Off-site wash-down of all machinery and equipment prior to and after site works.
Installation of sediment retention fencing to protect adjoining down-slope vegetation from the
effects of soil run-off during storm events.
No stockpiling of soil or equipment around the bases of any trees to be retained (e.g. within any
TPZs).
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8 VEGETATION MANAGEMENT GUIDELINES
The following guidelines provide information to aid decision makers in determining how to assist
recovery of the listed ecological communities within the subject site, and examples of activities that may
potentially have a significant impact on these communities and therefore require further environmental
assessment and/or management via a Vegetation Management Plan (VMP).
As set out in Section 14.1 of the National Recovery Plan for White Box - Yellow Box - Blakely’s Red
Gum Grassy Woodland and Derived Native Grassland, the following management practices aim to
maintain and/or improve of threatened vegetation within the subject site.
Development activities which have the potential to result in changes to conditions within, or adjacent to,
an area of threatened native vegetation may have a significant impact on the listed ecological
communities within the subject site. Such developments would require referral for environmental
assessment and approval under the EPBC Act (DECCW 2010).
Many of the impacts associated with development activities can be reduced if they are considered at the
planning stage. The management practices outlined below will further facilitate the improvement of
degraded areas of threatened vegetation within the subject site.
Maintain or improve soil conditions
Avoid physical disturbance (e.g. ripping, excavation).
Avoid soil compaction from vehicles / machinery or stock camps.
Maintain or improve drainage conditions / existing hydrological regime
Do not direct run-off (from roads, urban developments, contour banks) into remnant areas.
Do not divert existing run-on from remnant areas (e.g. diversion drains).
Control exotic plant introductions
Prevent the introduction of exotic pasture species (i.e. pasture improvement).
Prevent the introduction of non-indigenous native species.
Ensure machinery hygiene protocols are implemented to prevent the spread of weeds.
Prevent the stockpiling of topsoil or overburden within remnant areas.
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Implement a weed control program to control weed invasion, wildlings from adjacent tree
plantings and garden escapees. Implement a buffer zone to help control weed introductions
and protect remnant from herbicide drift.
Avoid inappropriate native tree planting
Do not plant indigenous native trees/shrubs in high quality and/or small derived grassland sites.
Use high quality seed. Where practical this should be of local provenance, but high quality non-
local seed should be used in preference to low quality local seed.
Plant trees and shrubs at natural grassy woodland densities.
Maintain or improve connectivity
Ensure existing links are maintained between threatened vegetation remnants and/or between
threatened vegetation and other native vegetation types, for example grassland, woodland,
forest, riparian and/or wetlands.
Expand sites to increase viability where possible.
Avoid excessive shading
Prevent changes which will result in prolonged shading (e.g. dense tree plantings).
Maintain or improve structural diversity
Prevent the removal of regenerating trees and shrubs within remnant patches.
Prevent firewood collection or the “tidying up” of fallen dead timber and leaf litter.
Prevent rock removal.
Prevent the removal of standing dead hollow trees.
Maintain complete structure of woodland without allowing a full canopy to develop, shading out
understorey species.
Ensure adequate buffers are retained
Protect areas of Box-Gum Grassy Woodland from adjacent land use (e.g. urban and
agricultural development) that may potentially impact on its integrity.
Minimise chemical use
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Weed control should use spot-spraying, basal spraying, stem injection or cut and paint
application methods.
Avoid overspray and minimise impacts on non-target species.
Monitor treated areas to ensure weeds do not establish on any resultant bare patches.
Implement strategic grazing
Ensure remnant areas are rested at appropriate times, for example when perennial native
ground cover species are flowering and seeding.
Limit grazing during drought periods.
Grazing levels should not be increased above historical levels. Where a site has never before
been grazed by livestock, an alternative (e.g. fire, no intervention) should be used for
management.
Maintain a minimum of 80% ground cover at all times and biomass at an appropriate level to
the region and season. Monitor outcomes to determine effectiveness and adapt management
efforts.
Implement appropriate burning regimes
Minimum fire intervals suggested for threatened vegetation remnants should be adhered to
(e.g. five years, with a maximum interval of 40 years). Fire regimes implemented should have
regard to the floristic composition and condition of the remnant to be burned. For example,
remnants dominated by Snow Grass and Kangaroo Grass were found to regenerate well with
autumn burning cycles approximately every 5-8 years, where this had historically occurred
(Prober et al. 2008). Such high frequency burning cycles may negatively impact other native
species, however, and further research is required before burning regimes can be explicitly
determined.
Any burning should be applied to remnants in mosaics (i.e. burning small areas at staggered
intervals) to allow survival of soil and ground fauna (including invertebrates, amphibians and
reptiles) and promote diversity in the states of the ecological community.
Sites where burning is practiced should retain unburnt areas, to provide refuges for species of
fauna and flora that may be intolerant of fire.
Timing of burns must be considered in relation to the flowering and seeding of native and exotic
species. Where possible burns should be carried out after natives have seeded but before
weeds flower and seed.
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Be aware that some weed species increase with burning.
Avoid inappropriate mowing / slashing
If mowing/slashing is used to reduce biomass within remnants and increase species diversity, it
should be carried out sporadically, and in a mosaic pattern to allow for the retention of refuges
for tall tussock grasses, regenerating overstorey and groundlayer dependent fauna as well as
habitat features (such as fallen logs, litter). The height of the slasher must be sufficient to
maintain enough cover to offer native fauna species protection.
Mow/slash at appropriate times (e.g. late summer or autumn after native ground layer plants
have seeded and become dormant).
