Department of Health Spring 2015 Tree Health Monitoring · · 2016-02-18The approach employed for...

Department of Health

Spring 2015 Tree Health Monitoring

Busselton Health Campus

November 2015

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Spring 2015 Tree Health Monitoring

Prepared for Department of Health

Prepared by Coffey Environments Australia Pty Ltd Suite 2, 53 Burswood Road Burswood WA 6100 Australia PO Box 4223 Victoria Park WA 6979 Australia t +61 8 9269 6200 f +61 8 9269 6299 coffey.com ABN: 65 140 765 902

November 2015

ENAUPERT04326AB_009_v1

Library Reference: EP2015/037

Quality Information

Revision History

Revision Description Date Originator Reviewer Approver

v1 Final 26/11/2015 M. Holliday N. Raymond N. Raymond

Distribution

Report Status No. of copies Format Distributed to Date

v1 1 PDF Department of Health 26/11/2015

Coffey Environments Australia Pty Ltd ABN: 65 140 765 902 i

This page has been left intentionally blank.

Coffey Environments Australia Pty Ltd ABN: 65 140 765 902 ii

Busselton Health Campus | Spring 2015 Tree Health Monitoring

Contents

1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 1

2 Methods ....................................................................................................................................... 3

2.1 On-ground tree health survey ............................................................................................. 3

2.2 Remote sensing (aerial) tree health survey ........................................................................ 3

3 Results ......................................................................................................................................... 5

3.1 Climate ................................................................................................................................ 5

3.2 Vigour ................................................................................................................................. 6

3.3 Crown density and foliage transparency ............................................................................ 6

3.4 Crown dieback .................................................................................................................... 7

3.5 General tree observations .................................................................................................. 8

3.5.1 Insect damage ....................................................................................................... 8

3.5.3 Epicormic growth ................................................................................................. 10

3.5.4 Tree death............................................................................................................ 10

3.5.5 Flowering/fruiting ................................................................................................. 10

3.5.6 Presence of Western Ringtail Possums and dreys ............................................. 10

3.6 Remote Sensing – Change detection ............................................................................... 10

4 Discussion ................................................................................................................................. 12

5 Recommendations .................................................................................................................... 14

6 References ................................................................................................................................. 15

Figures

1 Survey and conservation area ...................................................................................................... 2 2 Transect and tagged tree location ................................................................................................ 4 3 Average long-term and 2014/2015 monthly rainfall totals from weather station No. 009515

(BOM, 2015) ................................................................................................................................. 5 4 Frequency of crown dieback categories across the spring monitoring periods ............................ 8 5 Number of tagged trees showing insect borer and termite damage ............................................. 9 6 Mean plant cell density across the spring monitoring periods .................................................... 11

Coffey ENAUPERT04326AC_009_v1 November 2015

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Tables

1 Mean combined vigour class across the spring monitoring periods ............................................. 6 2 Mean vigour class of each sampling location across the spring monitoring periods .................... 6 3 Mean crown density and mean foliage transparency across the spring monitoring periods ........ 7 4 Comparison of the average crown density (%) across the sample locations across the spring

monitoring periods ........................................................................................................................ 7 5 Summary of tree health state between spring monitoring periods ............................................. 12 6 Assessment of tree health against the spring trigger levels ....................................................... 13

Plates

1. Fruiting body on tree 2. Fruiting body on tree

Appendices

A Tree health monitoring procedure (Coffey, 2013a). B Tree health data spring 2015 survey C Monthly rainfall totals (January 2010 to September 2015) and mean monthly rainfall for weather station 009515 (BOM 2015) D Number and percentage of trees recorded in each crown dieback category for all spring tree

health assessments E SpecTerra Services – Busselton Hospital Change Detection October 2014 to October 2015 F SpecTerra Services – Busselton Hospital Change Detection October 2010 to October 2015


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1 Introduction The Western Australian Department of Health (DOH) has finished the construction of the new Busselton Health Campus on the existing Busselton Hospital site and is in the process of constructing additional hospital parking. The new Busselton Health Campus will cater for the future demands for health services in the southwest region of Western Australian.

The Busselton Hospital site is 12.3 hectares (ha) in size, of which a large portion is open Peppermint (Agonis flexuosa) woodland, with relatively little understorey (Figure 1). The site is located within core habitat for the Western Ringtail Possum (WRP) (Pseudocheirus occidentalis), which is listed as a threatened species under both State (Endangered under the Wildlife Conservation Act 1950 (WC Act)) and Federal (Vulnerable under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act)) environmental legislation.

The preparation and implementation of a WRP Management Plan was a condition of approval for the Busselton Health Campus redevelopment under the EPBC Act (EPBC 2011/6011) and Environmental Protection Act 1986 (NVCP 4433/2). The WRP Management Plan (V9) was subsequently revised and approved by the then Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities (now the Department of the Environment) and the Department of Environment Regulation (DER) (15/08/2013).

The approved WRP Management Plan (Coffey, 2013a) outlines the requirement for a tree health monitoring program to be conducted at the Busselton Health Campus, as detailed in Management Measure 15 (M15):

‘Monitor tree health twice a year during construction and for no less than two years post-construction using ground-based and remote sensing methods… Monitoring will then be undertaken once a year at 5 and 10 years post-construction. Twice yearly monitoring will be undertaken in approximately March and September of each year to allow comparison with previous monitoring results. Annual monitoring will be undertaken in approximately September’.

A Tree Health Monitoring Procedure (Appendix A) was developed and approved as part of the WRP Management Plan. Coffey was commissioned in 2013 to undertake the tree health monitoring program (until 2017) and this report details the results of the spring (September to November) 2015 tree health monitoring.


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2 Methods The approach employed for the spring 2015 tree health monitoring was consistent with monitoring completed by Coffey to date (September 2010 to March 2015) (Coffey, 2011a; 2011b; 2012a; 2012b; 2013b; 2013c; 2014a; 2014b, 2015) and in accordance with the current Busselton Health Campus Tree Health Monitoring Procedure (Appendix A). The tree health monitoring was undertaken in two stages, including an on-ground tree health survey and a remote sensing (aerial) tree health survey.

2.1 On-ground tree health survey The on-ground tree health survey was conducted on 15 October 2015. The survey was undertaken by a qualified botanist in conjunction with the WRP monitoring survey.

Two hundred and eighty seven (287) Peppermint trees, two Melaleucas and one Eucalypt trees were tagged during the initial baseline monitoring surveys in September 2010 and March 2011, including 152 trees along four 100 m long transects and another 138 individually tagged trees within 5 m of transect centrelines. Since 2013 a number of trees have been removed. The on-ground tree health survey involves the visual assessment of the remaining 230 (227 Peppermint trees, two Melaleucas and one Eucalypt tree) tagged trees (Figure 2) in accordance with the Tree Health Monitoring Procedure provided as Appendix A.

2.2 Remote sensing (aerial) tree health survey The remote sensing (aerial) tree health survey was conducted by SpecTerra Services Pty Ltd (SpecTerra). The airborne survey over the Busselton Health Campus site was undertaken on 8 October 2015.

The remote sensing survey involved the collection of a Digital Multi-Spectral Image (DMSI) of the site using a High Resolution Airborne Multispectral Sensor (HiRAMS) (Appendix A). The airborne image is corrected for camera distortion and scene brightness effects, before GeoTiff image products (including true colour image, false colour infrared image, pseudo colour plant cell density index image and composite change detection) are produced and analysed.

Change detection or PCD (infrared reflectance over red reflectance) change is a simple remote sensing image analysis technique for measuring plant cell density and health. The PCD is sensitive to the quantity of leaves in each pixel (sample) and the density of healthy plant cells in those leaves. The red band (675 nm) is positioned at maximum absorption by leaf chlorophyll content and the infrared band (780 nm) where the leaf structure of healthy plants strongly reflects incoming energy (Appendix A).

SpecTerra have five PCD change classes that reflect the gain or loss in PCD. SpecTerra have also included a sixth class that refers to trees that have been lost/ removed between two data acquisition periods. The five PCD change classes are:

• Less than (<) -50% – Maximum Loss in PCD. • -50% to -30% – Moderate Loss in PCD. • -30% to -10% – Minor Loss in PCD. • -10% to 10% – No Significant Change in PCD. • Greater than (>) 10% – Gain in PCD.

