J - Gondwana Ecology Report (28.08.2019)

4.3 Wallum Frogs

Wallum-dependent frog species of coastal south-east Queensland and eastern New South Wales include the
wallum sedgefrog Litoria olongburensis, Cooloola sedgefrog L. cooloolensis, wallum rocketfrog L. freycineti
and wallum froglet Crinia tinnula.

The information in Table 1 regarding suitable frog habitat is sourced from Meyer et al. (2006) 8 and supported
by personal observations (in the locality and throughout SEQ and northern NSW).
Table 1. Wallum Frog Habitat

 Species        Habitat
 wallum         Ephemeral and semi-permanent swamps with emergent reeds, ferns and/or sedges, in undisturbed
 sedgefrog      coastal wallum. While most common in swamps, L. olongburensis may also be found around creeks and
                freshwater lakes in coastal wallum. Rarely found sympatric with the common sedgefrog Litoria fallax.
 Cooloola       Oligotrophic (deficient of nutrients), acidic freshwater lakes (pH < 5.5) in coastal wallum; adults usually
 sedgefrog      found amongst reeds near water. L. cooloolensis may also occasionally be found in wallum swamps in
                sympatry with L. olongburensis. While commonly found near water, L. cooloolensis have been recorded
                some distance from water both in rainforest and dry sclerophyll forest. Rarely found sympatric with the
                common sedgefrog Litoria fallax.
 wallum         Associated with coastal wet heath. Found around sedge swamps, drainage lines and perched lakes in
 rocketfrog     areas of sandstone and sandy soil. May also be found some distance from water in eucalypt forest near
                areas of wet heath. Rarely found together with the related striped rocketfrog (L. nasuta), except at
                disturbed site.
 wallum         Found along drainage lines in sub-coastal wet heath, in acid paperbark (Melaleuca) swamps, and sedge
 froglet        swamps in areas of sandy soil and sandstone; rarely encountered around coastal lakes. Crinia tinnula
                has also been recorded from disturbed wallum habitat, including recently burnt heath, 4WD-impacted
                sites, an old quarry site, and exotic pine plantations. Animals have also been recorded in eucalypt
                woodland/forest and dry heath, some distance from water. Broadly sympatric with other Crinia species
                and is rarely found together with C. parinsignifera, except in disturbed habitat.


There are no known records for Cooloola sedgefrog in the immediate locality.

Wallum sedgefrog, wallum rocketfrog and wallum froglet are listed as vulnerable under the State Nature
Conservation Act 1992. Wallum sedgefrog and wallum rocketfrog area also listed as vulnerable under the
Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.

While no wallum frogs were recorded during the two recent site inspection, a wallum froglet was recorded
in a drain to the south of the Noosa Civic centre some years ago 9. Within 2km of the subject land there are
single records for the wallum rocketfrog and wallum sedgefrog and two records for wallum froglet (DISITIA
2019).

A recent (Gondwana 2019) report also considered the following regarding habitat and occurrence for the
three wallum frogs – “Unlikely. No suitable habitat within subject land. Potential habitat occurs in paperbark
areas to the south/southwest”. Further Litoria fallax was recorded in the area during those surveys which is
an indicator that the habitat is not particularly suitable for Wallum frogs.

There is no “essential habitat” for wallum frogs on the subject land (refer Extract A).

It is highly unlikely the subject land is suitable habitat for wallum rocketfrog and wallum sedgefrog. However,
the local record of wallum froglet (and personal experience) would suggest that Covenant AB cannot be
discounted as potential habitat for this species. It is noted that the vegetation associated with this area is to




8 Meyer, E., Hero, J-M., Shoo, L. & Lewis, B. 2006. National recovery plan for the wallum sedgefrog and other wallum-dependent

frog species . Report to Department of the Environment & Water Resources, Canberra. Queensland Parks & Wildlife Service.
9 Record by the author - >10 years ago.




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