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Fauna Management Plan Aug 2021 21040 Rpt01a
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Log in to see the plans as drawn FAUNA MANAGEMENT PLAN
2 PEARSONS ROAD, COOROY
Bax Engineering
PO Box 5385 August 2021
Brendale Q 4500
P 0448 899 649
E [email protected]
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Disclaimer The preparation of this report has been in accordance with the brief provided by the Client and relies upon data collected under limitations, as specified within the report. All findings, conclusions or recommendations contained within the report are based on the aforementioned circumstances and represent the professional opinions of Ecological Survey & Management. The report has been prepared for use by the Client and no responsibility for its use by other parties is accepted by Ecological Survey & Management. If a third party relies upon the facts, content, opinions or subject matter contained in this report without the prior consent of Ecological Survey & Management, the third party assumes all risk and releases and indemnifies Ecological Survey & Management from any loss, damage, claim or liability arising directly or indirectly from the use of or reliance upon this report. Apart from fair dealing for the purpose of private study, research, criticism or review as permitted under the Copyright Act, no part of this report, its attachments or appendices may be reproduced by any process without the prior written consent of Ecological Survey & Management. Ecological Survey & Management 21040 Rpt01a
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2 Pearsons Road, Cooroy
Fauna Management Plan
CONTENTS
1. Introduction ............................................................................... 1
1.1. Site description and approved plan of development .................. 1
2. Fauna Management .................................................................... 3
2.1. Pre-clearing protocols ........................................................... 3
2.2. Vegetation clearing protocols ................................................. 3
2.2.1. General fauna management protocols ............................... 4
2.2.2. Koala protocols .............................................................. 4
2.2.3. Hollow-bearing tree protocols .......................................... 5
2.2.4. Salvage and reuse of timber ............................................ 6
3. Roles and responsibilities............................................................. 7
3.1. Performance Indicators ......................................................... 7
3.2. Responsibility....................................................................... 7
3.3. Corrective Action .................................................................. 7
3.4. Reporting ............................................................................ 7
LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 1: Fauna Management Plan ...................................................... 2
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2 Pearsons Road, Cooroy
Fauna Management Plan
1. Introduction
Noosa Council has granted a development approval (ref No. RAL20/0021)
for the establishment of a residential development at 2 Pearsons Road,
Cooroy (the site). This Fauna Management Plan (FMP) has been prepared to
satisfy the requirements of Condition 34 of the development approval and
provides the following.
Protocols for dealing with fauna observed immediately prior to
clearing.
Protocols for dealing with fauna found while clearing or site works are
occurring.
Protocols for the removal of fauna from the site.
Protocols for the treatment/removal of injured fauna from the site.
This FMP has been developed to reduce the potential for adverse impacts
on fauna to occur during the vegetation removal operations on the site and
to put in place procedures to deal with adverse events should they occur.
1.1. Site description and approved plan of development
The site is located on the eastern side of Pearsons Road and encompasses
approximately 1.7 ha. The site is generally flat to gently undulating with a
drainage line that extends through the centre of the site towards the north-
eastern corner. The site has primarily been cleared of vegetation in the past
to facilitate rural residential activities. There is an existing dwelling and
associated outbuildings in the south-western corner of the site that fronts
Pearsons Road.
The eastern portion of the property supports regrowth vegetation. The
approved plan of development provides for the retention of approximately
0.4 ha of this vegetation as a park. This retained park area connects with
similar regrowth and landscaped vegetation in the adjoining drainage
reserve to the east and Caruthers Park to the north. The balance of the site
will be cleared to facilitate the establishment of 15 new residential
allotments and associated roads, an access pathway and essential services
(Figure 1).
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491,000 491,100 491,200 491,300
CARRU
THERS
COURT
7,079,300
7,079,300
AD
RO
LOT 11 LOT 12
NS
LOT 13
ELM S
SO
LOT 14
AR
LOT 15
PE
TREE
DETENTION
LOT 10
BASIN
BIOTENTION
T
RL 100.55
RL
101.88 LOT 100
LOT 9
LOT 16
LOT 8
LOT
7 LOT 6
LOT 5
7,079,200
7,079,200
LOT 4
LOT 3
LOT 2
LOT 1
491,000 491,100 491,200 491,300
Legend
Study Area Fauna release site
Figure 1 : Fauna Management Plan
Layout
Property boundaries
Vegetation to be removed 2 Persons Road Cooroy
Vegetation to be retained Map Number: 21040_FMP_01_B
Date: 27 August 2021
Direction of clearing Map Projection: GDA 1994 MGA Zone 56
Imagery: (c) Nearmap 30/05/2021
±
Data: Road, DCDB - (c) DNRM 2021
0 10 20 40
Metres
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2 Pearsons Road, Cooroy
Fauna Management Plan
2. Fauna Management
The following protocols have been developed to avoid and reduce the risk
of impacts to fauna and animal breeding places during vegetation clearing
activities.
