Surveys for arboreal mammals, Long-Footed Potoroo and Spiny ...

DSE undertook extensive flora and fauna surveys across East Gippsland from
1983-1993.
The Brown Mountain Creek catchment is in Brodribb Forest Block which received a
prelogging survey in 1986 (report no 19). This site of the proposed coupes was
not surveyed for arboreal mammals, nor was it identified as a Site of Significance.
The extreme northern end of the catchment was identified as a Site of
Significance. This is now part of The Gap Scenic Reserve.
In 25.6 hours of spotlighting during the survey undertaken in 1986, 5 Greater
Gliders and 13 Yellow-bellied Gliders were detected. No sites had observed
arboreal mammals densities which met above thresholds for high density.
Environment East Gippsland states that surveys undertaken on 22-25 January
2009 achieve the glider densities required for this prescription to be applied.
Neither DSE or VicForests routinely undertake pre-logging coupe surveys.
Long-footed Potoroo
The Long-footed Potoroo is listed on Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988 and it is
listed in the Advisory List Of Threatened Vertebrate Fauna In Victoria (DSE 2007)
as endangered.
It is also listed as endangered under the Commonwealth Environment Protection
and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.
Long-footed Potoroos are restricted to the forests of Great Dividing Range in
eastern Victoria. They are ground dwelling and are strongly associated with forest
with a dense understorey. They live almost entirely on hypogeous fungi. There
are about 60 confirmed Long-footed Potoroo site in East Gippsland.
Prescription
An Action Statement (No 58) was published in 1995.
Under the current Action Statement, Long-footed Potoroo sites generate a Special
Management Area (SMA) of 450-500 ha until 17,500 ha of SMAs is reached.
Timber harvesting and new roading is not permitted in SMAs. Each SMA is to have
3