On-road sides, only mow areas essential for visibility and safety, in most cases this will be to
the table drain. Mow from clean areas out.
Ensure machinery hygiene protocols are implemented to avoid the spread of weeds.
Control feral animals
Protect native fauna and flora populations by controlling feral predators; foxes, dogs, cats, pigs
within and/or adjacent to remnant areas.
Do not push fallen or felled timber into stacks or windrows within remnant areas as these form
harbours for foxes, cats and rabbits.
If ripping is used to control rabbits within remnants ensure machinery hygiene procedures are
adhered to, and ripped areas are monitored to prevent weed infestations.
Protect native flora by controlling feral grazers (e.g. rabbits, goats and deer) within remnants.
Erecting appropriate fencing (e.g. fencing of stock dams, individual guards for targeted
threatened plants) may help.
Exclude commercial apiary sites
Do not permit commercial apiarists to place bee hives within the area. Landholders should not
allow the placement of bees on their property within three km of a remnant patch of vegetation
(DECCW 2010).
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REFERENCES
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Committee EV-018, Aboriculture. (2009). Australian Standards – Protection of trees on development
sites (AS 4970-2009). Report to Council of Standards Australia.
Danks, A. (1997). Conservation of the Noisy Scrub-bird: a review of 35 years of research and management. Pacific Conservation Biology. 3:341-349. Danks, A., A.A. Burbidge, A.H. Burbidge & G.T. Smith (1996). Noisy Scrub-bird Recovery Plan. Wildlife Management Recovery Plan. 12. [Online]. WA Dept Conservation & Land Management, Perth. Available from: http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/publications/recovery/noisy-scrub-bird/index.html. Debus, S.J.S., and Czechura, G.V. (1988). The red goshawk Erythrotriorchis radiatus: a review. Australian Bird Watcher. 12, 175-199. Debus, S.J.S. (1991). An annotated list of NSW records of the Red Goshawk. Australian Birds. 24:72-89. Debus, S.J.S. (1993) The status of the Red Goshawk (Erythrotriorchis radiatus) in New South Wales. Olsen, P., ed. Australasian Raptor Studies. Page(s) 182-191. ARA-RAOU, Melbourne. del Hoyo, J., A. Elliot & J. Sargatal (1992). Ostrich to Ducks. In: Handbook of the Birds of the World. 1. Spain: Lynx Edicions. Department of Environment and Climate Change (DECC) (2007) Threatened species assessment guidelines DECC, Heathcote. Department of the Environment and Heritage (DEH) (2005). Background Paper to the Wildlife
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Conservation Plan for Migratory Shorebirds. [Online]. Canberra, ACT: Department of the Environment and Heritage. Available from: http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/migratory/publications/pubs/shorebird-plan-background.pdf Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water (DECCW) 2010. National Recovery Plan for White Box - Yellow Box - Blakely’s Red Gum Grassy Woodland and Derived Native Grassland. Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water NSW, Sydney. Eby, P. (1998). An analysis of diet specialisation in frugivorous Pteropus poliocephalus in Australian subtropical rainforest. Australian Journal of Ecology 23:443-456.
Eco Logical Australia (ELA) 2009. Upgrade of Vegetation Mapping in the Border Rivers-Gwydir
Catchment - A Product for the High Conservation Value Project. Prepared for the Department of
Environment and Climate Change.
Edgar, R. & C. Belcher (2008). Spotted-tailed Quoll, Dasyurus maculatus (Kerr, 1792). In: Strahan, R., ed. The Mammals of Australia. Page(s) 61-62. Carlton, Victoria: Reed New Holland. Environment Australia (2000). Threat Abatement Plan for Predation by Feral Cats. [Online]. Biodiversity Group, Environment Australia. Available from: http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/publications/tap/cats08.html Franklin, D., P. Menkhorst & J. Robinson (1989). Ecology of the Regent Honeyeater Xanthomyza phrygia. Emu. 89:140--154.
Frith, H.J. (1982). Pigeons and Doves of Australia. Melbourne: Rigby.
Garnett, S. (Ed) (1993). Threatened and extinct birds of Australia. Royal Australian Ornithologists Union and Australian NPWS, Royal Australian Ornithologists Union Report, No. 82.
Geering, D. & K. French (1998). Breeding biology of the Regent Honeyeater Xanthomyza phrygia in the Capertee Valley, New South Wales. Emu. 98:104--116.
Glen lnnes Development Control Plan (GI DCP) 2008. Glen Innes Severn Council (GISC).
Glen Innes Severn Local Environmental Plan (GIS LEP) 2012. Glen Innes Severn Council (GISC).
Green, R.H. & T.J. Scarborough (1990). The spotted-tailed quoll Dasyurus maculatus (Dasyuridae, Marsupialia) in Tasmania. The Tasmanian Naturalist. 100:1-15.
Hancock, J.A., J.A. Kushlan & M.P. Kahl (1992). Storks, Ibises and Spoonbills of the world. London, Academic Press. Higgins, P.J., J.M. Peter & W.K. Steele (Eds) (2001) Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic Birds. Volume Five - Tyrant-flycatchers to Chats. Melbourne: Oxford University Press. Higgins, P.J. & S.J.J.F. Davies, eds (1996). Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic Birds. Volume Three - Snipe to Pigeons. Melbourne, Victoria: Oxford University Press.
Kemper, C.M. & B.A. Wilson 2008 New Holland Mouse, Pseudomys novaehollandiae. In: Van Dyck, S. & R. Strahan, eds. The Mammals of Australia. Third Edition. Page(s) 643-644. Sydney, New South Wales, Australia: Reed New Holland.
