Town Planning Report · REC15/0011

                                                                                                         Town Planning Report
                                       Development Permit for a Reconfiguration of a Lot (1 Lot into 11 Residential Lots and 1
                                                                                                  Balance Environmental Lot)
                                                                                                      1 George Street, Tewantin



4.3        Environmental Management

4.3.1      Koala Habitat

Assessment of the site’s Koala habitat values with respect to the existing Bloodwoods, Red River Gums,
Blackbutts and Melaleucas is addressed in the Koala Habitat Assessment included at Attachment F of this
report. The site assessment involved a habitat assessment and Koala survey within the assessment area.

This report concludes that Koala habitat within the assessment area is probably of moderate value for this
species. Although the assessment area supports Koala feed tree species and evidence for Koala occurrence,
the report also identifies that it is disturbed and is unlikely to provide long-term breeding or foraging habitat for
this species. It is also unlikely to be important for facilitating movements between significant patches of habitat.

4.3.2      Erosion Prone Areas

The site is located within the Coastal Management District (CMD) and included in an Erosion Prone Area under
State mapping. The accuracy of this mapping is questioned as the site is not subject to inundation by the
highest astronomical tides (HAT), nor is it at risk from sea erosion. We have determined HAT from the ‘2014
Queensland Tide Tables’ using the figures listed for Tewantin, which shows HAT as being at RL 0.55m AHD;
upstream on Wooroi Creek, HAT would be expected to be lower than this.

Our proposal plan shows the approximate HAT line and also a 40 metre offset from HAT, which is situated
outside the proposed developable area, this being the zone boundary between the land designated for
Detached Housing and that labelled Rural Settlement on Zone Map ZM9.

4.3.3      Regulated Vegetation

The subject site is mapped by several overlay constraints including Category B regulated vegetation, containing
‘of concern’ regional ecosystems. A detail survey has been undertaken to ‘ground truth’ the extent of regulated
vegetation’ over the site; contours and trees are shown on the Proposal Plans at Appendix B of this report. The
survey indicates that the presence of regulated vegetation appears to be proximate to the creek line. The
vegetation along the George Street frontage comprises almost entirely of a planted garden (initially established
some decades ago by the owner) and we contend that it should not therefore be classed as regulated
vegetation, even though it contains a few trees of significant size.

A survey undertaken to locate significant trees on the site formed the basis of identifying the existing trees to be
retained and those trees that will need to be removed; these are depicted on the Preliminary Vegetation
Rehabilitation Plan prepared by Mark Bizzell (Environmental Landscape Planning) included at Appendix E. It
should be noted that the majority of trees that have been identified for removal within the developable area have
not been identified as potential koala habitat (gum) trees.

In accordance with pre-lodgement discussions, the balance of the site (proposed Lot 900) is intended to be
either dedicated as Public Use Land (PUL), with Council as trustee, or transferred to Council in fee simple on
trust for the purposes of drainage and environmental protection, in recognition of its environmental significance.

4.3.4      Rehabilitation

Based on our intended lot configuration and the associated civil works (primarily stormwater, sewerage and
driveway construction) a Preliminary Vegetation Rehabilitation Plan has been prepared by Mark Bizzell
(Environmental Landscape Planning) and is included at Appendix E. This has apparently been prepared in
consultation with Council officers and seeks to minimise the loss of significant trees, whilst recognising the
proximity of services and potential danger to new residences.


PR122205-3: Ver. C – 19/06/15
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