2019-12-11 SM Agenda - Item 1 - Attachment 7 - Final New Noosa Plan - Part 8-10 Schedule Appendix - Clean version

SC6.4 ­ PSP3                  Ecological assessment guidelines
SC6.4.1              Purpose

(1)    The purpose of the Ecological Assessment planning scheme policy is to:
       (a)    identify some of the circumstances under which an ecological assessment will be required;
       (b)    ensure that the ecological attributes of areas are identified, protected and managed before, during and after development,
              thereby contributing to the Shire­wide protection of environmental values;
       (c)    assist applicants to adequately address the environmental and ecological aspects of the development site by ensuring a
              consistent approach for ecological assessments; and
       (d)    ensure flora, fauna and ecosystem information collected is provided in a format that allows input to identified databases for
              use in improving knowledge of the Shire’s ecological values.


SC6.4.2              Information Council may request

(1)    Without limiting its discretion under section 51(1) of the Planning Act 2016, Council may request information about an application
       in the form of an ecological assessment including where an application proposes development on premises that may have one or
       more of the following attributes:
       (a)    supports native vegetation (remnant and/or regrowth);
       (b)    the potential to support Endangered, Vulnerable, Near­threatened, migratory or other significant species ;
       (c)    located in or adjacent to a protected estate (a national park, conservation park, state forest, nature reserve or voluntary
              conservation agreements etc.);
       (d)    located within a water supply catchment area or in close proximity to a stream, river wetland, waterway or ground water; or
       (e)    the site is considered part of a critical habitat area or a linkage in a vegetation/wildlife corridor ; or
       (f)    identified in Council planning documents as containing ecological values.

1 Refer to the report “Fauna and its Associated Biodiversity Values in Noosa Shire”
2 Refer to “Networks based on Landform, Landscape, Aesthetic and Environmental Values in Noosa Shire (1996)”



SC6.4.3              Permits and Qualifications of the Consultant

(1)    The Ecological Assessment must be undertaken by a suitably qualified consultant(s) with appropriate qualifications in
       Environmental Science, Botany, Zoology, Ecology or another related discipline. The consultant(s) must also have demonstrated
       experience in undertaking flora and fauna surveys, assessing regional ecosystems, and conservation, ecology and biodiversity
       assessments and preferably within the South­East Queensland Bioregion.
(2)    For a Protected Plants Flora Survey, the survey must be coordinated and led by a suitably qualified person who has met the self­
       assessment criteria contained in s4.2.1 of the Protected Plants – Flora Survey Guidelines v2 2016 (as amended from time to time)
       and has been endorsed by Department of Environment and Science (DES).
(3)    Persons undertaking ecological assessment must have the appropriate permits prior to undertaking field surveys with permit
       copies supplied to Council with the submission of the ecological assessment.
(4)    A ‘Permit to take, use, keep or interfere with cultural or natural resources’ is required when working within protected areas. In non­
       protected areas, a ‘Protected animal scientific or educational purposes permit’ (Scientific Purposes Permit) is required, pursuant
       to the Nature Conservation Act 1992.
(5)    For activities on tenure listed under the Forestry Act 1959, such as state forests, forest reserves and timber reserves, both a
       Scientific Purposes Permit and a Permit to Collect may be required for some activities.
(6)    If working in areas covered under the Marine Parks Act 2004 (i.e. area of water or land subject to tidal influence), then permits may
       be required from the Department of National Parks, Recreation, Sport and Racing.
(7)    Persons undertaking fauna assessments must also have received the approval of the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries
       Animal Ethics Committee (AEC) and must be registered with the Biosecurity Queensland before undertaking ecological surveys.
(8)    All reports submitted from studies undertaken in accordance with these acts must demonstrate compliance with these
       requirements. Under permit requirements, persons undertaking research/survey must:
       (a) record detailed information of any Endangered, Vulnerable or Near­threatened (EVNT) species, which are found on the site on


  **FINAL DRAFT ­ Post Consultation 2019**
                                                                                                                                  Page 1 of 14