Ley, A. & M.B. Williams (1992). The conservation status of the Regent Honeyeater near Armidale, New South Wales. Australian Bird Watcher. 14:277--281. Longmore, N.W. (1976). Squatter Pigeon near West Wyalong, New South Wales. Australian Birds. 11:18. Native Fish Australia (2007). Maccullochella peelii (Murray Cod) habitat description. Available at:
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http://www.nativefish.asn.au/cod.html Mac Nally, R., T. Soderquist & C. Tzaros (2000). The conservation value of mesic gullies in dry forest landscapes: avian assemblages in the box-ironbark ecosystem of southern Australia. Biological Conservation. 93:293-302. Mac Nally, R. & G. Horrocks (2000). Landscape-scale conservation of an endangered migrant: the Swift Parrot (Lathamus discolor) in its winter range. Biological Conservation. 92:335-343. Mansergh, I.M. (1984). The status, distribution and abundance of Dasyurus maculatus (Tiger Quoll) in Australia with particular reference to Victoria. Australian Zoologist. 21:109-122. Marchant, S. & P.J. Higgins (1990). Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic Birds. Volume One - Ratites to Ducks. Melbourne, Victoria: Oxford University Press Marchant and Higgins (1993) Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic Birds. Oxford University Press, Melbourne. Mason, R.J. (1997). Habitat use and population size of the long-nosed potoroo, Potorous tridactylus (Marsupialia: Potoroidae) in a coastal reserve, north-eastern New South Wales. Australian Mammalogy. 20:35-42. McKilligan, N. (2005). Herons, Egrets and Bitterns: Their Biology and Conservation in Australia. Melbourne: CSIRO Publishing. Menkhorst, P.W. (1997) Regent Honeyeater Recovery Plan 1994-1998. Department of Natural Resources and Environment, Melbourne. Morcombe, M. (2004) Field Guide to Australian Birds, Steve Parish Publishing. NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (1995) Endangered Fauna of Western New South Wales. NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, Hurstville. NSW Scientific Committee (2005). Booroolong Frog - endangered species listing - final determination. Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH) 2014. Threatened species profile search. Available at: http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/threatenedSpeciesApp/ Oliver, D., A. Ley, H. Ford & B. Williams (1999) Habitat of the Regent Honeyeater Xanthomyza phrygia and the value of the Bundarra-Barraba region for the conservation of avifauna. Pacific Conservation Biology. 5:224--239. Pizzey, G. & Knight, F. (1997). Field guide to the birds of Australia. HarperCollins. Australia.
Prober SM, Lunt ID and Thiele KR (2008) Effects of fire frequency and mowing on a temperate,
derived grassland soil in south-eastern Australia. International Journal of Wildland Fire 17:586-594
Seebeck, J.H. (1995). Long-footed potoroo. In: Menkhorst, P, ed. Mammals of Victoria. Page(s) 129-
131. Melbourne, Oxford UP.
Simpson, K. & Day, N. (1999). Field Guide to the birds of Australia. Simpson & Day, sixth edition,
Penguin Books Australia Ltd.
Smith, G.T. (1996). Habitat use and management for the Noisy Scrub-bird Atrichornis clamosus. Bird Conservation International. 6:33-48. Smith, G.T. & F.N. Robinson (1976). The Noisy Scrub-bird: an interim report. Emu. 76:37-42.
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Threatened Species Scientific Committee (TSSC) 2006. Commonwealth Listing Advice on White Box-Yellow Box-Blakely's Red Gum Grassy Woodland and Derived Native Grassland.
Watt, A. (1993). Conservation status and draft management plan for Dasyurus maculatus and D. hallucatus in southern Queensland. Queensland: Department of Environment and Heritage. Webster, R. & P. Menkhorst (1992) The Regent Honeyeater Xanthomyza phrygia: population status and ecology in Victoria and New South Wales. Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research Technical Report Series Number 126. Dept of Conservation & Environment, Melbourne. Welbon, C. (1993). The diet, prey handling behaviour and habitat of the Noisy Scrub-bird (Atrichornis clamosus). Hons. Thesis. Honours thesis, Murdoch University.
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APPENDIX A: Box Gum Woodland Criteria
White Box Yellow Box Blakely's Red Gum Woodland is found on relatively fertile soils on the
tablelands and western slopes of NSW and generally occurs between the 400 and 800 mm isohyets
extending from the western slopes, at an altitude of c. 170m to c. 1200 m, on the Northern Tablelands
(Beadle 1981). The community occurs within the NSW North Coast, New England Tableland,
Nandewar, Brigalow Belt South, Sydney Basin, South Eastern Highlands and NSW South Western
Slopes Bioregions.
White Box Yellow Box Blakely's Red Gum Woodland includes those woodlands where the
characteristic tree species include one or more of the following species in varying proportions
and combinations - Eucalyptus albens (White Box), Eucalyptus melliodora (Yellow Box) or Eucalyptus
blakelyi (Blakely's Red Gum). Grass and herbaceous species generally characterise the ground layer.
In some locations, the tree overstorey may be absent as a result of past clearing or thinning and at
these locations only an understorey may be present. Shrubs are generally sparse or absent, though
they may be locally common.
The trees may occur as pure stands, mixtures of the three species or in mixtures with other trees,
including wattles. Commonly co-occurring eucalypts include Apple Box (E. bridgesiana), Red Box (E.
polyanthemos), Candlebark (E. rubida), Snow Gum (E. pauciflora), Argyle Apple (E. cinerea), Brittle
Gum (E. mannifera), Red Stringybark (E. macrorhyncha), Grey Box (E. microcarpa), Cabbage Gum
(E. amplifolia) and others.
