offset site report : chepstowe offset site, ntgvvp survey

© Biosis 2018 - Leaders in Ecology and Heritage Consulting 1

14 June 2018

Dijana Dragovic Deputy Project Director Major Programs and Projects Office (MPPO) Department of Justice and Regulation 121 Exhibition Street Melbourne VIC 3000

Dear Dijana

Offset Site Report: Chepstowe offset site, NTGVVP survey Project no. 25271

Introduction A vegetation assessment was undertaken to quantify the extent and condition of Natural Temperate Grassland of the Victorian Volcanic Plain (NTGVVP) and potential habitat for Golden Sun Moth Synemon plana (GSM) on part of a pastoral property located at 346 Carngham Streatham Road, Chepstow. The property is approximately 32 km west of Ballarat and 130 km west of the Melbourne central business district (Figure 1). It is also within the Victorian Volcanic Plain bioregion.

The Chepstowe property has been identified as a potential offset site for impacts to NTGVVP and GSM associated with the development of the Youth Justice Centre west of Werribee at 215 Farm Road Cocoroc 3030 (Referral 2017/8049). The purpose of the survey was to confirm the presence and extent of NTGVVP and provide a condition assessment using the habitat hectares vegetation quality assessment protocols (DSE 2004). The assessment was also used to delineate the most suitable areas within the property not currently identified as an offset area under either the State’s BushBroker offset scheme or the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) Offsets Policy, to provide offsets for both NTGVVP and GSM.

Methods The area surveyed is within a pastoral property located at 346 Carngham Streatham Road, Chepstowe in Victoria. The section assessed for NTGVVP (covering over 30 hectares) includes all or parts of Lots 7A&B, 8A&B, 9B, 10B, and 11A & B of 13\PP2376 (SPI) identified as McDonalds Road within the Parish of Chepstowe and Pyrenees Shire (the NTGVVP offset area). Areas also within these parcels of land that did not qualify as NTGVVP were assessed for their potential to provide GSM habitat.

Additional areas of land to the north of Carngham Streatham Road were also assessed for GSM habitat. This included over 20 hectares in the northern portions of 4A and 5A of 11\PP2376 (SPI) identified as 346 Carngham Streatham Road also within the Parish of Chepstowe and Pyrenees Shire.

The site was surveyed by Stephen Mueck on 17 & 18 May 2018 (accredited DELWP vegetation quality assessor HH173 – current until 19/4/2020). Data was collected to complete a habitat hectare assessment (DSE 2004). Notes were also taken as to the presence and extent of pest plants and animals, including the location and extent of target weeds such as woody weeds.

The Commonwealth guide to identifying the NTGVVP community provides a flow chart for identifying 1). If the community is present and 2). If the community is of sufficient quality for protection under the EPBC Act (referred to as “national listing”) (DSEWPaC 2011b). This reference was used to identify the presence of NTGVVP within the investigation area. The listing advice for the community (TSSC 2008) provides further information about conservation values of the community as listed in the table below.

The habitat characteristics of GSM habitat described in DEWHA (2009b) were used to confirm the presence of GSM habitat. Abzeco (2018) provided at the end of this letter was used to confirm the presence of the species.


Results NTGVVP was identified as being present over the majority of area surveyed. However, several areas that did not meet the definition of NTGVVP were excluded from this mapping including areas around farm dams. The assessment of the vegetation against the criteria for national listing for NTGVVP is provided in Table 1.

Areas not meeting the definition of NTGVVP but still supporting food plants for GSM were mapped as GSM habitat (in addition to the GSM habitat provided by the NTGVVP area). The GSM offset area in the north of the property also showed micro-topography (gilgais) associated good quality with GSM habitat.

The report provided by Abzeco confirms the presence of GSM within the broader patch of vegetation, with records provided from the 2017/18 survey season (Attachment 1).

The proposed offset site and GSM records is shown in Figure 2.

A total of 78 indigenous and 36 introduced species were recorded during the site inspection from land both north and south of the Carngham Streatham Road (Appendix 1). A Habitat Score of 0.61 was allocated to the native vegetation observed, with details outlined in Table 2. This is a high score for Plains Grassland indicating high species diversity and good grassland structure for recruitment. Please note that at no time were state definitions of native vegetation used to map the extent and location of NTGVVP.

A number of photos were taken across the proposed offset areas some of which are provided at the end of this report (Appendix 2).

Table 1 NTGVVP assessment results (TSSC 2008, DSEWPaC 2011b)

Condition Assessment according to TSSC 2008 & DSEWPaC 2011b

Step 1: Is the Natural Temperate Grassland ecological community present at my site?

Does the patch occur within the Victorian Volcanic Plain?

YES

Is the site dominated by native vegetation? YES

Are trees absent or sparse such that the projective foliage cover of native trees in the patch is 5% or less?

YES

Is the ground vegetation layer dominated by native grasses and/or other native herbs?

YES The grassland ecological community is present. Go to Step 2.

Step 2: Is the patch of sufficient quality for national listing?

Is the patch bigger than or equal to 0.05 hectares (e.g. 10 x 50m OR 20 x 25m)?

YES

The dominant native species represent at least 50% of the native species and the perennial tussock cover; OR non-grass weeds comprise less than 30% of ground cover; OR native forbs (wildflowers) comprise at least 50% of total vegetation cover during spring – summer.

YES. The patch of the ecological community is of sufficient quality to consider EPBC protection.

Conservation values (from TSSC 2008)

The conservation value of a patch of the Natural Temperate Grassland of the Victorian Volcanic Plain ecological community is enhanced if it shows any of the following features: • A high native plant species richness

• The site is high diversity with 78 native species recorded during the assessment.

• While no definition of “large” is given, the patch is embedded in a landscape context of greater than 500 hectares of farmland, much of which is native grassland of varying quality.


