8. Ecological Assessment Report v1- NOOSA NORTHSHORE RETREAT_Optimized · MCU19/0117

Ecological Assessment Report v1                                                           NCES REF: J000436
Lot 500 on SP215779 – 90 Beach Road, Noosa North Shore



5     DEVELOPMENT IMPACTS AND MITIGATION

5.1       Flora and Vegetation Communities On-site

5.1.1      Impacts
A total of approximately 1.41ha (minor recalc required) of vegetation mapped as an Environmental
Protection Area under Noosa Plan 2006 is proposed to be cleared/modified to locate the proposed
new dwelling inclusive of bushfire safety setbacks to achieve a BAL 29 AS 3959:2018 construction
Standard (12m APZ) and the lagoon.
Approximately 3,000m 2 (minor recalc required) is required to be cleared to accommodate the new
dwelling unit inclusive of a 12m bushfire setback to enable a BAL 29 construction standard under




                                                                                                              DRAFT NOT FOR SUBMISSION PURPOSES
AS 3959:2018. It is noted that only understorey and mid-storey vegetation clearing is anticipated to
be required within the APZ to facilitate AS 3959:2018 low threat vegetation conditions.
Approximately 1.11ha is proposed to be cleared to accommodate the lagoon.
Figure 1 depicts the anticipated extent of impact to vegetation within the site.
The extent of impacts is considered consistent with the intent of the Mixed Use Visitor
Accommodation zoning for the site.

5.1.2      Mitigation Measures
The impact of the development has been mitigated/minimised by:
      •    Aggregating the dwelling footprint with the existing residential footprint and
           disturbed/modified areas associated with the Noosa Northshore Retreat to the west and a
           wide National Park firebreak trail to the south;
      •    Locating the dwelling in a position which can be serviced by existing access trails to the north
           and south-west within the adjacent Noosa Northshore Retreat;
      •    All landscaping is proposed to utilise native species found in the surrounding bushland
           environs thereby reducing the risk of weed populations establishing and proliferating in a
           pristine area;
      •    A weed control program will be enacted during and after the works for a period of 6 months
           to prevent the spread of weed taxa throughout the site and into adjoining lands.
5.2       Flora Off-site
No direct clearing of the adjoining off-site native vegetation is proposed or deemed necessary. Off-
site vegetation and all vegetation to be retained will be clearly delineated prior to clearing works
commencing. Where vegetation clearing is proposed immediately adjacent to off-site vegetation (i.e.
within the dripline of off-site vegetation), an arborist is to be engaged to undertake a tree hazard
assessment to identify potential impacts and the need for any remediation measures.
5.3       Fauna

5.3.1      Impacts
The potential impacts to fauna species anticipated as a result of the project primarily relate to the
following:
      •    Removal of native habitat (including an abundance of arboreal hollows) to accommodate
           proposed infrastructure;
      •    Habitat degradation due to increased weed intrusion as a result of introduced edge effects
           and site use;
      •    Injury or death during vegetation clearing; and
      •    Site intensification for tourism purposes which has the potential to increase long term impacts
           to fauna associated with



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