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

tennis courts, the Noosa Springs golf clubhouse and associated buildings and infrastructure. The land is bordered
to the north, south and east by Resort Drive and by Links Drive and the golf course to the west. The site is enclosed
by way of a fence (see marked up area on ATTACHMENT A). Only a small area of “bushland” occurs adjacent to the
existing tennis courts. There is no access to the surrounding bushland for most larger terrestrial fauna.

The proposed redevelopment intends to retain the balance vegetation and trees, despite the lack of connection to
the surrounding landscape. It is proposed to enhance this area through a weed control and rehabilitation exercise.
The landscaping programme throughout the new development also intends to enhance local resources for native
fauna (i.e. through dense and suitable planting). This will improve the area for local fauna.

SARA have requested consideration of PO1 and PO5 of the State Code 25. PO1 and PO5 are essentially the same
performance outcomes, with neither having any acceptable solution. The Code assumes that an area that has trees
that are “koala habitat trees” means the area is “koala habitat”.

The site context, including size of patch, use by koalas, access for koala and surrounding bushland needs to be
considered. The purpose of the State Code results in:
        1. no net loss of koala habitat area
        2. does not contribute to fragmentation of koala habitat areas
        3. maintains or improves connectivity within and between koala habitat areas to ensure safe koala movement

The redevelopment of the site will result in the loss of 19 trees that are, by definition, species of tree that koalas
use for feed or refuge. The site is not an area where koalas are known to occur. No koalas were recorded on the
site (over several years of survey). The site is fenced from surrounding bushland and is part of the existing golf
course, club house, car parking and tennis courts.

The redevelopment will not fragment koala habitat because it is a minor additional encroachment beyond the
existing tennis courts. The redevelopment will not prevent koalas from moving through the landscape.

Current connectivity is limited because the site is fenced, and the area of vegetation (and trees) is small. The patch
is not part of any koala corridor. No new roads are proposed, and the northern vegetated part of the site will remain
vegetated and enhanced with a weed management exercise and infill planting.
PO1 Development interfering with koala habitat (including interfering with koala habitat as a result of material change of use
and interfering with koala habitat as a result of reconfiguring a lot) does not occur unless the application demonstrates the
interfering with koala habitat has:

        1. been reasonably avoided; or
        2. been reasonably minimised where it cannot be reasonably avoided; and
        3. mitigated the impacts of the interfering with koala habitat values.

PO5 Development:

        1. avoids impacts on matters of state environmental significance; or
        2. minimises and mitigates impacts on matters of state environmental significance after demonstrating
        avoidance is not reasonably possible; and
        3. provides an offset if, after demonstrating all reasonable avoidance, minimisation and mitigation
        measures are undertaken, the development results in an acceptable significant residual impact on a
        matter of state environmental significance that is a prescribed environmental matter.

The proposal is for the redevelopment of the existing developed area. The intact bushland in the surrounding area
and at the northern end of the site is avoided. These are the areas of greater value as they are part of the broader
conservation estate and connected bushland.

The development retains several koala habitat trees and a small patch of bushland. The new tennis courts are
positioned on the existing tennis courts with minor realignment northwards to facilitate a better use of the existing


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tennis courts, the Noosa Springs golf clubhouse and associated buildings and infrastructure. The land is bordered
to the north, south and east by Resort Drive and by Links Drive and the golf course to the west. The site is enclosed
by way of a fence (see marked up area on ATTACHMENT A). Only a small area of “bushland” occurs adjacent to the
existing tennis courts. There is no access to the surrounding bushland for most larger terrestrial fauna.

The proposed redevelopment intends to retain the balance vegetation and trees, despite the lack of connection to
the surrounding landscape. It is proposed to enhance this area through a weed control and rehabilitation exercise.
The landscaping programme throughout the new development also intends to enhance local resources for native
fauna (i.e. through dense and suitable planting). This will improve the area for local fauna.

SARA have requested consideration of PO1 and POS of the State Code 25. PO1 and PO5 are essentially the same
performance outcomes, with neither having any acceptable solution. The Code assumes that an area that has trees
that are “koala habitat trees” means the area is “koala habitat”.

The site context, including size of patch, use by koalas, access for koala and surrounding bushland needs to be
considered. The purpose of the State Code results in:

1. no net loss of koala habitat area
2. does not contribute to fragmentation of koala habitat areas
3. maintains or improves connectivity within and between koala habitat areas to ensure safe koala movement

The redevelopment of the site will result in the loss of 19 trees that are, by definition, species of tree that koalas
use for feed or refuge. The site is not an area where koalas are known to occur. No koalas were recorded on the
site (over several years of survey). The site is fenced from surrounding bushland and is part of the existing golf
course, club house, car parking and tennis courts.

The redevelopment will not fragment koala habitat because it is a minor additional encroachment beyond the
existing tennis courts. The redevelopment will not prevent koalas from moving through the landscape.

Current connectivity is limited because the site is fenced, and the area of vegetation (and trees) is small. The patch
is not part of any koala corridor. No new roads are proposed, and the northern vegetated part of the site will remain
vegetated and enhanced with a weed management exercise and infill planting.

PO1 Development interfering with koala habitat (including interfering with koala habitat as a result of material change of use
and interfering with koala habitat as a result of reconfiguring a lot) does not occur unless the application demonstrates the
interfering with koala habitat has:

1. been reasonably avoided; or
2. been reasonably minimised where it cannot be reasonably avoided; and
3. mitigated the impacts of the interfering with koala habitat values.

PO5 Development:

1. avoids impacts on matters of state environmental significance; or

2. minimises and mitigates impacts on matters of state environmental significance after demonstrating
avoidance is not reasonably possible; and

3. provides an offset if, after demonstrating all reasonable avoidance, minimisation and mitigation
measures are undertaken, the development results in an acceptable significant residual impact on a
matter of state environmental significance that is a prescribed environmental matter.

The proposal is for the redevelopment of the existing developed area. The intact bushland in the surrounding area
and at the northern end of the site is avoided. These are the areas of greater value as they are part of the broader
conservation estate and connected bushland.

The development retains several koala habitat trees and a small patch of bushland. The new tennis courts are
positioned on the existing tennis courts with minor realignment northwards to facilitate a better use of the existing