Woodlands with Eucalyptus albens are most common on the undulating country of the slopes region
while Eucalyptus blakelyi and Eucalyptus melliodora predominate in grassy woodlands on the
tablelands. Drier woodland areas dominated by Eucalyptus albens often form mosaics with
areas dominated by Eucalyptus blakelyi and Eucalyptus melliodora occurring in more moist
situations, while areas subject to waterlogging may be treeless. E microcarpa is often found in
association with E. melliodora and E. albens on the south western slopes. Woodlands including
Eucalyptus crebra, Eucalyptus dawsonii and Eucalyptus moluccana (and intergrades with Eucalyptus
albens), for example in the Merriwa plateau, Goulburn River National Park and western Wollemi
National Park, are also included. Intergrades between Eucalyptus blakelyi and Eucalyptus tereticornis
may also occur here.
Within White Box Yellow Box Blakely's Red Gum Woodland, species such as Rostellularia
adscendens, Chloris ventricosa, Austrodanthonia racemosa, Brunoniella australis, Cymbopogon
refractus, Swainsona galegifolia, Notelaea microcarpa, Stackhousia viminea, Olearia elliptica,
Jasminum suavissimum, Plantago gaudichaudii, Dichanthium sericeum, Plantago debilis and
Wahlenbergia communis are generally more restricted to more northern areas (eg. Prober 1996).
Some other species in White Box Yellow Box Blakely's Red Gum Woodland were generally restricted
to southern areas.
These include Gonocarpus elatus, Austrostipa blackii, Aristida behriana, Bracteantha viscosa,
Austrodanthonia auriculata and Austrostipa nodosa (Prober 1996). The understorey in intact sites is
characterised by native grasses and a high diversity of herbs; the most commonly encountered include
Kangaroo Grass (Themeda australis) Poa Tussock (Poa sieberiana), wallaby grasses
(Austrodanthonia spp.), spear-grasses (Austrostipa spp.), Common Everlasting (Chrysocephalum
apiculatum), Scrambled Eggs (Goodenia pinnatifida), Small St John's Wort (Hypericum gramineum),
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Narrow-leafed New Holland Daisy (Vittadinia muelleri) and blue-bells (Wahlenbergia spp.).
Shrubs are generally sparse or absent, though they may be locally common. Remnants generally
occur on fertile lower parts of the landscape where resources such as water and nutrients are
abundant. Disturbed remnants are considered to form part of the community, including where the
vegetation would respond to assisted natural regeneration. White Box Yellow Box Blakely's Red Gum
Woodland includes vegetation described as Eucalyptus albens alliance and E. melliodora / E. blakelyi
alliance in Beadle (1981), the Eucalyptus albens alliance in Moore (1953a, b), the grassy white box
woodlands of Prober and Thiele (1993, 1995) and Prober (1996) and the Grassy white box woodland
of the Commonwealth Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. In the
southern tablelands and parts of the southwest slopes, White Box Yellow Box Blakely's Red Gum
Woodland is described in Thomas et al. (2000).
Related communities are the Eucalyptus microcarpa, Eucalyptus pilligaensis Grey Box/ Eucalyptus
populnea Poplar Box communities of the western slopes and plains and the Eucalyptus moluccana,
Grey Box, communities of the Clarence, lower Hunter Valley and Western Sydney. These are not
covered by this Determination. Similarly the natural temperate grasslands and the Eucalyptus
pauciflora grassy woodlands of the cooler parts of the southern tablelands are not covered by this
Determination.
The understorey may be highly modified by grazing history and disturbance. A number of native
species appear not to tolerate grazing by domestic stock and are confined to the least disturbed
remnants (Dianella revoluta, Diuris dendrobioides, Microseris lanceolata, Pimelea curviflora,
Templetonia stenophylla (Prober & Thiele 1995). Dominant pasture species typically change from
Themeda australis, Austrostipa aristiglumis and Poa spp. to Austrostipa falcata, Austrodanthonia spp.
and Bothriochloa macra as grazing intensity increases (Moore 1953a). This may reflect differences in
palatability of these species and their ability to tolerate grazing pressure. Light grazing and burning
may also be a problem and lead to Aristida ramosa dominance (Lodge & Whalley 1989).
Disturbed remnants are still considered to form part of the community including remnants
where the vegetation, either understorey, overstorey or both, would, under appropriate
management, respond to assisted natural regeneration, such as where the natural soil and
associated seed bank is still at least partially intact.
Remnant Box-Gum Woodland can occur in a range of conditions, from almost pristine to highly
modified. The importance of a particular Box-Gum Woodland remnant to the maintenance and
recovery of this EEC in a local region needs to be considered in the context of the extent and condition
of Box- Gum Woodland in the local region.
Where the Box-Gum Woodland remnant is in less than pristine condition it is still considered part of the
EEC as long as the site has at least part of its natural soil and seedbank intact, so that under
appropriate management it would respond to assisted natural regeneration. Therefore, the Box-Gum
Woodland EEC can include the following conditions,
• Trees present as a canopy with a non-native ground-layer;
• Characteristic tree species absent as a result of past clearing or thinning and only other tree
species and groundlayer present; and
• Overstorey absent as a result of past clearing or thinning and only a ground-layer present.
