E2016-0118 Attachment 3 - Flora and fauna management plan · A flora and fauna assessment (GHD 2016) was undertaken which identified several ecological values present or potentially

Airservices Melbourne Airport Ground Based Augmentation System

Flora and Fauna Management PlanSeptember 2016

GHD | Report for Airservices - Melbourne Airport Ground Based Augmentation System, 31/32991/01 | i

Table of contents 1. Introduction..................................................................................................................................... 1

1.1 Background .......................................................................................................................... 1

1.2 Purpose of this plan ............................................................................................................. 1

1.3 Study site ............................................................................................................................. 1

1.4 Limitations ............................................................................................................................ 3

1.5 Assumptions ........................................................................................................................ 4

2. Legislation ...................................................................................................................................... 6

2.1 Victorian Legislation ............................................................................................................. 6

2.2 Commonwealth Legislation .................................................................................................. 6

3. Ecological values and impacts ....................................................................................................... 8

3.1 Flora values ......................................................................................................................... 8

3.2 Fauna values ....................................................................................................................... 9

4. Onsite management objectives .................................................................................................... 11

4.1 Site induction ..................................................................................................................... 11

4.2 No-go zones ....................................................................................................................... 11

4.3 Weed management ............................................................................................................ 12

4.4 Topsoil management ......................................................................................................... 12

4.5 Procedures during open excavations ................................................................................ 12

4.6 Fauna encountered on site ................................................................................................ 12

4.7 Relocation of fauna ............................................................................................................ 13

4.8 Procedures for injured wildlife ............................................................................................ 13

4.9 Site reinstatement and rehabilitation ................................................................................. 14

4.10 Reporting and documentation ............................................................................................ 14

5. References ................................................................................................................................... 15

Table index Table 1 Melbourne GBAS Site List ................................................................................................... 2

Table 2 Area of Impact ...................................................................................................................... 2

Figure index

Figure 1 Study Site ............................................................................................................................. 5

GHD | Report for Airservices - Melbourne Airport Ground Based Augmentation System, 31/32991/01 | 1

1. Introduction 1.1 Background

This Flora and Fauna Management Plan (FFMP) has been prepared by GHD Pty Ltd (GHD) for

Airservices Australia (Airservices) for the construction of a Ground-based Augmentation System

(GBAS) as part of a Global Navigation Satellite System at Melbourne Airport.

A flora and fauna assessment (GHD 2016) was undertaken which identified several ecological

values present or potentially present within the site. As the installation of the GBAS

infrastructure will cause ground disturbance, it is expected to impact upon ecological values

present within the site. This document intends to draw on information from within GHD (2016)

and best practise management principles to detail the protocol for minimising impacts to these

values.

1.2 Purpose of this plan

The purpose of this Plan is to describe how Airservices and their project contractors will manage

and control impacts on flora and fauna values from construction activities associated with the

Project.

The FFMP establishes protocols to follow for during the course of works associated with the

Project with respect to flora and fauna.

The contractors are expected to provide their own Construction Environmental Management

Plan (CEMP) which will address management of environmental values additional to flora and

fauna specific values.

1.3 Study site

The Site is located on Operations Road, adjacent to the main Airservices precinct at Melbourne

Airport (Figure 1).

The Site is currently unoccupied vacant land, with a small area used for stockpiling and

processing waste soil and building materials generated during demolition and construction

activities at the airport.

The Site is bounded by the main airport runways to the north and east. The main Airservices

precinct, with air traffic control towers is located adjacent the western boundary of the Site.

Historic and current Airport Rescue Fire Fighting (ARFF) infrastructure and training areas are

located along the northern boundary and south-west corner of the Site.

Airservices propose to install the new GBAS equipment across an area of 0.318 ha (Table 1).

