Development and Construction Industry

Residential subdivision at Clarence Town

An example of ecobiological assisting a client to achieve a balance between development and protection of biodiversity values was through the design of a 35-lot residential subdivision at Clarence Town.

Fauna surveys recorded the presence of the Brush-tailed Phascogale, Powerful Owl, Grey-crowned Babbler, Koala and Squirrel Glider (all listed as vulnerable under the NSW Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995) on the site. In combination with a lack of consideration for bushfire protection, it was obvious that the owner's original subdivision design was both unsuitable and unlikely to gain approval.

ecobiological worked with the clients and site surveyors to design an alternative subdivision design with larger lot sizes, alternative access routes, fauna corridors, community lots, and vegetation reserves.

This revised design met the needs of the client, the fauna utilising the area and complied with NSW Rural Fire Service requirements. Other recommendations provided by ecobiological included the installation of 15 nest boxes to target threatened arboreal mammal species and revegetation of riparian habitat.

Proposed Caravan and Camping Ground, Pokolbin

ecobiological recently prepared a Flora, Fauna and Threatened Species Assessment, Vegetation Management Plan, Bushfire Threat Assessment and Bushfire Emergency Management Plan for a proposed caravan and camping ground development at Pokolbin.

Flora and fauna surveys recorded the presence of the threatened Grey-crowned Babbler, two threatened insectivorous bat species and the Endangered Ecological Community Swamp Oak Floodplain Forest of the NSW North Coast, Sydney Basin and South East Corner bioregions.

Recommendations to protect the integrity of the remnant vegetation, riparian corridor and resident threatened species included: sediment and erosion control measures, establishment of a Bird Conservation Area involving fencing, restrictions on clearing fallen timber, a strict 'no cat' policy and weed management, and, minimising the use of herbicides and pesticides on the site.

Contact ecobiological now on 1300 881 869 or admin@ecobiological.com.au to discuss your project requirements.

Proposed Dwelling at Dickson Road, Dooralong

ecobiological undertook an 'Assessment of the Potential Impact on Certain Threatened Species of the Construction of a Proposed Dwelling on a Property at Dickson Road, Dooralong' in 2003. The report prepared included a Species Impact Assessment on the threatened Yellow-bellied Glider (Petaurus australis).

Recommended management strategies to mitigate impacts on the species included: a 50m exclusion zone around denning trees; all sap feed trees be preserved; within a 100m radius of retained sap feed trees and denning trees, 15 feed trees (excluding retained sap feed tree and denning trees) must be retained; and, the house was to be located such that it is not within 50m of any existing identified sap feed tree and that none of the sap feed trees were to be within the bushfire Asset Protection Zone (APZ).

The Development Application (DA) for the dwelling was approved in 2004. As part of the conditions of consent handed down by Wyong Shire Council, a three year study and monitoring program of the resident Yellow-bellied Glider (Petaurus australis) population was undertaken. The aim of the study was to determine whether management strategies recommended in the Threatened Species Assessment accompanying the DA were successful.

ecobiological completed this monitoring program in 2007 which found that little impact on the Yellow-bellied Gliders had occurred as a result of the construction of a single dwelling and associated APZ and access.

From this study it would appear that the management strategies recommended may have been an important factor in allowing the gliders to continue to use their established home ranges.

ProTen Limited large-scale poultry broiler farm, Karuah

ecobiological was responsible for conducting the Environmental Impact Assessment for a proposed poultry growing operation at The Branch Lane, Karuah, which was approved by the Minister for Infrastructure&Planning in May 2004.

The project included a Species Impact Statement and Conservation and Management Plans for the threatened Grey-crowned Babbler (Pomatostomus temporalis temporalis), as well as Vegetation Management Plans and Vegetation Management Strategies for the establishment of regeneration areas along all major drainage lines, wetland and foreshore areas.

Contact ecobiological now on 1300 881 869 or admin@ecobiological.com.au to discuss your project requirements.