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1.0 Historical Land Use

A desktop review of aerial photography over the site shows that the site was largely cleared of native vegetation prior

to 1953 (Plate 1). Some native vegetation remained in the Resource Enhancement Wetland and has been maintained

over the years. The surrounding land was gradually being developed in 1995 and the adjacent Lot had a dam

constructed in the wetland area (Plate 2). All of the land adjacent to Lot 200 has now been developed for Urban, Semi

Rural and Light Industry (Plate 3).

Plate 1: Aerial Photography November 1953 (Landgate, 2018)

MEMO : David Jones

Date: 30 July 2018

Title: Lot 200 Kalamunda Road - Environmental Summary

Prepared: Belinda Heath

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Plate 2: Aerial Photography February 1995 (Landgate, 2018)

Plate 3: Aerial Photography September 2016 (Landgate, 2016)

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2.0 Wetland UFI 15778

Lot 200 contains a wetland (UFI 15778) that was mapped as Resource Enhancement in the Geomorphic Wetlands of

the Swan Coastal Plain dataset. The wetland covers an area of 0.44ha and is degraded. The surrounding vegetation

consists of woody weed species Japanese Pepper and Victorian Tea-Tree over pasture grasses, Kikuyu, Arum Lilly and

Cotton Bush.

The Department of Biodiversity Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) has recently downgraded the wetland to a

Multiple Use category.

3.0 Flora and Vegetation

Flora

The wetland and buffer area contain very few native plant species. A flora and vegetation survey of Lot 200

Kalamunda Road was undertaken by ENV Australia (2009). A review of the flora, vegetation and wetland values of Lot

200 by Mattiske Consulting Pty Ltd (2010) confirmed that no Declared Rare or Priority Flora species occur on the site.

Vegetation Types

The REW vegetation consists of a very dense Paperbark (Melaleuca preissiana) Low Closed Forest up to 6m high and

95% cover (Plate 4). Due to the dense canopy of trees there is very little understorey apart from some Arum Lily

(Zantedeschia aethiopica). Japanese Pepper (Schinus terebinthifolius) suckers are abundant within the wetland (Plate

5), mostly as thin branches but occasionally as large trees with a diameter up to 50cm.

A 10m band of mature Japanese Pepper trees up to 5m high occurs just outside the mapped wetland on the western

side. Arum Lily is more abundant under the Pepper trees.

A small number of native Astartea affinis shrubs occur at the north-eastern end of the REW and in the western buffer

where it is associated with other native species including Hypocalymma angustifolium, Juncus pallidus and Dielsia

stenostachya.

Two lines of Paperbark trees extend from the REW into the buffer at the northern end. The understorey of the

Paperbarks is dense Arum Lily and Kikuyu Grass (Cenchrus clandestinus). The remainder of the buffer consists of a

variety of weed species including several large shrubs of the woody weed Victorian Teatree (Leptospermum

laevigatum).

Other non-native species that are common in the buffer include Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale), Couch (Cynodon

dactylon), Yorkshire Fog grass (Holcus lanatus), African Lovegrass (Eragrostis curvula), Paspalum (Paspalum dilatatum),

Sorrel (Rumex acetosella) and Rose Pelargonium (Pelargonium capitatum).

Some small patches of Fleabane (Conyza bonariensis) and Cotton Bush (Gomphocarpus fruticosus) occur in the north-

west part of the buffer.

Weeds

The non-native species in the REW and buffer area are described in the Vegetation section. Of those, two are Declared

Plants under the Agriculture and Related Resources Protection Act 1976:

• Arum Lily (Zantedeschia aethiopica)

• Narrowleaf Cotton Bush (Gomphocarpus fruticosus)

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Vegetation Condition

The condition of the vegetation was assessed according to the system devised by Keighery and described in Bush

Forever (Government of Western Australia, 2000) (Table 1).

Table 1: Vegetation Condition Rating Scale

Condition Description

Pristine Pristine or nearly so, no obvious signs of disturbance.

Excellent Vegetation structure intact, disturbance affecting individual species and weeds are non-aggressive species.

Very Good Vegetation structure altered, obvious signs of disturbance. For example, disturbance to vegetation structure caused by repeated fires, the presence of some more aggressive weeds, dieback, logging and grazing.

Good Vegetation structure significantly altered by very obvious signs of multiple disturbance. Retains basic vegetation structure or ability to regenerate it. For example, disturbance to vegetation structure caused by very frequent fires, the presence of some very aggressive weeds at high density, partial clearing, dieback and grazing.

Degraded Basic vegetation structure severely impacted by disturbance. Scope for regeneration but not to a state approaching good condition without intensive management. For example, disturbance to vegetation structure caused by very frequent fires, the presence of very aggressive weeds, partial clearing, dieback and grazing.

Completely Degraded

The structure of the vegetation is no longer intact and the area is completely or almost completely without native species. These are often described as ‘parkland cleared’ with the flora comprising weed or crop species with isolated native trees or shrubs.

Source: Government of Western Australia, 2000.

The vegetation in the REW is Degraded to Completely Degraded and the buffer is Completely Degraded (Plates 1-3).

Plate 4: Centre of Wetland

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Plate 5: North East Corner of Wetland

Plate 6: South West Buffer

Conservation Significance of Flora and Vegetation

No Threatened or Priority flora species were recorded in the REW.

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No Threatened Ecological Communities or Priority Ecological Communities were recorded in the REW.

4.0 Fauna

The majority of the site is cleared around the REW and is considered to be Highly Degraded fauna habitat.

The REW provides very limited habitat for native species and is considered to be Degraded. There is no connectivity

between the REW and nearby native vegetation and the likelihood of feral species (foxes, cats, rabbits) occurring is

high.

