J - Gondwana Ecology Report (28.08.2019)

The approved development retained covenant areas along Eenie Creek Road and along Hofmann Drive as
follows:

    •   Covenant Y (Ref: 714119228) - in favour of Council (753m2). Purpose - preserve native vegetation.
    •   Covenant AA (Ref: 713330303) - in favour of Council (1172m2). Purpose - preserve native vegetation.
    •   Covenant AB (Ref: 713330303) - in favour of Council (2000m2). Purpose - preserve native vegetation.

The ecological conditions for the approval were generally limited to “retention of existing trees within the
covenant areas” (Condition 24), the “lodgement and approval by Council of a Fauna Management Plan prior
to the commencement of any works” (Conditions 25 & 26) and “the lodgement of a Vegetation Management
Plan (VMP) prior to the commencement of any works” (Condition 27).


3.0 Proposed Development
As per the plan in Attachment B, with respect to ecology matters, the proposed plan provides the same
environmental outcome as that which has been approved by the Court (refer Attachment C), in that:

    •   Three covenant areas (i.e. Covenant Y, Covenant AA and Covenant AB) are retained;
    •   The balance land is development as built form; and
    •   The developed part of the land includes cleared grassed areas and vegetated areas.


4.0 Koala and Acid Frog Habitat
Although the proposed development (ecological) outcome is no different to the approved development,
Council have requested comment on the habitat value for koala and acid frogs.

4.1 Site Vegetation

The vegetation comprises mostly a regrowth community with isolated emergent canopy trees. Edge effects,
fragmentation and surrounding land-uses have compromised the ecological values. However, native
vegetation, including groundcovers, mid-storey and canopy trees occurs. The vegetation would be
considered to provide (albeit isolated and limited) habitat for some fauna.

Vegetation in the north is characterised by she-oak (Allocasuarina) and wattle (Acacia) regrowth with some
paperbarks (Melaleuca quinquenervia), swamp mahogany (Eucalyptus robusta) and a few stags (dead trees).
The area associated with Covenant AA and Covenant Y is to be retained. Groundcover includes grasses,
sedges (sword-rush) with cleared disturbed areas. The vegetation in the east of this patch (refer
Attachment A) is to be removed for the development. A constructed swale (drain) runs along the southern
boundary of the covenant area and to the west of the “eastern” patch of bush.

Vegetation in the south is within an existing “swale” and includes specimens of flooded gum (Eucalyptus
grandis), swamp mahogany (Eucalyptus robusta) and paperbark (Melaleuca quinquenervia). Understorey
and midstorey appears to be mostly native species and there is evidence of a planting exercise along the
eastern boundary with Hofmann Drive. The vegetated area associated with Covenant AB is to be retained.

A series of PHOTO PLATES is provided as Attachment D.

The subject land is generally isolated from surrounding bushland with the exception of the vegetated screen
(open space) associated with Noosa Civic to the east (along Eenie Creek Road) and a tenuous connection to
open space patches (open space/drain covenants associated with Noosa Civic) south along Hofmann Drive.
The land to the south and west comprises industrial uses, to the north is the road and residential/retail uses
while the Noosa Civic centre and road occurs to the east.




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