For isolated Box-Gum Woodland trees to be considered part of the EEC, it must be considered that
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the site, under appropriate management, would respond to assisted natural regeneration. The
community is poorly represented in conservation reserves. There are small occurrences of White Box
Yellow Box Blakely's Red Gum Woodland in Border Ranges National Park, Goobang National Park,
Goulburn River National Park, Manobalai Nature Reserve, Mt Kaputar National Park, Oxley Wild
Rivers National Park, Queanbeyan Nature Reserve, Towari National Park, Warrumbungle National
Park, Wingen Maid Nature Reserve and Wollemi National Park. The community also occurs in the
following State Conservation Areas, Copeton State Conservation Area, Lake Glenbawn State
Conservation Area and Lake Keepit State Conservation Area.
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APPENDIX B: Flora species list recorded within the study area, Glen Innes (12/6/2014).
This species list was recorded within Lots 184 and 185 DP 753282, Hunter Street, Glen Innes, and the
adjoining native vegetation immediately north and east of the subject site. This list does not include
the tree species used as landscape plantings within these Lots.
Species Family Exotic Common Name
Acaena sp. ROSACEAE
Bidgy Widgee
Acetosella vulgaris PLOYGONACEAE Yes Sheep Sorrel
Ammobium alatum ASTERACEAE Anagallis arvensis MYRSINACEAE Yes Scarlet Pimpernel
Aristida personata POACEAE
Purple Wire-grass
Asperula conferta RUBIACEAE
Common Woodruff
Bothriochloa macra POACEAE
Red-leg Grass
Callitris glaucophylla CUPRESSACEAE Planted White Cypress Pine
Chloris truncata POACEAE
Windmill Grass
Cirsium vulgare ASTERACEAE Yes Spear Thistle
Convolvulus graminetinus CONVOLVULACEAE Crataegus monogyna MALACEAE Yes Hawthorn
Chrysocephalum apiculatum ASTERACEAE
Common Everlasting
Cymbonotus lawsonianus ASTERACEAE
Bear's-ear
Dactylis glomerata POACEAE Yes Cocksfoot
Desmodium varians FABACEAE - FABOIDEAE
Slender Tick-trefoil
Dichanthium sericeum subsp. sericeum POACEAE
Queensland Bluegrass
Dichondra repens CONVOLVULACEAE
Kidney Weed
Dichondra sp. A sensu Harden (1992) CONVOLVULACEAE Einadia trigonos CHENOPODIACEAE
Fishweed
Epilobium billardierianum subsp. cinereum ONAGRACEAE Eragrostis curvula POACEAE Yes African Lovegrass
Eragrostis lugens POACEAE Yes Eucalyptus blakelyi MYRTACEAE
Blakely's Red Gum
Eucalyptus melliodora MYRTACEAE
Yellow Box
Eucalyptus viminalis MYRTACEAE
Ribbon Gum
Festuca pratensis POACEAE Yes Meadow Fescue
Gamochaeta sp. ASTERACEAE Yes Cudweed
Geranium solanderi GERANIACEAE
Native Geranium
Glycine tabacina FABACEAE - FABOIDEAE
Hydrocotyle laxiflora APIACEAE
Stinking Pennywort
Hypochaeris radicata ASTERACEAE Yes Flatweed
Leucanthemum vulgare ASTERACEAE Yes Ox-eye Daisy
Leucochrysum albicans subsp. albicans ASTERACEAE Ligustrum sinense OLEACEAE Yes Small-leaved Privet
Marrubium vulgare LAMIACEAE Yes White Horehound
Microlaena stipoides var. stipoides POACEAE
Weeping Grass
Oxalis sp. OXALIDACEAE Yes Paspalum dilatatum POACEAE Yes Paspalum
Pennisetum alopecuroides POACEAE
Swamp Foxtail
Pimelea curviflora var. divergens THYMELAEACEAE
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Species Family Exotic Common Name
Pimelea linifolia subsp. linifolia THYMELAEACEAE Plantago lanceolata PLANTAGINACEAE Yes Plantain
Poa sieberiana var. sieberiana POACEAE
Snow Grass
Pyracantha angustifolia MALACEAE Yes Orange Firethorn
Rhodanthe anthemoides ASTERACEAE
Chamomile Sunray
Rubus anglocandicans ROSACEAE Yes Blackberry
Rumex sp. POLYGONACEAE Yes Dock
Rytidosperma racemosum POACEAE Scleranthus biflorus CARYOPHYLLACEAE
Knawel
Solanum nigrum SOLANACEAE Yes Black-berry Nightshade
Sonchus oleraceus ASTERACEAE Yes Common Sowthistle
Sporobolus creber POACEAE
Western Rat-tail Grass
Themeda australis POACEAE
Kangaroo Grass
Trifolium campestre FABACEAE - FABOIDEAE Yes Hop Clover
Urtica incisa URTICACEAE
Stinging Nettle
Veronica calycina SCROPHULARIACEAE
Hairy Speedwell
Vittadinia cuneata ASTERACEAE
Fuzzweed
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APPENDIX C: TSC / EPBC Act Threatened species data search results
Highlighted rows and bold text represents subject species listed under the TSC Act or EPBC Act
considered as known or likely to occur on, or to utilise, the subject site.
*Five categories for likelihood of occurrence of species are used in this report and are defined below.
Assessment of likelihood was based on species locality records, presence or absence of suitable
habitat features within the subject site, results of previous studies, on-site field surveys and
professional judgement.
yes - the species is known to occur within suitable habitat within the subject site.
likely - a medium to high probability that a species occupies or uses habitat within the subject
site.
potential - suitable habitat for a species occurs within the subject site, but there is insufficient
information to categorise the species as likely to occur, or unlikely to occur.
unlikely - a very low to low probability that a species occupies or uses habitat within the
subject site.
no - habitat within the subject site and in the immediate vicinity is unsuitable for the species,
or, in the case of plants, the species was not located during searches of the subject site.
