Rev Fauna Flora Assessment

                                                                                  Native Foresters



3.3      Fauna assessment
The vegetation and physical habitat features within the survey area support a diverse assemblage
of native fauna including, but not limited to, two mammal species, twenty bird species, five species
of reptiles, four amphibian species and one fish. It also supports a small population of Swamp
Crayfish, a conservation significant aquatic invertebrate.

The Vulnerable-listed Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) was not observed during the survey
periods, however primary and secondary Koala food trees (e.g. Eucalyptus robusta) are present
and the species is known to occur within the surrounding one kilometre area (Koala tracker 2017,
WildNET 2017). It is considered possible that dispersing Koalas may pass through the area on
occasion, but the dense, near impenetrable understorey and wet heathland at the Carramar site
does not constitute core habitat for the species.

Ringtail possums (Pseudocheirus peregrinus) were observed on the southern edge of the survey
area in the mature Eucalypt canopy and it is likely that they exploit abundant nearby weed and
fruit trees for food resources.

Grey-headed flying fox (Pteropus poliocephalus) have been observed during previous surveys of
the area feeding on Pink bloodwood (Corymbia intermedia) and Paperbark tea tree (Melaleuca
quinquenervia). This species is listed as Vulnerable under the EPBC Act.

Numerous birds were observed foraging in the survey area, particularly in the north-eastern
section where the earth was drier and the vegetation included a diversity of environmental weeds
and native rainforest elements. Small, insectivorous birds e.g. Brown thornbill (Acanthiza pusilla)
and White-browed scrubwren (Sericornis frontalis) foraged in the thick undergrowth, while Rufous
whistler (Pachycephala rufiventris) and Golden whistler (Pachycephala pectoralis) occupied the
mid-strata. In the swampier areas, the canopy was dominated by large, aggressive, nectarivorous
species e.g. Rainbow lorikeet (Trichoglossus haematodus), Noisy friarbird (Philemon
corniculatus) and Noisy miner (Manorina melanocephala).

Garden skinks (Lampropholis delicata) were abundant in the thick undergrowth and under piles
of dumped palm fronds and garden waste. Bar sided skink (Concinnia tenuis) was observed
among the coarse woody debris and leaf litter near the carpark area. An additional three native
reptile species and one introduced species were recorded during the survey.

Eastern sedge frog (Litoria fallax), Graceful tree frog (Litoria gracilenta) and a large population of
Beeping froglet (Crinia parinsignifera) were detected calling throughout the proposed extent of
works, from vegetation and ponds in both the forested areas and the mown areas near the
bustop/shelter. Whilst additional species may opportunistically use the site, no EVNT-listed
amphibians were detected during multiple surveys over two survey periods (May 2017 and March
2018 following rainfall events for both surveys). There are a small number of records (2) of Wallum
froglets and Wallum rocketfrog within one kilometre (WildNET, 2017).

A small population of Endangered Swamp crayfish (Tenuibranchiurus glypticus) (as listed in NC
Act) was observed in the Melaleuca wetland, when 37 mm of rain prior to the May 2017 survey
and 47 mm of rain prior to the March 2018 survey, resulted in temporal inundation of the area
between the carpark and eastern site boundary. The location of Swamp crayfish is shown in
Figure 9. Under Section 332 of the Nature Conservation (Wildlife Management) Regulation
2006: A person must not, without a reasonable excuse, tamper with an animal breeding place
that is being used by a protected animal to incubate or rear the animal’s offspring. Further
information on Swamp Crayfish and their habitat is provided in Section 4.6.


Carramar Extension – Fauna and Flora Assessment – Revision 2                                         23