• Large patch size • Minimal weed invasion • Presence of threatened plant and/or

animal species • Presence of natural exposed rock

platforms and outcrops and • Presence of mosses, lichens or a soil crust

on the soil surface.

• Weed invasion varies throughout the patch with the highest cover in any one area being 25%.

• Areas of NTGVVP are in good condition with areas dominated by Kangaroo Grass Themeda triandra and supports a range of native herbs indicative of higher quality grassland, including Blue Pincushion Brunonia australis, Milkmaids Burchardia umbellata and Lemon Beauty-heads Calocephalus citreus.

• Basalt surface and embedded rock is present throughout the site. • The natural surface crust is present with mosses and lichens found

throughout.

Table 2 Vegetation condition results, Chepstowe Property

Site ID 1 Habitat Zone ID A EVC Name - # Plains Grassland (EVC 132-61)

Max Score Score

Site

Co

ndit

ion

Large Old Trees 10 Not Applicable Canopy Cover 5 Not Applicable Lack of Weeds 15 4 Understorey 25 20

Recruitment 10 10

Organic Matter 5 3

Logs 5 Not Applicable

Total Site Score (standardised) 50.45

Land

scap

e Va

lue

Patch Size 10 8

Neighbourhood 10 2

Distance to Core 5 1

Total Landscape Score 11

HABITAT SCORE 100 61.45

Habitat points = #/100 1 0.61

Habitat Zone area (ha) 22.32

Habitat hectares (Hha) 13.62

Discussion A total of 22.32 ha of native grassland were identified that corresponds to the NTGVVP community listed under the EPBC Act and is of higher quality than the vegetation at the impact site (Figure 2).

Areas of NTGVVP were typically dominated by a range of indigenous grasses including Kangaroo Grass Themeda triandra, Common Tussock-grass Poa labillardierei, Wallaby Grasses Rytidosperma spp., and Spear Grasses Austrostipa spp. Other common native grasses include Common Wheat-grass Anthosachne scabra and Weeping Grass Microlaena stipoides. Common herbs include Blue Devil Eryngium ovinum, Kidney-weed Dichondra repens, Blushing Bindweed Convolvulus angustissimus, Grassland Wood-sorrel Oxalis perennans, Narrow Plantain Plantago gaudichaudii, and Scaly Buttons Leptorhynchos squamatus.

The native grassland vegetation around the proposed NTGVVP offset supports a population of one nationally listed vulnerable plant species Clover Glycine Glycine latrobeana, one state listed endangered plant species, Clumping Golden Moths Diuris gregaria, and one nationally listed critically endangered animal species, Golden Sun Moth (Abzeco 2018).


Areas of native grassland support small scattered populations of woody weeds such as Gorse Ulex europaeus, Sweet Briar Rosa rubiginosa and Hawthorn Crataegus monogyna and otherwise woody weed species do not appear to be prevalent in the surrounding landscape. The local elimination of these species is therefore a plausible management outcome.

The area does support a low population of Spear Thistle Cirsium vulgare and less so of Variegated Thistle Silybum marianum. However persistent control works should allow for a reduction in the abundance of these and other noxious species.

Species such as Brown-top Bent Agrostis capillaris and Creeping Bent-grass Agrostis stolonifera are considered to be a high threat perennial grassy weed and needs to be actively controlled.

Other perennial weed species such as Toowoomba Canary-grass Phalaris aquatica and Cocksfoot Dactylis glomerata are present at lower levels but will still need to be actively targeted with herbicide control.

The balance of the weed cover within the area is dominated by annual grasses. While this cover tends to fluctuate with seasonal conditions, a significant effort will be required to lower the cover of species such as Bromes Bromus spp., Quaking-grass Briza spp. and Rye-grass Lolium spp.

GSM have been recorded from the offset site during the 2016/2017 and 2017/18 flight seasons by Abzeco (2018). The habitat observed surrounding the NTGVVP offset site and north of the Carngham Streatham Road is considered to be good quality GSM habitat and Abzeco (2018) provides recent records for all nominated offset areas.

Areas of GSM habitat not identified as NTGVVP are typically dominated by a variety of weedy annual and perennial grasses with scattered occurrences of known GSM food plants such as Wallaby-grasses and Spear-grasses. Areas of grassland north of Baillie’s Creek, support an obvious gilgai structure which is commonly associated with GSM populations. Some of this area may also support native vegetation but the existing grazing pressure made any botanical assessment of this area very difficult.

Conclusion

The current survey confirms the suitability of the Chepstowe property as a potential offset site for EPBC Act offset requirements associated with NTGVVP in a manner consistent with the assumptions used in the relevant EPBC Act offset calculator (Biosis 2018). Abzeco 2018 have also recorded a significant population of GSM on the property (between the NTGVVP and GSM offset areas) and scattered records within the proposed offset areas from the 2017/18 flight season and as far back as the 2012/13 flight season. This indicates the presence of a population of GSM within the defined offset sites.

The site can provide 22.32 ha of NTGVVP and 32.1 ha of occupied GSM habitat. These offsets will contribute to the overall offset prescription associated with the development of the Youth Justice Centre.

Please contact me on 8686 4833 if you would like to discuss further.

Yours sincerely

Steve Mueck Senior Consultant Botanist Mobile 0429 808 732


References Abzeco 2018. Golden Sun Moth Records and Habitat Mapping 346 Carngham-Streatham Road, Chepstowe. Report for Neville Oddie. Authors Scott-Walker, G. and Francis, R. Abzeco, Eltham. Report 12104-02 Version 1.0.

DEPI 2014. Advisory list of rare or threatened plants in Victoria. Department of Sustainability and Environment, Melbourne.

DEWHA 2009b. Significant impact guidelines for the critically endangered golden sun moth (Synemon plana). Nationally threatened species and ecological communities EPBC Act policy statement 3.12, The Australian Government, Canberra.

