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

                                                                                 Native Foresters



3.4        Impacts to the species

The clearing of vegetation, excavation and the disturbance of habitat within or near a body
of permanent or temporary freshwater has the potential to impact on the nominated EVNT
species populations and their freshwater breeding habitats.

Wallum frogs are likely to be well concealed among vegetation and leaf litter and difficult
to detect as they cease calling or burrow into the leaf litter or substrate when disturbed.
Swamp Crayfish, known for their cryptic nature are likely to be burrowing in sediment and
substrate when not foraging. Indirect impacts to potential habitat for the species
downstream of the works may also occur. It is important that mitigation measures are
undertaken in order to minimise the impacts on these species and other native fauna
present. If mitigation measures are not carried out, there is potential for the following direct
and indirect impacts to occur:

   o       Loss of habitat, including the loss or disturbance of the leaf litter, stones, woody
           debris, depressions and ponds that form the breeding habitat for the species.
    o      Disturbance of breeding habitat through stockpiling of vegetation or spoil and soil
           compaction, and changes to hydrology within local area.
    o      Injury or death to the species from machinery and pedestrians.
    o      Death or reduced population vigour due to disease / fungal infection.
    o      Changes to vegetation structure, microhabitat conditions and connectivity may
           affect dispersal to areas of suitable habitat.
    o      Slow species recovery following completion of works, if works have impacted
           on breeding pool and if rehabilitation works are not adequate to recreate
           suitable habitat.
    o      Changes to water quality and/or site hydrology may impact future viability of
           breeding habitat e.g. sediment inputs, pH shifts, dissolved oxygen levels, aquatic
           weeds etc.
    o      Predation of relocated individuals if appropriate habitat features are not located
           and utilised.
    o      Alterations to species population dynamics if relocated individuals are not
           adequately dispersed.

It is not known whether the aforementioned impacts will have a significant long-term
impact on local Swamp Crayfish populations for the following reasons:

    i)        Very few population surveys have been conducted;
    ii)       Limited scientific research on breeding habitat preferences and breeding
              ecology of the species has been conducted;
    iii)      Species tolerance of disturbance is not known.

Given these long term uncertainties, it is important that short-term, localised impacts
associated with the proposed landfill expansion are minimised by following the
recommendations provided in Section 4 of this IMP.

While there may be temporary, negative impacts on the EVNT species breeding habitat
within the footprint of proposed works, it is considered that these impacts will not be
significant if works are conducted sensitively. The adjacent bushland areas will continue
to provide refuge areas for EVNT species while the adjacent wetland areas should
continue to provide breeding habitat in appropriate weather conditions.

IMPACT MANAGEMENT PLAN – Noosa Landfill Expansion
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