Attachment 5 - Fauna Management Plan · OPW24/0196

Fauna Management Plan v1                                                                          NCES REF: J001259
Lot 9 on RP225312 – 100 Cooyar Street, Noosa Heads



      •         Threatened species survey and assessment guidelines: field survey methods for fauna –
                Amphibians (NSW Department of Environment & Climate Change, 2009).
Fauna observed during the pre-clearing site survey are to be monitored throughout the day’s clearing
to maintain knowledge of their movement and presence on the site.
4.4       Release Methods
Any native fauna captured during the pre-clearing site survey are to be relocated into suitable habitat
(appropriate to each species) where the potential for re-entry into the site is minimal. The release
location is to be determined by the fauna spotter/catcher with preference given to a location in close
proximity to the site.
Note: Handling of amphibians is to be in accordance with the former Department of Environment and
Heritage Protection’s Technical Manual – Interim Hygiene Protocol for Handling Amphibians.

5     FAUNA MANAGEMENT MEASURES – DURING CLEARING

5.1       Vegetation Clearing Direction




                                                                                                                       DRAFT - NOT APPROVED FOR SUBMISSION
All trees are to be searched for wildlife presence prior to felling and potential or known habitat trees
are to be left standing for a minimum of one night prior to eventual felling.
Vegetation clearing is recommended to be undertaken such that only one clearing front is progressed
at any one time. This will allow fauna to move away from the clearing front into adjacent vegetation
or seek refuge in other retained vegetation communities within the site or adjacent to the site. The
spotter catcher shall determine the direction of clearing and advise the clearing contractors
accordingly.
5.2       Sequential Vegetation Clearing
Vegetation clearing is to be carried out using a sequential clearing method as follows:
      1. The groundcover and mid-storey are to be cleared first utilising a slasher with a mulching
         head attachment or similar. Any hollow-bearing trees and/or other significant habitat features
         identified during the initial site inspection will be retained. All under scrubbing works will be
         completed with a suitably qualified fauna spotter/catcher in attendance.
      2. After under scrubbing of each area is complete, non-habitat trees (i.e., trees other than those
         identified as habitat trees) will be cleared and stockpiled for mulching. Clearing of non-habitat
         trees will only occur where their removal will not impact on identified habitat trees (e.g.,
         canopies do not interconnect with habitat trees).
      3. After under scrubbing and clearing on non-habitat trees, an elevated work platform or cherry-
         picker will be used in conjunction with a chainsaw operator and suitably qualified fauna
         spotter/catcher to inspect and remove hollows as necessary prior to habitat tree felling. This
         method involves the fauna spotter/catcher inspecting each of the potential habitat features
         (usually hollows, dreys and arboreal termite nests) to determine the presence of arboreal
         fauna. This process is detailed following the step-by-step basis below:
          i.       The fauna spotter/catcher (with arborist unless the fauna spotter/catcher is a qualified
                   chainsaw operator) will inspect each visible hollow or potential habitat resource (i.e.,
                   ringtail possum drey) identified in each tree using the cherry-picker. This is usually carried
                   out by simply looking into hollows with the assistance of a small torch, however, burrow
                   and bore-scopes can also be useful for deep hollows.
          ii.      If fauna is located within a hollow, a piece of towel or rag will be firmly laced in the entrance
                   to prevent the wildlife form escaping as in most cases arboreal fauna become aware of
                   the presence of the fauna spotter/catcher and may attempt to flee the nesting/denning
                   hollow due to a perceived threat. If an occupied ringtail possum drey is encountered, the
                   fauna spotter/catcher should quietly approach (i.e., avoid contacting other branches) the
                   drey in the cherry-picker bucket and physically capture the possum by placing the entire
                   drey in a catch bag or only the possum if it emerges from the drey.



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