annual monitoring o f matted flax -lily: aurora, epping ...€¦ · conditions relating to matted...

Annual monitoring of Matted Flax-lily: Aurora, Epping (year 9: 2017–18)

FINAL REPORT

Prepared for Lendlease Communities (Australia) Limited

3 APRIL 2019

Biosis Pty Ltd

This document is and shall remain the property of Biosis Pty Ltd. The document may only be used for the purposes for which it was commissioned and in accordance with the Terms of the Engagement for the commission. Unauthorised use of this document in any form whatsoever is prohibited.

Disclaimer:

Biosis Pty Ltd has completed this assessment in accordance with the relevant federal, state and local legislation and current industry best practice. The company accepts no liability for any damages or loss incurred as a result of reliance placed upon the report content or for any purpose other than that for which it was intended.

© Biosis 2018 - Leaders in Ecology and Heritage Consulting - www.biosis.com.au i

Biosis offices

NEW SOUTH WALES

Albury

Phone: (02) 6069 9200 Email: [email protected]

Newcastle


Sydney


Wollongong


VICTORIA

Ballarat


Melbourne (Head Office)


Wangaratta


Document information

Report to: Lendlease Communities (Australia) Limited

Prepared by: Kristin Campbell Daniel White

Biosis project no.: 26288

File name: 26288.MFL.Monitoring.Lendlease.Yr9.DFT02.20180724.docx

Citation: Biosis 2018. Annual monitoring of Matted Flax-lily: Aurora, Epping (year 9: 2017–18). Report to Lendlease Communities (Australia) Limited. Authors: Campbell, K., White, D. Biosis Pty Ltd, Melbourne. Project no. 26288.

Document control

Version Internal review Date issued

Draft version 01 JY 24-07–2018

Final version 01 KMC 03/04/2019

Acknowledgements

Biosis acknowledges the contribution of the following people and organisations in undertaking this study:

• Lendlease Communities (Australia) Limited: Kurt Freeburn, Sam Murphy and Alicia Davidge

Biosis staff involved in this project were:

• Tim Dredge (assistance in the field)

• Sally Mitchell (mapping)

http://www.biosis.com.au/

mailto:[email protected]







© Biosis 2018 - Leaders in Ecology and Heritage Consulting - www.biosis.com.au i

Contents 1 Background ..................................................................................................................................... 1

1.1 Approval under the EPBC Act ......................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Annual monitoring ............................................................................................................................ 1 1.3 Timing of surveys .............................................................................................................................. 6 1.4 Additional plants ............................................................................................................................... 6

2 Methods ........................................................................................................................................... 8

2.1 Marking of Matted Flax-lily.............................................................................................................. 8 2.2 Monitoring data ................................................................................................................................. 8 2.3 Year 9 monitoring dates .................................................................................................................. 8

3 Results .............................................................................................................................................. 9

3.1 Annual numbers of Matted Flax-lily .............................................................................................. 9 3.2 Plant health ........................................................................................................................................ 9 3.3 Missing and dead plants ............................................................................................................... 12 3.4 Seasonal conditions of 2017 ........................................................................................................ 12

4 Proposed actions in accordance with Condition 2(e) ............................................................. 14

5 Conclusion ..................................................................................................................................... 15

References ................................................................................................................................................ 16

Tables

Table 1 Annual monitoring reports ..................................................................................................... 2 Table 2 Annual monitoring surveys .................................................................................................... 6 Table 3 Number of Matted Flax-lily observed yearly by reserve .................................................. 10 Table 4 Analysis of Matted Flax-lily remnant population health .................................................. 11 Table 5 Analysis of Matted Flax-lily translocated population health ........................................... 11 Table 6 Remnant and translocated Matted Flax-lily presumed lost ............................................ 12

Figures

Figure 1 Location of the Aurora development, Epping, Victoria ...................................................... 3 Figure 2 Conservation reserves and the distribution of Matted Flax-lily (MFL), year 9 ................ 4

Graphs

Graph 1 2017 monthly rainfall, Bundoora, Victoria ......................................................................... 13 Graph 2 2017 mean daily maximum temperature, Bundoora, Victoria ....................................... 13


© Biosis 2018 - Leaders in Ecology and Heritage Consulting - www.biosis.com.au 1

1 Background

Biosis Pty Ltd was commissioned by Lendlease Communities (Australia) Limited to undertake the year 9 (2017–18) annual monitoring of the Matted Flax-lily Dianella amoena population within reserves 2–3, 5–7, 9 and 11–13 at the Aurora residential development, Epping, Victoria (Figure 1).

1.1 Approval under the EPBC Act

Aurora is a residential development area in Epping North, Victoria (Figure 1). It is approximately 20 kilometres north of the Melbourne CBD, and 1.5 kilometres north of existing urban development in the township of Epping. It is bounded by Craigieburn Road East to the north, O'Herns Road to the south and the Craigieburn Bypass to the west. The east boundary follows existing property titles. Development Victoria (formerly known as VicUrban and then Places Victoria) were the major land holder of Aurora. In 2014 Lendlease Communities (Australia) Limited (Lendlease) acquired the balance of development land at Aurora although three of the Conservation Reserves remain as Development Victoria land (Reserve 10, 11 &14).

