Appendix F - Koala Assessment · REC15/0011

                                                                                           Koala Habitat Assessment
                                                                                              1 George St, Tewantin


3.2.1      Evidence for Koala Occurrence

Although no Koalas were directly sighted during the survey, several trees supported indirect evidence for
their occurrence. As shown in Figure 1, five trees from within the assessment area supported either Koala
scratch marks on their trunks or scats within 1 m of their base. All of these trees were identified to be
Queensland Blue Gums (Eucalyptus tereticornis), which is a primary Koala feed tree species (EPA, 2006b).
A quick survey of three Queensland Blue Gums located outside of the site’s western boundary revealed that
these trees also supported evidence for Koala occurrence.

3.2.2      Site Verified Vegetation

Site-verification of the DEHP mapping identified it to be incorrect. The assessment area, the majority of
which was mapped as being non-remnant (Section 3.1.2.1), was found to be remnant in some areas despite
the complete removal of understorey and mid-storey vegetation. This is because the canopy vegetation is
greater than 70% of the height and 50% of the cover relative to the undisturbed vegetation community, and
consists of characteristic species. These species are consistent with RE 12.2.7, which is described as
Melaleuca quinquenervia open forest on sand plains.

3.2.3      Koala Feed Tree Species

The composition of canopy species and % of the total canopy cover within the assessment area is presented
in Table 2. Broad-leaved Paperbark contributed to about 50% of the total canopy cover. This species is
identified by EPA (2006) to be a secondary (or minor) Koala food tree species.

The only primary (or major) food tree species identified within the assessment area was Queensland Blue
Gum (Eucalyptus tereticornis), which contributed to about 3% of the total canopy cover. Five Queensland
Blue Gum trees were surveyed within this assessment area, all of which supported evidence of Koala
occurrence (Figure 1).

Approximately 35 % of the total canopy cover was made up of Pink Bloodwood (Corymbia intermedia) and
Brushbox (Lophostemon confertus). Although not recognised by EPA (2006) to be primary or secondary food
tree species, these species are identified to be feed trees species in the Moreton Bay region (MBCC, 2010).

The remaining 5% of total canopy cover was made up of non-Koala feed tree species.
                                   Table 2: Canopy Species Composition and % Cover
                                     Canopy Species
                                                                                     % of Total Canopy Cover
 Scientific Name                                 Common Name
 Melaleuca quinquenervia                         Broad-leaved Paperbark              50
 Corymbia intermedia                             Pink Bloodwood                      30
 Lophostemon confertus                           Brushbox                            5
 Eucalyptus tereticornis                         Queensland Blue Gum                 3
 Other Species                                                                       12
 Total                                                                               100
* Total canopy cover was approximately 15% within the assessment area.




PR122205-2; Rev A / August 2014                                                                             Page 5