Attachment 2 - Gondwana Ecology Group_noosa springs

It is my understanding the additional tennis court and pavilion will not result in the removal of additional
koala trees or native vegetation; however, please check on this.


3.0 Community Information - Koalas
I have also been requested to consider the information presented in the media (in early 2022) regarding
the proposed development and alleged impacts to the koala.

There are two components to this response, i.e.
    1. The proposed development impacts and compliance with regulatory benchmarks; and
    2. The mis-information presented in the media regarding the project, potential impacts to koala and
    general koala ecology.

My responses are restricted to koala matters. I have also completed a further site and surrounds inspection
in March 2022 to consider the extent of koala habitat in the landscape.

4.0 Project Ecology Outcomes
Most of the subject land is improved by car parking, tennis courts, the Noosa Springs golf clubhouse and
associated buildings and infrastructure. The land is bordered to the north, south and east by Resort Drive
and by Links Drive and the golf course to the west. The site is enclosed by way of a fence. A small area of
“bushland” occurs adjacent to the existing tennis courts. There is no access to the surrounding bushland
for most larger terrestrial fauna.

Nineteen trees that are “koala habitat” (by definition), will be removed. The proposed redevelopment
largely encompasses the existing tennis courts and car parking area in the north.

The proposed redevelopment intends to retain the balance vegetation and trees, despite the lack of
connection to the surrounding landscape. It is proposed to enhance this area through a weed control and
rehabilitation exercise. The landscaping programme throughout the new development also intends to
enhance local resources for native fauna (i.e. through dense and suitable planting). This will improve the
area for local fauna.

The development, noting the site context, mapping and on ground values, will have a negligible adverse
impact to koalas. Importantly, the development is compliant with both Council and the State’s relevant
koala assessment benchmarks.

In accordance with the State Offset legislation, the project proposes to deliver “offsets” by way of financial
payment which will be a condition of approval. Section 5.4 of the Gondwana Ecology Report (dated
February 2020) states the following:

          The impact area (koala habitat in SEQ 1) for the subject land in hectares is 19 X 0.004ha =
          0.076ha. This equates, based on the financial calculator, to $8,702.76.



1 https://apps.des.qld.gov.au/offsets-calculator/ - The Financial Settlement Offset Calculator was designed to calculate the financial

settlement offset using hectares. Therefore in SEQ the number of non-juvenile koala habitat trees being impacted must be converted
into an area in hectares. Using an average tree density of 250 tress per hectare for koala habitat in SEQ, the total area of impact for
a single non-juvenile koala habitat tree in SEQ is taken to be 40m2 (0.004ha).

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It is my understanding the additional tennis court and pavilion will not result in the removal of additional
koala trees or native vegetation; however, please check on this.

3.0 Community Information - Koalas
| have also been requested to consider the information presented in the media (in early 2022) regarding
the proposed development and alleged impacts to the koala.

There are two components to this response, i.e.
1. The proposed development impacts and compliance with regulatory benchmarks; and
2. The mis-information presented in the media regarding the project, potential impacts to koala and
general koala ecology.

My responses are restricted to koala matters. | have also completed a further site and surrounds inspection
in March 2022 to consider the extent of koala habitat in the landscape.

4.0 Project Ecology Outcomes

Most of the subject land is improved by car parking, tennis courts, the Noosa Springs golf clubhouse and
associated buildings and infrastructure. The land is bordered to the north, south and east by Resort Drive
and by Links Drive and the golf course to the west. The site is enclosed by way of a fence. A small area of
“bushland” occurs adjacent to the existing tennis courts. There is no access to the surrounding bushland
for most larger terrestrial fauna.

Nineteen trees that are “koala habitat” (by definition), will be removed. The proposed redevelopment
largely encompasses the existing tennis courts and car parking area in the north.

The proposed redevelopment intends to retain the balance vegetation and trees, despite the lack of
connection to the surrounding landscape. It is proposed to enhance this area through a weed control and
rehabilitation exercise. The landscaping programme throughout the new development also intends to
enhance local resources for native fauna (i.e. through dense and suitable planting). This will improve the
area for local fauna.

The development, noting the site context, mapping and on ground values, will have a negligible adverse
impact to koalas. Importantly, the development is compliant with both Council and the State’s relevant
koala assessment benchmarks.

In accordance with the State Offset legislation, the project proposes to deliver “offsets” by way of financial
payment which will be a condition of approval. Section 5.4 of the Gondwana Ecology Report (dated
February 2020) states the following:

The impact area (koala habitat in SEQ’) for the subject land in hectares is 19 X 0.004ha =
0.076ha. This equates, based on the financial calculator, to $8,702.76.

1 https://apps.des.qld.gov.au/offsets-calculator/ - The Financial Settlement Offset Calculator was designed to calculate the financial
settlement offset using hectares. Therefore in SEQ the number of non-juvenile koala habitat trees being impacted must be converted
into an area in hectares. Using an average tree density of 250 tress per hectare for koala habitat in SEQ, the total area of impact for
a single non-juvenile koala habitat tree in SEQ is taken to be 40m? (0.004ha).