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

                           Ecological Assessment – Attunga Heights



   •   salinity.

Property Maps of Assessable Vegetation (PMAVs) are a part of the framework of the VMA.
They are property-scale maps that show the location, boundary and conservation status of
vegetation. PMAVs are submitted by landholders and used to update DEHP’s Regulated
Vegetation mapping for determining the location of vegetation assessable under the VMA.


7.4.2 Assessable Vegetation on the Subject Site
7.4.2.1 Site Assessment
The current regulated vegetation management map of the subject site includes both
Category B (remnant vegetation) and Category X (vegetation not regulated under the VMA)
areas. Category B areas cover the majority of the subject site (1.66 ha). The Regional
Ecosystem (RE) mapping identifies the Category B regulated vegetation as a combination
of the following REs (FIGURE 5):
   •   RE 12.2.1 (Of Concern) - Notophyll vine forest on parabolic high dunes; and
   •   RE 12.2.5 (Least Concern) - Corymbia intermedia, Lophostemon confertus, Banksia
       spp., Callitris columellaris open forest to low closed forest on beach ridges.

Additionally, small areas (0.14 ha) of Category X vegetation (non-remnant) occur along the
southern and eastern boundaries of the subject site. Other features include an unnamed
watercourse present along the eastern boundary.

Site investigations have allowed the remnant vegetation to be mapped at a much finer
scale over the site. Vegetation on the site is in comprised of several separate polygons of
the above REs (FIGURE 7).

There are also areas of the site considered to be representative of high-value regrowth of
the above RE types (FIGURE 7).

It is recommended that a Property Map of Assessable Vegetation (PMAV) is lodged with
DNRME to correct the current RE mapping over the site. A PMAV is a property-scale map
that shows the boundaries of vegetation categories on the property. Once a PMAV is
certified by DNRME, it replaces the regulated vegetation management map for determining
the location and extent of the areas of regulated vegetation.


7.4.2.2 Possible Exemptions
Exemptions on freehold land include clearing of Least Concern or Of Concern remnant
vegetation (Category B regulated vegetation) ‘in an urban area for an urban purpose (e.g.
residential, industrial, sporting, recreational or commercial)’.

The Noosa Plan (as amended 2017) identifies the site largely as ‘Open Space Conservation’,
with small areas of ‘Attached Housing’ and ‘Detached Housing’. Exemptions may apply
within these latter areas, however clearing in the remainder of the site will need to comply




Job No: Q12038/RW3                       JWA Pty Ltd                                     53