Ecological Assessment Letter Report · MCU26/0104

▪     Native vegetation clearing – Category B regulated vegetation; and
▪     Koala habitat in SEQ Region – Koala priority area (KPA) and Core koala habitat area (KHA).
SEQ Regional Plan
The provisions of the SEQ Regional Plan which apply to land in the Regional Landscape and Rural
Production Area have been incorporated in the Planning Regulation 2017 (Planning Regulation). The
provisions support the use of land for a private residence and therefore do NOT apply to the proposed
development.
Koala Habitat in SEQ
Schedule 10 Part 10 Section 16A of the Planning Regulation states that interfering with koala habitat in
KHAs within a KPA is prohibited development unless development is exempted development as defined
in Schedule 24 of the Planning Regulation. As the proposed development will not encroach into the
mapped KHA, the application of the exempted development definitions is NOT required. However, the
assessment benchmarks of Schedule 11 Part 4 for safe koala movement, remain applicable (refer table
below).

    Schedule 11 Part 2 Section 4 subsection (1)
    (a) The development provides, on the premises, the safe koala movement measures necessary to
    maximise the safe movement of koalas—
         (i)    within a koala habitat area on the premises; and
         (ii)   between a koala habitat area on the premises (the first area) and a koala habitat area or
                ecological corridor within 200m of the first area;
         Examples of an ecological corridor—an ecological, linkage or stepping-stone habitat corridor
         shown on a map in a local planning instrument
    (b) either—
         (i)    each building, structure or works associated with the development is at least 50m from
                a koala habitat area; or
         (ii)   the development complies with each of the criteria stated in subsection (2).
    Response
    The proposed dwelling is approximately 125m from the mapped KHA along the eastern boundary
    of the property. As this exceeds the 50m minimum separation distance required under (1)(b)(i) the
    development satisfies the applicable assessment benchmark. A response to the criteria stated in
    subsection (2) is not required.

Accordingly, NO referral to the SARA for this matter will be required.
Native Vegetation Clearing
The proposed development will not impact the mapped Category B regulated vegetation.
Accordingly, NO referral to the SARA for this matter will be required.
6.2.3 Environmental Protection Act 1994
A narrow extent along the northern and eastern boundaries is mapped as a Wetland of high ecological
significance under the Environmental Protection Regulation 2019 (Qld). The mapping is associated with
Lake Cootharaba situated approx. 200m to the east of the property. The Environmental Protection (Water
and Wetlands) Policy 2019 identifies the lake as part of the Noosa River basin. With respect to vegetation
clearing, the Noosa River Basin Environmental Values and Water Quality Objectives (published in 2022)
(section 3.4) references the State Development Assessment Provisions (SDAP) State Code 16: Native
vegetation clearing for the buffer areas where clearing cannot occur. PO5 of the State Code (version 3.0)
specifies a distance of 100m from the definition bank of a natural wetland. The area cleared of vegetation
for the proposed development is situated more than 200m from the bank of the lake and therefore
complies with the State Code.


20261016 PPL25_Ecological Assessment Letter Report_v1.0 – page 12