2.1. Pre-clearing protocols
Pre-clearing surveys shall be undertaken by a suitably licensed and
experienced fauna spotter-catcher. As part of the pre-clearing surveys the
fauna spotter-catcher shall at a minimum:
identify and mark potential habitat trees and animal breeding places
requiring careful removal or further attention (i.e. inspection with an
elevated work platform) in the field and on construction
environmental management plans
binocular search of the vegetation present to locate active bird nests,
possum drays, previously accessed termite mounds and other habitat
features such as log piles
active searching of logs, leaf litter, termite nests and debris for fauna
species
inspection of trees to locate and identify hollows or potential features
for hidden hollows
inspection of bird nests to determine presence/absence of eggs or
chicks, this can be achieved via direct observation with binoculars
recording the location of all hollow-bearing trees, log piles, nests and
other breeding sites using a GPS, features of tree hollows (diameter,
number and whether active/inactive) shall be recorded
relocation of confirmed breeding places where possible, as well as
salvage and relocation of potential breeding micro-habitat.
The fauna spotter-catcher is to brief the Clearing Contractor and Project
Manager on the results of the pre-clearing survey prior to any clearing
activities being undertaken.
2.2. Vegetation clearing protocols
To minimise the risk of harm to native fauna the following protocols shall
be implemented during clearing activities.
Vegetation clearing shall be undertaken in a staged manner, with
understorey vegetation cleared in the first instance. This may
encourage arboreal fauna to move from the area under their own
volition and will also allow access for other machinery and equipment
to manage identified habitat trees.
Vegetation clearing shall progress from the western boundary of the
site and move in an easterly direction (Figure 1). This will allow any
fauna not captured during pre-clearing surveys to move into retained
habitat to the east.
Vegetation shall be felled in a manner that avoids damage to the park
area and adjoining reserve (i.e. by felling vegetation adjacent to the
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Fauna Management Plan
park and eastern boundary of the site towards existing cleared
areas).
All machinery used must be able to fell or remove vegetation in a
controlled manner (e.g. large excavator with vertical tree grab)
Machinery that simply fells trees without any ability to control the
velocity that the trees impact the ground should not be used.
As far as practical, construction shall be staged in order to minimise
the area of bare ground exposed at any given time.
2.2.1. General fauna management protocols
In identified potential habitat, the fauna spotter-catcher is to walk
ahead of clearing (at a safe distance) in order to search micro-habitat
such as logs, loose bark, etc.
The fauna spotter-catcher will then check cleared areas to recover
injured animals for transport to a wildlife carer or veterinarian.
Fauna identified during vegetation clearing activities are to be
relocated to retained habitat within the park area on site and/or
adjoining reserve (Figure 1) or taken to the closest wildlife
carer/facility if necessary.
Terrestrial fauna habitat such as ground logs, dense grass or shrubs
and rock piles are commonly overlooked as having an ecological
value during vegetation clearing. Prior to any clearing commencing
the fauna spotter-catcher will also inspect these features and identify
them in the same way as for habitat trees. Features such as ground
logs can be gently picked up or rolled using as excavator to allow
inspection by the fauna spotter-catcher. In some limited situations,
a bulldozer may also be able to fulfil this function but due to a limited
lifting and holding ability, an excavator would be a more suitable
machine.
If any fauna are injured during clearing operations, they should be
taken to a suitable veterinary facility that can assess and treat injured
wildlife.
2.2.2. Koala protocols
The site is located in Koala District A under the Nature Conservation (Koala)
Conservation Plan 2017 (Koala Plan 2017). The Koala Plan 2017, specifies
the following measures for clearing native vegetation in Koala District A.
Clearing of Koala habitat trees is carried out in a way that ensures,
while the clearing is carried out, habitat linkages are maintained
within the site and between the site and the adjoining reserve, to
allow any Koalas that are present to move out of the site.
If a Koala is located in the clearing zone, clearing activities will be
halted immediately. A buffer will be established that includes the
Koala tree and all neighbouring trees with overlapping canopies.
Clearing may recommence outside of the buffer zone once the zone
has been established and clearly identified on the ground. The Koala
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Fauna Management Plan
shall be given the opportunity to leave the area of its own volition
(generally overnight). Clearing will not recommence within the buffer
zone until the Koala has moved out of the area.
2.2.3. Hollow-bearing tree protocols
Large, mature eucalypts and allied species are generally absent from
vegetation within and adjacent to the site. Nonetheless, should hollow-
bearing trees be identified during the pre-clearing inspection the following
protocols shall be implemented.