2 | GHD | Report for Airservices - Melbourne Airport Ground Based Augmentation System, 31/32991/01

Table 1 Melbourne GBAS Site List

Equipment Location description Latitude Longitude

GPS Antenna (RSMU1)

Western side of Runway 16/34, south of ARFF Station

-37.668379° 144.834166°

GPS Antenna (RSMU2)


-37.667563° 144.835580°

GPS Antenna (RSMU3)


-37.669744° 144.834508°

GPS Antenna (RSMU4)


-37.668900° 144.835829°

VDB VHF Antenna – at least 100 m from ARFF station

-37.668259° 144.833088°

Equipment Shelter Equipment shelter - Northern side of Runway 16/34, south of ARFF Station

-37.668360° 144.833117°

Power connection point Non-essential pillar between fire station and garage

-37.666887° 144.833687°

Fibre cable connection point

Airservices communications cable pit near Gate 12

-37.669471° 144.833545°

The expected extent of impact required for installation of the GBAS is 0.318 ha as outlined

within (Table 2).

Table 2 Area of Impact

Description Length (m) Width (m) Area (m2)

RSMU Earthing Grid 1 11.175 11.175 124.9




Shelter earthing 11.175 6.3 70.4

VHF Antenna earthing 11.175 11.175 124.9

Driveway 22.15 3 66.5

Culvert 5 1.125 5.6

Trenches 0.0

RSMU 1 – VDB 95 1 95.0

RSMU 3 – RSMU 1 150 1 150.0

RSMU 2 – RSMU 1 150 1 150.0

RSMU 4 – RSMU 3 150 1 150.0

Fibre POS to Shelter 40 1 40.0

Power POS to Shelter 40 1 40.0

Shelter to Antenna 10 1 10.0


Description Length (m) Width (m) Area (m2)

Haul Roads 350 4 1400.0

Crane Pad 1 8 8 64.0






Total Area 3664 m21

(0.3664 ha)

1.4 Limitations

This report has been prepared by GHD for Airservices and may only be used and relied on by

Airservices for the purpose agreed between GHD and the Airservices as set out in section 1 of

this report.

GHD otherwise disclaims responsibility to any person other than Airservices arising in

connection with this report. GHD also excludes implied warranties and conditions, to the extent

legally permissible.

The services undertaken by GHD in connection with preparing this report were limited to those

specifically detailed in the report and are subject to the scope limitations set out in the report.

The opinions, conclusions and any recommendations in this report are based on conditions

encountered and information reviewed at the date of preparation of the report. GHD has no

responsibility or obligation to update this report to account for events or changes occurring

subsequent to the date that the report was prepared.

GHD has prepared this report on the basis of information provided by Airservices and others

who provided information to GHD (including Government authorities)], which GHD has not

independently verified or checked beyond the agreed scope of work. GHD does not accept

liability in connection with such unverified information, including errors and omissions in the

report which were caused by errors or omissions in that information.

The opinions, conclusions and any recommendations in this report are based on conditions

encountered, observations made and information reviewed up to the date of preparation of the

report. As GHD was only present at specific points within the relevant site(s) on specific dates

and certain time periods, this report is only indicative (and not definitive) of flora and fauna

present on the site(s). Flora and fauna (whether in type or quantity) can also change and

fluctuate at different times throughout the year (due to factors including seasonal changes,

external events or third party intervention), and it is generally not possible to observe such

changes or fluctuations where only discrete site(s) visits have taken place. GHD has no

responsibility or obligation to update this report to account for events or changes occurring

subsequent to the date that the report was prepared.

The opinions, conclusions and any recommendations in this report are based on assumptions

made by GHD and described in this report. GHD disclaims liability arising from any of the

assumptions being incorrect.

1 Note: the total area of infrastructure is greater than the total area of impact (3180 m2), as some infrastructure overlaps.


1.5 Assumptions

The following assumptions have been made when preparing this FFMP:

All construction (ground disturbance, soil laydown, vehicle movement) will be confined to

the areas detailed within Table 2.

This document will be read in conjunction with a site specific Construction Environmental

Management Plan that outlines other environmental management measures, e.g.

contaminated land, topsoil management, waste (where applicable).

Only Commonwealth listed ecological values (species and communities) are addressed

within the FFMP. Given the project is to occur on Commonwealth land, Victorian legislation

does not apply (see section 2.1).


