Appendix B - Terrestrial Ecology Assessment

5.4 Risks, Impact Mitigation and Management Recommendations
The proposed development has avoided the northern and eastern parts of the land in so far this is
possible by using the existing cleared and disturbed areas. For context, the entire site has some level
of disturbance.

The direct impact of tree loss and vegetation removal is unavoidable. As requested by Council, the
loss of koala (NJKHTs) trees within the KHA are to be offset. This is discussed further below.

The potential indirect impacts identified above are unlikely to occur of be of any great consequence
because:

     •     Edge effects currently occur with existing development, roads, fencing, lighting and car
           parking.
     •     The area to be retained already is highly disturbed by invasive weed noting the ground-storey
           is dominated by non-native species.
     •     Loss of fauna movement opportunities are unlikely because any access to the northern and
           area is currently a challenge due to existing roads and fences with land to the west and south
           currently developed.

Best practice mitigation and management measures in order to avoid or minimise adverse impacts
are recommended and discussed below.

A range of mitigation measures can be implemented that will reduce environmental impacts (and
improve ecological values where possible) and these include:

     •     implement a weed control strategy for the retained vegetation;
     •     clearly identify and demarcate (and install protection fencing) areas, trees, vegetation for
           retention and removal;
     •     use of fauna spotter catchers during clearing to ensure no impacts occur to koalas or other
           fauna during vegetation clearing;
     •     salvage of habitat features (e.g. logs) and relocate into retained areas;
     •     landscape design (surrounding buildings) to use indigenous plant species; and
     •     installation of two nest boxes (birds) in the retained trees in the north (or elsewhere on the
           site).

It would be expected that a Vegetation Management Plan incorporating fauna management measures
would be part of any approval conditions. The Place landscape concept provides guidance on the
planting proposed for the open space”. Weed control within the open space/retained areas would be
incorporated into a VMP or conditioned landscape plan.

A total of 19 NJKHTs are to be removed within the KHA and immediate surrounds. The loss of these
trees needs to be offset in accordance with the State Environmental Offsets Act 2014. This offset
obligation would be a standard condition of approval. While koala habitat trees could be planted in
the retained area and landscaping (L.confertus proposed in the landscape concept), if a financial
approach to complying with the offset requirement is taken, the following outcome would be
expected.

The impact area (koala habitat in SEQ 13) for the subject land in hectares is 19 X 0.004ha = 0.076ha.
This equates, based on the financial calculator, to $8,702.76.


13 https://apps.des.qld.gov.au/offsets-calculator/ - The Financial Settlement Offset Calculator was designed to calculate the financial

settlement offset using hectares. Therefore in SEQ the number of non-juvenile koala habitat trees being impacted must be converted into an
area in hectares. Using an average tree density of 250 tress per hectare for koala habitat in SEQ, the total area of impact for a single non-
juvenile koala habitat tree in SEQ is taken to be 40m2 (0.004ha).


Terrestrial Ecology Assessment – Noosa Springs Boutique Hotel                                                                            17