2022-09-06 P&E Agenda - Item 5 - Attachment 1 - Six Mile Creek Bridge Replacement Offset Report - TMR

2.3          Matters of national environmental significance not-
             likely to be significantly impacted by the proposed
             action
Four MNES have been identified as having habitat removed as part of the proposed action. However, these
species are not-likely to be subject to significant impacts as a result of the proposed action, given the
relatively small area of clearing and proposed mitigation measures. These MNES consist of the following:
   Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) – Vulnerable
   Grey-headed flying-fox (Pteropus poliocephalus) – Vulnerable
   Giant barred frog (Mixophyes iteratus) - Vulnerable
   Rufous fantail (Rhipidura rufifrons) – Migratory
Further details related to each of these MNES and potential impacts associated with the proposed action are
provided within the sections below.


2.3.1        Koala

2.3.1.1      Ecological background
The Koala is a medium-sized, arboreal marsupial that is predominantly grey in colour. The Koala is endemic
to Australia and ranges from north-eastern Queensland to the south-east corner of South Australia.
Within Queensland, the highest density of the Koala population occurs in South-east Queensland. Lower
densities occur through central and eastern areas (DAWE 2021a).
Koalas naturally inhabit a range of temperate, sub-tropical and tropical forest, woodland and semi-arid
communities dominated by Eucalyptus species and their habitat can be broadly defined as any forest or
woodland containing species that are known koala food trees, or shrubland with emergent food trees. The
distribution of this habitat is largely influenced by land elevation, annual temperature and rainfall patterns,
soil types and the resultant soil moisture availability and fertility. Preferred food and shelter trees are
naturally abundant on fertile clay soils.
In coastal lowlands in Queensland, Koalas are also found in vegetation communities dominated by
Melaleuca or Casuarina species (DAWE 2021a).
Koalas are folivores, feeding primarily during the dawn, dusk or night periods. Its diet is restricted mainly to
Eucalyptus spp; however, they may also consume foliage of related genera (Family: Myrtacae), including
Corymbia spp., Angophora spp. and Lophostemon spp.
Whilst Koala maintain a defined home-range, they are not considered to be territorial, and there may be
significant overlap in the distribution of home-ranges (DAWE 2021). Home range size is also variable with
those occurring within poorer quality habitat, being relatively larger in size, when compared to those that are
located within higher quality habitat.
Koala have naturally low fecundity, with females potentially producing a single offspring year, with births
occurring within the warmer months of the year (e.g. October through to May). The estimated lifespan of wild
Koalas is generally greater than 15 years in females and 12 years in males (DAWE 2021a).
The main threats to the Koala include: Habitat loss and fragmentation, Mortality associated with dog attacks
and vehicle strikes, Disease (i.e. Chlamydiosis), Climate change and drought, and other threats such as Bell
Miner Associated Dieback (BMAD) and Myrtle rust, both of which impact the health and quantity of available
forage (DAWE 2021a).




                             Project number 511784 File Six Mile Creek - Matters of National Environmental Significance Report 2021-12-03 Revision 1   19