Figure 1 Study Site


2. Legislation 2.1 Victorian Legislation

The following items of environment legislation are usually applicable to projects in Victoria;

however, given that the project is to occur on Commonwealth land, the following legislation does

not apply:

Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988

Wildlife Act 1975

Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994

Victorian Planning and Environment Act 1987

2.2 Commonwealth Legislation

The EPBC Act requires a permit for activities which may kill, injure, take, trade, keep or move a

member of a listed threatened species or ecological community, a member of a listed migratory

species, or a member of a listed marine species in or on a Commonwealth area. As ecological

values, which are listed under the EPBC Act, have been identified as present or potentially

present within the site and which may be impacted, a permit is required.

Permits will only be issued by the Commonwealth Minister for the Environment if the activity:

Contributes significantly to the conservation of the listed threatened species or ecological

community, the listed migratory species, or the listed marine species concerned, or other

listed migratory or marine species, or

The impact of the activity on a member of a listed threatened species or ecological

community, a member of a listed migratory species, or a member of a listed marine species

concerned is incidental to, and not the purpose of, the taking of the activity and:

– The taking of the activity will not adversely affect the survival or recovery in nature of

the listed threatened species or ecological community or the conservation status or

population of the listed migratory species or the listed marine species.

– The taking of the activity is not inconsistent with a recovery plan that is in force for the

listed threatened species or ecological community or a wildlife conservation plan that

is in force for the listed migratory species or the listed marine species.

– The holder of the permit will take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of the

activity on the listed threatened species or ecological community, the listed migratory

species, or the listed marine species, or

The specified activity is of particular significance to indigenous tradition, and will not

adversely affect the survival or recovery in nature of the conservation status of the listed

threatened species or ecological community, the listed migratory species (including any

population), or the listed marine species concerned, or

The specified activity is necessary in order to control pathogens, and is conducted in a way

that will, so far as is practicable, keep to a minimum any impact on the listed threatened

species or ecological community, the listed migratory species, or the listed marine species

concerned.

A Part 13 Permit application (under section 200 of the EPBC Act) would be required to facilitate

the vegetation removal required for the works, and to allow the translocation (move) of any

Striped Legless Lizard (if found) from the works areas to the grassland directly adjacent to the

works area, which is “incidental to, and not the purpose of the action”.


The permit application would need to be accompanied by this FFMP for the purpose of

demonstrating how potential negative impacts will be minimised to species and communities

during the works.


3. Ecological values and impacts This chapter summarises the ecological values identified within the study site for which

mitigation measures will need to be implemented to protect and manage negative impacts.

Mitigation measures are outlined in Section 4.

3.1 Flora values

3.1.1 Native vegetation

The site largely comprises native grassland. One EVC, Low-rainfall Plains Grassland (EVC

132_63) was recorded during the site assessment (Figure 1). This EVC comprises treeless

vegetation mostly <1 m tall dominated by largely graminoid and herb life forms. It occupies

cracking basalt soils prone to seasonal waterlogging in areas receiving <500 mm annual

rainfall2.

At the site, Plains Grassland was relatively species-poor and dominated by the native grasses Rytidosperma spp. (Wallaby Grass), Bothriochloa macra (Red-leg Grass), Austrostipa spp.

(Spear Grass) and Chloris truncata (Windmill Grass), in association with scattered Atriplex

semibaccata (Berry Saltbush). Introduced species were prevalent and relatively dense in

patches; dominant species included Oxalis pes-caprae (Soursob), Plantago lanceolata

(Ribwort), Cynodon dactylon (Couch) and Romulea rosea (Onion Grass). Additional ephemeral

native and introduced species are also likely to emerge during spring.

3.1.2 EPBC Act listed community

One EPBC Act-listed community occurs within the study site: Natural Temperate Grassland of

the Victorian Volcanic Plain (Plate 1). This listed community corresponds to Low-rainfall Plains

Grassland (EVC 132_63).