DSE 2004. Native Vegetation: Sustaining a living landscape. Vegetation Quality Assessment Manual – Guidelines for applying the Habitat hectares scoring method. Version 1.3. Victorian Government Department of Sustainability & Environment, Melbourne.

DSEWPaC 2011b. Nationally Threatened Ecological Communities of the Victorian Volcanic Plain: Natural Temperate Grassland & Grassy Eucalypt Woodland A guide to the identification, assessment and management of nationally threatened ecological communities. The Australian Government, Canberra.

Threatened Species Scientific Committee (TSSC) 2008. Commonwealth Listing Advice on Natural Temperate Grassland of the Victorian Volcanic Plain. Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts.

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Acknowledgement: VicMap Data ©State of Victoria

Matter: 25271,Date: 17 April 2018,Checked by: SGM, Drawn by: SSK, Last edited by: skumarLocation:P:\25200s\25271\Mapping\25271_F3_Locality_Offset

LegendStudy area

Scale 1:50,000 @ A4, GDA 1994 MGA Zone 55

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Metres ±Biosis Pty LtdAlbury, Ballarat, Melbourne, Newcastle, Sydney, Wangaratta & Wollongong

Figure 1 Location of the Carngham StreathamRoad offset site, Chepstowe, Victoria

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Scale: 1:11,000 @ A3Coordinate System: GDA 1994 MGA Zone 54

Biosis Pty LtdAlbury, Ballarat, Melbourne, Newcastle,

Sydney, Wangaratta & Wollongong

Figure 2 Location of proposed offset sites, Chepstowe, Victoria.

0 110 220 330 440 550

Metres

LegendNative vegetation (Abzeco data)Existing offsets (Abzeco data)Proposed NTGVVP offsetProposed GSM offset

!(Recent GSM records (2016 to 2018)from Abzeco presence-only data

Woody weeds to be managed:GF Crataegus monogyna - HawthornGF Malus spp. - AppleGF Marrubium vulgare - HorehoundGF Quercus spp. - OakGF Rosa rubiginosa - Sweet BriarGF Ulex europaeus - Gorse

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Acknowledgements: Vicmap ©State of Victoria, Imagery - NearMap 2017

Existing Offset BB: 184 GSM (2016/17)

Existing Offset BA: 46 GSM (2016/17)

Proposed Offset: 57 GSM (2017/18)

Proposed Offset: 122 GSM (2017/18)

Existing Offset A: NTGVVP


Appendix 1: Plant species recorded from offset areas, 346 Carngham Streatham Road, Chepstowe.

Notes to tables:

EPBC Act: CR - Critically Endangered EN - Endangered VU - Vulnerable

PMST – Protected Matters Search Tool

DEPI 2014a: e - endangered v - vulnerable r - rare k - poorly known

FFG Act: L - listed as threatened under FFG Act P - protected under the FFG Act (public land only)

Noxious weed status: SP - State prohibited speciesRP - Regionally prohibited speciesRC - Regionally controlled speciesRR - Regionally restricted species

