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

BCRO RA Respanse to Council 20084125 Page 13 of 28

supported in part as it was considered that the community, although scattered in its distribution and
limited to the Noosa Shire in Queensland, was adequately represented and protected with 59% of the
remaining area of the community type within Noosa National Park and other protected tenures. (DEWHA,
2008)

Statement of Impact
The following comment was provided in Section 2.1 of the Ecological Assessment Report (2007):

2.1.1 Impacts on Vegetation

“The proposed development of the Subject Site will be occurring within the northern area of the
site Lot 1) in accordance with Noosa Council’s zoning of the site and OUM mapping. Vegetation
occurring within the development footprint is well represented throughout other areas of the
Subject Site with the exception of the small waterway located within Lot 7, RP890947; however
the proposed development will not utilise this Lot and therefore the existing riparian vegetation will
be retained.

Retaining a conservation buffer to the site's waterway will ensure that the fauna habitat values of
the waterway are retained under the proposed development. The additional benefits of observing
a waterway setback will be to protect the riparian vegetation that currently provides bank stability
and reduces sedimentation and pollution of Burgess Creek downstream of the junction with the
site’s waterway.”

Koalas

The Site is designated as a Koala Management Area under the Koala Conservation Plan, however
surveys have revealed that the Site’s Koala habitat values are generally low, and no Koalas, scats or
scratch marks were detected on the subject site or development area

The Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) has been recorded from suitable habitat in the wider locality,
including the northern sections of Noosa National Park. Targeted surveys for this species (including
spotlighting, call-playback and scat searches) failed to detect signs of the Koala at the Subject Site.
Habitat assessment (combined with vegetation survey results) indicates that Koala forage tree
species do not occur at the site. It is therefore unlikely that the Subject Site provides suitable
habitat for Koalas, and the proposed development of the northern area of the site will not result in
any significant impacts on this species. Koala Conservation Plan provisions are addressed in
Appendix F of the Ecological Report (2007).

Lot 6 is located within the Urban Koala Area on maps within the Nature Conservation (Koala) Conservation
Plan 2006 and Management program 2006-2026 and that part of Lot 1 proposed for the development is
in the Koala Sustainability Area. The Proposed development is a “committed development” with the
requirement to minimise the removal of koala habitat trees > 10cm diameter at 1.3 metres above ground
height.

Additional Targeted Flora survey
As identified in the response Item 15 of this information response, and requirements of the information

Request from the EPA, A targeted Tree Survey was undertaken to address the information request form
the EPA with regard to koala habitat trees genera (Corymbia, Melaleuca, Eucalyptus Angophora and
Lophostemon) present on the site. Only Corymbia intermedia and Melaleuca quinquenervia were observed
on site (ATTACHMENT 4).