IC0312NAM0023_SC14262_120405_Signed RAR_GMc · MCU12/0023

                                                          DERM Permit number: IA0212NAM0003



Wetland:
The Assessment Manager should consider the potential impacts of the proposed development on wetland
values, including the water quality, natural hydrological flows and ecological functioning of the wetland.
Development should meet the following outcomes:
    Maintain ecological values of the wetland. There is no loss of wetland habitat and adverse impacts on
     the functioning and integrity of a wetland from development are avoided. A report prepared and certified by
     an appropriately qualified professional may assist the Assessment Manager to consider the impacts of the
     development on the ecological values and functioning of the wetland. If adverse impacts are unavoidable,
     the Assessment Manager is encouraged to ensure that the values lost are offset in order to achieve an
     environmental outcome equal or better than the wetland values that are impacted.
     Where a wetland management area is mapped as a ‘significant coastal wetland’ under a Regional Coastal
     Management Plan it should be assessed against the policy for areas of state significance (natural
     resources). An Implementation Guideline should be consulted:
     http://www.derm.qld.gov.au/services_resources/item_details.php?item_id=202304&topic_id=54.
     For areas where a regional coastal management plan does not exist, where the wetland management area
     is also defined as a ‘significant coastal wetland’ under the State Coastal Management Plan – Queensland’s
     Coastal Policy 2001 (SCMP), any approval is consistent with SCMP policy 2.8.1, Areas of state significance
     (natural resources).
    Maintain wetland water quality. The water quality of any waters in and linked to the wetland is maintained
     and managed to protect the environmental values of the wetland, and to ensure that the water quality
     objectives listed under Schedule 1 of the Environmental Protection (Water) Policy 2009 are achieved.
    Maintain wetland water regime. The existing water regime (including surface and groundwater) within and
     linked to the wetland is maintained and managed to protect existing natural hydrological processes within
     the wetland ecosystem. This includes safeguarding natural fluctuations in size and location of the wetland,
     and retaining and allowing for regeneration of native vegetation.
To ensure that the proposed development is able to meet the above outcomes, the Assessment Manager is
encouraged to consider the requirement for a buffer area between any proposed works and the wetland. A
wetland buffer has two components:
        a support area adjacent to the wetland that maintains and supports the environmental values of the
         wetland; and
        a separation area around the support area that protects the wetland from external threats such as
         sediment and nutrient discharge from surrounding landuse.


Buffer distances should be maximised in order to maintain existing biodiversity values, habitat connectivity and
to minimise edge effects. Unless otherwise determined by a suitably qualified professional, the following buffer
widths are accepted by DERM as precautionary buffer widths likley to absorb impacts from external uses.
         within urban areas, a minimum 50m buffer to wetland
         outside of urban areas a minimum 200m buffer to wetland
         for ‘significant coastal wetlands’, a buffer width of 200m to wetland
Where required, revegetation of the buffer is recommended using native species representative of the pre-
clearing regional ecosystem, with preference given to endemic species. Plants should be of local provenance
where possible. A rehabilitation / revegetation management plan including weed management strategies may
assist in determining the rehabilitiation requirements for the development. Conditioning of any approval with
building or development envelope(s) may also be a useful way to give formal effect to any required buffer area.



Page 2 of 4 • 091217                                               Department of Environment and Resource Management