Past Studies

OPPORTUNITIES AND CONSTRAINTS SURVEYS.

Flora and fauna overview and assessment of Barton Highway route realignment options, Murrumbateman, NSW. NSW Roads and Traffic Authority. December 1998.

• Assessment of various route options.
• Identification of any ecological constraints associated with each route option.
• Rank each route option based on the presence or absence of any ecological constraints (ranked from major [ecological] constraints to major [ecological] opportunities).

• Identify a route option that would minimise the disturbance to native species, their populations, ecological communities and habitats.
• Recommend an appropriate route option for the bypassing of the township of Murrumbateman.

Flora and fauna assessment of route options for a new Murray River crossing, Robinvale - Euston. NSW Roads and Traffic Authority. March 2000.

• Assessment of various route options.
• Identification of any ecological constraints associated with each route option.
• Rank each route option based on the presence or absence of any ecological constraints.

• Assessment using relevant Commonwealth, NSW and Victorian ecological legislations.

• Identify a route option that would minimise the disturbance to native species, their populations, ecological communities and habitats.
• Recommend an appropriate route option for the river crossing.

Flora and fauna assessment in relation to the proposed bypassing of the township of Moree, NSW. NSW Roads and Traffic Authority. March 1999.

Investigation undertaken to identify:

• The ecological character of the proposed bypass area
• The presence of any state and/or nationally listed threatened species or ecological communities; and
• Identify which bypass option (several of which were identified by the client) would have the lease ecological impact.

FLORA AND FAUNA SURVEYS.

Terrestrial flora and fauna survey, Tallowa Dam Wall raising, Kangaroo Valley, NSW. Department of Commerce. March 2006.

Flora and fauna assessment of the proposed Mudgee Sewage Treatment Plant upgrade and associated effluent reuse pipeline, Mudgee, NSW. Mudgee Shire Council and the Department of Land and Water Conservation. January 2003.

The purpose of this investigation was to:

• Targeted surveys of those vegetation communities, fauna habitats, animals (terrestrial and aquatic) and plants present within the development area.
• Determine the conservation status of those species detected.
• Assess the impact of a development proposal within the site.

Flora and fauna assessment in relation to the proposed construction of an overtaking lane, along the Newell Highway 43km north of Gilgandra. NSW Roads and Traffic Authority. November 2001.

The purpose of this investigation was to:

• Flora and fauna surveys.
• Species, vegetation communities and fauna habitat identifications.
• Ecological assessments.
• Presentation of appropriate recommendations to minimise the impacts of the road works.

Flora and fauna survey, proposed expansion of the Westdale Waste Water Treatment Plant (WWTP), Wallamore Road, Tamworth. Hunter Water Australia. August 2005.

The purpose of this investigation was to:

• Determine the diversity of animals and plants (terrestrial and aquatic) present within the area of likely impact.
• Determine the conservation status of those species detected or potentially present based on the identification of those vegetation communities and fauna habitats.
• Assess the impact of the proposal in light of the obligations of the relevant state and national ecological assessments.
• Provide appropriate recommendations to mitigate the impact of the proposal.

Flora and fauna survey and assessment of Part Lot 23 DP24649, Part Lot 191, DP543759 and Part Lot 22 DP564889, Black Hill, Muswellbrook. Gerard Thomas Associates. October 2002.

The purpose of this investigation was to:

• Identification of those vegetation communities, fauna habitats, animals and plants present within the development area.
• Determine the conservation status of those species detected.
• Assess the impact of a development proposal within the site.

Flora and fauna survey conducted as part of a Proposal to remove five timber bridges on the Howlong-Chiltern Road, Howlong. NSW Roads and Traffic Authority. March 2001.

The purpose of this investigation was to:

• Conduct a flora and fauna (including both terrestrial and aquatic species) survey;
• Identify the presence of any state and/or nationally listed threatened flora or fauna species;
• Identify the vegetation communities and fauna habitats present; and.
• Assess the impact of the bridge replacement proposal.

Flora and fauna surveys of the Noyeau Creek, Mandurama Creek, Coombing Creek, Belubula River and Grubbenbun Creek crossings, all of which are located along the Mid Western Highway between Bathurst and Cowra. Reports prepared for the NSW Roads and Traffic Authority during June and July 2003.

The purpose of these five separate investigations was to:

• Conduct a flora and fauna (including both terrestrial and aquatic species) survey;
• Identify the presence of any state and/or nationally listed threatened flora or fauna species;
• Identify the vegetation communities and fauna habitats present; and.
• Assess the impact of the bridge replacement proposals.

Fauna and flora assessment in relation to the proposed realignment of the Kamilaroi Highway, Brewarrina. NSW Roads and Traffic Authority, May 2001.

The purpose of this investigation was to:

• Conduct a flora and fauna (including both terrestrial and aquatic species) survey;
• Identify the presence of any state and/or nationally listed threatened flora or fauna species;
• Identify the vegetation communities and fauna habitats present; and.
• Assess the impact of the bridge replacement proposal.

