080620 BCR02_EcoAssess_20071109_Final_MT.pdf [As Published] · 132008.1128

provides significant habitat for these birds. There are no suitably large hollow-bearing trees within the
proposed development area of the Subject Site that would provide suitable nesting habitat for the
Glossy Black Cockatoo.

The site’s waterway also provides a source of drinking water for small birds. It is likely that removal of
vegetation from the site’s northern waterway would result in a loss of habitat for the Lewin’s Rail at the
Subject Site, and would also remove a small area of forage habitat for the Glossy Black Cockatoo, and
suitable shelter habitat for small birds that use the waterway as a drinking point.

The site does not support large freshwater wetlands or tidal areas and is therefore unsuitable as habitat
for the Australian Painted Snipe, Black-necked Stork, Beach Stone-curlew, Sooty Oystercatcher, Eastern
Curlew, Little Tern and a range of migratory wading birds protected under international agreements
(JAMBA, CAMBA). These species are therefore unlikely to occur at the Subject Site, and development of
the site is unlikely to result in any significant impacts on these birds.

The site does not support suitable habitat (subtropical rainforest with fruiting trees) for the Coxen’s Fig-
parrot (Cyclopsitta diophthalma coxeni). It is therefore highly unlikely that this species occurs at the
Subject Site, and the proposed development will not result in any significant impacts on the Coxen’s Fig-
parrot.

The Black-breasted Button-quail (Turnix melanogaster) primarily occupies areas of dense, low vegetation
in closed forest communities. This species typically occurs in dry vine forests, but is also known to occur
in other communities, including coastal scrubs (pers. obs.). The Black-breasted Button-quail has been
recorded from Fraser Island and at Inskip Point on the adjacent mainland. Although no signs of
occurrence of this species (including indicative “platelets” formed by foraging birds) were recorded at
the Subject Site during the survey period, habitat assessment indicates that vegetation in the southern
area of the site may provide marginal forage habitat for the Black-breasted Button-quail. It is likely that
birds originating from known localities may utilise such marginal habitat as “stepping stones” during
dispersal. Given that the proposed development will only occur in the northern area of the site, some
distance from suitable habitat for the Black-breasted Button-quail, it is unlikely to result in any
significant impacts on this species.

The Subject Site supports an abundance of nectar producing flora and thus provides suitable forage
habitat for a range of nectarivorous birds, including the Regent Honeyeater (Xanthomyza Phrygia), Swift
Parrot (Lathamus discolor) and the Black-chinned Honeyeater (Melithreptus gularis). These three species
are all nomadic or migratory birds, and may occur (albeit infrequently) wherever there is an abundance
of nectar-producing vegetation. It is likely that any of these species may forage at the Subject Site
infrequently. However, given the wide range of all species it is unlikely that removal of vegetation
under the proposed development of the northern area of the Subject Site will result in any significant
impacts on any of these birds.

The Ground Parrot (Pezoporus wallicus) was recorded during the survey period from low
sedgeland/heathland along the narrow powerline access crossing Burgess Creek through Noosa
National Park. It is likely that the Ground Parrot occupies all areas of this habitat throughout the section
of the national park abutting the Subject Site. However, no habitat for the Ground Parrot occurs within
the northern area of the site, and it is unlikely that the proposed development will result in any
significant impacts on Ground Parrots at the site or in the adjacent Noosa National Park.

The Black-throated Finch (Poephila cincta cincta) is now extremely rare in southern parts of it’s former
range. This species typically occurs in grassy open woodland communities, particularly in inland areas.
The Black-throated Finch was not recorded at the Subject Site during the survey period, and is unlikely
to occur here. The proposed development of the northern area of the site will not result in any
significant impacts on the Black-throated Finch.

Database searches indicate that none of the large forest owl species has been recently recorded in the
locality of the Subject Site. Targeted searches during the survey period failed to locate any of the
species at the site, and habitat assessment indicates that the Subject Site does not provide suitable
forage, roost or nesting habitat for any of the large forest owls.

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

                                                                                                      Page 19