Council archive · source document
Response to Info Request - Attachment 6b - Ecological Assessment Part 2 MCU18-0015 & RAL18-0001 · MCU18/0015
NETT AVE LEGEND
Proposed impact areas - Development footprint
Proposed impact areas - APZ
Riparian buffer area
Environmental protection
Environmental enhancement
DR Watercourses and drainage lines
Subject Site
A 0 25m
SOURCE: The Noosa Plan (27/11/17) OM6.1;
Tim Ditchfield Architects - Site Plan DD 05-P2;
Bushfire Risk Reducers - Draft BMP 03.05.18
CLIENT
Novato Group
PROJECT
FIGURE 13
TITLE
IMPACT ON
NOOSA HEADS
N
SCALE: 1 : 1000 @ A3 Ecological Assessment
1 : 1 000 PREPARED: BW
JWA PTY LTD
Lot 27 on RP89506
DATE: 31 October 2018 BIODIVERSITY
27 Attunga Heights, Noosa Hill QLD
Ecological Consultants
Noosa Shire Council LGA FILE: Q12038_Impact BioOM.cdr OVERLAY
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Ecological Assessment – Attunga Heights
8 SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS
JWA Pty Ltd have been engaged by Novato Group to complete an ecological assessment of
land proposed for development at Attunga Heights, Noosa Hill.
The assessment has involved the following:
• determining the suite of Commonwealth and State listed threatened and regionally
or locally significant flora and fauna species that occur in the locality from
literature and database records;
• ground truthing vegetation communities and determining their conservation status
in accordance with the Queensland Department of Natural Resources and Mines
(DNRM) Regional Ecosystem Framework (Vegetation Management Act [VMA, 1999]);
• assessing the likelihood of occurrence of threatened flora and fauna species on the
subject site;
• searching for and recording threatened and regionally or locally significant flora
and fauna species;
• assessing habitat provided by the site in the context of the surrounding area;
• assessing the corridor values of the site at a local and regional scale;
• assessing the potential impacts of the proposed development on ecological values
and determining appropriate mitigation measures;
• addressing relevant statutory requirements regarding impacts to flora, fauna and
ecological communities; and
• addressing compliance with relevant development assessment codes and policies.
The current certified Regional Ecosystem mapping of the site shows a combined Of Concern
RE 12.2.1 / 12.2.5 on the subject site. Site surveys revealed the occurrence of two (2)
broad vegetation communities within the subject site, including:
• Community 1: Tall dry open forest (12.2.5); and
• Community 2: Tall wet open forest (12.2.1).
Parts of these communities do not meet remnant criteria in terms of height and canopy
cover and have been categorised as regrowth. The remainder is considered to represent
remnant vegetation.
No significant flora species were recorded on the site. The flora survey failed to not detect
any EVNT plants in the clearing impact area. A clearing permit from DEHP is therefore not
required. However, as the protected plants flora survey trigger mapping shows the site as
mapped as a High-Risk area, an exempt clearing notification must be submitted to DEHP
within one (1) year of the survey being undertaken and at least one (1) week prior to the
clearing commencing.
Job No: Q12038/RW3 JWA Pty Ltd 58
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Ecological Assessment – Attunga Heights One (1) significant fauna species (Grey headed flying fox) was recorded within the site during the surveys. One (1) other significant species (Glossy black cockatoo) and several migratory species were considered possible occurrences based on the presence of suitable habitat. Impacts on these species resulting from the proposed development are expected to be minor. The site is relatively isolated from surrounding areas reducing the site suitability as a movement corridor. Suitable habitat for significant species is to be retained as part of the proposed development. Surveys of the site failed to detect any animal breeding place for protected animals. An SMP is therefore not required. The areas of the subject site proposed for development generally support areas of limited ecological significance. Vegetation communities are highly disturbed, have a high proportion of weeds, are low in diversity, small in size and have low connective values. Local, State and Commonwealth statutory requirements have been considered and it is not expected that the development will adversely impact on the flora and fauna and ecological communities within the site. Conservation, rehabilitation and management of the habitat in which threatened species are known or likely to occur represents an effective mitigation measure. It is recommended that a Property Map of Assessable Vegetation (PMAV) is lodged with DNRME to correct the current RE mapping over the site. A PMAV is a property-scale map that shows the boundaries of vegetation categories on the property. Once a PMAV is certified by DNRME, it replaces the regulated vegetation management map for determining the location and extent of the areas of regulated vegetation. Job No: Q12038/RW3 JWA Pty Ltd 59