Although the area of the listed community on site is relatively species poor, it meets the criteria for listing as Natural Temperate Grassland of the Victorian Volcanic Plain under the EPBC Act

in that:

The dominant native species represent at least 50% of the native species and the perennial

tussock cover

Non-grass weeds comprise less than 30% of ground cover (Commonwealth of Australia

2011)

It is expected that construction will result in the removal of 0.3026 ha of this community.

2 http://www.dse.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0011/241949/VVP_EVCs_combined.pdf


Plate 1 Low-rainfall Plains Grassland (EVC 132_63)

3.2 Fauna values

One type of fauna habitat is present within the study site:

Grassland (Plains Grassland (EVC 132_63))

The grassland at this site has undergone historic clearing (completely cleared in 1960s) and

disturbance (continual slashing) resulting in a decrease in quality based on the floristic

composition which is now lacking forbs and is comprised of grasses only. The grassland is

dominated by several tussock forming native grass species including Wallaby Grass, and Spear

Grass. Some embedded rock was also observed.

The extent of disturbance across the site varied and several small patches of non-native non

tussock forming grasses were present that are unlikely to be suitable habitat for anything other

than highly mobile and adaptable fauna including avifauna species such as Australian Magpie

and Willie Wagtail.

The more intact areas of grassland (Plains Grassland) have the potential to support a greater

range of species two EPBC Act listed threatened grassland species in particular:

Golden Sun Moth (GSM) (Synemon plana) (EPBC Act – Critically Endangered)

Striped Legless Lizard (SLL) (Delma impar) (EPBC Act – Vulnerable)

3.2.1 Golden Sun Moth

It is unknown if the study site supports the GSM (Plate 2, Plate 3) although the site occurs within

the “species may occur” modelled distribution mapping produced by DotE (DEWHA 2008).

There are several features of the study site and surrounds that contribute to the possibility that

the study site may support a population of this species; these are outlined within GHD 2016.

Impacts to this species may include the removal of 0.3026 ha of potentially suitable habitat,

death or injury to the subterranean larval stage of the species, and/or death or injury to adult

individuals.


Plate 2 Golden Sun Moth

Plate 3 Golden Sun Moth

3.2.2 Striped Legless Lizard

There are no actual records of SLL (Plate 4) within the study site or immediate surrounds

however the study site is within the “species known/likely to occur” modelled distribution

mapping produced by the now DotE (DEWHA 2011). There are several features of the study

site and surrounds that contribute to the possibility that the study site may support a population

of this species; these are outlined within GHD (2016).

Impacts to this species may include the removal of 0.3026 ha of potentially suitable habitat,

death, injury or the moving of individuals.

Plate 4 Striped Legless Lizard


4. Onsite management objectives Project environmental objectives have been developed for general site management, flora and

fauna values, native vegetation and communities. This section describes the specific

environmental performance objectives and requirements to be achieved for the duration of the

Project. All construction works must comply with applicable legislation and conditions of permits

and approvals including this FFMP, EPBC Act permit and contractor CEMP.

4.1 Site induction

All personnel and contractors entering the site should be made aware of the FFMP which was

triggered by the expected and potential impacts of the proposed works which may result in

negative impacts to EPBC Act listed species and communities namely:

Natural Temperate Grassland of the Victorian Volcanic Plain

Golden Sun Moth

Striped Legless Lizard

All contractors and personnel are to be made aware of this FFMP and any specific requirements

detailed within “toolbox meetings”.

4.2 No-go zones

All activities including site access, laydown of plant and equipment and construction activities

(drilling, excavation, etc.) must be contained within the construction footprint delineated within

Figure 1 and specified within Table 2.

All areas of Plains Grassland (as mapped within Figure 1) that are outside the immediate

construction footprint will be delineated as no-go zones in order to:

Prevent additional loss of the EPBC Act listed community, Natural Temperate Grassland of

the Victorian Volcanic Plain

Prevent additional habitat loss for the EPBC Act listed Golden Sun Moth and the Striped

Legless Lizard

Minimise additional disturbance to individual Golden Sun Moth and Striped Legless Lizards

Vehicles and plant should not be parked on native vegetation. Parking will be located adjacent

to the site where possible, within 5 m of the RSMU or adjacent to the proposed site on the pre-

existing road. Primary parking will be situated at the main shelter. ‘No-go’ areas will be marked

out with visual aids (bunting or flagging) to let contractors know where they can or cannot go,

rather than erecting a full security fence.

