RFI - Ecological Assessment Report

Ecological Assessment Report
3 - 7 Serenity Close, Noosa Heads

Overlay Map and additional individual native trees. The extent of additional areas of
Council’s mapped biodiversity overlay is shown in Figure 21 and additional areas based on
observed vegetation is shown in Figure 22.

The proposed change is almost entirely located within the approved development
footprint. Only a small area of external works outside of the approved development
footprint is proposed. Whilst additional impacts may occur as a result of civil works or
landscaping, the overall impacts in the context of approved development footprint are
minor in extent. Spatial analysis of the assessable area indicated:

    ● The areas of potential direct impact are located outside of the site boundary to allow
          for development of driveway access, and are small relative to the total area of
          additional vegetation that will be retained on site (i.e., removal of 58 sqm of Areas of
          Biodiversity Significance on the Biodiversity, Waterways and Wetlands Overlay Map)
    ● The proposed change will result in a reduced development footprint by
          approximately 7970 sqm;
    ● Approximately 6150 sqm of additional native vegetation will be retained (Figure 22);
    ● Approximately 5731 sqm of areas mapped as Areas of Biodiversity Significance on
          the Biodiversity, Waterways and Wetlands Overlay Map will be retained (Figure 21);
          and,
    ● The proposed change provides a buffer to adjacent vegetation located to the south
          of the site.

In accordance with the approved plans (DBI Design Pty Ltd, Drawing No. L-SD-2.02, Rev.
A, August 2009), it is stipulated that only 17 Koala 10 and Glossy Black Cockatoo habitat
trees are required to be retained. The proposed change will result in the retention of the
aforementioned habitat trees (where observed on site) and additional native vegetation
and species that are consistent with the RE, including species such as, Banksia spp. and
Acacia spp. (refer to Appendix 4 for full botanical survey results). In addition, the
proposed change accounts for opportunities to retain Cymbidium suave, a special least
concern species, and any additional trees located within the open areas of the proposed
landscape plan (refer to Section 6). As a result, the proposed change will lead to an
increase in both species richness and abundance, which exceeds the requirements set out
by the approved conditions.

An Arborist Report and VMP has been prepared and assesses the impacts on individual
trees located within the assessable area. The VMP identifies vegetation management
procedures for trees to be retained and removed. Additional tree survey was conducted in
2023 along the six (6) metre setback of the site along Serenity Close. Consequential
changes to the current VMP can be conditioned as part of a development permit and
submitted as part of a subsequent operational works application to Council. Based on the




10 Koala habitat tree is defined under the Noosa Plan 2020 as:

     a)    a food tree of the Corymbia, Melaleuca, Lophostemon or Eucalyptus genera; and
     b)    a preferred shelter species such as Angophora.




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