Attachment 7C - Flora and Fauna Survey Assessment_Noosa Landfill - Revision 3

                                                                               Native Foresters



Wallum Rocketfrogs (Litoria freycineti) were not detected during the targeted amphibian
surveys in the impact area. However, Wallum Froglet and Wallum Rocketfrog were both
recorded in the area beyond the 100 metre buffer in 2012 (BAAM 2012) and there are
WildNET records of Wallum Froglet, Wallum Rocketfrog and Wallum Sedgefrog within one
kilometre of the site suggesting the presence of a local population (Figure 15). Wallum
Rocketfrogs are widely distributed in freshwater wetlands and associated vegetation
communities occurring on low nutrient sandy soils but may also breed in disturbed areas.
Their distribution may expand/contract in response to wet/dry cycles.

A number of Least concern amphibian species were found in the drainage line along the
eastern landfill boundary and in the bio-retention basins, dams and ponds. Large choruses
of Eastern Sedgefrog (Litoria fallax), Striped Marsh Frog (Limnodynastes peronii), Striped
Rocketfrog (Litoria nasuta) and Graceful Tree Frog (Litoria gracilenta) were observed
around the northern vegetated pond, and a small population of Bleating Frog (Litoria
dentata) and Striped Marsh Frogs (Limnodynastes peronii) was heard calling from the
southern pond. Striped Rocketfrog tadpoles were found in the drainage line that runs
parallel to the landfill boundary.

The Endangered Swamp Crayfish (Tenuibranchiurus glypticus) (Figure 14) was found to
occur within the potential Impact Area and in the 100-metre buffer, with juvenile and adult
specimens recorded at -26.43620, 153.03025 and -26.43615, 153.03163 respectively.
Swamp crayfish were found to co-occur with Orange-fingered yabby in some cases, and it
is likely that their distribution was associated with surface expression of groundwater based
on the low pH of the ponds they inhabited. Swamp Crayfish will reproduce, overwinter and
/or avoid desiccation within elaborate community burrows, up to one metre deep. Studies
by Harding and Williams (2003), suggest the species prefers areas of dense sedge cover
which provide protection from predation however Swamp crayfish have also been recorded
in water bodies with little or no sedge cover (E. Meyer, pers. comm.).
The breeding biology of Swamp Crayfish is poorly documented. Available data suggest
that breeding occurs during late autumn/early winter with egg-bearing animals and young-
of-year crayfish having been recorded in May-July (Dawkins, 2015; E. Meyer, pers. comm.).
Observations on the Gold Coast and Bribie Island, however, suggest breeding may occur
at other times of the year as well (Dawkins, 2015). Swamp Crayfish breeding habitat
requirements are similarly unknown. 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.

The more common Orange-fingered yabby (Cherax depressus) was abundant in the
inundated wetland areas immediately adjacent to the landfill boundary, which were
influenced by surface water runoff.
Non-native species including Black Rat (Rattus rattus) and Cane Toad (Rhinella marina)
were found to occur within and around the landfill. Four species of introduced mammal are
also considered likely to occur in the survey area: House mouse (Mus musculus), Wild Dog
(Canis sp), Feral Cat (Felis catus) and Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes).

Figure 15 shows the location of EVNT fauna species occurring onsite.




Noosa Landfill & Resource Recovery Centre – Fauna and Flora Assessment                     34