Through legislative requirement, or the desire for better vegetation management, councils, government agencies, developers and private landholders often need to know what plants grow on their land. Practical Ecology’s knowledge of south-eastern Australia’s flora means our ecologists rapidly compile comprehensive plant lists.
The Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act, Planning and Environment Act, and the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Act can all require a flora survey of a proposed development site. By knowing what’s onsite developers can satisfy legislative requirements and make informed decisions when planning – thereby avoiding unexpected delays. Councils and government agencies also use flora surveys to improve their native vegetation management by identifying significant species and assessing the effectiveness of current management practices.
Flora surveys begin with a review of databases, such as Victoria’s ‘Flora Information System’ (FIS), to determine which species have been recorded in the area. The site is then walked by our ecologists (ideally in spring when many plants are in flower), who record indigenous plants, introduced plants and the Ecological Vegetation Classes (EVCs). If the databases, or our previous experience, indicate that a rare or threatened plant might occur onsite, we can conduct a ‘targeted survey’ for the species, concentrating on the vegetation likely to host it. A report is then prepared listing the sites’ indigenous and introduced species, along with details of their significance (local, regional, state or national) and any policy implications. A map of the site can also be produced, showing the EVCs and the location of significant species.
Practical Ecology has been conducting flora surveys, with a particular focus on Greater Melbourne, since 1993. Our expertise in south-eastern Australia’s vegetation means we can provide rapid, detailed plant lists.
Melbourne Water owns 46 hectares of vegetated land in Gunnamatta. Discussions with local community groups prompted them to assess the vegetation with the aim of improving management.
Practical Ecology reviewed the existing information on the site including the FIS database, which indicated seven species of state and/or national significance were likely to occur in the area. The site was then traversed on foot to record the plant species and conduct targeted searches for the significant plants. Seventy-two indigenous and sixty introduced plants were identified, including four species of state significance - coast wirilda, coast fescue, coast stackhousia and coast twin-leaf – as well as 33 plants of regional significance. Four EVCs were identified: Coast Heathland Scrub, Calcareous Swale Grassland, Coastal Alkaline Scrub and Spray-zone Coastal Shrubland, all of which were deemed to be of very high conservation significance.
The examination of the site found no threatened FFG or EPBC–listed plants. Four noxious weeds and two restricted weeds were identified, prompting a recommendation for their control in accordance with the Catchment and Land Protection Act. Due to the type of vegetation, Practical Ecology determined there was a strong likelihood of the EPBC-listed leafy greenhood occurring onsite and that a targeted survey for the plant should be conducted in winter when the orchid is in flower. This information was clearly presented in a report.
Practical Ecology’s flora survey gave Melbourne Water the information they required to respond to community concerns, fulfil legislative requirements and improve their bushland management.
Practical Ecology assessed the site of a proposed 40 hectare subdivision in Cottles Bridge, near Hurstbridge. The client required information on the significance of the site’s vegetation and its legislative implications.
After reviewing the existing information on the site, Practical Ecology visited the property where 200 plant species were recorded, 140 of which were indigenous. Of the indigenous species, 74 were found to be regionally significant and one, rosemary grevillia, of state significance. The site was determined to have four EVCs, two of which, Valley Grass Woodland and Creekline Herb-rich Woodland, were listed as vulnerable in the bioregion.
Further studies broke the site into 31 habitat zones to assess the vegetation quality through DSE’s Habitat Hectare method. Practical Ecology’s zoologists also conducted fauna surveys, discovering a colony of brush-tailed phascogales. All this information was then presented in a comprehensive Property Management Plan.
The information allowed the client’s architects to redesign the subdivision to minimise its impact on areas of high conservation significance. By minimising the impact, the client avoided the costly delays an uninformed design would have encountered.
Photo: Common flat-pea
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