CAPABILITY STATEMENT

Ecological Consultancy

› Assessment › Management› Monitoring

www.australianecosystems.com.au

Australian Ecosystems recognises the importance of collecting and delivering data to clients in an efficient and accurate manner, which is easy to understand, based on proven science and current legislation.

OUR OBJECTIVE

Australian Ecosystems is committed to forming cooperative relationships with our clients. We strive to complete projects on time and within agreed budgets, providing services based on proven science and in language that is easy to understand.

Projects undertaken by Australian Ecosystems are enhanced by our holistic understanding of natural ecosystems and our experience in project management, safety and quality assurance.

OUR EXPERIENCE

For almost 20 years, Australian Ecosystems has undertaken projects of all sizes, from state-wide ecological monitoring projects to property flora and fauna assessments, we have the ability to deliver projects of all scales.

Our ecologists are experienced and qualified in a range of ecological and environmental disciplines. We are able to provide clients with advice, reports or plans to meet all project requirements.

Australian Ecosystems are able to design, resource and complete projects of all scales following quality assurance and safety standards.

OUR SERVICES

Australian Ecosystems consultancy offers a range of services in ecological assessment, management and monitoring:

• Ecological Research and Monitoring

• Environmental Legislation Advice and Reporting

• Flora and Fauna Assessments

• Habitat Hectare and Index of Wetland Condition Assessments

• Natural Area Management and Restoration

• Offset Plans

• Revegetation Plans and Landscape Advice

• Targeted Threatened Species Surveys

• Vegetation and Habitat Mapping

• Weed and Pest Animal Mapping

• Wetland Monitoring and Management

OUR CLIENTS

Australian Ecosystems consultancy works to exceed expectations with a variety of industries and clients:

• Catchment Management Authorities

• Commercial and Residential Developers

• Engineering Consultants

• Environment NGO’s

• Land Owners and Managers

• Landscape Architects

• Local Councils

• Research Bodies

• State Government Departments

• Town Planners

• Utility Managers

North Central

Mallee

Wimmera

East Gippsland

West Gippsland

Port Phillip &Westernport

Goulburn Broken

Glenelg Hopkins

Corangamite

North East

specialists in Ecological Assessment, Management and Monitoring, with experience in all regions of south east Australia

Client Consultation and Project Design

Data Acquisition, Literature Reviews, Field Work, Research

Data Analysis, Report and Mapping Preparation

Report Submission and Client Feedback

Project Implementation through company integration

Vertically Integrated Ecological Services

Australian Ecosystems is uniquely structured to be able to offer continuity of ecological services from project inception to completion.

The Consultancy division is fully integrated with Australian Ecosystems services in revegetation, natural area maintenance, indigenous nursery and landscape construction and supported by administrative systems in quality assurance, OHS and environmental sustainability.

The Consultancy division works collaboratively on projects including implementation of offset plans, salvage and translocation of threatened species, revegetation plans, wetland function assessments, natural area management and monitoring.

Where Do Ecological Assessments Fit Into My Project Lifecycle?

Ecological assessment and monitoring provides valuable data and understanding to complement all stages of a project lifecycle. Australian Ecosystems have experience in assessing and managing projects to assist clients in meeting legislative requirements, environmental planning for developments and ensuring revegetation and offset projects meet regulatory objectives.

Through the life cycle of a project, Australian Ecosystems ensures open communication, updating clients on the project status, results and recommendations. This engagement and cooperative approach reduces unexpected delays and costs to projects.

Revegetation

Planting of wetland and terrestrial

areas

Consultancy

Ecological Assessment, Management

and Monitoring

Nursery

Propagation and supply

of indigenous plants

Maintenance

Management of natural areas and

revegetation projects

Project Life Cycle

Site Construction

Construction of environmental

assets and infrastructure

Vegetation, Golden Sun Moth and Striped Legless Lizard Monitoring, western Victoria

Australian Ecosystems was engaged by Glenelg Hopkins CMA to conduct vegetation surveys on private property in western Victoria as part of a conservation grants program. The Consultancy team provided

advice to landowners on the management of Grasslands and Grassy Woodlands to enhance vegetation condition and fauna habitat. Australian Ecosystems have since monitored the vegetation, along with Golden Sun Moth and Striped Legless Lizard populations to determine changes to populations from beneficial management.

