2016-09-06 P&E Committee - Attachment 1 to Item 6 - Noosa Parklands Park Management Plan

       Noosa Parklands Park Management Plan




     3.2 Waterbodies
     The park is within the lower Noosa River Catchment and the Wooroi Creek sub-catchment
     which is a tributary of the lower Noosa River. The headwaters of Wooroi Creek begin
     approximately 2 km south-west, draining sections of the Tewantin National Park prior to
     entering the park on its southern and western borders. Within the park, the main branch of
     Wooroi Creek runs from west to east, with three minor tributaries adjoining from the south.

     Wooroi Creek and its tributaries only flow and hold water for a limited period following rainfall,
     with some natural ponding of water occurring throughout the year. There are two semi-
     permanent instream water bodies: (i) a small lagoon situated at the southern end of Parkview
     Court, and (ii) a dam situated north of Lomandra Place. Both waterbodies are likely to provide
     habitat for various common native (and exotic) small bodied fish species, and utilised by
     amphibians, small reptiles and avifauna (Section 3.3). The lagoon is known to contain salvinia
     (Salvinia molesta), a declared class two aquatic pest plant (Section 4.1).

     Vegetation along the creek banks and instream is critical to help absorb the force of the
     water and therefore reduce its capacity to erode the banks. This vegetation (especially native
     grasses and other groundcover plants within the instream section) also helps to maintain good
     water quality by filtering sediments, nutrients and pollutants from run-off before it enters the
     park’s waterbodies and flows downstream to Noosa River. Conversely, vegetation also limits
     the amount of debris and sediment which flows into grassed recreational areas during heavy
     rainfall events. Bank vegetation and submerged logs provide food and habitat for fish and other
     aquatic life (Department of Natural Resources and Water [DNRM] 2006; Section 3.3 below).


     3.3 Native plants and animals
     The majority of the park supports remnant vegetation and is dominated by vegetated swamp
     and open forest. Within the park, 301 native plant species and 294 native animal species
     (including nine mammals, 18 reptiles, 13 frogs, 99 birds, 23 spiders, 131 insects, two snails and
     six fish and crustaceans) have been recorded (Appendix 6 and 7). This includes ten threatened
     species of State and/or Commonwealth significance, including migratory species such as the
     rainbow bee-eater (Merops ornatus).

     The park supports essential habitat for a number of legislatively significant fauna including
     koala (Phascolarctos cinereus),
     Richmond birdwing butterfly (Ornithoptera
     richmondia), wallum froglet (Crinia tinnula),
     wallum rocket frog (Litoria freycineti) and
     wallum sedge frog (Litoria olongburensis)
     (DNRM 2015). Over the last two years,
     there have been koala sightings along
     the pathway towards Billabong Way.
     The wallum froglet has been recorded in
     a known frog breeding area, which is a
     low and mostly waterlogged area along
     the walkway from Palmer Crescent.
     Richmond birdwing butterflies have been
     sighted at a number of locations within
     the park, including near Honeywell Court
     entrance, behind Cedarleigh Drive and
     behind Palmer Crescent.

                                                                                  Photograph by Joan Heavey
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