Sandford Street Eis: Ecological Assessment Sandford Street 8.07.09

SANDFORD STREET EXTENSION TO THE FEDERAL HIGHWAY ECOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT

J. McIntosh and D.McC. Hogg Report to Cardno Young Pty Ltd

July 2009

DAVID HOGG PTY LTD ACN 008 564 047

ABN 35 008 564 047

ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANTS SUITE 3, BANK BUILDING, JAMISON CENTRE, MACQUARIE, ACT POSTAL ADDRESS: PO BOX 213, JAMISON CENTRE, ACT 2614 TELEPHONE: (02) 6251 3885 FAX: (02) 6253 1574 E-mail: [email protected]

CONTENTS Page 1.

INTRODUCTION

1

2.

BACKGROUND REPORTS

2

3.

VEGETATION CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SITE 3.1 Overview 3.2 Area A 3.3 Area B 3.4 Area C 3.5 Area D 3.6 Comparison with 2001 Ecological Assessment HABITAT VALUE

3 3 3 3 4 5 5 7

4. 5.

POTENTIAL IMPACTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE ROAD DEVELOPMENT 8 5.1 General Ecological Impacts 8 5.2 Threatened Species and Endangered Ecological Communities 8 5.2.1 Natural temperate grassland 8 5.2.2 Box – gum woodland 9 5.2.3 Striped legless lizard 9 5.2.4 Woodland birds 10 5.3 Impact on Sullivans Creek and Drainage Lines 11

6.

IMPLICATIONS UNDER THE ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION AND BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION ACT

12

7.

IMPLICATIONS UNDER THE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT ACT

14

8.

CONCLUSIONS

16

REFERENCES

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1.

INTRODUCTION

This report has been prepared for Cardno Young Pty Ltd to provide an ecological assessment of the area that is proposed to be developed for the extension of Sandford Street in East Gungahlin. Sandford Street has been identified as an arterial road in the Territory Plan and the planned extension would connect Flemington Road, Mitchell, with the Federal Highway at the existing Antill Street roundabout. The proposed road would be approximately 2km in length and would pass along the southern boundary of the proposed future new suburb of Kenny. Site inspections were undertaken on 7 and 22 May 2009 to: • • •

assess the ecological characteristics of the area to determine whether previous ecological studies remain current; determine the extent and quality of the native vegetation groundcover at the site; and identify whether the area within the road reserve contains any threatened plant species, any endangered ecological communities or provides suitable habitat for any threatened animal species.

The purpose of the report is to identify any particular constraints or significant ecological impacts associated with the development of the road including any impacts on matters of national environmental significance under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (EPBC Act). The report reviews the need for a referral to the Commonwealth Government under the EPBC Act and also discusses the implications of the project in relation to the ACT Planning & Development Act (P&D Act).

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2. BACKGROUND REPORTS A previous ecological assessment was undertaken by this firm in 2001 for WP Brown and Partners Pty Ltd as part of a feasibility study for the proposed road extension (Ref. 1). That study assessed the site for potential impacts on natural temperate grassland, yellow box – red gum woodland and striped legless lizard (Delma impar) habitat and the assessment concluded that there would be no ecological constraints that would affect the location or design of the road. A review of this original ecological assessment has been undertaken to determine whether the information presented in the 2001 report remains current. This is necessary for the following reasons: •

•

•

Since 2001 there have been some significant changes in the groundcover vegetation in many urban and rural areas of the ACT, particularly in terms of an increased proportion of native grasses. A review of the area is therefore necessary to assess the current ecological characteristics of the site. The White Box – Yellow Box – Blakely’s Red Gum woodlands and derived native grasslands ecological community is now listed as endangered under the EPBC Act. The yellow box – red gum grassy woodland community present in the ACT forms part of this endangered community. A review is necessary to ensure the report is current and adequately addresses the requirements under the EPBC Act. The ACT P&D Act, which was gazetted in 2007, requires the preparation of an environmental impact statement (EIS) if a proposed development adversely affects a listed threatened community or involves clearing more than 0.5 hectares of native vegetation. The proposal is reviewed in relation to the requirements of that Act.