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Ecological Assessment – Attunga Heights REFERENCES Andrén, H. (1994) Effects of habitat fragmentation on birds and mammals in landscapes with different proportions of suitable habitat – a review. OIKOS 71:355-366. Beier, P. and R.F. Noss (1998) Do habitat corridors provide connectivity? Conservation Biology 12: 1241-1252. Bélisle, M. (2005) Measuring landscape connectivity: The challenge of behavioral landscape ecology. Ecology 86: 1988-1995. Brooker, M.I.H. and Kleinig, D.A. (1994a) Field Guide to Eucalypts, Volume 1 South-eastern Australia. Bloomings Books, Hawthorn, Victoria. Brooker, M.I.H. and Kleinig, D.A. (1994b) Field Guide to Eucalypts, Volume 3 Northern Australia. Bloomings Books, Hawthorn, Victoria. Cropper, S.C. (1993) Management of Endangered Plants. CSIRO, East Melbourne, Victoria. DAFF (2011) Declared plants of Queensland. Queensland Government: Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. Accessed Online: Debus, S.J.S. (1991) An annotated list of NSW records of the Red Goshawk. Australian Birds 24: 72-89. Debus, S.J.S. (1993) ‘The status of the Red Goshawk (Erythrotriorchis radiatus) in New South Wales’ In: Olsen, P. (ed) Australasian Raptor Studies. ARA-RAOU, Melbourne. pp. 182-191. DEHP (2013) WetlandInfo - Plants, animals, soils, water and more (Online Database). Queensland Government: Department of Environment and Heritage Protection. Accessed Online: http://wetlandinfo.ehp.qld.gov.au/wetlands/ecology/components/. DEHP (2016) Australian fritillary butterfly – Species Profile. Accessed Online: https://www.ehp.qld.gov.au/wildlife/animals-az/australian_fritillary_butterfly.html. Department of the Environment (2012) Species Profile and Threats Database (SPRAT) (Online Database). Australian Government: Department of the Environment. Accessed Online: http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/sprat/public/sprat.pl. Department of the Environment (2016) Species Profile and Threats Database (SPRAT) (Online Database). Australian Government: Department of the Environment. Accessed Online: http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/sprat/public/sprat.pl. Edwards, K. (1979) Rainfall in NSW with special reference to soil conservation. Soil Conservation Service Technical Handbook No. 3. Soil Conservation of New South Wales, Sydney. Eyre, T.J., Ferguson, D.J., Hourigan, C.L., Smith, G.C., Mathieson, M.T., Kelly, A.L., Venz, M.F. and Hogan, L.D. (2012) Terrestrial Vertebrate Fauna Survey Guidelines for Queensland. Queensland Government: Department of Science, Information Technology, Innovation and the Arts, Brisbane. Job No: Q12038/RW3 JWA Pty Ltd 60
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Ecological Assessment – Attunga Heights Fahrig, L. (2003) Effects of habitat fragmentation on biodiversity. Annual Review of Ecology Evolution and Systematics 34: 487-515. Fitzpatrick, E.A. and Nix, H.A. (1973) ‘The Climatic Factor in Australian Grassland Ecology’, In: Moore, R.M. (ed) Australian Grasslands. ANU Press, Canberra. Garden, J., McAlpine, C.A., Possingham, H.P. and Jones, D.N. (2007) Habitat structure is more important than vegetation composition for local-level management of native terrestrial reptile and small mammal species living in urban remnants: A case study from Brisbane, Australia. Wildlife Research 32: 669-685. Gravatt, D. (1974) ‘Birds that eat plant products in coastal south Queensland’, In: Institute for Foresters of Australia (eds) Working Papers Volume 1, Seventh Triennial Conference, Caloundra, Queensland. pp. 339-348. Harden, G., McDonald, B. and Williams, J. (2006) Rainforest trees and shrubs: a field guide to their identification in Victoria, New South Wales and subtropical Queensland using vegetative features. Gwen Harden Publishing, Nambucca Heads. Haslam, S. (2004) Noosa’s Native Plants. Noosa Integrated Catchment Association Inc., Tewantin. Henderson, R.J. (2002) Names and Distribution of Queensland Plants, algae and lichens. Queensland Government: Environmental Protection Agency - Queensland Herbarium, Toowong. Higgins, P.J. & Davies, S.J.J.F. (Eds) (1996). Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic Birds. Volume Three - Snipe to Pigeons. Melbourne, Victoria: Oxford University Press. https://www.daff.qld.gov.au/plants/weeds-pest-animals-ants/weeds/declared-plants. James Warren & Associates (2004) Flora and Fauna Assessment – Attunga Heights, Noosa Hill. Report to Victor Feros Town Planning. Jessup, L.W. (2002) Flora of eastern Queensland Volume 2, Changes to names or status of taxa. Queensland Government: Environmental Protection Agency - Queensland Herbarium, Toowong. Jessup, L.W. (2003) Flora of eastern Queensland Volume 1, Changes to names or status of taxa. Queensland Government: Environmental Protection Agency - Queensland Herbarium, Toowong. Jessup, L.W. (2005) Flora of eastern Queensland Volume 3, Changes to names or status of taxa. Queensland Government: Environmental Protection Agency - Queensland Herbarium, Toowong. Job No: Q12038/RW3 JWA Pty Ltd 61
