2022-04-21 Ordinary Meeting Agenda

ORDINARY MEETING AGENDA                                                                21 APRIL 2022


The following background and justification for the proposal outlines the basis of the proposed
approach.

INTRODUCTION
Community Interest
There is a large degree of community interest in the future of the habitat surrounding Grasstree
Court. There has been a large turnover of the community since the initial development application
was approved. There has been with no formal opportunity for public comment for well over a
decade. There is growing concern in regard to the threats to the Glossy Black Cockatoo which is
listed as ‘Vulnerable’ under the Nature Conservation Act, and that is currently subject to active
consideration to be listed under the Australian Government Environmental Protection and
Biodiversity Conservation Act. The decision will be finalised in April 2022. The species was put up
for listing because the threatening processes (fire, climate change and habitat loss) have resulted
in alarming species decline nationally.
Since the 2019-2020 Bushfire season there is also heightened community concerns about the
bushfire hazards to communities adjoining the Noosa National Park as a result of our changing
climate creating conditions that are forecast to lead to more frequent extreme hazards.

Conservation and Biodiversity Values
In 2007-2011 when the ecological assessments and approval for the aged care and retirement
village was given, the site was not mapped by the state as Essential Habitat for species of
conservation significance. Essential Habitat is vegetation in which a species that is Endangered or
Vulnerable under the Nature Conservation Act (1992) has been known to occur.

The site is now mapped as ‘Essential Habitat’ by the State and has a mix of remnant vegetation
including ‘Banksia aemula low open woodland on dunes and sand plains’ (RE12.2.9) and ‘Open or
dry heath on dunes and beaches’ (RE12.2.13) (Map1). The latter ecosystem is currently mapped
as endangered from a biodiversity perspective (Map 2) and whose extent is ‘of concern’ under the
Vegetation Management Act (Map 1).
While the Noosa Plan 2020 largely reflects the zoning and overlay constraints in the Superseded
Planning Scheme the Biodiversity Overlay now identifies areas to the south of Grasstree Court as
containing environmental values of state significance (Maps 3 & 4). Previous ecological
assessment of this lot has identified 71 feed trees of the Glossy Black Cockatoo (Allocasuarina
littoralis) on Lot 9.
There are records of up to 40 birds coming to feed, drink and rear their young in the locality. Glossy
fledglings are dependent on their parents for feeding for up to 18 months and are regularly seen
with their parents around Grass Tree Court. Glossies have been recorded using Lot 6 and Lot 9
for over 20 years but the significance of these areas and the network of very small remaining
patches of Allocasuarina littoralis around Sunrise Beach, has increased in the last 20 years, as
other suitable patches of habitat have been cleared for urban development.
Noosa Council’s Environment Strategy has a clear target that “By 2030, populations of key
threatened indicator species remain viable.” And specifically commits us to act through the planning
scheme to achieve this aim in Action 1.3 that states: “Mapped remnant vegetation and important
regrowth vegetation is protected through the planning scheme and also through state and
commonwealth legislation.”




                                                                                         Page 5 of 33