Focal species: their requirements and proposed actions
- creating one or more instream or offline drought refuge pools is feasible. (this investigation could be combined with the assessment of navigability outlined above).
- there is potential to convert hardened creek edges (ie rock, concrete) to stable earthen banks
- there is potential to widen and/or deepen the creek channel
- there is potential to add rock weirs to create a series of pools and riffles without negative implications for flows and flood management
- instream habitat is poor, and habitat elements (stony substrates, aquatic vegetation, large woody debris) could be added
- the addition of creek side riparian vegetation is needed
- identifies opportunities to slow flows, increase soil infiltration and improve quality of stormwater runoff
- estimates the number, size, location and type of stormwater treatments needed to restore near natural flows and water quality in the creek:
- at property scale (eg rainwater tanks, rain gardens)
- at street scale (eg water sensitive urban design (WSUD) streets)
- at sub-catchment scale, eg:
- stormwater harvesting (capture, treatment and reuse of stormwater where there is a suitably sized catchment above and a nearby suitable demand for non-potable water (eg sportsfield irrigation). Yarra Valley Grammar? Mullum Mullum Reserve? Ainslie Park? East Ringwood Reserve?)
- stormwater detention that can slow flows and enable more water to soak into the soil (Lipscombe Park? Maroondah Highway Restricted Retail Precinct?)
- sediment traps and treatment wetlands that both remove pollutants and provide/protect wetland habitat (Peter Vergers Reserve? Ringwood Lake?)
Blotched Bluetongue Lizard
Tiliqua nigrolutea
Habitat requirements
Like many lizards, this species prefers relatively open bushland with good solar access and lots of ground cover such as tussocky grasses or leaf litter and large rocks and logs to shelter under. They eat a variety of plants, especially those with fleshy fruits and small, slow-moving invertebrates including slugs and snails.
Bluetongues, particularly the young, are easy prey for suburban dogs and cats, foxes, and predatory birds like kookaburras. They can also be poisoned by eating slugs and snails that have consumed snail bait.
Actions to meet the needs of the Blotched Bluetongue Lizard
1.1 In locations within the biolink where there are relatively dry, open and sunny areas with minimal overhead tree canopy, establish areas of diverse understorey vegetation, particularly tussocky grasses, sedges and berry-producing species with plenty of leaf litter, scattered logs and rocks (inc small rock piles).
1.2 Aim to replicate understorey vegetation primarily associated with the EVC #127 Valley Heathy Forest
1.3 In locations where there are steep slopes that are relatively dry, open and sunny, create rocky escarpments with interspersed plantings of tussocky grasses, sedges and berry-producing species
1.4 Ensure dogs using off-lead areas (Peter Vergers Reserve and Mullum Mullum Reserve) are prevented from straying into adjacent bushland and creek areas
1.5 Require dogs to be kept on leads in all other locations within the biolink, and reinforce with proactive patrols by animal management officers
1.6 Fence all or parts of selected lizard habitat areas to exclude dogs
1.7 Encourage cats to be kept indoors at all times within the biolink or wider catchment and reinforce the dusk-to-dawn cat curfew.
1.8 Target fox control efforts around the open habitat patches.
1.9 Encourage residents within the biolink to avoid using toxic snail baits in their garden
Golden Whistler (bird)
Pachycephala pectoralis
Habitat requirements
This species likes most indigenous wooded habitat, with a preference for areas with denser foliage that provides shelter, especially in tree canopies and in taller shrubs.
They need access to a reliable supply of food in the form of insects, spiders and other small arthropods that are picked from leaves and bark mostly from the lower or middle tree level. Berries are also eaten.
Within the biolink, the quality of much of the available habitat has been degraded due primarily to environmental weed species altering the vegetation structure and/or out-competing and reducing the diversity of middle and ground storey species.
In Maroondah, they are likely to be at risk of predation from cats.
Actions to meet the needs of the Golden Whistler
2.1 In locations close to the creek itself, retain or create areas of open forest vegetation with diverse and relatively dense shrub and understorey layers, including berry producing species.
