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

                                                                                Native Foresters



3.2      Matters of State Environmental Significance

The State Planning Policy 2017 (SPP) defines matters of state environmental significance
(MSES). A desktop analysis has identified the following MSES within or adjacent to the Potential
Impact Area (Appendix E):

          •   Species – Threatened species (Koala, Wallum froglet, Wallum rocketfrog and
              Ground parrot) and Special least concern species (Short-beaked echidna);
          •   Regulated Vegetation.

All applications impacting MSES must demonstrate compliance with the ‘avoid, minimise
(mitigate), offset’ obligation in accordance with the Environmental Offsets Regulation 2014 and
either the Significant Residual Impact Guideline (Biodiversity Integration and Offsets, Ecosystem
Outcomes, Department of Environment and Heritage Protection, 2014) or the DSDMIP Significant
Residual Impact Guideline (http://www.dlgrma.qld.gov.au/resources/ guideline/planning/dsdip-
significant-residual-impactguideline.pdf). This obligation requires in the first instance, avoiding
impacts on prescribed environmental matters and if avoidance cannot be achieved,
demonstrating that impacts have been carefully managed and minimised (mitigated).

If after avoidance and mitigation, there is still an impact on prescribed environmental matters, an
offset may be required where the impact is, or is likely, to be significant.

Under the Environmental Offsets Act 2014 and Environmental Offsets Regulation 2014, offset
requirements may apply to assessable developments where it has been determined that there
will be a significant residual impact on a prescribed environmental matter e.g. Koala habitat.

An assessment of the potential for impacts to the Vulnerable listed Gloosy Black Cockatoo
(Calyptorhynchus lathami) was undertaken however it was determined that the site is not
providing breeding or foraging habitat for the Glossy Black Cockatoo for the following reasons:
    •    No hollow bearing trees or trees showing early stages of hollow formation were observed
         in the survey area that would provide suitable breeding habitat for Glossy Black
         Cockatoo.
    •    No Glossy Black Cockatoo food trees of the Casuarina or Allocasuarina spp are present
         onsite.

3.3      Flora assessment
3.3.1 Vegetation within the survey area

The vegetation within the survey area can be described as a Melaleuca wetland with a semi-
closed canopy dominated by Paperbark tea tree (Melaleuca quinquenervia) and Swamp box
(Lophostemon suaveolens) and occasional Swamp mahogany (Eucalyptus robusta) and Cheese
tree (Glochidion ferdinandi). Refer to Figure 4. The median height of Paper Barked Tea-trees
was 12 metres and the median diameter at breast height (dbh) was 100mm on the southern side
of the site. The mid strata consists of smaller trees, shrubs and vines including Soap Tree
(Alphitonia excelsa), Monkey Vine (Parsonsia straminea) and Blackwood (Acacia melanoxylon)
and weed species Camphor Laurel (Cinnamomum camphora).




Central Drive Sippy Downs – Fauna & Flora Assessment                                      20