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3. VEGETATION CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SITE 3.1

Overview

The original vegetation of the Sandford Street corridor consisted of natural temperate grassland at the western end and yellow box – red gum grassy woodland at the eastern end. Past agricultural practices such as clearing and pasture improvement have substantially modified both the communities, parts of which have been further disturbed by the recent construction works. The current vegetation condition of the proposed road corridor ranges from highly disturbed to predominantly native. For the purpose of this report the study area has been divided into four areas which are described individually below (see Figures 1 and 2). 3.2

Area A

Area A is located at the western end of the study area between Flemington Road and the former Wells Station Road (now known as Wells Station Track). This part of the road corridor is flat and contains a single carriage road known as Morisset Street. Prior to European settlement this area was probably natural temperate grassland (Ref. 4) that has been modified over time, first by agricultural practices and recently by development. The vegetation on both sides of the existing road is indicative of sites that have been previously disturbed and rehabilitated. The roadside is dominated by a mixture of couch grass (Cynodon dactylon) and phalaris (Phalaris aquatica), and contains other introduced species such as Paterson’s curse (Echium plantagineum), hoary mustard (Hirschfeldia incana), paspalum (Paspalum sp.), plantain (Plantago sp.) and Scotch thistle (Onopordum acanthium). The only evidence of native grasses within Area A is a very small remnant of spear grasses (Austrostipa sp.) on the southern side of the road corridor. This patch is scattered with a variety of introduced species and is of no ecological value. Sullivans Creek runs through the site in a south-west direction and is diverted through the Flemington Road ponds system to the south of the site. A stockpile site and the 2CA radio transmitter site are located to the north of the proposed road corridor and the trotting track for the Canberra Harness Racing Club is located to the south. 3.3

Area B

Area B is located in the middle of the study area and, like Area A, was once natural temperate grassland that has been modified over time (see Figure 2). The previous (2001) ecological assessment (Ref. 1) found the grassland to be dominated by phalaris and other introduced grasses with some native spear grasses scattered throughout the site. Since that assessment, the area has been completely disturbed for the construction of the Bimberi Youth Justice Centre and associated access road. The proposed

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Sandford Street extension is located within an area that appears to have been stabilised with a dryland grass mix at the completion of these works. The vegetation contains a mixture of introduced grasses with scattered weeds. Species include phalaris, clover (Trifolium sp.), wire weed (Polygonum aviculare), goose grass (Eleusine tristachya), plantain, hoary mustard and Scotch thistle. Some non-native Poa grasses are also present at the site which appears to be regularly mown. A small patch of native vegetation is located in the area shown in Figure 2. The patch is likely to belong to part of the original vegetation community. It is a very small remnant and contains a variety of weeds. Site drainage has been managed by directing the flow of water along the front of the new centre through drainage lines that have been incorporated into the landscaping of the building. A culvert then directs water under the road to a farm dam that is located south of the site. 3.4

Area C

Area C is located in the eastern part of the site and contains vegetation that was once part of the yellow box – red gum grassy woodland ecological community. The road corridor passes through the edge of an area of woodland that is now classified as substantially or severely modified in the ACT Lowland Woodland Conservation Strategy. To the north and the south of the site there are areas of partially modified lowland woodland (Action Plan No. 27, Ref. 2). Trees that are remnant of this woodland community are located within and adjacent to the road reserve. A large number of the trees within the proposed development site are yellow box (Eucalyptus melliodora), however one Blakely’s red gum (Eucalyptus blakelyi) is located on the edge of the road corridor. Most are medium to healthy in condition and some contain hollows that have value as habitat. There is a large amount of young tree regeneration at the base of some of these trees with the approximate distribution shown in Figure 2. This regeneration extends well beyond the site to the north into Kenny. The understorey contains a mixture of native and introduced species which occur within the site in distinct locations. The introduced species occur predominantly in a drainage line that runs in a westerly direction through the site and intersects the proposed Sandford Street extension in two locations. The drainage line is part of the Sullivans Creek catchment and can be seen in Figure 2 as the brighter green strip across Area C. This wetter area is dominated by phalaris. Other species include plantain, Juncus sp., catsear (Hypochaeris radicata), serrated tussock (Nassella trichotoma) and Paterson’s curse. A limited amount of native poa tussocks (Poa sp.) are present in this area along with Carex sp. and wallaby grass (Austrodanthonia sp.). Other areas of introduced vegetation are found underneath the tree canopies which have been intensively grazed and used as sheep camps. Highly disturbed patches dominated by introduced pasture species, Scotch thistle, sheep sorrel (Acetosella vulgaris) and bare ground are present at these sites. The remainder of the proposed road corridor site contains trees remnant of the woodland community, tree regeneration and native understorey vegetation

