Attachment 3b - Ecological Assessment Report v2- 111 Lake Weyba Drive, NOOSAVILLE

Ecological Assessment Report v2                                                         NCES Ref: J000618
Lot 4 RP36729 – 111 Lake Weyba Drive, Noosaville



5     DEVELOPMENT IMPACTS AND MITIGATION

5.1      Flora and Vegetation Communities

5.1.1     Impacts
The proposed development occurs within the eastern portion of the site corresponding with the
extent of VC2 and the extent of the Detached Housing zone. As a result of the development a range
of mature native trees including hollow bearing trees will require removal to facilitate the new
roadway, allotments including bushfire asset protection zones, a fire break trail, stormwater
infrastructure and services. The small paperbark dominated wetland area in the north-east corner of
the site will also be cleared to construct the Sail Street stormwater outlet pipe connection through to
the Lake Weyba Drive culvert. Several trees may also be cleared to construct the recommended fire
break trail behind Lots 9-12.
In addition to direct clearing impacts, potential indirect clearing impacts in the form of future exempt
clearing rights to protect introduced infrastructure could arise as a result of the development. This
includes exempt clearing for dwelling bushfire protection up to 1.5 x adjacent vegetation height or
20m, whichever is greater, as per Schedule 6, Part 3 (20A) of the Planning Regulation 2017. The
extent that the exemption can be applied is determined by a bushfire specialist. This exemption could
impact vegetation occurring within the eastern fringe of VC1 within Lot 12 to the rear of Lots 9-11.
Additionally, future exempt clearing rights would extend to areas outside of the site occurring within
the Noosa National Park. However, as an existing fire break occurs along the boundary within the
National Park, the future exempt clearing rights would only impact approximately 5 scattered trees
located next to the site boundary. These trees could already be cleared for fence line boundary
maintenance under the Planning Regulation exempt clearing provisions hence are not considered
an assessable clearing impact associated with the application.
The assessed extent of impact is portrayed in Figure VC02 Development Impacts.
It is noted that civil bulk earthworks plans had not been progressed at the time of writing hence the
assessment of impacts to in-situ vegetation is considered incomplete.

5.1.2     Mitigation Measures
The applicant has mitigated impacts to vegetation communities by locating the majority of
development within cleared eastern area of the site where scattered mature trees over cleared lawn
exist. The limit of development to the west corresponds with the location of an existing fence line
which corresponds with the change in zoning within the site and the extent of mowing which has
historically occurred.
In order to mitigate future exempt clearing for bushfire protection it is proposed that the near full
extent of VC1 in the west be protected by an environmental covenant and that this area be restored
by way the implementation of a bushland rehabilitation plan. Several scattered trees in the east of
the site located external of the mapped conservation areas are host to arboreal hollows and are
captured in the general clearing footprint. The removal of the hollow bearing habitat trees is proposed
to be offset via ecological restorations works in the Lot 12 covenant area which will include
installation of 1 nest box for each habitable hollow removed. Specifications for the nest box program
will be detailed in future OPW applications. This measure will ensure that this vegetation community
is retained and conserved in its present scale to ensure its ongoing contribution to the natural
resources and biological diversity of the Noosa Shire.
It is noted the NCES Bushfire Assessment recommends a firebreak trail be aligned along the edge
of the VC1 community and it is noted that not all trees within the firebreak trail are required to be
removed to facilitate installation of the firebreak trail.
To further compensate for the clearing of local native trees it is recommended that all landscape
works applicable to the development comprise of native plant species derived from RE 12.3.4
including street trees (where practicable) and planting within the drainage easement in Lot 4.




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