Bird Surveys of Lower Latrobe River Wetlands

Australian Ecosystems have been engaged to undertake bird abundance and population surveys at Heart Morass and Sale Common for West Gippsland CMA on three consecutive surveys. The diversity, abundance and distribution of bird species was recorded within distinct habitat types, with a focus on wetland

habitats. Australian Ecosystems have provided the CMA with statistical analysis of changes to assemblage and abundance to inform and guide understanding of how birds use the wetland. The surveys and reports have been used to assist the wetland management with actions such as environmental watering and vegetation restoration.

PROJECT EXPERIENCE

PROJECT EXPERIENCE

Mallee HawkEye Research Project: Porcupine Grass growth stages surveys

Australian Ecosystems undertook the collection of floristic, vegetation structure and soil data from 136 sites in the Mallee National Parks. Data collected was used by researches in determining the timing of Triodia scariosa

Porcupine Grass senescence following fire and if soil type or water table levels influence the rate of senescence. The results will be used to inform park managers on fire intervals and better plan fires to minimise effects on threatened fauna species which inhabit Porcupine Grass vegetation communities.

Spiny Rice-flower, survey and management

Australian Ecosystems have worked with Boral Quarries in western Melbourne for several years to survey and manage Plains Grasslands on their

property. Associated with the grassland management has been the preparation of management plans, targeted surveys, propagation of plants, and the salvage and translocation of Pimelea spinescens subsp. spinescens Spiny Rice-flower.

PROJECT EXPERIENCE

Habitat Hectare Assessments and Weed Surveys for Sites of Biodiversity Significance

Australian Ecosystems complet-ed the assessment of 45 Sites of Biodiversity Significance in the Melbourne region including five major reservoir catchments. Assessing the vegetation condition

using the Habitat Hectare and Index of Wetland Condition methods against a baseline project undertak-en by Australian Ecosystems in 2010. The team provided a report to Melbourne Water comparing each sites vegetation condition, threats and weed cover, as well as vegetation management recommendations.

Wetland Condition Assessment, Monitoring and Management Plans

Australian Ecosystems have 20 years’ experience of wetland planning, revegetation and management, built on our knowledge of vegetation communities, species and function. Australian Ecosystems

has the ability to grow, supply, install and manage a large and diverse range of indigenous wetland plants on projects. Recent wetland projects Australian Ecosystems consultancy have completed include management plans, function assessments, fauna monitoring and Index of Wetland Condition Assessments.

PollackSwamp

4

kilometres

0 2

MGA Zone 55 (GDA 94)

Koondrook-Perricoota Forest

Gunbower ForestVegetation Monitoring Sites

Water Regime Classes

Legend

Understorey quadrat (est. 2011)

Understorey quadrat (est. 2010)

Wetland transect (est. 2011)

Wetland transect (est. 2010)

Understorey quadrat (est. 2005)

Wetland transect (est. 2005)

Grey Box Woodland

Black Box Woodland

Red Gum FTU

Red Gum FDU

Semi-permanent Wetlands

Permanent Wetlands

Waterways and waterbodies

Roads

Figure 8: Permanent GKP sentinel wetlandtransect and understorey quadrat sitelocations (north-west)

Project: Sentinel wetland and understorey surveys

Gunbower Koondrook - Perricoota Forest autumn 2011

Client: North Central Catchment Management Authority

Map prepared by Karen Jolly 20th July 2011

Water Regime Class Mapping courtesy of NCCMA and FNSW

While Australian Ecosystems (AE) has taken care to ensure theaccuracy of this product, AE makes no representations orwarranties about its accuracy, completeness or suitability for anyparticular purpose. AE cannot accept liability of any kind for anyexpenses, losses, damages and/or costs which are or may beincurred as a result of this product being innacurate, incompleteor unsuitable in any way and for any reason.

Australian Ecosystems Pty Ltd PO Box 424 Patterson Lakes VIC 3197

Our Products & Services

› Plant Supply and Nursery

› Landscape Construction

› Revegetation, Wetlands and Raingardens

› Landscape Maintenance

› Urban Food Production

› Consultancy

Head Office

Unit 1, 5 Rocklea Drive

Port Melbourne VIC 3207

Phone: 03 9673 0300

Mobile: 0410 554 306

Email: consultancy@australianecosystems.com.au