UPDATED DA - Attachment 8 - Flora and Fauna Assessment

                                                                                                 Native Foresters




4.4          Assessment of breeding places

Site A has been assessed as having moderate habitat values for a range of native fauna,
although due to the small size of the impact area the number of habitat features was limited.

A number of animal breeding places were identified in Site A:

       i.      Hollow-bearing trees: Two large Scribbly gums with substantial arboreal hollows
               were identified. In one of these trees, a termitarium had a disused kingfisher nest
               (see Figure 2 (Tree ID 2), Figure 6a and Appendix M).
      ii.      Presence of bowers, nests, dreys: One Ringtail possum drey was identified in a
               Melaleuca near the adjacent rainwater tanks (see Figures 2 and 6b, Appendix
               M), while a disused kingfisher nest was observed in an arboreal termitarium (see
               Figures 2 and 6c, Appendix M).
      iii.     Presence of caves, mounds, burrows, ground hollows and/or coarse woody
               debris: A large fallen tree with a partially-hollow trunk has become habitat for
               small mammals, reptiles and invertebrates (coarse woody debris) (see Figures
               2 and 6d, Appendix M).
      iv.      Presence of permanent water, ephemeral ponding, depressions and/or,
               seasonally inundated areas: The drain near the entrance road is capable of
               supporting breeding, oviposition, and dispersal of amphibians during suitably wet
               periods (Figure 6e), however no frogs were heard calling during the survey. This
               drain is likely to be influenced by road runoff and other pollutants.
      v.       Canopy cover: Whilst canopy cover is relatively sparse (approximately 30%), the
               upper stratum still provides foraging and breeding opportunities for a range of
               native fauna, including birds and arboreal mammals. The vast majority of canopy
               species are recognised Koala habitat trees, and the discovery of a Koala scat
               during the survey confirmed the presence of the species in the area (Figures 2
               and 6f, Appendix M)

It is likely that several more breeding places occurred but were obscured by vegetation.

Under Section 332 of the Nature Conservation (Animals) Regulation 2020: A person must
not, without a reasonable excuse, tamper with an animal breeding place that is being used
by a protected animal to incubate or rear the animal’s offspring (QLD Government, 2023).

Landscape context

Connectivity to remnant vegetation to the north is good, with contiguous Eucalypt and
Melaleuca woodland continuing for 650 metres to Hollett Road. To the south and west
connectivity is interrupted by a powerline easement, Walter Hay Drive (four lanes) and the
Eumundi Noosa Road (two lanes).




Noosa Landfill & Resource Recovery Centre Expansion – Site A, Rev 1 – Fauna & Flora Assessment
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