080620 BCR02_EcoAssess_20071109_Final_MT.pdf [As Published] · 132008.1128

(enabling effective thermoregulation). These attributes are most common in undisturbed environments.
Habitat assessment indicates that vegetation at the Subject Site provides suitable habitat for a range of
common reptile species. Only four reptile species were recorded at the Subject Site during the survey
period, none of which are listed as threatened under Commonwealth or Queensland legislation.
However, given the availability of suitable habitat at the site, combined with the site’s proximity to
Noosa National Park, it is likely that a much wider diversity of common reptile species occurs here.

Vegetation of the Subject Site differs from that occurring in the adjacent national park (low open
woodland at the site and heathland/sedgeland in the national park) and may therefore provide habitat
for reptiles that is not represented in this section of Noosa National Park. However, the area of the
Subject Site designated as “Urban Footprint” in OUM mapping and zoned for “Community Services” by
Noosa Council represents a relatively small area in the north of the Subject Site. Development of this
area (and removal of vegetation) is unlikely to result in any significant impacts on reptile species that
would also occur in suitable habitat of the southern areas of the Subject Site.

Ophioscincus truncatus was not recorded at the site during the survey period despite targeted surveys
for this species. This species primarily occupies closed or wet open forest communities on rich heavy
soils at elevated sites, although it has also been recorded from coastal lowland forest, woodland and
heathland on pale sandy soils (Wilson 2005). Suitable habitat for Ophioscincus truncatus occurs
throughout the Subject Site, although as this species is dependent on appropriate fire regimes it may no
longer occur at the site. The proposed development of the northern areas of the Subject Site is unlikely
to have any significant impacts on suitable habitat for Ophioscincus truncatus as similar habitat also
occurs in the southern areas of the site.

The Three-toed Snake-tooth Skink (Coeranoscincus reticulatus) occupies subtropical rainforest
environments. This species generally requires large areas of intact suitable habitat and a relative
absence of disturbance. Suitable habitat for the Three-toed Snake-tooth Skink is not provided at the
Subject Site, and this species is therefore unlikely to occur here.

2.4.4     Birds

Queensland’s EPA database searches indicate records for 258 bird species in the locality of the Subject
Site (during the survey period, one additional species, Bush-hen - Amaurornis olivaceus was recorded at
the Subject Site), including 14 threatened (Queensland Nature Conservation Act 1992) species.
Commonwealth database searches indicate the potential occurrence of, or suitable habitat for, three
additional threatened (Commonwealth EPBC Act 1999) bird species.

During the survey period, 39 bird species were recorded at the site, including two Vulnerable and one
Rare (Queensland’s Nature Conservation Act 1992) species. Given the quality of habitat at the Subject
Site and the sites proximity to Noosa National Park it is likely to support many more bird species than
were recorded during the survey including a number of migratory and nomadic species. However, the
northern area of the site that is proposed for development (with the exception of the small waterway
corridor) represents only a small portion of available habitat for birds at the Subject Site. A larger area
of similar open woodland habitat will remain undeveloped in the southern area of the site. It is
therefore unlikely that development at the site will result in any significant impacts on birds at the site
and in the wider area.

Within the proposed development area of the Subject Site, the waterway corridor of the northern
property (Lot 7, RP890947) represents riparian habitat that does not occur in other areas of the site.
Despite disturbance to the waterway, and the incursion of weeds, the waterway currently provides
suitable habitat for a range of species, including the Lewin’s Rail (Rallus pectoralis) which was detected
in this area during the survey period. Lewin’s Rail was also recorded from Burgess Creek within Noosa
National Park immediately downstream of the site’s waterway. Burgess Creek provides similar and more
extensive habitat similar to that represented along the site’s northern waterway.

The site’s waterway corridor is also where the Glossy Black Cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus lathami) was
recorded passing through the site during the survey period. Although Allocasuarina littoralis (a forage
species of the Glossy Black Cockatoo) occurs within the waterway corridor, it is unlikely that the site

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

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