Attachment 6a - Ecological Assessment Part 1 · MCU18/0015

                            Ecological Assessment – Attunga Heights



7.2.6 Listed Migratory Species on or Near the Site
7.2.6.1 Significant Impact Criteria
An action will require approval if the action has, will have, or is likely to have a significant
impact on a listed migratory species. Note that some migratory species are also listed as
threatened species. The significant impact criteria below are relevant to migratory species
that are not threatened.

An action is likely to have a significant impact on a migratory species if there is a real
chance or possibility that it will:
   •   substantially modify (including by fragmenting, altering fire regimes, altering
       nutrient cycles; or
   •   altering hydrological cycles), destroy or isolate an area of important habitat for a
       migratory species; or
   •   result in an invasive species that is harmful to the migratory species becoming
       established in an area of important habitat for the migratory species; or
   •   seriously disrupt the lifecycle (breeding, feeding, migration or resting behaviour) of
       an ecologically significant proportion of the population of a migratory species.

An area of ‘important habitat’ for a migratory species is:
   •   habitat used by a migratory species occasionally or periodically within a region that
       supports an ecologically significant proportion of the population of the species;
       and/or
   •   habitat that is of critical importance to the species at particular life-cycle stages;
       and/or
   •   habitat utilized by a migratory species which is at the limit of the species range;
       and/or
   •   habitat within an area where the species is declining.

Listed migratory species cover a broad range of species with different life cycles and
population sizes. Therefore, the definition of what an ‘ecologically significant proportion’
of the population is varies with the species (each circumstance needs to be evaluated).
Some factors that should be considered include the species’ population status, genetic
distinctiveness and species specific behavioural patterns (for example, site fidelity and
dispersal rates).

The term ‘population’ in relation to migratory species, means the entire population or any
geographically separate part of the population of any species or lower taxon of wild
animals, a significant proportion of whose members cyclically and predictably cross one (1)
or more national jurisdictional boundaries including Australia.




Job No: Q12038/RW3                        JWA Pty Ltd                                        48