2014-03-25 Planning & Organisation Committee Agenda Pages 81-167

PLANNING & ORGANISATION COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                   25 MARCH 2014


The use of development offsets is predicated on the premise of avoidance first, mitigation second
and offsetting unavoidable consequences. The proponent does not propose to avoid clearing but
suggests a combination of mitigation and vegetation offset methods to justify urban development
in a non-urban setting. Some offset plantings proposed will create pockets of artificially high
koala tree densities. Some offset planting are proposed within flood zones and densely
vegetated areas.     The scattering of offset planting locations within existing vegetation
communities and flood prone lands and artificially high densities create additional management
and compliance complexities in order to meet the offset criteria.

The use of offset plantings does not adequately address the direct impacts of clearing of koala
food trees, habitat loss, habitat fragmentation, introduction of intensive urban land uses and
time–lag delays for the maturation of offset plantings.

Potential Impacts

The urbanisation of bushland has long been established as a major cause in the decline of koala
populations in South East Queensland and produces a number of deleterious factors directly
associated with koala mortality. The initial clearing of koala food trees and refuges causes loss
of forage resources, resting sites, recruitment trees and natural habitat variability. Disease has
also contributed to koala population decline in South East Queensland and has been linked to
stress factors.

Urban development causes Koalas to cross roads, back yards, parks and obstacles in their
natural territorial movements. Koalas do not alter their movements across the landscape or
otherwise “learn” to avoid new hazards. The increased amount of time spent on the ground in an
urban environment exposes them to increased risk and associated stress.

The proposed new roads through koala habitat and projected traffic levels throughout the
development are highly likely to cause koala deaths. Reliance on artificially slow speed
environments or fauna fencing to mitigate the impacts of road trauma and partially justify urban
development in a rural setting is not supported.

Koala Conservation Conclusion

A comprehensive koala survey has not been undertaken and koala habitat values have not been
adequately ground-truthed or documented. Based on the submitted information and the known
impacts of urban development, the applicant’s claim that the development will result in net
benefits for the local koala populations are, at best, conjecture. A more likely outcome is the
development will have a deleterious and significant impact on koalas and their habitat - both
during construction and as a result of the intensification of land use.

In short, the development is highly likely to result in a decline in the koala population in the area
and have a net impact on koala conservation values.

Old Growth Trees

The development will result in the removal of approximately 250 old growth “habitat” trees as a
result of major bulk earth works (cut and fill) and road-works. The majority of these trees will be
lost within proposed Precincts 1 and 2 and within the Hollett and Tidswell Road Reserves.

A lack of definitive information submitted relating to the fauna use of these trees and hollows
does not provide the clarity of information required to make an informed decision on the impacts
of the proposal. Mitigation of the impacts of the development by imposing relevant conditions is
not possible due to the extent of proposed earthworks and urban intensity proposed for each
precinct.


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