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

                           Ecological Assessment – Attunga Heights



7.3.5 Summary
The flora survey failed to not detect any EVNT plants in the clearing impact area. A clearing
permit from DEHP is therefore not required. However, as the protected plants flora survey
trigger mapping shows the site as mapped as a High Risk area, an exempt clearing
notification must be submitted to DEHP within one (1) year of the survey being undertaken
and at least one (1) week prior to the clearing commencing.

Surveys of the site failed to detect any animal breeding place for protected animals. An
SMP is therefore not required.



7.4 Queensland Vegetation Management Act (1999)
7.4.1 Background
The purpose of the Vegetation Management Act 1999 (VMA) is to regulate the broad scale
clearing of vegetation on freehold land to preserve remnant Regional Ecosystems (RE),
vegetation in areas of high nature conservation value areas and areas vulnerable to land
degradation. The VMA also ensures that clearing does not cause land degradation,
maintains or increases biodiversity, maintains ecological processes and allows for
ecologically sustainable land use. The VMA is currently supported by the State Policy for
Vegetation Management (2013), which includes codes for the clearing of vegetation.

Approval is required under the VMA when clearing is to be undertaken within a declared
area or within a remnant Regional Ecosystem, unless listed under Exemptions relating to
the Act. A declared area is an area declared by the Minister to be of high conservation
value or vulnerable to land degradation. Approvals to clear remnant vegetation on
properties greater than 5 ha are managed by the State Assessment and Referral Agency
(SARA). SARA coordinates the assessment of vegetation clearing applications which are
considered against the State Development Assessment Provisions (SDAP).

The SDAP includes State Code 16: Native Vegetation Clearing (2018) which uses certified
mapping (DEHP mapping) to administer the VMA. Mapping includes:
   •   regulated vegetation management mapping for remnant vegetation and remnant
       vegetation associated with any natural watercourse or wetland;
   •   regional ecosystem (RE) mapping for Endangered REs and Of Concern REs;
   •   essential habitat (EH) mapping for habitat essential for threatened species; and
   •   referable wetlands mapping for waterway contributing to the Great Barrier Reef
       catchment.

Other categories assessed under State Code 16 include:
   •   clearing to maintain connectivity;
   •   clearing on acid sulphate soils;
   •   soil erosion; and



Job No: Q12038/RW3                        JWA Pty Ltd                                     52