WHERE HAVE ALL THE An assessment of the Regional Water Supply's Threatened Species, Weeds, and Vertebrate Pest Monitoring Report
The monitoring of threatened species, weeds and vertebrate pests at Shannon Creek by North Coast Water was a Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) consent requirement. This is explained in a monitoring report, which states: “The requirements for the monitoring program were established following a Commission of Inquiry for the water storage project, on the basis of Concurrence Conditions for the Species Impact Statement issued in March 2000 by the National Parks and Wildlife Service (now Department of Environment and Conservation)”.
The report covering the December 2006 monitoring, nine months after serious work began on the final stages of construction (section 3 pipeline), was not presented until July 2007. When reading the report, the impacts identified by the monitoring are not immediately apparent, with 7 dot points in the Executive Summary leading to a conclusion that: “Statistical analysis of data did not indicate any unexpected or significant adverse changes in subject threatened species populations or Endangered Ecological Communities.” The report sums up, “The results of the Summer 2006 monitoring session indicated that the majority of threatened subject species/communities were surviving well at the monitoring sites and their habitats were in reasonable to good condition...”
In considering the validity of the findings and assumptions of the monitoring report, it is important to note that the ecologists have had long involvement with the project, and were responsible for the Species Impact Statement (2005) that assessed that construction would have no significant impact on any threatened species. Under the circumstances there would be a reluctance to admit they might have been wrong. A full assessment of the report provides a much less rosy picture:
6 of the 10 threatened bat species previously recorded at the site were not found in the December 2006 monitoring session.
All three other monitored fauna species recorded reduced numbers (Koala, a drop of 95%; Black Bittern, disappeared altogether; Rock-wallaby, numbers reduced at all monitored sites, with one site abandoned).
Three of the five monitored flora species registered reduced numbers or were dying (Lindernia alsinoides, reduced to less than 1% of 2004 figures; Phyllanthus microcladus, showing a substantial decline in numbers at all sites; a sub-population of Bertya longistyla, plants stressed, or dead.
In relation to the monitored species, the report claims that “... numbers and condition compare favourably with external reference sites...”. However, there are no external sites for Lindernia alsinoides, Amorphospermum whiteii, or Bertya longistyla, and no external site monitoring of Black Bittern, Brush-tailed Rock-wallaby, or Koala. In fact, I am unaware of any monitoring site outside North Coast Water's land and the adjoining Chambigne Nature Reserve, other than Phyllanthus microcladus, which has a single external site several hundred metres from NCW's boundary at Deep Creek. That site is also said to have suffered a “substantial decline” in numbers.
The Phytophthora cinnamomi monitoring consisted of observing the health of grass trees from a slowly moving car, ignoring the deaths of monitored species as a possible consequence of the disease. I would question the apparent sole reliance on grass trees as an indicator species, and point out that deaths of Banksia integrifolia, reported by myself two years ago, was never investigated, as far as I am aware.
One thing the report's summary does admit is that weed infestations are threatening endangered species, have proliferated over time, and that no action has yet been taken to control them. Similar reports have been made for over five years.
The common excuse made to explain almost all the detrimental findings is drought, singling out: “...very dry conditions experienced during autumn/early winter in 2006 and during late
winter/spring in 2005.” However, the monitoring ecologists like to have 'two bob each way', and also claim that it was difficult to find plot markers because:“prolific growth had occurred in the community since the Spring/Summer 2005 surveys.”
Winter through Spring is the North Coast's normal dry season, and prolific growth does not usually occur during excessive dry times. But let us test the truth of the report's claim. Rainfall measured at Shannondale, less than 4km from the dam site, was average for 1995 (929.50mm) and 1996 (1068.25mm).
Autumn-early Winter in 2006 started with an exceptionally wet March (191mm measured at Shannondale, the 4th wettest in 30 years). That set the environment up for the 2 remaining months which were below average. However, July 06 saw 50mm of rain, the 6th wettest in 30 years.
Late Winter-Spring in 2005 – June 05 saw 171mm fall, the wettest in the last 30 years. July saw 25mm, average for July with 15 of the past 30 years recording a lesser amount. August saw 11.25mm fall, again pretty normal, and more than was recorded in either of the previous 2 years. Spring 2005 saw the following rainfall – September 47mm; October 64mm, November 130mm.
All on or higher than average. There was no exceptional dry period as claimed.
I have forwarded an assessment of the monitoring to DECC, along with detailed analysis of all 19 threatened species monitored, in the hope they will take notice, particularly in relation to the supplementary planting of Koala feed trees, Phytophthora control, and weed issues, which North Coast Water are refusing to address.
We have always known there would be an impact on threatened species at the dam site. Brush-tailed Rock-wallabies and Black Bittern were hardly likely to stick around with blasting and jack-hammering, accompanied by the eternal beep beep and roar of heavy machinery. However, the disappearance of so many threatened bat species from the wider vicinity; the deaths of Phyllanthus microcladus, which are remote from the construction, from causes that have not been investigated; the almost total exodus of Koalas; deaths of Bertya at the spillway site, likewise not investigated, and vastly reduced numbers of Lindernia resulting from weed infestation, which DECC ordered to be addressed 12 months ago, must be taken seriously.
The full report is posted here.
Compiled by John Edwards, Hon Secretary
THREATENED SPECIES GONE?