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Natural Values (Atlas) Report

Requested: A.J. & B.J. Riley - 156 Claude Road Sheffield 7306 Reference: GDA94 445212,5425940 Proposal: Quarry / Gravel reserve, Nook

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ABN 89106076749

Caladenia tonellii: Orchidaceae

Phone (03) 64 261438Mobile 0407 642 614

103 Last Street P.O. Box 55 Latrobe, 7307 Tasmania, Australia

20.04.2011

Reference to quarry site – Railton 1:25.000 #3540 + 0347 Lease: 25M/2009 Permit # DA 2008/22 A.G. & B.J. Riley 156 Claude Road Sheffield 7306

Introduction: This report provides information and or confirmation as to the possible existence of Threatened Species of Tasmanian flora and fauna - protected under the Threatened Species Protection Act 1995 and Commonwealth Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Act 1999. as presently recorded in the immediate vicinity of the quarry site property owned by A.G & B.J. Riley 156 Claude Road, Sheffield, Tasmania 7306 Report format: NB. The Natural Values Atlas extractions in the report was to indicate the known NV records relating to the site, followed by a physical site inspection on 19th April 2011 for visual assessment and general verification of NVA data. A central GDA 94 ground point of 445212E x 5425940N was nominated to effect the DPIW/NVA data base search and buffer zones set between 500 – 2,000 meters radius. Apart from basic geological and general vegetation remarks, this report aims to address the suitability and/or existence of Threatened or non threatened flora and fauna, TasVeg communities, Weed and Reserved estates. The content does not intentionally cover any other relevant protective practices as required under Covenants, Leases, Boundaries, Titles, River and Water management, Mining Acts and practices etc. Recommendation may be offered in respect to perceived detrimental operational outcomes that may ultimately affect Threatened Species protection. Specific guideline and listing statements can be obtained through the DPIW Threatened Species website.

Peter Tonelli (manager) TasNature

Addressing DPEMP Projects Specific Guidelines 4.7 Biodiversity and nature conservation values.

Potential effects on flora and fauna from habitat clearing and the introduction of heavy machinery and blasting into a forested area.

Site inspection revealed little evidence of transient ground fauna within the proposed quarry precinct. In respect to noise factors associated with quarry operations – past disturbance monitoring of nesting Raptors and resident fauna has shown that there appears to be a tolerance and acceptance developed over time! Historically this particular operation has routinely imprinted on any avian and mammalian fauna over a number of years and accepted as normal. It has long been known that one pair of nesting Wedge-tail Eagles Aquila audax have been resident along the nearby Badger Range, resident Peregrine falcons – Falco peregrinus nest along the east facing rock ledges some 1 km south of the existing quarry.

Flora and fauna survey with particular emphasis on threatened species and communities. (Ref. NVA report p8 -14)

A field survey of the knoll incline and ridge vegetation has shown that it is primarily made up of a relatively thin organic layer of leaf litter derived from a dominant closed community of Manuka Teatree - Leptospermum scoparium, indispersed with stunted Black Peppermint Gum Eucalyptus amygdalina, Honeysuckle Banksia marginata and Monotoca glauca. Moss covers the ground below the dense upper canopy of the Manuka, so few ground cover plants are able to establish as a poorly defined understorey.

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Fauna:

Tasmanian Masked Owl (Tyto novaehollandiae sub sp. castanops) listed as

endangered under the TSP Act and vulnerable under the EPBC Act. A threatened fauna survey must be undertaken,

Tasmanian Masked Owl (nesting hollows): The visual Fauna survey conducted on 19th April of the quarry (knoll) site gave careful consideration as to suitable nesting hollows for arboreal fauna, confirmed no trees with any suitable arboreal hollows that could be considered as potential nesting sites for the Tasmanian Masked Owl - Tyto novaehollandiae were found due to the lack of preferred tree type on the site. The improved mature forest type (wet sclerophyll) lower down into the valley on the Eastern side - approx one km. outside of the proposed quarry zone however, may prove a different proposition.

Vegetation type proposed quarry site – Riley’s quarry

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Masked Owl and Pterostylis atriola habitat . Base of Badger Hills – Railton.

