IFC Capital Ltd were required to do a comprehensive study of the sites flora and fauna and they hired a consultant called Conacher Travers to do the site assessment. Conacher Travers did not assess the whole site yet their report confirms the site has immense conservation value. The report says they found 240 plant species (179 native; 39 exotic) which indicates they can't identify some plants. 87 fauna species were recorded ( 56 bird, 18 mammal, 6 reptile, 4 amphibian and 3 molluscs) Under the TSC Act there were 7 threatened flora species, 2 Endangered Ecological Communities and 2 threatened fauna species found.

Conacher Travers study appears to be flawed, even though they found many species on the site. What they omitted from their findings was the presence of a further two  Endangered Ecological Communities - Castlereagh Swamp Woodland and Alluvial Woodland. These are significant omissions as Castlereagh Swamp Woodland appears to be the dominant community within the proposed development areas. This assertion came about following a site inspection of the proposed development areas by Teresa James a renowned expert in Western Sydney vegetation. Ms James wrote a report based on her visit and this important information has been passed onto Penrith Council and the Department of Environment and Conservation. This new information presents a major constraint to any development. A determination by Council that fails to take this information into account could lead to the need for legal intervention.

The author of this website and other concerned citizens have also found anomalies in Conacher Travers mapping of the endangered Persoonia nutans (Nodding Geebung). We have found many Persoonia nutans not found by Conacher Travers. The ones they missed and we found happen to be in areas IFC Capital propose to develop. This is more new information Penrith Council needs to take into consideration in its assessment of the IFC proposal.

The Conacher Travers study claims: 

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

This Flora and Fauna Survey Report has been prepared by Conacher Travers Pty Ltd to identify the flora and fauna characteristics of Lot 2 DP 1057347 The Northern Road Cranebrook.

In respect of matters required to be considered in the Environmental Planning & Assessment Act (1979) and relating to the species / provisions of the Threatened Species Conservation Act (1995), two (2) threatened fauna species, seven (7) threatened flora species and two (2) endangered ecological communities were recorded within or in close proximity to the subject site. These included, Eastern Freetail-bat (Mormopterus norfolkensis), Cumberland Plain Land Snail (Meridolum corniovirens), Acacia bynoeana, Allocasuarina glariecola, Dillwynia tenuifolia, Grevillea juniperina subsp. juniperina, Micromyrtus minutiflora, Persoonia nutans, Pultenaea parviflora, Cooks River / Castlereagh Ironbark Forest and Shale / Gravel Transition Forest.

In respect of matters required to be considered in the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (1999) six threatened flora species, Acacia bynoeana, Allocasuarina glariecola, Dillwynia tenuifolia, Micromyrtus minutiflora, Persoonia nutans and Pultenaea parviflora were recorded. The results of detailed ecological survey and assessment indicate that the site is likely to contain 'important populations' of each of these species. Therefore a referral to Department of the Environment & Heritage should be required.

IFC Capital Ltd has employed another Environmental Consultancy firm called Eco Logical Australia to do an environmental constraints study for the site. Eco Logical based this study primarily on the work of Conacher Travers and some minimal field studies of the site. The findings of this study had to take into consideration the Regional Conservation Assessment requirements of the NSW Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC). This was meant to identify areas of Core or Support to Core habitat. Eco Logical found that over 66% of the site or 124 hectares are Core habitat, 36 hectares are Support to Core habitat and that 20 hectares has no classification.   

These findings by Eco Logical prove that the majority of the site has high conservation value and has no development potential. The findings show that the proposal by IFC Capital to develop 85 hectares will destroy large areas of Core and Support to Core habitat.