Following correction, production and analysis of the imagery, SpecTerra prepared a report detailing the calibrated mean and standard deviation of PCD values for identified tree canopy clusters collected during the survey and a comparison to previous fly-overs, referred to as ‘change detection’.


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3 Results The data collected from the 230 tagged trees during the spring 2015 monitoring period is provided in Appendix B.

3.1 Climate The nearest public climate data is available from Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) Station 009515 (Busselton Shire). For the three months prior to the survey (July 2015 to September 2015) Busselton Shire received 223.6 mm of rainfall 37% lower than the mean monthly rainfall (353 mm) for the same period (Figure 3) (BOM, 2015).

The rainfall recorded at the Busselton Shire weather station since the previous 2014 October tree health assessment was 563.3 mm, 30% below the mean 12 month rainfall of 805.8 mm (BOM, 2015) (Figure 3).

Figure 3 Average long-term and 2014/2015 monthly rainfall totals from weather station No. 009515 (BOM, 2015)

The actual monthly rainfall for the Busselton Shire from January 2010 through to September 2015 and the mean monthly average is provided in Appendix C for comparison. Overall, the rainfall recorded at the Busselton Shire has been below the expected average, with only 24 out of the 69 months since January 2010, receiving average or above average rainfall (Appendix C).

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3.2 Vigour A mean combined vigour class value of 1.68 was recorded from the tagged trees during the spring 2015 monitoring (Table 1). The mean combined vigour class across the spring monitoring periods (September / October surveys) show an increasing trend (a decline in vigour) from 2010 to 2013. From 2014 there has been a decrease in the mean, indicating an increase of live tree canopy, thus suggesting the health of the tagged trees may be improving.

Table 1 Mean combined vigour class across the spring monitoring periods

Spring Survey Mean combined vigour class1

September 2010 1.47

September 2011 1.72

October 2012 1.86

October 2013 1.95

October 2014 1.83

October 2015 1.68

1. A value of 1 indicates a healthy tree, while a value of 3 indicates an unhealthy, dying or dead tree.

Table 2 compares the mean vigour class ratings recorded across the four transects, the individually tagged trees and combined data across the spring monitoring periods since 2010. Compared to the previous year (2014) all transects and individually tagged trees show a decrease in the vigour rating for spring 2015. The reduced vigour suggests there has been an improvement in tree health across the site since spring 2014. The vigour ratings in spring 2015 are still above the initial vigour ratings from spring 2010.

Table 2 Mean vigour class of each sampling location across the spring monitoring periods

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

Transect 1 1.60 1.92 2.07 2.16 2.11 1.89

Transect 2 1.55 1.89 1.94 1.97 1.76 1.71

Transect 3 1.57 1.57 1.85 1.83 2.09 1.87

Transect 4 1.60 1.60 1.95 2.02 1.98 1.66

Individual 1.34 1.55 1.67 1.76 1.80 1.48

Total 1.47 1.72 1.86 1.95 1.83 1.68

3.3 Crown density and foliage transparency The mean crown density has declined since the initial baseline in spring 2010 (Table 3), indicating a decline in canopy cover and tree health. However the mean crown density increased 5.5% between the spring 2014 and spring 2015 indicating an improvement in tree health since the previous spring monitoring period (Table 3). The spring 2015 mean crown density (29.44%) has almost reached parity with the initial baseline spring survey in 2010 (30.11%).

Mean foliage transparency (Table 3) is the inverse of mean crown density; therefore a decrease in crown density will result in an increase in foliage transparency and so is not discussed further.


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Table 3 Mean crown density and mean foliage transparency across the spring monitoring

periods

Spring Survey Mean crown density (%) Mean foliage transparency (%)

September 2010 30.11% 69.93%

September 2011 26.44% 73.58%

October 2012 24.57% 75.43%

October 2013 23.68% 76.32%

October 2014 23.94% 76.01%

October 2015 29.44% 70.43%

Table 4 shows a comparison of the mean crown density values across transects and individual trees for the spring monitoring periods. Since the initial spring baseline (September 2010) there has been a decrease in crown density values for Transects 1, 2 and 3 and an increase in crown density values for Transect 4 and the individually tagged trees (Table 4).

Since the 2014 spring tree health monitoring period, all transects and individually tagged trees have recorded an increase in crown density (Table 4).

Table 4 Comparison of the average crown density (%) across the sample locations across the spring monitoring periods

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

Transect 1 32.3 26.6 23.5 21.7 20.0 23.9

Transect 2 31.4 27.6 25.2 24.2 25.7 27.4

Transect 3 27.0 25.2 23.9 21.3 23.2 25.6

Transect 4 29.6 23.8 22.2 23.6 22.4 31.7

Individual 29.6 19.4 25.9 25.4 26.4 34.0

Combined 30.1 26.4 24.6 23.7 23.9 29.4

3.4 Crown dieback The monitoring undertaken in spring 2015 identified evidence of crown dieback in all of the tagged trees and an increase in crown dieback (less trees in Category 1) when compared to the initial baseline completed in spring 2010.

Since spring 2010 there has been an increase of trees in Category 2, 3, 5, 6 and 7, and a decrease of trees in Categories 1 and 4 (Figure 4, Appendix D). The comparison between crown dieback categories across the four transects, the individual trees and the combined data between all spring monitoring periods is presented in Appendix D.

It is difficult to identify a trend in crown dieback when comparing the results across the monitoring periods; a level of crown dieback from the tree is expected through natural attrition.


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Figure 4 Frequency of crown dieback categories across the spring monitoring periods

3.5 General tree observations

3.5.1 Insect damage A total of 147 tagged trees showed some signs of insect damage through insect borers and/or termites during the spring 2015 monitoring period. Borers were identified from 64 trees while termites were recorded from 112 trees and 29 trees were recorded as having signs of both borers and termites (Figure 5).

Since the initial spring baseline (September 2010) there has been an increase in insect damage. The insect activity in spring 2015 was the same as recorded in the previous spring 2014 monitoring period.

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Figure 5 Number of tagged trees showing insect borer and termite damage

3.5.2 Pathogen presence

The majority of the trees assessed as part of the spring 2015 monitoring showed no signs of pathogens, with the exception of trees 018, 069, 221 and 257 (Plate 1 and Plate 2). The presence of pathogens and their fruiting bodies does not necessarily translate to unhealthy trees. The fungal pathogen was not identified; however, it is not considered to be Neofusicoccum australe, which is known to be an opportunistic canker pathogen responsible for crown dieback in Peppermint trees in Western Australia (Dakin et al., 2010 and DPAW, 2014). The presence of pathogens has remained relatively stable across the Busselton Health Campus (maximum of eight trees in September 2010 to minimum of one tree in October 2012), throughout the spring monitoring periods.

Plate 1 – Fruiting body on tree Plate 2 – Fruiting body on tree

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3.5.3 Epicormic growth During the spring 2015 monitoring, 59 of the tagged trees (26%) were identified with epicormic growth. This is a decrease in trees identified with epicormic growth when compared to the previous spring survey in 2014 (113 trees) and the initial baseline survey in September 2010 (116).

3.5.4 Tree death Five tree deaths were recorded during the spring 2015 monitoring period (Tag No. 043, 045, 105, 108 and 116), including one tree that was previously recorded as collapsed in spring 2014 (Tag No. 057) and is still present (i.e. has not been removed from the site).

3.5.5 Flowering/fruiting The majority of tagged trees (201 trees, 87%) were in various stages of flowering at the time of the survey, including flower buds and flowering. This is a decrease in the percentage of flowering trees when compared to the initial baseline survey in spring 2010 (100%) and an increase in the percentage of flowering trees when compared to the previous spring survey in 2014 (85%).

3.5.6 Presence of Western Ringtail Possums and dreys Five WRPs and 10 dreys (nests constructed by the WRP) were recorded within the 230 tagged trees during the spring 2015 monitoring. The possums and dreys were scattered over the entire Busselton Health Campus site.

These recordings were opportunistic sightings and not considered to be a comprehensive assessment of the presence of WRPs at the site. Comprehensive WRP assessments have been undertaken by Coffey biannually since 2009.

Two deceased WRPs were recorded near tree Tag No. 060 along Transect 2. The cause of death is unknown; however it may be related to cats or dogs, old age or competition from other WRPs.

3.6 Remote Sensing – Change detection The spring 2015 monitoring indicates that there has been a 2% increase in the mean PCD value (thus tree health) across the site since the initial baseline in spring 2010, and a 8% increase in PCD since spring 2014 (Figure 6).


