Attachment 6a - Ecological Assessment Part 1 · MCU18/0015

                           Ecological Assessment – Attunga Heights



6.2.2 Impacts on Threatened Fauna
Grey-headed flying foxes have been observed on the site. No further threatened fauna
species were detected, however several threatened or migratory species were considered
to be possible or likely occurrences, based on the presence of suitable habitat (APPENDIX
2):
   •   Glossy black cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus lathami);
   •   Fork-tailed swift (Apus pacificus);
   •   White-throated needletail (Hirundapus caudacutus);
   •   Black-faced monarch (Monarcha melanopsis);
   •   Spectacled monarch (Monarcha trivirgatus); and
   •   Rufous fantail (Rhipidura rufifrons).

While a proportion of vegetation may be removed as a result of the proposed development,
the proposed works have been planned around the need to retain the best quality existing
habitat and will not result in the loss of significant habitat for the above species.


6.2.3 Impacts on Waterways and Wetlands
One (1) unnamed watercourse traverses the eastern portion of the site (FIGURES 4 and 5).
The proposed development has been designed to retain the watercourse and adjacent
vegetation. However, indirect impacts may include changes to hydrological regimes,
erosion and sedimentation, and an increase in weeds in riparian areas.


6.2.4 Impacts on Corridor Values
Corridor values on the site are provided by the watercourse and associated vegetation. The
location of residential dwellings alongside this corridor will reduce the existing width of
the corridor and introduce edge effects that may deter more sensitive fauna species. The
proposed development has been designed to retain the watercourse and riparian
vegetation, with a corridor width of 40m – 50m, and it is therefore expected that impacts
on corridor usage by fauna as a result of the development will be minimal.


6.2.5 Potential indirect impacts
Additional impacts that may occur as a result of the removal of vegetation communities on
the subject site are summarised as follows:
   •   Clearance of vegetation on the subject site will reduce the size and area of habitats
       available for the dispersal and recruitment of native flora species and may reduce
       dispersal and visits by pollinators which may negatively impact on the reproductive
       success of remaining flora in the area.
   •   Disturbance to the subject site will create opportunities for further weeds to
       colonise both the site and adjacent vegetation. Weeds are likely to be introduced



Job No: Q12038/RW3                       JWA Pty Ltd                                     40