The boundaries of all vegetation to be removed and vegetation to be retained must be clearly

marked on the ground and clearly communicated to contractors. This information must be

included in the site induction program.

Where a work area is within an area of Plains Grassland, as identified on the map in Figure 1,

the following activities are prohibited outside of the fenced area:

Vehicular access

Trenching or excavation including stockpiling of soil

Storage or dumping of tools, plant, machinery, equipment or waste

This information must be included in the site induction program.


4.3 Weed management

The Contractor must develop a weed management strategy that includes weed prevention and

management procedures for the spread and introduction of weeds (especially Weeds of

National Significance or declared noxious weeds). Procedures shall include control of topsoil

and fill brought onto site and wash down of plant and equipment.

4.4 Topsoil management

All topsoil (top 10 cm of soil) removed during construction shall be stored nearby and covered to

avoid weeds germinating on the stockpile. Stored topsoil is to be re-used and spread over

trenches once cables have been laid. Top soil management measures should be outlined

within the contractor CEMP.

4.5 Procedures during open excavations

Excavations must be managed for ground dwelling species including the Striped Legless Lizard.

Without appropriate management, ground dwelling fauna may become trapped within

excavations (trenches, fence holes) during works. The following management actions are to be

implemented to minimise the risk of excavations to fauna:

All open excavations should be backfilled by the end of the day.

Any excavations deeper than 15 cm that cannot be backfilled at the completion of work

for that day must be completely covered to a standard that prevents Striped Legless

Lizards from entering the excavation and becoming trapped (e.g. covered with metal plate

or tarpaulin and the edges buried with soil.

Excavation will be checked each morning by the Site Manager (prior to the start of any

construction works) for the presence of any fauna that may have fallen in.

Should any fauna be found then they will be processed as per section 4.6.

4.6 Fauna encountered on site

An EPBC Act permit is required to kill, injure, take, trade, keep or move a member of a listed

threatened species. Named species likely to be found within the study site are the Striped

Legless Lizard and the Golden Sun Moth. Only an appropriately trained ecologist named on the

EPBC Act permit (from here in called project ecologist) shall be permitted to handle any listed

species found.

Should an animal be observed in the vicinity of the works, then the following procedure should

be followed:

1. Contact the site supervisor.

2. The site supervisor shall determine if the animal is at risk of being harmed.

a. If yes, all works in the vicinity of the animal (works in other areas may continue)

should be halted and the project ecologist contacted to conduct a “catch and release”

in order to safely remove the animal from risk (see section 4.7)

b. If the animal is not at risk of being harmed and can move on of its own accord, then

works should be halted in the vicinity of the animal until it moves on (works may

continue in other areas of the site). If the animal is not capable of moving on of its own

accord, then the following steps should ensue.

3. The site supervisor shall inspect the animal to determine if it is a Golden Sun Moth or a

Striped Legless Lizard.


4. If the site supervisor cannot identify the animal, then the project ecologist will be

contacted to identify the animal. This may be done via photographs emailed to the project

ecologist.

5. If the animal is believed to be a Golden Sun Moth or Striped Legless Lizard proceed to

point 6. If the animal is not one of these species, proceed to point 7.

6. The site supervisor shall contact the named ecologist to come to the site. The following

steps will then occur:

a. The named ecologist will confirm the species identification and photograph it for

reference.

b. The animal will then be relocated as per section 4.7.

c. If the animal is injured then procedures outlined within section 4.8 will be followed.

The Site Manager will contact the named ecologist for direction.

1. A record will be kept of any released individuals, detailing species, condition, life stage,

discovery location and release location. This record will be provided to the Victorian

Biodiversity Atlas.