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Figure 6 Mean plant cell density across the spring monitoring periods

Spring 2014 to spring 2015

PCD change is depicted in the change detection map for the period spring 2014 to spring 2015 provided as Appendix E. DMSI mapping for this period indicated that approximately:

• 1% (equivalent to 5 trees) have been lost (tree death/approved clearing).

• 0% of the trees recorded a maximum loss (-50% to -30% change) in PCD.

• 5% (equivalent to approximately 35 trees) of trees recorded a minor loss (-30% to -10% change) in PCD.

• 44% (equivalent to approximately 306 trees) recorded a stable (± 10%) PCD.

• 50% (equivalent to approximately 352 trees) recorded a PCD gain (>10%).

Three of the five trees lost between the spring 2014 to spring 2015 monitoring period are located in association with health campus activities (former hospital demolition and car park), while the remaining two trees occur along the boundary of the Busselton Health Campus and private property. The loss of these two trees may have occurred as a result of clearing activities in the private property.

Spring 2010 to spring 2015

PCD change mapping for the Busselton Health Campus for the period spring 2010 to spring 2015 was examined for comparison. DMSI mapping (Appendix F) and change detection for this period indicated that approximately:

• 20% (equivalent to 170 trees) have been lost (tree death/approved clearing).

• 1% (equivalent of 10 trees) recorded a maximum loss (-50% to -30% change) in PCD.

• 13% (equivalent of 113 trees) recorded a minor loss (-30% to -10% change) in PCD.

• 47% (equivalent of 402 trees) recorded a stable (± 10%) PCD.

• 19% (equivalent of 168 trees) recorded a PCD gain (>10%).

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4 Discussion Based on the spring 2015 results of the on-ground tree health survey and the results of the remote sensing survey, the health of the tagged trees is considered to be in a stable to improving condition. Three of the values recorded during the monitoring are considered particularly useful in determining tree health change, namely crown density; canopy vigour and PCD change.

The remainder of the recorded values (crown dieback and general tree health observations; epicormic growth, pathogens and insect activity) provide additional information and potential explanations to tree health improvement or decline when discussed in context with the remaining values, but are not considered to be directly useful values in determining tree health.

Table 5 summarises the improvement, stability and decline in tree health based on vigour, crown density and PCD values between the initial baseline in spring 2010 and spring 2015. A change greater than 5% between the two monitoring periods (2011 to 2015 and 2014 to 2015) is considered to be significant in this situation.

In spring 2015 trees are considered to be in stable to declining health when compared to the spring 2010 values. However the health of the trees in spring 2015 is improving when compared to the spring 2014 values.

Table 5 Summary of tree health state between spring monitoring periods

Survey time Improving Stable/neutral Declining

Vigour 2010 – 2015

2014 – 2015

Crown Density 2010 – 2015

2014 – 2015

PCD Value 2010 – 2015

2014 - 2015

The WRP Management Plan has identified contingency measures to be undertaken if certain trigger levels relating to tree canopy health are met or exceeded. If these trigger levels are met or exceeded the DOH will notify and consult with the DER and the Department of Parks and Wildlife (DPAW) to discuss whether the decline is a local or regional occurrence. The trigger levels for decline in tree health are:

• A catastrophic decline, considered a 20% or greater reduction in tree canopy.

• A general decline in tree health of 30% or greater of the entire site (as determined through aerial imagery).

For the purposes of tree canopy health, the baseline values are those recorded during the March and October tree health monitoring periods immediately prior to the development of the Busselton Health Campus. The construction of the Busselton Health Campus occurred in late 2012, therefore the March and October 2012 results are considered to be the pre-construction baseline values.

There is very little meaning in comparing spring (September – October) and autumn (March –April) results due to seasonal variability, therefore, the autumn (March) tree health monitoring periods are compared against the autumn 2012 monitoring period (March pre-construction baseline), while the spring (September – October) tree health monitoring periods are compared against the spring2012 monitoring period (October pre-construction baseline). Coffey ENAUPERT04326AC_009_v1 November 2015

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An assessment of the spring 2015 results against their spring pre-construction baseline trigger levels is presented in Table 6.

Table 6 Assessment of tree health against the spring trigger levels

Trigger Level Spring baseline values1

Trigger values

Spring 2015

values

Percentage change

Has it been triggered?

20% or greater reduction in tree canopy (Crown Density) 24.57 % 19.65 % 29.44% 19.82% No

30% or greater decline in tree health (PCD) 633 443 668 5.53% No

1 The spring 2012 data has been used as the baseline (i.e. pre-construction).

The tagged trees located across the Busselton Health Campus have shown an increase in crown density and there has been a 5.53% increase in PCD values since the spring pre-construction baseline monitoring 2012 as shown in Table 6. The trigger levels have not been exceeded and consultation with DER and DPAW is not required (Table 6).

The next tree health monitoring assessment will be conducted in autumn 2016 (March), in accordance with the approved WRP Management Plan.


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5 Recommendations Based on the results of the spring 2015 tree health monitoring, the following management measures may be implemented to maintain and improve the tree health at Busselton Health Campus

Review the rehabilitation management plan to determine if the current approved Integrated Pest Management (IPM) plan is adequate to manage observed insect activity.

• Undertake supplementary watering, where necessary, including during prolonged periods of drought or high tree stress events (i.e. strong drying winds).

• Continue to minimise vehicle access over the hospital grounds where there are no formal parking bays or driveways to prevent soil compaction and damage to tree roots (especially the fine feeder roots that are located closer to the surface).

• Ensure on-site works do not impact on the trees that remain within the Busselton Hospital Campus site.

• Where practicable, the natural regeneration of the Peppermint seedlings on site should be protected and managed to ensure survival and to increase the Peppermint coverage within the site.

• Ongoing site rehabilitation activities in the conservation area should continue. This may include the continued mulching of the site which provides weed suppression, nutrients and reduces the loss of surface and sub-surface soil moisture.


14


6 References BOM. 2015. Daily Weather Observations. A WWW publication accessed 22 October 2015 at www.bom.gov.au/climate .Bureau of Meteorology. Australia.

Coffey. 2011a. Tree Health and Western Ringtail Possum Habitat Assessment Busselton Hospital Site. Report No. EP2010/231 Version 6. Unpublished report prepared by Coffey Environments Australia Pty Ltd for Department of Health and the Department of Treasury and Finance, Western Australia.

Coffey. 2011b. Tree Health Monitoring Busselton Hospital Site September 2011/October 2011. Report No. EP2012/153 Version 2. November. Unpublished report prepared by Coffey Environments Australia Pty Ltd for Department of Health and the Department of Treasury and Finance, Western Australia.

Coffey 2012a. Tree Health Monitoring Busselton Hospital Site March 2012. Report No. EP2011/186 Version 1. May. Unpublished report prepared by Coffey Environments Australia Pty Ltd, for Department of Health and the Department of Treasury and Finance, Western Australia.

Coffey. 2012b. Tree Health Monitoring Busselton Hospital Site October 2012. Report No. EP2012/198 Version 3. November. Unpublished report prepared by Coffey Environments Australia Pty Ltd, for Department of Health and the Department of Treasury and Finance, Western Australia.

Coffey 2013a. Western Ringtail Possum Management Plan, Department of Health Busselton Hospital Health Campus Redevelopment, Report No. EP2011-143 Version 9 Final. August. Unpublished report prepared by Coffey Environments Australia Pty Ltd, for the Department of Health and the Department of Treasury and Finance, Western Australia.

Coffey. 2013b. Tree Health Monitoring Busselton Hospital Site March 2013. Report No. EP2013/039 Version 3. April. Unpublished report prepared by Coffey Environments Australia Pty Ltd, for the Department of Health and the Department of Treasury and Finance, Western Australia.

Coffey 2013c. October 2013 Tree Health Monitoring. Busselton Hospital Health Campus. Report No. EP2013/199 Version 3. December. Unpublished report prepared by Coffey Environments Australia Pty Ltd, for the Department of Health, Western Australia.

Coffey 2014a. March 2014 Tree Health Monitoring. Busselton Health Campus. Report No. EP2014/033, Version 1. April. Unpublished report prepared by Coffey Environments Australia Pty Ltd for the Department of Health, Western Australia.

Coffey 2014b. October 2014 Tree Health Monitoring. Busselton Health Campus. Report No. EP2014/136, Version 2. November. Unpublished report prepared by Coffey Environments Australia Pty Ltd for the Department of Health, western Australian.

