Response to Info Request - Attachment 6a - Ecological Assessment Part 1 MCU18-0015 & RAL18-0015 · MCU18/0015

                           Ecological Assessment – Attunga Heights




3 FLORA ASSESSMENT
3.1 Introduction
This section discusses the methods used in the flora assessment and presents the results of
the assessment.



3.2 Methods
3.2.1 Background
To provide a description of the vegetative characteristics of the subject site, site
assessments were completed and previous reports from the site or surrounding locality
were reviewed.


3.2.2 Site Vegetation Surveys
3.2.2.1 Introduction
A number of site inspections and surveys of existing flora communities within the subject
site have been completed by JWA including:
   •   A site assessment completed by two (2) JWA ecologists on the 13th November 2003.
       A total of approximately six (6) person hours were spent assessing site vegetation
       communities during this survey;
   •   Site assessments were carried out by one (1) JWA ecologist during late November
       2012 and again on the 29th May 2013, to verify the existing mapping in relation to
       regional systems; and
   •   A site assessment completed by one (1) JWA ecologist between the 16th to 20th April
       2018 in accordance with protected plants survey requirements (i.e. following
       DEHP’s Flora Survey Guidelines – Protected Plants) and to verify previous mapping.

The flora surveys employed an assessment of floral taxa and vegetation communities in
keeping with the methodology employed by the Queensland Herbarium for the survey of
Regional Ecosystems and vegetation communities (Neldner et al. 2005). Preliminary
identification of the vegetation communities was conducted prior to the commencement
of fieldwork via interpretation of current RE mapping (Version 8) and aerial photographs.

Field surveys involved a botanical assessment at a number of representative sites within
remnant and non-remnant vegetation communities. The surveys utilised a number of
standard methods including random meander searches.


3.2.2.2 Random Meander Searches
The random meander technique (Cropper 1993) was used to identify changes in landform,
identify vegetation community boundaries and to complete targeted searches for
threatened flora species (in accordance with the requirements of DEHP’s Flora Survey
Guidelines – Protected Plants). The floral characteristics of each vegetation community



Job No: Q12038/RW3                       JWA Pty Ltd                                    18