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Ecological Assessment – Attunga Heights JWA Pty Ltd (2016) Ecological Assessment, 27 Attunga Heights, Noosa Hill (Lot 27 on RP89506). Report to David and Carol Neate. Keast, A. (1968) Seasonal movements in the Australian honeyeaters (Meliphagidae) and their ecological significance. Emu 67: 159-210. Kennedy, S. and Tzaros, C. (2005) Foraging ecology of the swift parrot Lathamus discolor in the Box-Ironbark forest and woodland of Victoria. Pacific Conservation Biology 11: 158- 173. Leiper, G., Glazebrook, J., Cox, D. and Rathie, K. (2008) Mangroves to Mountains. SGAP Logan River Branch, Brisbane. Lemckert, F. and Penman, T. (2012) ‘Climate Change and Australia’s frogs: how much do we need to worry?’ In: Lunney, D. and Hutchings, P. (eds) Wildlife and Climate Change: towards robust conservation strategies for Australian fauna. Royal Society of NSW, Mosman, NSW. Menkhorst, P. and Knight, F. (2001) A field guide to the mammals of Australia. Oxford University Press, South Melbourne. Neldner, V.J., Wilson, B. A., Thompson, E.J. and Dillewaard, H.A. (2005) Methodology for Survey and Mapping of Regional Ecosystems and Vegetation Communities in Queensland, Version 3.1 (September 2005). Queensland Government: Environmental Protection Agency – Queensland Herbarium, Brisbane. Nix, H.S. (1982) ‘Environmental determinants of biogeography and evolution in Terra Australis’, In: Barker, W.R. and Greenslade, P.J.M. (eds) Evolution of the Flora and Fauna of Arid Australia. Peacock Pubs, Frewvill, South Australia. pp. 47-66. NSW OEH (2014) Threatened species profile search (Online Database). NSW Government: Office of Environment and Heritage. Accessed Online: http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/threatenedSpeciesApp/. Phillips, S., and Callaghan, J. (2011) The “Spot Assessment Technique”: a tool for determining localized levels of habitat use by Koalas Phascolarctos cinereus. Australian Zoologist: 35(3): 774 – 780. Pizzey, G. and Knight, F. (1997) Field Guide to the Birds of Australia. Harper Collins, Sydney. Porter, J.W. (1982) Terrestrial birds of the coastal lowlands of south east Queensland, Technical Paper No. 30. Queensland Government: Department of Forestry, Brisbane. Queensland Herbarium (2018) Regional Ecosystem Description Database (REDD). Version 10.1 (March 2018). Queensland Government: Department of Science, Information Technology, Innovation and the Arts, Brisbane. Queensland Museum (1995) Wildlife of Greater Brisbane. Queensland Museum, Brisbane. Job No: Q12038/RW3 JWA Pty Ltd 62
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Ecological Assessment – Attunga Heights Queensland Museum (2003) Wild Plants of Greater Brisbane. Queensland Museum, South Brisbane. Robertson, J.S. (1973) Winter Area Behaviour of Drongos and Forest Kingfishers. Australian Bird Bander 11(1): 3-4. Robertson, J.S. and Woodall, P.F. (1983) The status and movements of Honeyeaters at Wellington Point, south-east Queensland. Sunbird 13(1): 1-4. Sattler, P. S. and Williams, R.D. (1999) The Conservation Status of Queensland’s Bioregional Ecosystems. Queensland Government: Environmental Protection Agency, Brisbane. Smith, A.P. and Lindemayer, D. (1988) Tree hollow requirements of leadbeater's possum and other possums and gliders in timber production ash forests of the Victorian central highlands. Australian Wildlife Research 15: 347-362. Specht, R.L. (1981) ‘Foliage - Projective Cover and Standing Biomass’, In: Gillison, A.N. and Anderson, D.J. (eds) Vegetation Classification of Australia. CSIRO, ANU Press, Canberra. Stanley, T.D. and Ross, E.M. (1989) Flora of south-eastern Queensland (Volumes 1-3). Queensland Government: Department of Primary Industries, Brisbane. Swift Parrot Recovery Team (2001) Swift Parrot Recovery Plan 2001-2005. Tasmanian Government: Department of Primary Industries, Water and Environment, Hobart. Walker, J. and Hopkins, M.S. (1998) ‘Vegetation’, In: McDonald, R.C., Isabell, R.F., Speight, G.J., Walker, J. and Hopkins, M.S. (eds) Australian Soil and Land Survey Field Handbook, 2nd Edition. Australian Collaborative Land Evaluation Program, Canberra. WBM Oceanics (2001) Fauna assessment for the Bayview Noosa site. Job No: Q12038/RW3 JWA Pty Ltd 63
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Ecological Assessment – Attunga Heights
APPENDIX 1 – FLORA LIST
Grouping and Family Botanical Name Common Name
Ferns and Fern Allies
Adiantiaceae Adiantum hispidulum Rough maidenhair
Davalliaceae Nephrolepis sp.* Large Fishbone fern
Nephrolepis cordata* Fishbone fern
Dennstaedtiaceae Pteridium esculentum Hard bracken fern
Glecheniaceae Histiopteris incisa Batswing Fern
Polypodiaceae Drynaria rigidula Basket fern
Platycerium bifurcatum Elkhorn fern
Schizaeaceae Lygodium microphyllym Climbing fern
Thelypteridaceae Christella dentata Binung
Gymnosperms
Araucariaceae Araucaria cunninghamii Hoop Pine
Cyperaceae Cyperus sp.
