When planning to build amongst native vegetation, a Fauna Survey may be required to fulfil planning permit conditions. Practical Ecology’s knowledge of south-eastern Australia’s fauna – and the associated legislative implications – can help our clients fulfil permit requirements and improve their wildlife management.
For landholders considering building on a bushblock or developers seeking to construct or subdivide near native vegetation, a fauna survey is often a requirement of a planning permit application. Planning permit applications generally include a fauna survey as part of a broader environmental report to satisfy legislation like the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act (FFG) and the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Act (EPBC). Fauna surveys are also conducted for councils or individuals interested in learning more about the native animals of a reserve, property or planning precinct.
After reviewing existing fauna databases, Practical Ecology conducts surveys (ideally in the appropriate season) using methods such as:
Once the site’s species are determined, the legislative implications can be understood and recommendations made on to how to improve fauna management. This might involve modifying the proposed construction, capturing animals for re-release or briefing construction workers on methods to avoid environmental impact.
Practical Ecology’s knowledge of southeast Australia’s fauna and environmental legislation means our reports fulfil planning permit requirements, saving our clients from costly delays. We have a Flora and Fauna Research Permit, Wildlife and Small Institutions Animal Ethics approval and use the latest fauna-monitoring equipment.
Frankston Council employed Practical Ecology to assess five Frankston bushland reserves: Robinsons Witternberg, Baden Powell, Wilton Bushland, Austin Road and Shaxton Circle. The council wished to determine the conservation significance and quality of the bushland, as well as learn what animals were using the reserves.
Flora surveys, Fauna Surveys and Habitat Hectare Analyses were conducted to determine the vegetation quality of each reserve. The fauna was assessed by:
In Robinsons Witternberg Reserve, for example, 68 animal species were found, 59 of which were indigenous, including 4 species of amphibian, 6 species of reptile, 44 bird species and 11 mammals species. Eleven of these animals were regionally significant, including Verreaux’s tree frogs, eastern three-line skinks, agile antechinuses and sugar gliders.
Management recommendations included: controlling foxes, rabbits, black rats, cats and introduced birds; erecting nesting boxes; retaining logs; mosaic burning to attract new species and creating barriers to prevent motorbike access.
Photo: An antechinus
Practical Ecology was commissioned by the GAA to undertake a preliminary assessment of an area outside the urban growth boundary for a possible designation as a ‘development precinct’.
Practical Ecology’s investigation involved reviewing existing environmental information, identifying and mapping significant remnant vegetation, calculating indicative habitat hectare scores and locating areas that might support significant flora and fauna - particularly the nationally significant southern brown bandicoot and growling grass frog. Surveying for these two creatures was made more challenging by a tight timeframe, poor site access (most of the area is private land) and sub-optimal season.
Using maps, satellite information and database records our zoologists identified potential habitat for the creatures then conducted on-ground surveys including using infrared motion-trigger cameras to target bandicoots. All this information was then presented on maps showing the likelihood of the animals’ presence across the site, from ‘low’ to ‘moderate-high’.
Map: Growling Grass Frog Distribution, Cranbourne
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