Appendix F - Ecological Assessment Report

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




6.2      State Government

6.2.1     Remnant Regional Ecosystems
The Vegetation Management Supporting Map identifies that Category C & R remnant vegetation is
present within the site. Schedule 10, Part 3, Division 4, Table 2 of the Planning Regulation 2017
requires any reconfiguration of a lot application that is assessable development under section 21,
which includes an allotment which is 5ha or larger, to be referred to SARA for assessment against
SDAP State Code 16 - Native vegetation clearing. The site is >5ha in area, however, as the site only
contains regulated regrowth vegetation (i.e. Category C & R) referral is not required as per Schedule
10, Part 3, Division 4, Table 2 of the Planning Regulation 2017.

6.2.2     Nature Conservation (Koala) Conservation Plan 2017 and SDAP State Code 25
          Development in South East Queensland koala habitat areas
The SEQ Koala Conservation Strategy Koala Habitat Mapping identifies that the site occurs outside
of a Koala Priority Area and contains no Koala Habitat Area (refer section 3.4). It should be noted
that the Koala Habitat Mapping was recently updated as the result of a Koala Mapping Amendment
application over the subject site. Therefore, no further assessment is required.

Nature Conservation Act 1992
6.2.2.1 Protected Plants Flora Survey Trigger Map
The Protected Plants Flora Survey Trigger Map identifies that a portion of the site is mapped as a
‘high risk area’ prescribed under the Nature Conservation (Wildlife Management) Regulation 2006.
The flora survey carried out was undertaken in general accordance with the flora survey guidelines
and no conservation significant flora species were identified within the development footprint. As the
proposed development footprint (i.e. VC2) is considered to conform to the definition of a highly
modified environment, a formal flora survey would not be required to be submitted to DES to support
an exempt clearing application. No further consideration of the Protected Plants legislative
framework is therefore required.
6.2.2.2 Fauna
Provision of a suitably qualified and experienced fauna spotter/catcher is necessary during all
vegetation clearing activities to satisfy the duty of care obligations under the NC Act.
Note where active breeding habitat for least concern native fauna is observed, the applicant will be
required to comply with DES’s Species Management Program – low risk of impacts. Where active
breeding habitat for Conservation Significant fauna is observed, the applicant will be required to
prepare and submit a DES compliant Species Management Program – High risk of impacts for
approval prior to clearing commencing. Note active breeding habitat for least concern rainbow
lorikeets was observed in the mature E. tereticornis tree in the west of the site. To avoid possible
delay to clearing activities it is recommended the applicant become a signatory to DES’s Species
Management Program – low risk of impacts.

6.3      Commonwealth Government
No Matters of National Environmental Significance (MNES) were identified during the field
investigation undertaken within the site. Whilst a fauna survey has not been completed the results
of the habitat assessment infers that the threatened fauna species identified in the Protected Matters
Search Report have a low potential to occur within the site due to the limited amount of suitable
habitat and/or a lack of existing records in the locality.
Furthermore, no native bushland clearing is proposed, precluding a small protruding unit (approx.
135m2) of VC1 which could be cleared under future exempt clearing rights gained from the
development proposal. Therefore, a significant impact to any populations of the listed EPBC fauna
species is highly unlikely. Consequently, application referral to the Commonwealth government
under the EPBC Act is deemed unnecessary at this time.




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