Ecological Assessment Report

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



Evidence of past koala habitation was observed in the west of the site in the form of scratch
marks on existing Eucalypt trees. The vegetation to be cleared to accommodate the
development contains suitable habitat for koalas, however the proposed volume and
composition of clearing is not anticipated to significantly impact food or habitat resources for the
species in this locality. The site is positioned on the eastern edge of a larger unit of suitable
koala habitat, including that contained within the Tuchekoi National Park. Removal of a small
amount of koala habitat from the fringe of this large vegetation unit would be unlikely to be
considered a significant impact under the EPBC Act.

Whilst one record of the regent honeyeater was identified in the Wildlife online database, it
relates to a specimen observed in 1998 from Yurol State Forest (Atlas Living Australia). In
general, regent honeyeater records are more common in south-east Australia, with very few
records within south-east Queensland. The likelihood of the regent honeyeater utilising the site
or the local corridor is therefore expected to be remote.

Several large arboreal hollows were observed within the western central extent of the site within
mature Eucalyptus pilularis (blackbutt) individuals which may constitute suitable breeding
habitat for the Greater Glider. Several habitat trees front the proposed Lot F clearing footprint
including trees 4-6 which represent the most likely candidates to support greater gliders based
on available hollow diameters. Habitat trees 4-8 have been captured in the proposed covenant
area to ensure their protection whilst the building positions on Lots D & F have been selected
to negate the need to clear habitat trees 1-3. Therefore, the existing potential nesting
opportunities for greater gliders on the site are expected to be retained under the proposal. The
existing foraging and supporting habitat currently occupying the clearing footprint is however
expected to be unsuitable to host greater gliders post development. Sufficient supporting
habitat will be retained in the wests of the site and further afield to continue to support any local
glider populations. The development is therefore not expected to generate a significant impact
to greater gliders at the locality.

Listed Migratory Species

The EPBC Act Protected Matters Report lists 1 migratory marine bird, 2 migratory wetland birds, and
6 terrestrial migratory bird species for which either breeding and/or foraging habitat is known, likely
or may occur in the area. There are no wetlands with the site therefore the proposed development
is not expected to impact wetland migratory bird species. The site may provide suitable habitat for
the listed marine migratory species, Apicus pacificus. This species is known to frequent disturbed
and even settled areas hence the proposal is unlikely to impact this species.

The habitat present within the site is considered to be generally suitable for numerous listed
terrestrial migratory bird species. Development of the site requires vegetation clearing and therefore
has the potential to impact upon migratory species. The primary impacts related to migratory species
are in the form of potential injury or death, temporary habitat disturbance, the limited loss of foraging
resources and possible breeding locations. In general, the vegetation communities on site are well
represented within the remainder of the site and within the surrounding locality. Therefore, the
removal of limited vegetation associated with marginal habitat is unlikely to impact the sustainability
of breeding capacity of any of the listed migratory bird species. The employment of a spotter catcher
during clearing activities can be expected to minimise the risk of physical injury to migratory bird
species at the site during vegetation clearing.

The applicant is legally obliged under the EPBC Act to demonstrate that reasonable measures have
been undertaken to identify the presence of any listed flora and/or fauna on the site prior to
vegetation clearing. The granting of a Council Development Permit does not absolve the applicant
of this responsibility.




© 2017                                               22