2022-02-14 - General Committee Agenda - Item 4 -Attachment 1 - ECOLOGICAL VALUES REPORT 30 Toulambi St

Ecological Values Report v1                                                           NCES REF: J001021
Lot 15 on RP129286 – 30 Toulambi Street, Noosa Heads


4.0 SITE ASSESSMENT

4.1 Flora
The ecological assessment comprised an inspection of the values present in the site as well as those
within approximately 20m surrounding the site.
The 789m² site was observed to exhibit a single vegetation community; Vegetation Community 1
(VC1) – Mixed open forest over disturbed understorey.
VC1 comprised of a mosaic of eucalypt open forest and rainforest canopy/mid-canopy species over
a sparse and disturbed understorey generally host to native and exotic herbaceous species (i.e.,
grasses). The community has attained a canopy height of approximately 12-18m with a 40-50%
PFCC. The species present in the canopy included but were not limited to Melaleuca quinquenervia
(broad-leaved paperbark), Eucalyptus propinqua (small-fruited grey gum), Corymbia intermedia
(pink bloodwood), Acacia disparrima (hickory wattle), Callitris columellaris (coast cypress pine),
Archontophoenix cunninghamiana (bangalow palm), Pinus elliotii (slash pine), and Ficus obliqua
(small-leaved fig). The mid-storey was dominated by Macaranga tanarius, Brachychiton acerifolius
(flame tree), Synoum glandulosum (scentless rosewood), Castanospermum Australe (black bean
tree) and Banksia integrifolia (coastal banksia). A few individuals of Allocasuarina littoralis (black
sheoak) were also present.
The understorey of VC1 has been exposed to significant pedestrian traffic and exhibited moderate
to high weed presence. Species present included Macroptilium atropurpureum (siratro), Banksia
robur (swamp banksia), Dianella caerulea (common flax lilly), Imperata cylindrica (blady grass),
Pteridium esculentum (bracken fern), Lomandra hystrix (mat rush), and Cordyline rubra (palm lilly).
VC1 is most analogous to RE 12.2.5 Corymbia intermedia +/- Lophostemon confertus +/- Banksia
spp. +/- Callitris columellaris open forest on beach ridges usually in southern half of bioregion which
is mapped immediately adjacent to the site.
No conservation significant plant species listed under the schedules of the Queensland Nature
Conservation Act 1992 (NC Act), or the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity
Conservation Act 1999 were observed within or immediately bordering the site during the brief site
inspection.
VC1 is directly contiguous with the vegetated Pinnaroo Park (5.755ha) habitat to the north and a
small, vegetated allotment to the west (789m²) and in doing so forms the southern limit of the
Pinnaroo Park habitat. The in-situ vegetation provides an approximate 40m wide vegetated buffer or
edge to the Park habitat which enhances protection against threatening urban processes and also
influences the micro-climate therein, particularly intrusion of early morning and late afternoon
summer UV heat and light cast. It is noted the immediate edge of the Pinnaroo Park habitat adjoining
the northern boundary of the site comprises a small riparian rainforest association characterised by
Archontophoenix cunninghamiana (bangalow palm) and large fig trees which have developed in
association with the microclimate conditions offered by the surrounding vegetation, including that
within 30 Toulambi Street.
Overall, VC1 is considered to be representative of an Ecologically Important Area under the NC
Planning Scheme by virtue of its native canopy and mid canopy composition and continuity with the
Pinnaroo Park habitat.




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