SARA RFI - Ecological Assessment Report

Ecological Assessment Report
3 - 7 Serenity Close, Noosa Heads

   ● Fauna scat, including potential Sugar or Squirrel Glider scat.

As identified in section 4.4.2, results of the field investigations indicated that areas
containing biodiversity values, in the form of potential fauna habitat, was less than the
extent shown on the Noosa Council Biodiversity, Waterways and Wetlands Overlay Map.
Ecologically important areas containing potential habitat were observed in all locations
outside of the cleared / disturbed areas (i.e., within observed RE 12.2.5) shown in Figure
18; however, on-ground fauna survey indicates that the site is not currently utilised by the
key species identified as likely to utilise or occupy the site. In addition, the potential
habitat is highly susceptible to degradation due to the high perimeter to edge ratio and
disturbance from surrounding land uses (i.e., roads, buildings, public walkways). Although
the potential habitat on site is subject to threatening processes or ‘edge effects’, the site is
connected to Council’s adjoining bushland reserve and is near potential riparian habitat.



4.6 SUMMARY


Overall results of the ecological assessment indicate that the existing environment could
be summarised as follows:

   ● The landform pattern of the site can be described as undulating rises (UR) to rolling
       rises (RR).
   ● The geology of the site is coastal dune sands (Qd-QLD).
   ● The site is located within the Noosa River Estuary catchment.
   ● No waterways or wetlands were observed on site; however, a waterway and riparian
       vegetation was observed adjacent to the southern boundary of the site.
   ● Botanical survey indicated that the vegetation within the site was generally
       consistent with RE 12.2.5 in terms of species composition and vegetation structure.
   ● The extent of observed biodiversity values was less than the mapped extents shown
       on the Noosa Council Biodiversity, Waterways and Wetlands Overlay Map.
       Ecologically important areas containing biodiversity values were observed in all
       locations within observed RE 12.2.5 (Figure 18), however, were subject to
       disturbance and threatening processes.
   ● Existing vegetation on the site contains a number of exotic and/or pest plants
       throughout observed RE 12.2.5, predominately along the interface between
       disturbed / cleared areas and throughout the understorey layer.
   ● No NC Act threatened flora species, occurring in the wild, were observed on site as
       part of the survey, however, special least concern species, Cymbidium suave, was
       observed on a number of host trees throughout the site;
   ● Fauna habitat suitability assessment undertaken for threatened species known or
       likely to utilise or occupy the site indicated that five (5) species of the 12 listed are
       unlikely to utilise or occupy the site, on account of an absence of any appropriate
       habitat on or in the vicinity of the site. The assessment also indicated that four (4)
       species could likely utilise or occupy the site at some time and three (3) could
       possibly utilise or occupy the site at some time.




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