Angiosperms (Monocotyledons)
Agavaceae Dracaena variegate* Variegated cordyline
Yucca aloifolia* Yucca
Amaryllidaceae Crinum pedunculatum River lily
Arecaceae Archontophoenix Bangalow palm
cunninghamiana
Syagrus romanzoffiana* Queen Palm
Asparagaceae Protasparagus aethiopicus* Asparagus Fern
Asteliaceae Cordyline rubra Red fruited palm lily
Commelinaceae Callisia sp* Groundcover succulent
Commelina benghalensis* Blue wandering jew
Tradescantia fluminensis* White Wandering Jew
Tradescantia zebrina* Wandering Jew
Dracaenaceae Sansevieria trifasciata* Mother-in-law tongue
Lilaceae Gloriosa superba* Glory Lily
Lomandraceae Lomandra filiformis filiformis Fine-leaved matrush
Lomandra hystrix Matrush
Luzuriagaceae Geitonoplesium cymosum Scrambling Lily
Orchidaceae Epidendrum sp.* Crucifix orchid
Pandanaceae Freycinetia scandens Freycinetia
Poaceae Panicum lachnophyllum
Panicum maximum* Guinea grass
Smilacaceae Smilax australis Austral sarsparilla
Strelitziaceae Strelizia reginae* Bird of Paradise
Xanthorrhoeaceae Lomandra filiformis subsp. Fine-leaved matrush
filiformis
Angiosperms (Dicotyledons)
Acanthaceae Odontonema strictum* Red justicia
Anacardiaceae Euroschinus falcata Ribbonwood
Annonaceae Polyalthia nitidissima Polyalthia
Apocynaceae Alyxia ruscifolia Prickly Alyxia
Plumeria sp.* Frangipani
Araliaceae Polyscias elegans Celerywood
Schefflera actinophylla* Umbrella tree
Asclepiadaceae Hoya australis Native Hoya
Secamone elliptica Corky Milk Vine
Asteraceae Bidens pilosa* Farmers friends
Senecio sp.* Daisy Ivy
Senecio tamoides* Canary Creeper
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Ecological Assessment – Attunga Heights
Grouping and Family Botanical Name Common Name
Wedelia trilobata* Singapore daisy
Balsaminaceae Impatiens wallerina* Impatiens
Bignoniaceae Pyrostegia venusta* Flame vine
Pandorea jasminoides Wonga vine
Tecoma capensis* Cape Honeysuckle
Cactaceae Epiphyllum sp.* Moonlight Cactus
Epiphyllum sp.* Orchid Cactus
Opuntia sp.* Prickly Pear
Caesalpiniaceae Senna pendula var. glabrata* Easter cassia
Casuarinaceae Allocasuarina littoralis Black she-oak
Allocasuarina torulosa
Convolvulaceae Ipomoea indica* Blue morning glory
Crassulaceae Bryophyllum delagoense* Mother of Millions
Cupressaceae Callitris columellaris Coastal cypress pine
Ebenaceae Diospyros pentamera Myrtle Ebony
Elaeaocarpaceae Elaeocarpus grandis Blue quandong
Elaeocarpus obovatus Hard quandong
Epacridaceae Leucopogon margarodes
Monotoca scoparia Prickly-leaved monotoca
Euphorbiaceae Breynia oblongifolia Coffee Bush
Euphorbia milii* Crown of Thorns
Glochidion ferdinandi Cheese tree
Macaranga tanarius Macaranga
Mallotus philippensis Red kamala
Petalostigma triloculare Long-leaved bitter bark
Laminaceae Plectranthus verticillatus* Sweedish Ivy
Lauraceae Beilschmiedia obtusifolia Blush walnut
Cryptocarya glaucescens Jackwood
Cryptocarya macdonaldii Cooloola laurel
Endiandra discolor Rose walnut
Endiandra sieberi Hard corkwood
Neolitsea dealbata White Bolly Gum
Mimosaceae Acacia disparrima Brush ironbark wattle
Acacia maidenii Maiden’s wattle
Moraceae Ficus elastica* Rubber Tree
Ficus rubiginosa
Ficus watkinsiana
Trophis scandens Burney vine
Myrsinaceae Ardisia crenata* Coral Berry
Embelia australiana Embelia
Myrtaceae Acmena hemilampra Lilly pilly
Austromyrtus dulcis Midgenberry
Backhousia myrtifolia Grey myrtle
Eugenia uniflora* Brazilian cherry
Psidium guajava* Guava
Rhodamnia acuminata Coloola Ironwood
Rhodomyrtus psidiodes Native Guava
Syzygium oleosum Blue lilly pilly
Ochnaceae Ochna serrulata* Mickey mouse plant
Oleaceae Notelaea longifolia subspecies Large mock olive
glabra
Onagraceae Ludwigia octovalvis Willow primrose
Passifloraceae Passiflora suberosa* Corky Passion Vine
Piperaceae Piper novae-hollandiae Giant pepper vine
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Ecological Assessment – Attunga Heights
Grouping and Family Botanical Name Common Name
Pittosporaceae Pittosporum revolutum Hairy pittosporum
Proteaceae Persoonia stradbrokensis Geebung
Rhamnaceae Alphitonia excelsa Red ash
Rutaceae Acronychia imperforata Beach Acronychia
Flindersia bennettiana Bennett’s ash
Phebalium woombye
Santalaceae Exocarpus latifolius Broad-leaved native cherry
Sapindaceae Alectryon coriaceus Beach alectryon
Cupaniopsis anacardioides Tuckeroo
Guioa semiglauca Guioa
Jagera pseudorhus Foambark
Mischocarpus pyriformis Yellow Pear Fruit
Rhysotoechia bifoliolata subsp. Two leaved tuckeroo
bifoliolata
Solanaceae Solanum seaforthianum* Climbing Nightshade
Sterculiaceae Sterculia quadrifida Red-fruited kurrajong
Thymelaeaceae Wikstroemia indica Wikstroemia
Ulmaceae Celtis paniculata Native Celtis
Verbenaceae Lantana camara* Lantana
Lantana montevidensis* Creeping Lantana
* Introduced species.
