MCU 14/0106 Appendix F - Ecological Assessment

State and Local Government Ecological Assessment
Noosa Civic Expansion



were the Yellow-footed Antechinus (Antechinus flavipes) (Plate 5), Fawn-footed Melomys (Melomys
cervinipes) (identified through hair tube analysis – see Plate 6) and Bush Rat (Rattus fuscipes). Fawn-
footed Melomys were recorded from two separate hair tube traps along Pitfall line C. The Antechinus was
also recorded from a hair tube trap set 1.5m above the ground along Pitfall line B.




Plate 5: Antechinus flavipes caught in an Elliott trap                Plate 6: Hair tube traps were mounted both on the ground and
                                                                      trees


ARBOREAL MAMMALS

Possums/Gliders
A Ringtail Possum drey was recorded in the Study Area, however no other signs of possum or glider activity
were detected, despite stag watching and the spotlighting survey effort. Due to the nature of the dominant
tree species (stringy/spongy bark) scratches were difficult to detect. Minor scratching was observed on
Eucalyptus grandis, but these could potentially be attributed to Lace monitors.

Koalas
Koala activity had been recorded previously within the Noosa locality (Wildnet records) and recorded as
likely to occur based on previous ecological studies. Callaghan et. al. (2011) maps most of the Study Area
as Secondary Habitat (Class A) meaning areas where:
            primary koala eucalypt species comprise < 50% (but >30%) of overstorey trees; or areas of forest or
            woodland where primary koala eucalypt species comprise < 30%, but together with secondary
            eucalypt species comprise <50%; or areas of forest or woodland where secondary eucalypt species
            alone comprise <50% (primary eucalypt species absent).
Minor areas along the southern boundary associated with alluvial soils are regarded as ‘Primary Habitat’ and
roads are not regarded as habitat.
Targeted Koala searches were undertaken using both the KRAM and additional opportunistic searches to
identify any Koala activity or signs of activity on the Study Area (Figure 2). The results of KRAM are
presented in Appendix O. A single Koala scat was identified during the search (location illustrated on
Figure 7, Plate 7). Koala scat identification was confirmed through analysis by Barbara Triggs.
Opportunistic observations didn’t yield any other signs of Koala activity.




QIC Noosa Civic Pty Ltd                                        Version 1                                         5 December 2014
J13041_Ecological Assessment State Local_V1.docx         Commercial in Confidence                                       Page 21