Grey Goshawk (nest sites) (Accipiter novaehollandiae). Nest search from Sept. to Feb. is not recommended. (breeding period), however in 1995 nesting pair of Grey Goshawks were recorded by Mrs. Joan Elliott (dec) R.A.O.U. recorder close Caroline Creek / New Bed Road - some 4 km from the quarry site, 448549n x 5422226n Nest sites involving both brown and grey Goshawks will occasionally clutch together but same colour morphs are more the bonding norm, nests will occupy the lower canopy of both DSC and WOU forest types, usually building on unoccupied Forest Raven nests. It’s probable, transient birds could occasionally be observed hunting around the open quarry site. Hawks in Focus – Cupper J. Cupper L. Jaclin Enterprises Press 1981

Threatened fauna species that have been recorded within 5 km of the proposed development include the Giant Freshwater Crayfish (Astacopsis gouldi) listed as vulnerable under the TSP and EPBC Acts, the Central North Burrowing Crayfish (Engaeus granulatus) A threatened fauna survey must be undertaken, including surveys of potential habitat for the Giant Freshwater Crayfish and Central North Burrowing Crayfish within drainage lines and creeks where current and proposed run-off will be directed. NVA records indicate existence of both A. gouldi and E. granulatus in Marine creek East of the proposed quarry operational site. No drainage lines or proposed run-off exist other than the natural watershed that enters this catchment. At present allocated drainage and a series of settlement ponds exist on the Western side of quarry operations and eventually enter Ray creek. On 6th Feb. a thorough survey of the creek was conducted for at least one kilometre through the natural forest profile to Bramich Road culvert. No evidence of either Astacopsis gouldi or Engaeus granulatus was found. Factors limiting suitable habitat were recorded as:

1. Little or no consistent flow and no permanent deep holes preferred by Astacopsis spp.

2 Deep gauging of the streambed from past flash flooding limited the retention a permanent water table.

3 Penetration of the alluvial streambed gravels and bedrock appeared unsuitable for Engaeus spp. to exist.

Tasmanian Devil: “In this somewhat isolated worksite with vegetated escarpment and adjacent gullies - transient nocturnal activity would be the norm. Devils could be expected to turn up almost anywhere, including on or near the proposed quarry site. During the ground survey for Threatened plants a search for den habitat key Dasyurid species (Devils, Spotted –tailed Quolls) was conducted typically amongst logs, borrows dug by wombats, hollow logs or small diameter openings into deeper caves complexes . None of these conditions presented a suitable opportunity for denning in the proposed quarry zone. No scats, footprints etc presented as visual evidence of any TS in the proposed quarry zone.”

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Flora: • A threatened flora species survey must be undertaken. PCAB noted that the orchid Pterostylis atriola, listed as rare under the TSP Act and endangered under the EPBC Act, has also been recorded in the area. A survey for this species should be undertaken during its flowering period of January through to April.

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(a) NB. A through search for evidence of Pterostylis atriola was conducted across the development footprint / quarry site on 19th April 2011. (b) The physical search date fell within the prescribed flowering time, no evidence of post flowering leaf presence or at least fruiting specimens existed. (c) No evidence of P. atriola was found.

1. The author is familiar with this Threatened orchid species - Pterostylis atriola and has periodically conducted transact searches plus contributed to the NVA records where specimens existed on private and FT forested areas in the Newbed Road area – Railton in previous years.

2. The known geological profile / habitat for P. atriola to exist in the Railton area is a rich organic krasozemic loam with a generous forest leaf litter beneath as a consequence primarily from a dominant tree canopy of mature Eucalypt species.

3. Broadly speaking, the proposed quarry site (knoll) vegetation and soil profile in no

way resembles the known habitat that would contribute to the existence of P. atriola.

4. As the Threatened species orchid in question would most probably co-exist and benefit from an association with a symbiotic mycorrhizal fungi (typical of the Genus), elevated soil drainage and lack of moisture retention would inhibit suitable conditions for P. atriola to exist within the thin layer of organic breakdown found at the proposed quarry site.

5. No mature upper canopy trees exist on the quarry site that could contribute and

maintain suitable soil profiles for P. atriola to exist! Reference: The Orchids of Tasmania Jones D.L, Wapstra J. E, Tonelli P. J, Harris S. 1999 Melb. University Press - Page 217 The Orchadian Vol 16 #1 Sept 2008 Page 16. ANOS journal. (Alan Stephenson) 6

Weeds and Diseases: • A weed and hygiene control management plan should be developed to include the proposed quarry extension. Some sporadic invasive weeds appear around the marginal workings of the quarry site and sections of the road in, a major outbreak of annual and perennial weeds (listed below) are widespread in one area of set aside over-burden, a generous spray application of a non selective herbicide (Glyphosate) would soon bring these soft tissue weeds under control. One small out-break of Gorse – Ulex eurip occurs near the rock crusher marked and will be removed by mechanical means. Scotch Thistle – Onopordum acanthium Black Nightshade - Solanum nigrans Capeweed - Arctotheca calendula

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Natural Values (Atlas) Report Authoritative, comprehensive information on Tasmania's natural values.80

NVA Report number: 41997 Reference: Nook - A.J. & B.J. Riley - Quarry Requested For: P. J. Tonelli - TasNature Timestamp: 07:59:28 PM Saturday 09 April 2011 Threatened Flora: buffers 500m and 2000m Threatened Fauna: buffers 500m and 2000m Conservation Significance Flora: buffers 500m and 2000m Conservation Significance Fauna: buffers 500m and 2000m Weeds: buffers 500m and 2000m TasVeg: buffer 1000m Threatened Non-Forest: buffer 1000m Geoconservation: buffer 1000m Tasmanian Reserve Estate: buffer 1000m

