Detailed ecological surveys are undertaken to ensure all threatened plant species that could be impacted during construction are identified and measures in place to protect or where feasible translocate threatened plants. Native plants are extensively used in landscaping and revegetation works on the Pacific Highway upgrade.
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The endangered Floyd’s grass (Alexfloydia repens) was successfully translocated as part of the Pacific Highway upgrade project. This species of grass only occurs in the Bonville area, and exclusively on the banks of the three creeks that the project traverses (Bonville, Reedys and Pine Creek). Further to this Floyd’s grass in the only host plant for the caterpillar of the Knights Grass-dart butterfly (Ocybadistes knigtorum) which is also listed as endangered and occur only in the Bonville region.
During the monitoring program undertaken as part of the translocation plan all 23 patches of Floyds grass planted out had rapidly established and spread across the translocation site. After 2.5 years the Floyds grass had filled the gaps between patches and now covers the whole translocation area. Habitat restoration undertaken at the site has transformed an initial understory dominated by exotic Lantana and Broad-leaved Paspalum to a closed stand of Floyds grass.
The translocation monitoring report states that the composition of the translocated Floyds Grass stands appears to be relatively stable and resistant to invasion of exotic and native species. In addition to this, monitoring approximately one year after translocation revealed that the Knights Grass Dart Butterfly has successfully translocated at the Floyds grass site. This is an exceptional outcome as not only has the extent of this endangered species increased as a direct result of the translocation exercise, it now also helps support another endangered fauna species the Knights Grass-Dart Butterfly.
