Appendix F - Ecological Assessment Report

Ecological Assessment Report v1                                                        NCES REF: J001050
Lot 3 on RP131369 – 96 Black Mountain Range Road, Black Mountain




                                                EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

North Coast Environmental Services have been commissioned to prepare an Ecological Assessment
Report for Lot 3 on RP131369, located at 96 Black Mountain Range Road, Black Mountain
(referenced hereafter as ‘the site’). The report was requested to identify the environmental values of
the site and to determine the suitability of a Reconfigure of a Lot (1 into 2) development application
to be submitted to Noosa Council. The outcomes of the environmental 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,
         Waterways, and Riparian Buffer Area.
    •    Two vegetation communities were observed within and adjacent to the site:
             o    Vegetation Community 1 (VC 1) – Regrowth Rainforest;
             o    Vegetation Community 2 (VC 2) – Managed grassland with low density of semi-
                  mature trees.
    •    The development proposal will require the removal of semi-mature trees located within the
         VC2 area of which are located outside of the identified Ecologically Important Areas onsite.
    •    A small protruding unit (approx. 135m2) of VC1 contained within Lot 1 located outside of the
         proposed Vegetation Protection Covenant will be exposed to potential future exempt clearing
         rights gained from the proposed boundary location.
    •    Approximately 4.754ha of the site is proposed to be secured within a Vegetation Protection
         Covenant inclusive of 99.7% of the identified Ecologically Important Areas onsite. A Covenant
         Area Management Plan is proposed to enhance the floristic integrity of the covenant area
         through weed controls works and revegetation (where necessary).
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 Area of Biodiversity Significance, (i.e., covenants and
         rehabilitation plan).
    •    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 a suitably qualified and
         experienced fauna spotter/catcher is present during all vegetation clearing onsite.
    •    Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 – referral is deemed
         unnecessary.
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 impact to the
         adjacent Ecologically Important Areas during construction;
    •    A Covenant Area Management plan inclusive of weed control works and revegetation (where
         necessary) is enacted to enhance the floristic integrity of the Vegetation Protection Covenant
         Area;
    •    A suitably qualified and experienced fauna spotter catcher be engaged to supervise
         vegetation clearing on the site; and


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