06 Jun Keystone Tarneit

Keystone Tarneit is a typical large greenfield residential property development within Melbourne’s designated West Growth Corridor. Keystone is also situated within the Melbourne Strategic Assessment (MSA) area and is subject to the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) Biodiversity Conservation Strategy (BCS).

Compensation for impacts on native vegetation and EPBC Act listed threatened communities and species are prescribed and detailed on the State Department of the Environment, Land, Water and Planning’s (DELWP’s) Native Vegetation Information Management (NVIM) website. Other biodiversity and wildfire mitigation requirements for developments in Melbourne’s designated growth areas are prescribed in the relevant Precinct Structure Plans (PSPs).

What is involved

Keystone is somewhat complicated by the fact that it straddles two precincts. The majority of the development is situated within the active Riverdale PSP and the balance is situated within the yet to be developed Oakbank PSP. In preparation for the commencement of development, the proponent has engaged Nature Advisory to assist them in meeting their biodiversity and wildfire mitigation requirements.

Outcome

Habitat compensation
Through desktop investigation and liaison with DELWP and Wyndham City Council, Nature Advisory determined that compensation for impacts on native vegetation and EPBC Act listed threatened communities and species, as a result of the development, will be provided via direct payment to DELWP, as a contribution toward acquiring and managing the proposed Western Grassland Reserve.

Targeted surveys prior to development
Nature Advisory was directly engaged by DELWP to undertake a targeted survey for the EPBC Act listed Spiny Rice-flower and Matted Flax Lily in two areas of time-stamped native vegetation within the property. Only Spiny Rice-flower was detected and DELWP requested that salvage and translocation of this species be achieved via collection of seed, which was duly undertaken by Nature Advisory.

Kangaroo management
It is also a requirement of the Riverdale PSP to develop an Eastern Grey Kangaroo Management Plan (EGKMP) for the Keystone development. The purpose of an EGKMP is to first establish, via field survey, whether kangaroos are inhabiting the subject property or not. If they are, then the plan must stipulate a protocol to be implemented during construction which will prevent kangaroos entering the construction site, as well as staging the development in a manner which avoids ‘landlocking’ the kangaroos within the newly created settlement. Landlocking kangaroos within new settlements can lead to a number of adverse consequences ranging from animal welfare issues to potential human safety concerns. Nature Advisory will undertake the required field surveys and develop an EGKMP accordingly, as close to commencement of construction as practical, so that the plan will reflect an up to date status of kangaroos in the vicinity of the Keystone property.

Bushfire management
As the Keystone development is located within the designated Bushfire Prone Area, it is a requirement of the Riverdale PSP to develop wildfire mitigation measures to safeguard construction workers and early residents in the precinct from exposure to potential grass fires. To address this requirement, Nature Advisory has prepared a Bushfire Hazard Management Plan for the Keystone development.

Contact Chris Dunk for more information