CE = Critically Endangered species, population or ecological community.
E = Endangered species, population or ecological community.
M = Migratory species.
V = Vulnerable species, population or ecological community.
TSC Act = NSW Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995.
EPBC Act = Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.
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FLORA SPECIES
SCIENTIFIC COMMON TSC Act EPBC Act LIKELIHOOD OF
OCCURRENCE
Callistemon pungens - V No
Dichanthium setosum Bluegrass V V Potential
Diuris pedunculata Small Snake Orchid - E Potential
Eucalyptus nicholii Narrow-leaved Black Peppermint V V No
Eucalyptus rubida subsp.
barbigerorum
Blackbutt Candlebark - V
Unlikely
Haloragis exalata subsp.
velutina
Tall Velvet Sea-berry - V
No
Streblus pendulinus Siah's Backbone - V No
Thesium australe Austral Toadflax V V Potential
ECOLOGICAL COMMUNITIES
ECOLOGICAL COMMUNITY TSC Act EPBC Act LIKELIHOOD OF
OCCURRENCE
Natural grasslands on basalt and fine-textured alluvial plains of northern New South Wales and
southern Queensland - CE No
New England Peppermint (Eucalyptus nova-anglica) Grassy Woodlands - CE No
White Box-Yellow Box-Blakely's Red Gum Grassy Woodland and Derived Native
Grassland - CE Yes
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© E CO LO G ICA L A U S T RA L IA P T Y LT D 48
FAUNA SPECIES
SCIENTIFIC NAME COMMON NAME HABITAT TSC Act EPBC
Act
LIKELIHOOD OF
OCCURRENCE
Ray-finned fish
Maccullochella peelii Murray Cod Widespread throughout the Murray-Darling system originally being
found in virtually all waterways of that system. Habitat varies
greatly, from quite small clear, rocky, upland streams with riffle
and pool structure on the upper western slopes of the Great
Dividing Range to large, meandering, slow-flowing, often silty
rivers in the alluvial lowland reaches of the Murray-Darling Basin.
Prefer deep holes with cover in the form of large rocks, fallen
trees, stumps, clay banks and overhanging vegetation (Native
Fish Australia 2007).
- V
No
Amphibians
Litoria booroolongensis Booroolong Frog Typically inhabits rocky western-flowing creeks and their
headwaters, although a small number of animals have also been
recorded in eastern-flowing streams (NSW Scientific Committee
2005).
- E
No
Litoria castanea Yellow Spotted Tree Frog Ponds, wetlands and slowly moving streams with abundant
marginal growth of bulrushes and other vegetation. The southern
population has been noted to occur in both woodland and
improved pastoral areas (DECC 2007).
CE E
No
Reptilia
Underwoodisaurus
sphyrurus (Uvidicolus
Border Thick-tailed
Gecko
Found only on the tablelands and slopes of northern NSW and
southern Queensland, reaching south to Tamworth and west to
Moree. Most common in the granite country of the New England
- V
Unlikely
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© E CO LO G ICA L A U S T RA L IA P T Y LT D 49
SCIENTIFIC NAME COMMON NAME HABITAT TSC Act EPBC
Act
LIKELIHOOD OF
OCCURRENCE
sphyrurus) Tablelands. Rocky hills with dry open eucalypt forest or woodland.
Favours forest and woodland areas with boulders, rock slabs,
fallen timber and deep leaf litter (DECC 2007).
Birds
Anthochaera phrygia Regent Honeyeater Regent Honeyeaters mostly occur in dry box-ironbark eucalypt
woodland and dry sclerophyll forest associations, wherein they
prefer the most fertile sites available, e.g. along creek flats, or in
broad river valleys and foothills (Franklin et al. 1989; Geering &
French 1998; Ley & Williams 1992; Oliver et al. 1999; Webster &
Menkhorst 1992). The Regent Honeyeater primarily feeds on
nectar from box and ironbark eucalypts and occasionally from
banksias and mistletoes (NPWS 1995).
- E
Potential
Ardeotis australis Australian Bustard Mainly inhabits tussock and hummock grasslands, though prefers
tussock grasses to hummock grasses; also occurs in low
shrublands and low open grassy woodlands; occasionally seen in
pastoral and cropping country, golf courses and near dams.
Breeds on bare ground on low sandy ridges or stony rises in
ecotones between grassland and protective shrubland cover;
roosts on ground among shrubs and long grasses or under trees
(DECC 2007).
E1 -
No
Atrichornis clamosus Noisy Scrub-bird Inhabits communities that support a dense understorey or lower
stratum of sedges and shrubs, a dense accumulation of leaf litter
and an abundant population of litter-dwelling invertebrates. It
mainly occurs in low closed forests (Smith 1996; Welbon 1993).
_ V
No
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© E CO LO G ICA L A U S T RA L IA P T Y LT D 50
SCIENTIFIC NAME COMMON NAME HABITAT TSC Act EPBC
Act
LIKELIHOOD OF
OCCURRENCE
Erythrotriorchis radiatus Red Goshawk Associated with forests and woodlands with a mosaic of
vegetation types, an abundance of birds and permanent water. In
NSW, this species is thought to favour mixed subtropical
rainforest, Melaleuca Swamp Forest, and open eucalypt forest
along rivers, often in rugged terrain (Marchant & Higgins 1993;
Debus 1993 & 1991; DECC 2007). The Red Goshawk nests in
large trees, frequently the tallest and most massive in a tall stand,
and nest trees are invariably within one km of permanent water
(Aumann & Baker-Gabb 1991; Debus & Czechura 1988).