Coffey. 2015. March 2015 Tree Health Monitoring. Busselton Health Campus. Report No. EP2015/037, Version 2. April. Unpublished report prepared by Coffey Environments Australia Pty Ltd, for the Department of Health. Western Australia.

Dakin, N., White, D., Hardy, G. and Burgess, T. 2010. The opportunistic pathogen, Neofusicoccum australe, is responsible for crown dieback of Peppermint (Agonis flexuosa) in Western Australia. Australasian Plant Pathology, CSIRO Publishing, Vol 39, pg. 202-206.


15

http://www.bom.gov.au/climate


DPAW. 2014. Western Ringtail Possum (Pseudocheirus occidentalis) Recovery Plan. Wildlife Management Program No. 58. Report prepared by Department of Parks and Wildlife, Perth, Western Australia.


16

Appendix A Tree health monitoring procedure (Coffey, 2013a).

Tree health monitoring procedure This procedure has been prepared to outline the Tree Health Monitoring procedure to be implemented within the Conservation Area of the Busselton Health Campus site and is also detailed in the Busselton Health Campus – Revegetation Management Plan. The baseline for the tree health monitoring was undertaken in September 2010 with a follow-up survey undertaken in March 2011. These two survey periods represent baseline data for winter (September; after winter rain) and summer (March; after summer drought) health of the trees. The methodology employed utilised a combination of on-ground visual survey and digital multi-spectral imagery. The methodology for each survey method is described below.

On-ground visual health survey The on-ground visual health survey involved the establishment of four transects of 100 m in length and the tagging of 152 individual trees along these transects, within the site (112 in September 2010 and a further 40 in March 2011). Every tree along the transect 5m either side of the transect centreline was also tagged (138 trees). This equated to a total of 290 trees tagged throughout the site. The tags were attached with wire loosely wound around the tree in a way which would not hinder future growth and girth expansion of the tree.

The September 2010 winter baseline survey was undertaken on 21 and 22 September 2010 and the March 2011 summer baseline survey was undertaken on 24 and 25 March 2011.

The four transects were established within areas of dense canopy growth in the north of the site and the southwest corner. Posts were left in the ground at 10m intervals with photos taken from each post. Photos were also taken from the north side of every individual tree during the first monitoring period, where practicable. These photos may or may not be used in determining the health of the tagged trees. The following information was collected from each tagged tree within the site:

• Species – The species identification of each tree tagged was recorded (e.g. Agonis flexuosa).

• Estimated height – The height of each tagged tree was estimated visually to the nearest half metre (e.g. the nearest 0.5 m).

• Number of trunks – The number of trunks originating from the base of the tree was counted. This value can be fairly arbitrary with the possibility of two or more trees considered to be the one tree.

• Crown Position – The position of the crown was estimated based on the height of the tree and is considered to be a function of the individual live crown in relation to the surrounding over storey. Tree height between 2.5 m and 7 m was considered to have a Lower Crown Position; tree height between 7.5 m and 8.5 m was considered to have a Middle Crown Position; and tree height exceeding 9 m was considered to have an Upper Crown Position;

• Vigour – A visual assessment of the crown vigour of individual trees classified into three categories. Vigour Class 1 is trees that are considered to have a healthy percentage of live canopy and Vigour Class 3 are trees that are considered to have a very poor-degraded percentage of live canopy. Vigour Class 2 are trees that are considered to be somewhere between healthy and unhealthy.

The Vigour Class ratings ranged from 1 (for a healthy tree) through to 3 (for an unhealthy, dying or dead tree) with a rating of 1.5 or 2.5 used for trees considered to be in between either 1 and 2 or 2 and 3.

• Crown Density – Is an estimate of the proportion of the crown volume that contains biomass (e.g. green foliage, branches and reproductive structures) compared to if the entire canopy was well vegetated (e.g. 100%). Crown density is recorded as a percentage or calculated using recognised methodology. Canopy cover can also be estimated from the remote sensing imagery described below;

• Foliage Transparency – Is an estimate of the absence of foliage where foliage would normally

occur. Foliage transparency is directly related to Crown Density. Foliage Transparency is recorded as a percentage;

• Crown Dieback – Is a measure of the proportion of the crown that has experienced recent dieback from branch lets and canopy branches. Crown Dieback has been recorded into one of seven categories based on a percentage of crown dieback. The categories are:

– 0 to 5% = Category 1. – 6 to 10% = Category 2. – 11 to 20% = Category 3. – 21 to 40% = Category 4. – 41 to 60% = Category 5. – 61 to 80% = Category 6. – 81 to 100% = Category 7.

• General Tree Observations – The following observations of each tagged tree were also recorded. These observations do not generally suggest a tree is in decline;

– Insect Damage – Notes were taken from each tagged tree on obvious signs of insect damage (e.g. damage from Insect Borers). Generally trees are able to cope with some form of insect activity and trees provide a niche for many insect species (e.g. spiders);

– Pathogens – Notes were taken from each tagged tree if obvious signs of pathogens were evident (e.g. cankers, fruiting bodies);

– Epicormic Growth – Notes were taken from each tagged tree if epicormic growth was seen. Epicormic growth is a response to stress (e.g. fire) and new shoots are produced from epicormic buds;

– Flowering and/or Fruiting – Notes were taken from each tagged tree if the tree was flowering or had new fruits; and

– The Presence of Possums or Dreys – Notes were taken from each tagged tree if a possum was recorded from within the tree (asleep in the tree during the day) or a possum drey was recorded from the tree.

Diameter at Breast Height (DBH) was not taken during this survey. DBH are considered to be a long term tool for determining tree health and data is generally only collected once every year or two. It was decided not to be collected during the initial baseline (winter and summer) surveys because they had already been collected in 2009 by SurvCon Pty Ltd during a survey of the trees located on the site. It is expected that DBH values will be collected in 2011.

Digital multi-spectral imagery SpecTerra Services provide airborne remote sensing imagery for vegetation mapping and monitoring projects. SpecTerra were commissioned to provide a Digital Multi-Spectral Imagery (DMSI) of the hospital site and surrounds to provide accurate imagery of the health of the vegetation. The initial fly-over is considered to be baseline and further subsequent flights will allow comparisons to be made between the fly-overs. SpecTerra refer to this as ‘change detection’. The technique can be used to determine whether the vegetation is improving or declining based on plant cell density values.

SpecTerra Services undertook the initial fly-over on 1 October 2010 using a HiRAMs07-01 camera with a 28.00 mm focal length with a CCD (Charge-Coupled Device) array size of 2048 x 2048 with an acquisition resolution of 0.25 m to capture the digital imagery.

SpecTerra Services undertook the follow-up flight on 14 March 2011 using a HiRAMS0803 camera utilising the same focal length, CCD array size and acquisition resolution as the October 2010 fly-over.

The imagery’s were taken at four band lengths ranging from Blue (450 nm) to Near Infra-red (780 nm) with additional Green (550 nm) and Red (675 nm) Band lengths.

Using the data obtained from the fly-overs, SpecTerra are also able to compare Plant Cell Density (PCD) values between the subsequent flights to determine whether there is a notable PCD change between the different flight periods.

The two flight periods are considered to be winter and summer baseline data with meaningful results determined from comparative flight times (e.g. September 2010 compared to September 2011).

