Attachment 6- Ecology report prepared by Gondwana Ecology

The entire subject land was traversed to ensure all habitats were surveyed. Incidental/opportunistic
records for fauna were recorded. Bird surveys were a primary focus on both mornings, with
amphibian surveys targeting the west and south (i.e. habitats with some “wetland characteristics”)
and spotlight surveys conducted over an hour in the evening. Weather conditions were warm and
calm with clear skies on 18th and 19th. Relatively heavy rainfall occurred prior to and during the
survey conducted on the 7th.

4.2 Site Flora and Vegetation Communities
The vegetation on the site has regenerated since clearing in the 1970s. Reference to historical aerial
imagery shows most of the site was cleared just prior to 1971 with additional clearing prior to 1979
(Attachment D). The vegetation currently occupying the site is thus between 40 and 50 years old, with
a few older trees that were retained when the site was last cleared.

The most common canopy tree species were Eucalyptus resinifera (red mahogany), Syncarpia
glomulifera subsp. glomulifera (turpentine), Corymbia intermedia (pink bloodwood), E. robusta
(swamp mahogany) and Melaleuca quinquenervia (paperbark teatree). Eucalyptus grandis (flooded
gum) and Lophostemon confertus (brush box) were less frequent canopy species.

The suite of canopy species reflected the pre-clearing regional ecosystem mapped across most of the
site, RE 12.9-10.1. The detailed description for RE 12.9-10.1 is:

    Tall open forest. Canopy species include Eucalyptus resinifera, E. grandis, E. robusta, Corymbia
    intermedia +/- E. microcorys, Melaleuca quinquenervia, Syncarpia glomulifera subsp. glomulifera
    and Lophostemon confertus. Occurs on Cainozoic and Mesozoic sediments.

Towards the south of the site, on lower elevation ground closer to Eenie Creek, there was a shift in
the vegetation composition, with M. quinquenervia and E. robusta becoming the dominant canopy
species. The pre-clearing regional ecosystem mapping shows that this area supported RE 12.3.5, with
the detailed description of:

    Melaleuca quinquenervia open forest to woodland. Understorey depends upon duration of water
    logging; sedges and ferns, especially Blechnum indicum, in wetter microhabitats and grasses and
    shrubs in drier microhabitats. Ground layer species include the grasses Leersia hexandra and
    Imperata cylindrica, the sedges/rushes, Baumea rubiginosa, Gahnia sieberiana, Lepironia
    articulata, Schoenus brevifolius and Schoenus scabripes and the fern Lygodium microphyllum.
    Other tree species that may be present as scattered individuals or clumps include Lophostemon
    suaveolens, Eucalyptus robusta, E. tereticornis, E. bancroftii, E. latisinensis, Corymbia intermedia,
    Melaleuca salicina, Livistona australis, Casuarina glauca, Endiandra sieberi. Melastoma
    malabathricum subsp. malabathricum, Glochidion sumatranum and Melicope elleryana are often
    in understorey. Occurs on Quaternary alluvium in coastal areas.

A mid-canopy layer was also present in much of regenerating eucalypt forest and was variable across
the site in structure and composition. Some areas supported dense regeneration of Sannantha
bidwillii (baeckea) whereas in other areas the midstorey was more open and featured a number of
rainforest species including Acronychia imperforata (beach acronychia), Elaeocarpus obovatus (hard
quandong), Endiandra sieberi (hard corkwood) and Schizomeria ovata (white cherry).

The groundcover within the regenerating eucalypt forest was generally sparse, due to the combined
cover of the tree canopy and midstorey. Groundcover species recorded included Blechnum
cartilagineum (gristle fern), Baloskion tetraphyllum subsp. meiostachyum (swamp foxtails), Entolasia
stricta (wiry panic), Lepidosperma laterale (variable sword sedge) and Lomandra longifolia (long
leaved matrush).


Ecology Report – Lot 3 SP 246584 Noosa Civic                                                         10