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dominated by spear grasses. The area contains a low diversity of forbs which are present in limited numbers. Forb species, including bluebells (Wahlenbergia sp) and vanilla glycine (Glycine tabacina), were found in one location at the eastern edge of Area C (see Figure 2) but there was little evidence of any more across the site. In the western part of Area C, serrated tussock is present in moderate amounts amongst the spear grasses. Other species that are present amongst the spear grasses across the entire site include native Oxalis sp., wheat grass (Elymus scaber) and weeping grass (Microlaena stipoides) as well as exotics such as nightshade (Solanum nigrum) and Paterson’s curse. Occasional bushes of hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna) and briar rose (Rosa rubiginosa) are scattered throughout. Separating the Federal Highway from the majority of the site is an area of native tree plantings containing a mixture of eucalypts and wattles (Acacia sp.). These do not relate to the natural vegetation of the area. A dam is located within this area. 3.5

Area D

A fenced equestrian trail is located to the south of the site and runs the entire length of the proposed road extension. The trail is approximately twenty metres wide and contains patches of native and introduced vegetation. It would not be directly affected by the road, except where the road crosses the trail north of the Antill Street roundabout. The native vegetation patches contain a larger diversity of species than is found in Area C which is likely to be due to less intensive grazing within the equestrian trail over time. Along with spear grasses, species include redleg grass (Bothriochloa macra), wallaby grasses and hairy panic (Panicum effusum). The introduced patches are generally localised within the drainage line that also runs through parts of the trail. The dominant species in these introduced patches include phalaris and paspalum with spear thistles and catsear also present throughout the site. 3.6

Comparison with 2001 Ecological Assessment

There have been some obvious changes to the site since the previous 2001 ecological assessment was undertaken. While the western end of the site has been developed and further disturbed, the eastern end has improved in condition with an increased proportion of native grasses present within the woodland community and regeneration of the overstorey trees. There is now very little evidence of the native spear grass that was found to be scattered throughout the western end of the corridor in 2001. The construction of Morisset Road and the Bimberi Youth Justice Centre has completely modified this site resulting in a highly disturbed area of very little ecological significance. The original assessment referred to an area of (Austro)stipa grassland within the equestrian trail corridor immediately south of the Sandford Street extension and east of the former Wells Station Road. This area was identified in Action Plan No.1 (Ref. 3) which has since been superseded by Action Plan No.28 (Ref. 4). In this current

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Action Plan, there are no areas of significant grasslands within or adjacent to the site. The 2001 assessment referred to Action Plan No. 10 which assessed the yellow-box woodland at the eastern end of the site to be of a high conservation value (Ref.5). This Action Plan has now been superseded by Action Plan No. 27 which identifies that part of the site to be an area of severely and substantially modified woodland. At the time of the 2001 ecological assessment, the site had no tree regeneration and the understorey was dominated by phalaris with some native Stipa present. Since then, the condition of the site has improved considerably, largely as a result of an increased proportion of native grasses throughout the site but also because of the presence of young tree regeneration.

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4.

HABITAT VALUE

The ecological features that could provide habitat for fauna species within the study site include the remnant woodland trees, the tussock grasses, Sullivans Creek and other minor watercourses throughout the site, including the dam located in Area C. The trees are medium to old in age and most are in a relatively healthy condition. Some contain small hollows that could be utilised by a variety of wildlife but are most likely to be used predominantly by common birds. The trees could also provide habitat for several birds that are listed as threatened under the NCA Act and the EPBC Act. Threatened bird species that are known to utilise woodland habitat of suitable quality include the hooded robin (Melanodryas cucullata), brown treecreeper (Climateris picumnus), white-winged triller (Lagage sueurii), varied sittella (Daphoenositta chrysoptera), painted honeyeater (Grantiella picta), regent honeyeater (Xanthomyza phrygia), superb parrot (Polytelis swainsonii) and the swift parrot (Lathamus discolor). Underneath the tree canopies, dead branches lying on the ground provide habitat for ground dwelling animals such as small mammals, reptiles and various invertebrate species. To the north and south of the proposed road corridor, the striped legless lizard, a species listed as vulnerable under the EPBC Act and the Nature Conservation Act (NC Act) has been previously recorded. While the preferred habitat for the lizard is natural temperate grassland, the species can also use phalaris pasture with a suitable tussock structure, and was found in such pasture in areas surrounding the road corridor in monitoring undertaken by Environment ACT in 1994 and 1995 (Refs. 6, 7). The impact on this species is further discussed in Chapter 5.2.3. Sullivans Creek passes through the western end of the study site and in suitable conditions, the creek and other minor watercourses throughout the site, could provide habitat to a variety of terrestrial and aquatic fauna species including birds, reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates. The dam, located between the equestrian trail and the Antill Street roundabout, could support similar species.

