Attachment 6- Ecology report prepared by Gondwana Ecology

In the south of the site where Melaleuca quinquenervia was the dominant canopy species, the
midstorey was less developed and was replaced by a dense ground layer of ferns and sedges including
Blechnum indicum (swamp water fern), Baloskion pallens (pale cord rush), Baloskion tetraphyllum
subsp. meiostachyum (swamp foxtails), Baumea rubiginosa (soft twigrush) and Calochlaena dubia
(soft bracken).

The north-east corner of the site was separate from the remainder of the site and was located
between Walter Hay Drive, Eenie Creek Rd and an electrical transmission line easement. In addition
to the past vegetation clearing, this area also appears to have been prepared for planting. Large
planting mounds running in an east-west direction can be discerned from the 1979 aerial photography.
These planting mounds were still present during the survey described in this report.

The vegetation in this small parcel in the north-east corner was slightly more disturbed than the rest
of the site as there has been clearing and road construction on all sides. The composition of the
regenerating native vegetation was similar to the rest of the site with the main tree species including
Syncarpia glomulifera susbp. glomulifera, Corymbia intermedia, Melaleuca quinquenervia and
Eucalyptus resinifera. Less common tree species included E. grandis and E. microcorys (tallowwood).
Some areas were dominated by dense regrowth of Allocasuarina littoralis (coast she-oak), reflecting
a higher level of disturbance.

A flora species list is provided in Attachment D.

Weeds were infrequent within the site and tended to be confined to site boundaries that abutted
roads and other infrastructure. Weed species that were recorded included Ageratum houstonianum
(blue billygoat weed), Baccharis halimifolia (groundsel bush), Bidens pilosa (cobbler's pegs), Lantana
camara (lantana), Melinis minutiflora (molasses grass), Paspalum paniculatum (Russell River grass)
and Passiflora suberosa (corky passion flower).

Baccharis halimifolia (groundsel bush) and Lantana camara (lantana) are both restricted invasive
plants that are Category 3 under the Queensland Biosecurity Act 2014. A person must not release
these invasive plants into the environment, give away or sell as a plant or something infested with its
seeds.

4.3 Site Fauna and Habitats
The vegetation communities are described above. These areas represent habitat and resources for a
variety of fauna. Few “old growth” trees occur due to the past clearing of the subject land. Isolated
stags (i.e. dead trees) are few but would provide habitat for arboreal fauna. Although the vegetation
is relatively dense and intact with few weeds, the community is relatively uniform in terms of habitat
variety and structural diversity. The exceptions being a paperbark dominated drainage line and
community south west and closer to Eenie Creek (i.e. south of the subject land). This area is likely to
provide a greater diversity of habitats and fauna.

Small skinks were notable in the leaf litter, few birds were recorded mostly during the morning periods
and flying-foxes and micro-chiropteran bats were noted in the evening. No possums (or other arboreal
mammals) or nocturnal birds were recorded, potentially a function of the lack of nesting/denning
hollows.

A fauna species list is provided in Attachment E. It is acknowledged that this list represents fauna
encountered during a relatively short survey period. It should also be noted that the fauna listed
include species recorded in the locality and not necessarily on the subject land.




Ecology Report – Lot 3 SP 246584 Noosa Civic                                                       11