RFI - Ecological Assessment Report

Ecological Assessment Report
3 - 7 Serenity Close, Noosa Heads

Direct and indirect impacts on fauna are avoided or otherwise minimised by the fact that
the proposed change will result in a net positive impact on vegetation (i.e., habitat) on
site. The aforementioned impacts are unlikely to be significant because the proposed
change is designed to avoid ecologically important areas through the retention of
additional habitat. The proposed change is not expected to result in any significant
impacts on the aforementioned species and their habitat, because:

   ● Direct impacts to individual animals are unlikely due to the absence of the species
        currently on site;
   ● The assessable area is likely to only support urban-adapted fauna species, which is
        supported by the outcomes of the incidental and targeted Koala and Glossy Black
        Cockatoo surveys which indicated no evidence of species usage;
   ● The site is already subject to a number of threats including proximity to roads, weed
        invasion and altered fauna community composition due to the presence of
        ubiquitous urban-adapted species, all of which are unlikely to be exacerbated by the
        proposed change;
   ● The proposed change will conserve and enhance a greater area in which ecological
        features and biodiversity values were observed, including potential Koala and Glossy
        Black Cockatoo habitat;
   ● The proposed change has been designed to retain additional potential habitat along
        Serenity Close, Banksia Avenue and the southern boundary of the site which adjoins
        Council’s bushland reserve;
   ● The retention of additional habitat reduces edge effects and maintains ecological
        linkages for safe dispersal of fauna on site and adjoining areas; and,
   ● Any residual impacts, such as noise and light pollution, will be minimised via
        management practices and mitigation strategies identified in Section 6.


5.3.1    THREATENED SPECIES


Desktop assessment identified potential impacts on habitats for at least four (4)
threatened species which were considered likely to occupy or utilise habitats present on
the site. Potential impacts on each of the four species and their respective habitats is
discussed below and supported by the results of the targeted surveys carried out for the
Koala and Glossy Black Cockatoo.

WHITE THROATED NEEDLETAIL

The results of the desktop searches indicated that the site contains potential habitat for
the White Throated Needletail, with records of the species from the surrounding locality;
however, no evidence of the species was recorded on site.

Overall, the proposed change will result in the additional retention of approximately 6150
sqm of observed potential habitat. Furthermore, the proposed change will maintain
physical connectivity to habitat adjacent to the site. Consequently, the proposed change
does not result in any significant habitat loss or loss of foraging habitat and will result in a
net positive impact.




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