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5.

POTENTIAL IMPACTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE ROAD DEVELOPMENT

5.1

General Ecological Impacts

The general ecological impacts associated with this proposal relate to the removal of vegetation and the loss of habitat. The proposed development would require the removal of approximately 1.5 ha of native understorey vegetation, including some young woodland regeneration in the eastern section of the road alignment. The native groundcover vegetation consists primarily of spear grasses but also contains a small amount of other native grasses such as weeping grass and wheat grass. There are several introduced species scattered amongst the native grasses and a very minor component of native forb species. The introduced vegetation in this section is dominated by phalaris and other exotic species such as Paterson’s curse, Juncus sp. and catsear. A small amount of native species such as Poa sp., Carex sp. and wallaby grasses are present within the drainage line. In the long term, any loss in the native vegetation resulting from the Sandford Street extension would be considered minimal in the context of the future development of Kenny, which would remove a much larger area of similar quality vegetation to the north of the site. From an ecological perspective, the loss of this native vegetation and the introduced vegetation that is found within the drainage lines would not have a significant impact. The removal of the native vegetation and the implications under the P&D Act is discussed in Chapter 7. Chapter 4 described the ecological characteristics that could provide habitat for fauna species within the road corridor including remnant trees, tussock grasses and dead logs. The removal of dead logs found underneath the canopies of the trees would result in the loss of a small amount of habitat for birds, reptiles, invertebrates and ground dwelling small mammals. Dead wood is found across the entire site both within the proposed road corridor and in the wider area. The loss of a small amount of this habitat for the proposed Sandford Street extension would not have a significant impact on any of these fauna species. The proposed road development would require the removal of three trees. The impacts associated with this tree removal are discussed in Section 5.2.2 and 5.2.4. The importance of the tussock grasses and the implications for the striped legless lizard is discussed in Section 5.2.3. 5.2

Threatened Species and Endangered Ecological Communities

A review of the existing background information has identified the threatened species and endangered ecological communities that are most likely to occur within the area of the proposed road development. 5.2.1

Natural temperate grassland

Natural temperate grassland was originally present in the western part of the site but has since been lost as a result of grazing and recent development. Action Plan No.1

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(the relevant documentation at the time of the original assessment of the site in 2001) identified a small 1.7 ha area of Stipa grassland within the equestrian trail which was assessed as having a botanical significance level 4 on a scale where 1 = highest and 5 = lowest (Ref. 3). In 2005, a review of the areas of natural temperate grassland was undertaken and outlined in Action Plan No. 28. There are no areas within the study area that are now considered to be part of the natural temperate grassland endangered ecological community (Ref. 4). 5.2.2 Box – gum woodland The proposed road corridor would require the removal of three yellow box trees that are located on the south-western edge of the woodland community. Two of the trees appear to be in a healthy condition and all contain minor potential nesting hollows. There is no scope within the road design for realignment of the road to allow the trees to be retained. Consideration has been given to realigning the route through the drainage line, rather the native component of the site, but this is not possible due to road design constraints at the Antill Street roundabout. The removal of these trees is not expected to have a significant ecological impact on the endangered community. While the removal of trees should be avoided where practicable, these trees are not of exceptional significance. In the short term, lost habitat can be provided by the other remnant woodland trees that are located close to the proposed road corridor and are of similar age and in a similar condition to those that would be removed. In the long term, the impact of removing these trees would be insignificant in the context of future development of the proposed suburb of Kenny which is to be located adjacent to the road corridor to the north. The development of this suburb is likely to result in the removal of many remnant woodland trees and most of the native understorey vegetation, although ecologically significant trees are likely to be retained where practicable. In the wider context, the loss of the small amount of vegetation on the edge of the woodland community is not considered to be significant in the short or long term. Mulligans Flat Nature Park, Goorooyarroo Nature Reserve and the Majura Valley are located to the north and east of the site and form part of a major woodland corridor that extends from Hall through to the Jerrabomberra Valley. These areas provide superior quality habitat to that which exists within the proposed road reserve and would not be affected by the development. 5.2.3 Striped legless lizard The striped legless lizard is listed as vulnerable under both ACT and Commonwealth legislation. The species is a grassland specialist and its habitat has been protected in Gungahlin by the establishment of the Mulanggari, Gungaderra and Crace Nature Reserves. Action Plan No. 28 identifies much of the area within the vicinity of the Sandford Street extension to be striped legless lizard habitat (Ref. 4). To the north of the proposed Sandford Street extension, the species has been found to be living in introduced pasture within the area that is proposed to be developed for the future