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Ecological Assessment – Attunga Heights
APPENDIX 2 - HABITAT SUITABILITY ASSESSMENTS FOR THREATENED AND MIGRATORY FAUNA SPECIES
Scientific Name Common Name Likelihood of Occurring on the Site
Unlikely: Suitable habitat not observed onsite. This species utilises a wide range
of coastal wetlands and some inland wetlands, with varying levels of salinity,
and is mostly found around muddy margins or rocky shores and rarely on
mudflats. This species has been recorded in estuaries and deltas of streams, as
well as on banks farther upstream; around lakes, pools, billabongs, reservoirs,
Actitis hypoleucos Common sandpiper dams and claypans, and occasionally piers and jetties. This species generally
forages in shallow water and on bare soft mud at the edges of wetlands; often
where obstacles project from substrate, e.g. rocks or mangrove roots. Birds
sometimes venture into grassy areas adjoining wetlands. Roost sites are typically
on rocks or in roots or branches of vegetation, especially mangroves (Dept.
Environment 2012).
Unlikely: Suitable habitat not observed onsite. This species utilises coastal
Anilios silvia Striped blind snake rainforest, woodlands and heaths growing on white sand. Shelters in sand and
decomposed wood under logs and leaf litter.
Unlikely: Suitable habitat not observed onsite. The Magpie goose occurs mainly
in coastal and sub-coastal areas of northern Australia. It generally inhabits open
Anseranas semipalmata Magpie goose
lakes, swamps and permanent wetlands which are dominated by rush and sedge
vegetation, with grasslands nearby.
Unlikely: Suitable habitat not observed onsite. The regent honeyeater is found
from Dalby in Queensland, south to Bendigo in Victoria, especially along the
ranges and the western slopes. However, its distribution is extremely patchy
with only a small number of known breeding sites. The estimated total
Anthochaera phrygia Regent honeyeater population is between 350 and 400 mature individuals. In south-east Queensland
it is found ranging from Cooloola, Great Sandy National Park to near the
Queensland-New South Wales border. In Queensland, breeding occurs regularly
west of Warwick by a small number of individual regent honeyeaters. Potential
habitat for this species includes dry eucalypt woodland and open forest, rural
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Ecological Assessment – Attunga Heights
Scientific Name Common Name Likelihood of Occurring on the Site
and urban areas with mature eucalypts. It favours ironbark-box associations,
mugga ironbark Eucalyptus sideroxylon, white box (E. albens), yellow box (E.
melliodora). Other habitat includes swamp mahogany (E. robusta), or spotted
gum (Corymbia maculata) or river she-oak (Casuarina cunninghamiana) with
associated needle-leaf mistletoe (Amyena cambagei). This species generally
prefers wetter, more fertile sites that are reliable nectar producers (both in
timing and quantity), such as creek flats, river valleys and lower slopes (NSW
OEH 2014).
Possible. This species occurs over dry or open habitats, including riparian
woodland and tea-tree swamps, low scrub, heathland or saltmarsh. They are also
found at treeless grassland and sandplains covered with spinifex, open farmland
and inland and coastal sand-dunes. The sometimes occur above rainforests, wet
Apus pacificus Fork-tailed swift sclerophyll forest or open forest or plantations of pines. They forage aerially, up
to hundreds of metres above ground, but also less then 1 m above open areas or
over water. They probably roost aerially, but are occasionally observed to land.
They are widespread but scattered in coastal areas from 20° S, south to Brisbane
and in much of the south south-eastern region (Dept. Environment 2012).
Unlikely: Suitable habitat not observed onsite. This species inhabits a wide range
of wetland habitats including swamps and marshes; margins of rivers and lakes;
damp or flooded grasslands, pastures or agricultural lands; reservoirs; sewage
Ardea alba Great egret treatment ponds; drainage channels; salt pans and salt lakes; salt marshes;
estuarine mudflats, tidal streams; mangrove swamps; coastal lagoons; and
offshore reefs. This species usually frequents shallow waters (Dept. Environment
2012).
Unlikely: Suitable habitat not observed onsite. This species inhabits tropical and
temperate grasslands, wooded lands and terrestrial wetlands. It uses
Ardea ibis Cattle egret predominately shallow, open and fresh wetlands including meadows and swamps
with low emergent vegetation and abundant aquatic flora. This species often
forages away from water on low lying grasslands, improved pastures and
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Ecological Assessment – Attunga Heights
Scientific Name Common Name Likelihood of Occurring on the Site
croplands. It is commonly found in cattle fields and other farm areas that contain
livestock. This species roosts in trees, or amongst ground vegetation in or near
lakes and swamps (Dept. Environment 2012).
Unlikely: Suitable habitat not observed onsite. Suitable habitat for this species
Arenaria interpres Ruddy turnstone includes tidal reefs and pools, weed-covered rocks, pebbly, shelly and sandy
shores with stranded seaweed, and mudflats (Dept. Environment 2012).
Unlikely: Suitable habitat not observed onsite. The Australian fritillary butterfly
is restricted to open, swampy, coastal areas (i.e. Melaleuca wetlands) where the
Argynnis hyperbius larval food plant, Viola betonicifolia, grows as a small, insignificant ground herb
Australian fritillary
inconstans
in association with Lomandra longifolia (long leaved matrush) and grasses,
especially the grass Imperata cylindrica (blady grass) (DEHP 2016).
