sydney-city-centre-review-of-environmental-factors

Fauna
The main habitat within the project area comprises street planted trees and gardens
and is subject to significant human disturbance. The limited habitat potential means
that the only fauna present are likely to be hardy and resilient (native) species. Whilst
the roadside planted trees contain potential roosting hollows they are unlikely to be
used by microbats and other native bird species due to strong competition from
introduced birds. The large open spaces interspersed with vegetation provide
minimal foraging habitat for other occasional mobile insect-feeding species. On rare
occasions trees within the area have provided intermittent shelter and foraging for
microbats and mega bats; including the vulnerably-listed grey-headed flying fox (see
below). Some existing structures within the study area (including building frontages
and bridges) may potentially serve as roosting habitat for microbats; however this
would generally be temporary in nature. It is considered unlikely that these structures
would serve as hibernacula or maternity roosts.
The habitat is only likely to provide habitat for native and introduced fauna species
that are adapted to open environments and tolerant of major human disturbance.
Overall, the habitat type of the study area is in poor condition, generally providing
only marginal habitat for those species within the city centre area.
Statutorily protected biodiversity
Although the locality (within 10 kilometres of the proposal footprint) contains
68 State-protected species and populations and 143 Commonwealth-protected
species and communities (refer to Table 6-56) none are considered likely to occur in
the proposal footprint with one exception, the grey-headed flying fox. This species
may intermittently shelter or forage across the proposal footprint.
There is one Ramsar Wetland of International Importance situated within the
10 kilometre buffer of the proposal footprint, the Towra point nature reserve, however
given the significant distance between the study area and this site (approximately
15 km south) it is considered unlikely there will be any negative impacts. Three
critically endangered species under the EPBC Act were identified: the Orange-bellied
Parrot (Neophema chrysogaster), the Seaforth Mintbush (Prosthanthera marifolia)
and the Grey Nurse Shark (Carcharias taurus (east coast population)). The Orangebellied
Parrot is only identified as ‘may occur’ within the area, and it is considered
unlikely given the highly urbanised nature of the project area.
The Grey-headed Flying fox (Pteropus poliocephalus) is identified as vulnerable
under the TSC Act, and has been recorded as occurring in the area. As outlined
above, the vegetation in the area may provide intermittent shelter for the species.
Three listed threatened ecological communities under the EPBC Act are known,
likely or may occur within the area. The Eastern Suburbs Banksia Scrub of the
Sydney Region is listed as endangered, with the Turpentine-Ironbark Forest in
the Sydney Basin Bioregion and the Western Sydney Dry Rainforest and Moist
Woodland on Shale listed as critically endangered. None of these are considered
likely to occur within the project area.
Sydney City Centre Capacity Improvement 383
Review of Environmental Factors