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

                                                                              Native Foresters



4.2          IMPACT AVOIDANCE

4.2.1 Impact Avoidance Framework
The ‘avoid, mitigate, offset’ assessment framework requires, in the first instance, that impacts
on prescribed environmental matters (MSES) be avoided. If avoidance cannot be achieved, it
must be demonstrated that impacts have been carefully managed and minimised (mitigated).
If after all reasonable avoidance and mitigation measures have been taken, there is still a
residual impact on a prescribed environmental matter, an offset may be required where the
impact is, or is likely, to be ‘significant’ (DSDIP, 2014).

4.2.2 Alternative Sites
 A range of alternative landfill expansion sites were considered within Lot 77 SP298776
however it was found that there were no suitable alternatives, and as such avoidance of impact
cannot be achieved, due to:

      i)        the occurrence of mapped remnant vegetation areas throughout the remainder of
                undeveloped areas within Lot 77, much of which are in better ecological condition
                than the proposed expansion site.
      ii)       the requirement to meet the long-term infrastructure needs of the growing Noosa
                region community in accordance with the local Planning Scheme and the
                importance of landfill industries for future sustainable waste management;
      iii)      the requirement to integrate the existing services and facilities;
      iv)       the unsuitable geology or flooding issues associated with alternative sites.
      v)        The placement of the HES Basin is governed by the ground levels of the site, the
                upstream drainage networks and the location of the downstream outlet for the site
                (low point).


4.2.3 Avoidance of Impacts
A number of measures to avoid and/or minimise disturbance to and/or interference with MSES
have been considered. This occurred through consultation with the project Ecologists (Native
Foresters) during project design phase. This process resulted in the following:

      •      The proposed clearing footprint has been chosen to ensure no fragmentation of
             vegetation occurs along the northern boundary of the existing landfill area. This aims
             to minimise impacts such as edge effects and avoid impacts to surrounding
             undisturbed koala habitat (RE 12.5.3) including the clearing of Koala Food Tree (KFT)
             species to the northeast and northwest of the proposed impact area.
      •      Only the area currently required for expansion for the construction of landfill
             infrastructure is proposed to be cleared.


4.3          IMPACT MITIGATION

The Queensland Environmental Offsets Policy Significant Residual Impact Guideline (QLD
Gov, 2014) states that if a proposed development can successfully demonstrate that in-situ
rehabilitation works can mitigate an impact to the extent that it would not be considered to be
significant, an offset may not be required.




Noosa Landfill & RRC Expansion – MNES & MSES Significant Impact Assessment                       17