080620 BCR02_EcoAssess_20071109_Final_MT.pdf [As Published] · 132008.1128

The Red Goshawk (Erythrotriorchis radiatus) has been recorded from the wider locality, particularly from
the Cooloola region and Fraser Island to the north, and the hinterland areas to the west. Targeted
surveys for this species failed to record any Red Goshawks at the Subject Site during the survey period.
                                                                    2
Given the massive home ranges of this species (approx. 250km ) it is possible that the Subject Site may
form a component of a large matrix of suitable forage habitat for any Red Goshawks that may occur in
the wider locality. However, suitable nest sites and optimal forage habitat for the Red Goshawk usually
consists of tall emergent trees within tall gallery or riparian forest communities within a larger matrix of
intact forest habitat. These habitats are not represented in any areas of the Subject Site.

The Grey Goshawk (Accipiter novaehollandiae) has also been recorded for the wider locality, although it
was not recorded at the Subject Site during the survey period. This species generally prefers to forage in
taller forest and woodland communities than those which occur at the site, although it has also been
observed foraging in low heathland/woodland when this occurs in areas adjacent to taller vegetation
(pers. obs.).

It is acknowledged that all raptor species have large home ranges, encompassing a matrix of forage,
roosting and breeding habitats. It is therefore possible that the site may form a component of the much
larger home ranges of any of the threatened raptor species known from the wider locality. However,
the site does not support suitable nesting habitat for any of the large raptors (taller forest/woodland
vegetation) and it is unlikely that the proposed development of the northern area of the site will have
any significant impacts on threatened raptor species.

2.4.5     Mammals

Queensland’s EPA database searches indicate records for 30 non-marine mammal species in the locality
of the Subject Site, including two Vulnerable (Commonwealth EPBC Act 1999) and one Vulnerable
(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 and Queensland Nature Conservation Act 1992) mammal species.

During the survey period, eight mammal species were recorded at the site. The site provides suitable
habitat for a range of additional mammals known to occur in the wider area. With the exception of the
small waterway corridor in the northern area of the site, all suitable habitats for mammals at are also
well represented in the southern area of the Subject site and in the wider locality, and development of
the site is therefore unlikely to result in any significant impacts on common small terrestrial mammal
species known to occur here. The site’s small waterway provides habitat for the Swamp Rat (Rattus
lutreolus) which was recorded from this area during the survey period. However, more extensive habitat
for this species is likely to occur along Burgess Creek in the adjacent Noosa National Park.

The Water Mouse (Xeromys myoides) occurs in tidal mangrove and adjacent saltmarsh communities.
The Subject Site does not support suitable habitat for the Water Mouse, and it is therefore unlikely to
occur here. The proposed development of the northern area of the Subject Site will not result in any
significant impacts on this species.

The Spotted-tail Quoll (Dasyurus maculatus) is known to occur in a range of habitats, including
rainforest, wet and dry eucalypt forest and woodland, and heathland communities. It typically occurs in
large areas of relatively intact habitat. As a medium-sized terrestrial carnivore, it relies heavily on
suitable den and breeding sites including large hollow fallen logs and rocky outcrops. Targeted searches
for the Spotted-tail Quoll (including trapping, spotlighting, call-playback and diurnal searches for den
sites, tracks and scats) failed to record this species at the Subject Site during the survey period. Habitat
assessment indicates that suitable conditions for the Spotted-tail Quoll do not occur at the Subject Site.
It is therefore unlikely that development of the northern area of the site will result in any significant
impacts on this species.

The Long-nosed Potoroo (Potorous tridactylus) typically occupies dense vegetation in a range of
communities including coastal Wallum (Menkhorst 2001). Targeted surveys failed to detect the Long-
nosed Potoroo at the Subject Site. Despite the absence of records, this species may occur in the

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

                                                                                                      Page 20