Cover Letter, DA Form 1, Plans, Owners Consent, Coastal Environment Assessment · OPW21/0049

    Marine Plant Assessment Dogs Beach, Noosa Spit Recreation Reserve                                                       10
    Discussion




4          Discussion
4.1        Marine Plants and Fisheries Habitat
4.1.1      Marine Plants
           The following marine plants as listed under the Fish Habitat Management Operational Policy1 (the
           policy) were identified at Dog’s Beach and are protected marine plants regardless of their location
           and whether or not they are on tidal lands:

           • Mangroves: Avicennia marina and Excoecaria agallocha;

           • Saltcouch: Sporobolus virginicus;

           • Saltmarsh plants and other tidal plants growing adjacent to the tidal zone: Cynodon dactylon and
             Sesuvium portulacastrum.

           Sparse Melaleuca quinquenervia were noted on the eroding dune scarp at the eastern end of Dogs
           Beach. Under the policy, M. quinquenervia are of value to fisheries productivity where Melaleuca
           swamps adjacent to tidal areas are either permanently or periodically tidally connected. The M.
           quinquenervia on the eroding dune scarp at the eastern end of Dogs Beach would not typically be
           tidally connected to the Noosa River. This elevated dune scarp is not considered to support fisheries
           values.

4.1.2      Fish Habitat Area
           The study site lies approximately 300m to the east of Fish Habitat Area (FHA) FHA-051 Noosa River.
           The proposal will not directly impact on the FHA.

4.1.3      Highest Astronomical Tide and Mean High Water Spring
           Sections of the eroding foreshore of Dogs Beach lie below mapped HAT and the sparse mangroves
           along the eastern foreshore lie below mapped MHWS (refer to Figure 3-1).

4.2        Potential Impacts
           Construction of the eastern dispersive sand plug at the eastern end of Dogs Beach may result in the
           removal of individual mangroves and saltmarsh and will occur on lands mapped below HAT and
           MHWS.

           The beach nourishment zone occurs on land mapped below HAT and MHWS. There may be some
           removal of dune woodland vegetation associated with beach nourishment. Whilst this area supports
           sparse Cynodon dactylon, a marine plant listed under the policy, and sparse Melaleuca
           quinquenervia, this elevated dune scarp is not considered to support fisheries values.

           The western dispersive sand plug occurs on land mapped below MHWS. Further investigation may
           be required to assess potential impacts on sub-tidal marine plants associated with the groyne.

           The FHA will not be directly impacted by the proposed works.


1
  Couchman, D and Beumer, J 2007, Management and protection of marine plants and other tidal fish habitats, Queensland Department
of Primary Industries and Fisheries, Fish Habitat Management Operational Policy FHMOP 001, 60pp.


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