Download Weeping Myall Biodiversity Offset Management Plan

,
Weeping Myall Biodiversity
Offset Management Plan
Document Number:
BUL SD PLN 0061
Status: Approved
Version: 1.0
Effective:
22/03/2016
Review: 22/03/2019
Owner:
[Enter document owner position title]
Bulga Coal
Plan
Weeping Myall Biodiversity Offset Management Plan
Table of Contents
1
2
Introduction....................................................................................................................... 3
1.1
Background .................................................................................................................................. 3
1.2
Objectives of the Management Plan ............................................................................................. 3
Management Measures .................................................................................................... 6
2.1
Stock Exclusion ............................................................................................................................ 6
2.2
Signage ....................................................................................................................................... 6
2.3
Weed Management ...................................................................................................................... 6
2.4
Insect Predation ........................................................................................................................... 6
2.5
Pest Management ........................................................................................................................ 6
3
Ecological Inspections and Reporting ............................................................................ 7
4
References ........................................................................................................................ 7
5
Revision History ............................................................................................................... 7
Number:
BUL SD PLN 0061
Status:
Approved
Effective: 22/03/2016
Owner:
[Enter document owner position title]
Version:
1.0
Review:
Uncontrolled unless viewed on the intranet
22/03/2019
Page 2 of 7
Bulga Coal
Plan
1
Weeping Myall Biodiversity Offset Management Plan
Introduction
This Weeping Myall Management Plan relates to two stands of weeping myall (Acacia pendula) which are located
on the western side of the Bulga Coal Complex (BCC), west of Charlton Road, in Bulga, NSW. These two stands
are marked on Figure 1 as Weeping Myall Management Areas 1 and 2. The Weeping Myall Management Areas,
which occur outside of the disturbance footprint for the Bulga Optimisation Project, will be protected and managed
by BCC, however do not form part of a formal biodiversity offset.
1.1
Background
Weeping myall (Acacia pendula) is an endangered population within the Hunter catchment, listed under the NSW
Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 (TSC Act). Further to this, some stands of the endangered population
in the Hunter Valley also form part of the TSC Act endangered ecological community (EEC) listing of Hunter Valley
Weeping Myall Woodland. Detailed floristic studies were conducted as part of the Bulga Optimisation Project (BOP)
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIS) within the Bulga Weeping Myall Management Areas, and the vegetation
community within each is consistent with the TSC Act listed Hunter Valley Weeping Myall Woodland EEC.
The Weeping Myall Management Areas are referred to throughout this document as Management Area 1 (the
stand to the north) and Management Area 2 (the stand to the south), as shown on Figure 2. Management Areas 1
and 2 contain both mature and juvenile (vegetatively propagated) weeping myall trees (Umwelt 2013).
Management Area 1 contains relatively young trees while Management Area 2 contains very mature weeping myall
trees.
1.2
Objectives of the Management Plan
The objective of the Management Plan is to facilitate the conservation and enhancement of the Weeping Myall
Management Areas.
Specifically, the objectives of the Weeping Myall Management Plan are to:
identify and describe the populations of Weeping Myall to which this plan relates;
provide clear and concise instructions for the management of the Weeping Myall Management Areas; and
outline the monitoring and reporting requirements.
This Weeping Myall Management Plan is also in line with the Recovery Objective 3 of the National Recovery Plan
for the Weeping Myall – Coobah – Scrub Willga Shrubland of the Hunter Valley (Office of Environment and
Heritage 2013). Objective 3 is to ‘Improve management and long-term security of sites supporting Hunter Valley
Weeping Myall’. This objective recognises that the Weeping Myall is not known to occur within any conservation
reserves in the Hunter Valley. The conservation and management of two areas of Weeping Myall is an important
step in the overall long-term conservation of Weeping Myall in the Hunter Valley.
