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

2.0 SITE ASSESSMENT
2.1 Methodology
2.1.1 Review of Existing Data

Before the commencement of field surveys, the following documents and databases were reviewed to
develop a working list of target species and potential management issues:

2 Review of Noosa Shire Planning Scheme 2006 as has been described in Section 1,

o Review of the Regional Ecosystem mapping for the area as discussed in Section 2.2;

9 The occurrence of significant plants, plant communities and fauna is discussed in Section 2.2;
The koala management area mapping as per the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Nature
Conservation (Koala) Conservation Management Program 2006-2016;

o The EPA Wildnet and the EPBC Act Database were reviewed to determine the occurrence of
threatened species in this locality. Search results are provided in Appendices A & B; and

2.1.2 Field Surveys

Flora

The survey methodology utilised for this site was a preliminary “walk-through, total species” (random
meander) account performed in October 2005. 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. A total of three (3) hours was spent on site

Supplementary mapping of recorded Gompholobium virgatum var.emarginatum was performed during
targeted threatened species searches performed in February 2006. Differential GPS technology was used
to perform this mapping, so_as to provide sub-metre accuracy.

In response to “Requests for Further Information” requested from the concurrence authorities of EPA
and DNRW, further seasonal targeted threatened species searches performed in September 2008.
Mapping of koala habitat trees was performed concurrently.

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:

 

Grasstree Court, Sunrise Beach Ecological Assessment Report (BCRO2) PLACE Environmental

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