Attachment 4 - Officer Report Dated 12 September 2023

               Figure 13 – Vegetation Communities – Source: Ecological Assessment Report

The observed habitat within the site includes open Eucalypt forest, rainforest, large dams and open
grassy areas, all of which exhibit potential to provide suitable habitat for numerous fauna species.
The Ecological Assessment Report lodged with the application noted the following:
•     Adelotus brevis (tusked frog) listed as ‘vulnerable’ under the NC Act, was heard calling from
      the onsite waterway and dam in the north-eastern site extent. The large dam in the northeast
      of site extent and surrounding low-lying swampy areas also represent low potential to host
      both Crinia tinnula (wallum froglet) and Litoria freycineti (wallum rocketfrog), which are listed
      as ‘vulnerable’ under the NC Act.
•     No other conservation significant fauna species were incidentally observed.
•     Xanthostemon oppositifolius (southern penda) which is listed as ‘vulnerable’ under the NC
      and EPBC Act, was identified Unit VC1a in the centre of the site. No clearing is proposed
      within its vicinity.
•     Minor vegetation removal of a small number of semi-mature native trees is required within
      VC1b that maybe impacted by Village 1. No further direct clearing impacts are expected.
•     The mapped watercourse in the central site extent was observed to exhibit a highly modified
      waterway used for golf course drainage. It features numerous modifications such as golf
      buggy crossings and rock falls. The waterway exhibits no riparian vegetation or no woody
      vegetation. The watercourse is currently vegetated with long grass and herbaceous weeds.
      Nonetheless mapped watercourses are considered representative of an Ecologically
      Important Area under the Noosa Plan 2020.
•     The design of the waterway widening / canoe run is to maintain inflows into the VC1a
      rainforest unit in order to sustain the current assemblage of flora species and habitat
      conditions that have evolved under the current waterway conditions.

The original approval for the golf course provided for some works in this waterway including
extensions to the existing ponds and the construction of a nutrient stripping pond. This old approval