Appendix B Tree health data spring 2015 survey

Appendix B Tree Health Data - Spring 2015

Height DBH Crown Position Vigour Class

Crown Density

Foliage Transparency Insects Pathogens Epicormic

Growth

(m) (mm) Upper/Middle/Lower Rating 1-3 % % Yes/No Category Yes/No Yes/No Yes/No

T1 001 Agonis flexuosa 7 4 98 Lower/Middle 1.50 25 75 Yes 1 Yes No No New tagT1 002 Agonis flexuosa 8.5-9 1 245 Middle/Upper 2.50 15 85 Yes 4 Yes No No Flowers New tagT1 003 Agonis flexuosa 9.5 2 256 Upper 2.50 15 85 Yes 3 Yes No No New tagT1 004 Agonis flexuosa 9 3 269 Middle/Upper 2.50 15 85 Yes 3 Yes No YesT1 005 Agonis flexuosa 9 1 273 Middle/Upper 2.00 25 75 Yes 4 Yes No No New tagT1 006 Agonis flexuosa 9-9.5 1 204 Upper 3.00 10 90 Yes 4 No No NoT1 007 Agonis flexuosa 7.5 2 173 Lower/Middle 1.75 30 70 Yes 3 Yes No Yes FlowersT1 008 Agonis flexuosa 7 2 125 Lower/Middle 1.75 25 75 Yes 2 Yes No YesT1 009 Agonis flexuosa 6-7 1 127 Lower/Middle 2.00 15 85 Yes 2 Yes No Yes FlowersT1 010 Agonis flexuosa 8 3 225 Middle 1.00 40 60 Yes 2 No No No FlowersT1 011 Agonis flexuosa 7 7 107 Lower/Middle 2.00 20 80 Yes 3 Yes No YesT1 012 Agonis flexuosa 6 1 145 Lower 2.00 20 80 Yes 2 No No YesT1 013 Agonis flexuosa 6 1 97 Lower 2.50 15 85 Yes 3 Yes No YesT1 014 Agonis flexuosa 8.5 3 301 Middle 2.00 25 75 Yes 3 Yes No Yes FlowersT1 015 Agonis flexuosa 6 1 115 Lower 1.50 30 70 Yes 2 No No No FlowersT1 016 Agonis flexuosa 9 1 295 Middle/Upper 1.00 45 55 Yes 2 No No No FlowersT1 017 Agonis flexuosa 8.5 2 282 Middle/Upper 1.50 30 70 Yes 1 Yes No No FlowersT1 018 Agonis flexuosa 9.5 1 388 Upper 1.50 25 75 Yes 3 Yes Yes NoT1 019 Agonis flexuosa 4.5 1 62 Lower 2.50 10 90 Yes 3 No No YesT1 020 Agonis flexuosa 7.5 2 201 Middle 2.00 25 75 Yes 3 Yes No Yes Flowers Possum T1 021 Agonis flexuosa 7.5-8 5 147 Middle 2.00 20 80 Yes 3 No No YesT1 022 Agonis flexuosa 4.5 1 100 Lower 1.50 25 75 Yes 2 No No YesT1 023 Agonis flexuosa 8.5-9 1 265 Middle/Upper 1.50 25 75 Yes 2 No No No FlowersT1 024 Agonis flexuosa 8.5-9 2 265 Middle/Upper 1.50 30 70 Yes 2 Yes No No FlowersT1 025 Agonis flexuosa 6.5 3 111 Lower 2.00 17 83 Yes 3 No No Yes FlowersT1 026 Agonis flexuosa 7.5 2 112 Lower/Middle 2.00 20 80 Yes 2 No No Yes FlowersT1 027 Agonis flexuosa 7 2 96 Lower/Middle 2.50 10 90 Yes 3 Yes No YesT1 028 Agonis flexuosa 8 3 264 Middle 1.50 25 75 Yes 3 Yes No Yes FlowersT1 029 Agonis flexuosa 8 4 150 Middle 2.00 25 75 Yes 3 No No No FlowersT1 030 Agonis flexuosa 8.5 2 227 Middle/Upper 1.50 25 75 Yes 3 Yes No No FlowersT1 031 Agonis flexuosa 7 4 125 Lower/Middle 1.50 30 70 Yes 2 No No Yes FlowersT1 032 Agonis flexuosa 7.5 2 212 Lower/Middle 2.00 25 75 Yes 3 No No Yes FlowersT1 033 Eucalyptus sp. 7 1 237 Lower/Middle 1.00 60 40 Yes 4 No No No New tagT1 034 Agonis flexuosa 6.5 3 158 Lower 2.00 25 75 Yes 3 No No Yes FlowersT1 035 Agonis flexuosa 6.5 1 154 Lower 1.50 30 70 Yes 2 Yes No Yes FlowersT1 036 Melaleuca sp. 6 1 272 Lower 1.00 45 55 Yes 3 No No No PossumT1 037 Agonis flexuosa 8 2 211 Middle 2.00 20 80 Yes 3 Yes No Yes FlowersT1 038 Agonis flexuosa 8 4 136 Middle 2.00 17 83 Yes 2 Yes No No FlowersT1 039 Agonis flexuosa 7.5 3 252 Lower/Middle 1.75 25 85 Yes 2 Yes No No FlowersT1 040 Agonis flexuosa 6.5 1 192 Lower 2.00 20 80 Yes 2 Yes No No FlowersT1 041 Agonis flexuosa 8.5 3 237 Middle 1.50 35 65 Yes 2 Yes No No FlowersT1 042 Agonis flexuosa 7 1 209 Lower/Middle 1.00 35 65 Yes 2 No No No FlowersT1 043 Agonis flexuosa 5.5 1 Lower 3.00 0 100 Yes 7 Yes No No FallenT1 044 Agonis flexuosa 8 2 210 Middle 2.50 15 85 Yes 6 Yes No Yes FlowersT1 045 Agonis flexuosa 6 2 Lower 3.00 0 100 Yes 7 No No No FallenT1 046 Agonis flexuosa 7.5 1 156 Middle 1.50 30 70 Yes 2 Yes No No FlowersT1 047 Agonis flexuosa 8 2 338 Middle 3.00 5 95 Yes 6 Yes No Yes FlowersT1 048 Agonis flexuosa 4 1 76 Lower 2.00 20 80 Yes 3 No No NoT1 049 Agonis flexuosa 7.5 3 198 Lower/Middle 1.50 30 70 Yes 3 Yes No Yes FlowersT1 050 Agonis flexuosa 8.5 3 269 Middle 1.75 25 75 Yes 3 Yes No No FlowersT1 051 Agonis flexuosa 8 3 104 Middle 1.50 30 70 Yes 2 No No No FlowersT1 052 Agonis flexuosa 7.5 1 110 Middle 2.00 20 80 Yes 2 No No No FlowersT1 053 Melaleuca sp. 2.2 1 100 Lower 1.00 60 40 Yes 1 No No No FlowersT1 054 Agonis flexuosa 9.5 2 150 Upper 2.00 20 60 Yes 3 Yes No No FlowersT1 055 Agonis flexuosa 8 2 294 Middle 3.00 10 90 Yes 6 Yes No Yes FlowersT2 056 Agonis flexuosa 7.5 2 140 Lower/Middle 2.00 25 75 Yes 3 Yes No No FlowersT2 057 Agonis flexuosa 7.5 2 Lower/Middle 3.00 0 100 Yes 7 Yes No No Fallen T2 058 Agonis flexuosa 8 6 256 Middle 1.50 30 70 Yes 3 No No Yes Flowers

CommentsPossums/DreysFlowering/Fruiting

Transect No. or

IndividualTag No. Species No. of

Trunks

Crown Dieback

1 of 4



Crown Density


Growth

(m) (mm) Upper/Middle/Lower Rating 1-3 % % Yes/No Category Yes/No Yes/No Yes/NoCommentsPossums/DreysFlowering/