# - Native species outside natural range

Status Scientific Name Common Name

Indigenous species

Acacia melanoxylon Blackwood

Acacia paradoxa Hedge Wattle

Acaena echinata Sheep's Burr

Acaena novae-zelandiae Bidgee-widgee

Allocasuarina verticillata Drooping Sheoak

Anthosachne scabra s.s. Common Wheat-grass

Arthropodium minus Small Vanilla-lily

Arthropodium spp. Vanilla Lily

Asperula conferta Common Woodruff

P Asplenium flabellifolium Necklace Fern

Austrostipa mollis Supple Spear-grass

Austrostipa spp. Spear Grass

Bolboschoenus spp. Club Sedge

P Brunonia australis Blue Pincushion

Burchardia umbellata Milkmaids

Bursaria spinosa Sweet Bursaria

P Calocephalus citreus Lemon Beauty-heads

Carex breviculmis Common Grass-sedge

Centella cordifolia Centella

P Cheilanthes austrotenuifolia Green Rock-fern

P Chrysocephalum semipapposum Clustered Everlasting

P Chrysocephalum sp. 1 Plains Everlasting

Convolvulus angustissimus subsp. angustissimus Blushing Bindweed

Cynoglossum suaveolens Sweet Hound's-tongue



Deyeuxia quadriseta Reed Bent-grass

Deyeuxia quadriseta Slender Reed Bent-grass

Dichondra repens Kidney-weed

Drosera aberrans Scented Sundew

Eleocharis acuta Common Spike-sedge

Eleocharis sphacelata Tall Spike-sedge

Epilobium billardierianum Variable Willow-herb

Eryngium ovinum Blue Devil

Eucalyptus camaldulensis River Red-gum

Eucalyptus ovata Swamp Gum

P Euchiton japonicus s.s. Creeping Cudweed

Geranium retrorsum s.s. Grassland Crane's-bill

Gonocarpus tetragynus Common Raspwort

Goodenia pinnatifida Cut-leaf Goodenia

P Helichrysum luteoalbum Jersey Cudweed

Hemarthria uncinata var. uncinata Mat Grass

Hydrocotyle laxiflora Stinking Pennywort

Hypericum gramineum spp. agg. Small St John's Wort

Juncus spp. Rush

Juncus subsecundus Finger Rush

Lachnagrostis filiformis s.s. Common Blown-grass

P Leptorhynchos squamatus Scaly Buttons

Lobelia pratioides Poison Lobelia

Lomandra filiformis Wattle Mat-rush

Lomandra nana Dwarf Mat-rush

Melicytus dentatus s.s. Tree Violet

Microlaena stipoides var. stipoides Weeping Grass

Montia australasica White Purslane

Oxalis perennans Grassland Wood-sorrel

Pelargonium spp. Stork's Bill

Phragmites australis Common Reed

Pimelea curviflora s.s. Curved Rice-flower

Pimelea humilis Common Rice-flower

Plantago gaudichaudii Narrow Plantain

P Pleurosorus rutifolius s.s. Blanket Fern

Poa labillardierei Common Tussock-grass

Poa morrisii Soft Tussock-grass

Poa sieberiana Grey Tussock-grass

Rubus parvifolius Small-leaf Bramble

Rumex brownii Slender Dock

Rumex dumosus Wiry Dock



Rytidosperma spp. Wallaby Grass

Schoenus apogon Common Bog-sedge

P Senecio glomeratus Annual Fireweed

P Senecio quadridentatus Cotton Fireweed

P Senecio spp. Groundsel

P Solenogyne dominii Smooth Solenogyne

P Thelymitra spp. Sun Orchid

Themeda triandra Kangaroo Grass

Tricoryne elatior Yellow Rush-lily

Triglochin procera Water Ribbons

Velleia paradoxa Spur Velleia

Veronica gracilis Slender Speedwell

Wahlenbergia communis s.s. Tufted Bluebell

Wahlenbergia luteola Bronze Bluebell

Wahlenbergia spp. Bluebell

Introduced species Acetosella vulgaris Sheep Sorrel

Agrostis capillaris Brown-top Bent

Aira spp. Hair Grass

Anthoxanthum odoratum Sweet Vernal-grass

Arctotheca calendula Cape Weed

Briza minor Lesser Quaking-grass

Bromus hordeaceus subsp. hordeaceus Soft Brome

Centaurium erythraea Common Centaury

RR Cirsium vulgare Spear Thistle

Cotula coronopifolia Water Buttons

RR Crataegus monogyna Hawthorn

Cynosurus echinatus Rough Dog's-tail

Disa bracteata South African Orchid

Erodium botrys Big Heron's-bill

Erodium cicutarium Common Heron's-bill

Helminthotheca echioides Ox-tongue

Holcus lanatus Yorkshire Fog

Hypochaeris radicata Flatweed

RC Juncus acutus subsp. acutus Spiny Rush

Leontodon taraxacoides subsp. taraxacoides Hairy Hawkbit

Lolium rigidum Wimmera Rye-grass

Malus spp. Apple

RC Marrubium vulgare Horehound

Phalaris aquatica Toowoomba Canary-grass

Plantago coronopus Buck's-horn Plantain



Plantago lanceolata Ribwort

Quercus spp. Oak

Romulea rosea Onion Grass

RC Rosa rubiginosa Sweet Briar

RR Silybum marianum Variegated Thistle

Solanum nigrum s.s. Black Nightshade

Sonchus asper s.s. Rough Sow-thistle

Sonchus oleraceus Common Sow-thistle

Stellaria media Chickweed

Trifolium subterraneum Subterranean Clover

RC Ulex europaeus Gorse


Appendix 2: Photos recorded from the offset site within the Chepstowe property.

Photo 1 High quality Kangaroo Grass dominated NTGVVP in the proposed offset area.

Photo 2 High quality Kangaroo Grass dominated NTGVVP with scattered Blackwood.


Photo 3 Main body of the NTGVVP offset site. Note the dam has been excluded.

Photo 4 Main body of the NTGVVP offset site.


Photo 5 Margins of the offset site where NTGVVP merges into grassland dominated by Brown-top Bent.

Photo 6 GSM habitat on the western margin of the NTGVVP offset. Note this vegetation still supports scattered native grasses


Photo 7 Overview of the northern GSM offset area.

Photo 8 Heavily grazed rocky slope leading down to the southern bank of Baillies Creek.


Photo 9 Looking east along Gellies Creek in the northern GSM offset area. Note the Gorse and Spiny Rush

Photo 10 Gilgai micro-topography at the northern end of the northern GSM offset area.


Photo 11 Overview of the northern GSM offset area looking south from the northern boundary.

Photo 12 Looking west along Baillies Creek in the northern GSM offset area.


Attachment: ABZECO 2018 GSM report

Abzeco Pty Ltd Suite 1/4 Brisbane St, Eltham Vic. 3095 T:(03) 9431-5444 F:(03) 9431-5443 ABN 66 967 834 756 www.abzeco.com.au

Golden Sun Moth Records and Habitat Mapping

346 Carngham-Streatham Road, Chepstowe

Prepared for Neville J. Oddie

Report 12104-02, Version 1.0

June 2018

Abzeco 12104 - Golden Sun Moth Records and Habitat Distribution, 346 Carngham-Streatham Road, Chepstowe – June 2018

Page 2 of 16

Acknowledgements Surveys and incidental records for Golden Sun Moth have been taken by Abzeco Staff each flight season since 2010. Staff that have contributed records include Richard Francis, Bradley Jenner, Geordie Scott-Walker, Daniel Nugent, Kathy Himbeck, Josh McCaig, Graham Jury, David De Angelis, George Collins, Johnathon Sordello and Daniel Young. Records provided by Australian Ecosystems have also been included. Project maps with survey results and incidental GSM records were produced by Kathy Himbeck.

Cover photos: Photos taken by Abzeco Staff during vegetation assessments on the subject land. Top - GSM habitat assessment November 2013; Bottom left - Clumping Golden Moths Diuris gregaria; Second from left - Little Whip Snake Suta flagellum; Second from right - Clover Glycine Glycine latrobeana; Right - Golden Sun Moth Synemon plana (GSM flight season 2012-13).

