MCU 14/0106 Appendix F - Ecological Assessment

State and Local Government Ecological Assessment
Noosa Civic Expansion




                                                   Plate 7: Koala Scat collected during KRAM.



The density of Koala Habitat Trees (KHTs) across the Study Area was determined utilising the point-quarter
method. Assessment sites were evenly distributed across the Study Area to attain a representative sample
of KHTs (Figure 2). Appendix P includes the full data set of trees assessed. It is estimated that the
average density of koala habitat trees across the Study Area is 433 trees per hectare. Of the vegetation
communities present across the entire Study Area, 17.4ha supports KHTs (i.e. clear areas and landscape &
young regrowth are disregarded). Therefore an estimated 7,534 KHTs occur within the entire Study Area.
These include the following species:
> Eucalyptus grandis;
> Eucalyptus resinifera;
> Eucalyptus robusta;
> Lophostemon suaveolens;
> Lophostemon confertus;
> Melaleuca nodosa;
> Melaleuca quinquenervia; and
> Melaleuca saligna.
While there is evidence of koala use and the presence of KHTs, the size of the population frequenting the
Study Area cannot be determined from this information alone. It is evident that no koalas were observed
during the assessment, no obvious koala scratches were recorded on Eucalyptus grandis and the Study
Area, while connected to the south, is disconnected from the northwest and to a lesser extent from the east
by Walter Hay Drive. There is also conjecture about the total numbers of koalas remaining in Noosa. While
there is no ‘hard science’ regarding populations, an article in the Courier Mail (Williams, 2010) suggested
there may be as little as 11 animals in Noosa National Park (in an area mapped as Primary Koala Habitat by
Callaghan et. al., 2011). Given the likely low local population in Primary Habitat and the findings of the Study
Area assessment, it is anticipated that the Study Area is infrequently visited by koalas.

BATS
No Flying-fox roosts are present within the Study Area. Some Black Flying-fox (Pteropus alecto) were
observed flying over the Study Area during spot lighting and stag watching. It is likely the vegetation of the
Study Area is used by the Black Flying-fox (P. alecto) and possibly the Grey-headed Flying-fox (P.
policephala) and the Little Red Flying-fox (P. scapulatus) as a feeding resource.
Four microchiropteran bat species were positively identified within the Study Area through ultrasonic
detection. Figure 2 illustrates the locations where activity was targeted using bat recorders. Four confirmed
species include Miniopterus australis, Mormopterus beccarii, Rhinolophus megaphyllus and Saccolaimus


QIC Noosa Civic Pty Ltd                                          Version 1                       5 December 2014
J13041_Ecological Assessment State Local_V1.docx           Commercial in Confidence                     Page 22