Scattered tree assessment, McPherson Precinct Structure ... · MELBOURNE VIC 3000 Dear Matt, Scattered tree assessment, McPherson Precinct Structure Plan (PSP 1055) ... (BM) diameter

© Biosis 2014 – Leaders in Ecology and Heritage Consulting 1

22 December 2014

Matt Stafford

Senior Structure Planner

Metropolitan Planning Authority

Level 29, 35 Collins Street

MELBOURNE VIC 3000

Dear Matt,

Scattered tree assessment, McPherson Precinct Structure Plan (PSP 1055) Project no. 18420

Biosis Pty Ltd was commissioned to undertake a survey of a selection of trees within the McPherson PSP.

The following details the methods and results of the survey.

Methods

The tree assessment was undertaken within McPherson PSP on 24th

July 2014.

Locations of trees that required assessment were provided by the Department of Environment and Primary

Industries (DEPI). Trees were located in the field using a handheld GPS and the size class and species of

each tree was recorded.

Indigenous tree size class was determined on the basis of the relevant Ecological Vegetation Class (EVC)

benchmark (BM) diameter at breast height (DBH), with tree size classes based on the following size

thresholds:

• Very Large Old Tree (VL) = ≥1.5 x BM

• Large Old Tree (LT) = ≥ BM < 1.5 x BM

• Medium Old Tree (MT) = ≥ 0.75 x BM < BM

• Small Tree (ST) = ≥ 0.25 x BM < 0.75 x BM

The associated EVCs were identified in the field. The EVC to which scattered remnant trees originally

belonged was determined using nearby time stamped native vegetation, EVC mapping from DEPI's

Biodiversity Interactive Maps, and evidence gathered in the field.

Results

The trees identified by DEPI for assessment within the McPherson PSP were a mixture of indigenous trees,

planted indigenous species, planted non-indigenous Australian natives and exotic trees. Table 1 provides

details of each of the trees assessed.

Indigenous trees within the PSP included Swamp Gum Eucalyptus ovata (Plate 1), Narrow-leaf Peppermint

Eucalyptus radiata, River Red-gum Eucalyptus camaldulensis and Coast Manna-gum Eucalyptus viminalis

subsp. pryoriana. Several Eucalypts along the Cardinia Creek exhibited characteristics consistent with


Narrow-leaf Peppermint and Snow Gum Eucalyptus pauciflora. These trees were deemed to be a hybrid of

these two species which both occur in the area. A single remnant Swamp Paperbark Melaleuca ericifolia was

identified.

The EVC to which a scattered tree belonged is used to determine the benchmark large trees size. This is

used to classify the size class of the tree (Table 1). EVCs attributable to the scattered trees within the PSP

included Swampy Riparian Woodland along the Cardinia Creek, and Plains Swampy Woodland, Swamp

Scrub and Damp Sands Herb-rich Woodland elsewhere. Given that scattered trees in the McPherson PSP

are not typically found with any other remnant vegetation that would allow an EVC to be identified, EVCs

were determined using a combination of information gathered during the field assessment and from DEPIs

EVC mapping, accessed via the Biodiversity Information Mapper (BIM) on the DEPI website.

Tree number 26 is a small River Red-gum located amongst a collection of Australian native plantings in the

Pound Road roadside. Although this is a site indigenous species it is clear from our assessment that this

tree was planted and we have identified it as such in Table 1.

Planted non-indigenous Australian native trees included commonly planted species such as Sugar Gum

Eucalyptus cladocalyx, Mugga Eucalyptus sideroxylon, Southern Blue-gum Eucalyptus globulus and Southern

Mahogany Eucalyptus botryoides. These species are commonly found in windbreaks and in roadsides

around Melbourne. Tree number 35 was an exotic Weeping Willow Salix babylonica.

During the survey a number of trees identified by waypoints provided by DEPI were in close proximity to

additional trees not identified for survey. In such cases the canopies of the two trees overlapped to an

extent that the additional tree may have been overlooked in identifying trees to be surveyed. In such cases

information for additional trees was recorded and the tree labelled by adding a letter suffix to the closest

tree identified in the DEPI dataset. For example, an additional Sugar Gum was located next to tree no. 6, the

original tree no. 6 is renamed '6a' and the additional tree is labelled '6b'. These additional trees are mapped

in Figure 1 and the information included in Table 1.

Tree number 36 could not be assessed as access to the property could not be arranged with the landholder

at the time of survey.

Plate 1: Remnant Swamp Gum along Pattersons Road within the McPherson PSP


Table 1: Scattered within McPherson PSP

Tree

No.

