Fauna Management Plan v1 - Lake MacDonald Drive, Cooroy

Fauna Management Plan v1                                                                      NCES REF: J000662
Lot 101 on SP142407, Lot 140 on MCH978, Lot 3 on RP137375,
Lot 2 on RP852009 and Lot 8 on RP160703 – 27 Wilgee Court, Cooroy


4     FAUNA MANAGEMENT MEASURES – PRE-CLEARING

4.1       Protection of Fauna Habitat
The following list identifies measures to be enacted prior to vegetation clearing to conserve the
vegetation/habitat resources located external of the disturbance footprint.
      ·    The boundaries of bulk earthworks which interface off-site trees to be retained are to be
           clearly defined with temporary fencing prior to the commencement of works and
           maintained/retained until the conclusion of operational works activities.
      ·    Clearance of, or impact to, native vegetation located within all off-site vegetation is strictly
           prohibited without consent of the neighboring property owners and Council.
      ·    Suitable and effective erosion and sediment control measures are to be employed along the
           downslope interface between all vegetation removal zones and adjacent areas likely to
           experience erosion and run-off.
      ·    The earthworks disturbance zones are to be appropriately re-surfaced as soon as possible
           following completion of disturbance activities (e.g. excavation and filling) to minimise erosion
           and sedimentation impacts.
4.2       Initial pre-clearing survey
Prior to vegetation clearing, the fauna spotter/catcher is required to carry out an initial pre-clearing
survey to minimise the risk of fauna injury during clearing and limit the abundance of available hollow
and nesting areas prior to clearing. The Initial pre-clearing survey will predominantly involve:
      ·    Identification of any potential arboreal habitat (e.g. habitat trees and nests) within the works
           area and the presence or potential presence of arboreal fauna within trees and large
           branches (living or dead), which may include mammals such as possums, gliders and
           microchiropteran bats, birds including parrots and owls, reptiles and tree frogs.
      ·    Identification of any potential terrestrial habitat within the works area related to fallen hollows,
           leaf litter, nests and mounds and the presence of ground dwelling fauna, such as reptiles,
           amphibians and small mammals.
      ·    Collection and relocation of any viable native bee hives.
      ·    The closure i.e. ‘plugging’ of unoccupied arboreal hollows prior to site clearing to prevent
           native fauna from potentially moving into the hollows during clearing operations.
4.3       Daily pre-clearing survey
A daily pre-clearing site survey is to be undertaken by the fauna spotter/catcher prior to the
commencement of each day’s clearing activities. This survey is required to identify the presence of
fauna within or immediately adjacent to the proposed clearing zone via visual inspection of known
and/or potential habitat elements. The daily pre-clearing survey is to include but not be limited to:
      ·    Inspection of all arboreal and fallen hollows, that have not been plugged, identified by the
           fauna spotter/catcher during the initial pre-clearing survey; and
      ·    Removal of as much fauna as practically possible from within the clearing zone prior to
           vegetation clearing occurring including;
      ·    Physical removal of fauna may be required where they do not choose to move on of their
           own accord. The spotter catcher is to determine the most sensitive and practical method for
           fauna removal. Removal of fauna from arboreal hollows may comprise:
A record of all observed fauna, excluding birds that are not nesting within the clearing zone, is to be
recorded for monitoring purposes. Clearing is prohibited from occurring until the daily pre-clearing
fauna and habitat assessment has been completed. Methods to be used for the fauna and habitat
assessment shall be in accordance with the methodology set out in the:
      ·    Terrestrial Vertebrate Fauna Survey Guidelines for Queensland (Eyre et al., 2012); and




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