Friends of Grasslands
supporting native grassy ecosystems
PO Box 987
Civic Square ACT 2608
Phone: 02 62.. ....
Referral Business Entry Point, EIA Policy Section (EPBC Act)
Approvals and Wildlife Division
Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities
GPO Box 787
Canberra ACT 2601
email:
epbc.referrals@environment.gov.au
Dear Sir/Madam
Upgrade to 132kv transmission line Theodore to Gilmore
ACT Reference number: 2012/6443
FOG is a community group dedicated to the conservation of indigenous grassy ecosystems in south-eastern Australia. FOG advocates, educates and advises on matters to do with the conservation of grassy ecosystems, and carries out surveys and other on-ground work. FOG is based in Canberra and its members include professional scientists, landowners, land managers and interested members of the public.
In responding to this request for public submissions, FOG notes that there will be no impact on endangered box-gum woodland outside the easement area, and that mitigation in the sensitive areas will include a Construction Environmental Management Plan, implementation of a Pink Tail Worm Lizard Management Plan as prepared by Biosis, and relocation by an ecologist of any directly threatened Pink Tailed Worm Lizards. Acknowledging the necessary nature of the proposed upgrade, FOG supports these measures. FOG was pleased in the Referral by the detail of ACTEWAGL Distribution's actions in environmental assessment, problem definition and clear drafting of protection and management measures.
One question FOG has is whether it would be possible, when the upgrade is completed, for a report to be provided (with some photos) of what occurred and what the results were. Examples of useful information is if Pink Tailed Worm Lizards were found, where they were relocated to, what happened to rocks, any weed control occurring, and how long weed control will occur for. Such a report would assist with assessing other similar actions and give community groups such as FOG data about the levels of success with direct actions such as Pink Tail Worm Lizard capture and local release.
Sincerely yours
John Fitz Gerald
President
10 July 2012