Vasse Property Pty Ltd

Transcription

1 Department of Environment EPBC2008/4102 Annual Report Lots 124, 125, 176 and 177 Rendezvous Road Vasse Period 03 December December 2014 Draft 1 03 March 2015 Natural Area Holdings Pty Ltd 99C Lord Street, Whiteman, WA, 6076 Ph: (08) info@naturalarea.com.au

2 Disclaimer Natural Area Holdings Pty Ltd, trading as Natural Area Consulting Management Services (Natural Area), has prepared this report for the sole use of the Client and for the purposes as stated in the agreement between the Client and Natural Area under which this work was completed. This report may not be relied upon by any other party without the express written agreement of Natural Area. Natural Area has exercised due and customary care in the preparation of this document and has not, unless specifically stated, independently verified information provided by others. No other warranty, expressed or implied, is made in relation to the contents of this report. Therefore, Natural Area assumes no liability for any loss resulting from errors, omission or misrepresentations made by others. This document has been made at the request of the Client. The use of this document by unauthorised third parties without written permission from Natural Area shall be at their own risk, and we accept no duty of care to any such third party. Any recommendations, opinions or findings stated in this report are based on circumstances and facts as they existed at the time Natural Area performed the work. Any changes in such circumstances and facts upon which this document is based may adversely affect any recommendations, opinions or findings contained in this document. No part of this document may be copied, duplicated or disclosed without the express written permission of the Client and NAC. Unless otherwise indicated, all photographs are Natural Area. Document Control Version Date Prepared by Reviewed by Approved by Draft 1 03 March 2015 Sue Brand Luke Summers Luke Summers Natural Area Holdings Pty Ltd 2014 Page i

3 Executive Summary commissioned Natural Area Holdings Pty Ltd, trading as Natural Area Consulting Management Services, to prepare the Annual Report for submission to the Department of Environment (previously the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities (DSEWPaC) in relation to EPBC 2008/4102 for the period 3 December 2013 to 2 December Environmental approval conditions associated with the subdivision of Lots 124, 125, 176 and 177 Rendezvous Road Vasse include: limit clearing within Lot 124 Rendezvous Road to no more than 4.6 ha limit the removal of trees within Lots 125, 176 and 177 Rendezvous Road to no more than 415 trees prepare and implement a Conservation Area Management Plan (CAMP) approved by DSEWPaC plant a minimum of 525 trees and shrubs known to be primary black cockatoo feeding plants within the landscape protection area, Busselton Bypass Buffer and the POS plant a minimum of 340 trees that are known to be black cockatoo primary feeding plants within the streetscape advise DSEWPaC of the date of commencement of the action within 30 days of its occurrence maintain accurate records substantiating activities. Project approval was granted on 27 November 2012, with formal commencement on 03 December Since project commencement, all conditions have been complied with and which is demonstrated in this report. Natural Area Holdings Pty Ltd 2014 Page ii

4 Contents Executive Summary... ii 1.0 Introduction Review Conclusion... 7 Natural Area Holdings Pty Ltd 2014 Page iii

5 1.0 Introduction was granted approval by the Commonwealth Department of Environment (previously the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities (DSEWPaC)) to commence work associated with the proposed rural residential subdivision at Lots 124, 125, 176 and 177 Rendezvous Road (Figure 1) in November 2012, and works formally commenced on 03 December The first draft Annual Report was submitted February 2014, within the required 3 month period of the commencement anniversary of the commencement of construction. The draft report was review by the Department of Environment, and a final version submitted in March 2014 with some adjustments. This report is the second Annual Report, covering the period 03 December December Each of the approval conditions will be reviewed and commented on. Figure 1: Site boundary, Lots 124, 125, 176 and 177 Rendezvous Road, Vasse Natural Area Holdings Pty Ltd 2014 Page 1