Fruiting

Transect No. or


Trunks

Crown Dieback

T2 059 Agonis flexuosa 10 4 352 Upper 1.50 35 65 Yes 3 Yes No No FlowersT2 060 Agonis flexuosa 8 2 183 Middle 1.50 35 65 Yes 3 Yes No No FlowersT2 061 Agonis flexuosa 8.5 1 205 Middle/Upper 1.50 35 65 Yes 2 Yes No No FlowersT2 062 Agonis flexuosa 8.5 1 265 Middle/Upper 1.50 30 70 Yes 1 Yes No No FlowersT2 063 Agonis flexuosa 9 1 219 Upper 1.50 30 70 Yes 3 Yes No No FlowersT2 064 Agonis flexuosa 9.5 4 307 Upper 1.50 30 70 Yes 2 Yes No No FlowersT2 065 Agonis flexuosa 8 1 246 Middle 1.50 25 75 Yes 3 Yes No No FlowersT2 066 Agonis flexuosa 8 1 297 Middle 1.75 25 75 Yes 3 Yes No No FlowersT2 067 Agonis flexuosa 7 1 296 Lower/Middle 2.00 20 80 Yes 3 Yes No No FlowersT2 068 Agonis flexuosa 8 3 196 Middle 1.00 45 55 Yes 3 Yes No No FlowersT2 069 Agonis flexuosa 8.5 1 311 Middle/Upper 1.75 27 73 Yes 3 No Yes No Flowers Photo 795-796T2 070 Agonis flexuosa 7 2 344 Lower/Middle 2.00 22 78 Yes 3 Yes No No FlowersT2 071 Agonis flexuosa 8 3 444 Middle 2.00 25 75 Yes 3 Yes No Yes FlowersT2 072 Agonis flexuosa 8.5 1 476 Middle/Upper 2.00 20 80 Yes 3 Yes No No Flowers Possum Tag high on treeT2 073 Agonis flexuosa 8 1 520 Middle 2.00 22 78 Yes 3 Yes No No FlowersT2 074 Agonis flexuosa 7.5-8 1 545 Middle 2.00 20 80 Yes 3 No No Yes FlowersT2 075 Agonis flexuosa 7 1 311 Lower/Middle 2.00 25 75 Yes 2 No No No FlowersT2 076 Agonis flexuosa 6.5 1 234 Lower 2.00 25 75 Yes 2 Yes No No FlowersT2 077 Agonis flexuosa 8 2 357 Middle 2.00 25 75 Yes 3 Yes No No FlowersT2 078 Agonis flexuosa 6 1 120 Lower 2.00 20 80 Yes 2 Yes No No FlowersT2 079 Agonis flexuosa 9 3 563 Upper 1.50 30 70 Yes 3 No No No FlowersT2 080 Agonis flexuosa 5.5-6 2 185 Lower 1.50 30 70 Yes 2 Yes No No FlowersT2 081 Agonis flexuosa 7.5 3 244 Lower/Middle 1.50 35 65 Yes 2 Yes No No FlowersT2 082 Agonis flexuosa 7.5 1 396 Lower/Middle 1.00 40 60 Yes 1 No No No FlowersT2 083 Agonis flexuosa 5.5 3 152 Lower 1.50 25 75 Yes 3 No No No FlowersT2 084 Agonis flexuosa 7 1 443 Lower/Middle 1.25 35 65 Yes 3 Yes No No FlowersT2 085 Agonis flexuosa 7 1 411 Lower/Middle 1.75 27 73 Yes 3 Yes No No FlowersT2 086 Agonis flexuosa 7 1 389 Lower/Middle 1.50 30 70 Yes 2 Yes No No FlowersT3 087 Agonis flexuosa 7 2 164 Lower/Middle 1.50 30 70 Yes 2 Yes No No FlowersT3 088 Agonis flexuosa 8 3 625 Middle 1.50 35 65 Yes 2 Yes No No FlowersT3 089 Agonis flexuosa 5 1 175 Lower 3.00 3 97 Yes 7 Yes No No Main trunk fallenT3 090 Agonis flexuosa 5 3 130 Lower 1.00 35 65 Yes 1 Yes No No FlowersT3 091 Agonis flexuosa 8 2 399 Middle 1.50 30 70 Yes 2 Yes No No FlowersT3 092 Agonis flexuosa 7.5 1 233 Lower/Middle 2.00 20 80 Yes 3 Yes No No FlowersT3 093 Agonis flexuosa 7.5 1 122 Lower/Middle 1.50 27 73 Yes 2 No No No FlowersT3 094 Agonis flexuosa 7.5 2 198 Lower/Middle 1.50 30 70 Yes 2 Yes No No FlowersT3 095 Agonis flexuosa 6 10 90 Lower 2.00 20 80 Yes 3 Yes No No FlowersT3 096 Agonis flexuosa 5.5 2 98 Lower 2.00 25 75 Yes 2 Yes No Yes FlowersT3 097 Agonis flexuosa 9.5 1 387 Upper 1.00 40 60 Yes 2 No No No FlowersT3 098 Agonis flexuosa 9.5 4 269 Upper 1.00 45 55 Yes 2 Yes No No FlowersT3 099 Agonis flexuosa 7.5 1 261 Lower/Middle 1.75 27 73 Yes 2 Yes No No FlowersT3 100 Agonis flexuosa 7 1 163 Lower/Middle 2.00 25 75 Yes 2 No No No FlowersT3 101 Agonis flexuosa 7 2 330 Lower/Middle 1.75 30 70 Yes 3 Yes No Yes FlowersT3 102 Agonis flexuosa 8.5 2 361 Middle 2.50 20 80 Yes 3 Yes No YesT3 103 Agonis flexuosa 8 2 224 Middle 3.00 5 95 Yes 7 Yes No Yes FlowersT3 104 Agonis flexuosa 10 1 443 Upper 3.00 10 90 Yes 5 Yes No NoT3 105 Agonis flexuosa 7 1 169 Lower/Middle 3.00 0 100 Yes 7 No No NoT3 106 Agonis flexuosa 8 1 314 Middle 2.50 15 85 Yes 4 No No Yes FlowersT3 107 Agonis flexuosa 5 3 173 Lower 1.50 35 65 Yes 2 Yes No No FlowersT3 108 Agonis flexuosa 7 2 188 Lower/Middle 3.00 0 100 Yes 7 No No NoT3 109 Agonis flexuosa 7 3 135 Lower/Middle 2.50 20 80 Yes 3 No No No FlowersT3 110 Agonis flexuosa 8.5 2 248 Middle/Upper 1.00 45 55 Yes 1 Yes No No Flowers PossumT3 111 Agonis flexuosa 6.5 1 279 Lower 1.00 45 55 Yes 1 Yes No No FlowersT3 112 Agonis flexuosa 8.5 5 456 Middle/Upper 1.00 45 55 Yes 1 Yes No No FlowersT3 113 Agonis flexuosa 7 7 183 Lower/Middle 1.50 30 70 Yes 2 No No No FlowersT4 114 Agonis flexuosa 10 3 452 Upper 1.25 45 55 Yes 2 No No No FlowersT4 115 Agonis flexuosa 9.5 1 444 Upper 1.00 50 50 Yes 2 Yes No No FlowersT4 116 Agonis flexuosa 10 1 Upper 3.00 0 100 Yes 7 Yes No NoT4 117 Agonis flexuosa 10 3 148 Upper 1.50 35 65 Yes 3 Yes No Yes FlowersT4 118 Agonis flexuosa 8.5 4 255 Middle/Upper 1.50 30 70 Yes 2 Yes No Yes Flowers