Version Control Version Responsibility Name Date Signature

1.0 Primary author Geordie Scott-Walker 22/5/2017

1.0 Secondary author Richard Francis 13/06/2018

1.0 Reviewer Matt Hatton 14/06/2018


Page 3 of 16

Table of Contents 1 Introduction ...................................................................................................................................................... 4

2 GSM Survey and Habitat Assessment ........................................................................................................ 5

2.1 GSM Survey methods ........................................................................................................................... 5

2.2 Habitat Assessment .............................................................................................................................. 5

2.3 Survey limitations ................................................................................................................................... 6

Figure 1. All records for GSM from the property and extent of suitable habitat, 346 Carngham-Streatham Road, Chepstowe ................................................................................................................................ 7

Figure 2. Location of survey compartments across 40 ha GSM offset area, 346 Carngham-Streatham Road, Chepstowe ................................................................................................................................ 8

Figure 3. GSM Records Summary, Location of Property Management Units and GSM Habitat Extent, 346 Carngham-Streatham Road, Chepstowe ....................................................................................... 9

3 Results ........................................................................................................................................................... 10

3.1 Vegetation Description ........................................................................................................................ 10

3.2 GSM Survey results ............................................................................................................................ 11

3.2.1 Golden Sun Moth Records Flight Season 2010-2011........................................................... 11

3.2.1 Golden Sun Moth Records Flight Season 2011-2012........................................................... 11

3.2.1 Golden Sun Moth Flight Season 2012-2013 .......................................................................... 11

Table 1. Results of visual searches undertaken during the 2012-2013 Golden Sun Moth flight season at the study site, 346 Streatham-Carngham Rd, Chepstowe. ................................................. 11







4 Discussion ..................................................................................................................................................... 15

5 References .................................................................................................................................................... 16


Page 4 of 16

1 Introduction The property is a large privately owned sheep station at 346 Streatham-Carngham Road, Chepstowe, approximately 150km west of Melbourne, Victoria (Figure 1). The municipal authority is Pyrenees Shire and the bioregion is the Victorian Volcanic Plain. Targeted Golden Sun Moth Synemon plana (GSM) surveys have been undertaken annually within the property since the 2012/13 flight season, along with numerous incidental records taken during land management activities such as seed harvesting within the flight season. Other consultancy firms (e.g. Australian Ecosystems) have also recorded GSM during vegetation assessment on parts of the land. Over the last 8 years Abzeco staff have come to consider GSM as common and widespread on the subject land, with frequent observations in both the ungrazed higher quality grassland areas and across the extensive areas of grazed native pastures where we regularly harvest Wallaby Grass seed.

In June 2018 Abzeco Pty Ltd was commissioned by Neville J Oddie to document Golden Sun Moth Synemon plana (GSM) records collected both during targeted surveys and as incidental records on land at 346 Carngham-Streatham Road, Chepstowe. Based on the vegetation composition, structure and location of GSM records a Habitat Distribution Map has also been produced. This information is intended to, in part, inform the suitability of the site to be used as an offset.

The property is known to support a range of rare plant and animal species including GSM, Stripped Legless Lizard Delma impar, Clover Glycine, Fat Tailed Dunnart Sminthopsis crassicaudata, Hoary Sunray Leucochrysum albicans subsp. tricolor and Golden Moth orchids Diuris spp. along with a diverse assemblage of flora and fauna species characteristic of Plains Grassland.

There is an existing 40 ha GSM offset area in the south-east portion of the land, currently managed by Abzeco to the specifications of the endorsed CMP to satisfy offset requirements for GSM under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1996 (EPBC Act). The offset was set up to ensure losses incurred at an approved development site in Wollert, Victoria, were appropriately compensated appropriately compensated via the sustainable management of land for the long-term maintenance of GSM and associated native grassland habitat on private land at Chepstowe, Victoria. Furthermore, 0.76 ha of the site is secured in-part, to fulfil obligations in accordance with Condition 14 of the City of Whittlesea Planning Permit No. 712628 as a Net Gain Offset under the requirements of the Victorian Native Vegetation Management Framework (DNRE 2002).

The existing GSM offset is secured in perpetuity via a section 173 agreement with Pyrenees Shire Council, until such time as it is replaced by a Trust for Nature Conservation Covenant prior to completion of the offset management period, in accordance with requirements of the CMP.

A number of state offsets are also registered on the land and actively managed by the Abzeco team and the landowner. These areas are located in the highest quality grassland remnants on the property and have been managed in the absence of grazing pressure for at least 10 years using fire as the principle management tool for biomass reduction.


Page 5 of 16

2 GSM Survey and Habitat Assessment

2.1 GSM Survey methods The GSM survey methods applied were in accordance with the guidelines for Golden Sun Moth visual encounter surveys prescribed by DSE (2010) and DEWHA (2009b) guidelines to maximise the chance of detecting individuals. The guidelines followed include:

Surveys were conducted by suitably qualified and experienced Abzeco ecologist.

Surveys were conducted across the entire offset site that supports grassy vegetation irrespective of whether the vegetation was native or exotic.

Surveys commenced when the flight season around the Melbourne region began. Broadly the Golden Sun Moth flight season can vary from between late October to early January (DEWHA 2009b).

Surveys were conducted on suitable days (ideal flying conditions) ensuring they were at least a week apart during the main flight period.

Surveys were undertaken on days when male moths were most likely to be flying and therefore detectable, which were days with the following conditions:

o Warm to hot day (generally above 20°C by 10am);

o Clear or mostly cloudless sky;

o Still or relatively still wind conditions; and,

o At least two days since rain.

Given the size of the survey area a transect approach was utilised with one observer on a motorised vehicle or one or more observers on foot.

Temperature, wind speed and humidity data for the study site was obtained using a hand-held weather meter (Kestrel® model k3500) measured at ~50 cm off the ground.

In addition to the areas subject to targeted survey as described above, records for GSM have been recorded incidentally over the last 7 years by Abzeco staff while undertaking land management works such as seed harvesting, pest plant and animal control.

During the 2017-18 flight season Abzeco staff were instructed to systematically record GSM observations. Seed harvesting was timed to occur on suitable warm sunny days with light winds during the flight season with staff instructed to cease harvesting when moths were observed flying in order to undertake GSM survey over broad areas from vehicles in known habitat to confirm presence. All areas assessed during this period had incidental records from previous flight seasons. For large paddocks assessed in this manner notes were taken on the number of individuals observed and a single point made roughly in the centre of the management unit (fenced paddock).

