Tom Holden
Senior Policy Officer - Biodiversity
Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services
Department of Sustainability and Environment
Level 2, 8 Nicholson Street,
East Melbourne, VIC 3002
5th August 2011
Our ref: 3131
Dear Tom,
RE: Important Sites for Conservation within Melbourne’s Growth Areas.
This letter report is written with regard to the identification and provision of
information relating to a number of important sites for conservation within four urban
growth areas of Melbourne, Victoria. The information provided is intended to assist
the Department of Sustainability and Environment to continue the implementation of
the ‘Delivering Melbourne’s newest sustainable communities’ program report.
The four growth areas include, Melbourne West, Melbourne North-west, Melbourne
North and Melbourne South (Figures 1a–d). Ecology and Heritage Partners Pty Ltd
(EHP) have identified several sites of conservation significance within two of the four
growth areas. Individual sites were selected as they were either known to support
threatened species or ecological communities, or the sites were considered as likely to
support important populations of threatened species or important areas of ecological
communities. A brief description of information relating to each of these sites is
outlined below.
MELBOURNE WEST

Ravenhall – Known conservation values
o Plains Grassland (PG)/Natural Temperate Grassland of the Victorian
Volcanic Plain (NTGVVP) and Plains Grassy Wetland/ Lowland
Seasonal Wetlands of South-eastern Australia;
o Presence of Arching Flax-lily (AFL), Rye Beetle Grass and Paleflowered Cranes-bill;
o Potential Striped Legless Lizard (SLL), Golden Sun Moth (GSM) and
Spiny Rice-flower (SRF) habitat;
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o Adjacent to BioSite: Boral Quarry Deer Park (Grass PPME006), which
is of state significance and contains SRF and high quality grassland;
o Adjacent to BioSite: Deer Park Rail Reserve (#4566), which is of
national significance and has previous records for Large-fruited
Groundsel (LFG) and Austral Trefoil (AT), though is now reported to
be in poor condition.
This site is considered as important as it supports significant populations of
multiple threatened species and any proposed disturbance to its habitat values is
likely to trigger a requirement for retention under the EPBC Act.

Ravenhall Grasslands – Predicted conservation values
o Likely to support NTGVVP;
o SRF Translocation Site.
This site is considered important as it is predicted to contain a nationally
significant ecological vegetation community and may provide a suitable
translocation for the nationally significant SRF.

Clarkes Road/Western Highway – Known conservation values
o Known population of GSM, Small Golden Moths orchid (largest
known population), Fat-tailed Dunnart (FTD), SLL, Growling Grass
Frog (GGF) and SRF;
o Intersects BioSites 4205, 4566, 4609, 3563 and 3567.
This site is considered as important as it supports significant populations of
multiple threatened species and any proposed disturbance to its habitat values is
likely to trigger a requirement for retention under the EPBC Act. The close
association of the site to adjacent BioSites also enables greater habitat
connectivity throughout the greater landscape.

Rockbank Rail Reserve – Both predicted and known conservation values
o NTGVVP and Plains Grassland;
o Populations of SLL, SRF and Arching Flax-lily (AFL).
This site is considered as important as it supports significant populations of
multiple threatened species and any proposed disturbance to its habitat values is
likely to trigger a requirement for retention under the EPBC Act.

Area adjacent to the Werribee Rail Corridor – Potential values
o Site adjacent to large population of SRF (over 2500 individual
records), which is one of the largest populations detected in the state.
o Known occurrence of Large-fruited Groundsel and records of Button
Wrinklewort within BioSite 1265.
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Although species diversity is limited, this site is considered as important as it is
immediately adjacent to one of the largest and most significant populations of
SRF in terms of the genetic diversity for the species.
Additional information was also requested in relation to the working draft of
Melbourne’s West Planning Zones for:
 Wetland Sites 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9:
o Wetland Site 5 is known to regularly support migratory shorebirds,
such as Latham’s Snipe and Growling Grass Frog was heard by EHP
zoologists during the last breeding season. This site was also
identified as a ‘priority one’ site in the sub-regional strategy for the
area.
o No additional information from EHP is available for Wetland Sites 6,
7, 8 and 9.
This site is considered as important as it supports significant populations of multiple
threatened species and any proposed disturbance to its habitat values is likely to
trigger a requirement for retention under the EPBC Act.

