Ecological Assessment

                                relevant context,    -free of disease or have a very low incidence of
                                as outlined in       disease; or
                                Table 1              -breeding (i.e. presence of back young or
                                                     juveniles).”

                                                     The Sunshine Coast Koala Summit Report
                                                     (September 2012) reported that “60% of koalas
                                                     rescued from the Noosa area and referred to the
                                                     Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital between March
                                                     2004 and July 2009 presented with clinical signs of
                                                     disease” – this would not equate with very low
                                                     incidence of disease. The habitat area
                                                     represented on the site is relatively small and is
                                                     estimated the local population is low. In this
                                                     sense, there is likely to be a low genetic base and
                                                     low levels of breeding. Habitat within the Study
                                                     Area is therefore unlikely to be important for
                                                     achieving the interim recovery objectives.
                  TOTAL SCORE                                                                              7


Based on Table 1-1 above, the Study Area does contain habitat critical to the survival of the koala. In
addition, a flow chart to assess adverse effects on habitat critical to the survival of the koala was
analysed for the Study Area. The results of this analysis are presented in Table 1-2 below:

Table 1-2        Assessment of Adverse Effects on Habitat Critical to the Survival of the Koala
 Prompt as per Figure 2 of the                      Response
 guidelines
 Does your impact area contain habitat              Yes, a score of 7 has been achieved.
 critical to the survival of the koala (habitat
 score ≥ 5)?
 Do the area(s) proposed to be cleared              Yes, several species are present.
 contain known koala food trees?
 Are you proposing to clear ≤ 2 ha of               No, the clearing area is ~7.5.
 habitat containing known koala food trees
 in an area with a habitat score of 5?
 Are you proposing to clear ≥ 20 ha of              No, the clearing footprint of the current project is ~7.5ha
 habitat containing known koala food trees          and the total of all lands that may be the subject of future
 in an area with a habitat score of ≥ 8?            applications is <20ha, plus habitat score is <8.
 REFERRAL MAY BE REQUIRED FOR                       In consideration of the points raised in both boxes:
 ADVERSELY AFFECTING HABITAT                            1. The clearing area for the current project is
 CRITICAL TO THE SURVIVAL OF THE                             ~7.5ha. It is therefore smaller.
 KOALA                                                  2. The score is 7 out of a possible 10.
 Assess the characteristics in Boxes 1 and              3. The koala density is estimated to be low.
 2 below. It is these characteristics in                4. The proposed clearing is located on the edge of
 combination with each other that will                       a contiguous habitat and will therefore not
 determine whether the action is likely to                   fragment habitat.
 adversely affect habitat critical to the               5. The method of clearing will result in the retention
 survival of the koala. See over the page                    of some patches of trees (e.g. within Covenant
 for some examples of decision on actions                    J).
 where uncertainty existed.
                                                    Given the responses above, the current project aligns
 Box 1: Some characteristics that                   with the points raised in Box 2 and therefore supports
 contribute to adverse affects to habitat           characteristics that reduce affects to habitat critical to the
 critical to the survival of the koala              survival of the koala.
      1. A larger area of koala habitat is
           being cleared.
      2. The habitat score is higher.
      3. The density of koalas is higher (a
           high density is considered to be ≥
           1 koala per ha).
       4. The clearing is fragmenting the