2022-05-16 GC Agenda - Item 7 - Attachment 2 - Noosa Oyster Ecosystem Restoration Project - Project Restoration Plan

                 6.3 Impact Minimisation

                 All works undertaken will minimise disturbance to marine plants during and after the construction
                 phase. Any impact to marine plants will be temporary. Any use of temporary equipment, such as
                 sediment curtains, will be placed to avoid contact with marine plants or the impediment of fish passage.

                 Table 6.1 presents an assessment of the actions, impact minimisation actions and alternatives
                 considered.

                 Table 6.1: Impact minimisation actions and alternatives considered

                  Action               Impact minimisation (environmental +           Alternatives considered
                                       social)
                  Site selection       Site selection guided by Restoration Zones     Areas unsuitable or inappropriate for
                                       and Restoration Suitability Modelling and      oyster restoration are excluded by the
                                       extensive associated use of minimum            selection and consultation processes.
                                       distances to minimise negative impact of
                                       construction or restoration substrates,
                                       once established, on marine species and
                                       habitats, navigation, built infrastructure
                                       and river access.

                                       Extensive liaison and formal consultation
                                       processes are used to ensure planned
                                       actions meet with community
                                       expectations.
                  Restoration          Only locally occurring igneous or              Rock oysters are opportunists and will
                  materials            metaphoric rock is selected as the primary     grow on rock, rubble, mangrove roots,
                  selection            restoration material, as per the design        oyster shell (etc) and artificial
                                       specifications. This material optimises        substrates such as tin, concrete, steel.
                                       ecological and physical performance,           The project objective is to restore
                                       while minimising risk of introducing           oyster ecosystems by providing an
                                       foreign materials and pathogens to the         ecologically (and engineered) design
                                       river.                                         which mimics natural foundations of
                                                                                      oyster ecosystems. The project
                                       To minimise contamination, the rock may        therefore employs locally occurring
                                       be treated prior to deployment by              natural materials.
                                       cleaning with freshwater, if contamination
                                       (most likely lose soil) exceeds 50 percent     Oyster shell piled on the riverbed or
                                       coverage of each rock per given volume.        placed in bags or cages placed on the
                                                                                      riverbed are, by design, artificial
                                       Oyster shell and oyster shell cultch will be   structures, thus introducing artificial
                                       treated as per the QLD End of Waste –          materials and shapes to the estuary.
                                       Shell Code, and pre-washed prior to use.       Such materials and shapes may select
                                                                                      for certain species mixes or
                                       Live oysters will be handled and deployed      abundances, which may not naturally
                                       as per conditions of a General Fisheries       occur in the estuary. The bag material
                                       Permit secured for that activity.              may exacerbate sedimentation and
                                                                                      achieving relief to counter
                                                                                      sedimentation challenges is difficult

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Document Set ID: 21802641
Version: 1, Version Date: 31/01/2022