Where removal of hollow-bearing trees or log piles is required, the
use of hard felling processes using chain saws, mega mulchers and
bulldozers should be avoided where possible to minimise the
destruction of hollows and potential injury to wildlife. Instead these
trees can be felled using a vertical tree grab that can remove the tree
in a controlled fashion, particularly dead trees or trees with large
trunk hollows.
Hollow bearing trees and other habitat features will be identified and
marked as part of the pre-clearing survey. Surrounding vegetation
will then be cleared and hollow bearing trees left in place for at least
one night to encourage any resident fauna to relocate of their own
volition.
Hollows should then be inspected with an elevated work platform
(EWP) to check for any resident fauna. If fauna are found to be within
the hollow, the entrance to the hollow should be blocked and if
possible, the hollow should be cut from the tree and relocated to a
suitable nearby location and installed in a tree at as similar height
and orientation as possible. The hollow should be unblocked at dusk.
Prior to felling, where possible, hollow entrances are to be blocked
using buffer rags and the hollow removed from the tree prior to
felling, and relocated, preferably into retained vegetation within the
project site.
Where hollow salvage and relocation is not possible prior to felling,
the tree should be knocked at the base to encourage fauna to relocate
of their own accord. Once the tree is felled, injured fauna can be
rescued and taken to a wildlife carer or veterinarian. Otherwise,
hollow entrances should be blocked on the felled tree, the hollows
removed from the tree and relocated. Where extensive damage has
occurred to the felled hollow, the fauna should be relocated into an
artificial nest box.
If possible and safe to do so, hollow trees should be felled at dusk to
allow fauna present, particularly bats, the opportunity to disperse
without the presence of diurnal predators such as butcherbirds, kites
and currawongs. These trees should be felled away from hollow
openings.
The fauna spotter-catcher is to inspect all hollows, nests and habitat
post felling, using a borescope where necessary and any injured
fauna is to be taken to a wildlife carer/facility or veterinarian.
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Fauna Management Plan
Where occupied breeding places are identified, the relocation of the
breeding structure is required where feasible.
Relocated breeding places are to be retained intact to the extent
possible. The site of relocation is to replicate the height and
orientation of the original breeding or nesting structure as far as is
practical. Sections of hollow branch or log should be secured in the
new location by mechanical means deemed appropriate by the fauna
spotter-catcher, e.g. bolts, metal bands. Relocation is to be
undertaken under the supervision of an approved fauna spotter-
catcher and as close as possible to dusk.
Controls are to be installed to prevent unauthorised access into
relocation areas.
2.2.4. Salvage and reuse of timber
Options for reuse of native trees to be cleared include:
placement of logs into the park area on site as supplementary habitat
(particularly hollow logs and limbs, but only where the logs can be
placed without significantly disturbing retained vegetation in the
park)
chipped for use as site mulch1
chipped and removed from the site for resale or disposal
milled and used as landscape timber (i.e. bollards).
Non-native species shall not be salvaged for re-use on site.
1
Mulch proposed for use in landscaping shall be allowed to decompose for at least four weeks (being
turned and aerated weekly) prior to being used. Mulch stockpiles on the site has not been determined,
although they will shall not be located within the VPZ.
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Fauna Management Plan
3. Roles and responsibilities
3.1. Performance Indicators
The key performance indicator for this FMP is for the outcomes for resident
fauna on clearing to be completed without any adverse impacts to the park
area and/or fauna species residing within the site.
3.2. Responsibility
It is the responsibility of the Project Manager or Site Supervisor to ensure
that the fauna spotter-catcher is available each day of clearing operations.
It is also the responsibility of the Project Manager/Principal Engineer or
equivalent to ensure the requirements of this FMP are provided to the
clearing contractor to enable the contractor to factor the fauna management
requirements into the quote for vegetation clearing works.
The Clearing Contractor is responsible for ensuring:
clearing does not occur without the presence of the fauna spotter-
catcher
clearing is undertaken in accordance with this FMP under the
directives of the on-site fauna spotter-catcher.
3.3. Corrective Action
The FMP is to be reviewed if an adverse outcome to the park area on site
and/or native fauna results from clearing activities to identify any means
that procedures can be altered to further minimise the potential for retained
vegetation and/or fauna to be impacted.
3.4. Reporting
The fauna spotter-catcher to provide a daily report to the Project Manager
or Site Supervisor on the days clearing activities. A final report to the Project
Manager on the clearing activities undertaken, the findings of all pre-
clearing surveys and the management actions implemented during clearing
activities.
Following completion of vegetation clearing, the fauna spotter-catcher will
submit a report to the Project Manager no more than two weeks after
clearing has finished. This report must contain the following:
the duration of the clearing period
the details of the all fauna captures, observations and releases
details of any injuries and deaths (including euthanasia) of fauna
during the clearing period
the monitoring of relocated hollows and/or logs if applicable.
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