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

                                                                        Noosa Biodiversity Plan – Biodiversity Assessment Report




Contents
Executive summary .............................................................................................................................. viii

1          Introduction ............................................................................................................................... 12
1.1        Background................................................................................................................................. 12
1.2        Previous Biodiversity Planning Studies ...................................................................................... 12
1.3        Study scope and objectives ........................................................................................................ 13
1.4        Study approach .......................................................................................................................... 14
1.5        Study limitations ......................................................................................................................... 16

2          Noosa Shire’s Natural Environment ....................................................................................... 17
2.1        Location ...................................................................................................................................... 17
2.2        History......................................................................................................................................... 17
2.3        Biophysical Characteristics......................................................................................................... 18
2.4        Other ecosystem types & services ............................................................................................. 19

3          Biodiversity Values .................................................................................................................. 22
3.1        Vegetation communities ............................................................................................................. 22
3.1.1      Vegetation condition classes ...................................................................................................... 27
3.1.2      Conservation significant communities ........................................................................................ 27
3.1.3      Modified communities ................................................................................................................. 30
3.2        Landscape connectivity .............................................................................................................. 30
3.3        Threatened Ecological Communities .......................................................................................... 34
3.3.1      Lowland Rainforest ..................................................................................................................... 34
3.3.2      Saltmarsh.................................................................................................................................... 35
3.3.3      Littoral Rainforest ....................................................................................................................... 35
3.4        Flora and Fauna ......................................................................................................................... 38
3.4.1      Fauna species ............................................................................................................................ 38
3.4.2      Flora species .............................................................................................................................. 40
3.4.3      Habitat areas .............................................................................................................................. 42
3.5        River systems and waterways .................................................................................................... 45
3.5.1      Noosa River Catchment ............................................................................................................. 45
3.5.2      Mary River Catchment ................................................................................................................ 45
3.6        Wetlands ..................................................................................................................................... 47
3.6.1      Wetlands of International Importance (RAMSAR sites) ............................................................. 48
3.6.2      Nationally Important Wetlands.................................................................................................... 49
3.6.3      State Significant Wetlands .......................................................................................................... 49
3.7        Protected Reserves .................................................................................................................... 52




    © ECO LOGICAL AUSTRALIA PTY LTD                                                                                                                        iii