000A88A4.04D.tif · 132003.221037

34

3A.

Geotechnical testing of the Site conducted by Coffey Water Studies confirmed
the soil conditions are typical for the atéa. The soil profile encountered on site
is as follows:

1, Sand — depth range 0-0.8m.

2, Sandy Clay — depth range 0.4-1.5m. f

3, Sandstone — from 1.0 plus.

The geology of the area will not restrict the proposed development and the
construction methods.

THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT

This section provides an overview of the focal natural environmental context
of the site. It summarises the findings of the Noosa North Shore Flora and Fauna
Survey prepared by Environmental Resources Management ‘Australia Pty Ltd
(ERM), which is included as Annex B to this report.

Historic aerial photographs indicate that the site was orice cleared and used as
a dairy farm, however regrowth vegetation is NOW apparent over most of the
site. Tis use for cattle, horse and camel grazing has disturbed the areas of the
open forest and woodland in. the west and east while the ‘eathland habitat
jocated centrally on the site remains relatively undisturbed.

Flora

The Regional Ecosystem Mapping produced by the Queensland Herbarium
identifies three vegetation communities on the site, Bucalypt (Eucalyptus spp)
open forest and woodland (RE 42.9-10.4), Paperbarked Teatree (Melaleuca
quinquenervia) open forest and woodland (RE12.2.7) and Heathland and
sedgeland (RE 12.212). The status of the Paperbarked Teatree (Melaleuca
quinqueneroia) regional ecosystem is listed as “of concern” while the other two
ecosystems are listed as “not of concern” under the Vegetation Management Act
1999 (“the VMA”")-

A Flora and Fauna Survey of the site was conducted by ERM in July 2008 (see
Annex B). It confirmed the three types of ecosystems identified in the RE
Mapping, put also provided additional local detail in relation to the actual
distribution of these ecosystems on the site (see Figure 3.2 and Annex B).

159 plant species were recorded during the field survey. No threatened plant
species were encountered Of the site during site surveys and with the
exception of a few introduced species the site was observed to contain plant
species typical to the vegetation communities of the local region.

Asa result of the intense survey conducted. and given the grazing regimes that
prevailed on the site, it is unlikely that any of the larger threatened species (eg.
‘Acacia attenuata, Gompholobium virgatum var. emarginaturt) that were
potentially located in the area occur on site. With respect to the smaller

 

B030576RP1/ BINAL/19 ‘SEPTEMBER 2003 ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES “MANAGEMENT ‘AUSTRALIA