2 of 4



Crown Density


Growth


Fruiting

Transect No. or


Trunks

Crown Dieback

T4 119 Agonis flexuosa 9 5 132 Upper 1.75 40 60 Yes 3 Yes No No FlowersT4 120 Agonis flexuosa 8 2 198 Middle 2.00 20 80 Yes 3 Yes No Yes FlowersT4 121 Agonis flexuosa 8 1 225 Middle 1.50 30 70 Yes 2 Yes No No FlowersT4 122 Agonis flexuosa 8 5 78 Middle 1.75 30 70 Yes 2 Yes No Yes FlowersT4 123 Agonis flexuosa 8.5 3 316 Middle/Upper 3.00 15 85 Yes 5 Yes No No FlowersT4 124 Agonis flexuosa 8.5 1 272 Middle/Upper 1.50 25 75 Yes 2 Yes No No FlowersT4 125 Agonis flexuosa 9.5 1 405 Upper 1.50 30 70 Yes 2 Yes No Yes FlowersT4 126 Agonis flexuosa 10 6 200 Upper 1.00 45 55 Yes 1 Yes No No FlowersT4 127 Agonis flexuosa 9.5 6 104 Upper 1.50 40 60 Yes 3 Yes No No FlowersT4 128 Agonis flexuosa 9 3 122 Upper 1.50 30 70 Yes 1 Yes No No FlowersT4 129 Agonis flexuosa 7 6 345 Lower/Middle 1.75 25 75 Yes 3 Yes No No FlowersT4 130 Agonis flexuosa 9 3 204 Upper 1.00 45 55 Yes 2 Yes No No FlowersT4 131 Agonis flexuosa 6.5 1 190 Lower 2.25 20 80 Yes 3 No No NoT4 132 Agonis flexuosa 7.5 3 124 Lower/Middle 3.00 10 90 Yes 5 Yes No No Two limbs over on the ground deadT4 133 Agonis flexuosa 8.5 3 388 Middle/Upper 1.25 50 50 Yes 2 No No No FlowersT4 134 Agonis flexuosa 7 2 223 Lower/Middle 1.50 35 65 Yes 2 Yes No No FlowersT4 135 Agonis flexuosa 10 1 338 Upper 1.00 40 60 Yes 2 Yes No No FlowersT4 136 Agonis flexuosa 7.5 2 295 Lower/Middle 1.75 30 70 Yes 2 Yes No No FlowersT4 137 Agonis flexuosa 10 2 387 Upper 1.00 45 55 Yes 2 No No No FlowersT4 138 Agonis flexuosa 7.5 3 110 Lower/Middle 1.75 27 73 Yes 2 Yes No No FlowersI 143 Agonis flexuosa 6.5 1 202 Lower 1.50 30 70 Yes 3 No No No FlowersI 144 Agonis flexuosa 6 2 200 Lower 1.00 50 50 Yes 1 No No No FlowersI 146 Agonis flexuosa 5 1 168 Lower 2.50 15 85 Yes 3 No No YesI 147 Agonis flexuosa 7.5 1 454 Middle 1.75 25 75 Yes 2 No No No FlowersI 148 Agonis flexuosa 6.5 1 230 Lower 1.00 40 60 Yes 2 No No Yes FlowersI 149 Agonis flexuosa 5 1 353 Lower 2.50 20 80 Yes 3 Yes No No FlowersI 150 Agonis flexuosa 6.5 5 231 Lower 1.50 40 60 Yes 2 No No No Flowers DreyI 175 Agonis flexuosa 4.5 3 160 Lower 1.00 45 55 Yes 1 Yes No No FlowersI 176 Agonis flexuosa 6 2 152 Lower 1.00 65 35 Yes 1 No No No Flowers DreyI 177 Agonis flexuosa 5 1 228 Lower 1.75 25 75 Yes 3 No No No Flowers DreyI 178 Agonis flexuosa 5 2 150 Lower 1.00 55 45 Yes 1 Yes No No Flowers Black duck nest nearbyI 183 Agonis flexuosa 6 2 152 Lower 1.00 40 60 Yes 1 Yes No No Flowers Drey x 2I 184 Agonis flexuosa 5 1 117 Lower 1.00 45 55 Yes 2 Yes No Yes Flowers Drey x1 Possum x1I 187 Agonis flexuosa 6 4 120 Lower 1.00 40 60 Yes 2 Yes No No FlowersI 188 Agonis flexuosa 8 3 189 Middle 1.00 45 55 Yes 2 Yes No No Flowers Drey x1 I 204 Agonis flexuosa 8 1 354 Middle 2.00 25 75 Yes 3 Yes No Yes FlowersI 205 Agonis flexuosa 5.5 1 260 Lower 1.00 40 60 Yes 2 Yes No No FlowersI 206 Agonis flexuosa 6 1 243 Lower 1.00 45 55 Yes 1 No No No FlowersI 207 Agonis flexuosa 6.5 1 595 Lower 1.25 45 55 Yes 2 Yes No No Flowers No tagI 208 Agonis flexuosa 6.5 2 200 Lower 2.50 20 80 Yes 3 Yes No Yes FlowersI 209 Agonis flexuosa 6 1 398 Lower 1.75 30 70 Yes 2 No No No FlowersI 210 Agonis flexuosa 6 1 418 Lower 1.75 25 75 Yes 2 Yes No No FlowersI 211 Agonis flexuosa 6 2 311 Lower 1.75 25 75 Yes 3 No No No FlowersI 212 Agonis flexuosa 4.5 1 382 Lower 1.00 50 50 Yes 2 No No No FlowersI 214 Agonis flexuosa 9 1 765 Upper 1.50 50 50 Yes 2 No No No FlowersI 215 Agonis flexuosa 8 1 325 Middle 2.00 25 75 Yes 3 No No No FlowersI 216 Agonis flexuosa 8 1 581 Middle 1.00 45 55 Yes 2 No No No FlowersI 217 Agonis flexuosa 7 1 203 Lower/Middle 1.00 45 55 Yes 2 No No No FlowersI 218 Agonis flexuosa 7 2 Lower/Middle 1.50 40 60 Yes 2 No No No FlowersI 219 Agonis flexuosa 4 2 142 Lower 1.50 25 75 Yes 2 Yes No No FlowersI 220 Agonis flexuosa 8 2 255 Middle 1.50 30 70 Yes 3 Yes No Yes FlowersI 221 Agonis flexuosa 8 3 910 Middle 1.00 40 60 Yes 3 Yes Yes No Flowers Photo 799-800I 222 Agonis flexuosa 7 2 234 Lower/Middle 1.00 30 70 Yes 1 No No No FlowersI 223 Agonis flexuosa 7 2 258 Lower/Middle 1.00 35 65 Yes 2 Yes No No FlowersI 224 Agonis flexuosa 7.5 1 625 Lower/Middle 2.50 15 85 Yes 4 No No No FlowersI 225 Agonis flexuosa 7 1 335 Lower/Middle 1.00 45 55 Yes 1 No No No FlowersI 226 Agonis flexuosa 8 4 351 Middle 1.00 45 55 Yes 2 Yes No No FlowersI 227 Agonis flexuosa 8 1 204 Middle 1.00 40 60 Yes 2 Yes No Yes FlowersI 228 Agonis flexuosa 7 4 168 Lower/Middle 1.00 40 60 Yes 2 No No Yes FlowersI 229 Agonis flexuosa 5 2 185 Lower 1.00 40 60 Yes 2 Yes No No Flowers Still limb on ground

3 of 4



Crown Density


Growth


Fruiting

Transect No. or


Trunks

Crown Dieback

I 230 Agonis flexuosa 5 3 187 Lower 1.50 27 73 Yes 3 No No No Flowers Drey x1I 231 Agonis flexuosa 5.5 4 121 Lower 1.00 40 60 Yes 1 No No No FlowersI 232 Agonis flexuosa 5 1 149 Lower 1.00 35 65 Yes 1 No No No FlowersI 233 Agonis flexuosa 8.5 2 499 Middle/Upper 2.00 25 75 Yes 2 No No No FlowersI 234 Agonis flexuosa 12 1 524 Upper 1.00 40 60 Yes 2 No No No Flowers Drey x1I 235 Agonis flexuosa 8.5 2 229 Middle/Upper 1.00 35 65 Yes 2 Yes No No FlowersI 236 Agonis flexuosa 8.5 1 371 Middle/Upper 1.00 35 65 Yes 2 Yes No No FlowersI 237 Agonis flexuosa 9 2 142 Upper 1.00 40 60 Yes 2 Yes No No Flowers Drey x1I 238 Agonis flexuosa 10.5 3 306 Upper 1.50 30 70 Yes 3 Yes No Yes FlowersI 239 Agonis flexuosa 10 2 275 Upper 1.50 30 70 Yes 3 No No No FlowersI 240 Agonis flexuosa 6 1 213 Lower 1.50 25 75 Yes 1 No No No FlowersI 241 Agonis flexuosa 10 2 400 Upper 1.75 25 75 Yes 2 Yes No No FlowersI 242 Agonis flexuosa 10 2 333 Upper 1.50 25 75 Yes 2 No No Yes FlowersI 243 Agonis flexuosa 9 1 317 Upper 1.50 25 75 Yes 2 No No No FlowersI 244 Agonis flexuosa 8.5 3 195 Middle/Upper 1.75 25 75 Yes 2 Yes No No FlowersI 245 Agonis flexuosa 8 2 134 Middle 1.50 25 75 Yes 1 No No Yes FlowersI 246 Agonis flexuosa 8 1 327 Middle 1.00 40 60 Yes 2 No No No FlowersI 247 Agonis flexuosa 7 1 202 Lower/Middle 1.50 35 65 Yes 2 Yes No No FlowersI 248 Agonis flexuosa 9 1 335 Upper 1.50 30 70 Yes 2 Yes No Yes FlowersI 249 Agonis flexuosa 10 3 443 Upper 1.00 45 55 Yes 3 No No No FlowersI 250 Agonis flexuosa 8 6 258 Middle 1.00 55 45 Yes 2 Yes No No FlowersI 251 Agonis flexuosa 9.5 6 89 Upper 1.50 45 35 Yes 4 No No No FlowersI 252 Agonis flexuosa 6 4 245 Middle 1.50 35 65 Yes 2 Yes No No FlowersI 253 Agonis flexuosa 10 6 278 Upper 1.50 35 65 Yes 3 Yes No No FlowersI 254 Agonis flexuosa 9.5 2 468 Upper 2.25 25 75 Yes 4 No No No FlowersI 255 Agonis flexuosa 9 5 255 Upper 1.75 25 75 Yes 3 Yes No No FlowersI 256 Agonis flexuosa 11 7 184 Upper 1.50 40 60 Yes 2 Yes No No FlowersI 257 Agonis flexuosa 9.5 1 695 Upper 1.75 35 65 Yes 2 Yes Yes No FlowersI 258 Agonis flexuosa 8 8 391 Middle 1.00 40 60 Yes 2 No No No FlowersI 259 Agonis flexuosa 10 1 625 Upper 2.50 25 75 Yes 3 No No No FlowersI 260 Agonis flexuosa 10 7 280 Upper 1.75 25 75 Yes 3 Yes No Yes FlowersI 261 Agonis flexuosa 7.5 4 155 Middle 2.00 25 75 Yes 4 Yes No No FlowersI 262 Agonis flexuosa 7 1 186 Lower 1.75 25 75 Yes 3 Yes No No FlowersI 263 Agonis flexuosa 11.5 5 98 Upper 1.75 30 70 Yes 3 Yes No No FlowersI 264 Agonis flexuosa 10.5 7 86 Upper 1.75 30 70 Yes 3 Yes No No FlowersI 265 Agonis flexuosa 11 7 244 Upper 2.25 20 80 Yes 3 Yes No No FlowersI 266 Agonis flexuosa 11 3 323 Upper 1.50 35 65 Yes 3 Yes No Yes FlowersI 267 Agonis flexuosa 9 2 395 Upper 3.00 8 92 Yes 5 Yes No No FlowersI 268 Agonis flexuosa 9 5 235 Upper 1.50 30 70 Yes 2 Yes No No FlowersI 269 Agonis flexuosa 10 1 539 Upper 2.00 25 75 Yes 3 Yes No Yes FlowersI 270 Agonis flexuosa 5 1 181 Lower 2.00 20 80 Yes 3 Yes No Yes FlowersI 271 Agonis flexuosa 5.5 3 182 Lower 1.00 40 60 Yes 1 Yes No No FlowersI 272 Agonis flexuosa 8.5 1 240 Middle 1.00 35 65 Yes 2 Yes No No FlowersI 273 Agonis flexuosa 11.5 5 343 Upper 1.00 50 50 Yes 2 Yes No Yes FlowersI 274 Agonis flexuosa 7 1 312 Lower 1.50 35 65 Yes 2 No No Yes FlowersI 275 Agonis flexuosa 7.5 1 316 Middle 1.25 40 60 Yes 1 No No No FlowersI 276 Agonis flexuosa 5 1 187 Lower 2.00 25 75 Yes 3 Yes No No FlowersI 277 Agonis flexuosa 6.5 1 153 Lower 1.50 35 65 Yes 1 No No Yes FlowersI 279 Agonis flexuosa 6.5 1 730 Lower 1.75 30 70 Yes 2 No No No FlowersI 280 Agonis flexuosa 7.5 3 439 Middle 1.50 40 60 Yes 2 Yes No Yes FlowersI 281 Agonis flexuosa 6 2 147 Lower 1.75 35 65 Yes 3 Yes No Yes FlowersI 282 Agonis flexuosa 5 1 188 Lower 2.50 15 85 Yes 3 Yes No No Flowers

