Appendix D - Riparian Rehabilitation Plan

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General Site Information - Overview

This Riparian Rehabilitation Plan has been prepared to direct the ecological restoration of the
waterway and immediately adjoining riparian zone within Lot 83 on MCH3546 located at 157
Lawnville Road, Black Mountain.

A second order stream flows through the property which is mapped as waterway under
Biodiversity, Waterways and Wetlands Overlay mapping within the Noosa Plan 2020. A Riparian
Protection Area extends outwards from the mapped waterway and covers the majority of the
site. The Biodiversity, Waterways and Wetlands Overlay Code within the Noosa Plan 2020
includes performance objectives PO6 and PO10 and acceptable outcomes (AO6.2) which
requires the enhancement of riparian corridors and connectivity and rehabilitation of
ecologically important areas. In this regard, this Rehabilitation Plan has been prepared to satisfy
the relevant performance objectives of the Overlay Code.

The Rehabilitation Area is proposed to encompass all existing riparian vegetation that adjoins
the mapped waterway. The Rehabilitation Area has an average width of 25-30m and covers a
total area of approximately 1.14ha (refer to Plate 1). The Rehabilitation Area is characterised by
a band of riparian notophyll vine forest which is flanked by mowed grass. Plates 2 and 3 depict
existing conditions within the Rehabilitation Area.

The Rehabilitation Area contains moderate to high in-situ ecological resilience, with a diversity
of native recruitment occurring in the ground stratum (refer to Plates 4 and 5). Selective weed
control within the Rehabilitation Area is expected to encourage recruitment from the existing
soil stored seed bank and from outside sources. The Rehabilitation strategy prescribed for the
area will involve both reconstruction/revegetation and assisted natural regeneration as defined
in the South East Queensland Ecological Restoration Framework - Manual (Chenowith LPA,
2012).

The Rehabilitation Area is mapped by the Queensland Herbarium as containing the pre-clearing
regional ecosystem RE 12.3.1 which is described as Gallery rainforest (notophyll vine forest) on
alluvial plains. The existing tree species and native recruitment within the Rehabilitation Area
was observed to be consistent with the regional ecosystem mapping. The narrow band of trees
is dominated by mature Waterhousea floribunda (weeping lily pily), with Ficus coronata (creek
sandpaper fig), Neolitsea dealbata (white bolly gum), Archontophoenix cunninghamiana
(picabeen palm), Cryptocarya sp. (laurels) with mature Eucalyptus grandis (flooded gum)
emergents also present. The edge of the waterway is dominated by a dense band of semi-
aquatic herbs and macrophyte species including Lomandra hystrix (mat rush), and several native
sedge species (Cyperus spp.).

Several weed species occur within the Rehabilitation Area in generally low densities. Primary
weed control and ongoing maintenance of the Rehabilitation Area is expected to assist in
reducing the potential for weed dominance and over-competition as the native species
composition re-establishes over time. Direct revegetation and the enhancement of the riparian
corridor through the control of the existing invasive species is expected to satisfy the
requirements of the relevant performance objectives contained within the Biodiversity,
Waterways and Wetlands Overlay Code. The level of rehabilitation proposed is considered
commensurate with the development proposed within the site, which is a low impact
development that does not pose excessive impacts to the local environment.

   

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PLATE 1 - RIPARIAN REHABILITATION AREA

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PLATE 4 & 5 EXISTING CONDITION

RIPARIAN REHABILITATION PLAN
157 LAWNVILLE ROAD,
BLACK MOUNTAIN

 

LEGEND

DEVELOPMENT SITE

[EBB iranian REHABILITATION AREA
APPROXIMATELY 1.22ha

 

 

COPYRIGHT © 2022 N

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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RIPARIAN REHABILITATION PLAN
157 LAWNVILLE ROAD,
BLACK MOUNTAIN

LEGEND

CL] DEVELOPMENT SITE

ASSISTED NATURAL REGENERATION AREA
APPROXIMATELY 1.1ha

[) Revecetarion area
APPROXIMATELY 1,100m2

COPYRIGHT © 2022

 

Page 4

 

 

1) REVEGETATION DESIGN

Reconstruction/Revegetation is required within approximately 1,100m? within the
rehabilitation area which is currently characterised by exotic grass and herbaceous weed
species and is generally devoid of native vegetation.