- V
No
Geophaps scripta scripta Squatter Pigeon In New South Wales, the Squatter Pigeon (southern) is thought to
have formerly occurred in sites that, today, consist of eucalypt
woodlands that are intersected with patches of acacia and stands
of cypress pine Callitris columellaris and that have a ground cover
of grasses and herbs (Frith 1982). The subspecies has also been
recorded in scrub and acacia growth. It has also been recorded in
sown grasslands with scattered remnant trees and disturbed
habitats (i.e. around stockyards, along roads and railways, and
around settlements) (Longmore 1976).
- V
No
Lathamus discolor Swift Parrot Breeds in Tasmania between September and January. Feeds
mostly on nectar, mainly from eucalypts, but also eats psyllid
insects and lerps, seeds and fruit. Migrates to mainland in autumn,
where it forages on profuse flowering Eucalypts. Favoured feed
trees include winter flowering species such as Swamp Mahogany
(Eucalyptus robusta), Spotted Gum (Corymbia maculata), Red
Bloodwood (C. gummifera), Mugga Ironbark (E. sideroxylon),
White Box (E. albens) and Forest Red Gum (E. tereticornis)
(DECC 2007). Box-ironbark habitat in drainage lines, and coastal
forest in NSW is thought to provide critical food resources during
E
Unlikely
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© E CO LO G ICA L A U S T RA L IA P T Y LT D 51
SCIENTIFIC NAME COMMON NAME HABITAT TSC Act EPBC
Act
LIKELIHOOD OF
OCCURRENCE
periods of drought or low food abundance elsewhere (Mac Nally et
al. 2000).
Oxyura australis Blue-billed Duck The Blue-billed Duck prefers deep water in large permanent
wetlands and swamps with dense aquatic vegetation. The species
is completely aquatic, swimming low in the water along the edge
of dense cover (DECC 2007).
V -
Unlikely
Rostratula benghalensis
australis (Rostratula
australis)
Painted Snipe (Australian
subspecies)
Prefers fringes of swamps, dams and nearby marshy areas where
there is a cover of grasses, lignum, low scrub or open timber.
Nests on the ground amongst tall vegetation, such as grasses,
tussocks or reeds (ibid.). Forages nocturnally on mud-flats and in
shallow water (DECC 2007).
- E
Unlikely
Mammals – terrestrial (excluding bats)
Dasyurus maculatus Spotted-tailed Quoll The Spotted-tailed Quoll inhabits a range of forest communities
including wet and dry sclerophyll forests, coastal heathlands and
rainforests (Mansergh 1984; DECC 2007). Preferred habitat is
mature wet forest (Belcher 2000; Green & Scarborough 1990;
Watt 1993). Unlogged forest or forest that has been less disturbed
by timber harvesting is also preferable (Catling et al. 1998, 2000).
Maternal den sites are logs with cryptic entrances; rock outcrops;
windrows; burrows (Environment Australia 2000).
V -
No
Dasyurus maculatus
maculatus
Spotted-tailed Quoll (SE
Mainland Population)
See above - E
No
Petrogale penicillata Brush-tailed Rock- Rocky areas in a variety of habitats, typically north facing sites - V No
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© E CO LO G ICA L A U S T RA L IA P T Y LT D 52
SCIENTIFIC NAME COMMON NAME HABITAT TSC Act EPBC
Act
LIKELIHOOD OF
OCCURRENCE
wallaby with numerous ledges, caves and crevices (Strahan 1995).
Phascolarctos cinereus Koala Associated with both wet and dry Eucalypt forest and woodland
that contains a canopy cover of approximately 10 to 70% (Reed et
al. 1990), with acceptable Eucalypt food trees. Some preferred
Eucalyptus species are: Eucalyptus tereticornis, E. punctata, E.
cypellocarpa, E. viminalis.
V V
Potential
Potorous tridactylus
tridactylus
Long-nosed Potoroo (SE
Mainland Population)
There is no consistent pattern to the habitat of the Long-nosed
Potoroo (SE Mainland); it can be found in wet eucalypt forests
(Seebeck 1995) to coastal heaths and scrubs (Mason 1997). The
main factors would appear to be access to some form of dense
vegetation for shelter (Bennett 1987) and the presence of an
abundant supply of fungi for food (Claridge et al. 1992).
- V
No
Pseudomys
novaehollandiae
New Holland Mouse This species has been recorded from Queensland to Tasmania,
though with a sporadic and patchy distribution. Most records are
coastal. However, populations have been recently recorded up to
400km inland. The species includes heathlands, woodands, open
forest and paperbark swamps and on sandy, loamy or rocky soils
(Kemper and Wilson 2008).
- V
No
Mammals – terrestrial (bats)
Chalinolobus dwyeri Large-eared Pied Bat The Large-eared Pied Bat has been recorded in a variety of
habitats, including dry sclerophyll forests, woodland, sub-alpine
woodland, edges of rainforests and wet sclerophyll forests
(Churchill 1998; DECC 2007). This species roosts in caves, rock
overhangs and disused mine shafts and as such is usually
associated with rock outcrops and cliff faces (Churchill 1998;
- V
Unlikely
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© E CO LO G ICA L A U S T RA L IA P T Y LT D 53
SCIENTIFIC NAME COMMON NAME HABITAT TSC Act EPBC
Act
LIKELIHOOD OF
OCCURRENCE
DECC 2007).
