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

  Survey Technique                                Methods                                        Minimum Duration
                                                                                                 Council


 SC6.4.9              Habitat Condition and Breeding Places Assessment

 (1)    The purpose of a fauna assessment is to assess and document the habitat values, including the presence of animal breeding
        places, on site.
 (2)    The methodology for undertaking a vegetation community assessment is as follows:
        (a)   Desktop Assessment
              (i)     Prior to undertaking habitat assessments, the consultant must undertake a desktop assessment to research and
                      evaluate the potential for an animal breeding place to be present on a works site using a variety of resources
                      including but not limited to:
                      (A)   WildNet records
                      (B)   Museum records
                      (C)   Atlas of Living Australia
                      (D)   Essential habitat mapping
                      (E)   Legislative requirements and listings (State and Federal Governments)
                      (F)   Species Management Programs previously approved by the department

        (b)   Habitat Assessment and Breeding Places Assessment
              (i)     A field survey must be conducted to assess the habitats present, the listed threatened species known to occur or
                      potentially occurring within the locality, and the occurrence of specific breeding places or breeding habitat for these
                      species. For the purposes of this assessment, the definition of “breeding places” follows that provided in s332 of the
                      Nature Conservation (Wildlife Management) Regulation 2006. For species such as Koala and native frogs, who do
                      not use a habitual breeding place, the term ‘breeding habitat’ is used in lieu of ‘breeding place’.
              (ii)    Habitat features that are considered significant for assessing the presence of breeding places and/or habitation
                      value for native fauna, include but are not limited to:
                      (A)   Presence of hollow­bearing trees: These may be used by birds, reptiles or arboreal mammals for the purpose
                            or incubating or rearing offspring;
                      (B)   Presence of bowers, nests, dreys: These structures are commonly used by birds or mammals to incubate or
                            rear offspring;
                      (C)   Presence of caves, mounds, burrows, ground hollows and/or coarse woody debris: These structures are
                            commonly used by birds, mammals, reptiles or amphibians to incubate or rear offspring;
                      (D)   Presence of permanent water, ephemeral ponding, depressions and/or, seasonally inundated areas:
                            Waterbodies may be used for breeding by aquatic species or amphibians, or that may provide intermittent
                            breeding habitat for opportunistic species;
                      (E)   Presence of large trees: Large trees can be a dominant feature of native vegetation and are difficult to replace
                            once lost. Their influence for wide­ranging species can extend over a considerable distance from their
                            location.

              (iii)   Breeding places assessments are to be coordinated and led by a person experienced in conducting fauna surveys,
                      wildlife ecology and/or environmental management, including the identification of animal breeding places for EVNT,
                      special least concern or colonial breeding species.
              (iv)    A reasonable attempt must be made as part of any survey for animal breeding places to identify those that belong to
                      birds and mammals as a priority.
              (v)     Reptile breeding places are considered by DES to be impractical to identify in most circumstances. As a
                      consequence, surveying for them specifically is not necessary. Should the surveyors become aware of a specific
                      reptile breeding site on a property, prior to the survey, then the surveyor must make a reasonable attempt to find it
                      and identify the site on the survey.

 (3)    Outputs shall include:
        (a)   A Breeding Places Report must include:
              (i)     A list of all animal breeding places identified within the impact area, including conservation status.
              (ii)    A statement to justify the suitability and qualifications of the person undertaking the animal breeding place survey.


NOOSA PLAN 2020                                                                                                                     Page 37 of 99