MCU 14/0106 Appendix F - Ecological Assessment

State and Local Government Ecological Assessment
Noosa Civic Expansion




5                  Assessment of Impacts
5.1                Values
While the ecological assessment captured information for the entirety of Lot 3 on SP246584, the impact
assessment focusses on the proposed expansion of the Noosa Civic within which ~7.5ha of regrowth/non-
remnant vegetation will be impacted, as illustrated in Figure 1.
Ecological values absent from the development footprint include:
> Remnant regional ecosystems (MSES regulated vegetation); and
> Flora species scheduled under Commonwealth or State laws or regarded of local significance.
Confirmed ecological values within the development footprint include:
> Regrowth vegetation. There are very few remnant trees in this area;
> Planted, landscaped areas. There are areas that have been planted with now established native
  vegetation;
> Potential habitat for Wallum Froglet and Wallum Sedgefrog associated with a small area proximate to the
  existing truck access;
> Koala habitat trees (MSES wildlife habitat). By applying a rate of 433 trees/ha, the vegetated area of the
  ~7.5ha of clearing supports approximately 3,248 KHTs. Only ~7.2ha of this clearing (supporting ~3,118
  KHTs) requires provision of an offset in accordance with the requirements of the Koala SPRP, because it
  is mapped as Medium Value Bushland and Medium Value Rehabilitation;
> Habitat for a diversity of species. While the full complement of flora and fauna species recorded within
  Lot 3 on SP246584 are not present within the clearing footprint, a large number of them would be. For
  example, it is anticipated that the locally significant Little Bentwing Bat (Miniopterus australis) is likely to
  forage throughout the vegetation; and
> Potential habitat for the NC(W)R ‘Vulnerable’ Elf Skink (Eroticoscincus graciloides).
The Shire Business Centre (Map Sbc) identifies a drainage line on the western edge of the impact area as
‘OS7’ (Environmental Drainage). OS7 largely aligns with, but is not consistent with, an area of vegetation
protected under an existing covenant. This covenant area supports vegetation and habitat that is largely
consistent with surrounding vegetation, with the minor exception of the presence of a narrow drainage line.

5.2                Impacts
Impacts on ecological values can be divided into those that are direct and those that are indirect. Direct
impacts of the proposed development include:
> the loss of approximately 7.5ha of regrowth/non-remnant vegetation;
> the loss of approximately 3,118 KHTs within the 7.2ha of Medium Value Bushland and Medium Value
  Rehabilitation koala habitat;
> the loss of approximately 0.02ha of regrowth vegetation associated with areas that are possible Wallum
  Froglet habitat; and
> the loss of approximately 7.5ha of habitat that has some value to several common reptiles, small
  mammals and birds. This area is also potential habitat for the Elf Skink, that may be present, but in
  numbers so low it can’t be detected. The habitat has low-very low value for arboreal or hollow dependent
  fauna.
Furthermore, a portion of this clearing will occur within the existing covenant area to enable the
establishment of a two-pier pedestrian link between Noosa Civic and the proposed development (accounting
for ~0.05ha containing ~55 trees that are >10cm diameter at breast height). While some vegetation can be
retained under the two-pier pedestrian link, it is anticipated that owing to exclusion of light that much of this

QIC Noosa Civic Pty Ltd                                  Version 1                                5 December 2014
J13041_Ecological Assessment State Local_V1.docx   Commercial in Confidence                              Page 28