Flora and fauna investigations undertake to assess the impacts associated with the replacement of:

• Salt Hole Bridge, Silver City Highway, Broken Hill;
• Fitzgeralds Creek Bridge, Broken Hill-White Cliffs Road, Broken Hill;
• Great Darling Anabranch Bridge, Pooncarie-Menindee Road, Menindee; and
• Paroo River Billabong Bridge, Bourke-Tibooburra Main Road, Wanaaring.

The four resultant reports were prepared for the NSW Roads and Traffic Authority during June 1999.

The purpose of these four separate investigations was to:

• Conduct a flora and fauna (including both terrestrial and aquatic species) survey;
• Identify the presence of any state and/or nationally listed threatened flora or fauna species;
• Identify the vegetation communities and fauna habitats present; and.
• Assess the impact of the bridge replacement proposals.

TARGETED THREATENED SPECIES SURVEYS.

Burraga Copper Mine, targeted microchiropteran surveys, Burraga, south west of Oberon, Oberon Local Government Area. Department of Primary Industries – Mineral Resources. October 2005.

• Determine the presence of microchiropterans within those shafts and adits present.
• Determine the state and national conservation status of any species detected.
• Assess the impacts associated with sealing those shafts and adits present.
• Provide appropriate mitigation measures that meet the overall public safety objectives of the project.

Targeted surveys for threatened fauna species in association with the proposed new crossing of the Murray River between Cobram, Victoria, and Barooga, NSW. NSW Roads and Traffic Authority. December 2002.

• Targeted surveys for threatened fauna.
• Use of species specific survey methods.
• Habitat identification.
• Assessment using relevant Commonwealth, NSW and Victorian ecological legislations.

MONITORING SURVEYS.

Objective of this study was to:

• Erection of specifically designed microchiropteran sheltering boxes within the vicinity of the Howlong-Chiltern Road to replace resources lost due to the removal of the existing timber bridges.

Microchiropteran monitoring study, Burraga Copper Mine, Burraga, south west of Oberon, Oberon Local Government Area. Department of Primary Industries – Mineral Resources. March 2006.

Objective of this study was to:

• Target microchiropterans and confirm their presence.
• Determine the residential status of previously recorded threatened bats.
• Confirm the ongoing presence of previously recorded microchiropterans including their population numbers.
• Assess the effectiveness of recommended mitigation measures.

Study undertaken to comply with the project’s conditions of consent. Investigation included:

• Identifying hollow bearing trees;
• Identifying the locations of threatened plants;
• Fencing off portions of the study area that should not be cleared; and
• Being present on site during the removal of any hollow bearing trees to present/minimise any injuries to sheltering animals.

PLANS OF MANAGEMENT.

Farmers Creek Vegetation Management Plan (VMP). Report prepared for the City of Greater Lithgow. 1998.

The VMP was prepared to:

• Identify incentives for private landowners to change their existing practices, and learn about, and implement sound management techniques;
• Identify low or no cost actions that both private and public landowners can implement in the endeavour to improve the health of Farmers Creek;
• Identify methods for creating on-going interest in, ownership of, and commitment to, the health of the Farmers Creek environment;
• Identify methods for improving Council's management techniques in a cost-effective manner;
• Provide models of best practice that may be incorporated into the management of the Creek; and
• Prepare a species list (for revegetation purposes) to guide all stakeholders, not only in the appropriate species selection, but also in the placement of plantings in appropriate locations with respect to proximity to the water (and other issues).

Weed Management Strategy for Big Yango new additions to Yengo National Park. Report prepared for NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service. September 2001.

The report was prepared to:

• Assess the density of weeds a nd provide a map showing both density and distribution of keystone (target) weed species;
• Assess the diversity of native flora and determine its resilience potential; and
• Guide the present and future management of weeds on the site by identifying prior ities for weed control and bush regeneration on consideration of the health of the bushland and its capacity for regeneration.

Flora and fauna constraints analysis, Warrah Creek Catchment Floodplain Management Plan, Quirindi, NSW. Report prepared for the Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources. November 2003.

Investigation undertaken to identify:

• Any areas of high, moderate and low ecological value that occur within the catchment of Warrah Creek;
• Any ecologically sensitive areas that should be retained and incorporated into the Catchment areas Management Plan in their current form or with proposed mitigation measures;
• Sites that could potentially be developed without an adverse impact upon native species or their habitat requirements; and
• Sites that may be developed at a later stage depending upon the results of further field based, detailed ecological assessments.

Review of Environmental Factors for weed removal and bushland regeneration works at the Jenolan Karst Conservation Reserve. Report prepared for Jenolan Caves Reserve Trust. March 2004.

• Identify potential impacts of the proposed weed removal program (primarily Sycamores) on the ecological integrity of the native plant communities within the Reserve;
• Identify strategies to maintain ecological values as well as soil stability and water quality;
• Field investigations were undertaken to confirm findings of earlier studies and reports with respect of flora and fauna communities, threatened species, noxious weeds, heritage items and soil and water management issues;
• Outcomes of the earlier Sycamore control program were also assessed; and
• Map of Sycamore infestation extent (approx. 50 hectares).