08/1128 - Information Response to Biodiversity Items & Ecological Impact Items - Place Designs [As Published] · 132008.1128

BCRO® RF Response to Council 20081126. Page 11 of 28

Item 17.

Please provide an assessment of the ecological matters relevant to the site in accordance with
the guidelines contained within Planning Scheme Policy 18 Ecological Assessment Guidelines.
Targeted species are to include rare and threatened species listed under EPBC 1999 and NCA
1992.

Existing Databases and Survey Method

The survey methodology used to prepare the Ecological Assessment Report (2007) for both flora sand
fauna is outlined in Section 2 of that report and is reproduced below and included within the Ecological
Assessment Report (2008) (ATTACHMENT 2). The EPBC Protected Matters and EPA Wildlife online data
base search were conducted. The results of these searches were included in the Ecological Assessment
Report (2007) and used to guide field surveys.

2.1.2 Field Surveys

“Flora

The survey methodology utilised for this site was a “walk-through, total species” account. A total
of three (3) hours was spent on site. Species percentage was not recorded, but instead
dominance of emergent, understorey and groundcover species was noted. Within the appendices
to this report, species are graded as to their occurrence on site. Community descriptions are
based on the classification system of Walker and Hopkins (1990). The extent of each vegetation
community is shown in FIGURE 6 and generally reflects current EPA mapping.

Fauna

The primary goal of the survey was to assess the potential occurrence of, and likely impacts of
development to, terrestrial fauna. Survey efforts were targeted to determine the likely occurrence
of fauna species listed as threatened under Commonwealth and Queensland legislation.
Determining the suitability of the site for threatened fauna provides an indication of the overall
habitat values of the site for a wider range of species. Surveys were conducted during January
and February 2007.

Techniques employed to determine the sites habitat values included trapping, observations and
habitat assessment. An outline of survey effort and specific techniques employed for each fauna
group is provided below:

 

Amphibians

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

rarer Survey effort
Elliot trapping 200 trap nights
Cage trapping 12 trap nights
Hair tubes 160 trap nights
Diurnal searches 40 hours
Dawn surveys 4 hours
Anabat surveys 8 hours
Call playback 4 hours
Nocturnal searches 8 hours

 

 

Pitfall trapping, diurnal searches of shelter habitat, nocturnal searches using spotlight while
traversing suitable habitat on foot and listening for frog calls. Habitat assessment was also
conducted.