3.3.3 Conservation significant flora Protected plants high risk trigger areas are mapped across the northern and western extents of the project area. These high risk areas reflect the extent of remnant vegetation within the project area. The desktop results of the protected plants trigger area within the project area can be found in Appendix A. The PMST and WildNet identified 12 species as having potential to occur within the study area (Table 3-6). PMST identified species are predicted to occur within the study area based on bioclimatic modelling, knowledge of species’ distributions and habitat preferences. WildNet records reflect historical records for individual species. A previous vegetation survey for the Mount Morgan mine found both Cycas megacarpa and Grevillea hockingsii ( Kasel et al., 2001 ) .
Table 3-6
Desktop results for conservation significant flora species
Species
Status
Closest historical records (within 5 km) Source
EPBC Act NC Act
Bertya pedicellata
NL
NT
1.48 km north east of project area
WO
Cadellia pentastylis Ooline Cossinia australiana Cossinia Cupaniopsis shirleyana Wedge-leaf tuckeroo
V
V
None
PMST
E
E
None
PMST
V
V
None
PMST
Cycas megacarpa
E
E
Yes
PMST/WO/Report
Cycas ophiolitica
E
E
None
PMST
Dichanthium setosum Bluegrass Eucalyptus raveretiana Black ironbox
V
LC
None
PMST
V
V
None
PMST
Grevillea hockingsii
NL
V
~0.18 km north west of project area
WO/Report
Leichhardtia brevifolia
V
V
None
PMST
Polianthion minutiflorum
V
V
None
PMST
Samadera bidwillii Quassia
V
V
1.56 km north east of project area
PMST/WO
Notes: E = endangered, V = Vulnerable, NT = Near threatened, NL = Not listed, LC = Least concern, WO = Wildlife Online
Two conservation significant flora species were confirmed present within the project area ( Grevillea hockingsii and Cycas megacarpa ) during field surveys. G. hockingsii is listed as vulnerable under the NC Act (Queensland) but not listed under the EPBC Act (Commonwealth). A population of approximately 67 individuals was confirmed along the northern slopes of Upper Mundic Gully. Individuals ranged from seedlings to mature flowering/seeding individuals. All individuals appeared of good health. In addition to the above population, approximately 29.5 ha of suitable habitat has been mapped for the species within the project area. Suitable habitat for the species, within the project area, has been described as low woodland to open forests dominated by of Blakella citriodora, Corymbia trachyphloia, Syncarpia glomulifera and/or Acacia spp, on steep slopes and hill crests with shallow, well drained, sandy loam soils derived from sandstone or basalt volcanic rocks. Within the project area this suitable habitat has been verified within both remnant and HVR vegetation. The aforementioned population and its mapped suitable habitat is depicted in Figure 3-2. Representative photos of G. hockingsii , within the project area, are presented in Figure 3-2. This species is further discussed in Section 3.5.2.1. C. megacarpa is listed endangered under both the NC Act and EPBC Act. A population of approximately 105 individuals were confirmed along the southern extent of the project area. Individuals ranged in height from 0.3 –
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