Ecological Assessment Report

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




6.2 Fauna
The proposed development results in retention of approximately 0.8ha of core native bushland
across the western extent of the site. The layout has also been designed to minimise impact to core
habitat trees identified on the site (refer Figure 2).

A retained vegetation corridor width of approximately 75-100m distance would be retained within the
site under the proposal which combined with the extent of surrounding bushland is considered
sufficient to sustain local fauna movements, foraging opportunities, breeding capacity and
population/ reproductive viability.

The implementation of key impact mitigation measures referenced herein will further reduce the
impacts of the development to local fauna (refer Section 9 – Recommendations).

The potential for habitat degradation would largely be restricted to the existing disturbed bushland
edges within the east of the site. No introduction of new disturbance impacts is generally expected
to arise within the core bushland areas of the site.

The proposal has the potential to negatively impact fauna species via direct injury or death during
clearing and earthworks operations. Indirect impacts related to site intensification and loss and/or
degradation of existing habitat values may also occur as a result of the development. Clearing
vegetation from these areas will introduce increased edge effects and light penetration into adjoining
vegetation. Such circumstances may alter the habitat suitability/preference for fauna less resilient
to habitat alteration. Any such impacts are expected to be minor given the existing sub-optimal
habitat conditions present within the proposed development footprint compared to the intact
vegetated areas of the site.

No evidence of recent koala habitation was observed on the site and therefore the extent of proposed
clearing is not expected to impact the local Pomona koala population. Old scratch marks were
identified on a couple of E. propinqua (grey gums) in the far west of the site within the area proposed
to be registered under conservation covenant and this area is well removed from the proposed
clearing footprint.

As the majority of the development area consists of edge vegetation, there is a general lack of in-
situ understorey and ground ‘furniture’ (i.e. fallen hollows and branches). This infers clearing impacts
pose only minor risk to small terrestrial fauna species. Appropriate checking of the clearance
footprint prior to disturbance can further reduce the risk of impact to such species.

The introduction of new houses and occupants to the development area can be expected to intensify
the current disturbance regime imposed upon the existing habitat. The operational use of the future
residence represents potential for introduction of altered night-time light conditions within the fringes
of the adjacent bushland. Any potential impacts can be mitigated with choices of sensitive lighting
arrangements that restrict lux and reduce light cast into the bushland. Avoiding disturbance impacts
to the dense vine forest edges bordering the building areas on the site will further reduce the
ecological impacts of the development.

Increased numbers of domestic animals (i.e. cats and dogs) may be introduced to the site. Cats in
particular are responsible for hundreds of thousands of wildlife deaths across Australia per year
whilst aggressive larger dogs are known to attack larger native wildlife including koalas. The extent
of impacts caused by cats can be greatly reduced by undertaking de-sexing, providing collars with
numerous bells to alert wildlife, and keepings them confined to indoors from pre-dusk until post dawn.




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