Appendix H - Biodiversity Code

2.0        BIODIVERSITY OVERLAY ASSESSMENT

A response to the Specific Outcomes, outlined in Table 3.2 of the Biodiversity Overlay Code, in relation to the proposed development
is provided in the table below

The Code details overall outcomes in Section 13.7.2 as follows:

13.7.2     The overall outcomes sought for the Biodiversity Overlay Code are the following—

      a) The natural resources of Noosa Shire are conserved including—
         i        land which is of scenic, cultural, historical, educational, recreational, scientific, ecological, biodiversity, economic,
                  social or aesthetic value;
         ii       soil or landforms such as watercourses, drainage lines, foreshores, dunes and steep slopes;
         iii      the ecosystem health and quality of the water, land and other natural resources; and
         iv       the extent and condition of native and remnant vegetation, including ecologically important areas, wetlands and
                  areas of significant regrowth of local origin;
      b) The terrestrial and aquatic biodiversity of native flora and fauna and their habitats is maintained;
      c) Ecologically important areas, wildlife corridors, ecological linkages and riparian vegetation are conserved, managed,
         enhanced and rehabilitated to ensure the long term ecological viability, integrity and sustainability of native flora and fauna
         species, and to improve biodiversity, landscape stability, and resilience;
      d) Development is managed so as to avoid, or where avoidance is not practicable, minimises or mitigates the impacts upon the
         Shire’s biodiversity values and natural resources, including—
         i        ecologically important areas;
         ii       the ecological values of water catchment areas;
         iii      the water quality of waterways, the noosa river system and ground and surface waters;
         iv       that part of the natural environment that may be environmentally harmed by vermin, pests, noxious plants or threats
                  such as fire, development and inappropriate land management;
         v        vistas and scenic amenity of the landscape;
         vi       coastal resources and values including coastal foreshores, near shore marine environments, beaches, dunes, rocky
                  headlands, beaches and river mouths; and
         vii      koala habitat areas and ecological linkages that provide for connectivity and safety for the long term viability of koala
                  populations.
      e) The replanting or rehabilitation of degraded ecosystems and habitat is achieved;
      f) In the case of urban areas, urban amenity, quality of life and ecosystem health is maintained and enhanced;
      g) Clearing of protected vegetation only occurs where it is reasonably necessary and in an environmentally sensitive manner
         that provide for suitable replacement plantings.

Overall the development is trying to maximise the benefit to the community through provision of aged care, whilst preserving some of
the native vegetation and associated environmental values on the site. The Native Foresters report details that although the site is not
mapped remnant, the vegetation on site consists partly of a Melaleuca wetland exhibiting the characteristic structure and composition
of RE12.3.5 – Palustrine wetland, with tall Eucalypt emergent. The existing vegetation is currently impacted by some weed
encroachment and as also noted in the Native Foresters report: “species composition is approximately 50% native, 50% introduced on
the western edge and 90% native, 10% introduced on the eastern edge…”. The proposal maintains approximately 25% of the existing
native vegetation on site, and by doing this it continues to provide a buffer to the waterway, maintains a riparian corridor along the
waterway, retains most of the estimated crayfish habitat, and retains the scenic amenity of the wetland vegetation. The retained
vegetation is on the south-eastern side and as such has a high value as there are less weeds in this area.

In addition to this:
     • stormwater will be treated to protect water quality values on site and in the adjacent waterway, and
     • rehabilitation of the retained vegetation on site and the adjacent parkland will improve habitat values of the retained
          vegetation and adjacent 0.7559 ha of parkland proposed to be rehabilitated, by removing weed species and infill planting
          where necessary.




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