RFI - Attachment 4B - Flora and Fauna Assessment Rev 5

                                                                                     Native Foresters



The findings of targeted fauna surveys conducted during March and April 2019 under flooding
conditions as part of an assessment of impacts of landfill expansion on adjacent groundwater
dependent ecosystems have been incorporated into this report where considered relevant (Native
Foresters, 2019).

2.2.3 Breeding places and fauna habitat assessment

A fauna habitat assessment was undertaken during the field investigations. This assessment was
based on the habitats present, the listed threatened species known to occur or potentially
occurring within the locality, and the occurrence of specific breeding places or breeding habitat
for these species.

For the purposes of this report, the definition of “breeding places” follows that provided in s332 of
the Nature Conservation (Wildlife Management) Regulation 2006. For species such as Koala and
native frogs, who do not use a habitual breeding place, the term ‘breeding habitat’ is used in lieu
of ‘breeding place’. The fauna habitat assessment is important in determining species that may
be in the area but whose presence was not able to be detected.
Habitat features that were considered significant for assessing the presence of breeding places
and/or habitation value for native fauna, include but are not limited to:

   i.    Presence of hollow-bearing trees: These may be used by birds, reptiles or arboreal
         mammals to incubate or rear offspring;
  ii.    Presence of bowers, nests, dreys: These structures are commonly used by birds or
         mammals to incubate or rear offspring;
 iii.    Presence of caves, mounds, burrows, ground hollows and/or coarse woody debris: These
         structures are commonly used by birds, mammals, reptiles or amphibians to incubate or
         rear offspring;
 iv.     Presence of permanent water, ephemeral ponding, depressions and/or, seasonally
         inundated areas: Waterbodies may be used for breeding by aquatic species or
         amphibians, or that may provide intermittent breeding habitat for opportunistic species;
  v.     Presence of large trees: Large trees can be a dominant feature of native vegetation and
         are difficult to replace once lost. Their influence for wide-ranging species can extend over
         a considerable distance from their location.
 vi.     Canopy cover: The uppermost stratum of woody vegetation that forms the canopy
         functions as habitat for birds and arboreal mammals, provides food and resources, and
         determines the degree of light penetration and heat reaching the lower strata and ground
         detrital layer.
 vii.    Weed cover: Weeds can dominate and suppress native plant growth which affects the
         diversity of food sources; they can change the fuel or litter characteristics of a site, thereby
         altering the fire regime, and also prevent recruitment and succession of native vegetation.
viii.    Understorey components: The shrub and herb strata generally contain the greatest plant
         species richness and can be a useful indicator of disturbance and changes in condition.
 ix.     Organic litter, fallen timber and rocks: Litter cover can be indicative of the degree of
         disturbance of a site, and can be an important determinant of species recruitment. It will
         influence soil microclimates, structure and composition, and provide refugia for
         invertebrates, reptiles, amphibians and ground dwelling mammals.
  x.     Recruitment: Recruitment of plant species, particularly woody perennials, within all strata
         reflects the site’s long-term viability.




Central Drive Sippy Downs – Fauna & Flora Assessment                                           11