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

                                                                                      Native Foresters



5.3      Summary of Impacts
        Works will result in the clearing of 0.170 ha of mapped Endangered RE 12.5.3
         vegetation and 0.275 of unmapped (category X) RE 12.5.3 vegetation.
        This area contains a number of large remnant Scribbly Gums with arboreal hollows
         present.
        Works will result in the clearing and 0.480 ha of mapped Least Concern RE 12.5.4
         vegetation within the southern stormwater discharge drain.
        Works will result in the clearing of 2.475ha of regrowth (Category X) Eucalypt and
         Melaleuca woodland which is impacted by weed growth.
        The current condition of the Endangered and Least concern remnant ecosystems
         adjacent to the landfill, particularly along the eastern boundary, drainage lines and
         stormwater outfalls (SW4 and SW5), suggest that the proliferation of introduced
         weeds and stormwater inputs are impacting vegetation community structure and
         composition in the adjacent remnant ecosystems.
        Additional/intermittent stormwater inputs and loss of regrowth and remnant
         vegetation on the eastern boundary are likely to exacerbate existing impacts.
        Initially, these impacts may be localised, however over time, unless carefully
         managed, their influence on soil conditions and vegetation communities is likely to
         extend further downslope and east into the Endangered ecosystem and Wallum
         Frog/Swamp Crayfish habitats.
        The Paperbark tea tree wetland community (RE 12.3.5) along the drainage lines
         may demonstrate greater resilience to increased/intermittent surface water flows
         and groundwater flows than the Endangered Scribbly Gum community (RE12.5.3).
        Impacts to native fauna and vegetation communities from changes to groundwater
         flows depend on the complex interplay of factors relating to surface and subsurface
         flows; groundwater recharge; aquifer confinement and soil porosity; pH and salinity;
         and temporal connectivity of coastal sand mass ecosystems.
        It appears likely that both Swamp Crayfish and Wallum Froglet would tolerate a
         moderate increase in water pH, i.e. both have been recorded in pH 6.0 water.
         However, over time changes in amphibian faunal assemblages favouring the more
         common competitor species (Eastern Sedgefrog, Striped Rocketfrog and Beeping
         Froglet) may occur.
        Species tolerance to changes in nutrient concentrations, heavy metal ion
         concentrations and other pollutants (e.g. surfactants and detergents) are unknown.
         However, lethal and sub-lethal effects of nitrogen enrichment and eutrophication of
         aquatic systems on other amphibian species are well documented.
        It appears likely that Land Zone 5 dry sclerophyll ecosystems would tolerate to a
         certain degree the lowering of groundwater levels. However, if subject to receiving
         additional groundwater flows from the groundwater drainage system, these
         ecosystems may become more dense; develop a shrubbier understorey and
         become more susceptible to weed invasion.
        Land Zone 3 ecosystems are well adapted to wet conditions (surface and
         subsurface) and any additional groundwater flows from the groundwater drainage
         system may cause ponded water to remain for longer periods and allow sedges,
         ferns and/or weeds to proliferate in the understorey.




Noosa Landfill & Resource Recovery Centre – Fauna and Flora Assessment – Revision 3
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