Have the rare or endangered plant species on the corridor been wiped out by the vegetation clearing that took place prior to construction?
No. In accordance with environmental management documents and the project planning approvals, several programs have been put in place in relation to flora species on the corridor. Threatened, rare and regionally significant species within the footprint of the highway upgrade were identified by an ecologist and were translocated by the RTA, in conjunction with the Department of Environment and Conservation (National Parks and Wildlife Services) prior to any clearing commencing. They are currently being cared for in a suitable location that has been acquired for a compensatory habitat program. Native seed collection is also underway for use in the revegetation program as the RTA has found that native seed collected on site has a better success rate in revegetation than the same species where seed has been collected from another area.