2.2 Habitat Assessment Across the subject land GSM habitat assessments were undertaken as follows:

Spring survey to record flora species (inclusive of threatened species, notable weed infestations and mapping as appropriate) along with a general site description;


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Photographic documentation made of vegetation condition and structure; and,

Within existing offset sites, vegetation assessment included 1m2 quadrats at each established monitoring point, documenting the following:

- Current vegetation condition;

- Presence/absence of weed species and cover;

- Presence/absence of host plant species and cover;

- Proportion of bare ground; and

- Sward height.

2.3 Survey limitations

Short survey duration

Field surveys were intended to describe the structure and composition of GSM habitat across the study site. General descriptions of vegetation condition were made for broad areas, cover estimates were made for key floristic attributes, and measures of sward height were taken at each quadrat. These features can provide good representation of the site at the time of survey, to depicting seasonal influences such as the generally dry conditions experienced during spring 2015, and levels of grazing pressure in the weeks leading up to each survey.

CA

B

CD

BB

A

AA

CE

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STREATHAM-CARNGHAM ROAD

UNNAMED

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Figure 1. GSM Records, Existing Offsert Areas and Potential Golden Sun Moth Offset Areas at 346 Carngham-Streatham Road, Chepstowe.

Note: location of property boundaries, watercourse and topography indicative only.

Date created: 28/02/2018

Created by: Kathryn Himbeck

File: J:\Jobs\2013_Jobs\12104Chepstowe/AbzecoFig1_GSMHabitat

Scale 1:15,000 (A3)

LegendProperty BoundaryGSM Habitat/NTGVVP (262.966 ha)2012 Australian Ecosystems GSM Data2010-2011 Incidental Abzeco GSM records

GSM records 2012-13GSM records 2015-16GSM records 2016-17GSM records 2017-18

Existing Offsets (42.73ha)Golden Sun Moth Existing Offset (40.54ha)

FencelineWater Body

RoadCadastre

200 0 200 400 600 800100

Meters

Abzeco Pty. LtdSuite 1, 4 Brisbane StreetEltham, Victoria 3095Ph 03 9431 5444www.abzeco.com.au

GDA 1994 MGA Zone 54

Compartment A

Compartment B

Compartment C

Compartment D

Compartment E

Compartment F

Compartment G Compartment H

Compartment I

9

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2 1

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13121110

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E-P

ITTO

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AD




Created by: Kathy Himbeck

File: J:\Jobs\2013_Jobs\13002GSMOffset\AbzecoChepstoweGSM-Fig1

Scale 1:5,000 (A4)

LegendGolden Sun Moth Survey AreaVegetation QuadratGate

Wind Turbine

Property BoundaryFencelineCadastreWater BodyRoad

40 0 40 80 120 16020

Meters



Figure 2. Location of fourteen quadrats and survey compartments across 40ha GSM offset at346 Carngham-Steatham Rd, Chepstowe.

CA

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Created by: Kathryn Himbeck

Scale 1:15,000 (A3)

LegendProperty BoundaryGSM Habitat/NTGVVP (262.966 ha)Treed

Existing Offsets (85.463 ha)GSM records

FencelineWater Body

Road Cadastre

200 0 200 400 600 800100

Meters



Figure 3. GSM Records, Location of Property Management Units and GSM Habitat Extent, 346 Carngham-Streatham Road, Chepstowe

File: J:\Jobs\2012_Jobs\12104


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3 Results

3.1 Vegetation Description The study site is characterised by gently rolling hills on basalt parent material, generally grading from upslope areas to the south of Carngham-Streatham Road through lower slopes and drainage depressions down to the Baillie Creek flood plain. The southern section of the property supports several prominent rises and occasional rock outcropping. The property is divided into numerous paddocks, with grazing pressure variable and seasonally based. The higher quality stands of plains grassland are not grazed, with fire used for biomass management during early winter and weed control timed to follow during the post burn flush.

The native vegetation areas are characteristically grassy, with several Eucalypt plantations and shelter-belts of both Eucalypt and Pine trees. Due to the propensity for sheep to camp on elevated sites many of the upslope areas are weed-dominated. Consistent long-term use as stock camps has led to a reduction in perennial grass cover, with increased nutrient loads from stock defecation coupled with soil disturbance promoting the dominance of winter-active annual broadleaf weeds such as Herons-bills *Erodium spp. and Capeweed *Arctotheca calendula. Several logs are present in these elevated sections and one old Yarra Gum Eucalyptus yarraensis is indicative of former indigenous woody plant cover, much of which is likely to have been Drooping Sheoak Allocasuarina verticillata, among other taxa.

In the grazed pasture areas vegetation is dominated by native cool-season grasses (supporting the C3 photosynthetic pathway) including Wheat-grass Anthosachne scabra, Weeping Grass Microlaena stipoides var. stipoides, Wallaby grasses Rytidosperma spp., Spear grasses Austrostipa spp., Tussock grasses Poa spp. and the warm-season Kangaroo Grass Themeda triandra (supporting the C4 photosynthetic pathway). A variety of native forbs are present in the patchy higher quality areas dotted through the property. These patches include Pink Bindweed Convolvulus angustissimus ssp. angustissimus, Scaly Buttons Leptorhynchos squamata, Solenogyne Solenogyne spp., Yellow Rush-lily Tricoryne elatior, Chocolate Lily Arthropodium spp., Common Bog-sedge Schoenus apogon, Spreading Crassula Crassula decumbens var. decumbens, Creeping Cudweed Euciton collinus s.s., Plains Slender Mint Mentha sp. aff. diemenica, Bluebells Wahlenbergia spp., Pussy Tails Ptilotus spathulata, Grass-cushions Isoetopsis graminifolia, Grassland Wood-sorrel Oxalis perennans, Austral Adder’s-tongue Ophioglossum lusitanicum, Blue Devil Eryngium ovinum and Dwarf Aphelia Aphelia pumilio.