6 2.0 Review Natural Area Consulting carried out the review of compliance conditions and commitments. Table 1 outlines the review of the compliance conditions and Table 2 compliance with commitments outlined in the Conservation Area Management Plan. Table 1: with approval conditions Number a The person taking the action must not clear more than 4.6 ha of native vegetation within Lot 124 Rendezvous Road Vasse, Western Australia The person taking the action must not clear more than 415 trees from Lots 125, 176, and 177 Rendezvous Road, Vasse, Western Australia To protect Black Cockatoo habitat, the person taking the action must prepare and submit a Conservation Area Management Plan (CAMP) detailing management of the designated Landscape Protection Area and Public Open Space (POS) area at Attachment A, for approval by the Minister. The CAMP must include: Retention of 5.8 ha in the Landscape Protection Area, as shown in Attachment A, for the purposes of Black Cockatoo habitat recovery, protection and conservation As at December 2014, a maximum of 1.97 ha was cleared from around Lot 124. No further clearing has occurred within Lot 124. Clearing is still to occur for building envelopes within Lots 1, and 3 10, with the maximum area allowed to be cleared being a further 1.8 ha. As at December 2014, a total of 276 trees had removed from Lots 125, 176, and 177. There has been no additional clearing of trees since then. Complete as per 2013 Annual Report no further action required at this time. Complete as per 2013 Annual Report no further action required. b Details on all vegetation clearing restrictions to be notified on Lot Titles Complete as per 2013 Annual Report no further action required. c d Notification to the department when the Landscape Protection Area and POS areas become ceded to the City of Busselton Details on the location of selective tree removal commitments needed to undertake drainage works in the POS area, as shown in Attachment A, and measures to promote Black Cockatoo habitat recovery, protection and conservation with the POS area Details of a program of annual monitoring of the health and condition of Black Cockatoo habitat in the POS and Landscape Protection Area as shown in Attachment A Not applicable Not applicable as yet Landscape Protection Area has not been ceded to the City of Busselton Detailed in Conservation Area Management Plan, Section 3.5.3; record of number of trees cleared for reporting purposes included at number 2 above. Sue Brand from Natural Area Consulting Management Services has visited the site of a number of occasions during Planting undertaken during 2013 is thriving, with further planting occurring during e f Measures to manage weeds and feral pests Arum Lily almost eradicated from POS area, small number of individual plants in Landscape Protection Area. Other weed control has occurred on an as required basis. The Landscape protection area, POS and Busselton Bypass are all fenced. Natural Area Holdings Pty Ltd 2014 Page 2

7 Number g Bushfire prevention and management measures Fire management plan prepared as part of the development process and approved in 2009, available on The Woods Rendezvous website under the management plans tab. h Erosion control measures Not applicable at present no evidence of erosion. Access management, including pathways, signage and fencing Revegetation areas fenced, signage installed along POS area indicating revegetation is occurring. Fences installed around June No further action required at this time. i j Performance indicators and corrective measures Included in Conservation Area Management Plan; none required at present. (August 2013) k Monitoring and reporting measures Visits to the site indicate that the revegetation activities have been successful, and that 2013 plants are thriving. l m Roles and responsibilities of contractors, staff, and the person taking the action Time frames for the implementation and management of the above measures The CAMP must be submitted to the Department and be approved by the Minister, prior to the commencement of construction. If the Minister approves the CAMP, the approved plan must be implemented To mitigate the impact on Black Cockatoos, the person taking the action must: Within 12 months of commencement of construction progressively undertake direct replanting of a minimum of 525 trees and shrubs within the landscape protection area, Busselton Bypass Buffer and POS area as shown in Attachment A, consisting of plant species known to be primary feeding plants for Black Cockatoos. Included in Conservation Area Management Plan, Section 6.0. No further action required at present. Included in Conservation Area Management Plan, Section 5.0; implementation commenced 2013 with weed control, fencing and planting within the streetscape, the POS and the Busselton Bypass. Works have continued during 2014, and have included planting and weed control. No additional fencing is required at this time. CAMP approved 27 November 2012, as confirmed in a letter from Barbara Jones, and construction commenced 03 December 2012, as indicated in an to Matt Barwick on 05 December No further action required. A total of 1,318 primary feeding plants were been planted during August and September 2013 as follows: 318 Agonis flexuosa 110 Banksia littoralis 500 Corymbia calophylla 490 Hakea varia These have been planted in the POS area and the Bypass Buffer area. 4 a The planting of the trees and shrubs must be completed within two years from the commencement of construction. The required minimum number of plants was installed in September 2013, and are thriving. No further action required at this time. Planting of more than 1000 plants has occurred within the required period. No further action required at this time. After two years from completion, an 80% survival rate must be obtained. Not applicable as yet Not applicable as yet; the majority of the plants were installed during 2013, so assessment of 80% survival will be reviewed during If this is not obtained, replanting of trees must be undertaken to gain an 80% survival rate. Not applicable as yet Not applicable as yet; if the assessment carried out during 2015 indicates infill planting is required, plants will be ordered and installed. Natural Area Holdings Pty Ltd 2014 Page 3

