MCU 14/0106 Appendix F - Ecological Assessment

State and Local Government Ecological Assessment
Noosa Civic Expansion



Field investigations identified several exotic species occurring within the Study Area, of these 4 were
declared pests under the Land Protection (Pest and Stock Route Management) Act 2002 (LPA).
These species are largely concentrated in areas of current or previous disturbance. Of particular note is the
occurrence of the species Sporobolus pyramidalis (Giant Rat’s Tail Grass, a Class 2 weed under the LPA).
Under the LPA, land owners are required to try to keep their land free of Class 2 pests. There are also Class
3 plants identified from the Study Area (i.e. Lantana camara, Sphagneticola trilobata, Singapore Daisy &
Camphor Laurel, Cinnamomum camphora). Lantana camara and Cinnamomum camphora were also
identified within the Disturbance Footprint, along the drainage line. Singapore Daisy was identified from an
area within landscaped vegetation, adjacent to the existing truck entry from Hofmann Drive. Land owners
must control Class 3 pests where the plant is impacting or has the potential to impact on a nearby
‘environmentally significant area’ (e.g. a National Park).
None of the recorded flora species are listed as regionally or locally significant in Section 5 Flora Species List
of the Noosa Biosphere (Noosa Biosphere Ltd, 2009).

4.2                Fauna
4.2.1              Survey Conditions
Fieldwork was undertaken by fauna ecologists at the end of the wet season, beginning of the dry season,
between the 8-9 April 2013 and 29 April – 3 May 2013. Table 4-2 provides summaries of local weather as
derived from the nearest active weather station (Tewantin RSL Park station 040908) obtained from Climate
Data Online (BOM, 2013).

Table 4-2               Survey Period Weather
Date                    Min Temp (°C)              Max Temp (°C)    Rainfall     Direction   of   Speed       of   Time of maximum
                                                                    (mm)         maximum          maximum wind     wind gust
                                                                                 wind gust        gust (km/h)




8/04/2013               17.9                       24.6             9.8          SSE              37               12:53

9/04/2013               18.1                       24.9             11.4         S                31               22:43

29/04/2013              17.2                       25.6             0            SSW              22               09:10

30/04/2013              19.7                       25.9             0            ENE              30               10:54

1/05/2013               17.9                       25.8             0.8          SSW              20               02:49

2/05/2013               16.2                       27.5             0            SE               39               20:30

3/05/2013               17.6                       23.2             5.4          ESE              33               00:07




4.2.2              Fauna Species
The section below describes the terrestrial fauna assemblages of the Study Area, a full list of fauna species
recorded is provided in Appendix N. Figure 2 illustrates the location of trap lines as described in the
methodology section.

4.2.2.1            Mammals

LARGE MAMMALS
Very little Macropod activity was observed throughout the Study Area. The only observation of wallaby scat
was recorded from the north eastern most portion of the Study Area, directly adjacent to the National Park.
This scat was identified by Barbara Triggs as that of a Swamp Wallaby (Wallabia bicolor).

SMALL, GROUND DWELLING MAMMALS
Several small ground dwelling mammal species were recorded within the Study Area. The exotic species
the Black rat (Rattus rattus) were recorded commonly in trap lines A and B. The native species recorded

QIC Noosa Civic Pty Ltd                                            Version 1                                        5 December 2014
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