Ecological Assessment Report

                                                                              Ecological Assessment Report




6       Conclusion
This ecological assessment report identifies ecological values associated with the site at 178 Davis Rd,
Cootharaba. It is proposed to develop the site with a single detached dwelling and associated shed. A
field assessment determined that the site supports high ecological values, in the form of foraging,
roosting, shelter, refuge and breeding resources for native arboreal and ground dwelling fauna. The site
includes koala habitat trees and other large native habitat trees (DBH greater than 600mm). It is likely
that the site would be regularly utilised by koalas and other threatened species.

The majority of the property is fully vegetated with a remnant eucalypt forest and some area of rainforest.
Flora species present within and surrounding the proposed dwelling site include grey ironbark
(Eucalyptus siderophloia), pink bloodwood (Corymbia intermedia), Gympie messmate (Eucalyptus
cloeziana) and brush box (Lophostemon confertus). The vegetation in this area resembles and
combination of two remnant regional ecosystems, being:

    •    regional ecosystem 12.11.3: Eucalyptus siderophloia, E. propinqua +/- E. microcorys,
         Lophostemon confertus, Corymbia intermedia, E. acmenoides open forest on metamorphics
         +/- interbedded volcanics; and

    •    regional ecosystem 12.11.16: Eucalyptus cloeziana +/- E. propinqua, E. acmenoides, E.
         microcorys and E. grandis open forest. Understory is generally shrubby +/- vine forest species.

The vast majority of the site is mapped within the Biodiversity, Waterways and Wetlands Overlay (MSES
Environmental Values; Area of Biodiversity Significance sub-categories) of the Noosa Plan 2020. The
proposed dwelling does not intrude into this overlay, but the associated bushfire APZ intrudes into it.
The house has been located on the edge of the remnant vegetation area, in an area that contains few
canopy trees and a managed grass understorey. It will be located adjoining an area of cleared grassy
paddock to the north. This location is a suitable location from an ecological perspective because it
minimises the loss of vegetation, including large canopy trees, for the house footprint, and the vegetation
clearing required for bushfire management is also significantly reduced as much of the required buffer
already exists in a managed ground layer form.

Due to the steep nature of the site, a significant bushfire buffer is required. However, clearing of canopy
trees has been minimised by allowing for retention of some canopy trees within the bushfire asset
protection zone. The total footprint for the house and shed is 863m2, most of which is already cleared of
vegetation. The bushfire APZ has a footprint of 5,823m2, consisting of an inner protection area of
1,905m2 (full vegetation clearing) and an outer protection area of 3,918m2 (understorey clearing only,
retention of canopy vegetation). A total of 54 live trees will be removed for the proposed development.
No hollow-bearing trees will be removed for the development. This level of intrusion into the overlay is
considered to be acceptable because it complies with the Biodiversity , Waterways and Wetlands
Overlay Code provisions.

The amount of vegetation clearing on site has been minimised as much as is reasonably possible given
the bushfire management requirements, and is considered to be compliant with the relevant sections of
the Biodiversity, Waterways and Wetlands Overlay Code. The removal of native vegetation in the
overlay will be offset by on-site revegetation works, which will be guided by the submitted rehabilitation
plan. A total of 162 new plants are to be planted on site, including 107 trees and 55 shrubs.

While the level of impacts associated with the development is considered to be low, impact mitigation

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