NORTH Maclean resident Margaret Francis has been observing the ebb and flow of life at the dam near the corner of Teviot Road and Greenbank Road for decades, so it was no wonder she got in touch with Mirvac after the news of the site’s development into a housing estate.
Mirvac’s plan for up to 3300 residential homes has been in the pipeline since 2015 and includes a state primary school that will cater for up to 1000 students, a neighbourhood retail centre and a community health centre.
“This dam must be the home of turtles, fish and numerous other water dwelling animals,” Margaret, a retired teacher aide, told the Times.
“I was told by the representative from Mirvac that their intention is to drain the dam and fill it in, however, I was informed that plans were in place to see that all living creatures in the dam would be relocated.
“I can only hope that this move will not prove to be detrimental to our wildlife. We can hardly afford to lose any of our native species whether they fly, walk or swim.”
Fauna spotter catchers
The Times contacted Mirvac and asked them to address community concerns about the wildlife.
“The dewatering process for the existing agricultural dam will be undertaken in accordance with a specific dam dewatering fauna management plan, which must be prepared as a requirement of the project’s broader state government approval,” a spokesperson from Mirvac said in a statement.
“The management plan is being prepared in consultation with specialist environmental consultants and will include the mandatory use of licenced fauna spotter catchers to undertake pre-dewatering surveys, supervise the dewatering works and provide post-works audit reports on any fauna encountered, salvaged and or relocated.”
According to Mirvac, a licensed spotter catcher must retain state government permits, including a scientific purposes permit and a rehabilitation permit from the Department of Environment and Heritage Protection.
An animal ethics permit from the Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation is required under the Animal Care and Protection Act 2001 to ensure the treatment of wildlife is humane.
A general fisheries permit from the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry is also required.
“As part of these permits they must report regularly, including prior to undertaking pre-clearance surveys, provide the survey results, list out the management actions and procedures to be employed, and report post-completion of the works on animals encountered, salvaged and or relocated,” the spokesperson said.
Relocation
According to Mirvac, more than 25 per cent of the 481-hectare site will be dedicated open space, including approximately 85 hectares of conservation parkland, 25 hectares of regional sports and recreation parks, and a series of neighbourhood parks.
“The regional parks will be complemented by a new wetland area of about two hectares, which will provide additional habitat for native wildlife, aesthetic amenity, passive recreation and educational opportunities while also serving a stormwater management function,” the spokesperson said.
“While development staging/sequencing is yet to be determined, the existing agricultural dam will likely be dewatered before the new wetland is established as a suitable fauna release site.
“The fauna spotter catchers will manage the relocation of fauna to suitable local release sites.”
There is no entry to Greenbank dam, which is on private property.