2.2 Aim to replicate forest vegetation associated with the EVCs #18 Riparian Forest and #83 Swampy Riparian Woodland, and #127 Valley Heathy Forest
2.3 Manage habitat-altering environmental weed species to restore habitat quality.
2.4 Encourage cats to be kept indoors at all times within the biolink and wider catchment
Gang Gang Cockatoo
Callocephalon fimbriatum
Habitat requirements
The Gang-gang Cockatoo is an “altitudinal migrant” meaning that during spring and summer, it is mainly found at higher altitudes where they breed in tree hollows in tall mountain forests and woodlands, with dense shrubby understoreys. There have however been some reports of them successfully breeding at lower altitudes. In autumn and winter, they will move to lower altitudes into drier, more open forests and woodlands, and may be seen by roadsides and in parks and gardens of urban areas, where they forage for food.
They mainly feed in the tree canopy on seeds of native trees and shrubs, with a preference for eucalypts and wattles. They will also eat berries, fruits (including those of introduced fruiting shrubs such as cotoneaster and hawthorn), nuts and insects and their larvae. They mainly come to the ground only to drink.
Within the biolink, the quality of much of the available habitat has been degraded due primarily to environmental weed species altering the vegetation structure and/or out-competing and reducing the diversity of middle and ground storey species. In Maroondah, they are likely to be at risk of predation from cats and foxes.
Actions to meet the needs of the Gang Gang Cockatoo
3.1 Throughout the terrestrial parts of the biolink, retain, restore or create areas of open forest and woodland vegetation, incorporating indigenous eucalypts and wattles, with a scattering of berry and cone producing shrubs.
3.2 Aim to replicate forest vegetation associated with the EVCs #18 Riparian Forest, #83 Swampy Riparian Woodland, and #127 Valley Heathy Forest
3.3 Enable access to water, for example by placing logs and branches to extend into creek or wetlands.
3.4 Manage habitat-altering environmental weed species to restore habitat quality.
3.5 Encourage cats to be kept indoors at all times within the biolink or wider catchment
3.6 Target fox control efforts around high quality habitat patches
Sword-grass Brown (butterfly)
Tisiphone abeona
Habitat requirements
Sword-grass Browns inhabit open woodlands, and swampy and wetland habitats that support Saw Sedges (Gahnia spp). The adults are assumed to feed on nectar-producing plants that occur in these habitats, whereas their caterpillars feed exclusively on the Saw Sedges, with the Red-fruit Saw-sedge (Gahnia sieberiana) being a particularly favoured species.
This Gahnia species, however has not been recorded as naturally occurring within the Mullum Mullum Creek corridor, and it is unclear if the caterpillars feed on Thatch Saw-sedge (Gahnia radula) which does occur within the biolink.
Actions to meet the needs of the Sword-grass Brown
4.1 In low-lying areas within the biolink, particularly where EVCs Swampy Woodland (EVC #937), Swampy Riparian Woodland (EVC #83), and Swamp Riparian Complex (EVC #126) are thought to have occurred, plant or stimulate growth and spread of patches of Gahnia spp, in particular Thatch Saw-sedge (G. radula), as part of restoring swampy vegetation
4.2 Encourage the incorporation of Red-fruit Saw-sedge (G. sieberiana) into habitat creation in urban gardens and selected locations within the biolink.
4.3 In locations where they are lacking or in short supply, incorporate appropriate flowering species associated with the above-mentioned EVCs to provide food for the adult butterfly - eg Sweet Bursaria (Bursaria spinosa)
Platypus
Ornithorhynchus anatinus
Habitat requirements
Platypus are semi-aquatic egg-laying mammals, and reliant on rivers, creeks and bodies of good quality freshwater. These waterways need to have relatively natural flow regimes that produce stable earthen banks, and indigenous riparian vegetation that provides shading of the water and cover near the banks.
Platypus feed mainly during the night, searching for a wide variety of mainly bottom-dwelling aquatic invertebrates (eg worms, insect larvae) in both slow-moving and rapid (riffle) parts of creeks. The presence of logs, twigs, leaf litter and roots, as well as instream cobbled or gravel substrate result in increased aquatic invertebrate fauna, and the Platypus also tends to be more abundant in areas with pool-riffle sequences.