Unlikely. This species occurs in terrestrial freshwater wetlands and, rarely,
estuarine habitats. It favours wetlands with tall, dense vegetation, where it
forages in still, shallow water up to 0.3m deep, often at the edges of pools or
waterways, or from platforms or mats of vegetation over deep water. The
Botaurus poiciloptilus Australasian bittern
species favours permanent and seasonal freshwater habitats, particularly those
dominated by sedges, rushes and/or reeds (e.g. Phragmites, Cyperus,
Eleocharis, Juncus, Typha, Baumea, Bolboschoenus) or cutting grass (Gahnia)
growing over muddy or peaty substrate (Dept. Environment 2012).
Unlikely: Suitable habitat not observed onsite. Suitable habitat for this species
includes tidal mudflats, saltmarshes, mangroves, shallow fresh, brackish or
Calidris acuminata Sharp-tailed sandpiper
saline inland wetlands, floodwaters, irrigated pastures and crops, sewage ponds
and salt fields (Dept. Environment 2012).
Unlikely: Suitable habitat not observed onsite. Suitable habitat for this species
Calidris canutus Red knot includes tidal reefs and pools, weed-covered rocks, pebbly, shelly and sandy
shores with stranded seaweed, and mudflats (Dept. Environment 2012).
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Ecological Assessment – Attunga Heights
Scientific Name Common Name Likelihood of Occurring on the Site
Unlikely: Suitable habitat not observed onsite. Suitable habitat for this species
Calidris ferruginea Curlew sandpiper includes tidal reefs and pools, weed-covered rocks, pebbly, shelly and sandy
shores with stranded seaweed, and mudflats (Dept. Environment 2012).
Unlikely: Suitable habitat not observed onsite. Small, migratory wader that
prefers shallow fresh to saline wetlands. This species is found at coastal lagoons,
Calidris melanotos Pectoral sandpiper
estuaries, bays, swamps, lakes, inundated grasslands, saltmarshes, river pools,
creeks, floodplains and artificial wetlands.
Unlikely: Suitable habitat not observed onsite. Suitable habitat for this species
includes tidal mudflats, saltmarshes, sandy or shelly beaches, saline and
Calidris ruficollis Red-necked stint
freshwater wetlands, coastal and inland, salt fields, and sewage ponds (Dept.
Environment 2012).
Unlikely: Suitable habitat not observed onsite. Suitable habitat for this species
Calidris tenuirostris Great knot includes tidal reefs and pools, weed-covered rocks, pebbly, shelly and sandy
shores with stranded seaweed, and mudflats (Dept. Environment 2012).
Likely: A relatively small number of these trees were present on the site and the
species has been recorded in the vicinity of the site. The species is uncommon
although widespread from the central Queensland coast to East Gippsland in
Victoria, and inland to the southern tablelands and central western plains of
Calyptorhynchus lathami Glossy black-cockatoo NSW, with a small population in the Riverina. An isolated population exists on
lathami (eastern) Kangaroo Island, SA. This species inhabits open forest and woodlands of the coast
and the Great Dividing Range where it feeds almost exclusively on the seeds of
several species of she-oak. Black sheoak (Allocasuarina littoralis) and forest
sheoak (A. torulosa) are important foods. This species is dependent on large
hollow-bearing eucalypts for nest sites (NSW OEH 2014).
Unlikely. This species requires a combination of sandstone cliff/escarpment to
provide roosting habitat that is adjacent to higher fertility sites, particularly box
Chalinolobus dwyeri Large-eared pied Bat
gum woodlands or river/rainforest corridors which are used for foraging. Almost
all records have been found within several kilometres of cliff lines or rocky
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Scientific Name Common Name Likelihood of Occurring on the Site
terrain. Roosting has also been observed in disused mine shafts, caves, overhangs
and disused Fairy Martin (Hirundo ariel) nests. It also possibly roosts in the
hollows of trees. The structure of primary nursery roosts appears to be very
specific, i.e. arch caves with dome roofs (that need to be deep enough to allow
juvenile bats to learn to fly safely inside) and with indentations in the roof
(presumably to allow the capture of heat). These physical characteristics are not
very common in the landscape and therefore a limiting factor (Dept.
Environment 2012).
Unlikely: Suitable habitat not observed onsite. Suitable habitat for this species
Charadrius bicinctus Double-banded plover includes tidal reefs and pools, weed-covered rocks, pebbly, shelly and sandy
shores with stranded seaweed, and mudflats (Dept. Environment 2012).
Unlikely: Suitable habitat not observed onsite. Suitable habitat for this species
Charadrius leschenaultii Greater sand plover includes tidal reefs and pools, weed-covered rocks, pebbly, shelly and sandy
shores with stranded seaweed, and mudflats (Dept. Environment 2012).
Unlikely: Suitable habitat not observed onsite. Suitable habitat for this species
Charadrius mongolus Lesser sand plover includes tidal reefs and pools, weed-covered rocks, pebbly, shelly and sandy
shores with stranded seaweed, and mudflats (Dept. Environment 2012).
Unlikely: Suitable habitat not observed onsite. This species inhabits acidic
wetlands (pH 4.3-5.2) within Melaleuca swamps, sedgeland, wet or dry heathland
and wallum/woodland areas in the sandy coastal lowlands (<100m ASL) of south-
Crinia tinnula Wallum froglet east Queensland. Occasionally animals occur in adjacent forests with a heathy
understorey, and are known to persist in disturbed wallum habitat such as 4WD-
impacted sites, roadsides, quarry site, and exotic pine plantations and partly
cleared areas (DEHP 2013).
