Att4 - Ecological Assessment Report

Ecological Assessment Report v1                                                              NCES REF: J001061
Lot 7 on RP216403, Lot 394 on M371117, and Lot 650 on M37380 – 48-59 Kabi Road, Cootharaba


4.3.6    Vegetation Community 6 – Paperbark open forest with unmanaged understorey
VC6 is present within a single vegetation patch to the west of Village 1 (refer VC01). It is
characterised by a linear patch of paperbark open forest with an unmanaged understorey. The
vegetation community exhibits an average canopy height of 12m. The unit exhibited a monoculture
of Melaleuca quinquenervia (broad-leaved paperbark) at a thickness of 2-3 trees. The understorey
contained unmanaged grass.
Although VC6 contains native vegetation it is not considered representative of an Ecologically
Important Area under the NC Planning Scheme by virtue of its limited scale (refer grey shading
VC01). Plate 16 depicts typical vegetation within VC6.




                       Plate 16 – VC6 – Paperbark open forest with unmanaged understorey

4.3.7    Vegetation Community 7 – Paperbark open forest with managed understorey
VC7 is present in two units in the southwestern site extent and is characterised by paperbark open
forest with a managed understorey (mown grass and/or maintained garden). The vegetation
community exhibits an average canopy height of 12-16m.
The canopy was dominated by Melaleuca quinquenervia (broad-leaved paperbark) but also
contained mixed Acacia spp.. The understorey contained either mown lawn (Plate 17 left) or
maintained garden (Plate 17 right) including species such as; Lomandra hystrix (mat rush), Strelitzia
reginae (birds of paradise), Pteridium esculentum (bracken fern), and Rhaphis excelsa (lady palm).
Although VC7 did contain native vegetation it is not considered representative of an Ecologically
Important Area due to its modified understorey conditions. Plate 17 depicts typical vegetation within
VC7.




     Plate 17 – VC7 – Paperbark open forest with managed understorey (mown lawn and/or planted garden)




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