Gundaroo residential subdivision

Mid 2018, Capital Ecology was engaged to prepare a Biodiversity Development Assessment Report (BDAR) for a fifty lot subdivision of a 63 ha property on the northern side of Gundaroo. Our investigations for the BDAR identified and assessed the biodiversity values of the subject land by applying the new NSW Biodiversity Assessment Method (BAM). In addition to the subdivision, the proposed development aims to construct a sewerage treatment plant and associated treated effluent irrigation, to service the subdivision and the wider Gundaroo community.

Capital Ecology’s BAM vegetation mapping and accompanying flora and fauna surveys found that a total of 7.3 ha of low quality native vegetation will be directly impacted by the proposed development. Patches of the exotic noxious weed Chilean Needle Grass Nassella neesiana were also identified as potential habitat for the critically endangered Golden Sun Moth Synemon plana (GSM). A novel survey method was applied to search for GSM larvae, this involved using a mini excavator to remove tussocks of Chilean Needle Grass, with the tussocks placed over a large sieve and the roots inspected for larvae. No GSM larvae were found during the survey. Additionally, none of the subject land was found to support or to be of potential significance to any other threatened flora or fauna species. 

The assessment conducted by Capital Ecology found that the proposed development will not adversely impact any significant biodiversity values. As such, the proposed development will not generate an offset obligation under the NSW Biodiversity Offsets Scheme.