Supplementary Form C —
· Threatened species & Ecological Communities
· Migratory species
· Listed marine species
(use Form A for Cetaceans)Under which section(s) of the EPBC Act are you applying for this permit?
It will help you complete your application if you know which list in the EPBC Act the affected species/ecological community appears on.
Search the lists at: www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/sprat/public/sprat.pl
Please note some species appear on more than one list. For example the Green Turtle Chelonia mydas is a listed threatened species, a listed migratory species, and a listed marine species.
Select all that apply
Section 201 — Listed threatened species and ecological communities
Section 216 — Listed migratory species
Section 258 — Listed marine species
1 On the next page list details of species or ecological communities that will be affected by the action.
Use the following codes to enter details in columns 3, 4 and 5.
Column 3 Conservation status of threatened species or ecological communities under EPBC Act
EW Extinct in the wild
EX Extinct
CE Critically endangered
EN Endangered
VU Vulnerable
CD Conservation dependent
Column 5 Type of effect
DE Death
IN Injury
TR Trading
TA Taking
KE Keeping
MO Moving
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Details of species or ecological communities that will be affected by the action.
Common name of listed species/ecological communities, listed migratory species, or listed marine species. / Scientific name of speciesCommon and scientific names are available at the Department’s website: www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/sprat/public/sprat.pl / Conservation status under EPBC Act / Estimated number that will be affected. For ecological communities, provide estimate of the affected area / Type of effect
Drooping Red Gum / Eucalyptus parramattensis decadens / VU / Approximately 3 hectares of Drooping Red Gum / DE & IN
Dwarf Kerrawang / Rulingia prostrata / EN / Approximately 1 hectare of potential habitat / Potential DE & IN
Where the project is of less than 1 km2 in size, provide the location as a single pair of latitude and longitude references. Latitude and longitude references should be used instead of AMG and/or digital coordinates.
Locality:
Latitude: / -32 / degrees: / 46 / Minutes: / 57.327 / seconds:Longitude: / 151 / degrees: / 48 / minutes / 57.945 / seconds:
Where the project area is greater than 1 km2, or any dimension is greater than 1 km, provide additional coordinates to enable accurate identification of the location of the project area.
N/A
Attach a map to show the boundaries of the area in which the action will be conducted.
Refer to Figure 1-1 of attached Ecological Impact Assessment report (SKM, 2013)
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3 Provide an attachment describing the action addressing the following points.
A. The objectives and purposes of the action; See page 61 of report
B. The equipment and methods used;
4 What are the likely short and long term impacts of the proposed action on the species or the ecological community?
Defence intends to undertake runway extension and undertake other development works at RAAF Base Williamtown. The following impacts on vegetation are predicted:- clearing of approximately 3 hectares of Drooping Red Gum (Eucalyptus parramattensis subsp. decadens) woodland
- clearing of approximately 1 hectare of potential Dwarf Kerrawang (Rulingia prostrate) habitat
- clearing of approximately 6 hectares of preferred habitat and approximately 23 hectares of marginal habitat for koalas (Phascolarctos cinerieus)
- lopping of approximately 1 hectare of preferred habitat and approximately 2 hectares of marginal habitat for koalas
Dwarf Kerrawang’s presence has not been confirmed within the clearing or lopping area. The vegetation clearance represents less than 0.1% of the potential Dwarf Kerrawang habitat within a 10km radius of the site, which is also expected to comprise a minor proportion of the known and potential habitat for the species within the surrounding Tilligerry State Conservation Area where the species is formally protected.
These losses of koala habitat are not expected to affect the viability of the koala population in the region. The vegetation clearance will result in regional losses of 0.05% preferred habitat and 0.1% marginal habitat.
5 Describe the steps that will be taken to minimise impacts on the listed species/ecological community, including contingency plans in the case of events that may adversely affect members of the species/ecological community.
Clearing of Drooping Red Gum (E. paramattensis subsp. decadens) woodland will be minimised as much as possible to reduce impacts on this species.No vegetation clearing will occur within the lopping zone. Depending on their location scattered emergent trees greater than 20 metres in height will require ongoing manual lopping in order to maintain the compliance of the runway take-off and approach surfaces. Drooping Red Gum rarely grows beyond 10 metres so individuals within the lopping zone are unlikely to be impacted.
Within the lopping zone, professional arborists will selectively lop emergent trees greater than 20 metres in height. Branches and other deadfall will be manually removed to reduce impacts to the shrub and ground layers. Lopping has less of an impact than broad-scale clearing. Periodic lopping of vegetation will be required to maintain vegetation heights below 20 metres.
Koalas are believed to occur in low numbers on RAAF Base Williamtown (possibly 1-3). The following protection measures will be implemented:
· Surveys for koalas will be undertaken in the affected areas prior to vegetation clearing.
· Vegetation clearing will be undertaken as sequential clearing and under the guidance of a koala spotter/handler.
· Koalas will be provided enough time to move out of the site without human intervention.
· Any tree in which a koala is present, or has a crown overlapping a tree where a koala is present, will not be cleared.
· Appropriate habitat links will be maintained within the clearing site and between the site and its adjacent areas, to allow koalas on the site to move out of the site.
Upon completion of vegetation clearing work, temporary fencing will be erected to exclude koalas from construction areas.
6 Attach a description of any research relevant to the affected species or communities that will be carried out in the course of or in conjunction with the proposed action, including:
A. a copy of the research proposal;
B. the names of the researchers and institutions involved in or supporting the research; and
C relationship of the researchers to the permit applicant, including any funding being provided by the permit applicant.
7 Will the action involve invasive techniques?
No Go to next question
Yes If permit relates to mammals, birds, reptiles or amphibians, attach evidence that the proposed methods have been approved by an independent Animal Ethics Committee (this may include a State or Territory ethics committee, even if the action is conducted in a Commonwealth area).
