RFI - Ecological Assessment Report

                                                                            Ecological Assessment Report




          Plate 1: vegetation community 1                     Plate 2: vegetation community 1



4.1.2 Vegetation Community 2: Eucalypt forest east of house site

Vegetation located to the east of the house site consists of a remnant eucalypt forest (plates 3 and 4).
Species present include grey ironbark (Eucalyptus siderophloia), pink bloodwood (Corymbia
intermedia), Gympie messmate (Eucalyptus cloeziana), Qld grey gum (Eucalyptus major), and Crow’s
ash (Flindersia australis). The midstory consists of Acacia sp., celerywood (Polyscias elegans), purple
pea bush (Hovea acutifolia), lolly bush (Clerodendrum floribundum) and juvenile canopy species. This
community has only small amounts of weed incursion, mainly in the form of exotic grasses and lantana
(Lantana camara).

The site has a small amount of small to large woody debris. The site slope is roughly 22 degrees, sloping
downwards to the south-east. Most canopy trees are between 200-400mm DBH. Arboreal hollows are
not present. The canopy height is up to 25m with an estimated canopy cover of 70%. This community
is mostly mapped as Category X regional ecosystem under the DoR mapping, with a small section
mapped as Category B regional ecosystem. The Vegetation resembles and combination of two remnant
regional ecosystems, being:

    •   regional ecosystem 12.11.3: Eucalyptus siderophloia, E. propinqua +/- E. microcorys,
        Lophostemon confertus, Corymbia intermedia, E. acmenoides open forest on metamorphics +/-
        interbedded volcanics; and

    •   regional ecosystem 12.11.16: Eucalyptus cloeziana +/- E. propinqua, E. acmenoides, E.
        microcorys and E. grandis open forest. Understory is generally shrubby +/- vine forest species.
        Occurs on Palaeozoic and older moderately to strongly deformed and metamorphosed
        sediments and interbedded volcanics, especially phyllite of the Kin Kin Beds.

The site inspection findings suggest that the DoR mapping is incorrect, and that this area should be
mapped as Category B remnant vegetation.




                                                        PR22116_EA_178 Davis Rd, Cootharaba      Page 16