Terrestrial Ecology Services for the Murrumbidgee to Googong Water Transfer Project (M2G) Implementation of Compensatory Habitat Offset Package

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1 ABN Simon Webber ACTEW Project Manager Murumbidgee to Googong Water Transfer Bulk Water Alliance GPO Box 366 Canberra City ACT Terrestrial Ecology Services for the Murrumbidgee to Googong Water Transfer Project (M2G) Implementation of Compensatory Habitat Offset Package 24 January 2012 Dear Simon, RE: M2G Terrestrial Ecology Services Project Status This letter details the current status of the M2G Terrestrial Ecology Services project being undertaken by Eco Logical Australia (ELA), with particular focus on the current status of tasks relevant to the implementation of the M2G Compensatory Habitat Offset site at Williamsdale, ACT (refer to Figures 1 to 4 at Appendix A). The purpose of this letter is to demonstrate that the offset package has been implemented by briefly describing those tasks which have already been completed, and to describe the tasks that are currently in preparation for the delivery of the offset package. This letter has been prepared to assist ACTEW in responding to the NSW Department of Planning (DoP) in relation to the project conditions of approval, specifically, condition 2.9 described below. 2.9 Areas specified in Table 1 [of the approval package] that are expected to be cleared shall be offset utilising the compensatory habitat offset package described in documentation represented by Condition 1.1 c). The package located on the Williamsdale Property in the Australian Capital Territory shall be implemented prior to commissioning of the project. The package shall offset in perpetuity the value of habitat lost as a result of the project. A final review of the compensatory habitat offset package shall be provided to the Director-General in the Operation Environment Management Plan. This version shall: a) demonstrate the implementation of the offset; b) describe how the offset shall be guaranteed and monitored in perpetuity; and c) demonstrate a post construction review has been undertaken that confirms the extent of clearing was not greater than predicted. If clearing was greater, then the package shall demonstrate how the offset was modified and increased to the value of the actual habitat lost. The following table describes the current status of works. The commencement of the vegetation condition monitoring program within the offset is regarded as representing the implementation of the offset package. Page 1

2 OFFSET IMPLEMENTATION ACTIONS TASK DETAILS STATUS COMPLETION DATE Establishment of The M2G Offset site has been divided into a A preliminary map of the M2G Offset Site Completed Management Units for the series of Management Units (MUs) that will Management Units has been completed Offset Site guide the adoption and implementation of and is attached to this advice letter the various site management plans (Figures 2 and 3 at Appendix A of this described below. The process of how each letter). (Condition 2.9a) MU is applied is based largely on the (Note: as further work is undertaken at the site, the MU map is expected to evolve and be updated as required) type/condition of vegetation, extent of weeds, and erosion factors. Undertake a Vegetation The Vegetation Condition Monitoring Condition Monitoring Program comprises two main actions, the Program implementation of the field survey (Condition 2.9b part) monitoring (to guide the rehabilitation actions) and the undertaking of the required actions to meet the rehabilitation targets established in the Offset and Rehabilitation Management Plan (ELA, 2010). Implementation of the Field Surveys Field Surveys The field survey component has been The first round of field implemented through the establishment surveys has been completed of the monitoring plots within the offset with ongoing surveys to be site, including collection of baseline data. conducted twice per year, The location of the monitoring plots is including an ongoing review provided in the accompanying Figures 2 of the on-site conditions and 3 at Appendix A of this letter. relevant to the target criteria. Undertaking Rehabilitation Actions A plan to implement the required rehabilitation actions within the offset site is currently in preparation and will be completed in early 2012 with the on- On-site Rehabilitation Actions On-site rehabilitation actions are scheduled to commence in early 2012 ground rehabilitation actions to commence thereafter. Construction Impact Audit (Condition 2.9c) The construction Impact Audit is described The audit has been completed with the COMPLETED December in the Construction Impact Audit Report. calculations confirming that the final 2011 The audit aims to confirm that the current construction impact on BGGW has offset arrangements being implemented increased marginally. However the remain adequate in relation to the final relative proportion of impacts on good- construction impacts of the project. moderate condition vegetation to poor condition vegetation has increased markedly as a result of the improvement in the vegetation condition, specifically within the hard rock realignment, due to the good rainfalls in late 2010 and The existing BGGW offset provision has been increased to meet the required Ha of BGGW to be provided as offset for the project (see additional information in relation to this condition on page 4 below). Page 2

3 OFFSET DELIVERY TASKS TASK DETAILS STATUS COMPLETION DATE Offset Landscape The Offset Landscape Rehabilitation The details of the Offset Landscape First Draft to be completed Rehabilitation Management Plan (LRMP) will define the Rehabilitation Management Plan are by early Management Plan (LRMP) on-site actions to be taken in relation to currently being determined and work on a revegetation and weed management. draft plan will commence in January 2012 It will also include the monitoring program to be established in relation to vegetation condition within the offset site. NOTE: The current rehabilitation actions for the M2G Project are detailed in the BWA Landscape Rehabilitation Management Plan (BWA-M2G-EN-ECP-008-1, October 2010). The Offset LRMP does not replace this document, rather it adds to it, to include specific actions related to the rehabilitation and management of the offset site. Bushfire Action Plan A Bushfire Action Plan will be prepared in A draft Bushfire Action Plan has been First Draft to be completed accordance with the requirements of the commenced. by early A draft plan has been commenced. First Draft to be completed ACT Planning for Bushfire Risk Mitigation General Code and best practice management. The plan will detail requirements for ongoing management of the site in relation to bushfire risk mitigation and will include outcomes for fuel load management and establishment/management of Asset Protection Zones (if required). Sediment Erosion Control A Sediment Erosion Control Plan will be Plan prepared in accordance with best practice by early management. The plan will detail the existing areas of problematic erosion within the site as well as the management actions to be undertaken to mitigate sediment and erosion impacts within the M2G Offset Site. Feral Animal Management The Feral Animal Management Plan will be Plan prepared to identify the potential pests that A draft plan has been commenced. First Draft to be completed by early may be problematic within the M2G Offset Site, including a monitoring program to identify when pest are causing environmental harm/nuisance and a recommended strategies for control (which may include reporting/liaison with agencies and/or landcare groups for undertaking any eradication methods). Page 3

