Threatened species & ecological communities

Draft preliminary description of the Long Lowland Floodplain Rivers of the Macleay/MacPherson Overlap Ecological Community

Nomination for listing an ecological community as threatened under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act)
December 2011

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For comment

Background information

About the nomination and draft preliminary description

A nomination was received to list the “Riffle/Pool/Sandbank Community of the Mary River (Queensland) floodplain” as a threatened ecological community, in the category of vulnerable, under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.

Following an investigation into the broader national extent of such an ecological community, specifically in relation to all sub tropical and temperate rivers flowing into the Pacific ocean; the item ‘Riffle Pool Bar River Community of the South East Queensland Bioregion’ was placed on the 2009 Finalised Priority Assessment List (FPAL) for assessment as a potentially threatened ecological community under the EPBC Act.

Guided by an expert technical workshop a preliminary description of the ecological community has been drafted, to encompass the assemblage of native fauna and flora within perennial, freshwater, main floodplain reaches of long river systems within a defined area: The ‘Long Lowland Floodplain Rivers of the Macleay/MacPherson Overlap’ ecological community. This better reflects its likely national context, distribution, and the importance of connectivity to this aquatic ecological community. The area of the ecological community, broadly defined by the Macleay/MacPherson Overlap, is considered an important transitional area, in an evolutionary context, between temperate and tropical fauna, resulting in a region of increased biodiversity with a strong endemic component.

Invitation to comment

The Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities (the Department) on behalf of the Threatened Species Scientific Committee (the Committee) is seeking and welcomes comments on a draft preliminary description of this aquatic ecological community as per regulations of the EPBC Act.

Although the original nomination has been provided for information, the name and description of the ecological community has been modified from that in the nomination to better reflect the likely national context and distribution of the national ecological community. Therefore, comments on the ecological community definition and national context should focus on the draft preliminary description; and on its eligibility for national listing in the category of ‘vulnerable’, or in a higher category (i.e. ‘endangered’ or ‘critically endangered’) under the EPBC Act and reasons supporting those views.

A description of the ecological community and the comments received from this public consultation are important in developing a full listing advice and associated conservation advice, which are required as per the regulations under the EPBC Act. These assessments will be used by the Committee to advise the Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities on whether or not to amend the list of threatened ecological communities under the EPBC Act.

If this ecological community is listed under the EPBC Act, actions which are likely to have a significant impact on the threatened ecological community will need to be referred. However, it is important for consultees to be aware that pre-existing land uses (e.g. agriculture), man-made infrastructure, and water infrastructure operations are unlikely to be affected due to ‘prior authorisation’ and ‘continuous use’ exemptions under the EPBC Act (i.e. Section 43A and 43B).

The public comment period closes on Thursday 9th February 2012.

If you wish to comment, please send your comments quoting the ecological community name to:

Email: epbc.nominations@environment.gov.au

Mail:
Ecological Community Section
Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities
GPO Box 787
Canberra ACT 2601

Fax: (02) 6274 1600

Please note

The nomination was prepared and submitted by an independent third party whose identity is confidential. Confidential parts of this nomination, such as the names of individuals who provided unpublished information and sensitive location information, have been removed.

The views expressed within the nomination do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Australian Government or the Committee. The Australian Government and the Committee do not accept responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of the contents of the nomination.

See also

EPBC Act lists

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