Species Common Name Indigenous/Exotic DBH

(cm)

Size

class

EVC

1 Eucalyptus botryoides Southern Mahogany Non-indigenous Australian native 90 - -

2 Eucalyptus sideroxylon Mugga Non-indigenous Australian native 80 - -



5 Eucalyptus botryoides Southern Mahogany Non-indigenous Australian native 74 - -

6a Eucalyptus cladocalyx Sugar Gum Non-indigenous Australian native 109 - -

6b Eucalyptus cladocalyx Sugar Gum Non-indigenous Australian native 120 - -

7 Eucalyptus cladocalyx Sugar Gum Non-indigenous Australian native 79 - -





11 Eucalyptus radiata Narrow-leaf Peppermint Indigenous 47 ST Plains Swampy Woodland

12 Eucalyptus ovata Swamp Gum Indigenous 43 ST Plains Swampy Woodland



15 Eucalyptus ovata Swamp Gum Indigenous 65 MT Plains Swampy Woodland

16a Eucalyptus ovata Swamp Gum Indigenous 42 ST Plains Swampy Woodland

16b Eucalyptus ovata Swamp Gum Indigenous 33 ST Plains Swampy Woodland

17 Eucalyptus ovata Swamp Gum Indigenous 83 LT Plains Swampy Woodland

18 Eucalyptus ovata Swamp Gum Indigenous 67 MT Plains Swampy Woodland



Tree

No.

Species Common Name Indigenous/Exotic DBH

(cm)

Size

class

EVC




23

Eucalyptus viminalis subsp.

pryoriana Coast Manna-gum Indigenous 49 ST Plains Grassy Woodland



26 Eucalyptus camaldulensis River Red-gum Planted indigenous 68 - -

27 Eucalyptus radiata x pauciflora

Narrow-leaf Peppermint x Snow

Gum hybrid Indigenous 43 ST Swampy Riparian Woodland




29 Acacia mearnsii Black Wattle Indigenous 38 ST Swampy Riparian Woodland




31 Eucalyptus camaldulensis River Red-gum Indigenous 32 ST Swampy Riparian Woodland

32 Eucalyptus globulus Southern Blue-gum Non-indigenous Australian native 53 - -

33 Eucalyptus globulus Southern Blue-gum Non-indigenous Australian native 56 - -

34 Melaleuca ericifolia Swamp Paperbark Indigenous 28 - Swamp Scrub

35 Salix babylonica Weeping Willow Exotic 42 - -


Please contact me on (03) 8686 4829 if you have any queries.

Yours sincerely,

Rohan Simkin

Botanist

0429 019 163

CASEYCASEYCITYCITY

CARDINIACARDINIASHIRESHIRE

Pound Rd

Tucke

rs Rd

Pattersons Rd

Thompsons Rd

Banjo Pl

Graha

m Rd

Lynch

Rd

Bells

Rd

Soldiers Rd

Hardys Rd

Chasemore Rd

Smith

s Lan

e

Duncan Rd

Unna

med

Mccormacks Rd

Bould Rd

Ballarto Rd

Patterson Rd

Pound Rd

Offic

er So

uth Rd

Clyde Creek

Cardi

nia Cr

eek

2\PS436239

2\LP146177

5\PS438756

3\PS441963

1\PS531836

1\LP146177

E~68\PP2462

3\PS438755

2\PS441963

Roadcasement

Roadcasement

RES1\LP146177

1234 5

6a7

910

1116a

1920

2123

2425

26

8b6b

2730

32 33

3435

See figure1a fordetail

See figure1b fordetail

See figure1c fordetail

See figure1d fordetail

See figure 1efor detailSee figure

1f fordetail

See figure1g for detail

See figure1h for detail

0 200 400 600 800 1,000

Metres

LegendParcels requiring surveyPSP boundaryParcel not accessible for survey

Indigenous treesMedium Old Tree Eucalyptus camaldulensisLarge Old Tree Eucalyptus ovataMedium Old Tree Eucalyptus ovataSmall Tree Eucalyptus ovataSmall Tree Acacia mearnsiiSmall Tree Eucalyptus radiataSmall Tree Eucalyptus viminalis subsp. pryorianaSmall Tree Eucalyptus camaldulensisSmall TreeEucalyptus radiata x paucifloraMelaleuca ericifolia

Other treesExotic treeNon site indigenous Australian native

Time-stamped EVCs55 Plains Grassy Woodland83 Swampy Riparian Woodland990 Not Native Vegetation

Matter: 18420, Date: 22 December 2014, Checked by: RDS, Drawn by: SKM, Last edited by: jshepherdLocation:P:\18400s\18420\Mapping\18420_F1_ScatteredTree_Overview

Biosis Pty LtdBallarat, Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne,

Sydney, Wangaratta & Wollongong

Scale: 1:20,000 @ A3

Figure 1: Scattered treeassessment results in theMcPherson PSP - Overview

Coordinate System: GDA 1994 MGA Zone 55

Acknowledgements: VicMap Data Copyright © The State of Victoria, Department of Environment and Primary Industries 2014

