2022-02-14 General Committee Meeting Agenda

GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                               14 FEBRUARY 2022


2.    Site vegetation
Council engaged North Coast Environmental Services to undertake an Ecological Values Report
(EVR) of the site. The report is attached as Attachment 1.
In summary the report found the site contained a mixed open forest single vegetation community
over a disturbed understorey host to native species but also with a high weed presence. No
conservation significant listed plant species under the schedules of the Queensland Nature
Conservation Act 1992 (NC) or the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity
Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC) were observed on or immediately bordering the site.
However, the site is home to some Koala food trees (Melaleuca quinquenervia, Eucalypt
propinqua, Corymbia intermedia and Callitris columellaris) and a few individual Allocasuarina trees
were observed onsite. The Allocasuarina trees are glossy black cockatoo food trees. The
vegetation also provides opportunities for other birds, possums and reptiles and potentially foraging
for the neighbouring fly fox colony. Some Koala scratches were observed and possum scats during
a site inspection.
The EVR indicates the site functions as edge habitat to that within Pinnaroo Park and offers an
approximate 40m wide vegetated buffer thereto which has inherently influenced the establishment
of rainforest flora abutting the northern boundary and provided some protection to the greater
Pinaroo Park from urban activities.
The EVR is generally consistent with the Pinaroo Park Bushland Reserve Ecological Restoration
Plan (PPRRP) which indicates the site has some mowed areas and revegetation with non-natives
and weeds extending from the boundary with dumping and plantings in the lot. The PPRRP
indicates there has been some good weeding by residents undertaken and some small areas of
native understorey exist but indicates this lot is a significant source of degradation for the Park.
Environment Operations suggest that the weeding activities by the resident is valuable, some of
the plantings may or not be conducive to the targeted RE 12.2.5, it could also be argued that
landscape infrastructure and hydrology has altered the feasibility of reaching this desired target.
Notwithstanding the site is home to some Koala and a few glossy black cockatoo food trees, the
site is degraded with much of the understorey cleared and a variety of non-natives exists. The
location adjacent to the urban environment, existing infrastructure and modified hydrology make it
difficult to restore the site to the target RE12.2.5.
Pinaroo Park Bush Care Management
Environment operations advises that Pinaroo Park is one of the oldest bushland management sites
in Noosa. Much of Council's activities in the past were focused around supporting the Pinaroo Park
Bushland Care Group. The group formed around 2002 / 2003 essentially from interest in the
reserve from the Rotary Club. The group unfortunately disbanded in 2015 for various reasons.
The Natural Areas team maintain the park to a point where only minimal resources are required.
Environment Operations indicate, if an updated Bushland Operational Assessment (BOA) was
undertaken, it would likely demonstrate a decline in structure and recruitment in the park.
In terms of maintenance, a mowing contract exists on part of the site and fire trail maintenance is
undertaken along private lot boundaries to the west.
Figure 6 shows the mowed areas and fire trial maintenance around and within the site.




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