The action was referred to the Australian Government Department of the Environment and Energy (DoEE) on 3 July 2007 seeking approval under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) (EPBC 2007/3524). On 3 August 2007, DoEE declared that the proposed action is deemed a 'controlled action' and that it will be assessed by preliminary documentation. The project was approved with conditions on the 16 March 2008. Variations to the approval were given on the 15 April 2011, 3 October 2016 and the 29 November 2017.

Conditions relating to Matted Flax-lily include 1, 2c and 2e, as outlined below.

1. The person taking the action must undertake all works in accordance with the Aurora Conservation Management Plan – January 2008 (Biosis Research 2008).

2. To protect the threatened species listed EPBC Act, in particular the Matted Flax-lily and Golden Sun Moth Synemon plana, the person taking the action must monitor and manage the reserves identified in Figures 1a and 1b in accordance with the Aurora Conservation Management Plan – January 2008. In particular the following actions must be taken:

c. Monitoring of the Matted Flax-lily is to be undertaken between 1 October and 1 March every 12 months commencing 2008 and continuing for a period of 10 years after establishment of reserves.

e. If monitoring indicates a decrease of the Matted Flax-lily, the cause of the decline must be investigated. Corrective actions must be developed and implemented. In this event the Department must be provided, within two months of the monitoring results being known, with a report stating the corrective action(s) implemented.

1.2 Annual monitoring

Biosis has monitored the Matted Flax-lily population at Aurora annually since 2008. Annual reports submitted to the relevant Departments are listed in Table 1.


