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



                                                                                  Habitat trees, recruitment habitat trees, and roosting, breeding and feeding areas are
                                                                                  protected for native fauna habitat.
 PO4                                                                              AO4.1                                                                                            AO4.1 – Due to the limited amount of vegetation clearing required minimal
 Development provides for effective measures during construction                  Vegetation is protected from disturbance or damage from construction and operation               disturbance and/or damage is expected as a result of the proposed
 and operation to protect ecological values including:                            activities by:                                                                                   development.
 a) avoiding disturbance to or clearing of vegetation in and within the               a) clearly marking trees to be retained with flagging tape;                                  However, if required, a Vegetation Management Plan that details, as a
 vicinity of the site;                                                                b) installing protective fencing around the dripline of the vegetation and avoid filling     minimum, the protection measures listed in AO4.1 can be produced by the
 b) managing habitat disturbance and physical harm to fauna from                            and excavating in these fenced areas;                                                  applicant for the future Operational Works application and can be conditioned
 noise, vibration, dust, light, dewatering or excavating; and                         c) ensuring stockpiling, storage and vehicle parking occurs outside the identified           by Council with an approval.
 c) avoiding clearing in areas where erosion or slippage could occur.                       vegetation areas; and
                                                                                      d) using low impact construction techniques around vegetation.

                                                                                  AO4.2                                                                                            AO4.2 – All existing vegetation outside of the proposed development footprint
                                                                                  Vegetation which is capable of forming or contributing to a buffer between different land        will continue to form a buffer between the site and adjacent land uses.
                                                                                  uses or a buffer against pollution, light spillage or noise is retained.

                                                                                  AO4.3
                                                                                  Lighting associated with development:                                                            AO4.3 - Lighting associated with development shall comply with AO4.3 and can
                                                                                      a) does not contribute an unacceptable level of illuminance (greater than 1 lux) for light   be conditioned with an approval.
                                                                                          sensitive species within or at the boundary of an ecologically important area; and
                                                                                      b) does not contribute to an unacceptable level of illuminance on landward horizons          b) N/A
                                                                                          along coastal areas and known marine turtle nesting beaches.

                                                                                  AO4.4                                                                                            AO4.4 – The proposed development areas are located upslope of the dams
                                                                                  Clearing of vegetation does not involve clearing that may cause or contribute to hillslope       and waterways onsite. Appropriate erosion and sediment controls works are
                                                                                  erosion, bank erosion, or slippage.                                                              expected to control the potential adverse impacts of hillslope erosion, bank
                                                                                                                                                                                   erosion, or slippage on the dams and waterways. Civil engineering (to be
                                                                                                                                                                                   prepared by others) works will be designed to prevent erosion without the
                                                                                                                                                                                   reliance on vegetation.
 Connectivity
 PO5                                                                              AO5                                                                                              The development does not propose a significant volume of vegetation clearing.
 Development is designed and operated to maintain and enhance                     Development is designed and operated to maintain ecological linkages and maximise                The vegetation impacted as a result of the development is considered low
 connectivity between and across ecologically important areas and                 opportunity for connectivity and the movement of fauna by:                                       ecological value and does not form part of a significant ecological linkage (i.e.,
 connecting habitat and support unimpeded and safe movement of                       a) ensuring protection of wildlife refuges;                                                   semi-mature trees located within VC4). The development will not remove any
 terrestrial and aquatic fauna.                                                      b) maintaining vegetation in patches of the greatest possible size and within the             ecologically important areas and maintains connectivity between and across
                                                                                         smallest possible edge-to-area ratio;                                                     ecologically important areas and connecting habitat and support unimpeded
                                                                                     c) enhancing connectivity through planting and rehabilitation works, including across         and safe movement of terrestrial and aquatic fauna.
                                                                                         property boundaries, to areas of national park, state forest or reserve;
                                                                                     d) avoiding the creation of physical barriers and safety hazards (such as roads,
                                                                                         pedestrian access and instream structures) along and within the ecological linkage;
                                                                                     e) providing mitigation measures such as wildlife movement infrastructure, fauna
                                                                                         exclusion and directional fencing, underpasses/overpasses and traffic calming
                                                                                         devices, signage and lighting; and
                                                                                     f) where offsets are necessary, delivering offsets that support and enhance ecological
                                                                                         linkages.
 Waterways and Wetlands
 PO6                                                                              AO6.1                                                                                            AO6.1 The development does not represent potential to clear vegetation within
 The biodiversity and ecosystem values of waterways, drainage lines,              Development and clearing of vegetation does not occur within:                                    the following:
 wetlands and adjacent riparian zones are protected by:                              a) a riparian buffer area;                                                                         a) a riparian buffer area;
     a) avoiding any new development in a riparian buffer area and                   b) a wetland area; or                                                                              b) a wetland area; or
        wetland area;                                                                c) 10 metres either side of the centre line of other waterways identified on a                     c) 10 metres either side of the centre line of other waterways identified
     b) retaining aquatic and terrestrial habitat in riparian zones;                     Biodiversity, Waterways and Wetlands Overlay Map.                                                  on a Biodiversity, Waterways and Wetlands Overlay Map.
     c) maintaining and enhancing wildlife corridors and connectivity                                                                                                              Note Village 2 (the closest proposed building to the waterway identified on a
        along watercourses and drainage lines for native fauna                    AO6.2                                                                                            Biodiversity, Waterways and Wetlands Overlay Map, refer Plate 4) is located
        movement;                                                                 Development provides for the rehabilitation of land within:                                      approximately >40m from the centreline of the northerly adjacent waterway.
     d) avoiding edge effects and damage from adjacent land uses;                    a) a riparian buffer area;                                                                    Furthermore, the Village 2 location has been located a minimum of 10m from
     e) maintaining stream integrity and bank stability by minimising                b) a wetland area; and                                                                        the proposed edge of the northern adjacent waterway modification extent
        bank erosion and slumping;                                                   c) 10 metres either side of the centre line of any other waterway identified on a             (refer dashed magenta linework VC02).
     f) maintaining water quality through filtering sediments,                           Biodiversity, Waterways and Wetlands Overlay Map.
        nutrients and other pollutants; and                                                                                                                                        AO6.2 – Watercourse modification involving widening of the existing waterway
     g) removing pest species and replacing them with local native                                                                                                                 and creation of an extended canoe run from the northeast dam is proposed.
        species.                                                                  AO6.3                                                                                            The modification avoids impacts to riparian vegetation (as none is present) and
                                                                                                                                                                                   will create a net positive impact on the waterway long-term through the net




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