2 David Low Way - Attachment 2 - Ecological and Bushfire Assessment Report 9-8-17

                                                                             Ecological and Bushfire Assessment Report
                                                                                 Lot 71 on MCH 2854, Castaways Beach



                b. are of concern regional ecosystems;
                c.   intersect with a wetland shown on the vegetation management wetlands map;
                d. contain areas of essential habitat shown on the essential habitat map for an animal that is
                   endangered wildlife or vulnerable wildlife or a plant that is endangered wildlife or vulnerable
                   wildlife;
                e. are located within the defined distances stated in the Environmental Offsets Policy 2014 from
                   the defining banks of a relevant watercourse or drainage feature as shown on the vegetation
                   management watercourse and drainage feature map; or
                f.   contain remnant vegetation and are areas of land determined to be required for ecosystem
                     functioning (‘connectivity areas’).
    2. Wetlands in a wetland protection area or wetlands of high ecological significance shown on the Map
       of referable wetlands under the Environmental Protection Regulation 2008.
    3. Wetlands and watercourses in high ecological value waters as defined in schedule 2 of the
       Environmental Protection (Water) Policy 2009.
    4. Designated precincts in strategic environmental areas under the Regional Planning Interests
       Regulation 2014.
    5. Threatened wildlife under the Nature Conservation Act 1992 and special least concern animals under
       the Nature Conservation (Wildlife) Regulation 2006.
    6. Protected areas under the Nature Conservation Act 1992 excluding coordinated conservation areas.
    7. Highly protected zones of state marine parks under the Marine Parks Act 2004.
    8. Declared fish habitat areas under the Fisheries Act 1994.
    9. Waterways that provide for fish passage under the Fisheries Act 1994 if the construction, installation
       or modification of waterway barrier works carried will limit the passage of fish along the waterway.
    10. Marine plants under the Fisheries Act 1994.
    11. Legally secured offset areas.


It is also noted that in the State Assessment and Referral Agency (SARA) pre-lodgement meeting advice dated
18 July 2017 (SARA reference: SPL-0617-040185) it is suggested that “… the northern portion of the site has
been identified as MSES – Regulated vegetation (wetland). This MSES relates to a regional ecosystem that
intersects with a wetland shown on the vegetation management wetlands map.” This suggestion has been
investigated and it has been determined that this particular MSES does not apply to the Site for the following
reasons:
    a) the regulated vegetation that occurs on the Site is not a wetland regional ecosystem and there are no
       wetland areas on the Site, apart from a narrow fringe of wetland associated with Burgess Creek; and
    b) in any event, Section 5 of the Environmental Offsets Regulation 2014 effectively excludes “a regional
       ecosystem that intersects with an area shown as a wetland on the vegetation management wetlands
       map (to the extent of the intersection)” from being a MSES if located within an Urban Area and the
       Site is an Urban Area.


Based on the findings of desktop and field based investigations, no MSES occur within the Site.




8 August 2017                                          Cardno                                                       9