Attachment G - Fauna and Flora Assessment report

                                                                                      Native Foresters



Vegetation surrounding the existing Vipassana Centre is maintained in proximity to the existing
buildings and lawn area. There are areas of cleared grassy understorey, lawns and established
gardens with both native and non-native species present. The surrounding bushland is relatively
intact with a significant number of remnant and regrowth canopy trees and understorey plants.
There are a number of remnant and regrowth Eucalyptus, Corymbia and Lophostemon trees
throughout the works site, including some significant trees exhibiting good habitat values.

Topography across the site is gently sloping. Elevation rises from 104 metres AHD at the northern
entranceway/drop-off area to 129 metres at the highest point behind the new meditation centre,
and falls away to 105 metres at the south-west corner.

Existing impacts on the site include:

   i)        Historical logging/clearing;
   ii)       Existing residence/meditation buildings and associated
             landscaping/gardens/carparks;
   iii)      Construction site/temporary sheds, toilets and roads;
   iv)       Bushland walking trails;
   v)        Some weed presence, including Camphor laurel (Cinnamomum camphora), Easter
             Cassia (Senna pendula var. glabrata), and Corky Passionfruit (Passiflora
             suberosa);
   vi)       Edge effects (increased light, wind, dust and noise) along the forest margins;
   vii)      Pedestrian access and presence of domestic and feral animals.

1.3       Legislative requirements

To evaluate the habitat values on the site for State and Commonwealth listed flora and fauna
species the following legislation was reviewed:

         Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) –
          Commonwealth
         Nature Conservation Act 1992 (NCA) – State
             o Nature Conservation (Wildlife Management) Regulation 2006
         Vegetation Management Act 1999 (VMA) – State
         Biosecurity Act 2016 – State
         Planning Act 2016 and Planning Regulation 2017 – State

1.4       Proposed works

The proposed works involve the following:

   i)        Construction of new accommodation buildings and associated infrastructure on the
             outer edge of the existing built environment both in the Northern and Southern sections
             of the site;
   ii)       Clearing of Fire Management Zones on northern and southern edges of the site
             adjacent to areas of retained bushland;
   iii)      Construction of a new meditation building on the eastern edge of the site.

A plan of the proposed works is shown in Appendix A.



 Vipassana Centre Building Program - Pomona – Fauna and Flora Assessment                    6