Amended Noosa Project Restoration Plan V12_5

Matters of State environmental significance (MSES) - Tewantin

Refer to attached plans – MSES (Annex 2), MQ1401 (Annex 3), Noosa River FHA (Annex 4)

      •   High Ecological Value Waters (wetland)
      •   High Ecological Significance Wetlands
      •   Noosa River Declared Fish Habitat (A) Area

High Ecological Value (HEV) Waters (wetland) / High Ecological Significance (HES) Wetlands

The oyster ecosystem restoration works are designed to enhance the values of the wetland by restoring
a complex ecosystem to what is currently a degraded aquatic environment.

Mangroves and seagrasses are not within the footprint of this project and will not be impacted.

A small stand of mangroves is shoreward of the proposed restoration footprint. Mangrove areal roots
extend into the intertidal zone adjacent to the proposed restoration footprint. Mangrove roots are
excluded from the restoration footprint at a minimum distance of 2m. Seagrass is found upstream and
outside of the restoration footprint and is excluded from the footprint at a minimum distance of 10m
from the footprint.

According to project consultants, ESP, macroalgae growing on rocks, dominated by Padina sp. is sparse
(less than 15% of the surface area), with a footprint of less than 479m 2. The macroalgal assemblages
are in relatively poor condition due to high sediment loads observed on and around the existing rocky
reef and rubble areas, with some sections of reef having a high coverage of fine sediment.

ESP also confirmed that given the speed at which Padina can colonise hard surfaces (dead oyster shell)
elsewhere in the estuary, it is anticipated that supplementary habitat provided as part of the proposed
restoration project would be colonised rapidly within 1 year of deployment, and that coverage would
be similar to the current condition within 2 to 3 years post deployment, particularly in sections that
particularly in sections that remain subtidal and not covered by fine silt.

The proposed oyster reef patches are designed and certified by engineers. The oyster reef patches are
spaced (1-4m apart) so as not to not impede fish passage, cause significant or impact negatively on
natural hydrological processes of the waterway. The oyster reef patches are set away from the
shoreline and will not interfere with overland flow and runoff as a result of floods.

Water quality will be maintained at the restoration sites during the construction phase in accordance
with the sediment management protocol outlined in this Restoration Plan (see Section 6.4: Sediment
Management). The restored oyster ecosystems will enhance water quality by filtering estuarine water,
removing algae and particulate matter from the water column and converting nutrients, such as
nitrogen and phosphorus, into biogenic oyster growth as well as binding these into the surrounding
sediments[1].

Water quality will be monitored at the restoration sites using standard parameters (pH, temperature,
dissolved oxygen, salinity, total dissolved solid) and significant changes reported.

The works will maintain recreational access to shorelines or the waters in which the oyster ecosystems
grow. All shorelines with recreational access have been excluded from the selection process. Visual

[1]
  Kellogg, M. & Cornwell, Jeffrey & Owens, Michael & Paynter, Kennedy. (2013). Denitrification and nutrient
assimilation on a restored oyster reef. Marine Ecology Progress Series. 480. 1-19. 10.3354/meps10331.
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