Unlikely: Suitable habitat not observed onsite. This species is found in monsoon
Cuculus optatus Oriental cuckoo forests, the edges of rainforests, treed paddocks, mangroves, roadsides and river
flats (Pizzey & Knight 1997).
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Scientific Name Common Name Likelihood of Occurring on the Site
Unlikely: Suitable habitat not observed onsite. While this species predominantly
occupies a range of rainforest habitats, it specifically occurs in association with
a high diversity of fig species. This species inhabits a spectrum of rainforest types
(Araucarian rainforest, warm subtropical rainforest, cool subtropical rainforest
and cool temperate rainforest) from sea level to approximately 1000m altitude.
Cyclopsitta diophthalma This species also use thin strips of gallery rainforest, littoral rainforest and
Coxen's fig-parrot
coxeni
coastal bloodwood, melaleuca and cabbage palm forest where fig densities are
high. This species has also been reported from riparian corridors through
woodland, open woodland and cleared land where fig or other food trees occur,
as well as from isolated fruiting trees in gardens and cultivated farmlands. (DEHP
2013).
Unlikely. This species is found within most treed habitats and is most abundant
in broken, rocky country and in open eucalypt forest within 150 km of the coast.
Northern quoll habitat generally encompasses some form of rocky area for
Dasyurus hallucatus Northern quoll
denning purposes. In Queensland Northern quolls are more likely to be present
in high relief areas that have shallower soils, greater cover of boulders, less fire
impact and were closer to permanent water (Dept. Environment 2012).
Unlikely. This species occurs in coastal areas and adjacent ranges of South-east
Queensland from Bundaberg to the border and inland to Monto and Stanthorpe
(Dept. Environment 2012). It generally occurs in densely vegetated areas ranging
from rainforest and vine-forest through to dry and wet eucalypt forest, woodland
Dasyurus maculatus and coastal heathland (DEHP 2013). Transient males are sometimes seen in more
maculatus (SE mainland Spot-tailed quoll open areas, including land cleared for pasture (DEHP 2013). The Spot-tailed Quoll
population) is predominantly nocturnal and rests during the day in dens. Habitat
requirements include suitable den sites such as hollow logs, tree hollows, rock
outcrops or caves (Dept. Environment 2012). Individuals also require an
abundance of food, such as birds and small mammals, and large areas of
relatively intact vegetation through which to forage (Dept. Environment 2012).
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Scientific Name Common Name Likelihood of Occurring on the Site
Unlikely: Suitable habitat not observed onsite. Due to specific habitat
requirements, this species distribution is highly fragmented and restricted to
only a few locations. The Collared Delma is known from the western suburbs of
Brisbane, QLD and the following sites: Bunya Mountains, Blackdown Tableland
National Park (NP), Bullyard Conservation Park, D'Aguilar Range NP, Expedition
NP, Naumgna and Lockyer Forest Reserves, Western Creek near Millmerran and
the Toowoomba Range (Dept. Environment 2012). This species inhabits eucalypt
dominated woodland and open forest where it is associated with suitable micro-
Delma torquata Collared delma habitats (exposed rocky outcrops). The ground cover is predominantly native
grasses, such as Kangaroo Grass (Themeda triandra), Barbed-wire Grass
(Cymbopogon refractus), Wiregrass (Aristida sp.) and Lomandra (Lomandra sp.)
(Dept. Environment 2012). The presence of rocks, logs, bark and other coarse
woody debris, and mats of leaf litter (typically 30–100mm thick) appears to be
an essential characteristic of the collared delma microhabitat and is always
present where the species occurs (Dept. Environment 2012). Whilst Collared
delmas are often found associated with small rocks, the presence of small rocks
is not an essential habitat characteristic (Dept. Environment 2012).
Unlikely: Suitable habitat not observed onsite. This species occupies open
forests and woodlands along rivers and wetlands and rainforest fringes. In NSW
Erythrotriorchis radiatus Red goshawk
favoured habitat includes Melaleuca forest along coastal rivers (Debus 1991,
1993).
Unlikely: Suitable habitat not observed onsite. Beach Stone-curlews are found
exclusively along the coast, on a wide range of beaches, islands, reefs and in
estuaries, and may often be seen at the edges of or near mangroves. They forage
in the intertidal zone of beaches and estuaries, on islands, flats, banks and spits
Esacus magnirostris Beach stone-curlew
of sand, mud, gravel or rock, and among mangroves. Beach Stone-curlews breed
above the littoral zone, at the backs of beaches, or on sandbanks and islands,
among low vegetation of grass, scattered shrubs or low trees; also among open
mangroves (Dept. Environment 2012).
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Ecological Assessment – Attunga Heights
Scientific Name Common Name Likelihood of Occurring on the Site
Unlikely: Suitable habitat not observed onsite. Suitable habitat for this species
includes forests and woodlands dominated by Acacia harpophylla on black
Furina dunmalli Dunmall’s snake
alluvial cracking clays and Eucalypt-Bulloak associations on sandstone derived
soils (Dept. Environment 2012).
Unlikely: Suitable habitat not observed onsite. This species generally occupies
flooded meadows, seasonal or semi-permanent swamps, or open waters bogs,
Gallinago hardwickii Latham's snipe waterholes, billabongs, lagoons, lakes, creek or river margins, river pools and
floodplains. Dense fringing vegetation is preferred by this species but it has been
recorded in waterlogged paddocks (Dept. Environment 2012).