4 Grazing Management Plan A Grazing Management Plan may be A preliminary assessment of the First Draft to be completed required subject to finalising negotiations pros/cons of having grazing occur within by early 2012 (subject to with stakeholders on whether grazing by the offset site has been undertaken. The outcome of further stock will be undertaken within the offset outcome of this assessment is that consultation) site. generally the benefits of grazing are often outweighed by the negative impacts associated with this activity. At present, grazing in the offset by stock is not supported. The final outcome is to be resolved through further consultation with stakeholders. Fencing Plan A Fencing plan will be prepared to identify Investigations into the requirements for A draft plan for the fencing the location and type(s) of fencing to be fencing at the offset site have arrangements at the site will undertaken within the offset site, including commenced be completed by early 2012 areas where existing fencing requires replacement as well as areas where new fencing is required to better manage/protect sensitive areas within the offset site. (Note: final fencing plan may be affected by outcomes of feral animal management plan, specifically, whether a certain type of fence is required at property boundaries to control entry into the site by feral fauna) NSW DoP Condition 2.9 c As mentioned, a Construction Impact Audit has been undertaken (including both the field survey and the desktop analysis components) and the results have been confirmed and finalised. A report has been prepared which details the results of the audit, compares these against the expected impact from the EIS, and discusses these results in the context of the required offsets package. This report will be submitted separately as a standalone report. The findings of the report reveal that the final impact of the M2G construction on Box Gum Grassy Woodland is ha which is an increase of 0.24 ha from the original anticipated impact of 11.1 ha. The report also revealed that the required offset for impacts on BGGW is now ha which is 9.52 ha more than envisaged in the original offset package (72.5 ha). The primary reason for this increase is the improvement to vegetation condition within the pipeline corridor that occurred following good rainfall during 2010 and 2011, after the initial environmental impact assessment had been prepared, but prior to clearing being undertaken. This increase in condition has resulted in the offset ratio increasing from 4:1 to 8:1 for approximately 4 ha of vegetation removal. A supplementary offset area located directly adjacent to and east of the existing northern offset site is proposed (refer to Figure 4 at Appendix A of this letter). This supplementary area contains 6.19 ha of BGGW that meets the EPBC listing criteria (constituting 4.27 ha of BGGW and 1.92 ha of BGGW (Secondary Grassland)), and a further 4.09 ha of vegetation that is regarded as BGGW but does not currently fully satisfy the EPBC listing criteria on account of the disturbed nature of the ground cover and understorey vegetation layers. It is understood that the offset provisions, including the supplementary offset package, will also meet the offset requirements for the ACT and NSW. Page 4

5 The offset area will be rehabilitated with particular focus on removing weeds and replanting native grass and forb species such that the area in future will meet the EPBC listing criteria for BGGW. This would then achieve a total area of ha of BGGW (constituting ha of EPBC listed BGGW and Secondary Grassland and of non-listed BGGW) within the M2G Offset Site. The BGGW offset is packaged into a total offset site of ha, which includes ha of native Eucalyptus dives/e. bridgesiana and E. rossi/callitris vegetation. This package exceeds the offset requirement of ha of BGGW as determined by the final construction impact audit results. In relation to implementation of the offset site, we can confirm that the following areas have been implemented to provide the ha of required BGGW as offset for the M2G project: Offset Area Southern Northern Supplementary Total BGGW ha ha ha ha E. dives/ E. bridgesiana ha ha ha ha E. rossi / Callitris 0.0 ha ha 0.0 a Ha Total ha ha ha ha I trust the information contained above is sufficient for ACTEW s purposes in understanding the current status of the Terrestrial Ecology Services Contract as well as to inform ACTEW of how it is progressing with regard to satisfying specific approval conditions. Should you require any further information, please do not hesitate to contact me by at samp@ecoaus.com.au or by phone on Regards, Sam Patmore Senior Environmental Consultant, Eco Logical Australia, Canberra Page 5

6 Appendix A: Figures and plans showing location of Monitoring Plots within the M2G Offset Site and proposed supplementary offset site Page 6

7 Figure 1. Location of the M2G Offset Site and the ACTEW Transgrid Offset Site at Williamsdale, ACT Page 7

8 Figure 2. Location of Monitoring Plots, Management Units and significant weeds within the northern portion of the M2G Offset Site Page 8

9 Figure 3. Location of Monitoring Plots, Management Units and significant weeds within the southern portion of the M2G Offset Site Page 9

10 Figure 4. Proposed supplementary offset plan Page 10