Much of the Peninsula Link road reservation has been cleared for agricultural use or urban development with key areas across the alignment supporting threatened flora and fauna species.  The Pines Flora and Fauna Reserve (The Pines) is a biosite of state significance and offers 220 hectares of habitat for a range of  flora and fauna species.
One threatened flora species and two nationally listed  fauna species have been identified from The Pines. 

• River Swamp Wallaby Grass
• Southern Brown Bandicoot
• Dwarf Galaxias one of Eastern Australia’s native fish species.

One Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1998 listed species, Purple Blown-grass, has been recorded from the Plains Grassy Wetland Complex, at the Eastlink Interchange.

River Swamp Wallaby grass

The River Swamp Wallaby grass is an aquatic plant with flowering stems and was identified around the Tamarisk Creek wetland area within The Pines.  The project has sought to retain a substantial area containing this species and will only disturb a small area (0.04ha) during works. Seed collection from the species will be undertaken and the wetland area will be retained during works and fenced off as a ‘no-go’ zone. The area will be monitored and all personnel and vehicles restricted from accessing the wetland site. 

To ensure the longevity and health of the River Swamp Wallaby Grass, the flow of water in and out of the Tamarisk Creek wetland area will be maintained and monitored during construction.  The realignment of Tamarisk Creek will result in increased water flows into the wetland area and improve the long-term habitat for the species.

Dwarf Galaxias

The Dwarf Galaxias is small freshwater fish, native to eastern Australia.  A number of creeks and waterways supporting populations of Dwarf Galaxias are crossed by the Peninsula Link alignment.  Local populations of Dwarf Galaxias are known from Balcombe, Devilbend and Tuerong Creeks.  Design and future construction of the Devilbend and Tuerong Creek waterway crossings will ensure that fish passage is maintained and necessary controls will be implemented to ensure no disturbance to the population or habitat . 

In addition the Project will implement the following measures to protect and enhance habitat for the Dwarf Galaxias

• Regular pre-construction and construction monitoring of the species throughout the project by dedicated aquatic  ecologist.
• The creation and enhancement of habitats for Dwarf Galaxias within and adjacent to Tamarisk Creek.
• Use of water sensitive road design to minimise alterations to waterway flows, maintain and improve water quality.
• Revegetation of areas within the immediate vicinity of waterway crossings.
• Designing treatment and retention ponds in a manner which may provide new habitat.
• Designing waterway crossings to allow for unimpeded fish crossings.

Southern Brown Bandicoot

‘The Pines’ is home to the Southern Brown Bandicoot.  This ground-dwelling marsupial is listed as ‘near threatened’ in Victoria and the project is committed to the ongoing survival of the Southern Brown Bandicoot in The Pines. Numerous targeted surveys have been undertaken and a site specific Bandicoot Management Plan has been prepared to ensure the necessary controls and management measures are implemented to ensure the species protection during vegetation clearing and construction.

The following measures will be undertaken to protect the Southern Brown Bandicoot.

• Project Zoologist and Wildlife Carers will undertake walk-through’s to be conducted prior to any vegetation clearing. An approved program of trapping and monitoring will occur to ensure no bandicoots are present in the area during vegetation clearing
• Fauna exclusion fencing will be erected to prevent fauna species from entering the project alignment and construction area.
• Areas of vegetation to be retained will be fenced as ‘no go zones’
• Temporary fauna connectivity points installed at appropriate intervals through The Pines to allow for the passage of the Southern Brown Bandicoot and other fauna species during works.

 Information

Protected species information sheet