SARA RFI - Ecological Assessment Report

Ecological Assessment Report
3 - 7 Serenity Close, Noosa Heads


4.5 FAUNA


4.5.1    METHODS


DESKTOP

Prior to field assessment, a search was undertaken to identify threatened fauna species
that may occur, are likely to occur, or are known to occur within 3 km of the study site. A
search of the Queensland DES Wildlife Online database (Department of Environment and
Science 2023) was undertaken for all threatened fauna species recorded within a 3 km
radius of the site since 1980 (Appendix 3).

For each of the species identified from the database searches, an assessment of the
likelihood of the species utilising or occupying the site was undertaken based on a
heuristic decision-based approach incorporating known habitat associations and
preferences of species according to expert knowledge by Litoria ecologists and published
accounts of each species. The assessment was undertaken for 12 species, incorporating
threatened fauna species identified in the Wildlife Online report. Likelihood categories into
which each species was divided included:

        1. Confirmed: Species observed or recorded from the site based on systematic
           survey or opportunistic observations by Litoria ecologists, or based on credible
           anecdotal observations by other sources (p(x) = 100% 9);
        2. Likely: Site contains known or potential habitats for the species and species
           recorded from similar habitats in locality of the site (p(x) > 50%);
        3. Possible: Site contains known or potential habitats for the species; however,
           species not recorded from locality of the site, or vice versa (p(x) ≅ 50%); and
        4. Unlikely: Site does not contain known or potential habitats for the species and/or
           species not recorded from locality of the site (p(x) < 50%).

FIELD INVESTIGATIONS

A detailed Koala survey was conducted over the entire site by OWAD Environment on 20
April 2023 with a team of ecologists and a purpose-bred detection dog certified by the
Australian Canine Detection Certification Council for Koala and Quoll scat determination.
Refer to Appendix 5 for a full description of methods applied by OWAD Environment. Any
evidence of Koala usage (scat, sightings and Koala scratches) was also recorded during a
detailed tree survey and botanical survey, with over 100 hours spent on site between May
2022 and April 2023 by four (4) qualified ecologists.

A survey was conducted to assess the presence of the Glossy Black Cockatoo on site and
was conducted generally in accordance with the Queensland Government’s targeted




9 p(x) – represents the probability (p) that a given species (x) could occupy or utilise the site.




                                                                                                     40 | 66