4.7 Relocation of fauna

Any fauna that require relocation shall be relocated using the appropriate animal hygiene

(section 4.7.1) to the nearest area of suitable habitat outside of the study site. If the animal in

question is a Golden Sun Moth or Striped Legless Lizard, then it may only be relocated by a

project ecologist. For any other fauna that requires relocation the project ecologist shall be

contacted for advice.

Appropriate habitat for grassland fauna occurs immediately adjacent to the site and should be

used for all relocations.

4.7.1 Animal hygiene

Appropriate hygiene measures for handling animals should be employed at all times to prevent

the spread of disease and pathogens. The following measures as a minimum should be

employed:

Wash hands between the handling of different animals

Use disposable and pre rinsed vinyl gloves to handle any frogs (Gloves are to be single

use)

Immediately after capture animals should be bagged in an appropriately sized calico bag (or

plastic zip for frogs) (bags are to be single use only and should only contain one animal)

If possible, capture Golden Sun Moths with a butterfly net to avoid handling

4.8 Procedures for injured wildlife

If an animal is found within the study site that is injured the named ecologist should be

contacted to determine the best course of action for the individual.

If the injuries are too great for the animal to be relocated, then the animal should be taken to a

Wildlife Carer or Veterinary Clinic.


If the injured animal is a Striped Legless Lizard, then the named ecologist will be required take

the animal to the appropriate care facility:

The Maribyrnong Veterinary Clinic is listed as dealing with a range of fauna groups

including reptiles and can be contacted on 03 9317 4432. The clinic is located at 95A

Rosamond Road, Maidstone, 3012

Wildlife Victoria can be contacted on 1300 094 535 and will respond to all sick, injured or

orphaned native wildlife queries

DotE may need to be notified pending any EPBC Act permit conditions.

4.9 Site reinstatement and rehabilitation

Areas available for reinstatement include all areas that are only temporarily disturbed (e.g.

trenches) that will not house permanent infrastructure. This includes all the cable lengths. Cable

lengths in all instances are no greater than 0.4 m wide. These areas are to be revegetated

using a locally indigenous grassland (i.e. EVC 132) seed mix. Suitable grassland species

include the following:

Bothriochloa macra (Red-leg Grass)

Chloris truncata (Windmill Grass)

Rytidosperma caespitosum (Common Wallaby-grass)

Themeda triandra (Kangaroo Grass)

For revegetating at the conclusion of works, grass seed must be hydro-seeded to minimise bird

attraction.

4.10 Reporting and documentation

The following information should be documented throughout the course of the construction:

All animals that are captured at the study site (including species, condition of animal and

management action undertaken).

All animals that are relocated from the study site (including species, location where animal

was found, location of where animal was relocated, condition of animal).

All animals that are injured as a result of construction activities (including species, location

of capture, cause of injury – if known, management action undertaken, result of action, e.g.

animal condition).

This information may need to be provided to DotE pending any EPBC Act permit conditions.


5. References Commonwealth of Australia (2011) Nationally threatened ecological communities of the

Victorian Volcanic Plain: Natural Temperate Grassland and Grassy Eucalypt Woodland.

Australian Government, Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and

Communities, Canberra

GHD (2016) Ground-based Augmentation System (GBAS) Program. Flora and Fauna

Assessment. Report prepared for Airservices Australia, Report number

31/3299101/245089, May 2016

GHD

180 Lonsdale Street Melbourne, Victoria 3000 T: (03) 8687 8000 F: (03) 8687 8111 E: [email protected]

© GHD 2016

This document is and shall remain the property of GHD. The document may only be used for the purpose for which it was commissioned and in accordance with the Terms of Engagement for the commission. Unauthorised use of this document in any form whatsoever is prohibited.

G:\31\3299101\WP\251933.docx

Document Status

Revision Author Reviewer Approved for Issue Name Signature Name Signature Date

Draft A K Dalton 02/06/2016

0 K Dalton T Wills S Walsh 15/06/2016

1 K Dalton T Wills T Wills 02/09/2016

www.ghd.com

Documents

E2016-0118 Attachment 3 - Flora and fauna management plan · A flora and fauna assessment (GHD 2016) was undertaken which identified several ecological values present or potentially