Ecological Assessment Report

Ecological Assessment Report v2                                                    NCES REF: LEA2016-06
Lot 496 on MCH591 - 30 Pottery Street, Pomona




6.0 DEVELOPMENT IMPACTS

6.1 Vegetation

6.1.1 On-site
The layout of the proposed development is expected to result in the need to clear approximately
0.77ha of mixed Open Eucalypt Forest in proposed Lots A – F. No clearing is required within Lot E.
The assessed clearing footprint assumes a 15m safety cleared zone will be applied about the Lot F
dwelling and that the entirety of Lots A-E will be cleared given their relative small size. The only
other potential clearing associated with the proposed development comprises potential future
exempt clearing associated with new lot boundaries.

The total assessed development footprint is expected to impact approximately 0.77ha of ground
truthed vegetation mapped as an Environmental Enhancement Area under The Noosa Plan. This
amount equates to approximately 41% clearance of the total area of 1.85ha of significant vegetation
mapped on the site under The Noosa Plan Biodiversity Overlay Code.

The extent and position of assessed clearing requirements is defined in NCES Drawing No F2 –
Clearing Impacts.

The assessed clearing exhibits potential to impose indirect impact to the adjacent vegetation within
the site via increased edge effects and minor additional light penetration. The most likely
manifestation of impact is for increased weed exacerbation. Weed exacerbation impacts can be
managed with appropriate weed control post clearing whilst increased UV penetration impacts would
be expected to be short term and confined to newly exposed fringe vegetation.

The extent and position of proposed clearing within the site is not expected to render the in-situ
bushland resources as unsuitable to continue to support the existing flora species on the site nor the
likely fauna assemblages that occupy the site.

All native species to be cleared are listed as ‘Least Concern’ under the NC Act and are common
across the site and bordering vegetation communities. It is anticipated that no local native species
or genera would be removed from the site or the immediate locality of the site.

Weed management works will be undertaken as part of Operational Works landscaping activities
and are expected to enhance native floristic diversity and coverage of native understorey taxa across
the retained bushland areas on the site.

The proposal includes the retention of approximately 0.8ha of native bushland across the western
extent of the site within Lot F which is proposed to be protected under a Conservation Covenant,
thereby protecting it from future clearing impacts.

6.1.2 Off-site
All clearing is proposed to be contained within the site. Clearing will remove vegetation bordering
open areas beyond the north, east and southern site boundaries. The existing low projective foliage
cover of the open forest to be retained infers the additional UV flux into the adjacent vegetation will
not facilitate significant vegetation impacts or habitat alteration. Weed control along site boundaries
will assist to control the movement of weed populations into off-site areas during and post
construction.




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