8 Number Within 12 months of commencement of construction progressively undertake direct replanting of 340 trees that can be used as primary feeding plants for Black Cockatoos, within street scaping. 250 mature Agonis flexuosa (Peppermint) trees were planted in June - July 2013 along the main entry to the subdivision and other roads within Stage 1, and are thriving. Hakea varia has also been installed within the streetscape along the edge of the central POS and Melaleuca incana has been installed along the central road verges, with plantings now totalling in excess of 400 plants, and exceeding the required number. b c d The planting of the trees must be completed within two years from commencement of construction. After two years of completion of planting, and 80% survival rate must be obtained. If this is not obtained, replating of trees must be undertaken to gain an 80% survival rate. All primary feeding plants within the Busselton Bypass Buffer as shown in Attachment A must be setback a minimum 40 m from the Busselton Bypass to reduce potential mortality of Black Cockatoos from motor vehicle strike. All plantings identified in 4a and 4b must be free of Dieback (Phytophthora cinnamomi). Additional mature Agonis flexuosa plants will be installed along other road verges as further stages of the development occur. Complete plantings total more than 400 trees. Not applicable as yet Not applicable as yet; assessment of survival will occur during 2015 Not applicable as yet Not applicable as yet; assessment of survival will occur during 2015, with any replanting carried out if required. Documented in the Conservation Area Management Plan in section 3.5.4, property boundary approx. 50 m back from Busselton Bypass. No further action required. The source of all tubestock was the Geographe Landcare Nursery, which is accredited through the Nursery Industry Accreditation System Australia (NIASA), which requires nurseries to have appropriate hygiene measures in place to prevent the spread of dieback. The website for the nursery is Natural Area Holdings Pty Ltd 2014 Page 4

9 Number Within 30 days after the commencement of the action, the person taking the action must advise the department in writing of the actual date of commencement. The person taking the action must maintain accurate records substantiating all activities associated with or relevant to the conditions of approval, including measures taken to implement the management plan required by this approval, and make them available upon request to the department. Such records may be subject to audit by the department or an independent auditor in accordance with section 458 of the EPBC Act, or used to verify compliance with the conditions of approval. Summaries of audits will be posted on the department s website. The results of audits may also be publicised through the general media. Within three months of every 12 month anniversary of the commencement of construction, the person taking the action must publish a report on their website addressing compliance with each of the conditions of this approval, including implementation of any management plans as specified in the conditions. Documentary evidence providing proof of date of publication and noncompliance with any of the conditions of this approval must be provided to the department at the same time as the compliance report is published. If the person taking the action wishes to carry out any activity otherwise in accordance with the management plan as specified in the conditions, the person taking the action must submit to the department for the Minister s written approval a revised version of that management plan. The varied activity shall not commence until the Minister has approved the varied management plan in writing. The Minister will not approve a varied management plan unless the revised management plan would result in an equivalent or improved environmental outcome over time. If the Minister approves the revised management plan that management plan must be implemented in place of the management plan originally approved. If the Minister believes that it is necessary or convenient for the better production of Listed Threatened Species and Communities to do so, the Minister may request that the person taking the action make specified revisions to the management plan specified in the conditions and submit the revised management plan for the Minister s written approval. The person taking the action must comply with any such request. The revised approved management plan must be implemented. Unless the Minister has approved the revised management plan then the person taking the action must continue to implement the management plan originally approved, as sent to Matt Barwick on 05 December 2012 indicating the project commenced on 03 December 2012; reconfirmed in letter to Caroline Oates dated 22 February No further action required. Records maintained in spreadsheet format by Natural Area Consulting. Management plans available on the Natural Area Consulting website Letters and other documents are maintained by both Natural Area Consulting and. Three months of the first 12 months of commencement is 03 March. The second Annual Report submitted to Sam Wagstaff at the Department of Environment (previously SEWPaC) via on Tuesday 03 March The Conservation Area Management Plan, the 2013 Annual Report and the 2014 Annual Report have been published on Natural Area s website ( on Tuesday 03 March The 2013 compliance report also appears on the project website ( and the 2014 report will be uploaded when it is approved by the Department of Environment. Annual Report prepared and submitted on Tuesday 03 March Not applicable No adjustments required to the management plan at this stage. Not applicable No requests received from the Minister as at 02 December 2014 Natural Area Holdings Pty Ltd 2014 Page 5

