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Ecology and Bushfire Constraints Statement - 32 Viewland Dr Noosa
NCES Ref: J000466 19 September 2019 Kris Starker Deluca PO Box 1514 Milton QLD 4064 Dear Kris, RE: Youngcare Specialist Disability accommodation units at 32 Viewland Drive, Noosa Heads - Ecology and Bushfire Advice. North Coast Environmental Services (NCES) have undertaken a desktop and site-based assessment of the ecological and bushfire matters relevant to 32 Viewland Drive, Noosa Heads. Accordingly, please find herein the following environmental and bushfire constraints advice to support the initial design of Specialist Disability accommodation units. Ecology Constraints - Desktop • The site is not affected by any overlays under the Biodiversity Overlay Map of the Noosa Plan 2006 (refer to Plate 1). Plate 1 – Biodiversity Overlay Map (Source: Noosa Plan 2006) • The site is not mapped within a Koala Habitat Area under Schedule 7 of the Noosa Plan 2006. • The site is not mapped as containing any vegetation regulated under the Vegetation Management Act 1999 (VM Act). The site contains Category X vegetation which is exempt from assessment under the VM Act. • The site is not located within a Koala Assessable Development Area and therefore does not require assessment under Schedule 11, Part 6 of the Planning Regulation 2017. • The site is not mapped in a ‘High Risk Area’ under the Protected Plants Trigger Map. Ecology Constraints – Site Assessment A site assessment was undertaken in September 2019. The site is characterised by non-remnant vegetation which is dominated by a canopy of Araucaria cunninghamii (hoop pine), with Callitris columellaris (Bribie Island pine) and Lophostemon confertus (brush box). A semi-mature Ficus watkinsiana (strangler fig) individual was observed adjacent to the centre northern boundary. The Tel (07) 5450 5652 / PO Box 9566 Pacific Paradise QLD 4564 / Email: [email protected] ABN 60 625 108 625 1
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NCES Ref: J000466
midstorey contains an association of vine forest tree species such as Polyalthia nitidissima (canary
beech) and immature canopy trees. The understorey is moderately disturbed with exotic weed
species with a sparse native shrub layer including species such as Alyxia ruscifolia (chain fruit). No
conservation significant plant species listed under the schedules of the QLD Nature Conservation
Act 1992 (NC Act) or the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act
1999 were observed within the site.
A disused nesting mound of a brush turkey was observed within the site however no other immediate
fauna species were observed during the preliminary site assessment. The site is not considered
high value habitat for koalas due to the dominance of vineforest flora and lack of primary koala food
trees. The extent of site disturbance and surrounding urban threatening processes is anticipated to
significantly limit the existing fauna species richness and abundance on the site, with bird species
expected to be the dominant fauna assemblage utilising the site.
Potential Impacts
The immediate impacts resulting from vegetation clearing to facilitate development of the site include
a localised reduction in available fauna habitat and the removal of flora species listed as Least
Concern under the NC Act. Clearing of the site is therefore not anticipated to impact the viability of
any local flora species or community types. Given the limited area of the site and its low-quality
habitat for fauna due to several constraints, clearing of the site is not anticipated to impact the viability
of any local fauna species or populations thereof.
Overall there is anticipated to be no significant ecological constraints to progress the proposal from
a legislative or approvals perspective. From an impact mitigation perspective, retention of some
vegetation can be expected to retain a degree of habitat functionality on the site and maintain
opportunities for fauna utilisation.
Bushfire Constraints – Desktop Assessment
The Queensland Government’s State Planning Policy (SPP) bushfire prone area mapping prevails
with respect to the trigger for assessment under the Bushfire Hazard Overlay Code of the Noosa
Plan 2006 in accordance with Chapter 2, Part 1, Section 8, Item 4(a) of the Planning Act 2016. The
SPP bushfire mapping identifies a Potential Impact Buffer encroaching into the eastern portion of
the site and flanking the majority of the northern site boundary (refer to Plate 2).
Plate 2 – State Planning Policy Bushfire Prone Area mapping
Section 2.6.2 of Part 2 within the Noosa Plan states that where development is proposed on premises
partly affected by an overlay, the category of development or assessment for the overlay only relates
to the part of the premises affected by the overlay. Therefore, as no development is proposed within
the portion of the allotment that is affected by the overlay, the development would be exempt from
Tel (07) 5450 5652 / PO Box 9566 Pacific Paradise QLD 4564 / Email: [email protected]
ABN 60 625 108 625
2
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NCES Ref: J000466
assessment against the Bushfire Overlay Code of the Noosa Plan. Similarly, irrespective of the
building class, there would be no requirement to design the building to satisfy Australian Standard
3959 (2018) - Construction of buildings in bushfire-prone areas (AS3959-2018).
Should you have any queries regarding the content of this correspondence please do not hesitate to
contact me.
Sincere regards,
Joshua Lee - Director
B. Sc. Australian Environmental Studies (Ecology, Land & Water, Pollution & Health)
mEIANZ, mFPAA, mESA
Tel (07) 5450 5652 / PO Box 9566 Pacific Paradise QLD 4564 / Email: [email protected]
ABN 60 625 108 625
3