2) REVEGETATION METHODOLOGY

The methodology for the revegetation program is to generally occur in the following
chronological order:

1. Slash existing pasture grasses to a maximum of 100mm height. Avoid existing
native woody regrowth where possible.

2. Control existing pasture grass and herbaceous weeds by application of herbicide.

Allow approximately 3 weeks after herbicide treatment before planting. Avoid

herbicide treatment to existing native herb patches as far as practicable.

Commence planting only once all items above have been completed.

Water in plants as required (refer to Section 3.2).

Install weed mats/mulch (refer to Section 3.3).

Conduct follow up maintenance and replace failed plants as required (refer to

Section 3.4 & 3.5).

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3) REVEGETATION SPECIFICATIONS
3.1 PLANTING SPECIFICATIONS

Once weed treatment has taken effect, individual planting holes are to be manually dug
or by a mechanical auger at the densities prescribed within this Plan. Plants are to be
provided as 50mm native tubestock.

As a minimum, all tubestock is required to:

e Be of local provenance

e = Have a significantly established root system but not root bound

e Be healthy and display signs of active growth

e Not display signs of yellowing, leaf or stem damage or disease root curling or
restriction

° Be free of weeds in the container

e Bea minimum of 30cm in height

e Be sun hardened

All tubestock is to be installed as per the Specification detailed in Plate 7 (as applicable).
Slow-release fertilizer is to be installed into each planting hole as per the manufacturer’s
recommended rates.

 

 

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Plate 7 —- Tubestock Planting Specification
3.2 Watering

Planting is to occur as follows:

e Planting must not occur unless soil moisture is adequate - do not undertake plant
installation during periods of extreme dry weather conditions

e All stock is to be watered immediately prior to planting and have a thorough initial
establishment watering

e All planting holes are to be pre-watered prior to plant installation

e Apply an initial establishment watering

The following watering schedule shall be implemented considering rain fall prior to, during and
post plant installation:

e Initial watering as specified in above section
e One follow-up watering each week for the first 2 weeks after installation

If dry conditions prevail, ensure sufficient watering is delivered at appropriate intervals to
ensure the plants establish and thrive. Note that ongoing and increased frequency will be
required should heatwave or ongoing dry spell conditions occur.

3.3 Mulch

All plants are to have 350mm x 350mm organic mulch (e.g. tree mulch or straw) which is to be
installed to a depth of 100mm (after settlement).

3.4 Replacement of Failed Plantings
Monitoring is to be undertaken at the prescribed frequency and all failed/lost plants are to be
replaced to maintain 100% of the original number of plants installed. All replacement plants
are to be installed as per initial planting and watering requirements.
All plants will be assessed to determine survival rate at the following prescribed frequencies
and replaced as required:

¢ 1 month after initial installation

e 6 months after initial installation

e Prior to Off-Maintenance certification (i.e., 12 months after on-maintenance is

granted)

3.5 Revegetation Maintenance
The Revegetation Area is to have a weed maintenance schedule implemented for a twelve
month period which includes herbicide application and brush cutting of pasture
grass/herbaceous weeds. Maintenance activities are to include the following:

¢ Monitor plant survival and replace as specified and as required

¢ Identify and treat all weed species

 

e Perform weed treatment activities in line with the SEQ Ecological Restoration
Framework using the relevant APVMA Minor Use Permits

e = Identify recruitment of naturally occurring species within planting area and
retain

e Water plants if required or at a specified timing

4) REVEGETATION SPECIFICATIONS
4.1 Plant Density
Plants are to be installed at densities prescribed within Table 1, whilst Table 2 details
the estimated total of plants required.
Table 1 - Planting Density

Trees 2m centres

Shrubs 2m centres

Lomandra hystrix 1m centres planted as a single row
on outer edge of each revegetation
area (approx. 180m)

 

 

 

 

Table 2 - Estimated Planting Numbers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Trees 175

Shrubs 175

Lomandra hystrix 180
4.2 Plant Diversity

The following minimum plant diversity is to be achieved from species selected from
Table 3:

. 5 species of trees
e 4 species of shrubs
Table 3 lists revegetation species to be used.

