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

BCROG RFt Response to Council 20081426 ” Page 6 of 28

2008 Bushfire

On 9-10 October 2008 unplanned bushfires impacted on the Noosa National Park and all of Lot 1
SP177650 from Grasstree Court south. The small area of Schoenus scabripes (FIGURE 2) was impacted
along with the majority of the understorey across the site. Significant scorch impact occurred in trees across
the site. It is anticipated that they will recover in response to follow-up rain that fell after that fotlowed the
bushfires.

The Gompholobium has recovered from the fires in 2007, however some of the balance of the targeted
species may been impacted on by continued high frequencies. This will be an issue for broad scale
management of fire regimes across the Noosa National Park and the balance of Lot 1 south of the
proposed development “Community Service zone”.

Conclusion

As previously considered the proposed-layout will minimise the level of impact on the identified rare and
threatened plants by placing development in the more disturbed elevated section of Lot 1 that contained
few observed target plants. This elevated section of the site is located within the “Community Service
Zone” which is considered an “urban purpose” for which “of concern” RE may be cleared despite the
coverage by the essential habitat mapping.

It is demonstrated through the combined ecological surveys that the rare and threatened plants species
observed on site are associated with the wet heath or the wet heath/ dry heath interface that will be
specifically protected by the proposed 20m conservation buffer.

Significant populations of the Gompholobium observed are to be retained within the adjoining Noosa
National Park. As a result it is considered that the proposed development will not have a critical impact on
the rare and threatened species, given the significant area of the same RE types and habitat protected
within the Noosa National Park and the area of Lot 1 not proposed for development.

It is recommended that the Operational Works Permit include a Vegetation Management Plan. The aim of
this Plan is to protect all ecological values within the 20 m wide conservation buffer, the adjoining Noosa
National Park and to undertake a rescue and translocation operation for those rare and threatened plants
within the approved development footprint. The translocation activity would be guided by Council and the
EPA and be managed under the supervision of an appropriately experienced Botanist. The rescue activity
would be dependent upon the recovery of these rare and threatened species after the October 2008 fire.