RFI - Ecological Assessment Report

SETTLERS COVE NOOSA
Landscape Master Plan

 

1. BACKGROUND

The Settiers Cove site forms part of an ancient Pleistocene Dunal Community that
extents North West from the now Sunshine Beach locality to join the Noosa River.

The subject site includes a range of ecotypes arising from the landform interface
between the river and the dune and the associated topography and drainage patterns of
the area.

The deep sands of the site are structurally unsuitable for binding nutrients unless
supported by well integrated organic matter. In combination with a high rainfall and
heavy leaching, site soils are characteristically of low fertility and as such support a
range of vegetation adapted to the !ow nutrient status. Proximity to sensitive wetlands
highlights the significance of this prevailing nutrient status.

Previous clearing and more recent management practices along with the circumscription
of urbanisation and associated edge effects have placed pressure on the structure of the
vegetation system, and on its capacity to succeed towards its natural climax state. The
successional processes are arrested by inappropriate regimes of fire or mechanical
clearing and such communities persist for some time in a condition of stalled succession.
Parts of the Settlers Cove site clearly demonstrate these effects as evidenced by the
prevalence of Casuarina and other species at dominant densities, and the generally low
ranking of other parameters of ecological valuation. (Species richness, Biomass,
Projected Foliage Cover).

By contrast, the vegetation of the climax communities of the site would be characterised
by associations of a large number of species with well developed interdependence as
demonstrated in processes of organic matter recycling, nutrient capture through
mycorrhiza association, and efficient water harvesting. The climax community would
exhibit floristic diversity within a well developed and stabilized structural profile.
Biomass in the community would approach an optimum level along with the productivity
of the system, as reflected in the projected foliage cover of the vegetation.

Seasonal variations, including the effects of drought, would continue to influence the ©
system and would continue to be refected in the parameters described. The climax
system would however have the inherent resilience of evolutionary conditioning and
would rapidly recover following climatic transgression.

In identifying appropriate landscape treatments within the Settlers Cove Building
Envelopes and Road Reserves it has been important to focus on the ecological
processes that determine the success of a vegetation system. With those areas suitable
for retention the aim is to improve areas remaining and to promote the re-establishment
of viable samples of the indigenous communities. These samples of native plantings will
pervade through all aspects of the retained vegetation and will be re-introduced as
amenity plantings within selected areas of the constructed landscape.

 

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LandGraphics Maroochydore 04.05.2005
Landscape Architects and Environmental Planners PAGE 3