Referrals Gateway
Environment Assessment Branch
Department of the Environment
GPO Box 787
Canberra ACT 2601
email: epbc.referrals@environment.gov.au

 

Dear Sir/Madam

Snowy 2.0 segment factory

Referral no 2019/8481

Friends of Grasslands (FOG) is a community group dedicated to the conservation of natural temperate 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 relation to the proposed Snowy 2.0 segment factory, FOG notes that the proposed site avoids much of the remaining Natural Temperate Grassland (NTG) as possible, and that the likely maximum impact is on about 0.7ha of low quality NTG.

FOG is not specifically aware of this site. However, FOG has undertaken much work on the grasslands at the nearby Old Cooma Common and threatened species Monaro Golden Daisy. This work over 20 years has ensured that the NTG at the reserve has been preserved – otherwise it would likely be dominated by ALG and other woody and herbaceous weeds. More recently it received a three year grant, now completed, to protect nearby sites, the reserve adjoining Old Cooma Common and the Rifle Range. These have also aimed to protect NTG and the Monaro Golden Daisy.

If the impact is considered sufficient to require offsets, we would suggest that protection and enhancement of larger NTG patches in the area would be worth investigating as a way to ensure no net loss of critically endangered NTG.

Yours sincerely

 

Geoff Robertson
President

15 July 2019