RFI - Attachment 9 - Response to info request Gondwana Ecology Group.pdf

NJKHT will be potentially impacted by the proposed development. The submitted material does not promote measures to
improve connectivity to allow usage for koala habitat of the remaining NJKHT on site or the impact to Matters of State
Environmental Significance (MSES) by the removal of the 19 NJKHT.

Further information is required to demonstrate that all reasonable avoidance, minimisation and mitigation measures of
development have been undertaken in order to ensure that the proposed development will not impact koala habitat or MSES.

Action
It is requested that applicant provide further information on PO1 and PO5 of State code 25: Development in South East
Queensland koala habitat areas (State code 25) of the SDAP.

Provide a report prepared by an appropriately qualified ecologist that:

    •    identifies the number of NJKHTs on site that are proposed to be impacted including those that could be impacted from
         the future use of the site (e.g. infrastructure, excavation or fill) and as exempted development (as defined in Schedule
         24 of the Planning Regulation 2017) which would apply as a natural and ordinary consequence of the development.

3.0 Response – Offsets (Council)
In accordance with the State Offset legislation, the offsets are proposed to be delivered by way of financial payment.
Section 5.4 of the Gondwana Ecology Report (dated February 2020) states the following:

        The impact area (koala habitat in SEQ3) for the subject land in hectares is 19 X 0.004ha = 0.076ha. This
        equates, based on the financial calculator, to $8,702.76.

It is anticipated that the offset requirement would be a condition of approval.

4.0 Response – Koala Habitat (SARA)
As requested by the State, I can confirm that am an appropriately qualified ecologist 4. I (Justin Watson) have more
than 30 years research, academic, conservation and consulting experience.

Gondwana Ecology Group provided a report (2020) on the site’s ecological values, including koala habitat,
connections and site context for this species.

The author of that report (and this correspondence) has a PhD in ecology, is an Associate Professor and Certified
Environmental Practitioner. The author has also worked with koalas since 2000 across south-east Queensland and
northern New South Wales and is familiar with the area surrounding the locality, both through historical work and
ongoing research for local projects, conservation organisations and for Council (including an ongoing rehabilitation
project for that will remove weeds and plant koala habitat trees to the east – refer marked up area on ATTACHMENT
A). The author regularly provides expert witness and peer review services to the State and Council. The author has
also undertaken koala research activities with the Koala Research Group at UQ and has provided peer review for
Strategic Koala Management Plans.

The 2020 koala report confirms 19 koala habitat trees will be removed. It is my understanding that no other koala
habitat trees need to be removed for the project. This includes for infrastructure, earthworks or bushfire purposes 5.
The new tennis courts are proposed at the location where the current tennis courts are with an additional small
area further north and serve as a separation between the retained bushland and the buildings.

It is important to understand the site context and vegetation on the subject land. This has been described in the
ecology report of 2020. For completeness, in summary, the majority of the subject land is improved by car parking,

3 https://apps.des.qld.gov.au/offsets-calculator/ - The Financial Settlement Offset Calculator was designed to calculate the financial
settlement offset using hectares. Therefore in SEQ the number of non-juvenile koala habitat trees being impacted must be converted into an
area in hectares. Using an average tree density of 250 tress per hectare for koala habitat in SEQ, the total area of impact for a single non-
juvenile koala habitat tree in SEQ is taken to be 40m2 (0.004ha).
4 A curriculum vitae can be provided if requested.
5 Bushfire specific matters are addressed separately by a bushfire consultant.

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NJKHT will be potentially impacted by the proposed development. The submitted material does not promote measures to
improve connectivity to allow usage for koala habitat of the remaining NJKHT on site or the impact to Matters of State
Environmental Significance (MSES) by the removal of the 19 NJKHT.

Further information is required to demonstrate that all reasonable avoidance, minimisation and mitigation measures of
development have been undertaken in order to ensure that the proposed development will not impact koala habitat or MSES.

Action
It is requested that applicant provide further information on PO1 and POS of State code 25: Development in South East
Queensland koala habitat areas (State code 25) of the SDAP.

Provide a report prepared by an appropriately qualified ecologist that:

e identifies the number of NJKHTs on site that are proposed to be impacted including those that could be impacted from
the future use of the site (e.g. infrastructure, excavation or fill) and as exempted development (as defined in Schedule
24 of the Planning Regulation 2017) which would apply as a natural and ordinary consequence of the development.

3.0 Response — Offsets (Council)
In accordance with the State Offset legislation, the offsets are proposed to be delivered by way of financial payment.

Section 5.4 of the Gondwana Ecology Report (dated February 2020) states the following:

The impact area (koala habitat in SEQ?) for the subject land in hectares is 19 X 0.004ha = 0.076ha. This
equates, based on the financial calculator, to $8,702.76.

It is anticipated that the offset requirement would be a condition of approval.

4.0 Response — Koala Habitat (SARA)
As requested by the State, | can confirm that am an appropriately qualified ecologist*. | (Justin Watson) have more
than 30 years research, academic, conservation and consulting experience.

Gondwana Ecology Group provided a report (2020) on the site’s ecological values, including koala habitat,
connections and site context for this species.

The author of that report (and this correspondence) has a PhD in ecology, is an Associate Professor and Certified
Environmental Practitioner. The author has also worked with koalas since 2000 across south-east Queensland and
northern New South Wales and is familiar with the area surrounding the locality, both through historical work and
ongoing research for local projects, conservation organisations and for Council (including an ongoing rehabilitation
project for that will remove weeds and plant koala habitat trees to the east — refer marked up area on ATTACHMENT
A). The author regularly provides expert witness and peer review services to the State and Council. The author has
also undertaken koala research activities with the Koala Research Group at UQ and has provided peer review for
Strategic Koala Management Plans.

The 2020 koala report confirms 19 koala habitat trees will be removed. It is my understanding that no other koala
habitat trees need to be removed for the project. This includes for infrastructure, earthworks or bushfire purposes>.
The new tennis courts are proposed at the location where the current tennis courts are with an additional small
area further north and serve as a separation between the retained bushland and the buildings.

It is important to understand the site context and vegetation on the subject land. This has been described in the
ecology report of 2020. For completeness, in summary, the majority of the subject land is improved by car parking,

3 https://apps.des.qld.gov.au/offsets-calculator/ - The Financial Settlement Offset Calculator was designed to calculate the financial
settlement offset using hectares. Therefore in SEQ the number of non-juvenile koala habitat trees being impacted must be converted into an
area in hectares. Using an average tree density of 250 tress per hectare for koala habitat in SEQ, the total area of impact for a single non-
juvenile koala habitat tree in SEQ is taken to be 40m? (0.004ha).

4 A curriculum vitae can be provided if requested.
5 Bushfire specific matters are addressed separately by a bushfire consultant.