3 - Ecology Report - B14101EL001

14 May, 2015
Our File Ref: B14101EL001.docx
Contact: Leah Hattendorff




W.Donald Milligan Pty Ltd
136 Top Forestry Road
Ridgewood, Qld, 4563


RE:        PRELIMINARY ECOLOGICAL INSPECTION - TOP FORESTRY ROAD

Lambert & Rehbein’s Ecologist inspected the area subject to proposed road widening on
the 24th of March, 2015. The vegetation to be impacted was inspected to investigate the
presence of any threatened species or significant habitat trees that may be impacted by
the road widening works.

Small areas adjacent to the road are mapped as Regulated Vegetation (least concern).
The areas as mapped are considered remnant, however, where the roadway currently
intersects the patches, these areas are not considered remnant as the canopy density is
no longer consistent with remnant parameters. The road largely skirts the edge of these
mapped areas and any clearing adjacent to the road edges is unlikely to detrimentally
impact or fragment the existing regulated vegetation.

The canopy vegetation was dominated by Corymbia intermedia (Pink Bloodwood),
Corymbia tesselaris (Moreton Bay Ash) and Eucalyptus propinqua (Small-fruited Grey
Gum). Associated Eucalyptus microcorys (Tallowood) and Eucalyptus tereticornis
(Forest Red Gum) were also common. The average T1 canopy height was
approximately 25-30m.

The sub-canopy layer was dominated by Lophostemon confertus (Brush Box),,
Alphotonia excelsea (Red Ash), various common Acacias and Jagera pseudorhus
(Foambark). The shrub and herbaceous layers were almost exclusively dominated by
exotic pest plants, and declared weeds such as Lantana, Easter Cassia, Cotton Balloon
Bush, Para Grass, Signal Grass, with some native soft bracken fern also common.

An informal survey calculated that up to 30 trees (>150mm DBH) may be impacted by
the works. The majority of these (15) being sub-canopy Brush Box. A small number (1-2)
of trees that may be potentially impacted by the works were considered large (>50cm
DBH) however, no threatened species or significant habitats were identified within the
impact area. One large Tallowood was noted to support an arboreal termite mound,
containing a bird nesting cavity. While it is possible that unforseen or obstructed hollows
are present in the trees, it was noted that no natural hollows were identified in any trees
to be impacted (during the inspection from ground level).