Several taxa are scattered at low abundance such as those suited to isolated wetter areas including Rushes Juncus spp., Matted Pratia Lobelia pedunculata s.l., and those species afforded protection from stock grazing in rocky areas including Tangled Shrub-violet Melicytus angustifolius ssp. angustifolius. Surface rock is prominent throughout the southern sections of the property, mostly on rises and slopes. A combination of bare ground, loose grass litter, soil crust and mosses are characteristic elements of the ground flora mingled interstitially with perennial grasses and native forbs.

Weeds are prevalent throughout the grazed areas but at low cover, mostly consisting of annual herbs and grasses, however, several species of perennial grass are also present. High frequency species include Onion Grass *Romulea rosea, Hair-grass *Aira spp., Fescue *Vulpia spp., Flatweed *Hypochaeris radicata, Smooth Cat’s-eat *H. glabra, Hairy Hawkbit *Leontodon taraxacoides ssp. taraxacoides, Sweet Vernal-grass *Anthoxanthum odoratum, Spear Thistle *Cirsium vulgare, Subterranean Clover *Trifolium subterraneum, Suckling Clover *T. dubium, Hop Clover *T.


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campestre, Creeping Bent-grass *Agrostis stolonifera, Large Quaking-grass *Briza maxima, Lesser Quaking-grass *B. minor, Erect Chickweed *Moenchia erecta, Capeweed *Arctotheca calendula, Bulbous Meadow-grass *Poa bulbosa, Cicendia *Cicendia spp. and Mouse-ear Chickweed *Cerastium glomeratum.

3.2 GSM Survey results

3.2.1 Golden Sun Moth Records Flight Season 2010-2011

No targeted surveys were undertaken for GSM during the 2010-11 flight season, however a number of incidental records were made while undertaking vegetation surveys. The location of records is provided in Figure 1.

3.2.1 Golden Sun Moth Records Flight Season 2011-2012

No targeted surveys were undertaken for GSM during the 2011-12 flight season, however a number of incidental records were made while undertaking vegetation surveys. The location of records is provided in Figure 1.

3.2.1 Golden Sun Moth Flight Season 2012-2013

Two separate sets of records are available for the 2012-13 flight season. One set of records come from Australian Ecosystems which are incidental records obtained during a vegetation assessment and the other data is from an Abzeco targeted survey, which included the area of GSM offset. The location of records is provided in Figure 1.

The Abzeco targeted survey was undertaken over four site visits during November and December of 2012. Due to the lack of nearby independent reference sites, the in-situ registered offset areas known to support GSM were used as pseudo reference sites to confirm GSM activity. A total of 155 Golden Sun Moth were detected in the survey area during 2012-2013 targeted surveys, which were undertaken during suitable conditions. The majority of records were during the final day of surveying, which was undertaken by line transect on a Quadbike at low speed.

Table 1. Results of visual searches undertaken during the 2012-2013 Golden Sun Moth flight season at the study site, 346 Streatham-Carngham Rd, Chepstowe.

Survey 1 2 3 4

Date 26/11/2012 28/11/2012 29/11/2012 18/12/2012 Start time 11:00 11:00 11:00 11:00 Distance between transects (m) 50 25 10 10

Wea

ther

con

diti

ons

Air temp (0C) 24 27 34 25

Wind speed (km/h) 15 9 27 20

Cloud Cover (~%) 20 10 0 20

Assessors B.H, D.N, D.Y B.H, D.N, D.Y B.H, D.N, D.Y D. N Neville Oddie

GSM detected 1 female 5 males 3 males 146+ males


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Two surveys were conducting during the 2015-2016 flight season with 111 GSM observed across the entire survey site on 17 November 2015. The second survey was undertaken on 24 November 2015 across approximately 60% of the survey site, observing 80 individuals including 9 females. The targeted surveys were undertaken in suitable conditions. Table 1 details the survey dates, results and a summary of relevant weather conditions for each of the two surveys conducted in 2015. The location of records is provided in Figure 1 with a map of compartments in Figure 2. The GSM flight season for 2015-2016 around Melbourne was from late October 2015, until early-January 2016.


Survey 1 2 Date 17/11/2015 24/11/2015 Start time 12:00 13:45

Wea

ther

co

nditi

ons Air temperature (0C) 33.5 16

Wind speed (km/h) 5.8 10

Cloud Cover (~%) 65 6

Assessors NO DDA

GSM detected per compartment

A 8 25 B 22 NA C 9 NA D 17 NA E 13 NA F 28 23 G 9 13 H 1 8 I 4 11

Total 111 80

Survey notes:

17/11/2015 – One personnel traversed the entire survey site undertaking the GSM survey using a quadbike.

24/11/2015 – One personnel traversed the sections of the survey site on foot recording the location of all GSM observed. Only compartments A, F, G, H and I were surveyed. A total of 9 females were observed with four in compartment A, three in compartment F, one from compartment G and one female from compartment I. Moths were seen to be flying and resting in grass periodically. The extent of the survey site assessed supported relatively short grass with a cover of 15% bare ground. It was noted that the Wallaby Grass was seeding.


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Three surveys were conducting during the 2016-2017 flight season with 34 GSM observed across the entire survey site on 6 December 2016, 193 recorded on 14 December 2016 and 3 noted on 19 January 2017. The targeted surveys were undertaken in suitable conditions. Table 2 details the survey dates, results and a summary of relevant weather conditions for each of the two surveys conducted in 2016/17. The location of records is provided in Figure 1 with a map of compartments in Figure 2. The GSM flight season for 2016/2017 around Melbourne, was from early-December 2016, until mid-January 2017.


