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




6.2       State Government

6.2.1      Regulated Vegetation – Vegetation Management Act 1999
DNRME’s Vegetation Management Supporting Map identifies that Least Concern remnant
vegetation is present within the site and is proposed to be cleared. The Department of State
Development, Manufacturing, Infrastructure and Planning have confirmed that the Noosa Plan
‘Visitor Mixed Use’ Zone at Beach Road, Noosa North Shore qualifies as an ‘urban area’ zoning for
the purposes of applying the ‘urban area urban purpose’ regulated vegetation clearing exemptions
(refer DSDMIP Correspondence Appendix 4). Therefore, the application is not considered to require
referral to the SARA for assessment against State Code 16 Native Vegetation Clearing.




                                                                                                               DRAFT NOT FOR SUBMISSION PURPOSES
6.2.2      Koala Assessable Development Areas Map
The site is not located within a Koala Assessable Development Area and therefore does not require
assessment under Schedule 11, Part 6 of the Planning Regulation 2017.

6.2.3      Nature Conservation Act 1992
6.2.3.1 Protected Plants Flora Survey Trigger Map
The Protected Plants Flora Survey Trigger Map identifies that the site is located within a ‘high risk
area’ prescribed under the Nature Conservation (Wildlife Management) Regulation 2006.
The flora survey carried out on 26 July 2019 was undertaken in accordance with the flora survey
guidelines and no EVNT flora species were identified within the surveyed extent of the clearing
impact area. The applicant is required under the Nature Conservation Act 1992 to submit an exempt
clearing notification and Flora Survey Report to DES at least one week prior to the clearing being
undertaken and within twelve months of the date of the flora survey (i.e. prior to 26 July 2020).
6.2.3.2 Nature Conservation (Koala) Conservation Plan 2017
The site is located within Koala District A under the Nature Conservation (Koala) Conservation Plan
2017. In this regard, where the clearing of koala habitat trees is proposed, and koalas are identified
within the site, the clearing must be undertaken in accordance with Part 3, Item 10 and Item 11 of
the Nature Conservation (Koala) Conservation Plan 2017 which requires the following:
      •    The clearing of koala habitat trees is carried out in a way that complies with the sequential
           clearing conditions (as defined in the Nature Conservation (Koala) Conservation Plan 2017).
      •    The clearing of koala habitat trees having a trunk of a diameter of more than 10cm at 1.3m
           above the ground is carried out in the presence of a koala spotter who has the primary role
           of locating koalas in the trees to be cleared.
6.2.3.3 Fauna
A fauna spotter/catcher will be required to be present during clearing activities and where active
breeding habitat for least concern native fauna is observed, the applicant will be required to comply
with DES’s Species Management Program – low risk of impacts. A Species Management Program
– High Risk of Impacts will be required where impacts to breeding habitat for NC Act listed fauna
species are anticipated.

6.3       Commonwealth Government
No MNES threatened ecological communities or flora species were identified during the field
investigation. Whilst a fauna survey has not been completed the results of the habitat assessment
infers that the threatened fauna species identified in the Protected Matters Search Report have a
low potential to occur within the site due to the limited amount of suitable habitat and/or a lack of
existing records in the locality. Furthermore, the extent of clearing is unlikely to result in a significant
impact to any populations of the listed EPBC fauna species hence a referral to the Commonwealth
government under the EPBC Act is deemed unnecessary at this time.




© 2019                                                   24