When not foraging, the Platypus spends most of the time in its burrow in the earthen bank of the river, creek or pond. The burrow also serves as a nest for raising young. At times, individuals will use rocky crevices and stream debris as shelters, or they burrow under the roots of vegetation near the stream.
Actions to meet the needs of the Platypus
5.1 Assess the feasibility for platypus to access the full length of the creek to identify any obstacles and barriers to movement up and down the creek and recommend solutions.
5.2 Where identified as feasible, remove/replace/modify culverts and other instream barriers (eg weirs) so they are readily traversable (minimum internal diameter of 250 mm, stepped or slanted entry/exit structures (ideally < 30o), baffles and textured or uneven floor surfaces to reduce flow velocities and improve grip, vertical-slot fishways designed to enable medium-to-large fish to travel past weir walls can be utilised for the same purpose by platypus - ie with apertures at least 150 mm, water depth along the length of a fishway at least 200-300 mm.
5.3 Undertake a technical investigation to identify viable locations where:
5.4 Create refuge pool/s at one more identified viable location, based on achieving attributes of ~80m long, 500m2 surface area, 1-4m deep, steep and stable earthen banks, instream aquatic vegetation, overhanging indigenous tree and shrub vegetation, reliable volumes and quality of incoming water, little or no artificial light spill
5.5 In suitable locations close to the creek itself, retain, restore or create areas of open forest vegetation with diverse and relatively dense shrub and understorey layers following the Australian Platypus Conservancy guidelines to shade the water and provide shelter, leaf drop, bank stability, etc.
5.6 Aim to replicate forest vegetation associated with the EVCs #18 Riparian Forest and #83 Swampy Riparian Woodland
5.7 Where feasible, install numerous rock “weirs” to create series of pools and riffles along the entire length of the creek.
5.8 Gather information on the nature and extent of macroinvertebrate populations along the creek, and improve instream habitat as needed to ensure there is an ongoing food supply available
5.9 Where practical and feasible, add instream aquatic vegetation, and potentially cobbled or gravel substrate, to sections of the creek where it is noticeably absent
5.10 Manage habitat-altering environmental weed species to restore riparian habitat quality.
5.11 Avoid creating, and remove where possible, hard creek edges (rock/concrete) to create relatively stable earthen creek banks.
5.12 Undertake a specialised investigation of the wider catchments of the creek that:
c. assesses the feasibility and estimated cost of implementing the identified treatments
5.13 Based on the findings of the above, introduce planning controls in the urbanised catchment area that maximise pervious surfaces, require WSUD treatments and/or development contributions to support larger scale stormwater treatments
5.14 Liaise with the Environment Protection Authority to deliver an education program and inspection of businesses in the Maroondah Highway Restricted Retail Precinct for understanding of, adherence to, sewer connection requirements, including the effective functioning of interceptor traps, and penalise ongoing breaches accordingly (after an amnesty period that provides adequate time to rectify breaches)
5.15 Identify and document the location, maintenance responsibilities and minimum maintenance requirements of all known stormwater treatment wetlands, litter traps and gross pollutant traps, and ensure they are managed and maintained to best practice standards
5.16 Ensure dogs using off-lead areas (Peter Vergers Reserve and south-eastern oval of Mullum Mullum Reserve) are prevented from straying into adjacent bushland and creek areas
5.17 Require dogs to be kept on leads in all other locations within the biolink, and reinforce with proactive patrols by animal management officers
5.18 Fence area around refuge pools to exclude dogs (ensure does not impede high flows and is readily maintainable)
5.19 Encourage cats to be kept indoors at all times within the biolink and wider catchment
5.20 Target fox control efforts around the refuge pools
5.21 Avoid use of artificial lighting around the refuge pools
Powerful Owl
Ninox strenua
Habitat requirements
The Powerful Owl is Australia’s largest owl species, a nocturnal predator that can be found in open forests and woodlands, as well as along sheltered gullies in wet forests with dense understoreys, especially along watercourses in eastern Australia. It is an opportunistic, nocturnal hunter that preys mainly on medium to large tree-dwelling mammals, particularly the Eastern Ringtail Possum and Sugar Glider.
