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

                            Ecological Assessment – Attunga Heights



       initially detected) by a more thorough inspection involving disturbance of the leaf
       litter and ground cover within the prescribed search area.


4.2.3 Habitat Suitability Assessment
The suitability of the habitats on the site for listed threatened fauna species and migratory
species identified in database searches was assessed to determine which of those species
could potentially occur on the site. Assessments were based on the following:
   •   desktop research of scientific journal articles and botanical literature;
   •   consultations with specialist academic staff; and
   •   targeted field surveys within the subject site and surrounds.

The impacts associated with current landuses, vegetation clearing, land and waterway
erosion/degradation, weed and feral invasion and previous fire regimes were all considered
when completing habitat suitability assessments. Furthermore, the assessment determined
whether it was likely for habitat features that typically support threatened species to be
present on the subject site. Particular attention was paid to habitat features such as:
   •   the presence of mature trees with hollows, fissures and/or other suitable
       roosting/nesting places;
   •   the presence of koala food trees;
   •   the presence of preferred glossy black cockatoo feed trees (forest oak and/or black
       she-oak);
   •   the presence of characteristic signs of foraging (e.g. chewed cones or glider feeding
       scars);
   •   condition, flow and water quality of drainage lines and bodies of water;
   •   areas of dense vegetation;
   •   presence of hollow logs/debris and areas of dense leaf litter;
   •   presence of fruiting flora species;
   •   presence of blossoming flora species, particularly winter-flowering species;
   •   vegetation connectivity and proximity to neighbouring areas of intact vegetation;
       and
   •   presence of caves and man-made structures suitable as microchiropteran bat roost
       sites.

Potential occurrences of threatened fauna species and migratory species are discussed as
unlikely, possible or likely to occur in habitats on the site. Possible occurrences are species
which may occur sporadically or are provided with small areas of potentially suitable
habitat. Likely occurrences are provided with habitat of high quality on the subject site.




Job No: Q12038/RW3                        JWA Pty Ltd                                       28