Note: insects present 'yes' blue font refers to borers, 'yes' red font refers to termites, 'yes' green font refers to termites and borers.

4 of 4

Appendix C Monthly rainfall totals (January 2010 to September 2015) and mean monthly

rainfall for weather station 009515 (BOM 2015)

0

50

100

150

200

250

Jan-

10

Mar

-10

May

-10

Jul-1

0

Sep

-10

Nov

-10

Jan-

11

Mar

-11

May

-11

Jul-1

1

Sep

-11

Nov

-11

Jan-

12

Mar

-12

May

-12

Jul-1

2

Sep

-12

Nov

-12

Jan-

13

Mar

-13

May

-13

Jul-1

3

Sep

-13

Nov

-13

Jan-

14

Mar

-14

May

-14

Jul-1

4

Sep

-14

Nov

-14

Jan-

15

Mar

-15

May

-15

Jul-1

5

Sep

-15

Rai

nfal

l (m

m)

Monthly rainfall totals (January 2010 - Septemeber 2015) and Mean monthly rainfall.

Actual monthly rainfall Mean Monthly rainfall

Appendix D Number and percentage of trees recorded in each crown dieback category for

all spring tree health assessments

Appendix DNumber and percentage of trees recorded in each crown dieback category for all spring tree health assessments

No. of Trees (%)

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

1 (0-5%) 21 (38) 10 (18) 13 (24) 0 (0) 3 (5) 3 (5) 14 (45) 1 (3) 4 (13) 0 (0) 2 (6) 2 (6) 14 (52) 5 (19) 2 (7) 0 (0) 2 (7) 4 (15)

2 (6-10%) 12 (22) 9 (16) 12 (22) 18 (33) 24 (44) 20 (36) 4 (13) 11 (35) 8 (26) 13 (42) 17 (55) 8 (26) 4 (15) 12 (44) 14 (52) 14 (52) 13 (48) 12 (44)

3 (11-20%) 10 (18) 14 (25) 11 (20) 16 (29) 19 (35) 23 (42) 6 (19) 6 (19) 15 (48) 16 (52) 11 (35) 20 (65) 5 (19) 2 (7) 6 (22) 7 (26) 5 (19) 5 (19)

4 (21-40%) 8 (15) 7 (13) 10 (18) 13 (24) 4 (7) 4 (7) 6 (19) 11 (35) 3 (10 1 (3) 0 (0) 0 (0) 4 (15) 4 (15) 3 (11) 2 (7) 3 (11) 1 (4)

5 (41-60%) 0 (0) 5 (9) 3 (5) 3 (5) 2 (4) 0 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0) 3 (11) 1 (4) 0 (0) 1 (4) 1 (4)

6 (61-80%) 1 (2) 4 (7) 3 (5) 3 (5) 1 (2) 3 (5) 0 (0) 2 (6) 0 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0) 2 (7) 2 (7) 0 (0)

7 (81-100%) 3 (5) 6 (11) 3 (5) 2 (4) 2 (4) 2(4) 1 (3) 0 (0) 1 (3) 1 (3) 1 (3) 1 (3) 0 (0) 1 (4) 1 (4) 2 (7) 1 (4) 4 (15)

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

1 (0-5%) 14 (56) 4 (16) 3 (12) 0 (0) 3 (12) 2 (8) 62 (55) 54 (36) 31 (34) 5 (5) 28 (30) 15 (16) 125 (50) 74 (26) 53 (23) 5 (2) 38 (17) 26 (11)

2 (6-10%) 4 (16) 8 (32) 7 (28) 13 (52) 11 (44) 14 (56) 24 (21) 47 (31) 35 (38) 54 (59) 33 (36) 44 (48) 48 (19) 87 (30) 76 (33) 112 (49) 98 (43) 98 (43)

3 (11-20%) 2 (8) 1 (4) 11 (44) 8 (32) 5 (20) 6 (24) 14 (13) 38 (25) 17 (18) 23 (25) 22 24 28 (30) 37 (15) 61 (21) 60 (26) 70 (30) 62 (27) 82 (36)

4 (21-40%) 2 (8) 8 (32) 1 (4) 2 (8) 4 (16) 0 (0) 11 (10) 7 (5) 5 (5) 6 (7) 9 (10) 4 (4) 31 (12) 37 (13) 22 (10) 24 (10) 20 (9) 9 (4)

5 (41-60%) 1 (4) 1 (4) 1 (4) 0 (0) 0 (0) 2 (8) 1 (1) 5 (3) 2 (2) 3 (3) 0 (0) 1 (1) 2 (1) 14 (5) 7 (3) 6 (3) 3 (1) 4 (2)

6 (61-80%) 1 (4) 2 (8) 0 (0) 0 (0) 1 (4) 0 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0) 2 (2) 1 (1) 0 (0) 0 (0) 2 (1) 8 (3) 5 (2) 6 (3) 4 (2) 3 (1)

7 (81-100%) 1 (4) 1 (4) 2 (8) 2 (8) 1 (4) 1 (4) 0 (0) 1 (1) 0 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0) 5 (2) 9 (3) 7 (3) 7 (3) 5 (2) 8 (3)

Brackets indicate the percentage of each value for each category and transect


Transect 1 Transect 2

Transect 4 Individual


Transect 3

CombinedNo. of Trees (%)

Appendix E Spec Terra Services – Busselton Hospital Change Detection October 2014 to

October 2015

Appendix F Spec Terra Services – Busselton Hospital Change Detection October 2010 to

October 2015

Department of Health Spring 2015 Tree Health Monitoring · · 2016-02-18The approach employed for...

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