2015-09-15 Planning & Organisation Committee Agenda

PLANNING & ORGANISATION COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                              15 SEPTEMBER 2015


The vegetation was predominately cleared in 1979, with the development footprint mapped as
“regrowth” vegetation for the purposes of the Vegetation Management Act 1999. On-ground
surveys have confirmed the accuracy of the vegetation mapping for the site, although have
identified remnant patches too small for inclusion in regional ecosystem mapping. The regional
ecosystem the regrowth vegetation is associated with is predominantly Regional Ecosystem 12.9-
10.1, described as 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. The dominant canopy tree is Syncarpia
glomulifera subsp. glomulifera (Turpentine), with other species such as Eucalyptus resinifera, E.
grandis and Corymbia intermedia occurring less frequently. The sub-canopy contains
representations of the upper canopy, as well as Alphitonia excelsa, Melaleuca salignus and
Cryptocarya glaucescens.

Under the Vegetation Management Act, there are no regional ecosystems listed as ‘Endangered’
known to occur at the NBC site. There are also no recorded flora species found on the site that are
listed as vulnerable or endangered under the Nature Conservation Act 1992 or the Environment
Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. Further, no nationally significant fauna species
have been recorded on the site; however 28 national significant fauna species have been recorded
in the vicinity of the site, with 4 of these within the locality being koala, Silvia’s Blind Snake, Elf
Skink, Green Thighed Frog and Wallum Froglet. Whilst none of these species were recorded within
the stage 3 area by the applicant’s flora and fauna study, it is considered likely that they may occur
within this portion of the site. The strategy for amelioration of potential impacts on significant
species has been to allocate a large extent of open space between stages 1, 2 & 3 and Eenie
Creek. This area will be retained as natural vegetation providing habitat for these species and
buffering Eenie Creek from development. This conservation allocation was done as part of Stage
1 development of NBC and is identified as Lot 3 SP182845.

Four parts of the site are subject to a statutory covenant, which seek to preserve existing native
vegetation on the land. The covenanted areas generally correspond with open space precincts
OS3, OS5 and OS7 as identified on the precinct plan for the NBC. Notably the terms of the
covenant provide that existing vegetation is preserved, however the covenant does allow that
fixtures, buildings, structures or paths which would otherwise have been prohibited may be
constructed within the covenanted areas where shown on plans approved by Council.




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