RFI - Attachment 4C - MSES-MNES Assessment - Noosa Landfill RRC- Revision 3

                                                                               Native Foresters




3.3       Summary of SI Assessment for MNES


It is considered that the proposed action is not a controlled action, i.e., the impacts to koala
habitat identified within the landfill expansion area will not be significant. As Noosa Landfill
and RRC is proposing to clear a relatively small area of habitat containing known koala food
trees, a referral to the Australian Government Minister for the Environment is not
recommended for adversely affecting habitat critical to the survival of the koala.

Under the Matters of National Environmental Significance Significant impact guidelines 1.1
EPBC Act 1999 (Commonwealth of Australia, 2013) it is considered unlikely that the
prescribed activity will have a SI on Habitat for Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) within the
Noosa Landfill and RRC expansion area for the following reasons:

      •   Although the area of interest contains suitable koala habitat, and the area does contain
          koala food and habitat tree species ( Melaleuca quinquenervia), the total area to be
          cleared of 1.02ha is not considered likely to significantly reduce the area of occupancy,
          fragment or decrease the local population of koala,
      •   Clearing of an area of koala habitat smaller that 2ha which is bounded on three sides
          by existing landfill area and already moderately disturbed will not significantly impact
          the quality of the remaining habitat, and is not likely to adversely affect habitat critical
          to the survival of the koala,
      •   Breeding cycle and essential life processes are unlikely to be significantly impacted by
          the proposed clearing works, and
      •   Clearing the impact area is considered unlikely to interfere substantially with the
          recovery of the koala through the introduction or exacerbation of key threats in areas
          of habitat critical to the survival of the koala as the proposed clearing is considered
          small enough that threats including edge effects and invasive species encroachment
          to adjoining suitable habitat will be relatively minimal and mitigated through appropriate
          management.




Noosa Landfill & RRC Expansion – MNES & MSES Significant Impact Assessment                        12