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suburb of Kenny. Monitoring for the species was undertaken by Environment ACT in 1994 and 1995 using a pitfall trapping technique. Ten sites were monitored and the lizard was recorded at the nine of these sites (Refs. 6, 7). While the species prefers a high component of native grasses, the tussock structure of phalaris enables the species to live within introduced pasture. A subsequent 2004 report addressing the implications for urban development with regards to the presence of the striped legless lizard in the Kenny area (which includes the Sandford Street extension) suggested that there was not a strong case for foregoing urban development at this site (Ref.8). This was largely due to the establishment of natural temperate grassland reserves within Gungahlin which provide higher quality habitat than the introduced pasture in the Kenny area. These grassland reserves are the most effective conservation strategies in place for the protection of the species as they contain natural temperate grassland, which is ideal habitat for the species. There has been no recent monitoring of the site to confirm the presence and extent of the striped legless lizard within the area. The recent construction of the Bimberi Youth Justice Centre and the associated road has resulted in the removal of some phalaris pasture that was potentially used by the striped legless lizard for habitat. This has since been revegetated with a dryland grass mix that would not provide suitable habitat for the species. In the eastern end of the site, the road corridor passes through a drainage line that contains phalaris pasture which could potentially be used by the lizard. This vegetation is not primary habitat for the species and its removal would not significantly impact on the species. Overall, the vegetation that is present within the proposed road corridor does not have significant value in relation to the conservation of the striped legless lizard. The development of the Sandford Street extension therefore would not impact negatively on this species. 5.2.4 Woodland birds Remnant woodland trees could provide habitat for several woodland bird species that are listed under the NC Act and/or the EPBC Act. These include the following: Common name White-winged triller Regent honeyeater Superb parrot Varied sittella Brown treecreeper Hooded robin Swift parrot Painted honeyeater

Scientific name Lalaga sueurii Xanthomyza phrygia Polytelis swainsonii Daphoenositta chrysoptera Climateris picumnus Melanodryas cucullata Lathamus discolor Grantiella picta

Status NC Act EPBC Act vulnerable endangered endangered vulnerable vulnerable vulnerable vulnerable vulnerable vulnerable vulnerable

endangered -

While the road reserve could provide habitat for these species, the relative contribution of this habitat would be minimal in the Gungahlin context. The site is

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located on the fringe of the urban environment where these species (excluding the Regent Honeyeater) are rarely seen and good quality habitat such as Goorooyarroo Nature Reserve, Mulligans Flat Nature Reserve and Majura Valley is located to the north and east of the site. 5.3

Impact on Sullivans Creek and Drainage Lines

Sullivans Creek crosses the site at the western end of the study area and currently passes underneath Morisset Drive which will be redesigned and reconstructed as part of the road upgrade. There is provision in the road design for construction of a bridge at the point where Sullivans Creek crosses the proposed new road and no ecological impacts are expected to result from these works. The drainage line that passes through the eastern end of the site (Area C) eventually drains into the Flemington Road ponds system via a series of farm dams. One dam that is located within the proposed road corridor near the Antill Street roundabout would be removed as a result of the road development (see Figure 2) but this would not result in any negative ecological impacts. There are many other larger water sources within the surrounding area that could provide water and habitat for those species that may be currently utilising this dam. From an ecological perspective, the proposed extension of Sandford Street would not result in any negative impacts on the drainage throughout out the site or on Sullivans Creek itself. While the creek would cross underneath the proposed new road, the works do not require any changes to the alignment of the creek or any major works on the creek bed or creek banks that could have an ecological impact. The road design would address the localised issues relating to drainage at the site. North of the western end of the proposed extension, near Sullivans Creek, there is an extensive pedoderm which traps and temporarily stores groundwater following heavy rain. The proposed roadworks would include a trench to intercept this groundwater and use it to recharge Flemington Road Pond P2. This would be expected to reduce groundwater flow south of the road but, as there is no significant vegetation in that area, no ecological impacts would be likely.