10 Number specified in the conditions If, at any time after five years from the date of this approval, the person taking the action has not substantially commenced the action, then the person taking the action must not substantially commence the action without the written agreement of the Minister. Unless otherwise agreed to in writing by the Minister, the person taking the action must publish the management plan referred to in these conditions of approval on their website. The management plan must be published on the website within 1 month of being approved. Action commenced on 03 December as per to Matt Barwick dated 05 December 2012 and Letter to Caroline Oates dated 22 February No further action required. The Conservation Area Management Plan is available on Natural Area s website via the following link: They are also available at the project website via the following link: and appear under the management plans tab. Table 2: with commitments described in the Conservation Area Management Plan Section Page Commitment Planning and implementing rehabilitation and revegetation activities Retain as many trees within POS area as possible Significant trees Building envelopes Preparation of the Conservation Area Management Plan approved by DSEWPaC in November 2012 Implementation of plan commenced in year 1 (2013) and has continued in year 2 (2014) Further planting has occurred in year 2, particularly within Busselton Bypass buffer Site walked by developer, engineering contractors and City of Busselton representatives in December 2012, with no further clearing within this area. No further action required as drainage works complete within the POS. Sue Brand from Natural Area walked the site and marked all trees to be retained with flagging tape prior to clearing activities occurring; information provided to prospective purchasers. No further action required. Requirement for building envelopes to be decided in consultation with the City of Busselton at building approval stage; included as a site requirement condition on the WAPC endorsed Development Guide Plan. No further action required Revegetation Implementation as described in Table 1, with works commencing in 2013 and continuing in Revegetation methodology Tubestock sourced from NIASA accredited nurseries Plant species included those that are listed as being Black Cockatoo primary feeding plants Desired ratio largely able to be accommodated; has been influenced by tubestock availability Year one plantings thriving with minimal loss Year two plantings progressing well Monitoring Site visits indicate year one plants are thriving, at present, it is envisaged that little infill planting will be required Weed control Weed control occurs as required Arum Lily well under control, as observed during site visits by Natural Area Control of flat and grassy weeds occurred in November Pest animal control Revegetation sites fenced in June 2013, largely successful in keeping kangaroos away from tubestock planted The culling of kangaroos is no longer feasible with Lots being sold and dwellings built Bushfire prevention and management See Table Erosion control See Table Access management Landscape protection and Busselton Bypass buffer areas both fenced June 2013; no further action required Implementation Complaint Implementation of the Conservation Area Management Plan is well progressed, with year one plantings thriving Additional planting has occurred in year two. Natural Area Holdings Pty Ltd 2014 Page 6

11 3.0 Conclusion has demonstrated that it has complied with the approval conditions detailed in DSEWPaCs Approval Notice Development Guide Plan for 46 ha Residential Subdivision, Vasse, WA (EPBC 2008/4102). The activity commenced on 03 December 2012, with substantial implementation of the CAMP during 2013, and continued during Vasse Property is fully compliant with the requirement to install a minimum of 525 trees of preferred cockatoo habitat species, with in excess of 1000 plants installed. Similarly, more than 400 plants were installed within the streetscape, with the requirement being for 340. Weed control and pest animal control continues on an as required basis. Surveys to determine survival will occur later in Natural Area Holdings Pty Ltd 2014 Page 7