habitat for Breeding habitat and thus TEC: Subtropical and Community (TEC) under the EPBC Act, fish and (e.g. fish) Temperate Coastal Saltmarsh is not and it’s known distribution includes the benthic expected to be present within the southern and eastern coasts of communities operational area. Australia. Ecological community consists mainly of salt-tolerant vegetation (halophytes) including: grasses, herbs, sedges, rushes and shrubs (TSSC, 2013a). TEC environments are much more common in northern Australia (e.g. Queensland), compared to the temperate and southern coasts (i.e. New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania) (Boon et al. 2011). Littoral Rainforest and provides habitat - Although identified by the matters of The Rainforest and Coastal ‘Littoral for flora and Rainforest and coastal vine NES search as having the potential to Vine Thickets of Eastern Australia’ is fauna, Coastal Vine thickets be present, the operational area does listed as a critically endangered TEC coastal buffer Thickets of not include the onshore environment under the EPBC Act. The ecological against erosion and thus this is not expected to be community is a complex of rainforest Eastern Australia present within the operational area. and coastal vine thickets on the east coast of Australia, including the area from Cape York Peninsula to the Gippsland Lakes in Victoria. Soft Sediment Predominantly Key habitat (e.g. The operational area is located on the Unvegetated soft sediments are a benthic unvegetated soft flat outer shelf plain of the Twofold widespread habitat in both intertidal invertebrates) sediment Shelf and inshore soft sediment habitat. and subtidal areas, particularly in areas substrates The benthic habitat within the beyond the photic zone. The Gippsland operational area is expected to include Basin is composed of a series of large predominantly sandy substrate with sediment flats, interspersed with small
habitat for fish and benthic communities Breeding habitat (e.g. fish) and thus TEC: Subtropical and Temperate Coastal Saltmarsh is not expected to be present within the operational area. Community (TEC) under the EPBC Act, and it’s known distribution includes the southern and eastern coasts of Australia. Ecological community consists mainly of salt-tolerant vegetation (halophytes) including: grasses, herbs, sedges, rushes and shrubs (TSSC, 2013a). TEC environments are much more common in northern Australia (e.g. Queensland), compared to the temperate and southern coasts (i.e. New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania) (Boon et al. 2011). Littoral Rainforest and Coastal Vine Thickets of Eastern Australia Rainforest and coastal vine thickets provides habitat for flora and fauna, coastal buffer against erosion - Although identified by the matters of NES search as having the potential to be present, the operational area does not include the onshore environment and thus this is not expected to be present within the operational area. The ‘Littoral Rainforest and Coastal Vine Thickets of Eastern Australia’ is listed as a critically endangered TEC under the EPBC Act. The ecological community is a complex of rainforest and coastal vine thickets on the east coast of Australia, including the area from Cape York Peninsula to the Gippsland Lakes in Victoria. Soft Sediment Predominantly unvegetated soft sediment substrates Key habitat (e.g. benthic invertebrates) The operational area is located on the flat outer shelf plain of the Twofold Shelf and inshore soft sediment habitat. The benthic habitat within the operational area is expected to include predominantly sandy substrate with Unvegetated soft sediments are a widespread habitat in both intertidal and subtidal areas, particularly in areas beyond the photic zone. The Gippsland Basin is composed of a series of large sediment flats, interspersed with small