Warrawee Substation - Review of Environmental Factors

Assessment of the environmental impacts and risksAreas of the site which were very damp would support small numbers of common frogspecies which were recorded during the site visit. Eastern Water Skinks were alsoobserved basking near the culvert outlets. The drainage line to the south of the siteand flooded grassy areas would provide habitat for these common, generalist frogsand reptiles and other such species able to persist in urban environments. There is nohabitat for any threatened frogs or aquatic fauna at the site.Conservation significanceThe desktop assessment highlighted the following threatened biota and MNES listedunder the TSC, FM and/or EPBC Acts which have been previously recorded or arepredicted to occur within the locality of the site:10 threatened ecological communities (10 listed under the TSC Act, three underthe EPBC Act).33 threatened flora species (32 TSC Act, 27 EPBC Act).47 threatened fauna species (44 TSC Act, one FM Act, 21 EPBC Act).one endangered population (listed under the TSC Act only).12 migratory species (listed under the EPBC Act only).one National Heritage Place (listed under the EPBC Act only).Of these, four threatened fauna and two migratory species were considered to havethe potential to occur within the site at least on occasion, based in the habitatspresent. These species are discussed below.Threatened ecological communitiesNo vegetation corresponding to a threatened ecological community was recordedwithin the site. Blue Gum High Forest, a critically endangered ecological communityunder both the TSC and EPBC Acts, is known to occur to the north of the siteadjacent to Warrawee Station (RailCorp 2004). The site may historically havesupported this threatened ecological community, but would have very limited capacityto regenerate given the historic soil disturbance and current land use and degree ofweed infestation.Threatened floraNo threatened flora species were observed during the site inspection. Most of the siteis cleared of all native vegetation and regularly mown, while areas with vegetation aredominated by weeds and garden ornamental plants and is therefore considered to beunsuitable habitat for threatened flora species. Given the degree of historic andongoing disturbance, it is considered very unlikely that any threatened flora specieswould persist within the soil seedbank at the site.Threatened faunaOf the 47 threatened fauna species highlighted by the desktop assessment, themajority are considered to be highly unlikely to occur at the site based on the habitatspresent. Four mobile threatened fauna species (Grey-headed Flying-fox, PowerfulOwl, an endangered population of the Gang-gang Cockatoo and Eastern Bentwing-Warrawee Substation Project/Review of Environmental FactorsPage 22 of 64