Cardinia Creek

2\LP146177

61A\PP2462

1\LP146177

Road casement

RES1\LP146177

27282930

31

3233

0 20 40 60 80 100

Metres

LegendParcels requiring surveyPSP boundary

Indigenous treesSmall Tree Acacia mearnsiiSmall Tree Eucalyptus camaldulensisSmall TreeEucalyptus radiata x pauciflora

Other treesNon site indigenous Australian native

Time-stamped EVCs83 Swampy Riparian Woodland990 Not Native Vegetation

Matter: 18420, Date: 22 December 2014, Checked by: RDS, Drawn by: SKM, Last edited by: jshepherdLocation:P:\18400s\18420\Mapping\18420_F1_ScatteredTree_Detail



Pound Rd

Ballarto Rd

Patterson Rd

Office

r Sou

th Rd

a

b

c

d ef g

h

Scale: 1:2,000 @ A3

Figure 1a: Scattered treeassessment results in theMcPherson PSP - Detail



Smith

s Lan

e

2\LP146177

5\PS438756

1\LP146177

Roadcasement

24

25

0 20 40 60 80 100

Metres


Indigenous treesLarge Old Tree Eucalyptus ovataSmall Tree Eucalyptus ovata

Time-stamped EVCs990 Not Native Vegetation




Pound Rd

Ballarto Rd

Patterson Rd

Office

r Sou

th Rd

a

b

c

d ef g

h

Scale: 1:2,000 @ A3

Figure 1b: Scattered treeassessment results in theMcPherson PSP - Detail



Pound Rd

3\PS441963

2\PS441963

Roadcasement

6a

78a

26

8b

6b

0 20 40 60 80 100

Metres


Indigenous treesMedium Old Tree Eucalyptus camaldulensis






Pound Rd

Ballarto Rd

Patterson Rd

Office

r Sou

th Rd

a

b

c

d ef g

h

Scale: 1:2,000 @ A3

Figure 1c: Scattered treeassessment results in theMcPherson PSP - Detail



Pound Rd

2\PS436239

3\PS441963

2\PS441963

Roadcasement

1

2 345

26

0 20 40 60 80 100

Metres


Indigenous treesMedium Old Tree Eucalyptus camaldulensis






Pound Rd

Ballarto Rd

Patterson Rd

Office

r Sou

th Rd

a

b

c

d ef g

h

Scale: 1:2,000 @ A3

Figure 1d: Scattered treeassessment results in theMcPherson PSP - Detail



Mccormacks Rd3\PS441963

3\PS438755

9

10

0 20 40 60 80 100

Metres







Pound Rd

Ballarto Rd

Patterson Rd

Office

r Sou

th Rd

a

b

c

d ef g

h

Scale: 1:2,000 @ A3

Figure 1e: Scattered treeassessment results in theMcPherson PSP - Detail



Unna

med

2\PS436239

2\PS436239

Roadcasement

20

2122

23

0 20 40 60 80 100

Metres


Indigenous treesLarge Old Tree Eucalyptus ovataSmall Tree Eucalyptus ovataSmall Tree Eucalyptus viminalis subsp. pryoriana





Pound Rd

Ballarto Rd

Patterson Rd

Office

r Sou

th Rd

a

b

c

d ef g

h

Scale: 1:2,000 @ A3

Figure 1f: Scattered treeassessment results in theMcPherson PSP - Detail



Unna

med

Pound Rd

2\PS436239

3\PS441963

1\PS531836

Road casement

Roadcasement

Roadcasement1112131415

16a

171819

20

16b

0 20 40 60 80 100

Metres

LegendParcels requiring surveyParcel not accessible for surveyPSP boundary

Indigenous treesLarge Old Tree Eucalyptus ovataMedium Old Tree Eucalyptus ovataSmall Tree Eucalyptus ovataSmall Tree Eucalyptus radiata





Pound Rd

Ballarto Rd

Patterson Rd

Office

r Sou

th Rd

a

b

c

d ef g

h

Scale: 1:2,000 @ A3

Figure 1g: Scattered treeassessment results in theMcPherson PSP - Detail



Grah

am Rd

Ballarto Rd

E~68\PP2462

34

35

0 20 40 60 80 100

Metres


Indigenous treesMelaleuca ericifolia

Other treesExotic tree





Pound Rd

Ballarto Rd

Patterson Rd

Office

r Sou

th Rd

a

b

c

d ef g

h

Scale: 1:2,000 @ A3

Figure 1h: Scattered treeassessment results in theMcPherson PSP - Detail



Documents

Scattered tree assessment, McPherson Precinct Structure ... · MELBOURNE VIC 3000 Dear Matt, Scattered tree assessment, McPherson Precinct Structure Plan (PSP 1055) ... (BM) diameter