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IMPLICATIONS UNDER THE ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION AND BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION ACT The most likely trigger for action under the EPBC Act is the potential impact of the road on the endangered ecological community, White Box – Yellow Box – Blakely’s Red Gum woodlands and derived native grasslands. The yellow box – red gum woodland located in the eastern part of the road corridor has features which could result in it being considered part of this community. An assessment was therefore undertaken to address the following questions: • •

Is the woodland present within the road corridor part of the box – gum community as listed under the EPBC Act? If so, would the impacts of extending Sandford Street be significant in terms of the EPBC Act guidelines?

The following guidelines have been issued under the EPBC Act to identify vegetation that forms part of the listed box – gum community as it relates to the Act: • • • or •

The most common species are yellow box and/ or Blakely’s red gum. A predominantly native understorey (i.e at least 50% of perennial groundcover vegetation is native). A patch size of 0.1 ha or greater with 12 or more native understorey species present, excluding grasses. A patch size of 2 ha or greater with either an average of 20 or more mature trees per hectare or natural regeneration of the dominant overstorey eucalypts, the regenerating trees being of at least 15cm circumference at 130cm above the ground.

With respect to the vegetation in the eastern part of the Sandford Street extension, the dominant trees are yellow box and Blakely’s red gum and the groundcover vegetation is predominantly native. The native forb diversity, however, is low (well below 12 native non-grass species in the most diverse 0.1 ha area) and the mature tree density is between 2 and 7 trees per hectare (below the required tree density of 20 trees per hectare). There are extensive areas of eucalypt regeneration, but this is relatively recent. Most of the regeneration is well below 130cm in height. Of the taller trees, to date (June 2009) only a couple have a girth of 15cm or more at that height. The regeneration generally does not meet the EPBC Act guideline to justify listing as the endangered ecological community. It is therefore considered that the remnant woodland does not meet the EPBC Act criteria for the listed box – gum community, and that an EPBC Act referral is not necessary on these grounds. The question of whether the impacts of the proposed road extension would have a significant impact would not arise, although, even if it did, such impacts would not be considered significant under the EPBC Act guidelines (Ref. 10), particularly in the context of adjacent future development.

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As discussed in Chapter 5, there is no natural temperate grassland remaining within the road corridor, there would be no impact on the striped legless lizard and the contribution of woodland trees within the road reserve as habitat for the threatened woodland birds would be minimal in the Gungahlin context. None of these factors is therefore likely to trigger an EPBC Act referral. The only basis for submitting an EPBC Act referral would therefore be as a precaution against encountering a possible delay later in the development process.

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7.

IMPLICATIONS UNDER THE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT ACT

There are two potential triggers of an ecological nature under Schedule 4, Part 4.3, of the P&D Act which could require the preparation of an environmental impact statement for the proposed road extension. These are: • •

if the proposal is likely to adversely impact on the conservation status of a species or ecological community that is endangered; or if the proposal involves the clearing of more than 0.5 ha of native vegetation.

The first trigger could possibly apply in relation to yellow box – red gum grassy woodland which is listed as an endangered ecological community under the NC Act. Action Plan No. 27 (Ref. 2), prepared under that Act, describes that ecological community as having the following characteristics: (a) (b)

(c)

E. melliodora (yellow box) and/ or E. blakelyi (Blakely’s red gum) contribute 40% or more of the crown cover; There is a species-rich understorey of native tussock grasses, herbs and scattered shrubs. The understorey is not exotic pasture or degraded beyond recovery. Remnants of Yellow Box – Red Gum Grassy Woodland that contain a species-rich native understorey of tussock grasses, herbaceous species and scattered shrubs but the trees have been removed or reduced.