Table 3 — Revegetation Species

red ash

creek sandpaper fig
Moreton

white beech

wild quince

white boll

iant water gum
water gum

weeping lil

Alphitonia excelsa
Ficus coronata

Ficus macrophylla
Gmelina leichhardtii
Guioa semiglauca
Neolitsea dealbata
Ss ium francisii

Tristaniopsis laurina

Waterhousea floribunda
Acmena smithii small-leaved lily pil

Breynia oblongifolia coffee bush

Cordyline rubra Im li

Scolopia braunii flintwood

Homalanthus nutans bleeding heart

Ss ium australe creek che
Species selection may be dependent on commercial availability at the time of planting.

 

Species substitution is allowable provided it is guided by a suitably qualified and
experienced practitioner (e.g., nursery staff or revegetation contractor) and only if
substituted species are drawn from locally occurring riparian vine forest species.

RIPARIAN REHABILITATION PLAN
157 LAWNVILLE ROAD,
BLACK MOUNTAIN

 

 

 

COPYRIGHT © 2022 N

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Page 5

 

 

5) WEED MANAGEMENT

5.1 Assisted Natural Regeneration

A very low density of environmental weeds occurs within the Rehabilitation Area.
Assisted Natural Regeneration is anticipated to be the predominant management
activity as the principles apply:

e To natural areas where the native plant community is largely healthy and
functioning

e When native plant seed is still stored in the soil or will be able to reach the site
from nearby natural areas, by birds or other animals, wind, or water

e Where the natural regeneration processes (seedling germination, root
suckering, etc.) are being inhibited by external factors, such as weed invasion,
soil compaction, cattle grazing, mechanical slashing, etc.

e = When limited human intervention, such as weed control, minor amelioration
of soil conditions, erection of fencing, cessation of slashing, etc. will be enough
to trigger the recovery processes through natural regeneration

e When the main management issue is weed infestation and/or current land use
practices

The re-establishing plant community will be substantially similar in structure,
composition and diversity to the original vegetation type (based on the Regional
Ecosystem Pre-Clearing mapping). It is expected the general management techniques
are to follow the principles of:

. Identifying nodes of resilience

. Working to strengthen identified nodes and protect and encourage all existing and
naturally regenerating species through assisted natural regeneration processes

. Working outwards from nodes of resilience to increase the size of nodes and
gradually connect to other nodes of resilience.

All assisted natural regeneration works are to be undertaken by appropriately
experienced and qualified people utilising techniques as presented within Section 5
of the SEQ Ecological Restoration Framework Manual (Chenowith LPA, 2012).

5.2 Weed Species to be Controlled

Assisted natural regeneration will be applied throughout the in-tact areas within the

Rehabilitation Area which contain good in-situ ecological resilience and do not require

revegetation planting to restore natural biodiversity. The primary management

activities will be the selective targeted control of environmental weed species.

Weed management is to include the management of all environmental weeds from

the Rehabilitation Area including (but not limited to) those listed in Table 1, as well as

any additional weeds listed in the following documents:

Restricted Matters (Invasive Plants) listed under the QLD Biosecurity Act 2014

e Weeds of National Significance (WONS) under the Commonwealth Government
Weeds strategy

e Invasive Naturalised Plants in Southeast Queensland, 2002, Queensland
Herbarium

¢ Noosa Biosecurity Plan 2020

e Any other exotic plants known to exhibit weed characteristics (i.e., Invasive,
competitive characteristics)

5.3 General Methods

All works are to be conducted in line with the SEQ Ecological Restoration Framework.
All weed treatments to comply with, Minor Use Permit PER11463 & 82307, product
labels and individual SDS, and other applicable permits as well as the Chemical Usage
(Agricultural and Veterinary) Control Act 1988, Agricultural Chemical Distribution and
Control Act 1966, and the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (including all applicable
Regulations).

