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

Whist the Grey-headed flying-fox has an extensive distribution, only a small proportion of its range is used at
any one time, as the species selectively forages where food is available, feeding on nectar, pollen and fruit.
As a result, patterns of occurrence and relative abundance within its distribution vary widely between
seasons and between years (DAWE 2021b).
The Grey-headed flying-fox roosts in aggregations of various sizes on exposed branches. The species can
maintain fidelity to roost sites for extended periods, although new sites have been colonised. The Grey-
headed flying-fox is known to forage up to 50 km from a roost site in a single night (DAWE 2021b).
The Grey-headed flying-fox has a diverse diet, which includes nectar and pollen from the flowers of
eucalypts (genera Eucalyptus, Corymbia and Angophora), melaleucas and banksias. Whist the species has
a diverse range of food sources, the Grey-headed flying-fox has no adaptations for withstanding food
shortages and migrates in response to changes in the amount and location of flowering (DAWE 2021b).
The main threats to the Grey-headed flying-fox include: Habitat loss and fragmentation, Exploitation (i.e.
mortality associated with crop protection), Competition and hybridisation with other flying-fox species (e.g.
Black flying-fox), Pollution, pathogens and electrocution (DAWE 2021b).


2.3.2.2      Potential impact
Whilst the Grey-headed flying-fox was not directly observed within the area associated with the proposed
action, a Nationally important flying-fox roost is known to occur within 16 km of the proposed action (i.e.
Kadanga roost, known to contain between 16,000-50,000 bats during most survey periods). In addition to
proximity to a Nationally important flying-fox roost, foraging habitat for the Grey-headed flying-fox was
confirmed to be present within and immediately adjacent to the proposed action (refer Appendix A;
Section 6.1.4) (refer Figure 2.2). Habitat was typically associated with the presence of food trees, such as
Queensland blue gum (Eucalyptus tereticornis), Tallowwood (Eucalyptus microcorys) and Small-fruited grey-
gum (Eucalyptus propinqua).
Approximately 3.17 ha of the Grey-headed flying-fox habitat is located within the proposed action. Analysis
of this habitat against the conservation advice for this species (DAWE 2021b) indicates that the identified
Grey-headed flying-fox habitat constitutes “habitat critical to the survival of the species” given its proximity to
a flying-fox camp of National importance.
An assessment of significance related to potential impacts upon the Grey-headed flying-fox (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 6.1.4 - Table 35).
In consideration of the relatively small area of disturbance (i.e. 3.17 ha), the localised nature of potential
impacts, the nature of disturbance, the proposed mitigation measures, and in consideration of Significant
impact guidelines 1.1, the proposed action is not-likely to result in a significant impact to the Grey-headed
flying-fox.
Mitigation measures to reduce the severity of impacts to the Grey-headed flying-fox include the provision of
offsets (in the form of offsets for the loss of Koala habitat as habitat for the Koala is synonymous with the
Grey-headed flying-fox) in accordance with the Queensland Environmental Offsets Policy (July 2017) (refer
Section 3.2.3.1). In addition, clearing the minimum extent necessary for the proposed action, and
management measures to minimise impact to the species during construction will also minimise the impact
to this species. Further detail related to mitigation measures to reduce the potential impacts associated with
the proposed action are provided within Section 3.2.




                             Project number 511784 File Six Mile Creek - Matters of National Environmental Significance Report 2021-12-03 Revision 1   22