Proposed Rehabilitation Plan

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General Site Information - Overview

This Riparian Rehabilitation Plan has been prepared to direct the ecological restoration of the
waterway and immediately adjoining riparian zone located in proposed Lot 1 which is to be
created from the subdivision of Lot 46 on RP13461, located at 21 Jirrima Crescent, Cooroibah.

The Rehabilitation Area extends for 10m either side of the high bank of the waterway and covers
a total area of approximately 0.2ha (refer to Plate 1). The Rehabilitation Area is characterised by
dense macrophytes and native herbs at the water’s edge, with a narrow row of existing mature
native trees immediately adjoining the waterway. Plates 2 and 3 depict existing conditions
within the Rehabilitation Area.

The remainder of the area to be rehabilitated is characterised by areas that are currently
regularly mowed. Despite the historical mowing, the Rehabilitation Area contains moderate to
high in-situ ecological resilience, with a diversity of native recruitment already occurring in the
ground stratum (refer to Plates 4 and 5). The dominant limiting factor preventing regeneration
of the waterway corridor is the current intensive mowing regime. Removal of mowing and
selective weed control within the Rehabilitation Area is expected to allow recruitment from the
existing soil stored seed bank and from outside sources. The Rehabilitation strategy prescribed
for the area will predominantly involve assisted natural regeneration as defined in the South
East Queensland Ecological Restoration Framework - Manual (Chenowith LPA, 2012).

The Rehabilitation Area is mapped by the Queensland Herbarium as historically containing the
pre-clearing regional ecosystem RE 12.3.4 which is described as a Melaleuca quinquenervia,
Eucalyptus robusta woodland vegetation community. The existing tree species and native
recruitment within the Rehabilitation Area was observed to be consistent with the pre-clearing
regional ecosystem mapping. The narrow band of trees is dominated by mature Melaleuca
quinquenervia (broad-leaved tea tree), with a small number of Lophostemon suaveolens (swamp
box), Acacia disparrima (hickory wattle) and Eucalyptus racemosa (scribbly gum) also present.
The edge of the waterway is dominated by a dense band of semi-aquatic herbs and macrophyte
species including Persicaria strigosa (prickly smartweed), Leersia hexandra (swamp rice grass),
Bacopa monnieri (Bacopa) and several native sedge species (Cyperus spp.). A small number of
shrub species occur such as Austromyrtus dulcis (midyim berry), Melastoma malabathricum
(blue tongue), Banksia robur (swamp banksia), and Sannantha bidwillii (twiggy myrtle). Several
native herb species also occur in moderate densities within the existing areas of mowed grass.

Several weed species occur within the Rehabilitation Area in generally low densities. Primary
weed control and ongoing maintenance of the Rehabilitation Area is expected to assist in
reducing the potential for weed dominance and over-competition as the native species
composition re-establishes over time.

The existing vegetation within the Rehabilitation Area is expected to provide habitat value for
native fauna species, predominantly wetland birds and amphibians. It is noted that the
surrounding vegetation is mapped as containing koala habitat and that the riparian corridor has
the potential to provide connectivity between adjoining habitats. The species observed to be
recruiting within the proposed Rehabilitation Area were dominated by koala habitat tree species
including M. quinquenervia, L. suaveolens and E. robusta. The rehabilitation strategy prescribed
within this Rehabilitation Plan will result in a large increase of koala habitat within the locality.
Furthermore, the extension of the habitat to a width of 10m either side of the waterway is
expected to enhance and improve the existing habitat value and contribute to maintaining and
improving the water quality of the waterway and downstream receiving environments.

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PLATE 1 - RIPARIAN REHABILITATION AREA

   

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RIPARIAN REHABILITATION PLAN
21 JIRRIMA CRESCENT,
COOROIBAH

 

 

LEGEND
DEVELOPMENT SITE

[_] access easEMENT

[EBB Riparian REHABILITATION AREA
APPROXIMATELY 0.2ha

 

 

COPYRIGHT © 2022 N

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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RIPARIAN REHABILITATION PLAN
21 JIRRIMA CRESCENT,
COOROIBAH

LEGEND

DEVELOPMENT SITE

; C] ACCESS EASEMENT

L] RIPARIAN REHABILITATION AREA
APPROXIMATELY 0.2ha

COPYRIGHT © 2022

 

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1) REHABILITATION MANAGEMENT
1.1) Assisted Natural Regeneration

A very low density of environmental weeds occurs within the Rehabilitation Area.
Assisted Natural Regeneration is anticipated to be the predominant management
activity as the principles apply:

¢ To natural areas where the native plant community is largely healthy and
functioning

# When native plant seed is still stored in the soil or will be able to reach the site
from nearby natural areas, by birds or other animals, wind, or water

e Where the natural regeneration processes (seedling germination, root
suckering, etc.) are being inhibited by external factors, such as weed invasion,
soil compaction, cattle grazing, mechanical slashing, etc.

e When limited human intervention, such as weed control, minor amelioration
of soil conditions, erection of fencing, cessation of slashing, etc. will be enough
to trigger the recovery processes through natural regeneration

e When the main management issue is weed infestation and/or current land use
practices

The re-establishing plant community will be substantially similar in structure,
composition and diversity to the original vegetation type (based on the Regional
Ecosystem Pre-Clearing mapping). It is expected the general management techniques
are to follow the principles of:

. Identifying nodes of resilience

. Working to strengthen identified nodes and protect and encourage all existing and
naturally regenerating species through assisted natural regeneration processes

. Working outwards from nodes of resilience to increase the size of nodes and
gradually connect to other nodes of resilience.

