PR18082_Fmp · OPW18/0155

                                                                                 Fauna Management Plan
                                                                            1 Serenity Close Noosa Heads


3.0        Fauna Management Procedures
3.1        Clearing Work Procedure

3.1.1      Pre-clearing Investigation
A standard set of observational and active searching techniques will be employed during clearance to
ascertain and identify existing fauna values for the site. These include:
      •   An assessment of terrestrial microhabitats such as ground hollows, rocks, burrows, leaf litter
          and fallen branches;
      •   An observation and assessment of occupancy of arboreal microhabitats such as tree hollows,
          fissures and bark exfoliations;
      •   Direct observation of active or exposed fauna species; and,
      •   Identification of scats, tracks and scratching to determine the presence of fauna species on site.
All microhabitats will be identified and inspected prior to and during vegetation clearance.

3.1.2      Actions During Clearing Activity
The fauna spotter will perform all necessary survey and other duties required to detect and, where
necessary, relocate fauna off-site. The fauna spotter is to be on-call for the duration of construction
works, including during non-clearing works.

3.1.3      Specific Methodology For Koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus)
The South East Queensland Koala Conservation State Planning Regulatory Provision (SPRP) is an
overarching state planning instrument that regulates new development at the development assessment
stage. The SPRP targets the areas where Koalas are known to be under the most significant risks. The
SPRP provides specific requirements for all development activities to minimise its impact on Koalas.


Under the SPRP and the Nature Conservation (Koala) Conservation Plan 2006 and Management
Program 2006-2016 (EPA, 2006) (Koala Plan) particular requirements must be met to clear vegetation
involving the removal of Koala food trees. Policy 6 of the Koala Plan is summarised below:
    • Clearing of Koala habitat trees is to be undertaken in the presence of a Koala spotter.
    • Each tree identified by the Koala spotter as being a risk to Koalas if felled, should not be felled,
        damaged or interfered with until the Koala has moved from the felling site of its own volition.
          Only when Koalas have vacated a tree can clearance operations occur, including clearing of the
          host tree and surrounding vegetation.
      •   Trees identified as having potential fauna values (such as hollows, fissures and exfoliating bark)
          are to be clearly marked for supervision during felling and inspected once felled.
      •   Clearing of native vegetation is to be undertaken as sequential clearing.
      •   Efforts must be made to determine potentially occupant species by way of investigations for
          indicative signs (scats, scratchings and tracks). Where no signs are found or occupant species
          undeterminable, machinery operators are instructed to fell trees in a manner directed at
          minimising the potential risk of injury to fauna.
      •   Limbs are to be inspected and the direction of felling determined with regards to safety of both
          machinery and operators. Considerations to potentially occupant fauna are to be assessed and
          felling procedures formulated. Felling procedures can include the following techniques:




PR18082_FMP_Settlers Cove                                                                      Page 5