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Reference Document - Revised Determination and Location of Offset Requirements - Site A on Lot 77 SP298776 -132005.638.04
NOOSA COUNCIL
REFERENCE DOCUMENT
Native Foresters 132005.638.04 18 DEC 2025
Natural Resource Management Consultants
6th February 2025
Chelsea Bennet
Environmental Officer – Waste Management
Noosa Council
RE: Revised Determination and Location of Offset Requirements – Site A on Lot 77 SP298776
Native Foresters was commissioned by Noosa Council to conduct an assessment of the
protected environmental matters within the area known as Site A; located at 561 Eumundi
Noosa Road, Doonan on Lot 77 SP298776 adjacent to the Cleanaway office (Latitude -
26.4361, Longitude 153.0243). The revised survey area at Site A (including the eastern and
western area) covered 0.26ha which is to be cleared for works. The remaining area will be
retained forming a buffer to Eumundi-Noosa Rd as shown in Figure 1.
The assessment determined that the following legislative obligations are relevant for the
project:
Noosa Council proposes to clear the Category X vegetation at Site A for a Resource
Recovery Centre Expansion. The clearing of Category X vegetation on Site A does not
require assessment under the Planning Regulation 2017 and the Vegetation
Management Act 1999.
For activities impacting MSES – Koala habitat area, compliance with the ‘avoid,
minimise (mitigate), offset’ obligation outlined in the Environmental Offsets Regulation
2014 will need to be demonstrated and the significance of residual impacts, if any, will
need to be determined according to thresholds and criteria contained in the Significant
Residual Impact Guidelines (DES, 2014).
Koala Habitat Trees (KHT) were surveyed within the impact area. According to the Queensland
Environmental Offsets Policy Regulation (DES, 2022), a “koala habitat tree” means a tree of
either the Angophora, Corymbia, Eucalyptus, Lophostemon or Melaleuca genus. A “non-
juvenile habitat tree” means a koala habitat tree whose:
a. Height > 4m; or
b. Trunk > 31.5cm at 1.3m above the ground.
There was calculated to be a total of approximately 240 non-juvenile Koala Habitat Trees
within the revised clearing area in Site A. While the proposed works are exempt from the
regulatory requirements of the Planning Act (2016), it is noted that clearing of a non-juvenile
Koala habitat tree is considered a significant residual impact to a matter of state
environmental significance (MSES).
As a result, it is determined that the loss of 240 Koala Trees onsite should be offset at a ratio
of 3:1 as per the Queensland Offsets Policy. This results in a required Offset of 720 KHT’s. It
is recommended that the offset area required to plant 720 KHT’s is 0.78ha, which is three
times the size of the total impact area.
Document Set ID: 23617063
Version: 1, Version Date: 05/03/2025
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Figure 1: Site A on Lot 77 SP298776 Document Set ID: 23617063 Version: 1, Version Date: 05/03/2025
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Native Foresters has undertaken investigations into the identification of an Offset Delivery
Site in collaboration with Noosa Councils Offset Delivery team. As a result, a suitable Offset
for the delivery of required Koala habitat has been identified within the Noosa Council area at
a site on 304 Lake Flat Rd, Cootharaba on Lot 4 RP803972 as shown in Figure 2.
This site will be used to deliver a number of Offset requirements associated with the NLRCC
Expansion Project which will mean efficiencies in the long-term delivery of the Offsets as well
as provision of the associated monitoring and legal requirements. A comprehensive Offset
Delivery Plan is being prepared for the site which will encompass the 0.78ha requirement
associated with the proposed works on Site A.
In addition to the delivery of Offsets it is also recommended that site rehabilitation works be
undertaken in the retained Buffer Zone in Site A in order to improve its environmental and
aesthetic values. These works would be undertaken in the Vegetation Buffer Area and the
adjacent Easement Treatment Area as identified in Figure 1. Rehabilitation works would
involve the following:
Removal of Singapore Daisy and any understorey weeds. Two treatments over a 3
month period.
Removal of Camphor Laurel, Cocos Palm and Brown Silky Oak located near the site
entrance.
Placement of Coarse Woody Debris retained from adjacent clearing area into buffer
zone to supplement habitat for native Fauna species.
Installation of 2 small, 2 medium and 2 large nest boxes to replace arboreal hollows
lost from the clearing area.
Planting of 50 Koala Habitat trees composed of Paperbarks (Melaleuca quinquenervia)
within identified vegetation gaps in the buffer area.
Planting of 200 native midstorey and groundstorey species to replace the existing
Singapore daisy area.
One year maintenance of planted species and prevention of Singapore Daisy
reoccurrence.
A Site rehabilitation plan which details the above points will be prepared for works.
Please let me know if you have any queries regarding the information provided.
Kind Regards
Simon McVerry (BASc)
Native Foresters
M: 0407757872
[email protected]
www.nativeforesters.com
Document Set ID: 23617063
Version: 1, Version Date: 05/03/2025
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Figure 2: Proposed Offset Area for Lot 77 SP298776 Document Set ID: 23617063 Version: 1, Version Date: 05/03/2025