© Biosis 2018 - Leaders in Ecology and Heritage Consulting - www.biosis.com.au

Table 1 Annual monitoring reports

Year Report

Year 0: 2008–2009 Letters to DEWHA, 5 May and 26 June 2009

Year 1: 2009–2010 Report to DEWHA, 19 July 2010

Year 2: 2010–2011 Report to DSEWPaC, 4 May 2011

Year 3: 2011–2012 Report to DSEWPaC, 8 June 2012

Year 4: 2012–2013 Report to DSEWPaC, 4 April 2013

Year 5: 2013–2014 Report to DoE, 11 April 2014

Year 6: 2014–2015 Report to DoE, 1 March 2015

Year 7: 2015–2016 Report to DoE, 25 August 2016

Year 8: 2016–2017 Report to DoE, 25 August 2017

Year 9: 2017–2018 Current report – to be submitted to DoEE upon finalisation


EdgarsCreek

Vearing s Road Drain

Curly Sedge CreekYale Drive Drain

Eppin

g Drai

n

C entralCreek

Merr i Creek

Edgars Creek Pond

Harvest Home Rd

Culle

n St

Wuchatsch Av

Empress Av

Bail St

Silv e

rs ton

eC

ct

Great B rom e Av

Vi lc in

s Vew

s

Mano

rHous

eDr

Broadleaf Dr

The H

orizo

n

Highpark Dr

Karagola Tce

Shiel

ds St

Raych

elsbu

ry Pd

e

Dra p erCr

Cotch

in Cl

ReddingRise

Ceris

e Av

Saxony Dr

Verde Pde

Rockfield St Gree

nfield

s Dr

Cloverfield Cr

Gammage Bvd

Edga

rsRd

Badalya Rd

Newton Dr

Crescendo Bvd

Coulstock St

P ers i a nCl

Piazza

Way

Contempo Bvd

Bagat

elleAv

Tesselaar Rd

Alth o

r pS t

The Stead

Lyndarum Dr

Gray

stone

Ct

Steen Av

Bu c khu rs

t Av

Vockens o hnPl

Highg

ate H

ill

Crawford Cr

Mille

r St

Hilde rstone A v

Macedon Pde

Osmo ndCr

Gottloh St

Oherns Rd

Eaststone Av

Eynes bury View

The Pa rade

Crathes Av

Aries Dr

AmbrosiaCl

Amhe

rst St

Augu

staDr Ch

etwyn

d Gr

W ye n

aGr

Dayb

reak S

t

Ben doc S

t

Farmley Way

Joyfields Pl

Broken St

Brodribb St

PlushC ct

Lapis Ch

WendoureeView

Lochaber Pl

Union

St

Bran

xholm

e St

White

light A

v

Kanangra Tce

Bellavista Dr

Feldgrau Rise

Gene

sis D

r

Reve

lation

Rd

Walkhill Dr

LanaiAv

Hallowg

lenDr

Devon Ct

De Rossi Bvd

Arnaud Loo p

Paior Cct

Wurundjeri Dr

Quarr

y Acce

ss Rd

Evolve

Esp

C i ty V

iew

Cr

Gateway Bvd

Yale

Dr

Red rock Rd

Brick

Make

rs Dr

Fulham Way

Starli g

h tGdns

Loug

htonAv

Viewbank Ct

Bloomsbury Pl

Wimme

raCr

Muller St

Chigwell PlFu

llarto

n Dr

Annalise Av

Fre w inSt

Urba

n Dr

Zinnober Gdns

Tourmaline Dr

Barh a m Way

Camouflage Dr

Nort hsid

e Dr

Creeke

dge V

ews

Pike St

Cobu

ngra

Gr

Creeds Farm Lane

Olvine Pl

Yalmy Av

Reds

ky La

ne

S a intly

Av

Yengo Lane

Kens

al La

ne

Allumba Way

Cresid

ar La

ne

Cerri dw

enSt

Aditi

Lane

Humffray Walk

Marina St

Sunlig ht Av

Helm Ct

Disco

very

Pl

Wistow Ch

Taberer CtViewgrand

Bvd

Eame

s Av

Eden

vale Bvd

Alysam St

Colden Cl

Beresford Rd

Butchart Psge

Wedge St

Mayflower Mews

Mossf

ieldRi s

e

Veari

ngs R

d

Pittard Walk

Rawl

ings T

ce

Bu rne tt St

Ciava

rella

Lane

Palm

ero St

Cotte

rs Rd

Link CtKirriley Dr

Lydia

Ct

Robayn e Ct

Jerse

yDr

Kirkw

ood A

v

Florey Ct

Glover St

Dilop Dr

Benedore St

Sunra

ysia

Rd

Anahit Dr

Mckellar Way

Ballan

omaGrn

Produ

ce D

r

Macfie Av

Cooper St

Eclipse Av

Farmview Walk

Geary Av

Play fields Pl

View

Rd

Teschke Walk

Bernh

ardtDr

Calveley Pl

Gipps Ct

Dexter Dr

Grain

ger D

r

Me cklenburg Cl

Mary Ct

Willa

ndra

Dr

Legacy Rd

Katz Way

Bulait

Dr

Clave

l lCr

Langri d ge Dr

Scanlo

n Dr

Ricky Way

Newmarket Lane

Dream Haven Ct

Biodiv

ersity

Bvd

Taryn Dr

NorthparkDr

Mombassa D r

Shirley Way

Companion PlMetrolink Cct

Boundary Rd

Craigieburn Rd

Edga

rs Rd

Cooper St

Boundary Rd

Hume Fwy

6

8

5

13

1

7

3

4

12

9

2

HUME CITY

WHITTLESEACITY

Acknowledgement:VicMap Data ©State of Victoria

Matter: 26288,Date: 20 July 2018,Checked by: CP, Drawn by: SKM, Last edited by: smitchellLocation:P:\26200s\26288\Mapping\26288_F1_MFL_Locality.mxd

LegendAurora development areaConservation reserve managed by Lend Lease

Scale 1:25,000 @ A4, GDA 1994 MGA Zone 55

0 240 480 720 960

Metres ±Biosis Pty LtdAlbury, Ballarat, Melbourne, Newcastle,

Sydney, Wangaratta & Wollongong

Figure 1 Location of the Aurora development,Epping North, Victoria

!(

Old Princes Hwy

Warburton Hwy

Mountain Hwy

Eastern FwyNepean Hwy

West Gate Fwy Burwood Hwy

Old Western HwyTullamarine Fwy

Maroondah HwyMelton Hwy

Monash Fwy

Western Fwy

Hume F

wy

Princes Hwy

Melba

Hwy

Calder Fwy

Princes Fwy

Melbourne


!

!

!

!

!

D

D

D

!!!!!

!

!

#!D!!!DD!

!

!

!

!

!

!

!

!!!

!

!

!

!!!

!

!

!

!!!!

!!! !!!

!

! !!!

!!!!!!

!!!

!

!

!! !!

!!

!!!

!

!!!!!

!!

!

!

!

!

D

!!

!

!

!!

!

!!

!!

!!

!

!

! !

!D

!!!

#

!!

!!! !

!

D

!

!

!

!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!#!!!!!!

!!!#!!!!!!!!!!#!!!!#!!!!!#!D#

!

!!!!

