Development Application part 2 OF 2 All of CD, Information in notes - MCU12/0216

CSR West Ridge Quarry
Ecological Assessment Report



> The site is upstream a considerable distance from a Ramsar site (the Great Sandy Straight, via Six Mile
  Creek and the Mary River at Gympie). Thirty threatened species and 16 migratory species are
  recognised as potentially occurring within a 1km radius of the site.
> Wetland Management Area and Referable Areas mapping pursuant to the Sustainable Planning
  Regulation 2009 (refer Appendix E). Pursuant to the Sustainable Planning Regulation 2009 DERM act
  as an advice agency for particular types of development within Wetland Management Areas and a 100m
  wide trigger area from these wetlands.
> Finding: A Referable Wetland is associated with Six Mile Creek (located to the east and south of the site).
  Both disturbance areas encroach within the 100m buffer to this Referable Wetland. A Conservation
  Estate is located on a north-western adjoining property, and is approximately 800m from the proposed
  disturbance areas.
> Queensland Coastal Plan mapping which is produced by DERM (refer Appendix F) and regulated under
  the Coastal Protection and Management Act 1995.
> Finding: The site is not within the Coastal Zone or a Coastal Hazard Area.
> The Noosa Plan overlay mapping.
> Findings: Figure 2 depicts the extent of the overlays in comparison to the proposed disturbance areas.
    - Pursuant to the Cooroy & Lake Macdonald Biodiversity Overlay (Map OM3.1):
         > “Environmental Protection Area” is mapped across the entire western disturbance area; and
         > a small portion of “Riparian Buffer Area” (associated with Six Mile Creek) is mapped over both
           areas.
    - Pursuant to the Cooroy & Lake Macdonald Natural Hazard: Bushfire & Acid Sulfate Soils Overlay
      (Map OM3.4) a “Medium Bushfire Hazard” is present across the entire western disturbance area.
         It is relevant to note that pursuant to The Noosa Plan overlay mapping, Lot 3 and the proposed
         disturbance areas are not mapped as supporting the following recognised features.
         > ‘Koala Habitat Areas’ pursuant to the Biodiversity Overlay (Map OM3.1).
         > Flood or landslide hazard area on the Natural Hazard: Landslide & Flooding Overlay (Map OM3.3).
         > ‘Open space corridor’ areas recognised on Noosa Plan Map 4.
         > Heritage sites pursuant to the Heritage Overlay (Map OM3.2).

3.2                Field Survey
A field survey within the proposed disturbance areas (2.66ha area) and surrounding vicinity was conducted
                                                            th
by an appropriately qualified and experienced ecologist on 9 June 2011. The specific aims of the survey
were to:
> confirm the vegetation community types that would be affected by the proposed works;
> compile a complete flora species inventory for each of the proposed disturbance areas;
> evaluate the condition of vegetation and the presence of exotic flora species; and
> assess the presence of suitable habitat for flora or fauna species with legislatively recognised
  conservation significance that have been previously recorded, or are considered likely to occur, in the
  locality of the site.
The field survey involved thoroughly traversing each of the areas by foot, using a hand-held Global
Positioning System (GPS) (GARMIN GPSmap 76S) and a high-resolution aerial photography image overlaid
with gridlines as a guide for navigation. Boundaries between vegetation community types were delineated
according to changes in floristic composition and structure, and were recorded using the GPS. Flora species
observed during the field survey were identified to the species level where possible. Specifically, the
significance of flora species was assessed in terms of the following.


CSR Building Products Ltd                          Version 3                                  4 December 2012
Ecological Assessment Report V3.docx         Commercial in Confidence                                 Page 5