2022-04-19 General Committee Meeting Agenda

GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                                       19 APRIL 2022




                                 Figure 9 – Biodiversity Overlay Mapping

Biodiversity
The mapped area of Biodiversity Significance on the western boundary along McKinnon Drive is
regrowth vegetation that contains highly diverse vegetation communities and habitat areas (nesting
hollows). This section is proposed to be retained under the proposed vegetation covenant area.
The south-eastern section of the site that is mapped as areas of Biodiversity Significance of
approximately 4800m2, with 4215m2 of this area mapped as Koala Habitat Area. However the
mapping verses the ground truthed vegetation areas show that there is less vegetation then what
is mapped. This vegetation is also within the riparian buffer and is also proposed to be retained
with a vegetation covenant and further rehabilitated.
Riparian Buffer
The applicant’s consultant Conor Neville (Ecologist) has proposed that the Riparian Buffer area
has been incorrectly mapped as there is no waterway visible on site. The applicant also states ‘The
proposal complies with the Biodiversity, Wetland and Waterways Overlay Code as there is no
mapped waterway onsite, native vegetation is not proposed to be fragmented and there is a clear
net increase in ecological values of the site because of the development’. The Riparian Buffer area
partially covers the identified drainage line (as per definition in NP2020 Schedule 1) located
generally to the centre of the lot and a small finger drainage line to the south of the lot, draining to
the east. The sites drainage has been visibly altered over many years of grazing and cropping
activities. The Noosa Plan gazetted mapping for the Biodiversity, Waterways and Wetlands
Overlay (i) – Area Subject to Biodiversity Overlay- Map Code: OM BWW-(i)-4 shows no
“waterways” are mapped on the site. Queensland Wetland Info mapping also does not map the
site as containing wetland features. The superseded 2006 Noosa Plan mapping does not show
any waterway on the site, to the extent of the buffer area. Therefore the applicant has determined
that this site should not have riparian buffers applied accordingly.
As there are waterways within the vicinity of the lot the applicant has proposed rehabilitation of
wetland recharge areas and drainage pathways throughout the site which would provide an
improved overall outcome for the lot. The best fit waterway management unit for the site, prior to
clearing, could be classified as “Paperbark and Sedgeland Dominated Non-Riverine Wetlands”
Councils Environment Officer has indicated that she supports the proposal and revegetation works.

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