Area diagonally adjacent to Site 2 – Taylors Road – Known conservation
values
o This site is known to contain Plains Grassland/NTGVVP (see
additional Figure Taylors Road).
Although species diversity may be limited, this site is considered as important as it
contains a nationally significant ecological vegetation community.

Site 12 and adjacent land – Known conservation values
o See information relating to Ravenhall above and also refer to
additional Figures for Ravenhall.
MELBOURNE NORTH
 Merri Creek Corridor – Known conservation values
o Grassland Earless Dragon (GED), GSM, GGF and SLL have all been
recorded along the Merri Creek Corridor;
o Intersects BioSites 3610, 5052 and 4855.
This site is considered as important as it supports significant populations of multiple
threatened species and any proposed disturbance to its habitat value is likely to
trigger a requirement for retention under the EPBC Act.
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
Craigieburn Grasslands – Known conservation values
o Known populations of GSM, GGF, FTD, Plains Wanderer (PW),
Matted Flax-lily (MFL) and River Swamp Wallaby-grass (RSWG);
o Intersects with BioSite 3619.
This site is considered as important as it supports significant populations of multiple
threatened species and any proposed disturbance to its habitat value is likely to
trigger a requirement for retention under the EPBC Act.

Edgars Creek Headwaters – Known conservation values
o Adjacent to Craigieburn Grasslands;
o Listed as a proposed conservation reserve;
o Known populations of GSM, FTD, SLL and MFL;
o Intersects with BioSite 4857.
This site is considered as important as it supports significant populations of multiple
threatened species and any proposed disturbance to its habitat value is likely to
trigger a requirement for retention under the EPBC Act.

North of Mount Ridley Nature Conservation Reserve – Predicted values
o Potential MFL, Pale Swamp Everlasting, Southern Toadlet (ST) and
GSM;
o Known area of Grassy Eucalypt Woodland of the Victorian Volcanic
Plain (GEWVVP);
o Proposed ESO Area.
This site is likely to be considered as important as it may support significant
populations of multiple threatened species and any proposed disturbance to its
habitat value is likely to trigger a requirement for retention under the EPBC Act.

Kalkallo Creek between Donnybrook and Gunns Gully Road – Known
conservation values
o Known populations of GSM, GGF and MFL.
This site is considered as important as it supports significant populations of multiple
threatened species and any proposed disturbance to its habitat value is likely to
trigger a requirement for retention under the EPBC Act.
Additional information was also requested in relation to the working draft of
Melbourne’s North Planning Zones for:
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
Areas south of Site 15 (BioSite 3610)– Predicted conservation values
o This site is likely to contain GSM, GGF, MFL, NTGVVP, GEWVVP
(EVCs Creekline Grassy Woodland, Stony Knoll Shrubland, Plains
Grassy Woodland), Lowland Seasonal Wetlands of South-eastern
Australia, numerous flora VROT’s and many Very Large Old River
Red Gum and Manna Gum habitat trees.
This site is likely to be considered as important as it may support significant
populations of multiple threatened species and any proposed disturbance to its
habitat value is likely to trigger a requirement for retention under the EPBC Act.

Area north of Beveridge Road, Melbourne – Sydney railway line– Known
conservation values
o BioSite 5130 – This site is known to contain good condition NTGVVP
and a MFL population and may contain a population of either Golden
Sun Moths or Small Golden Moths orchids – though the orchid
population requires confirmation on presence/absence and also
determination of species;
o O’Hearns swamp (BioSite 4854) is known to contain Lowland
Seasonal Wetlands of South-eastern Australia, with EPBC Act listed
Swamp Fireweed and Swamp Everlasting, along with GGF, SLL and
variety of VROT flora.
This site is considered as important as it supports significant populations of
multiple threatened species and any proposed disturbance to its habitat value is
likely to trigger a requirement for retention under the EPBC Act.
No areas of interest were flagged in the North West or the South East areas of the
extension.
We hope this information is of assistance. Please do not hesitate to contact Ecology
and Heritage Partners Pty Ltd if you have any questions or require additional
information.
Yours sincerely,
Matt Hatton
Consultant Botanist – Ecology and Heritage Partners Pty Ltd
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