RFI - 10.03.2020 -Appendix B - Protected Plans Flora Survey Report · MCU16/0099.01

3             Survey Methodology

3.1           Clearing impact area
As discussed in Section 1.2 of this report, the clearing impact area is defined as the area to be disturbed to
the extent it is within a high risk area plus a buffer zone of 100 m around the boundary of the area to be
disturbed.
The clearing impact area for the proposed development subject to this report is illustrated in Figure 3 and
approximated 5.05 ha in area.


3.2           Timed meander survey
A Protected Plant Flora Survey was conducted on 24th February 2020 to identify NC Act EVNT flora species
which may be present within the clearing impact area (refer Figure 3).
The timed meander survey methodology defined in Section 6.2.2 of the Flora Survey Guidelines (DES 2019)
was employed to identify and locate potentially occurring EVNT flora species within the clearing impact area.
The timed meander survey methodology involved the following:
   The selection of a starting point and the time noted
   To maximise the coverage of potential EVNT flora species habitat, the vegetation community was
    traversed in a random manner
   Any EVNT flora species or potential EVNT flora species observed during the random meander were
    recorded along with samples and locational data (potential EVNT species observations were recorded for
    later confirmation)
   The time was recorded every 2 to 5 minutes during the survey
   The survey ceased once no new flora species (least concern or EVNT flora species) had been recorded
    for a period of 30 minutes or the entire area of habitat type was surveyed, whichever occurred first
   Timed meander surveys were undertaken at the rates as specified in Section 6.2.2 of the Flora Survey
    Guidelines (DES 2019), that is:
    − Areas between 2 ha and 10 ha: Two timed meander surveys


3.3           Survey timing
It is considered that the survey timing and duration was sufficient to determine the potential presence of the
NC Act EVNT flora plants which were identified from the desktop assessment as potentially occurring within
the clearing impact area (refer Table 2.1). As it was summer and there had been sufficient rain prior to the
survey, growing conditions were ideal for spotting vegetative structures. Many of the targeted NC Act EVNT
flora species may be considered distinctive, even when reproductive material is absent.
In addition to targeted searches, the Protected Plant Flora Survey included a habitat value assessment for
EVNT flora species within the clearing impact area to determine their likelihood of occurrence (refer to
Appendix B).


3.4        Permits to conduct works
The Protected Plant Flora Survey was conducted in accordance with Aurecon’s Scientific Purposes Permit,
WISP14453114 (valid between 20 April 2019 and 19 April 2024).




                             Project number 247473 File Protected Plant Survey Report - Lot 47 on RP136461 Cooroibah_final.docx, Select date Revision 0   10