SARA Prelodgement Advice

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 Table 1: SARA advice in response to your request
 1.    Advice requested: advice regarding any implications of koala habitat mapping and that the
       clearing has been carried out in relation to the proposed development in accordance with the
       requirements of this State interest.

       Based upon the submitted information, the proposed dwelling will be located within the mapped
       koala habitat area (KHA). It appears that clearing within the mapped KHA has been previously
       undertaken in approximately the location that the proposed dwelling is to be established.

       The submitted information does not quantify the impacts to the KHA or non-juvenile koala habitat
       trees (NJKHTs). It is not possible to determine whether the proposal can be conducted using
       exempted development provisions because it is not clear what the total impact to KHA would be
       and whether this impact would exceed relevant exempted development thresholds.

       The site also contains regulated regrowth vegetation (category C)

       Exempted development provisions that may be applicable to the proposal include:
           Item (k) which allows for clearing of a maximum of 500m² of mapped KHA for any
             purpose
           Item (l)(i) which allows for clearing of mapped KHA to a maximum width of 5m for the
             construction or maintenance of a road or track, provided that the clearing complies with
             an ADVCC
           Item (l)(iii) which allows for clearing of mapped KHA to a maximum of 500m2 for non-
             linear infrastructure (e.g. building or structure) provided that the clearing complies with
             an ADVCC

       You should refer to the Clearing for Infrastructure Accepted Development Vegetation Clearing
       Code (ADVCC) from the Department of Natural Resources and Mines, Manufacturing and
       Regional and Rural Development at
       https://www.qld.gov.au/environment/land/management/vegetation/clearing-
       approvals/codes/choose.

       If the vegetation clearing required to establish the proposed dwelling and ancillary infrastructure,
       such as earthworks, effluent irrigation area, solar shed and driveway, exceeds the thresholds
       provided under the exempted development provisions, a development application must be
       lodged with SARA.



The following additional advice outlines aspects that are relevant from the jurisdiction of SARA:

 Table 2: Additional SARA advice
 1.    If a development application is made, the following information must be submitted with the
       application:
             A detailed description of the proposed development, including:
                    - a description of the land to be developed, including the property address, tenure
                      and real property description (i.e., lot on plan)
                    - a description of all components of the development (e.g., proposed building
                      envelopes, firebreaks, dwellings, roads, fences, pools, effluent disposal areas,
                      etc.).




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               A response to the latest version of the State Development Assessment Provisions, State
                Code 25: Development in South East Queensland Koala Habitat Areas.
                A koala habitat values assessment prepared by a suitably qualified person that:
                    - Provides a tree survey plan that identifies the location of all native trees on site
                        along with:
                        o identification numbers that correspond to each tree;
                        o GPS coordinates for each tree;
                        o the species of each tree;
                        o the height of each tree;
                        o the circumference of each tree at 1.3m above the ground;
                        o the tree protection zone of each tree;
                        o special features that exist on each tree (e.g. hollows (including approximate
                            size), nests, scratches, termitaria, etc.);
                        o what tree species utility it has been assigned by Appendix 4 of Spatial
                            modelling for koalas in South East Queensland;
                        o if a tree is a koala habitat tree, whether it is a non-juvenile koala habitat
                            tree;
                        o whether each tree is inside or outside the mapped koala habitat area; and
                        o whether each tree is to be retained or removed (noting that trees which
                            could be removed by exempted development created as a natural and
                            ordinary consequence of the development being approved (e.g. firebreaks,
                            fire management lines, access tracks, fences) are considered trees to be
                            removed).

               Provide the results of an onsite vegetation survey that:
                   - identifies the regional ecosystem present onsite generally in accordance with
                        Methodology for surveying and mapping regional ecosystems and vegetation
                        communities in Queensland (noting that if the RE present is different to what is
                        mapped sufficient information will need to be provided to demonstrate that this is
                        the case);
                   - the koala suitability ranking assigned to these REs by Appendix 3 of Spatial
                        modelling for koalas in South East Queensland; and
                   - describes the condition of the vegetation present (i.e. identifying areas that have
                        been degraded or are of higher condition and the reasoning for this) (see
                        BioCondition and/or Guide to determining terrestrial habitat quality for
                        information on appropriate methodologies);
                   - Provide the results of onsite koala surveys (in accordance with an appropriate
                        and robust methodology) that identify the use or potential use of koalas (e.g.
                        koala sightings, scats, scratches).
                   - Provide the result of a koala habitat connectivity value assessment for the site
                        and surrounding areas (see section 2.2 of the Koala-sensitive design guideline
                        for information on how to undertake a suitable assessment).
                   - Provide the results of an existing threats to koala assessment (see section 2.2
                        of the Koala-sensitive design guideline and Guide to determining terrestrial
                        habitat quality for information on how to undertake a suitable assessment).
                   - Identifies all MSES that are known to occur, or likely to occur on the site.
                   - A description of how impacts to MSES have been avoided, minimised and
                        mitigated to the greatest extent possible.
                   - A significant residual impact assessment in accordance with the Queensland
                        Environmental Offsets Policy.

2.    Please note, under the Nature Conservation (Koala) Conservation Plan 2017 (the plan), there


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       are legal requirements that apply to clearing vegetation within koala habitat areas that apply in
       addition to any development permit or exemption that applies to the clearing, including:
            Sequential clearing requirements under section 10 of the plan; and
            Koala spotter requirements under section 11 of the plan.



This advice is provided in good faith and is:
 based on the material and information provided to SARA
 current at the time of issue
 not applicable if the proposal is changed from that which formed the basis of this advice.

This advice does not constitute an approval or an endorsement that SARA supports the development
proposal. Additional information may be required to allow SARA to properly assess the development
proposal when a formal application has been lodged.

If you require further information please contact Kieran Hanna, Manager, on 3432 2413 or via email
[email protected] who will be pleased to assist.

Yours sincerely




Kieran Hanna
Manager (Planning)




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