080620 BCR02_EcoAssess_20071109_Final_MT.pdf [As Published] · 132008.1128

2.0       SITE ASSESSMENT

2.1       Methodology

2.1.1     Review of Existing Data

Before the commencement of field surveys, the following documents and databases were reviewed to
develop a working list of target species and potential management issues:

      o   Review of Noosa Shire Planning Scheme 2006 as has been described in Section 1;
      o   Review of the Regional Ecosystem mapping for the area as discussed in Section 2.2;
      o   The occurrence of significant plants, plant communities and fauna is discussed in Section 2.2;
      o   The koala management area mapping as per the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Nature
          Conservation (Koala) Conservation Management Program 2006-2016;
      o   The EPA Wildnet and the EPBC Act Database were reviewed to determine the occurrence of
          threatened species in this locality. Search results are provided in Appendices A & B; and


2.1.2     Field Surveys

Flora

The survey methodology utilised for this site was a “walk-through, total species” account. A total of
three (3) hours was spent on site. Species percentage was not recorded, but instead dominance of
emergent, understorey and groundcover species was noted. Within the appendices to this report,
species are graded as to their occurrence on site. Community descriptions are based on the classification
system of Walker and Hopkins (1990). The extent of each vegetation community is shown in FIGURE 6
and generally reflects current EPA mapping.

Fauna

The primary goal of the survey was to assess the potential occurrence of, and likely impacts of
development to, terrestrial fauna. Survey efforts were targeted to determine the likely occurrence of
fauna species listed as threatened under Commonwealth and Queensland legislation. Determining the
suitability of the site for threatened fauna provides an indication of the overall habitat values of the site
for a wider range of species. Surveys were conducted during January and February 2007.

Techniques employed to determine the sites habitat values included trapping, observations and habitat
assessment. An outline of survey effort and specific techniques employed for each fauna group is
provided below:

                                 Method                       Survey effort
                                 Elliot trapping              200 trap nights
                                 Cage trapping                12 trap nights
                                 Hair tubes                   160 trap nights
                                 Diurnal searches             40 hours
                                 Dawn surveys                 4 hours
                                 Anabat surveys               8 hours
                                 Call playback                4 hours
                                 Nocturnal searches           8 hours




Grasstree Court, Sunrise Beach         Ecological Assessment Report (BCR02)                PLACE Environmental

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