Attachment 7A - Impact Assessment Report

                                                                                  Native Foresters



     3.0 MATTERS OF NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL SIGNIFICANCE
     (MNES)
     Under the federal Environmental Protection Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC), an
     action will require approval from the Minister for Environment if the action has, will have, or is
     likely to have, a significant impact on a MNES. The EPBC Act 1999 defines a ‘significant
     impact’ within the Matters of National Environmental Significance Significant impact guidelines
     1.1 (Commonwealth of Australia, 2013), as an impact which is important, notable, or of
     consequence, having regard to its context or intensity. Whether or not an action is likely to
     have a significant impact depends upon the sensitivity, value and quality of the environment
     that is impacted, and upon the intensity, duration, magnitude and geographic extent of the
     impacts.

     The precautionary principle is relevant when deciding whether or not a proposed action is
     likely to have a significant impact on a MNES. Accordingly, where there is a risk of serious or
     irreversible damage, a lack of scientific certainty about the potential impacts of an action will
     not itself justify a decision that the action is not likely to have a significant impact on a MNES.
     If, after undertaking a self-assessment as outlined in the Matters of National Environmental
     Significance Significant impact guidelines 1.1 (Commonwealth of Australia, 2013), it is
     concluded that the proposed action is likely to have a significant impact on a MNES, or if it is
     uncertain, the action should be referred to the Australian Government environment minister.

     The impact avoidance and mitigation measures that have been implemented during the initial
     design phase are likely to reduce the significance of the impacts on MNES. In accordance with
     the MNES Significant impact guidelines 1.1, an assessment for each MNES present within the
     survey area has been completed.


     3.1      Noosa Landfill MNES

     The following Matters of National Environmental Significance (MNES) within the impact area
     were identified during desktop research, field surveys and site assessments conducted by
     Native Foresters between 2019 and 2022:

i)         Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus), which is listed as Endangered under the EPBC Act is
           known to inhabit vegetation surrounding the impact area within Lot 77 SP298776. This
           area is considered high quality habitat for koala, and there are 11 records of koala listed
           on WildNET since 1980 (DES, 2022), within 1km of the impact area.

     A Summary of the MNES that occur within the Lot is shown in Table 1 and the location of
     the MNES within in the Noosa Landfill & RRC expansion area is shown in Figure 2.




     Noosa Landfill & RRC Expansion – MNES & MSES Significant Impact Assessment                      6