(

(

(

(

(

(((((

(

(

*(((((

(

(

(

(

(

(

(

(((

(

(

(

(((

(

(

(

((((

((( (((

(

( (((

((((((

(((

(

(

(( ((

((

(((

(

(((((

((

(

(

(

( ((

(

(

((

(

((

((

((

(

(

( (

(

(((

*

((

((( (

(

(

(

(

(

(((((((((((((((*((((((

(((*((((((((((*((((*(((((*(*

(

((((

011MFL

017MFL

019MFL

021MFL

022MFL

023MFL

033MFL

034MFL

044MFL

050MFL

052MFL

061MFL

063MFL071MFL

080MFL

097MFL

098MFL

115MFL

132MFL

133MFL

144MFL

160MFL

161MFL

180MFL 181MFL

182MFL183MFL

184MFL185MFL186MFL

200MFL203MFL

See Figure 2b

Edgars C reek

Vearings Road Drain

Central Creek

Harvest Home Rd

Cloverfield Cr

Culle

n St

Wuchatsch Av

Bail St

Mottle

d Av

Corbett Av

Broad

leaf D

r

Shield

s St

Crimson Cr

Drap

er Cr

Werri

bee C

r

Redding Rise

Aberf

eldy G

r

Bruns

wick D

r

Dund

as A

v

Verde Pde

Rockfield St

Eden

val

e Bvd

Creeds Farm Lane

Edga

rsRd

Moorabool Gr

Forum Way

Hunti

ngton

Tce

Union

StPiazza

Way

Persian Cl

Contempo Bvd

Baga

te lle

A vTesselaar Rd

Macke

nzie

Dr

Deau

Av

Altho

rpSt

The Dairy

Henn

essy

St

Jersey Dr

Steen Av

Loca Cct

Crawf

ordC r

Banro

ck Pl

Hilderston e Av

Macedon PdeOsmond

C r

Oherns Rd

Buan

gor A

v

Param

ount

R ise

Eaststone AvEynesbury View

BerrimaCr

Crathes Av

Colde

n Cl

Amhe

rst St

Augu

staDr

C hetw

ynd G

r

Bend

oc St

Brodribb St

Plush

Cct

Vockensohn Pl

Radiance Av

Lapis Ch

WendoureeView

Wype

rfeld

Way

Sea R

est

Herlitz Dr

Lyndarum Dr

Hickory PlArgus

EspRa

morni

e Loo

p

Lakshmi St

Blaze

St

Varroville St

Hidco

te Tce

White

light A

v

Kanangra Tce

Antill

Rise

Minto

Av

Preseli Ct

Earlybird Way

Feldgrau Rise

Gene

sis D

r

Reve

lation

RdBo

dnan

t St

Snugburgh Way

Arna

ud Lo

opPaior Cct

Amara t h Cct

Kuringai Way

Celadon St

Kenm

areAp

p Errinu

ndra

Way

Gatew

ay Bv

d

Snow

y Pl

Gleam PlBright Av

Berrig an

St

WallagaraughPwy

Starlight Gdns

Seppies Rd

Wimm

eraCr

Mulle

r St

Harlequin Walk

Wenham Av

Blainey CrFrewin St

Sundial Pde

Walkhill Dr

Innes St

Urba

n Dr

Tourmaline DrZinnober GdnsSap Lane

Barham Way

Deddick Way

Radm

an St

Camouflage Dr

Harco

urt La

ne

Mckillop AvCre

ekedge

Vews

Pike St

CobungraGrBournda Way

Olvine P

l

Yalmy Av

Yarro

wee C

r

Betka Lane

Lochin

ver St

Cerri

dwen

St

Aditi

Lane

Kouk

oura

Dr

Narmbool Lane

Dappleshade Av

Humffray Walk

Angle

sea D

r

Cann Lane

Tidal Lane

Marina St

Sunlight Av

Overn

ewton

Way

Soda

s Lan

e

Sturge

on W

alk

Bud Lane

Sutton Pl

Farmhouse Bvd

Kite Lane

M erri R

i se

Hemlock Way

Scale

Lane

Luminous St

Pinney Lane

Toola

ngi L

ane

Bemm

Lane

Evengl

ow Dr

Thur

ra Wa

lk

Fairb

orn L

ane

Long House Lane

Tregut LaneStrathalbyn Ch

Energy LaneHerridge Pl

Moira Way

Long

s Lan

e

ArteW

alk

Mossf

ieldRis

e

Cinel

Lane

Orian

o St

Clave

ll Cr

Kambah

Way

Rawli

ngsT

ce

Ciava

rella

Lane

Palm

ero St

Cotte

rs Rd

Fern

tree C

l

Jarret

t St

Caud

uro W

ay

Moyne St

Carisbrook View

EpacrisL

ane

Malachi Pl

District Lane

OpalCc t

Pythagoras St

Mu n gana

Lane

Anahit Dr

Macfie Av

StPa

trick

s Ri se

Las Po

zas Av

Geary Av

Ta rnalla

La

ne

Exodus Way

Leviticus St

Calvel eyPl

Scanlon Dr

Dexter Dr

Popp

yfield

Av

Veari

ngs R

d

Too r

o ngo Way

Grain

ger D

r

Legacy Rd

Fertile St

Spinifex Lan e

Sitella Lane

Newmarket Lane

Craigieburn RdHume Fwy

6

8

5

13

1

7

3

4

12

2

WHITTLESEACITY

0 100 200 300 400 500

MetresMatter: 23208, Date: 26 July 2018, Checked by: TD, Drawn by: SKM, Last edited by: smitchellLocation:P:\26200s\26288\Mapping\26288_F2a_MFL_Annual_Monitoring

Biosis Pty LtdAlbury, Ballarat, Melbourne, Newcastle, Sydney, Wangaratta & Wollongong ±

Acknowledgements: Vicmap ©State of Victoria, NearMap Imagery Oct 2016

Scale 1:12,000 @ A3Coordinate System: GDA 1994 MGA Zone 55

Figure 2a The distribution of Matted Flax-lily (MFL) within conservation reserves managed by Lendlease

LegendMatted Flax-lily record!( Recorded in Year 9!( New record year 9#* Not located during year 9 monitoringD Presumed dead

EPBC 2007/3524 Approval AreaConservation Reserve

#

!

