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

Application - Version 2 of October 2009 EPBC Ref 2008/4211undertaken in 2004 and 2005 failed to locate this species. Because the roadside vegetationadjacent to Monarto CP is not considered optimal habitat for the species (EBS 2008), it is unlikelythat the proposed upgrade will significantly impact on the species.Comments for EPBC listed threatened orchid species were also addressed in Section 4.1 (d) Listedthreatened species and ecological communities, page 19.5.1 (e) Likely impact on the members of a listed migratory species or their habitatComments for Malleefowl are the same as those for Section 4.1 (d) Listed threatened species andecological communities, page 19.The Rainbow Bee-eater is a spring/summer migrant that breeds in South Australia. Road cuttingswith sandy banks are considered ideal nesting sites, consequently this species could be foundnesting along the road reserve within the project area (Carpenter pers. comm. 2006). However, itis unlikely that the proposed upgrade will affect the Rainbow Bee-eater significantly because theupgrade will not substantially modify, destroy or isolate important habitat for the species, result inthe introduction of an invasive species that is harmful to the Rainbow Bee-eater or seriouslydisrupt any stage of a significant proportion of the species’ population.5.1 (f) Likely impact on the environment in part of the Commonwealth marine areaNo impact is likely since no Commonwealth marine areas are located within or adjacent to theproject area.5.2 Likely impacts for nuclear actions, actions affectingCommonwealth land or actions taken by the CommonwealthNo impact will occur for nuclear actions since no nuclear action areas are located within oradjacent to the project area. The project will take place on Commonwealth land (Ferries McDonaldCP), however the overall impact of the project will be minimal since the amount of vegetation tobe cleared is relatively small and constitutes an upgrade of an already existing road rather thanthe development of a new road. Additionally, the sections that pass through or are adjacent tothe Conservation Parks are relatively small.Several threatened species have been identified as existing in or near the project area (detailedpreviously) in the Conservation Parks (Commonwealth land). It is considered that impacts on thesespecies will be minimal, either because enough suitable habitats will remain, because the potentialloss of individuals would not be substantial enough to affect the overall population, or because thespecies has not been recorded in proximity to the project area for a number of years. Malleefowlmay be affected by the proposed upgrade, not necessarily by the construction phase, but throughroad mortality facilitated by the increased traffic flow that is anticipated after the upgrade. Thepotential impacts on Commonwealth land include the possible introduction of weeds onearthmoving and other construction equipment and increased road mortality for Malleefowl. Otherimpacts on Malleefowl may include disturbance during their breeding season. These issues havebeen addressed through Council’s Environment Management Plan (EMP) for the Project that waswritten by consultant’s EBS.It is unlikely that the upgrade will significantly affect soil on Commonwealth land as the road isalready in place and the proposal constitutes an upgrade. No important landscapes or landforms,water bodies, Heritage places or items, or renewable or non-renewable items are situated in theproject area.Rural City of Murray Bridge – Ferries McDonald Rd (Ver 2) Page: 28 of 35