3. Recipient Site Selection During a site visit on 13 th June 2025 a preferred recipient site was identified adjacent to the Upper Mundic Gully TSF project on Lot 21 LN504. This site provides the greatest potential for a beneficial conservation outcome due to the following: • The supporting habitat most closely matches that of the site of impacted individuals (landform, soil type, geology, vegetation and elevation). • An existing population of mature Cycas megacarpa was identified on this site. • This preferred site is connected to large expanses of intact vegetation of RE 11.12.6. and 11.12.6 /11.10.4, Some of this area remains unsurveyed but it possesses similar characteristics to where the existing population of mature C. megacarpa was identified. • Translocated individuals will remain within the extent of occupation of the local occurrences, thereby maximising the potential sustainability of the local sub- population. • The site is readily accessible with well-established access tracks to allow translocation, maintenance and monitoring to occur without substantially impacting on supporting habitat. • Insect pollinators are likely to persist in the landscape given the existing population. Also, given that all impacted plants occur within a 1 km radius and the proximity of recipient sites to the impact area, genetic flows in the local sub- population are likely to remain unaffected by translocation activities, with recent genetic studies indicating that genetic similarity exists for plants as far as 18 km of each other (James et al., 2018). • The site is in close proximity to the existing occurrences and is expected to experience similar climatic and rainfall conditions to the impact site. • It is also worth noting that many areas with matching supporting habitat were deemed unsuitable due to steep terrain and lack of access. Dense clusters of C. megacarpa were also avoided in the selection of recipient sites to reduce the potential for accidental damage to existing plants during translocation operations. • The sites occur within land to be acquired by the proponent and will be designed as ‘no go’ zones. Activities that may adversely impact on translocated individuals (e.g. livestock grazing and timber harvesting) will be excluded from the sites.
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Mundic Gully TSF Translocation Project - Cycas megacarpa
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