D

!

!!DD!

!

!

*

(

(

(((

(

(

035MFL

036MFL

037MFL038MFL

039MFL 040MFL

041MFL 042MFL043MFL

202MFL201MFL

13

!

!!

!

!

! !

! !

!!

! !! !!!

!!

! #! !!!!

!

!!

!

#!

!!

!!

!!

!!

!#

!!

!!

#!

!!

!!

#!D#

(

((

(

(

( (

( (

((

( (( (((

((

( *( ((((

(

((

(

*(

((

((

((

((

(*

((

((

*(

((

((

*(*

7

176C2MFL

132MFL

160MFL161MFL

180MFL

181MFL

209C2MFL 209C1MFL208C2MFL 208C1MFL207C2MFL

207C1MFL205C2MFL 205C1MFL204C2MFL 204C1MFL199C2MFL 199C1MFL178C2MFL 178C1MFL177C2MFL 177C1MFL

176C1MFL175C2MFL175C1MFL170C2MFL

170C1MFL

169C2MFL169C1MFL 157C2MFL



129C2MFL129C1MFL

085C2MFL085C1MFL

084C2MFL084C1MFL083C2MFL083C1MFL082C2MFL082C1MFL075C2MFL075C1MFL

074C2MFL074C1MFL012C2MFL012C1MFL010C2MFL010C1MFL


!

!

!!

!

!

!

!

!

!!

!

!

!

!

!

!

!

!

!

!!

!

!

!

!!

!

! !

!!

!

!

!

!!

!

!

!!

!

!

!

!

!

!!

!

!!

!

!

!

!

!

!

!

!

!

!

!!

!

!

!

!

!

!

!

!

!

!

!

#

!!

!

!

!

!

!

!

!

! ! !

!

(

(

((

(

(

(

(

(

((

(

(

(

(

(

(

(

(

(

((

(

(

(

((

(

( (

((

(

(

(

((

(

(

((

(

(

(

(

(

((

(

((

(

(

(

(

(

(

(

(

(

(

((

(

(

(

(

(

(

(

(

(

(

(

*

((

(

(

(

(

(

(

(

( ( (

(

013MFL

016MFL

028MFL029MFL

030MFL

031MFL

032MFL

049MFL

062MFL

064MFL065MFL

066MFL

068MFL

069MFL

076MFL

077MFL078MFL

079MFL

081MFL

087MFL

088MFL089MFL

090MFL

091MFL092MFL

093MFL 094MFL095MFL

096MFL100MFL

101MFL

102MFL

103MFL104MFL

105MFL

106MFL107MFL

108MFL109MFL

110MFL

113MFL

114MFL

116MFL

118MFL 119MFL 120MFL

121MFL122MFL

123MFL124MFL125MFL

134MFL

135MFL

136MFL

137MFL

138MFL

139MFL

140MFL

141MFL

142MFL

143MFL151MFL

152MFL

153MFL

154MFL

164MFL

165MFL

166MFL

167MFL168MFL

171MFL

172MFL

173MFL

174MFL

191MFL

192MFL193MFL

194MFL

195MFL196MFL

197MFL

198MFL

206MFL

212MFL

213MFL214MFL

215MFL

211MFL

9

Edga

rs Cre

ek

0 10 20 30 40 50

MetresMatter: 26288, Date: 26 July 2018, Checked by: CP, Drawn by: SKM, Last edited by: smitchellLocation:P:\26200s\26288\Mapping\26288_F2b_MFL_Annual_Monitoring

Biosis Pty LtdAlbury, Ballarat, Melbourne, Newcastle, Sydney, Wangaratta & Wollongong ±

Acknowledgements: Vicmap ©State of Victoria, NearMap Oct 2016

Scale 1:1,500 @ A3Coordinate System: GDA 1994 MGA Zone 55

Figure 2b The distribution of Matted Flax-lily (MFL) within conservation reserves managed by Lendlease

LegendMatted Flax-lily record!( Recorded in Year 9!( New record year 9#* Not located during year 9 monitoring

Conservation Reserve



1.3 Timing of surveys

A total of 30 Matted Flax-lily were included in the EPBC Act referral and these plants were recorded over a number of years prior to March 2008. Since then, Biosis has completed nine years of annual Matted Flax-lily population monitoring. Surveys undertaken are set out in Table 2.

