2016-12-12 General Committee - Attachment 1 to Item 6 - Biodiversity Assessment Report

                                                 Noosa Biodiversity Plan – Biodiversity Assessment Report



       3.1.1    Vegetation condition classes
Noosa is unique in that it still contains extensive tracts of vegetation in remnant condition (Figure 3). In
total 40,265 ha of vegetation across Noosa is considered to be in remnant condition, which comprises
46.8% of the land mass (Table 1). As highlighted Table 1, Noosa has the highest proportion of remnant
vegetation compared to the broader SEQ bioregion and to neighbouring LGAs including the GRC and
SCRC.

In addition to this, validation studies across the shire (refer to Appendix F) have identified 1,622.5 ha of
native vegetation that is contiguous with surrounding remnant vegetation (Figure 3). Whilst not currently
recognised by Queensland State mapping as being in remnant condition, this vegetation appears to be
in a similar condition status as adjacent recognised remnant vegetation.

Further to this, approximately 5,071 ha of regrowth vegetation also occurs in Noosa (Figure 3). This
includes dense regrowth (vegetated patches >1 ha across Queensland State regrowth mapping) and
sparse regrowth (vegetated patches < 1ha across Queensland State regrowth mapping). Contiguous
remnant and regrowth vegetation comprises 2% and 5.8% of the Noosa land mass, respectively.

Overall, over half of the Noosa Shire region (approximately 55%) remains vegetated with 45% of the area
developed, cleared or consisting of exotic or plantation vegetation (Figure 4).




                                                               46.8%
                    Native vegetation                                                    Remnant
 45%                           54.6%                                                     Contiguous remnant
 Cleared / exotic
                                                                                         Regrowth


                                                                       5.8%
                                                                              2%




Figure 4: Proportion of vegetation cover and breakdown of vegetation condition across Noosa Shire

       3.1.2   Conservation significant communities

Number of Regional Ecosystems of conservation significance
Noosa remains one of the last strongholds for various REs that have been extensively cleared across the
SEQ Bioregion. Specifically, the Noosa Shire contains seven REs that are classified as Endangered and
24 classified as Of Concern by the Queensland State Government. A further 12 REs are also considered
regionally significant due to their natural limited extent within the shire (<150 ha pre-clear extent) or due




  © ECO LOGICAL AUSTRALIA PTY LTD                                                                         27