All assisted natural regeneration works are to be undertaken by appropriately
experienced and qualified people utilising techniques as presented within Section 5
of the SEQ Ecological Restoration Framework Manual (Chenowith LPA, 2012).

1.2) Weed Species to be Controlled

Assisted natural regeneration will be applied throughout the Rehabilitation Area as

the area contains good in-situ ecological resilience and will not require revegetation

planting to restore natural biodiversity. The primary management activities will be the

cessation of mowing from within 10m of the high bank of the waterway and selective

targeted control of environmental weed species.

Weed management is to include the management of all environmental weeds from

the Rehabilitation Area including (but not limited to) those listed in Table 1, as well as

any additional weeds listed in the following documents:

© Restricted Matters (Invasive Plants) listed under the QLD Biosecurity Act 2014

Weeds of National Significance (WONS) under the Commonwealth Government
Weeds strategy

e invasive Naturalised Plants in Southeast Queensland, 2002, Queensland
Herbarium

* Noosa Biosecurity Plan 2020

e Any other exotic plants known to exhibit weed characteristics (i.e. Invasive,
competitive characteristics)

1.3) General Methods

All works are to be conducted in line with the SEQ Ecological Restoration Framework.
All weed treatments to comply with, Minor Use Permit PER11463 & 82307, product
labels and individual SDS, and other applicable permits as well as the Chemical Usage
(Agricultural and Veterinary) Control Act 1988, Agricultural Chemical Distribution and
Control Act 1966, and the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (including all applicable
Regulations).

All weed management works are to be conducted by experienced persons proficient
in both native species and weed species identification. The method adopted for
removal of weeds from the site will be dependent upon the physical stage of
development of individual weed specimens. Only herbicides registered for aquatic
use as detailed on the manufacturer’s specifications are to be applied. Herbicide
sprays should be applied in non-windy conditions in order to prevent incidental
poisoning of native species and not on days preceding forecast rainfall. Those
responsible for managing weeds need to consider the sensitivity of frog larvae and
other aquatic fauna to herbicides and wetting agents before use.

1.4) Rehabilitation Area Identification

The Rehabilitation Area is to extend 10m from the high-bank of the waterway
(exclusive of within the access easement). The outer extent of the Rehabilitation Area
is to be demarcated by star pickets or other permanent markers located every 30m
along the perimeter of the Rehabilitation Area boundary. No mowing is to be
undertaken within the demarcated area.

1.5) Maintenance Schedule

An initial primary weed control event is to occur in which woody weeds are to be
poisoned in-situ (drilled/frilled and poisoned) and all other visible weeds (excluding
exotic grasses) are treated. Exotic grasses are not to be poisoned. It is anticipated that
grass species will be outcompeted and shaded out once native species regenerate.
Follow up maintenance is to be enacted for a period of one year. The frequency of
the maintenance schedule is to be one maintenance event six months after primary
weed control is complete, with a final follow up weed control event at the end of the
twelve-month maintenance period.

1.6) Weed Coverage

A list of weed taxa observed within the Rehabilitation Area prior to works commencing
is detailed in Table 1. This list is indicative only. Overall weed management is to be
guided by the specifications as detailed in Section 1.2.

TABLE 1 — WEED SPECIES LIST

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Botanical Name feedii) Name

Ageratum houstonianum blue top

Baccharis halimifolia groundsel R
Cinnamomum camphora camphor laurel R
Corymbia torelliana cadaghi I
Cuphea carthagenensis Colombian waxweed |
Desmodium intortum green Desmodium |
Lantana camara lantana R
Passiflora suberosa corky passionfruit |
Senna pendula var. glabrata Easter cassia |
Sphagneticola trilobata Singapore daisy |

 

 

 

 

 

 

| = Invasive species

R = Restricted Invasive Plant under the Queensland Biosecurity Act 2014

 

2) PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

The progress of the rehabilitation is to be qualitatively assessed against Key
Performance Indicators (KPI) that have been developed to determine completion
of the rehabilitation works (referto Table 2). KPls represent a benchmark of
expected progress of rehabilitation works within the 12 month management
period. These KPI must be met for the works to be considered complete and
granted off-maintenance. At the end of the twelve month maintenance period, a
monitoring report must be prepared by a suitably qualified person and submitted
to Council demonstrating that the KPI have been met.

TABLE 2 —- KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

ASSISTED NATURAL REGENERATION AR'

 

 

 

Native Cessation of mowing within 10m of high bank of waterway.
Regeneration Evidence of native recruitment throughout majority of
Rehabilitation Area.
Weed <5% weed cover (low threat environmental weeds) in any 5m
Cover x 5m plot (excluding exotic grass species)
0% woody weeds (>1m high) or Restricted Invasive Plant
species regulated under Biosecurity Act 2014

 

 

Plate 7 — Low density of Singapore Daisy amongst native grass and herb species
within Rehabilitation Area

21 JIRRIMA CRESCENT,
COOROIBAH

RIPARIAN REHABILITATION PLAN

 

COPYRIGHT © 2022