Referral of proposed action - Rural City of Murray Bridge - SA.Gov.au

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Application - Version 2 of October 2009 EPBC Ref 2008/42114 Affected environmentThe Final EBS (August 2008: p10-14) Report ‘Flora and Fauna Assessment – Ferries McDonaldRoad Redevelopment Proposal’, Section 5 “Background Research” highlights matters of mandatoryand national significance in relation to the Project.This Report is accessible on Council’s website under “F” (Ferries McDonald Road) in the Fast Find“A-Z Services” section, titled “EBS Final Report”. The link is provided below:http://www.murraybridge.sa.gov.au/site/page.cfm?u=371#e679This comprehensive Report was submitted in May 2008 with Council’s original Applicationsubmission in both hardcopy and electronic CD version.As noted above in Section 3.5 (p16-17), requests for further preliminary information from theDepartment (DEWHA) have focussed on the Malleefowl and the three EPBC listed threatenedorchid species for this area being:Coloured Spider-orchid (Caladenia colorata);Greencomb Spider-orchid (Caladenia tensa);Metallic Sun-orchid (Thelymitra epipactoides)Neither of the above three species were recorded by EBS (2008:p44-47) during the time of theirassessment survey. Not one of the species has yet been identified near the Project site at thedate of this application submission. Apart from conducting its own surveys, Council has alsoconsulted with Ms Bridle (2008, 2009), Conservation Officer, Native Orchid Society of SouthAustralia Inc (NOSSA), Adelaide, SA on this topic.Researching recent and up-to-date information concerning the Malleefowl population within thearea has not been all too forthcoming.There are no known records or indications of Malleefowl deaths to date on Ferries McDonald Road.The above quoted EBS (August 2008:p54) Report, notes that although the Malleefowl is listedunder the Commonwealth EPBC Act 1999 as being migratory, it is estimated that a smallMalleefowl population comprising between 10-20 breeding pairs occurs within Ferries McDonaldConservation Park. The Report also highlights somewhat inconclusive records and maintenance ofsuch records.As was explained above in Section 3.3 (page14): Other road alignments cannot be created in thisgeneral area due to feedback received from a majority of the local residents who use FerriesMcDonald Road on a daily basis as well as their voiced concerns to Council during the publicconsultations which have been against ‘Option 2’ ie around western boundary of FMCP as this iswhere the anecdotal sightings of Malleefowl have been and not along the existing FerriesMcDonald Road.4.1 Matters of national environmental significanceThe proposed upgrade will be undertaken near a small proportion (approx 2.0 km stretch northsouth)of Ferries McDonald Conservation Park and adjacent to Monarto Conservation Park whichabuts the Project along the western side. The Parks contain remnant and planted nativevegetation as well as provide habitat to a variety of native and exotic fauna (refer section 4.2).4.1 (a) World Heritage PropertiesNo World Heritage properties are located within, near or adjacent to the Project area.Rural City of Murray Bridge – Ferries McDonald Rd (Ver 2) Page: 18 of 35
Application - Version 2 of October 2009 EPBC Ref 2008/42114.1 (b) National Heritage PlacesNo National Heritage places are located within, near or adjacent to the project area.4.1 (c) Wetlands of International Significance (Ramsar)The project area occurs within the same catchment as a declared Ramsar Wetland (the Riverland)and within 10 km of another Ramsar Wetland (the Coorong, Lakes Alexandrina and Albertcomplex).4.1 (d) Listed threatened species and ecological communitiesSeveral nationally threatened flora and fauna species are known to occur or have occurred in thevicinity of the project area; namely within the Ferries McDonald Conservation Park (FMCP) and/orMonarto Conservation Park. These species include:Malleefowl (Leipoa ocellata) (Vulnerable)Red-lored Whistler (Pachycephala rufogularis) (Vulnerable)*Black-eared Miner (Manorina melanotis) (Endangered)#Resin Wattle (Acacia rhetinocarpa) (Vulnerable)Coloured Spider-orchid (Caladenia colorata) (Endangered)Greencomb Spider-orchid (Caladenia tensa) (Endangered)Metallic Sun-orchid (Thelymitra epipactoides) (Endangered)* Not sighted in the area since the 1940s# Not sighted in the area since the 1970sMalleefowlA small Malleefowl population, comprising between 10-20 breeding pairs, is assumed andestimated to be present in FMCP (Carpenter personal communication 2006). Surveys undertakenalong the monitoring grid in 2006 located only one active Malleefowl mound. Database searchesrevealed 19 records for Malleefowl from the project area and the most recent record dates from2006 in FMCP (DEH 2006; SAM 2005).A local Resident petition (forty-two signatories) and voiced concerns to Council during the publicconsultations have been against a proposed option of constructing Ferries McDonald Road aroundthe western boundary of FMCP as this is where the anecdotal sightings of Malleefowl have been;not along the existing Ferries McDonald Road.To date, Council has only been able to source from Mr Peter Copley of DEH the survey map of‘Mound Activity 1989-2006 for the Ferries McDonald Conservation Park’. This was discussed onpage 6 of the 12 September 2008 submission where it can be noted that this 1989-2006Malleefowl Survey for FMCP has been restricted to the eastern side of the FMCP and showsindication of one active mound in 2006/07 located approximately 750 metres to the east of FerriesMcDonald & Chauncey’s Line Road Intersection.Dr Benshemesh’s Report to Council dated 13 November 2008 notes that:“the affect of the proposed road on Malleefowl is likely to be largely if not entirelyrestricted to the Malleefowl population within FMCP” (page 2) and that remnants ofnative vegetation do “exist to the north of FMCP, including Monarto ConservationPark, but these do not appear to be prime Malleefowl habitat” (page 1).In preparation for a stakeholder meeting on 18 May 2009, Mr Copley’s email correspondence of 4May 2009 to Council noted the following additional information as a direct response to Council’squestions raised in emails dated 30 April 2009:Rural City of Murray Bridge – Ferries McDonald Rd (Ver 2) Page: 19 of 35
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Referral of proposed action - Rural City of Murray Bridge - SA.Gov.au

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