The centroid for this query GDA94 445212,5425940 falls within: 1:25000 Map: 4442 RAILTON Property: 2539309 ROCKLIFFS ROAD, SHEFFIELD TAS 7306

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Threatened flora within 2000 metres

ID# Species Common Name SS Date Obs Type Location 1201700 Cyathea Xmarcescens skirted treefern e 09-Nov-2010 sight 446150,5425700 +/- 30m. 1201699 Cyathea cunninghamii slender treefern e 08-Nov-2010 sight 445815,5425863 +/- 10m.

Observers: Paddy Dalton (3062)Greg Jordan (4321)N. Roberts (6878) Tony Allwright (8403) Timothy Leaman (18581)

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Threatened flora within 500 metres *** No threatened flora found within 500 metres. ***

Threatened fauna within 500 metres (based on Habitat Mapping)

Species Common Name SS NS Potential Known Core Aquila audax subsp. fleayi wedge-tailed eagle e EN 1 0 0 Aquila audax subsp. fleayi wedge-tailed eagle pe PEN 1 0 0 Perameles gunnii eastern barred bandicoot VU 1 0 0 Astacopsis gouldi giant freshwater crayfish v VU 1 0 0 Lathamus discolor swift parrot e EN 1 1 1 Engaeus granulatus Cent Nth burrowing crayfish e EN 1 0 0 Galaxiella pusilla eastern dwarf galaxias v VU 1 1 0 Tyto novaehollandiae masked owl pe PVU 1 0 1 Litoria raniformis green and golden frog v VU 1 0 0 Prototroctes maraena australian grayling v VU 1 0 0 Haliaeetus leucogaster white-bellied sea-eagle v 1 0 0 Accipiter novaehollandiae grey goshawk e 1 0 1

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Threatened fauna within 2000 metres

ID# Species Common Name SS NS Date Location (GDA94) 160861 Astacopsis gouldi giant freshwater crayfish v VU 20-Sep-2010 445810,5425930 +/- 30m. Tony Allwright (8403) 523606 Astacopsis gouldi giant freshwater crayfish v VU 1991 443512,5425483 +/- 100m. Pierre Horwitz (1948) 956778 Engaeus granulatus Central North burrowing Karen Richards (3464) crayfish e EN 25-Nov-2004 446780,5426410 +/- 25m 956777 Engaeus granulatus Central North burrowing e EN 26-Nov-2004 446349,5425504 +/- 25m. Karen Richards (3464) crayfish

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Threatened fauna within 2000 metres (based on Habitat Mapping)

Species Common Name SS NS Potential Known Core Aquila audax subsp. fleayi wedge-tailed eagle e EN 1 0 0 Aquila audax wedge-tailed eagle pe PEN 1 0 0 Perameles gunnii eastern barred bandicoot VU 1 0 0 Astacopsis gouldi giant freshwater crayfish v VU 1 0 0 Lathamus discolor swift parrot e EN 1 1 1 Engaeus granulatus Central North

burrowing crayfish e EN 1 1 0 Galaxiella pusilla eastern dwarf galaxias v VU 1 1 0 Tyto novaehollandiae masked owl pe PVU 1 0 1 Litoria raniformis green and golden frog v VU 1 0 0 Prototroctes maraena Australian grayling v VU 1 0 0 Haliaeetus leucogaster white-bellied sea-eagle v 1 0 0 Accipiter novaehollandiae grey goshawk e 1 0 1

Non-threatened flora of conservation significance within 500 m ID# Species Common Name Date Location Bio Res 47410 Banksia marginate silver banksia 17-Dec-1980? 445112,5425783 +/- 200m y Fred Duncan (7477) 50177 Eucalyptus amygdalina black peppermint 17-Dec-1980? 445112,5425783 +/- 200m. e Fred Duncan(7477) 50179 Oxylobium arborescens tall shaggypea 17-Dec-1980? 445112,5425783 +/- 200m. 3a Fred Duncan(7477)

Geoconservation sites within 1000 metres *** No Geoconservation sites found within 1000 metres. ***

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Non-threatened flora of conservation significance within 2000 m ID# Species CommonName Date Location 150554 Lomatia tinctoria guitarplant 12-Sep-1996? 446412,5427223 +/-100m. e y Katriona Lee Hopkins (2888) 50143 Melaleuca squarrosa scented paperbark 17-Dec-1980 443812,5427183 +/-200m 3a Fred Duncan (7477) 150255 Olearia phlogopappa willowleaf dusty daisybush 12-Sep-1996? 446412,5427223 +/-100m e var. salicifolia Katriona Lee Hopkins (2888) 50179 Oxylobium arborescens tall shaggypea 17-Dec-1980? 445112,5425783 +/-200m. 3a Fred Duncan (7477) 50155 Oxylobium arborescens tall shaggypea 17-Dec-1980? 445412,5425383 +/- 200m. 3a

