Attachment 5 - Flora Survey Report by Gondwana Ecology

    3. FLORA SURVEY
3.1 Target Threatened Species
Plant species designated as threatened under the Queensland Nature Conservation Act 1992 (NCA)
and the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act)
potentially occurring within the proposed clearing area were identified using the EPBC Protected
Matters Search Tool (PMST) and the State Wildlife Online database. The Wildlife Online database was
interrogated using a central coordinate (- 26.4172 °S, 153.0509 °E) with a search radius of 1, 2 and 5
km, while the EPBC PMST was interrogated using a 1 km radius.

The EPBC and Wildlife Online searches revealed 23 threatened plant species potentially occurring in
or near the proposed clearing area (Appendix A Target Threatened Species). The probability of any of
these species occurring within the proposed clearing area was assessed, based on their habitat
requirements, the habitat recorded in the subject area and the proximity of previous records of
occurrence (Appendix B Threatened Species Likelihood Assessment).

Personal experience and local knowledge of the surrounding habitats and vegetation communities has
assisted in understanding the likelihood of occurrence.

Reference was also made to a previous survey (Natural Solutions, 2007) covering the subject area.
This survey identified the Near Threatened (Qld Nature Conservation Act 1992) species Lobelia
membranacea occurring in or proximal to the subject area.

3.2 Vegetation Communities
Vegetation communities occurring in and around the proposed clearing area were reviewed through
Regional Ecosystem (RE) mapping (Department of Natural Resources and Management) (Appendix C).
The subject area was mapped as non-remnant.

Nearby remnant vegetation on adjacent properties was mapped as RE 12.9-10.1 and RE 12.3.5.

Regional Ecosystem 12.9-10.1 is 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. Occurs on Cainozoic and Mesozoic sediments.”

Regional Ecosystem 12.3.5 is described as:
   “Melaleuca quinquenervia open forest to woodland. Understorey depends upon duration of water-logging;
   sedges and ferns, especially Blechnum indicum, in wetter microhabitats and grasses and shrubs in drier
   microhabitats. Ground layer species include the grasses Leersia hexandra and Imperata cylindrica, the
   sedges/rushes, Baumea rubiginosa, Gahnia sieberiana, Lepironia articulata, Schoenus brevifolius and
   Schoenus scabripes and the fern Lygodium microphyllum. Other tree species that may be present as scattered
   individuals or clumps include Lophostemon suaveolens, Eucalyptus robusta, E. tereticornis, E. bancroftii, E.
   latisinensis, Corymbia intermedia, Melaleuca salicina, Livistona australis, Casuarina glauca, Endiandra
   sieberi. Melastoma malabathricum subsp. malabathricum, Glochidion sumatranum and Melicope elleryana
   are often in understorey. Occurs on Quaternary alluvium in coastal areas.”

3.3 Survey Methods
The survey method recommended by the “Flora Survey Guidelines - Protected Plants” (Qld
Department of Environment and Heritage Protection 2016) is the Timed Meander Survey as described
by Goff et al (1982). A formal flora survey, in accordance with the survey method recommended by
the Guidelines, was conducted over 18th and 19th February 2018 by two suitably qualified botanists
(Stephen Catchpoole and Justin Watson).

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