RFI - Ecological Assessment Report

Ecological Assessment Report
3 - 7 Serenity Close, Noosa Heads


6.4 LANDSCAPING


Landscaping incorporating retention of native vegetation, revegetation of cleared areas,
pest management and habitat augmentation are management measures which could be
implemented to reduce and counteract the impacts of the proposed change. Having
regard to any bushfire management requirements, best-practice measures involving the
use of native species in landscaping can be used to:

   ● Minimise the risk of introduction of environmental weeds,
   ● Reduce the impact of habitat loss on native species, and,
   ● Improve connectivity / permeability within the landscape.

Landscaping requirements can be conditioned as part of any development permit and
should address inter alia, the following elements of best practice:

   ● Use of locally indigenous plant species (i.e., avoid exotic species),
   ● Use of native species known to provide habitat to native fauna,
   ● Matching plant species to observed landform / land zones / regional ecosystems,
   ● Establishment of structural layers within landscaped vegetation (understorey +
       shrub + tree),
   ● Promote fine-scale ‘patchiness’ of vegetation, and,
   ● Weed management measures’.

Any Landscape Plan should include planting of Koala and Glossy Black Cockatoo habitat
trees to replace any dead or dying trees approved for retention shown on plan L-SD-1.01
(Rev. A) dated August 2009 by DBI Design Pty Ltd. Fallen trees and hollow logs should be
retained where possible for the purpose of providing habitat for ground-dwelling fauna.



6.5 REHABILITATION


In addition to landscaping of areas within and adjacent to the building, the area of land
zoned Environmental Management and Conservation should be rehabilitated in
accordance with the outcomes sought by the Noosa Plan 2020 Biodiversity, Waterways
and Wetlands Overlay Code (PO 5 and PO 10).

Rehabilitation of the subject area will result in:

   ● a net improvement in the ecological condition of the land – improving habitat
       quality;
   ● reduced weed content and cover;
   ● enhanced functional connectivity within the site and the wider landscape; and,
   ● to the maximum extent practicable, incorporate the proposed translocation of
       trees/trunks of trees containing Cymbidium suave and any replacement planting
       (described in section 6.2, above)




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