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Attachment 1 – DBCA Correspondence

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Biodiversity and Conservation Science – Wetlands Conservation Program

Locked Bag 104, Bentley Delivery Centre, Western Australia 6983 dbca.wa.gov.au

Your ref:

Our ref: 2018/002922-1

Enquiries: Heidi Bucktin

Phone: 08 9219 8716

Email: Heidi.bucktin@dbca.wa.gov.au

Belinda Heath Senior Environmental Consultant PVG Environmental Unit 1/ 61 Guthrie Street Osborne Park WA 6017

Dear Ms Heath,

Application to review the wetland mapping within the Geomorphic Wetlands Swan Coastal Plain dataset for wetland UFI 15778. I refer to your correspondence dated 14th May 2018 requesting the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) to review the wetland mapping within the Geomorphic Wetlands Swan Coastal Plain dataset (the dataset) for the part of wetland UFI 15778 located at Lot 200 Kalamunda Road, High Wycombe (Figure 1). The request proposed to downgrade the management category of the area of wetland UFI 15778 within Lot 200 from Resource Enhancement to Multiple Use category. The Department previously reviewed this site in August 2010 and advised that UFI 15778 (previously known as UFI 9113) was consistent with Resource Enhancement management category. At the time the native canopy cover (Melaleuca sp. and Eucalyptus rudis) was determined to be more than 10% of the area of vegetation, which is one indicator that the wetland function and value was consistent with a management category of Resource Enhancement (Hill et al 1996). This Resource Enhancement management category portion excluded the area of Japanese Pepper infestation. I understand that the current request has resulted from the change in local government zoning from Urban to Light Industrial with the intension of developing the site for hard stand storage of machinery. DBCA has reviewed the current available information and a desktop analysis has been conducted and the evaluation criteria have been scored in accordance with A methodology for the evaluation of wetlands on the Swan Coastal Plain, Western Australia (Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions 2017). The following assessment of the request is provided. Wetland UFI 15778 is currently identified in the dataset as Sumpland wetland as part of the Mungala (B/P.2) consanguineous wetland suite with Resource Potential management category. There remains 12.6% of wetlands within this suite which are of conservation management category, and 29% of these are sumplands (DBCA, 2017). The Department wetland mapping review 2017 has identified the wetland portion as having ‘lower value’. The neighbouring property has excavated part of this system which has likely changed the natural hydrology, combined with clearing and weed, sediment and nutrient impacts the wetland system and vegetation condition is degraded. The flora survey undertaken in 2009 by ENV Australia and reviewed in 2010 by Mattiske Consulting Pty Ltd, and recent assessment by PVG Environmental 2018 confirms there remains a native canopy cover of Melaleuca sp. and Ecaluptus rudis with smaller understorey species on the north eastern side including Astartea affinis, Hypocalymma angustifolium, Juncus pallidus and Dielsia stenostachya. Although the current condition of the wetland provides limited habitat value with its assortment of weeds there were two distinct frog calls recorded as part of the PGV

Environmental report, 2018. Although the site appears generally degraded, it should be noted that in the absence of a comprehensive flora and fauna survey this initial assessment may be subjective. The report noted that it is likely to provide intermittent refuge for local reptile and water bird species. The area of wetland UFI 15778 within Lot 200 supports habitat types including large trees with 95% canopy cover (potentially hollows) and some native wetland understorey species. The entire area has heavy to moderate invasive weeds including Japanese Pepper and two declared weed species (Arum Lilly & Narrow Leaf Cotton bush). Intensive management, including weed control and revegetation would be required to improve the habitat values. The wetland is surrounded by development and semi-rural land with the closest ecological link (Perth Metro Region) 1.1km to the west. The proponent is advised to consider wetland habitat, water bird usage and endeavour to maintain the natural hydrology of the site with any future land use planning. In this instance the wetlands section concurs with PGV Environmental that the wetland is degraded to completed degraded condition and should be assigned a management category of Multiple Use. Chapter B4 of the Environmental Protection Authority Guidance Statement 33 “urges, in the case of Multiple Use wetlands, that all reasonable measures are taken to retain the wetlands hydrological functions (including on-site water infiltration and flood detention) and where possible, other wetland functions.” (EPA 2008). Outcome The evaluation process in the draft Methodology for the evaluation of wetlands on the Swan Coastal Plain, Western Australia (Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions 2017) indicates that the part of wetland UFI 15778 within Lot 200 Kalamunda Rd, High Wycombe meets the criteria for assignment as Multiple Use category (Figure 2). The dataset will be updated and revised wetland mapping will be available via Landgate’s public map viewer ‘Locate’ when the next version of the dataset is publicly released. Please contact Heidi Bucktin on 9219 8716 if you require further information on this matter. Yours sincerely

Dr Michael Coote Principal Coordinator Wetlands Conservation Program 9 July 2018 References: EPA, 2008, Environmental Guidance for Planning and Development, Environmental Protection Authority, Perth. DBCA, 2017, A methodology for the evaluation of wetlands on the Swan Coastal Plain, Western Australia, Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, Perth. Hill, A.L., Semeniuk, C.A., Semeniuk, V., Del Marco, A 1996, Wetlands of the Swan Coastal Plain Volume 2b; Wetland mapping, Classification and Evaluation, Wetland Atlas. Water and Rivers Commission, Perth.

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Biodiversity and Conservation Science – Wetlands Conservation Program

Locked Bag 104, Bentley Delivery Centre, Western Australia 6983 dbca.wa.gov.au

Figure 1. Wetland UFI 15778, Lot 200 Kalamunda Rd, High Wycombe – current wetland mapping.

Figure 2. Wetland UFI 15778, Lot 200 Kalamunda Rd, High Wycombe – revised wetland mapping.