2020-07-16-sm-agenda-item-1-attachment-5-final-noosa-plan-2020-part-8-10-schedules-appendix

 SC6.4.6              Flora Assessment Guidelines

 (1)    The purpose of a flora assessment is to:
        (a)   assess and document the flora species occurring within the site;
        (b)   interpret and classify the regional Ecosystems occurring within the site; and
        (c)   assess broader biodiversity values (Local, regional, state) of the site

 (2)    The methodology for undertaking a flora assessment is as follows:
        (a)   Desktop Assessment
              (i)     A comprehensive desktop assessment of the area must be undertaken prior to conducting the flora survey. The
                      desktop assessment must provide a list of all habitat types in the area, and a list of all EVNT flora species that may
                      occur in these habitat types.
              (ii)    The suitably qualified person must design a field assessment based on the record of habitat types and list of EVNT
                      plants that may occur there.
              (iii)   The suitably qualified person must determine the most appropriate time of the year to undertake the flora field survey,
                      i.e., when there is the highest possible chance of detecting possible EVNT plants. The report is to include a
                      statement to justify the timing of the survey.

        (b)   Species survey including targeted search for EVNT listed flora
              (i)     Following an initial assessment of the study area, plot or transect based survey methods should be used which
                      cover all vegetation communities and, within these, all microhabitats (e.g. gullies, ridges etc). Target species
                      (Endangered, Vulnerable, near­threatened or locally significant species) and their associated habitat should be
                      thoroughly searched for the presence, extent and condition of these potential species. Species listed under the
                      Nature Conservation Act 1992 and/or the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 should be
                      clearly stated within the report.
              (ii)    Where an EVNT plant, or a possible EVNT plant, is recorded during a field survey, the population extent and density
                      must be determined. With regards to the population extent, mapping of the population within the clearing impact area
                      must be undertaken by traversing the periphery of the population whilst capturing GPS points of the population extent.
                      With regards to population density, the total number of individuals comprising the population must be recorded.
              (iii)   Due to the variability of structure, species composition and abundance in vegetation communities, it is usually
                      necessary to sample a community several times. Sampling to include seasonal variations may be necessary to
                      collect a full list of annuals, such as herbs and grasses or other cryptic species, which may be more distinctive
                      during fruiting/flowering periods.
              (iv)    Plant identification should be undertaken for each vegetation community, recording any target species and including
                      introduced species. Where possible, flora should be identified and recorded in the field down to a species level. Any
                      plant species that have not previously been recorded in Noosa Shire (reference Vegetation of Noosa Shire Edition 2
                      and Biodiversity Assessment Report) should be noted as such. Any unconfirmed flora species should be sent, using
                      the appropriate methods, to the Queensland Herbarium for positive identification.

        (c)   Plot survey­ ENVT listed flora
              (i)     Where a population of EVNT plants is too dense for the periphery method to be practical, the density of the population
                      must be estimated by conducting a plot survey. Plot surveys must follow the Queensland Herbarium’s methodology
                      (Neldner et al., 2012), using a plot measuring 50m by 10m; or an alternative plot size provided it can be
                      demonstrated that an alternative plot size is appropriate for the EVNT plant, or a possible EVNT plant. Within the plot,
                      the following information must be recorded and described:
                      (A)   the GPS location of each plot;
                      (B)   the number of individuals of the EVNT plant, as well as any other observations such as the age structure (if
                            possible), reproductive state and health;
                      (C)   a description of the vegetation structure, including noting the Regional Ecosystem (where relevant);
                      (D)   the identities and locational data for all other the EVNT plants, and descriptions and locational data for all
                            possible EVNT plants found in the plot;
                      (E)   the landscape attributes including the landform type, soil type, geology, slope, aspect and altitude; and
                      (F)   any specific habitat or micro­habitat features associated with EVNT plants, or a possible EVNT plants.

        (d)   Regional Ecosystems


NOOSA PLAN 2020                                                                                                                     Page 29 of 99