MCU14/0056 Information Response Cover Letter

Item 33 –

Provide justification, based on environmental grounds, for the development to occur with the riparian buffer area.

Response:

The site has been identified by in a preliminary risk based assessment by Saunders Havill Group and in the Council’s
commissioned report by Ecotone Environmental Services Report as Low Conservation Priority due to historical
land use and surrounding urban development resulting in the development site being highly modified, largely
devoid of native vegetation, and isolated by major arterial development to the north and south. Field survey of the
site did not identify the presence of, or habitat for, significant Commonwealth, State or local species fauna or flora
species. Further, the EAR prepared for the project identified that due to the highly disturbed and fragmented nature
of the site, the application area presents limited opportunity to provide habitat connectivity and usage is limited to
highly mobile species.

Site survey identified that ecological values contained to the waterway corridor which traverses the south-eastern
portion of the site. The mapped waterway is identified as a low value (stream order 1) watercourse and is highly
fragmented from surrounding areas by major arterial development to the north and south. Assessment of the area
identified that the waterway is not considered part of a strategic wildlife corridor or containing significant tracks for
fauna movement (refer to the “Fauna and its Associated Biodiversity Values in Noosa Shire” report by Ecotone
Environmental Services). Further, field survey noted that the waterway is heavily infested with weeds and in its
current degraded condition does not contain enough features to provide habitat for native amphibian species.

Proposed development of the site is restricted to already cleared areas of the site which were identified by the
EAR for the project as containing low to no ecological value. As discussed in the response to Item 32a, the riparian
buffer area extends over approximately half of the site (refer Plan 1 above), with only 0.005ha of the 1.1ha western
riparian buffer containing complex riparian vegetation and the remainder of the mapped buffer area (approximately
1.095ha) consisting of mowed grass. The 0.005ha of riparian vegetation, along with an additional 10m buffer from the
existing vegetation boundary is to be retained by the development (a total average 30m buffer from the stream order
1 watercourse). The project however proposes development within the remainder of the western buffer area which
consists of maintained grass and identified by the EAR as containing no ecological values or function as a riparian
corridor. This area of encroachment consists of highly degraded and treated grass, is not mapped by Commonwealth
of State environmental overlays and is identified as not containing vegetation that falls within Council’s
environmental protection category (refer to Appendix D within the EAR for further detail).

The proposed works will maintain and enhance current values of the riparian corridor and buffer by removing weed
species, treating stormwater and revegetating degraded areas. Weed management will be undertaken throughout
the site with particular focus on removal of competitive species within the corridor area and will provide a basis of
aiding natural regeneration within the riparian corridor. Where significant disturbance occurs, infill tubestock
planting will be utilised to aid stabilisation and native vegetation succession. Stormwater will be managed on site to
maintain current hydraulic conditions and water quality of run-off entering the creek. MUSIC modelling for proposed
bioretenion basis areas shows an overall reduction in gross pollutant loads is anticipated from existing conditions
through storm water management proposed by the development and meets required Water Quality Objectives.
Modelling also shows that under current conditions the waterway will degrade further and support the spread of
weeds and pest species through the site.

Therefore, based on environmental grounds the proposal will provide an overall benefit to the ecological value of the
site through weed removal and management, revegetation and rehabilitation, and treatment of stormwater resulting
a net improvement in water quality and ecological function of the waterway.
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