Referral Agency Response DERM · MCU10/2127

                DERM Wetlands and Conservation Estate Referral Agency Response

Conservation Estate:
The Assessment Manager should consider the potential impacts of the proposed development on both the
habitats and environmental values contained within the conservation estate, as well as to the management
intent of the conservation estate. Development should ensure the following outcomes:
    •   Maintain habitat and biodiversity values: development avoids or minimises and mitigates adverse
        impacts on the functioning and integrity of habitats and environmental values contained within the
        conservation estate
    •   Development demonstrates there will be no adverse impacts on the ecological values and
        functioning of the conservation estate. An ecological report prepared by a suitably qualified professional
        may be one way that the Assessment Manager may choose to assess this outcome.
    •   Development maintains, conserves and enhances the current extent and connectivity within and
        between conservation estate areas
    •   Development does not compromise the management intent of the conservation estate.
The Assessment Manager should ensure that there is a sufficient buffer distance between any proposed works
including access tracks and roads and the conservation estate boundary in order to maintain the ecological
functioning and integrity of the conservation estate. Buffer distances should be maximised in order to maintain
existing biodiversity values, habitat connectivity and to avoid edge effects. The buffer may also assist in
ensuring that stormwater, wastewater, dust and erosion from the development site can be appropriately
managed to avoid adverse impacts on the conservation estate. A stormwater and wastewater management plan
may be one way the assessment manager may choose to ensure off-site impacts of development are
ameliorated. Revegetation of buffer zones using native species representative of the pre-clearing regional
ecosystem is recommended.
Establishing building or development envelope(s) may also be a useful way to give formal effect to any required
buffer area.
Neighbours to the conservation estate have a responsibility to keep dwellings and other infrastructure near
Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) managed lands in a condition that minimises fire risk to
themselves and their property as well as the protected estate and to appropriately ameliorate light and noise
issues. Consultation with QPWS officers is recommended to ensure management objectives of the conservation
estate including fire management, emergency services access and pest controls are met. A QPWS `Good
Neighbour Policy' may be of assistance and is available on the web at:
httD://www.derm.gld.gov.au/register/D01658aa.Ddf

Delegate                                                  Enquiries:
                                                          Department of Environment and Resource Management
                                                          Centenary Square Building,
                                                          Currie Street, Nambour..QLD 4560
                                                          PO Box 573, Nambour. QLD 4560

                                                          Telephone     + 61 7 5451 2256
Daniel Leo                                                Facsimile     + 61 7 5451 2260
A/Senior Officer                                          Email         DACoordinationSEQNorthOderm.gld.gov.au
Regional Planning and Coordination (Nambour)              Website       www.derm.gld.gov.au
Planning and Assessment - South East Region
29 March 2011




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