Attachment 7B - Fauna and Flora Assessment_NoosaLandfill_NorthernSection_Revision3

                                                                                 Native Foresters



6.0 SUMMARY
    •    The vegetation within the survey area consists of a Melaleuca wetland occurring across
         two land zones (Coastal alluvium in the centre and remnant Tertiary surfaces and
         Cainozoic and Mesozoic sediments on the outer edges).
    •    The vegetation is mapped as remnant ‘Least Concern’ RE 12.3.13 - Closed heathland on
         seasonally waterlogged alluvial plains usually near the coast, and ‘Endangered’ RE
         12.5.3- Scribbly gum woodland on remnant Tertiary surfaces.
    •    Ground-truthing of the RE mapping suggests that in the absence of fire, the central core
         is transitioning from a palustrine heath to a palustrine wetland (Least concern RE12.3.5 –
         Paperbark tea tree open forest on coastal alluvium), as evidenced by a well-established
         canopy of Paperbark tea tree.
    •    The Land Zone 5 ecosystem on the edges of the patch also has a well-established canopy
         of Paperbark tea tree, with no Scribbly gums present, and is likely to represent the lower
         slopes of the remnant Scribbly gum woodland which would have historically covered the
         area to the south.
    •    A total of 43 local native flora species and 23 introduced flora species were recorded
         during the survey, including four species listed as Restricted Invasive Plants under the
         Biosecurity Act 2014.
    •    No EVNT flora species were recorded within the survey site or adjoining 100m buffer zone.
    •    No evidence of EPBC listed Ecological Communities was found onsite.
    •    The survey area provides suitable habitat for a range of native fauna, including but not
         limited to thirteen bird species, two reptile species, five amphibian species and one
         terrestrial mammal, possibly a Bandicoot or Bush rat.
    •    One EVNT-listed fauna species, Swamp crayfish (Tenuibranchiurus glypticus) – listed as
         Endangered - was identified in the ponded water on site after large rain events.
    •    Proposed works will result in the loss of approximately 0.9 hectares of mapped remnant
         vegetation in which Melaleuca and Eucalyptus spp are dominant. The clearing area is
         considered to be in a degraded condition associated with inputs of stormwater from the
         landfill and the associated presence of the habit changing groundcover species;
         Singapore Daisy which is a restricted invasive plant.
    •    A large infestation of Singapore Daisy is occurring at the northern end of the site extending
         approximately 80 metres north into remnant heathland. Other restricted invasive plants,
         e.g. Lantana, Camphor laurel and Groundsel also occur.
    •    There is evidence of clearing for access tracks in historical aerial imagery. This has
         resulted in significant variation in condition throughout the survey area and has left canopy
         openings that have now been colonised by introduced grasses and weeds e.g. Lantana.
    •    The site lies in a Koala Priority Area and a Koala Habitat Area (locally refined). However
         as the proposed clearing is for landfill infrastructure conducted by a local council, it is
         considered ‘exempted development’ under the Planning Regulation 2017.
    •    No evidence of Koala habitat utilisation was found, however four WildNET records and
         other historical records within the surrounding 1km radius suggest the possibility of a local
         population. Koala food and habitat trees (Eucalyptus robusta and Melaleuca
         quinquenervia) are present and it is considered possible that the forested areas may be
         used by a local Koala population as they disperse from suitable bushland occurring to the
         west (across Eumundi Noosa Road), north (through existing bushland), east (Weyba
         Nature Refuge) and south (Noosa National Park) or as a dry season refugia.
    •    Matters of State Environmental Significance (MSES) occur within the survey area (i.e.
         Regulated Vegetation and Protected Species).



Noosa Landfill & RRC – northern section – Fauna and Flora Assessment – REV3                         39