Appendix F - Koala Assessment · REC15/0011

                                                                                       Koala Habitat Assessment
                                                                                          1 George St, Tewantin



3.0       Results
3.1       Desktop Assessment

The desktop assessment indicated that Koalas have potential to occur within a 5 km radius of the site, but
that the vegetation is unlikely to be suitable for supporting this species. Results of the desktop assessment
area detailed below.

3.1.1     Previous Records

Results of the EPBC Protected Matters Search Tool (Appendix 1) and DEHP Wildlife Online records
(Appendix 2) indicate that Koalas have potential to occur within a 5 km buffer of the site. The closest record
of a Koala, as determined from Wildlife Online database records of South East Queensland obtained
between 1997 and 2013, is approximately 4.9 km to the southeast, in vegetation north of the Noosa
Aerodrome (DEHP, 2013).

3.1.2     Koala Habitat

3.1.2.1   Regional Ecosystem Mapping

The assessment area is mapped by DNRM as being Category X area, which is defined as vegetation not
regulated under the Vegetation Management act 1999 (VM Act) (i.e. non-remnant). The northern, eastern
and southern portions of the site (adjacent to the assessment area) are mapped as being Category B area,
which is defined as non-remnant vegetation.

Remnant areas within the site are mapped as comprising Regional Ecosystem (RE) 12.1.1 and/or RE12.1.3
(Appendix 4). These REs are described in Table 2.

Neither RE 12.1.1 or 12.1.3 is suitable for supporting Koalas.
                                  Table 1: DNRM Mapped Regional Ecosystems
 Regional
                         VM Act Status           Description
 Ecosystem
 12.1.1                  Of Concern              Casuarina glauca woodland on margins of marine clay plains
                                                 Mangrove shrubland to low closed forest on marine clay pains and
 12.1.3                  Least Concern
                                                 estuaries

3.1.2.2   Essential Habitat Mapping

No ‘Essential Habitat’ is mapped for Koalas on the site (Appendix 4).

3.1.2.3   Koala Habitat Value Mapping

The DEHP State Planning Policy 2/10: Koala Conservation in South East Queensland (SPP) mapping
identifies the site as being ‘generally not suitable’ for Koalas.

3.2       Field Assessment

The field assessment indicated that Koalas are using the site and that feed tree species (i.e. suitable
foraging habitat) are present. Results of the field survey are discussed below.




PR122205-2; Rev A / August 2014                                                                           Page 4