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

                                                                              Native Foresters



3.5      Assessment of breeding places and fauna habitat quality

Generally, the natural vegetation within the survey area has been assessed as possessing
moderate habitat values, providing some breeding habitat as well as refuge, roosting habitat and
basking sites for native fauna.

The vegetated swamp contains many depressions that are seasonally inundated. These
depressions form ephemeral ponds which are exploited by a number of Least concern frog
species for breeding (e.g. Eastern sedge frog, Striped marsh frog, Graceful tree frog and Striped
rocket frog). The amphibian population was limited to the more common Least concern species
e.g., with the Vulnerable-listed Wallum frogs potentially being excluded from these disturbed
edges due to the dilution effect of stormwater on pH of surface waters and groundwaters; and
potential inter-species competition and/or predation.

The ephemeral ponds formed after rains are also exploited for surface activity, foraging and/or
potentially breeding by freshwater crayfish species (e.g. Endangered Swamp crayfish). The
breeding biology of Swamp crayfish however is poorly documented. Available data suggest that
breeding may occur at any time of year (Dawkins, 2015; E. Meyer, pers. comm.) and very little is
known about their breeding habitat requirements. Differentiating between areas of breeding and
non-breeding habitat is therefore impractical and, for the purposes of this assessment, areas of
occupied habitat are regarded as breeding places.

No hollow bearing trees or trees showing early stages of hollow formation were observed in the
survey area. Trees within the Melaleuca woodland exhibited an average DBH of 150mm with an
average height of 10-12m. No significant coarse woody debris (e.g. large hollow stumps and logs)
were observed within the survey area.

A small active burrow system and digs were observed within the fauna survey area, likely
belonging to Bandicoot (Perameles sp. or Isodon sp.), Bush rat (Rattus fuscipes), Swamp rat
(Rattus lutreolus) or Melomys sp as shown in Figure 8.

Table 4 provides an analysis of the potential presence of threatened species as listed in WildNET
and/or the EPBC Protected Matters Search Tool or based on the field habitat suitability
assessment that may occur within the area (i.e. one kilometre radius) and comments on the
likelihood of those species occurring in or around the survey site.




Central Drive Sippy Downs – Fauna & Flora Assessment                                    25