Shannon Creek Project

Greenloaning has been working on the Shannon Creek Water Storage Facility project (Coffs Clarence Regional Water Supply project) since 2003, with the work encompassing a range of roles and responsibilities. As director of Greenloaning, Alison Martin has been Project Manager (on behalf of ERM Australia and then Cumberland Ecology) for the comprehensive Threatened Species, Weeds and Vertebrate Pest Monitoring Programme since its inception in 2003. This monitoring programme entailed annual or twice yearly surveys of up to six threatened plant species, two Endangered Ecological Communities (EECs), one nominated EEC, 10 threatened microbat species, the Koala, Brush-tailed Rock-wallaby, Yellow-bellied Glider and Black Bittern. Regular surveys for weeds and vertebrate pests were also required, with associated recommendations for appropriate control measures if necessary.

The Brush-tailed Rock-wallaby, an iconic Australian species and recently identified as a target species in the Commonwealth Save our Species programme, has been a key species of concern for the Shannon Creek project. The local population has been subject to a range of monitoring procedures, including faecal pellet count transects, shelter site surveys, three census surveys and more recently, IR camera monitoring. Alison recently managed an image processing trial for the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH), using camera data from the current IR camera monitoring programme for Brush-tailed Rock-wallabies.

Greenloaning has also worked extensively for the Department of Commerce on a range of baseline surveys and impact assessments for various infrastructure facilities and a comprehensive evaluation of route options for the access road. Additionally, Alison Martin was Project Ecologist for the construction stage of the project, with the Greenloaning team working extensively on pre-clearing surveys and clearing supervision for Vemco and Leighton Contractors. Ms Martin also was responsible for ongoing management advice on threatened species and communities and the preparation of comprehensive post clearing reports.