They roost by day, perched on a large branch in the shade of dense mid-storey or tree canopy foliage, often with the previous night’s prey held in its talons. Riparian eucalypts and Blackwoods are often used, however non-indigenous trees (pines, oaks, willows) are sometimes used, provided they have dense canopy foliage.
Actions to meet the needs of the Powerful Owl
6.1 Retain, restore and create stands of large indigenous trees to create wide (up to 50 metres) and largely continuous corridor of canopy and mid-storey foliage, incorporating a mix of eucalypts and Blackwood.
6.2 Aim to replicate forest vegetation associated with the EVCs #18 Riparian Forest and #83 Swampy Riparian Woodland
6.3 Ensure tree spacing allows for growth of wide canopies with large horizontal branches for roosting, and in the long term, hollow creation following branch drops.
6.4 Install suitably sized artificial hollows (eg nest boxes (timber or 3D printed), chainsaw hollows, salvaged tree sections with hollows (optimal dimensions - internally 70-150cm deep, 40-50cm wide, with 150-300mm wide entrance hole, mounted at least 10 metres above the ground) in a large, healthy living tree with good canopy foliage, located within existing stands of established large trees. Consideration should be given to including the ability to safely monitor use and occupation from the ground (eg internal camera)
6.5 For their prey, retain and protect hollow bearing trees, and retain and/or create stands of tall dense indigenous shrubs.
6.6 For their prey also use large-canopied indigenous tree species as street trees to improve canopy connectivity, especially over roads that cut across the biolink
6.7 Deliver an education program to discourage the use of second-generation rodenticides within the biolink.
6.8 Gradually remove large tree species considered to be weedy (eg pines and willows) in a staged manner and replace with large indigenous tree species. Prior to any removals check for current use as roosting sites.
Spotted Marsh Frog
Limnodynastes tasmaniensis
Habitat requirements
Spotted Marsh Frogs inhabit dams, roadside ditches, marshy areas, flooded grasslands, streams and ponds with grassy areas, sheltering in cracks in the ground, burrows made by other small animals, beneath logs or rocks, or in dense ground vegetation, near the edge of temporary or permanent water.
Adult frogs are ground dwelling hunters, and mostly active during the night, hunting insects, spiders and other invertebrates. Tadpoles feed in the water, mainly on algae and other plant life, and occasionally (typically dead) invertebrates.
They breed mainly during spring and autumn, but also in winter or summer after heavy rains. Eggs are laid as a foamy mass on the surface of a small temporary or permanent water body, and as the tadpoles take around three and a half months to develop into frogs, the water bodies they float their eggs on need to retain water for at least that long.
Actions to meet the needs of the Spotted Marsh Frog
7.1 In locations within the biolink where there are lower-lying or poorly drained, open and sunny areas with minimal overhead tree canopy, create small and medium sized permanent and semi-permanent habitat wetlands, ideally spaced within 500m (and no more than 1000m) of each other
7.2 Aim to have 50-100cm depth at deepest point with over 50% submerged and 20-40% floating/emergent, indigenous aquatic vegetation cover, and gently sloping edges and terracing providing a variety of water depths to support a diversity of emergent and semi-aquatic fringing wetland vegetation.
7.3 Within the surrounding 10 metres, ensure overshadowing canopy and shrubby vegetation is kept to a minimum, and provide 10-20% cover of logs and rocks.
7.4 If a wetland is also expected to provide a sediment trapping function design them to enable desilting (and draining to control Mosquitofish), with minimal disturbance to its ongoing habitat function.
7.5 Encourage the creation of frog bogs/small habitat wetlands or ponds in private residential gardens within the biolink.
7.6 Ensure dogs using off-lead areas (Peter Vergers Reserve and south-eastern oval of Mullum Mullum Reserve) are prevented from straying into adjacent bushland and creek areas
7.7 Require dogs to be kept on leads in all other locations within the biolink, and reinforce with proactive patrols by animal management officers
7.8 Fence selected habitat wetland areas to exclude dogs
7.9 Encourage cats to be kept indoors at all times within the biolink or wider catchment
7.10 Target fox control efforts around selected wetland habitat areas.