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

                                                                                    Native Foresters



The RE mapping shows the area of interest near the Cleanaway depot contains thin strips of
remnant Scribbly gum woodland (Endangered RE 12.5.3 - Eucalyptus racemosa subsp.
racemosa woodland on remnant Tertiary surfaces) and a central core of remnant Palustrine heath
(Least concern RE 12.3.13 - Closed or wet heathland on seasonally waterlogged Quaternary
alluvial plains with characteristic species including Melaleuca thymifolia, Banksia robur,
Xanthorrhoea fulva, Hakea actites, Leptospermum spp. and Baeckea frutescens).

Ground-truthing of the vegetation on site however, indicates that the edges of the area of interest
do not contain Scribbly gum and are dominated by Paperbark tea tree. The pre-clear vegetation
mapping suggests that these edges are what remains of the lower slopes of the Scribbly gum
vegetation community in which Paperbark tea tree is often a prominent feature.

The central core, which may have historically been dominated by heath species, appears to be
transitioning to a wetland system with well-established Paperbark tea trees. This has probably
occurred through the exclusion of fire and changes in hydrology. The vegetation community now
exhibits the structure and composition of Least concern RE 12.3.5 - Melaleuca quinquenervia
open forest on coastal alluvium.

Whilst there is some evidence of recent disturbance and clearing for tracks (refer to Appendix G
- Aerial imagery), the area has generally not been mechanically or chemically cleared in the past
20 years.

3.3.2 Vegetation within 100 metre buffer

Two timed meanders through the 100 metre buffer zone traversing remnant wet heath and
Scribbly gum woodland vegetation were undertaken as shown in Figure 1. No EVNT species
were recorded in the timed meander surveys. Results of timed meander surveys are summarised
in Table 3.

TABLE 3: Results of timed meander surveys
 Survey 1 (remnant – northeast of the survey site) 12/12/2019 repeated 27/06/2023
 Starting point GPS coordinates: -26.435674 oS, 153.026859 oE
 Target species: Acacia attenuata, Acacia baueri, Eucalyptus conglomerata.
 Time              Species recorded
 1100
                   Nil
 1130
 Survey 2 (remnant – northwest of the survey site) 12/12/2019 repeated 27/06/2023
 Starting point GPS coordinates: -26.435590 oS, 153.026752 oE
 Target species: Acacia attenuata, Acacia baueri, Eucalyptus conglomerata.
 Time              Species recorded
 1145
                   Nil
 1215




Central Drive Sippy Downs – Fauna & Flora Assessment                                          23