Survey 1 2 3 Date 6/12/2016 14/12/2016 19/01/2017 Start time 11:05 12:00 10:00

Wea

ther

co

nditi

ons Air temperature (0C) 33.5 16 25.2

Wind speed (km/h) 5.8 10 7.0

Cloud Cover (~%) 65 6 0

Assessors GJ, BJ, JM NO GJ

GSM detected per compartment

A 9 4 2 B 8 18 0 C 1 20 0 D 5 56 0 E 4 48 1 F 2 6 0 G 2 21 0 H 1 4 0 I 2 16 0

Total 34 193 3

Survey notes:

6/12/2016 – Three personnel walked 25 m apart along a transect traversing the entire survey site. No GSM females were noted but males were observed aggregating around patches of ground that supported approximately 40% bare ground. Most of the single moth observations were recorded in areas of grass cover from 40 – 100%.

14/12/2016 – One personnel traversed the entire survey site undertaking the GSM survey using a quadbike. No females were noted and all males were observed to be flying over the vegetation.

19/01/2017 – One personnel traversed the entire survey site on foot. All three male GSM were observed flying over vegetation with a cover estimate of 60 – 100%.


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Two surveys were conducting during the 2017-2018 flight season with 179 GSM recorded across the survey areas on the 13th and 15th of December 2017 by George Collins and Jonathan Sordello. At least 84 males were recorded on 13th and at least 95 males on the 15th of December. The location of records is provided in Figure 1 and for the location of property management units see figure 3.

An extremely large area of known habitat with previous incidental GSM records was traversed by vehicle during the 2017-18 flight season. Abzeco staff were on site seed harvesting with works timed to occur on suitable warm sunny days with light winds during the flight season. Staff were instructed to cease harvesting when moths were observed flying in order to undertake GSM survey over broader areas of the site. For large areas assessed in this manner, notes were taken on the number of individuals observed and a single point made roughly in the centre of the management unit (paddock dominated by native grasses). Mapping of the extent of suitable habitat cover was also undertaken.


Survey 1 2

Date 13/12/2017 15/12/2017 Start time 9:55 12:00

Wea

ther

co

nditi

ons Air temperature (0C) 26 21

Wind speed (km/h) 24 16

Cloud Cover (~%) 5 35

Assessors GC, JS GC, JS

GSM detected by Management Unit

CD 58 64 AA 26 31

Total 84 95


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4 Discussion A recent study of Golden Sun Moth distribution demonstrates how the distribution of the species can shift markedly from large connected populations to small patches at a local scale, primarily due to dispersal and survivorship (Kutt et al. 2015). The study demonstrated how long-term weather patterns and landscape configuration interact to affect local distribution and abundance over time, driven by environmental properties such as aspect and relative moisture (i.e. wet and dry landscape positions). For example, during shifts between dry and wet periods GSM occurrence at the property scale will shift from “lower elevation run-on to higher elevation run-off locations in the landscape” (Kutt et al. 2015, p. 103). This is particularly pertinent at the decadal time-scale with which regional and local weather patterns can undergo significant change, for example in response to El Niño and La Niña events (BOM 2012).

The subject land supports a variety of land types inclusive of both lower-lying, seasonally damp areas and more elevated, drier topography with varying aspects. The variety of landscape positions across the property provides the local GSM population a reasonable area of ecological space that the species may occupy over decadal timespans, assuming that these areas carry sufficient habitat in terms of species composition and structure. Extensive areas of the property clearly provide suitable GSM habitat, while patches composed primarily of exotic grasses such as Brown-top Bent and Sweet Vernal-grass also occur.

For practical management purposes, annual monitoring should be designed to identify local patterns in population ‘movement’, for both male and female GSM. In response to climatic drivers of habitat suitability the land manager can strategically adjust the local grazing regime to promote GSM populations within the offset site by controlling biomass and weeds, and by avoiding inappropriate grazing management. Any alterations to grazing practices will need to be timed to avoid high impacts to the breeding cycle of the species, to target flowering periods of undesirable plant species and to assist maintain an open sward prior to breeding season.


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5 References Abzeco (2013) Abzeco 12104 Targeted GSM Report – 346 Streatham-Carngham Road, Chepstowe, November 2013. Abzeco (Applied Botany, Zoology and Ecological Consulting), Eltham, Victoria.

Abzeco (2014) Golden Sun Moth Conservation Management Plan 346 Streatham-Carngham Road, Chepstowe. Unpublished report prepared for Asset 1 Pty Ltd by Abzeco Pty Ltd, Eltham, Victoria.

Abzeco (2017) Golden Sun Moth Population and Habitat Assessment at 346 Carngham-Streatham Road, Chepstowe for the Wollert Residential Development Offset, June 2017. Unpublished report prepared for Neville Oddie by Abzeco Pty Ltd, Eltham, Victoria.

Biosis Research (2010) Priciples and Practical Management Guidelines for Protected Areas of Golden Sun Moth Synemon plana habitat in urban areas. Biosis Research Pty Ltd, Port Melbourne.

Bureau of Meteorology (2012) Record-breaking La Niña events. An analysis of the La Niña life cycle and the impacts and significance of the 2010-11 and 2011-12 La Niña events in Australia. Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology, Melbourne.

DEWHA (2009a) Background Paper to EPBC Act Policy Statement 3.12 – Significant Impact Guidelines for the Critically Endangered Golden Sun Moth (Synemon plana). Australian Government Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts, Canberra.

DEWHA (2009b) EPBC Act Policy Statement 3.12 - Significant Impact Guidelines for the Critically Endangered Golden Sun Moth (Synemon plana). Australian Government Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts, Canberra.

Kutt, A. S., McKenzie, V. J., Wills, T. J., Retallick, R. W. R., Dalton, K., Kay, N. and Melero-Blanca, E. (2015) Spatial and temporal determinants of golden sun moth Synemon plana distribution. Austral Ecology 40: 100-107.

offset site report : chepstowe offset site, ntgvvp survey

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