Nyctophilus corbeni South-eastern Long-
eared Bat
Inhabits a variety of vegetation types, including mallee, bulloke
Allocasuarina leuhmanni and box eucalypt dominated
communities, but it is distinctly more common in
box/ironbark/cypress-pine vegetation that occurs in a north-south
belt along the western slopes and plains of NSW and southern
Queensland. Roosts in tree hollows, crevices, and under loose
bark (OEH 2014).
- V
Unlikely
Pteropus poliocephalus Grey-headed Flying-Fox Inhabits a wide range of habitats including rainforest, mangroves,
paperbark forests, wet and dry sclerophyll forests and cultivated
areas (Churchill 1998, Eby 1998). Camps are often located in
gullies, typically close to water, in vegetation with a dense canopy
(Churchill 1998).
- V
No
Migratory terrestrial species
Apus pacificus Fork-tailed Swift Inhabits varied habitat with a possible tendency to more arid areas
but also over coasts and urban areas (Simpson & Day 1999).
- Mi
Unlikely
Calidris melanotos Pectoral Sandpiper In Australasia, prefers shallow fresh to saline wetlands. The
species is found at coastal lagoons, estuaries, bays, swamps,
lakes, inundated grasslands, saltmarshes, river pools, creeks,
floodplains and artificial wetlands. The species is usually found in
coastal or near coastal habitat but occasionally found further
inland. It prefers wetlands that have open fringing mudflats and
low, emergent or fringing vegetation, such as grass or samphire.
The species has also been recorded in swamp overgrown with
lignum. They forage in shallow water or soft mud at the edge of
- Mi
No
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© E CO LO G ICA L A U S T RA L IA P T Y LT D 54
SCIENTIFIC NAME COMMON NAME HABITAT TSC Act EPBC
Act
LIKELIHOOD OF
OCCURRENCE
wetlands (Higgins & Davies 1996).
Haliaeetus leucogaster White-bellied Sea-Eagle Forages over large open fresh or saline waterbodies, coastal seas
and open terrestrial areas (Marchant & Higgins 1993, Simpson &
Day 1999). Breeding habitat consists of tall trees, mangroves,
cliffs, rocky outcrops, silts, caves and crevices and is located
along the coast or major rivers. Breeding habitat is usually in or
close to water, but may occur up to a kilometre away (Marchant &
Higgins 1993).
- Mi
Unlikely
Hirundapus caudacutus White-throated Needletail Forages aerially over a variety of habitats usually over coastal and
mountain areas, most likely with a preference for wooded areas
(Marchant & Higgins 1993; Simpson & Day 1999). Has been
observed roosting in dense foliage of canopy trees, and may seek
refuge in tree hollows in inclement weather (Marchant & Higgins
1993).
- Mi
Unlikely
Merops ornatus Rainbow Bee-eater Resident in coastal and sub-coastal northern Australia; regular
breeding migrant in southern Australia, arriving September to
October, departing February to March, some occasionally present
April to May (Pizzey and Knight 1997). Occurs in open country,
chiefly at suitable breeding places in areas of sandy or loamy soil:
sand-ridges, riverbanks, road-cuttings, sand-pits, occasionally
coastal cliffs (ibid).
- Mi
Potential
Monarcha melanopsis Black-faced Monarch Rainforest and eucalypt forests, feeding in tangled understorey
(Blakers et al. 1984).
- Mi
No
Myiagra cyanoleuca Satin Flycatcher Associated with drier eucalypt forests, absent from rainforests
(Blakers et al. 1984), open forests, often at height (Simpson & Day
- Mi Unlikely
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© E CO LO G ICA L A U S T RA L IA P T Y LT D 55
SCIENTIFIC NAME COMMON NAME HABITAT TSC Act EPBC
Act
LIKELIHOOD OF
OCCURRENCE
1999).
Plegadis falcinellus Glossy Ibis The Glossy Ibis' preferred habitat for foraging and breeding are
fresh water marshes at the edges of lakes and rivers, lagoons,
flood-plains, wet meadows, swamps, reservoirs, sewage ponds,
rice-fields and cultivated areas under irrigation. The species is
occasionally found in coastal locations such as estuaries, deltas,
saltmarshes and coastal lagoons (del Hoyo et al. 1992; Hancock
et al. 1992; Marchant & Higgins 1990).
- Mi
Unlikely
Rhipidura rufifrons Rufous Fantail The Rufous Fantail is a summer breeding migrant to southeastern
Australia (Morcombe, 2004). It is found in rainforest, dense wet
eucalypt and monsoon forests, paperbark and mangrove swamps
and riverside vegetation (Morcombe, 2004).
- Mi
No
Sources of habitat information for species are as follows:
NSW Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH), Atlas of NSW Wildlife website, 13 June 2014, BioNet website:
http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/atlaspublicapp/UI_Modules/ATLAS_/AtlasSearch.aspx Search area: 5 km radius centred on subject site.
Department of Environment (DoE), Protected Matters Search Tool (PMST) website, 13 June 2014, http://www.environment.gov.au/webgis-framework/apps/pmst/pmst.jsf
Search area: 5 km radius centred on subject site.
Birds (Morcombe 2000; Pizzey and Knight 1997), Mammals (Strahan 1995, Menkhorst and Knight 1998), Bats (Strahan 1995, Churchill 1998), Frogs (Barker et al. 1995),
Plants (Harden 1990-2002; PlantNet 2013) and OEH Threatened Species profiles available online at http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/threatenedspeciesapp/
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© E CO LO G ICA L A U S T RA L IA P T Y LT D 56
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