IMG-9181.jpg

Koala habitat

The site is currently mapped as being located within a Koala Assessable Development Area
(KADA) under the superseded State Planning Regulations Provisions mapping. It is also mapped
as “generally not suitable” habitat for koalas. Due to the site’s location in a KADA the application
requires assessment under the assessment benchmarks listed in Schedule 11 of the Planning
Regulation 2017. These include that the site is designed to provide safe koala movement
opportunities and consider habitat connectivity values of the site. Native vegetation clearing is
also required to be undertaken in a sequential manner and under the guidance of a koala spotter
where the native vegetation is a non-juvenile koala habitat tree and landscaping activities provide
food, shelter and movement opportunities for koalas consistent with the site design.

The Noosa Plan requires that development avoid impacts on koala habitat areas and provide
ecological linkages for safe and appropriate koala movement.

Council’s consulting ecologist advises that the re-planting of koala habitat trees on site to provide
‘no net loss' would produce an adequate outcome for koalas at this particular site in terms of
habitat. However, the proposed measures to achieve no net loss of koala habitat are not practical
due to bushfire requirements as the vast majority of the identified re-planting zones, aside from
the UMZ, are incapable of being re-planted due to their proximity to structures. A 126m? area
within the north-eastern corner of the site already contains significant canopy coverage these
areas however are within proximity of power-lines and are likely required to remain cleared to
provide clearance to the power lines and to allow for satisfactory sightlines for vehicles exiting the
site. The area proposed for replanting within the UMZ is also already vegetated and the density
of vegetation in this area will mean replanted vegetation will compete with existing vegetation and
hinder their development into adequate koala food trees.

Furthermore, a number of existing trees proposed to be retained are located within close
proximity of the proposed buildings and internal access driveway. Retention of large Koala food
trees amongst buildings and within vehicle and pedestrian frequented areas, is likely to be
compromised by construction activities and future demands for risk mitigation, and inevitably
result in the trees being lost from the landscape. The applicant has proposed the use of pervious
paving to maintain surface water penetration for the koala food trees, however this measure is
redundant considering the high water table. The koala food trees are largely reliant on ground
water and the provision of permeable paving to allow surface water to penetrate to the ground is
of inconsequential value. In addition the construction of the permeable paving will have a similar
impact on root zones of koala food trees compared with the construction of a standard
impermeable paving.

An acoustic report was provided in the original application and included a recommendation that a
2 metre high acoustic fence be constructed and in part setback 2.0 metres from the property
boundary. This recommendation was included as a condition of the approval. The acoustic fence
has not been adequately considered in the applicant's determination of koala habitat loss. The

Page 34 of 53

PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA 10 MARCH 2020

 

construction of an acoustic fence to the Noosa Drive boundary is likely to result in further tree
clearing and further compromises the ability to retain suitable koala habitat in-situ.

The loss of koala food trees from the site has the real potential to be deleterious to Noosa’s
koalas. The trees proposed to be removed also currently provide a linkage for koala movement
and consequently the proposal fails to maintain linkages for koala movement through the site. As
such, the proposal does not satisfy the requirements of the Planning Regulation or the Noosa
Plan as it does not sufficiently retain vegetation and provide for safe koala movement
opportunities.