OPW Fauna Management Plan RFI Response · OPW25/0057

Fauna Management Plan v1                                                                    NCES REF: J001343
Lot 105 on SP118458 – 62 Lake MacDonald Drive, Cooroy, QLD



4     FAUNA MANAGEMENT MEASURES – PRE-CLEARING

4.1       Protection of Fauna Habitat
The following measures are to be enacted prior to vegetation clearing to conserve the
vegetation/habitat resources located external of the disturbance footprint.
      •    The boundaries of earthworks which interface vegetation to be retained, including off-site
           vegetation, 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 to be retained and all off-site vegetation is strictly
           prohibited in the absence of approval by Noosa Shire Council.
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. The initial pre-clearing survey will
predominantly involve:
      •    Identification of any potential arboreal habitat (e.g., nests and hollows) 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 (including possum dreys),
           microchiropteran bats, birds, reptiles and tree frogs.
      •    Identification of any potential terrestrial and aquatic habitat within the works area including
           deep leaf litter, nests, mounds, water bodies and the presence of terrestrial and aquatic
           fauna, such as reptiles, amphibians, fish, turtles, crustaceans and arthropods and small
           terrestrial mammals.
      •    Collection and relocation of any viable native beehives.
      •    The closure i.e., ‘plugging’ of unoccupied arboreal hollows within trees to be removed 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;
      •    Removal of as much fauna as practically possible from within the clearing zone prior to
           vegetation clearing including aquatic fauna. The spotter catcher is to determine the most
           sensitive and practical method for fauna removal; and
      •    Physical removal of fauna may be required where they do not choose to move on of their
           own accord.
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
      •    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.




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