Number:
BUL SD PLN 0061
Status:
Approved
Effective: 22/03/2016
Owner:
[Enter document owner position title]
Version:
1.0
Review:
Uncontrolled unless viewed on the intranet
22/03/2019
Page 3 of 7
Bulga Coal
Plan
Weeping Myall Biodiversity Offset Management Plan
Number:
BUL SD PLN 0061
Status:
Approved
Effective: 22/03/2016
Owner:
[Enter document owner position title]
Version:
1.0
Review:
Uncontrolled unless viewed on the intranet
22/03/2019
Page 4 of 7
Bulga Coal
Plan
Weeping Myall Biodiversity Offset Management Plan
Number:
BUL SD PLN 0061
Status:
Approved
Effective: 22/03/2016
Owner:
[Enter document owner position title]
Version:
1.0
Review:
Uncontrolled unless viewed on the intranet
22/03/2019
Page 5 of 7
Bulga Coal
Plan
Weeping Myall Biodiversity Offset Management Plan
2
Management Measures
2.1
Stock Exclusion
A stock exclusion fence will be erected around both of the Weeping Myall Management Areas. The fence will
include at least a 20 metre buffer from the outermost individuals of weeping myall to protect from grazing and
allowing some outward expansion of the population over time. The fencing should be regularly inspected to ensure
there are no damaged sections that could allow stock access.
2.2
Signage
Information signs will be positioned on the boundary fences for each Management Area. The signs will indicate the
conservation significance of the vegetation and that there is restricted access to people, livestock and activities.
2.3
Weed Management
The management areas are currently have very low weed loads, with only minor amounts of prickly pear and
galenia being recorded. These weeds will continue to be managed as part of the Bulga weed control program.
In the event that the six-monthly inspections identify an increase in weeds across the management areas, the weed
control program will be reviewed and amended as required.
2.4
Insect Predation
The National Recovery Plan for the Weeping Myall – Coobah – Scrub Wilga Shrubland of the Hunter Valley (Office
of Environment and Heritage 2013) identify that weeping myall trees can be subject to foliar predation by
processionary caterpillars (Ochrogaster lunifer), also known as bag shelter moths, which build large shelters in tree
canopies by binding leaves together and which feed on the foliage of the tree. These caterpillars may form several
colonies that can completely defoliate a large tree.
If monitoring detects the presence of the processionary caterpillar, or any other insect pest species thought to be
threatening the health of the trees, expert advice to determine an appropriate course of action will be sought.
Prompt action will be undertaken to minimise adverse impacts on the trees.
2.5
Pest Management
Pest animal species are not likely to pose a significant threat to the Weeping Myall Management Areas, however
there is some potential that grazing by rabbits and native herbivores (such as kangaroos and wallabies) may
impact seedlings and suckers of weeping myall and other native flora species comprising part of the EEC. In such
instances appropriate management strategies will be implemented. Due to the small size of the Weeping Myall
Management Areas, the most appropriate method of controlling pest species may be to modify fencing to prevent
pest species from entering.
Number:
BUL SD PLN 0061
Status:
Approved
Effective: 22/03/2016
Owner:
[Enter document owner position title]
Version:
1.0
Review:
Uncontrolled unless viewed on the intranet
22/03/2019
Page 6 of 7
Bulga Coal
Plan
3
Weeping Myall Biodiversity Offset Management Plan
Ecological Inspections and Reporting
Annual ecological monitoring and biannual inspections of the Weeping Myall Management Areas will be
undertaken. The following information will be recorded during ecological monitoring survey, which will be conducted
by a suitably qualified and experienced ecologist:
an updated count of individual plants of weeping myall within each Management Area;
information regarding the health of individuals and the population;
permanent photo point monitoring;
floristic data to identify if native species (other than weeping myall) are also responding to management
activities;
information regarding any weed or pest species that require management (and recommendations on suitable
management actions); and
maintenance requirements.
A letter-style inspection report will be prepared outlining the methods of the monitoring, the results of the monitoring
and recommended management actions if required.
Quarterly inspections of the Weeping Myall Management Areas will also be undertaken by BCC. These inspections
will provide a visual assessment of fence condition, any weed or pest management issues and overall condition of
the weeping myall trees.
A summary of the monitoring results, as well as any management actions completed will be reported in the AEMR.
4
References
Office of Environment and Heritage (2013) National Recovery Plan Weeping Myall – Coobah – Scrub Wilga
Shrubland of the Hunter Valley.
Umwelt (2013) Response to Submissions and Revised and Amended Project Application Assessment Report,
Bulga Optimisation Project.
5
Revision History
Full details of the document history are recorded in the document control register, by version. A summary of the
current change is provided in Table 1 below.
Table 1 – Revision History
Version
1.0
Date
Review team
(consultation)
Change Summary
23/10/2015
Original document
Number:
BUL SD PLN 0061
Status:
Approved
Effective: 22/03/2016
Owner:
[Enter document owner position title]
Version:
1.0
Review:
Uncontrolled unless viewed on the intranet
22/03/2019
Page 7 of 7