Table 2 Annual monitoring surveys

Year Surveys

Pre 2008 Original records – plants included in the EPBC approval in March 2008, from surveys between 2001–2008 (i.e. the 30 original records)

2008–09 Year 0 Monitoring in December 2008 and June 2009

2009–10 Year 1 Monitoring in November 2009 and January 2010 (when plants were staked) and May–June 2010

2010–12 Year 2 Monitoring in December 2010 and January 2011 (when new plants were located with a DGPS and staked)

2011–12 Year 3 Monitoring in January–February 2012

2012–13 Year 4 Monitoring in December 2012 and January 2013

2013–14 Year 5 Monitoring in December 2013

2014–15 Year 6 Monitoring in December 2014 and January–February 2015

2015–16 Year 7 Monitoring in December 2015

2016–17 Year 8 Monitoring in December 2016 and January 2017

2017-18 Year 9 Monitoring in January 2018

In years 1 and 2 monitoring was undertaken in late spring–summer (as per the EPBC approval conditions), when the plants were due to flower and therefore generally easier to locate. However, due to poor conditions (drought and grazing) during 2008–2010 it was found that most of the plants had not flowered and were generally difficult to locate during the late spring–summer period. As a result, for both years 1 and 2, Biosis undertook follow-up surveys in autumn–winter, following substantial rains and subsequent growth of the plants. In both years, the plants were easier to locate at this time.

Surveys in years 3–9 have been undertaken in late spring–summer only. Plants were observed to be flowering and fruiting in each of these years and were mostly easily located. In addition, all of the plants have now been individually marked in the field with star pickets and labels, making them easier to locate.

1.4 Additional plants

Many additional plants have been located within reserve 9 since year 1, such that the reserve has been found to support an above-average population of the species. By December 2011, a total of 82 plants had been recorded within this reserve. At this point it was decided there was no further value in continuing to record or monitor additional plants so Biosis have ceased to record, mark or monitor any additional plants encountered during surveys. It is known that the number of plants in reserve 9 exceeds the 82 plants recorded to date.

An additional 26 Matted Flax-lily plants were recorded outside reserves 6, 9 and 10 prior to 2014. These were salvaged in January 2014 in accordance with the translocation plan (Biosis 2013). Clones of these



plants were translocated into reserve 7 in winter 2015. Translocated Matted Flax-lily plants are now being monitored as part of the annual monitoring.



2 Methods

2.1 Marking of Matted Flax-lily

At commencement of the 10-year monitoring program, the locations of Matted Flax-lily were recorded using a hand-held GPS unit (+–7 m accuracy). This aided in relocation of plants, but still led to difficulties where plants were stressed and–or surrounding biomass was high.

Biosis have since recorded plants with a DGPS, which has greater accuracy than a standard GPS (+– 4 m) enabling improved accuracy of mapped Matted Flax-lily locations.

All monitored Matted Flax-lily have also been marked with a star picket positioned adjacent to each plant with a numbered tag attached to each star picket. This has made relocation of plants much easier and also ensures contractors undertaking vegetation management works within conservation reserves are aware of the location of all Matted Flax-lily plants.

2.2 Monitoring data

During year 9 (2017–18) monitored plants were located using current mapping (Figure 2) and with the aid of star pickets next to each plant.

The following information was recorded for each plant:

• Plant health (good, moderate, poor)

• Number of inflorescences (<5, ≥5 <10, ≥10)

• Approximate number of leaf tufts (<5, ≥5 <10, ≥10)

• Approximate spread of the plant (width at the widest point in cm)

• Management–other notes (e.g. presence of fruit, if weeding is required, evidence of herbivory).

2.3 Year 9 monitoring dates

Monitoring in Year 9 was undertaken on 11, 12, 23, 25 and 25 January 2018.



3 Results

The total number of Matted Flax-lily recorded in each reserve is provided in Table 3 and plant health data is provided in Table 4 and 5. Figure 2 indicates the location of monitored Matted Flax-lily in year 9.

Data for the translocated Matted Flax-lily has been tabulated separately in this report to distinguish remnant population health from translocated population health (Table 5).

3.1 Annual numbers of Matted Flax-lily

Table 3 provides the located and monitored numbers of Matted Flax-lily by survey year. During the period 2008–2011 (years 0–3) the reserves were surveyed and numbers of Matted Flax-lily were recorded. Over this period the number of Matted Flax-lily recorded increased substantially. Very few additional remnant plants have been recorded in the reserves since, therefore monitoring has focused on the health and survivorship of the known population. We suspect that this increase in the number of plants detected is a result of increased survey effort over time, however, it is possible that some of the additional plants observed were new recruits within the population.

Over the monitoring period to date, numbers of Matted Flax-lily recorded have increased substantially from 25 plants in year one across the entire Aurora landholding, to 160 Matted Flax-lily plants in year 9. This includes plants that have been translocated to reserve 7 as well as those found outside reserves 6, 9 and 10. Despite small annual fluctuations in recording of individual Matted Flax-lily plants, the Aurora population is considered to be stable and thus it appears that current management of the population is appropriate.

3.2 Plant health

Comprehensive data collection on Matted Flax-lily health, including numbers of inflorescences and leaf tufts, commenced in year 3 (2011–12). A comparison of data collected in years 3 to 9 for remnant Matted Flax-lily is provided in Table 4. Translocated Matted Flax-lily health data is provided in Table 5. Health data collected during year 9 includes Matted Flax-lily from reserves managed by Lendlease Communities (Australia) Limited.