A permit can only be issued under one of the following criteria: the action
· will contribute significantly to the conservation of a listed species/ecological community (go to Question 8); or
· will be incidental to, and not the purpose of the action (go to Question 12); or
· is of particular significance to indigenous tradition (go to Question 15); or
· is necessary to control pathogen(s) (go to Question 18).
8 Are you applying on the basis that the action will contribute significantly to the conservation of a listed species/ecological community?
No Go to 12
Yes Go to next question
9 Why do you believe that the action will contribute significantly to the conservation of listed species/ecological communities, listed migratory species or listed marine species?
10 Will the proposed action implement the recommendations of any recovery plan or wildlife conservation plan in force for the species or ecological community that may be affected by the action?
Commonwealth recovery plans that are in force are available at
www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/recovery-list-common.html
Commonwealth wildlife conservation plans that are in force are available at www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/migratory/publications/shorebird-plan.html
State and territory recovery plans are available from state and territory environmental agencies.
No Go to next question
Yes Describe how this will be implemented.
11 Will the proposed action respond directly or indirectly to recommendations of any national or international organisation responsible for management of the affected species?
No Go to next question
Yes Describe how the proposed action will respond.
12 Are you applying on the basis that the impact of the action will be incidental to, and not the purpose of, the action?
No Go to 15
Yes Go to next question
13 Why do you believe that the impact of the action will be incidental to and not the purpose of the action?
The purpose of the action is to extend the runway and undertake other development works at RAAF Base Williamtown.Vegetation clearing and lopping is incidental to the action.
14 Why do you believe that the taking of the action will not adversely affect the:
i. survival or recovery in nature of the species or ecological community?
ii. conservation status of a listed species or ecological community?
A thorough assessment of the action against the EPBC Act Significant Impact Guidelines: Matters of National Environmental Significance is provided in the attached Ecological Impact Assessment report (SKM, 2013).
The report differentiates the vegetation clearing impacts according to its present land tenure (Table 1, for example). A substantial portion of the project footprint occurs on land that Defence does not control. Defence is unable to secure access over the land until approval to proceed with the project is approved by the Australian Government. To this time, very limited discussions with affected landholders have occurred and arrangements for securing access to external land unknown at this stage. The EPBC Act threatened species permit requirement applies only to Commonwealth areas. Defence will need to consider EPBC Act and any other relevant laws when land access arrangements are finalised in the future.
Dwarf Kerrawang (Rulingia prostrata)
Will the action:
Lead to a long-term decrease in the size of a population
Approximately 1 hectare of potential habitat for the Dwarf Kerrawang is likely to be cleared as a result of the project. Most of this area is either replanted as a result of rehabilitation efforts associated with historical mineral sand mining or is significantly modified and located within the operational area of RAAF Base Williamtown. Targeted surveys of the development footprints did not detect the species, however the species is cryptic. Given that such substantial populations have been previously recorded within one kilometre of the RAAF Base, it is unlikely the loss of this potential habitat for the species will result in a sustained decrease in the population of this species.
Reduce the area of occupancy of the species
Field surveys for the current project did not detect any individuals of the kerrawang, however the species is cryptic. The project will result in the loss of approximately 1 hectare of potential habitat which is 4% of potential kerrawang habitat across RAAF Base WIlliamtown. This loss represents a minor proportion (<0.05%) of the current area of occupancy of the species across the surrounding Tilligerry State Conservation Area, where the species and its habitat is formally protected.
Fragment an existing population into two or more populations.
Field surveys for the current project did not detect any individuals of the kerrawang. Suitable potential habitat for the species is already extensively fragmented and often modified. Thus, the action will not result in further fragmentation of the population such that the impact will be significant.
Adversely affect habitat critical to the survival of a species
Suitable potential habitat for the species within the project area is not recognised as critical to its survival.
Disrupt the breeding cycle of a population
The vegetation clearance calculations for the project footprint are minimal in comparison with the extent of intact native vegetation communities that surround RAAF Base Williamtown in the Tilligerry State Conservation Area. The species has been recorded in the Conservation Area to the east, northeast and west of the project area, totalling more than 1000 plant clumps (ERM, 2006). Just less than 3000 hectares of potential kerrawang (based on dominant flora species) is thought to exist within a 10 kilometre radius of the site. Therefore the project is unlikely to have a significant impact upon the breeding cycle of any important populations
Modify, destroy, remove, isolate or decrease the availability or quality of habitat to the extent that the species is likely to decline
Approximately 1 hectares of potential habitat for the Dwarf Kerrawang is to be cleared as a result of the project. Most of this area is either replanted as a result of rehabilitation efforts associated with historical mineral sand mining or is significantly modified and located within the operational area of RAAF Base Williamtown. This loss approximates 4% of potential kerrawang habitat found across the RAAF Base. Given that substantial known populations have been previously recorded within one kilometre of the RAAF Base property, it is unlikely the loss of this potential habitat for the species will result in a significant species decline. Just less than 3000 hectares of potential kerrawang habitat (based on dominant flora species) is thought to exist within a 10 kilometre radius of the site.
Result in invasive species that are harmful to an endangered species becoming established in the endangered species habitat
As the project involves the removal of vegetation within remnants, the surrounding areas could potentially be threatened by weed invasions, particularly African lovegrass and Bitou Bush. The implementation of a weed management plan to target any weed invasions that could arise from the project will significantly reduce the potential impacts of weed species. Weed invasion is considered to be a major threat to populations of Rulingia prostrata. The construction and operation of assets associated with the project will not generally be located in areas adjacent to potential kerrawang habitat therefore weeds are unlikely to have a significant impact upon the survival of the species in the project area.