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



7     CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

7.1       Conclusion
A desktop and field investigation of the environmental values primarily present in the west of Lot 500
on SP215779, located at 90 Beach Road, Noosa North Shore has been undertaken. The outcomes
of the environmental investigations identified that:
      •    The site supports local and State level biodiversity values.
      •    The site is mapped as containing Environmental Protection Areas on the Noosa Plan 2006
           Biodiversity Overlay Map.
      •    The site contains vegetation regulated under the Vegetation Management Act 1999 including




                                                                                                             DRAFT NOT FOR SUBMISSION PURPOSES
           Category B remnant vegetation and Category C high value regrowth vegetation.
      •    No conservation significant flora or fauna species protected under the NC Act and/or the
           EPBC Act were identified within the site.
The application has been assessed against several assessment frameworks and determined to be
compliant as follows:
      •    Noosa Plan 2006 Biodiversity Overlay Code
              o   Potentially compliant subject to Council          acceptance    of clearing mapped
                  Environmental Protection Areas.
      •    Nature Conservation Act 1992 – Further compliance required:
              o   An Exempt Clearing Notification and Flora Survey Report are required to be prepared
                  and submitted to DES at least one week prior to vegetation clearing and within twelve
                  months of the date of the site flora survey (i.e. before 26 July 2020).
              o   A fauna spotter/catcher is required to be present during vegetation clearing.
      •    Vegetation Management Act 1999
              o   Application referral to SARA is not required based on correspondence from DSDMIP
                  that the Noosa Plan Visitor Mixed Use zone qualifies as an urban area and therefore
                  the application satisfies the urban area urban purpose exempt clearing criteria.
      •    Schedule 11 of the Planning Regulation 2017 (Assessment benchmarks for development in
           koala habitat area)
              o   No further assessment is required.
      •    Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999
              o   No threatened flora species or threatened ecologically communities were identified.
                  The amount of clearing proposed is considered unlikely to trigger a significant impact
                  to any potential faunal matters of national environmental significance if present within
                  the site.

7.2       Recommendations
The following recommendations are provided to reduce environmental impacts and assist with
securing legislative approvals for the proposed development:
      •    Preparation and implementation of a Fauna Management Plan to provide a clear set of
           vegetation clearing and fauna management protocols for the operational works phase of the
           project;
      •    Engagement of a suitably qualified and experienced fauna spotter/catcher during vegetation
           clearing to manage fauna impacts;
      •    All hollows required to be removed shall be salvaged by suitable experienced persons and
           appropriately relocated into the surrounding bushland within the site either attached to trees
           or as terrestrial ground-storey habitat.



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