Attachment 7D - Impact Management Plan - EVNT Fauna species - Noosa Landfill Expansion

                                                                               Native Foresters



3.3     Applicable species
3.3.1 Wallum Froglet

The Wallum Froglet (Crinia tinnula) is a small ground-dwelling frog (up to 20 mm in length)
whose dorsal side is highly variable in colour and texture. The ventral side is granular, with
a fine median line of white dots on the throat that may continue across the belly. Males
may call throughout the year and at any time of day particularly following rain and their call
is a short high-pitched ring that can accelerate into a tinkling chorus. Wallum Froglet is
listed as Vulnerable under the NC Act.

Wallum Froglets require ephemeral and semi-permanent, acidic swamps and creeks on
coastal sand masses that seasonally flood for breeding. They also inhabit adjacent
heathlands and Melaleuca woodlands as well as more disturbed areas including road-side
puddles. Breeding usually occurs in winter, however, has been recorded in all seasons
following rain (Meyer et al. 2006). Tadpoles may take up to six months to develop into
frogs. Tadpoles are grey or brown above with irregular darker markings and a tail that is
1.5 times their body length. Wallum Froglet appears to be widespread and locally abundant
in wallum habitat on the Sunshine Coast (Meyer, 2010).

Suitable habitat for breeding by Wallum Froglets (core habitat) occurs within the potential
Impact Area, however no calling activity indicative of breeding was detected during the
survey period in the Impact Area. Calling activity indicative of breeding by Wallum Froglet
was detected in the site’s 100 metre buffer, with core breeding habitat (i.e. ponded areas
with surface expression of acidic groundwater) confirmed at 200 to 600 metres east north-
east of the landfill. Species utilisation of core breeding habitat areas may expand into the
potential Impact Area under very wet conditions.

3.3.2 Wallum Rocketfrog

Wallum Rocketfrog (Litoria freycineti) is a moderate-sized, ground-dwelling frog (about
45mm in length) and is characterised by a dark triangular area on the top of its snout and
a dark streak that runs from its nostril through the eye and down its side. Dorsal colouration
is grey to brown with darker stripes. The belly is pale and granular, and the back of the
thighs is brown with cream spots. Wallum Rocketfrog is listed as Vulnerable under the NC
Act.

The Wallum Rocketfrog is one of several ’acid frogs’ adapted to breeding in low pH waters
in coastal areas from South East Queensland and Northern New South Wales. It is
commonly seen around wallum swamps with low nutrient sandstone and sandy soils and
vegetation consisting of heathland, sedgeland, Melaleuca spp or Banksia spp. The male
Wallum Rocketfrog calls from the ground beside water amidst sedges, with calling activity
consistent with breeding behaviour for the species. Breeding occurs mainly in spring and
summer after rain. Eggs are laid in shallow water and development is rapid with larvae
completing metamorphosis in six to eight weeks depending on ambient temperature (Ed
Meyer, pers.comm). Tadpoles are mainly bottom-dwelling, feeding on detritus, dead
insects and worms (Anstis, 2002).




IMPACT MANAGEMENT PLAN – Noosa Landfill Expansion
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