Among remnant populations, there was a sharp decline in plant health in year seven, where the proportion of plants recorded as having ‘good’ health dropped from 91% to 41%. However, the health of the population rapidly recovered the following season. The proportion of plants in ‘good’ health was marginally lower this season compared with the last. No plants were observed as showing ‘poor’ health in years 8 and 9.

There were fewer inflorescences present in year 9 compared with the previous year, with 42 per cent of plants having more than five inflorescences compared to 58 per cent in year 8.

Among living plants, only 11 percent of translocated plants were recorded with any inflorescences this season, while 76 percent of remnant plants had inflorescences. In contrast, 96 percent of translocated plant were recorded with inflorescences the previous season, compared with 47 percent of remnant plants.

Translocated plant health in year 9 is generally lower than that of the natural populations with 67 per cent of plants in ‘good’ health. Most translocated plants were small, with 87 per cent having less than five leaf tufts. Many did not have inflorescences at the time of monitoring and none of the translocated plants produced more than five inflorescences during year 9.


© Biosis 2018 - Leaders in Ecology and Heritage Consulting - www.biosis.com.au 10

Table 3 Number of Matted Flax-lily observed yearly by reserve

Reserve–location Baseline pre-2008

Year 0 2008–09

Year 1 2009–10

Year 2 2010–11

Year 3 2011–12

Year 4 2012–13

Year 5 2013–14

Year 6 2014–15

Year 7 2015–16

Year 8 2016–17

Year 9 2017–18

2 2 - 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2

3 - - - 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3

5 1 2 2 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3

6 2 2 4 8 8 8 7 7 6 7 7

7 (existing plants) - - - 5 5 5 5 4 4 4 5

9 5 5 7 18 80 82 81 81 81 82 82

12 2 2 5 6 6 6 6 5 6 5 5

13 9 5 5 5 5 5 7 7 6 7 7

Subtotal in reserves 21 16 24 50 112 114 114 112 111 113 114

Public open space, outside conservation reserves

2 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 0 1 0

Plants outside reserves 6, 9 &10 (now planted in reserve 7)

2 1 1 9 9 9 26 26 - - -

7 (translocated plants) - - - - - - - - 44 49 45

Total Matted Flax-lily 25 18 26 60 122 124 142 139 155 163 160


© Biosis 2016 – Leaders in Ecology and Heritage Consulting 11

Table 4 Analysis of Matted Flax-lily remnant population health

Year 3: 2011–12

Year 4: 2012–13

Year 5: 2013–14

Year 6: 2014–15

Year 7: 2015–16

Year 8: 2016–17

Year 9: 2018

Health

Poor 10% 9% 0% 1% 17% 0% 0%

Moderate 76% 20% 1% 8% 31% 6% 10%

Good 14% 71% 99% 91% 41% 86% 82%

Stake Not Found - - - - 11% 8% -

Number of inflorescences

<5 51% 66% 40% 83% 85% 34% 50%

≥5 <10 21% 14% 13% 8% 10% 17% 14%

≥10 28% 20% 47% 9% 5% 41% 28%

Number of leaf tufts

<5 5% 13% 5% 11% 37% 6% 5%

≥5 <10 21% 13% 8% 17% 18% 8% 7%

≥10 74% 74% 87% 72% 44% 78% 80%

Table 5 Analysis of Matted Flax-lily translocated population health

Year 8: 2016–17

Year 9 2018

Health

Poor 4% 6%

Moderate 25% 23%

Good 67% 58%

Stake Not Found 4%

Number of inflorescences

<5 100% 100%

≥5 <10 0% 0%

≥10 0% 0%

Number of leaf tufts

<5 88% 92%

≥5 <10 12% 8%

≥10 0% 0%


3.3 Missing and dead plants

A total of eighteen Matted Flax-lily’s were dead or could not be located during the survey. Of these plants, eleven are presumed to be lost as they have not been seen for two consecutive years. This includes ten remnant plants (21, 22, 23, 183, 191, 144, 37, 41, 42, 200) and one translocated plant (P10C2). Two plants previously assumed to be lost (037, P84C2) were recorded as alive this survey. Six additional translocated plants (P10C1, P12C2, P82C2, P85C1, P156C2, P177C1) were recorded as dead this year and will be checked next year to determine if the plant has been lost.

The loss of these plants is believed to be attributed to environmental pressures such as drought and grazing stress, and/or natural population fluctuations. Alternatively, mapping errors prior to commencement of the 10-year monitoring program may account for the difficulties with relocating some of these plants. Overall, the loss of 10 plants from the large population now present at Aurora is minor and does not represent a concerning decline in the population. Details of each plant are provided in Table 6.