Figure 5.1a of Action Plan No. 27 identifies the remnant woodland at the eastern end of Sandford Street extension as ‘Lowland woodland vegetation (inc. substantially and severely modified)’ and, because of its modified state, it is not mapped as yellow box – red gum grassy woodland. Less modified areas within the same woodland stand, however, are mapped as yellow box – red gum community. The mapping on which the Action Plan is based is several years old and does not necessarily represent the current condition of the woodland. While the forb diversity of the woodland is still relatively low, in all other respects it now appears to match the characteristics in the Action Plan as stated above. Furthermore, the overall quality of a patch of the vegetation within and immediately north of the road reserve appears subjectively to be higher than that of some areas which are mapped as the yellow box – red gum community in the Action Plan. If this area is now considered to be part of the endangered ecological community, the question remains as to whether its removal would adversely impact on the conservation status of that community. In view of the isolated nature of this woodland stand and the extensive woodland areas that are conserved elsewhere in Gungahlin and North Canberra, a commonsense assessment suggests that it would not. This interpretation of this part of Schedule 4 of the P&D Act, however, is unclear. With respect to the second trigger, the construction of the road would involve the clearing of more than 0.5 ha of vegetation which contains remnant native trees (at a lower than natural density), extensive patches of native eucalypt regeneration and a

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predominantly native groundcover (albeit of low diversity). While it is not of exceptional quality and is limited in extent, it may be considered reasonable to describe this area in its current situation as ‘native vegetation’. However, there is no clear definition of native vegetation under the P&D Act or under the NC Act, to which the P&D Act refers. In summary, while commonsense suggests that the ecological impacts would be minor in the context of Gungahlin development, a strict interpretation of Schedule 4 of the P&D Act indicates that the proposal would trigger an EIS because of the clearing of more than 0.5 ha of native vegetation.

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8.

CONCLUSIONS

The main ecological impact of the proposed extension of Sandford Street would be in the eastern section of the road, where it would pass through an area of regenerating yellow box – red gum grassy woodland. While the removal of some mature trees and young regeneration is unavoidable, it is desirable to design the road with a view to minimising such impacts as well as retaining native groundcover between the trees where practicable. The woodland regeneration has taken place relatively recently. Consequently, the woodland has not yet reached the stage where it would meet the EPBC Act guidelines for the endangered box – gum community. An EPBC Act referral is therefore not essential, but may be prudent to avoid possible delays at a later stage in the project. Because the regeneration is recent, the area has not been identified as yellow box – red gum grassy woodland in Action Plan No. 27, but may now warrant assessment as such. This consideration, plus the fact that more than 0.5 ha of what may be regarded as native vegetation would be removed for the road, suggest that an EIS would be required under Schedule 4 of the P&D Act. In all other respects, construction of the road would have a minor ecological impact, which could be managed through appropriate design and construction practices. In the longer term, the ecological impacts of the road would be insignificant compared with the impacts of developing the adjacent suburb of Kenny.

SANDFORD STREET EXTENSION ECOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT – JULY 2009

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REFERENCES 1.

WP Brown and Partners Pty Ltd. Kenny – Sandford Street extension. Feasibility study. Final Report. September 2001, Section 4.7 Ecological considerations (prepared by David Hogg Pty Ltd).

2.

ACT Government. Woodlands for Wildlife: ACT Lowland Woodland Conservation Strategy. Action Plan No. 27, 2004. Environment ACT, Canberra

3.

ACT Government. Natural Temperate Grassland. An endangered ecological community. Action Plan No. 1, 1998. Environment ACT, Canberra

4.

ACT Government. A vision splendid of the grassy plains extended: ACT Lowland Native Grassland Conservation Strategy. Action Plan No. 28, 2005. Arts, Heritage and Environment, Canberra.

5.

ACT Government. Yellow Box/ Red Gum Grassy Woodland. An endangered ecological community. Action Plan No.10, 1999. Environment ACT, Canberra

6.

Rauhala, M.A., Shorthouse, D.J and Ingwersen, F. The Striped Legless Lizard Delma Impar in the Gungahlin, Majura and Jerrabomberra valleys. Internal report 95/2, March 1995. ACT Parks and Conservation Service Wildlife Research Unit.

7.

Rauhala, M.A. 1995 survey and monitoring program for the Striped Legless Lizard Delma impar. May 1996.

8.

Hogg, D.McC. The striped legless lizard (Delma impar) in the proposed suburb of Kenny: Implications for urban development. Prepared by David Hogg Pty Ltd for ACT Planning and Land Authority, July 2004.

9.

Australian Government Department of the Environment and Water Resources. White Box – Yellow Box – Blakely’s Red Gum grassy woodlands and derived native grasslands. EPBC Act Policy Statement. Website: www.environment.gov.au/epbc/publications/box-gum/index.html

10.

Australian Government. Department of the Environment and Heritage. EPBC Act Policy Statement 1.1. Significant impact guidelines. Matters of National Environmental Significance. May 2006.

SANDFORD STREET EXTENSION ECOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT – JULY 2009