All weed management works are to be conducted by experienced persons proficient
in both native species and weed species identification. The method adopted for
removal of weeds from the site will be dependent upon the physical stage of
development of individual weed specimens. Only herbicides registered for aquatic
use as detailed on the manufacturer’s specifications are to be applied. Herbicide
sprays should be applied in non-windy conditions in order to prevent incidental
poisoning of native species and not on days preceding forecast rainfall. Those
responsible for managing weeds need to consider the sensitivity of frog larvae and
other aquatic fauna to herbicides and wetting agents before use.

5.4 Weed Control Area Identification

Weed control is to be undertaken within the entirety of the existing vegetated
riparian corridor within the site as well as within defined revegetation areas to assist
in growth of planted tubestock.

5.5 Maintenance Schedule

An initial primary weed control event is to occur in which woody weeds are to be
poisoned in-situ (drilled/frilled and poisoned) and all other visible weeds (excluding
exotic grasses) are treated. Exotic grasses are not to be poisoned. It is anticipated that
grass species will be outcompeted and shaded out once native species regenerate.

Follow up maintenance is to be enacted for a period of one year. The frequency of
the maintenance schedule is to be one maintenance event six months after primary
weed control is complete, with a final follow up weed control event at the end of the
twelve-month maintenance period (i.e., a total of two weed maintenance events
following primary weed control).

5.6 Weed Coverage

A list of weed taxa observed within the Rehabilitation Area prior to works commencing
is detailed in Table 4. This list is indicative only. Overall weed management is to be
guided by the specifications as detailed in Section 5.2.

TABLE 4— WEED SPECIES LIST

     

 

Comm
Ardisia crispa coral berry |
Cinnamomum camphora camphor laurel R

 

Desmodium uncinatum silver leaved Desmodium |

 

Lantana camara lantana

 

Ligustrum sinense small-leaved privet

 

Megathyrsus maximus green panic I

 

Murraya paniculata mock orange I

 

Paspalum mandiocanum broad-leaved paspalum I

 

Passiflora edulis passionfruit |

 

Passiflora subpeltata white passionfruit |

 

 

Solanum mauritianum wild tobacco |

 

 

 

 

 

 

RIPARIAN REHABILITATION PLAN
157 LAWNVILLE ROAD,
BLACK MOUNTAIN

 

 

 

Sphagneticola trilobata Singapore daisy R
Syagrus romanzoffiana Cocos palm I
Tradescantia fluminensis Trad I

 

 

 

 

 

 

| = Invasive species
R = Restricted Invasive Plant under the Queensland Biosecurity Act 2014

6) PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

The progress of the rehabilitation is to be qualitatively assessed against Key
Performance Indicators (KPI) that have been developed to determine completion
of the rehabilitation works (refer to Table 5). KPls represent a benchmark of
expected progress of rehabilitation works within the 12 month management
period. These KPI must be met for the works to be considered complete and
granted off-maintenance. At the end of the twelve month maintenance period, a
monitoring report must be prepared by a suitably qualified person and submitted
to Council demonstrating that the KPI have been met.

TABLE 5 — KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

 

ASSISTED NATURAL REGENERATION AREA

Native Evidence of native recruitment throughout majority of
Regeneration Rehabilitation Area.

 

 

 

Weed <5% weed cover (low threat environmental weeds) in any
Cover 5m x 5m plot (excluding exotic grass species)
0% woody weeds (>1m high) or Restricted Invasive Plant
species regulated under Biosecurity Act 2014
REVEGETATION AREAS

 

 

COPYRIGHT © 2022 N

 

 

 

 

Desired height of Average of height >1m
trees and shrubs

 

One tree/shrub per 4m? (i.e., planted at 2m centres)
An outer row of Lomandra Hystrix

Plant density

 

175 Trees
175 Shrubs

180 Lomandra

Plant numbers

 

All failed plants to be replaced to meet the Plant Density KPI
of 100%

Plant mortality

 

Minimum plant 5 species of trees
diversity 4 species of shrubs