MCU12/0047 DERM Response - Referable Wetland

                                                                                                         Notice
                                                                           Advice Agency Response



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.
    Refer to section 81 A of the Environmental Protection Regulation 2008 for the list of wetland values.

    Where a wetland management area is mapped as being of ’high ecological significance under the

    Queensland Coastal Plan it should be assessed against State Planning Policy 3/11 :Coastal Protection
    (SPP3/11). Refer to policy 3 Nature Conservation in SPP 3/11.

.   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 land use.

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 likeley 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

Note: The Queensland Wetland Buffer Planning Guideline (2011)should be referred to when planning

detailed buffer design to position development, determine any alternative buffer widths and establish

operating measures that avoid adverse impacts on a 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




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