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

SC6.4.8             Fauna Assessment

(1)   The purpose of a fauna assessment is to document the fauna species and assemblages of the site.
(2)   The methodology for undertaking a vegetation community assessment is as follows:
(3)   Desktop Assessment
      (a)   Prior to undertaking fauna survey work, a comprehensive desktop assessment should be undertaken. This will comprise a
            review of the following:
            (i)     Commonwealth Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities (SEWPAC) Online
                    Protected Matters Search Tool;
            (ii)    (ii) Queensland Government WildNET database and/or Biomaps;
            (iii)   (iii) Queensland Herbarium Herbrecs database;
            (iv)    (iv) Atlas of Living Australia;
            (v)     Regulated Vegetation and High­value Regrowth Vegetation mapping and associated Essential Habitat and Essential
                    Regrowth Habitat mapping
            (vi)    All other relevant information relating to the subject site and the survey will also be reviewed, where available,
                    including the results of previous ecological surveys of the subject site or surrounds, aerial photography and relevant
                    legislation and planning documentation.

      (b)   Species listed under the Nature Conservation Act 1992 and/or the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation
            Act 1999 should be clearly stated within the report. Further, any fauna species listed as Regionally or Locally Significant in
            the “Fauna and its Associated Biodiversity Value in Noosa Shire” should be referenced.

(4)   Fauna Surveys
      (a)   For fauna surveys, a minimum of four days and nights survey time is recommended to minimise any sampling duration
            influences within any given sampling period. At least one sampling site should be established in each regional
            ecosystem/vegetation or habitat type.
      (b)   Vertebrate fauna surveys should be timed to occur at optimal times of the year which in South East Queensland is Spring
            (mid Sept ­ mid Dec) as temperatures begin to warm up and particularly after the first storms when animal activity peaks
            and Autumn (late Feb ­ April) when temperatures begin to drop and before the onset of cooler nights.
            (i)     The consultant must also consider the breeding season of target and non­target animals and minimise the impacts
                    on dependent young when trapping and releasing animals.
            (ii)    When planning a fauna survey, the applicant must consider the particular climatic conditions likely to be encountered.
                    Some conditions can impact adversely upon a captured animal’s welfare (e.g. high temperatures/low humidity
                    leading to desiccation and death of frogs and skinks; sudden inundation of trap lines causing drowning; extreme
                    cold resulting in torpor and death). The consultant must take reasonable steps to minimise the impact of local,
                    climatic conditions.

      (c)   All procedures comply with the Australian Code of Practice for the Care and Use of Animals for Scientific Purposes and the
            provisions of the Animal Care and Protection Act 2001.
      (d)   All surveys must be conducted in accordance with the Recommended Survey Guidelines for Australia's Threatened Bats
            2010, Threatened Reptiles 2011 and Threatened Mammals 2011 (Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water,
            Population and Communities) and Terrestrial Vertebrate Fauna Survey Guidelines for Queensland 2018 (Department of
            Science), as amended from time to time.
      (e)   Under the Biosecurity Act 2014 the consultant has a general biosecurity obligation. This means they must take all
            reasonable steps to ensure they do not spread a pest, disease or contaminant. The consultant also has an obligation to
            report unusual events that might be related to biosecurity issues.
      (f)   Additional seasonal survey sampling may need to be undertaken for cryptic, migratory and/or seasonal species, which may
            occur on the site;
            (i)     Table SC6.4.1, outlines the survey techniques, methods and the minimum duration that is needed to undertake a
                    fauna survey.3

      (g)   Voucher specimens should be properly collected, preserved and stored, or ­ if no other alternative ­ maintained live in a
            humane manner so that they can be delivered in good and useful condition to the Queensland Museum where they are
            appropriately housed and curated. Documentation to accompany the specimens must include; date of collection, location of
            collection and names of the collectors

(5)   Reporting requirements

  **FINAL DRAFT ­ Post Consultation 2019**
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