Fred Duncan (7477)

47408 Ozothamnus thyrsoideus angled everlasting bush 17-Dec-1980? 445412,5425383 +/- 200m. 3a Fred Duncan (7477) 273069 Ozothamnus thyrsoideus angled everlasting bush 17-Dec-1980 445612,5426783 +/100m. 3a F. Duncan (4248) 150556 Ozothamnus thyrsoideus angled everlastingbush1 2-Sep-1996? 446412,5427223 +/-100m. 3a Katriona Lee Hopkins (2888) 150586 Persoonia juniperina var. juniperina prickly geebung 12-Sep-1996? 446202,5427333 +/-100m. 3a Karen Ziegler (3104) 150588 Pimelea nivea bushmans bootlace 12-Sep-1996? 446202,5427333 +/-100m e Karen Ziegler (3104) 150495 Pimelea nivea bushmans bootlace 12-Sep-1996? 445852,5427633 +/-100m. e Karen Ziegler (3104) 567670 Thelymitra cyanea veined sun orchid 21-Nov-1992? 446112,5424183 +/-2000m. 3a Jeff Campbell (1185)

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Non-threatened fauna of conservation significance within 500 m *** No non-threatened fauna of conservation significance found within 500 metres. ***

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Non-threatened fauna of conservation significance within 2000 m ID # Species Common Name Date Location 305083 Crinia tasmaniensis tasmanian froglet 17-Jan-1994? 443912,5424883 +/-1000m. Observers. G Wickham(7548)

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Weeds within 2000 m ID# Species Common Name Date Geometry Location Obs State WMA Wons 150550 Erica lusitanica spanish heath 12-Sep-1996? 446412,5427223 +/-100m. present yes Katriona Lee Hopkins (2888) 1163705 Erica lusitanica spanish heath 17 Oct-2007 444261.5637,5424962 6633 +/- -1m present yes Unknown (21598) Kentish Weed mapping 150557 Pinus radiata radiata pine 12-Sep-1996? 446412,5427223 +/-100m. present yes Katriona LeeHopkins (2888) 908482 Senecio jacobaea ragwort 11-Apr-1990 443712,5425483 +/-100m. present yes John Ireson (3188) 1163701 Ulex europaeus gorse 2007 445374.5561,5424981. 6851 +/- -1m. present yes Unknown(21598) Kentish weed mapping

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TASVEG communities within 1000 metres

ID# Code Community 101375220 DSC Eucalyptus amygdalina - Eucalyptus obliqua damp sclerophyll forest 101375244 FUM Extra-urban miscellaneous 101375246 DAS Eucalyptus amygdalina forest and woodland on sandstone 101375217 WOU Eucalyptus obliqua wet forest (undifferentiated) 101378520 DOB Eucalyptus obliqua dry forest and woodland 101378510 WOU Eucalyptus obliqua wet forest (undifferentiated) 101378512 DOB Eucalyptus obliqua dry forest and woodland 101378513 FPE Permanent easements 101375245 NAD Acacia dealbata forest 101378511 DOB Eucalyptus obliqua dry forest and woodland 101373709 DOB Eucalyptus obliqua dry forest and woodland 101372686 FAG Agricultural land 101375213 NAD Acacia dealbata forest 101378516 WOU Eucalyptus obliqua wet forest (undifferentiated)

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TASVEG communities within 800 metres

ID# Code Community 101375220 DSC Eucalyptus amygdalina - Eucalyptus obliqua damp sclerophyll forest 101375244 FUM Extra-urban miscellaneous (quarry disturbance) 101375246 DAS Eucalyptus amygdalina forest and woodland on sandstone 101375217 WOU Eucalyptus obliqua wet forest (undifferentiated) 101378520 DOB Eucalyptus obliqua dry forest and woodland 101378510 WOU Eucalyptus obliqua wet forest (undifferentiated) 101378512 DOB Eucalyptus obliqua dry forest and woodland 101378513 FPE Permanent easements 101375245 NAD Acacia dealbata forest 101378511 DOB Eucalyptus obliqua dry forest and woodland 101373709 DOB Eucalyptus obliqua dry forest and woodland 101372686 FAG Agricultural land 101375213 NAD Acacia dealbata forest 101378516 WOU Eucalyptus obliqua wet forest (undifferentiated)

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Threatened plant communities within 800 metres

Code Title Status DAS Eucalyptus amygdalina forest and woodland on sandstone V

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Reserve estates within 1000 metres

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