development and orchid conservation
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Development and OrchidConservation- a practitioner’s perspective
Marc Freestone - Botanist
Ecology and Heritage Partners
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The role of consultants
• Native vegetation is proposed to be cleared
• Ecological investigations are required under Commonwealth andState legislation, and Government policy
• Examples
• Road
• Rail
• Pipelines
• Urban development
• Mining and exploration
• Consultants on the frontline
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Federal Legislation• Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act
1999
• Site assessment – is a listed species likely to occur?
• Undertake surveys
• If detected, submit a referral to Department of the Environment
• “Action Unacceptable”
• “Controlled Action”
• Grant approval with conditions (avoid, minimise, offset)
• “Not Controlled Action”
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Regional Rail LinkSunshine Diuris• $5b project building 90 km of new track
• Last population of Sunshine Diuris Diuris fragrantissima
• Listed as Endangered under EPBC Act
• Referred for proximity of works
• Permit approved with conditions
• Avoid and protect site with land-title agreement
• Implement Management Plans
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• Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988
• Planning and Environment Act 1987
• Environmental Effects Act 1978
• Mineral Resource (Sustainable Development) Act 1990
Victorian Legislation
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Victoria
• Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988
• Flora, fauna and ecological communities
• Protects all native orchids (+ other genera)
• Public land only
• Apply to DEPI for a permit
• Road and rail projects, airfields, National Parks?
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Glenelg HighwayEmerald-lip Greenhood• Overtaking lanes on Glenelg Highway
• Emerald-lip Greenhood Pterostylis smaragdyna in roadside
• Rare in Victoria
• Protected under FFG Act DEPI required translocation
• 5 plants translocated – 3 survived
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Victoria
• Planning and Environment Act 1987
• Planning Permit required from Council for native vegetationremoval – Section 52.17
• Permit issued subject to compliance with Victoria’s NativeVegetation Framework
• Vegetation mapping
• Threatened species surveys
• Avoid + Minimise
• Offsets
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Shaw River Power StationBasalt Leek-orchid• Pipeline for power station water intake
• Basalt Leek-orchid Prasophyllum viretum, endangered in Vic
• Private land – i.e. FFG Act doesn’t apply
• Pipeline re-aligned to avoid Basalt Leek-orchid
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Victoria
• Permitted Clearing Regulations
• Low Risk = <1 ha Location A (blue); <0.5 ha Location B (purple)
• Assessment information reduced
• No consideration of threatened species
• DEPI / Council cannot refuse permit if offset is secured
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Victoria
• Permitted Clearing Regulations
• Moderate Risk = > 1 ha Location A (blue), 0.5 – 1 ha Location B(purple)
• High Risk = >1 ha Location B (purple), any Location C (red)
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Offset opportunities
• Removal of like-for-like offset requirements
• Focus on “strategic” offset sites with higher biodiversity values
Cobra Greenhood Pterostylis grandiflora at Pakenham
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Key Issues
• Surveys
• Short timeframes
• If a species isn’t found, it’s not there
• Consultants often don’t have detailed knowledge of the area
• Offsets
• Focus on offsets rather than avoid and minimise
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Victorian Biodiversity Atlas
• Used to inform habitat importance maps and modelling underPermitted Clearing Regulations.
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Questions
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