Table 6 Remnant and translocated Matted Flax-lily presumed lost

Matted Flax-lily ID Location Last recorded

021 MFL Public open space (west of Shields Street) Last recorded in year 4, in year 6 it was searched for but not found

022 MFL Gas easement (north side of Harvest Home Road). Completely buried.

Last recorded in year 1

023 MFL Reserve 2 Last recorded pre-2008 prior to commencement of monitoring


041 MFL Reserve 13 Last recorded in year 1





200 MFL Public open space (west of Shields Street) Last recorded in year 6

P10C2 Reserve 7 Not recorded since year 8

3.4 Seasonal conditions of 2017

Weather data from Bundoora (the closest weather station to Aurora) presented in Graph 1 shows that overall, the mean monthly rainfall in 2017 was lower than the historical mean monthly rainfall (Commonwealth of Australia Bureau of Meteorology 2018). April and December were exceptions, both having a monthly rainfall of more than double the historical mean. The monthly mean maximum temperature was generally higher throughout 2017 compared with the historical mean, most notably throughout spring (Graph 2). Spring and summer rainfall in particular are known to influence the reproductive output of Matted Flax-lily. Lower than average rainfall throughout spring in 2017 might, in part, explain the poor rate of flowering among


translocated plants, and the fewer inflorescences recorded on remnant plants this season compared with the last.

Graph 1 2017 monthly rainfall, Bundoora, Victoria

Graph 2 2017 mean daily maximum temperature, Bundoora, Victoria

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Rain

fall

(mm

)

Axis Title

Monthly Rainfall (Historical vs 2017)

Mean Rainfall (historical) Rainfall (2017)

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Rain

fall

(mm

)

Axis Title

Monthly Maximum Temperature (Historical vs 2017)

Mean Max Temp (historical) Max Temp (2017)


4 Proposed actions in accordance with Condition 2(e)

At the end of year 9 the health of the natural populations of Matted Flax-lily is stable and generally good. Fluctuations in health are within the ranges of natural variability and do not represent a decline. Translocated plants are less healthy and should continue to be monitored closely. If significant further declines in health or survivorship are observed in this population further actions may need to be taken.

The additional four plants that were located on the boundary of the conservation reserve 9 fence should be salvaged and translocated into reserve 9 prior to construction in the area (if construction has not yet commenced). This can occur at any time of year but ideally would occur during winter when there is a higher level of soil moisture available.


5 Conclusion

Since monitoring began (2008–09) the number of Matted Flax-lily plants has increased. In year 1 data was collected on 25 Matted Flax-lily within the EPBC approvals area whereas in year 9 data was collected on 160 Matted Flax-lily plants within the reserves managed by Lendlease Communities. There are additional Matted Flax-lily in reserves managed by Development Victoria.

In year 9 overall population health was good for the remnant Matted Flax-lily. The overall health observed in year 9 was marginally lower than in year 8 and fewer inflorescences were recorded. Compared with the previous year, a very small proportion of living translocated plants had inflorescences.

Less favourable seasonal conditions during spring and summer of 2016, including lower-than-average rainfall, are likely to have contributed to the results observed. Overall health of the translocated Matted Flax-lily in reserve 7 was moderate, and lower than that of the natural populations. These plants are generally stunted and possibly recovering from the 2015 season.

Six translocated Matted Flax-lilies that were recorded as living in year 8 were recorded as dead in this monitoring season. Matted Flax-lily undergoes natural cycles of dieback and we anticipate that under more suitable climatic conditions, Matted Flax Lily populations may recover. Eleven remnant plants have been categorised as 'presumed lost' since monitoring began. All plants categorised as presumed dead will continue to be searched for during each subsequent monitoring event.

At this stage it is considered that translocated Matted Flax-lily plants not detected in year 8 or 9 are unlikely to have survived translocation. These plants should be replaced with clones in winter 2018 when conditions are suitable.

If the weather outlook for the second half of 2018 indicates a hot, dry summer outside normal climatic limits, year 10 monitoring will be conducted earlier in the season to monitor Matted Flax-lily at peak flowering time. This will maximise the probability of detecting Matted Flax-lily as they are easier to detect when flowering.

Changes in overall population health observed in year 9 are not favourable, however we consider the population of Matted Flax-lily at Aurora in its current state to be stable and it appears that current management which includes hand weeding of the population is appropriate. If the weather outlook for the second half of 2018 indicates a hot, dry summer a watering program should be initiated.


References

Biosis 2013. Aurora, Epping North: Annual monitoring of Matted Flax-lily population. Report to Places Victoria. Authors: Cutler, S. & Barnes, N. Biosis Pty Ltd, Melbourne. Project no. 15626. 4 April 2013.

Biosis Research 2008. Aurora Conservation Management Plan. Report to VicUrban. Authors: Costello, C., Smales, I. & Koehler, S. Biosis Research Pty Ltd. Project no. 13211. January 2008.

Commonwealth of Australia Bureau of Meteorology 2018. Climate Data Online. Retrieved from http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/data/index.shtml

DEWHA 2008. EPBC Act Approval: Aurora Residential Subdivision, Epping North, VIC (EPBC 2007–3524), 16 March 2008. Australian Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts.

http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/data/index.shtml

annual monitoring o f matted flax -lily: aurora, epping ...€¦ · conditions relating to matted...

Documents