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



7     CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

7.1       Conclusion
A desktop and field investigation have been undertaken to determine the environmental values
present within Lot 7 on RP216403, Lot 394 on M371117, and Lot 650 on M37380 located at 48-59
Kabi Road, Cootharaba QLD. The outcomes of the desktop and field investigations identified the
following:
      •    The site supports local and State level biodiversity values.
      •    The site is mapped within the Noosa Plan 2020 as being situated in the Rural Residential
           Zone and containing Area of Biodiversity Significance, MSES Environmental Values, and
           MSES Regulated Vegetation – intersecting a waterway course.
      •    The development proposal has avoided impacts to the identified Ecologically Important Areas
           onsite precluding modification of the denuded watercourse. A small number of semi-mature
           trees located external of the VC1b unit will be impacted by the proposed Village 1 location.
The application has been assessed against several assessment frameworks and determined to be
compliant as follows:
      •    Noosa Plan 2020, Code 8.2.2 Biodiversity, Waterways and Wetlands – Compliant subject to
           Council acceptance of the measures proposed to mitigate the impact of the proposed
           development on the mapped MSES Regulated Vegetation – intersecting a watercourse (i.e.,
           FMP and appropriate sediment and erosion control works).
      •    Vegetation Management Act 1999 and the associated State Code 16 Native Vegetation
           Clearing – No further assessment is required.
      •    State Code 25 Development in South East Queensland koala habitat areas – No further
           assessment is required.
      •    Nature Conservation Act 1992 – Compliant provided the provision of;
              o    a suitably qualified and experienced fauna spotter/catcher is present during all
                  vegetation clearing onsite; and
              o   Further advice is sought from DES regarding requirement for a Protected Plants
                  Clearing Permit prior to any vegetation removal;
      •    Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 – referral is deemed
           unnecessary at this time.
The following recommendations are set to reduce the environmental impact of the proposal and to
secure DA approval:
      •    Appropriate erosion and sediment control works are conducted to mitigate the impact to the
           adjacent waterways and dams during construction;
      •    A Fauna Management Plan is prepared for the future OPW application to manage the risk of
           impact to terrestrial and aquatic fauna during civil works. The FMP includes a requirement
           for a suitably qualified and experienced fauna spotter catcher to be engaged to supervise
           vegetation clearing and waterway augmentation on the site;
      •    Further advice is sought from DES regarding the requirement for a Protected Plants Clearing
           Permit; and
      •    All future landscaping and revegetation work consists of suitable local native species (NOTE:
           revegetation design should consider tree fall risk and bushfire risk).




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