SARA_Information response

   •   improving degraded koala habitat areas that are to be retained on the site by removing
       weeds and planting koala food trees endemic to the site (based on the sites regional
       ecosystem(s))
   •   minimising impacts on retained habitat and koalas using the area by:
          o providing a buffer between development and any retained koala habitat, and/or
          o managing edge effects on retained koala habitat including:
                   changes in soil condition, such as nutrients and erosion
                   altered hydrological flow
                   the introduction or increase of weed and exotic plant species
                   disturbances to vegetation
                   a modified fire regime
                   the introduction of predators to koalas
                   increased light, noise or dust.

Response:
Refer correspondence from Litoria Consulting included in Appendix C. As indicated, the attached
Ecological Assessment Report and originally submitted Vegetation Management Plan outline
avoidance, mitigation and management measures. Impact mitigation is achieved via the
implementation of detailed fauna management measures and development design measures
outlined in section 6.3 of the Ecological Assessment Report. Additional impacts result from the
proposed change are minor and mitigated by the fact that the change will result in a net positive
impact to koala habitat on the site.

8. Action:
   Provide the following information, prepared by a suitably qualified ecologist:
   • any actions that will be undertaken on land retained to avoid fragmenting koala habitat
      areas that will improve connectivity between koala habitat areas (e.g., removing barriers,
      revegetating with koala habitat trees, the density of plantings, the distance between planted
      trees, encouraging natural revegetation, incorporating principles of koala-sensitive design
      (described in the Koala-sensitive design guideline)).
   • provides an assessment of the connectivity values and safe koala movement opportunities
      that would exist on the site post-development.
   • identifies barriers to movement that will be proposed by the development (e.g. established
      roads, fences, and retaining walls, introduction of residential threats such as pools and
      dogs and areas without koala habitat trees that increase the time koalas would need to
      spend on the ground).
   • outlines measures that will be undertaken to ensure koalas can move safely within and
      between highly connected patches of koala habitat area.
   • provides justification for why the proposed measures are suitable for providing safe koala
      movement opportunities.

Response:
Refer attached Ecological Assessment Report, originally submitted Vegetation Management Plan
and correspondence form Litoria Consulting in Appendix C.

The EAR and VMP provide detailed development design and management measures which
demonstrate how the proposed change will not adversely impact the movement of koalas through
the site (Refer to Section 6.3 of the EAR). Whilst there are additional impacts resulting from the
proposed change to accommodate driveway access, these impacts are minor and unlikely to impact
koala movement, as the impact is located adjacent to an existing road. In addition, impacts are
mitigated by the fact that the proposed change will result in a net positive impact to koala habitat on