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

2.3.1.2       Potential impact
The Koala and its associated habitat was confirmed to be present within and immediately adjacent to the
proposed action (refer Appendix A; Section 4.6.1) (refer Figure 2.2). Habitat was typically associated with the
presence of primary Koala food trees, which included Queensland blue gum (Eucalyptus tereticornis),
Tallowwood (Eucalyptus microcorys) and Small-fruited grey-gum (Eucalyptus propinqua). Field-based
investigations using the methodologies of Phillips and Callaghan (2011) suggest that the area has a “low
utilisation rating”.
Approximately 3.17 ha of the Koala habitat is located within the proposed action. Analysis of this habitat
against the Koala habitat assessment tool (i.e. Table 4 from the EPBC Act referral guidelines for the
vulnerable koala (combined populations of Queensland, New South Wales and the Australian Capital
Territory) (CoA 2014)) indicates that the identified Koala habitat constitutes “habitat critical to the survival of
the species” (refer Appendix A; Table 30).
An assessment of significance related to potential impacts upon the Koala (and its habitat), as a result of the
proposed action, has been undertaken in accordance with the Matters of National Environmental
Significance: Significant impact guidelines 1.1, Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act
1999 (DotE 2013) (refer Appendix A; Section 6.1.2 - Table 32).
The following factors have been considered in relation to the potential impact to the Koala as part of the
proposed action:
   Relatively small area of disturbance (i.e. 3.17ha)
   The localised nature of potential impacts
   The nature of disturbance
   The absence of an important population
   The relatively low utilisation of the area by Koalas
   The proposed mitigation measures
In consideration of these factors, and in consideration of Significant impact guidelines 1.1, the proposed
action is not likely to result in a significant impact to the Koala.
Mitigation measures to reduce the severity of impacts to this species include the provision of offsets in
accordance with the Queensland Environmental Offsets Policy (July 2017) (refer Section 3.2.1), clearing the
minimum extent necessary for the proposed action, and management measures to minimise impacts to the
species during construction.


2.3.2         Grey-headed flying-fox

2.3.2.1       Ecological background
The Grey-headed flying-fox is Australia's only endemic flying-fox and occurs in the coastal belt from
Rockhampton in central Queensland to Melbourne in Victoria. It is one of the largest bats in the world with a
weight of 600–1000 g and a head-body length of 230 to 289 mm. It is the only Australian flying-fox that has a
collar of orange/brown fully encircling its neck. Thick leg fur extends to the ankle, in contrast to other
Pteropus species in which fur only reaches the knee (DAWE 2021a).
Grey-headed flying-foxes have relatively low fecundity and produce a single offspring per year, although
twins have occasionally been observed. Offspring are born, following a six-month long gestation period,
between October to January (DAWE 2021b). The average life expectancy for wild Grey-headed flying-foxes
is between 7.1 to 7.4 years, and females of the species typically do not reach sexual maturity until they reach
3 years in age (DAWE 2021).




                             Project number 511784 File Six Mile Creek - Matters of National Environmental Significance Report 2021-12-03 Revision 1   20