Fauna Management Plan v2 - Essence Peregian Beach

Fauna Management Plan v2                                                                    NCES REF: J000488
215 David Low Way, Peregian Beach



4      FAUNA MANAGEMENT MEASURES – PRE-CLEARING

4.1        Protection of Fauna Habitat
The following list identifies measures to be enacted prior to vegetation clearing to conserve the
vegetation/habitat resources located external of the disturbance footprint.
       •    The boundaries of bulk earthworks which interface off-site vegetation (particularly along the
            western boundary where it transitions into the Council Reserve) to be retained are to be
            clearly defined with temporary fencing prior to the commencement of works and
            maintained/retained until the conclusion of operational works activities.
       •    Clearance of, or impact to, native vegetation located within vegetation to be retained and all
            off-site vegetation is strictly prohibited in the absence of approval by the Project Arborist and
            consent from Council.
       •    Suitable and effective erosion and sediment control measures are to be employed along the
            downslope interface between the site and the Council Reserve / National Park.
4.2        Initial pre-clearing survey
Prior to vegetation clearing, the fauna spotter/catcher is required to carry out an Initial pre-clearing
survey to minimise the risk of fauna injury during clearing. The Initial pre-clearing survey will
predominantly involve:
       •    Identification of any potential arboreal habitat (e.g. nests including wetland bird nests) within
            the works area and the presence or potential presence of arboreal fauna within trees and
            large branches (living or dead), which may include mammals such as possums (including
            possum dreys), microchiropteran bats, birds, reptiles and tree frogs.
       •    Identification of any potential terrestrial habitat within the works area related to leaf litter,
            nests and mounds and the presence of ground dwelling fauna, such as reptiles, amphibians
            and small mammals.
       •    Collection and relocation of any viable native bee hives.
       •    The closure i.e. ‘plugging’ of unoccupied arboreal hollows prior to site clearing to prevent
            native fauna from potentially moving into the hollows during clearing operations
4.3        Daily pre-clearing survey
A daily pre-clearing site survey is to be undertaken by the fauna spotter/catcher prior to the
commencement of each day’s clearing activities. This survey is required to identify the presence of
fauna within or immediately adjacent to the proposed clearing zone via visual inspection of known
and/or potential habitat elements. The daily pre-clearing survey is to include but not be limited to:
       •    Inspection of all arboreal and fallen hollows, that have not been plugged, identified by the
            fauna spotter/catcher during the initial pre-clearing survey;
       •    Removal of as much fauna as practically possible from within the clearing zone prior to
            vegetation clearing occurring including;
       •    Physical removal of fauna may be required where they do not choose to move on of their
            own accord. The spotter catcher is to determine the most sensitive and practical method for
            fauna removal.
A record of all observed fauna, excluding birds that are not nesting within the clearing zone, is to be
recorded for monitoring purposes. Clearing is prohibited from occurring until the daily pre-clearing
fauna and habitat assessment has been completed. Methods to be used for the fauna and habitat
assessment shall be in accordance with the methodology set out in the:
       •    Terrestrial Vertebrate Fauna Survey Guidelines for Queensland (Eyre et al., 2012); and
       •    Threatened species survey and assessment guidelines: field survey methods for fauna –
            Amphibians (NSW Department of Environment & Climate Change, 2009).




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