Item
Description
Information Requested
Response
Corresponding Sections
The purpose of the Grevillea hockingsii translocation plan requires clarification as it does not appear to be translocating the individuals but instead collecting seeds and propagating with a view to establish the plant at an alternative site. It has not been demonstrated via literature review the feasibility of successfully translocating Grevillea hockingsii. Further, the current recipient site appears to be unsuitable with no management currently occurring and the two individuals identified in poor health.
(2021) to demonstrate it is commensurate. iii. Demonstrate that long term legal security or management security has been obtained for the recipient site. iv. Provide advice on how the recipient site will be managed to support successful translocation and future recruitment. c) For the Grevillea hockingsii translocation plan: i. Demonstrate and provide advice regarding the feasibility of translocating this species as proposed via propagating, including providing references to relevant literature that supports your determination (i.e., demonstrate directly relevant reestablishment projects have been successfully carried out elsewhere). ii. Demonstrate a suitable nursery has been identified and is capable of successfully propagating and maintaining individuals. iii. Demonstrate the recipient site is geologically and ecologically equivalent and individuals are present and successfully established to demonstrate suitability. iv. Clarify and demonstrate the timeframe for translocation (i.e., 5 years) is suitable. Compare your scenario to the circumstances outlined in relevant literature to demonstrate it is commensurate. v. Demonstrate that long term legal security or management security has been obtained for the recipient site. vi. Provide advice on how the recipient site will be managed to support successful translocation and future recruitment.
Husbandry methods are described in further detail within the updated Translocation plan for Cycas megacarpa. ii) The Translocation Plan for Cycas Megacarpa has been prepared by a Suitably Qualified Person (SQP) who has provided a signed declaration in accordance with Table 1 of the Flora Survey Guidelines (DEHP 2020). The timeframe for the translocation of 2 years as per Silcock et all (2021) was deemed incomplete by Heritage Minerals’ SQP. In the preceding guidelines developed for the species it is expressed that 5 years is a more acceptable timeframe to measure success. Based on the 18% loss after two years by Silcock et al (2021), and the SQP’s experience with translocating other Cycas, more losses would be likely in the subsequent three years. Seeds will also be collected, propagated and planted out at recipient sites to compensate for anticipated losses of up to 30% of the translocated adult plants. iii) Heritage Minerals have entered into a signed landholder agreement with a neighbouring property owner to facilitate translocation of Cycas megacarpa. iv) Recipient site management details are provided in the updated Translocation plan for Cycas megacarpa. The management strategies include, marking recipient sites, weed control, fencing, signage, security, fire management, establishing irrigation system. The maintenance of the translocated plants includes watering, weeding, assessing plant health, observing and rectifying any erosion, checking integrity of fencing and signage and feral animal and stock damage controls. c) i) The Grevillea hockingsii Impact Mitigation Management Plan has been prepared by a Suitably Qualified Person (SQP) who has provided a signed declaration in accordance with Table 1 of the Flora Survey Guidelines (DEHP 2020). This Plan has been developed in accordance with the Guidelines for the Translocation of Threatened Plants in Australia (Commander et al., 2018), and consideration of learnings from previous management programs involving species from the order Proteales. As a member of the Proteaceae family, this species will not respond well to transplanting. It has been Heritage Minerals’ SQP’s experience that this species will be able to be grafted to other Grevillea species to maintain clonal diversity from the impact site. ii) A recipient nursey with experience in native plants (preferably from the order Proteales ) shall be engaged by the proponent. Odd Spot Plants has been approached to undertake this contract. The owner and principal horticulturalist Neil Paterson holds degree qualifications in Horticulture and over 30 years of experience in the storing of seed and propagation of native Australian plants. This nursery is uniquely equipped to be able to propagate via seed; cuttings; grafting; transplanting and from invitro tissue culture stock. This Nursery has prior experience in propagating threatened native plants via the methods stated in the management plan and a full understanding of the need to keep accurate records at every stage of the process. iii) Suitable habitat for G. hockingsii , within the project area, has been described as low woodland to open forests dominated by Corymbia 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. Because of the micro habitat requirements of this species only 2.2ha of suitable habitat, has been mapped for the species within the project area. The recipient site has the same aspect and similar slope and micro habitat to the impact site. The presence of 2 specimens of the species across the recipient site suggests that it once was suitable habitat for the species. iv) Maintenance of the planted seedlings shall be carried out for 5 years after initial planting of G. hockingsii tubestock to increase the likelihood of survival and to achieve compliance with completion criteria. The translocated tubestock will be monitored quarterly for the first 3 years and annually for an additional 2 years, providing maintenance and reporting for 5 years. v) Ongoing legal security will be negotiated with relevant stakeholder prior to the mitigation planting area being implemented. There is a mix of mining, state and reserve tenures in the area of the proposed Mitigation Planting. Heritage Minerals intends to maintain ownership of the mining tenures thereby ensuring ongoing security and protection of the site. Extensive searches of the surrounding areas and adjacent properties revealed the proposed planting site as being the only suitable site. The site has the same aspect, slope, soil, vegetation composition and microhabitats as the impact site but is degraded.
ISO 9001 • ISO 14001 • ISO 45001
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