Unlikely: Suitable habitat not observed onsite. This species inhabits shallow
freshwater wetlands of various kinds including paddy fields, swamps and sewage
farms, with bare mud or shallow water for feeding, with nearby vegetation
Gallinago megala Swinhoe’s snipe
cover. This species is also known to occur in grasslands, drier cultivated areas
and market gardens (Higgins and Davies 1996). Most species records are from the
Northern Territory.
Unlikely: Suitable habitat not observed onsite. Most often in or at the edges of
shallow freshwater swamps, ponds and lakes with emergent, sparse to dense
cover of grass/sedge or other vegetation. The species is also found in drier, more
Gallinago stenura Pin-tailed snipe
open wetlands such as claypans in more arid parts of species' range. It is also
commonly seen at sewage ponds; not normally in saline or inter-tidal wetlands
(Higgins & Davies 1996).
Unlikely: Suitable habitat not observed onsite. This species has a large
distribution range throughout SE QLD and is found in association with coasts,
Haliaeetus leucogaster White-bellied sea-eagle
large rivers and estuaries and prefers to nest in large trees adjacent
watercourses (Dept. Environment 2012).
Unlikely: Suitable habitat not observed onsite. Suitable habitat for this species
Heteroscelus brevipes Grey-tailed tattler includes tidal reefs and pools, weed-covered rocks, pebbly, shelly and sandy
shores with stranded seaweed, and mudflats (Dept. Environment 2012).
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Scientific Name Common Name Likelihood of Occurring on the Site
Possible. This species occurs flying over most types of habitat, they are probably
recorded most often above wooded areas, including open forest and rainforest,
and may also fly between trees or in clearings, below the canopy, but they are
Hirundapus caudacutus White-throated needletail
less commonly recorded flying above woodland. It is recorded in all coastal
regions of Queensland and NSW and almost always forage aerially (Dept.
Environment 2012).
Unlikely: Suitable habitat not observed onsite. The Swift parrot migrates from
its Tasmanian breeding grounds to overwinter in the box-ironbark forests and
Lathamus discolor Swift parrot woodlands of Victoria, NSW and southern Queensland. In south-eastern
Queensland, Narrow-leaved ironbark and Forest red gum forests are commonly
utilized (Kennedy and Tzaros 2005, Swift Parrot Recovery Team 2001).
Unlikely: Suitable habitat not observed onsite. Suitable habitat for this species
Limosa lapponica Bar-tailed godwit includes tidal reefs and pools, weed-covered rocks, pebbly, shelly and sandy
shores with stranded seaweed, and mudflats (Dept. Environment 2012).
Unlikely: Suitable habitat not observed onsite. Suitable habitat for this species
includes temporary coastal swamps with acidic waters (wallum) (Queensland
Litoria freycineti Wallum rocketfrog Museum 1995). These areas typically have low nutrient soils, heathlands,
sedgelands, Melaleuca swamps and Banksia woodlands. Breeding occurs in
shallow water.
Unlikely: Suitable habitat not observed onsite. This species inhabits and breeds
in acidic, permanent to ephemeral, freshwater wetlands with emergent reeds,
ferns and/or sedges in undisturbed coastal wallum. This species may also be
found around creeks and freshwater lakes in coastal wallum. This species is
Litoria olongburensis Wallum sedge frog typically found below 20m ASL, and always above tidal influence. Water is
typically nutrient poor, acidic (pH between 3.5 and 6.0), clear, still and tannin
stained. In general, vegetation types where the species may occur include wet
and dry heathlands, sedgelands, woodlands and forests. Under wet conditions
(i.e. resulting from significant rainfall events), this species is also known to
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Ecological Assessment – Attunga Heights
Scientific Name Common Name Likelihood of Occurring on the Site
utilize heathlands, grasslands, woodlands and forests adjoining breeding habitats
in wallum environments and on near-coastal alluvial (clay) plains (Dept.
Environment 2012).
Unlikely: Suitable habitat not observed onsite. This species occurs in open
forests and woodlands, shrublands, and in various cleared or semi-cleared
habitats, including farmland and areas of human habitation. Usually occurs in
Merops ornatus Rainbow bee-eater
open, cleared or lightly-timbered areas that are often, but not always, located
in close proximity to permanent water. Also occurs in inland and coastal sand
dune systems, and in mangroves (Dept. Environment 2012).
Unlikely: Suitable habitat not observed onsite. Giant barred frogs forage and
live amongst deep, damp leaf litter in rainforests, moist eucalypt forest and
Mixophyes iteratus Giant barred frog nearby dry eucalypt forest, at elevations below 1000m. They breed around
shallow, flowing rocky streams from late spring to summer. Suitable habitat does
not occur within the study area.
Possible. This species occurs in rainforest ecosystems, including semi-deciduous
vine-thickets, complex notophyll vine-forest, tropical (mesophyll) rainforest,
subtropical (notophyll) rainforest, mesophyll (broadleaf) thicket/shrubland,
warm temperate rainforest, dry (monsoon) rainforest and (occasionally) cool
Monarcha melanopsis Black-faced monarch temperate rainforest. During winter or migration, this species also occurs in
marginal habitats such as 20-30 years old regrowth rainforest, nearby open
eucalypt forest (mainly wet sclerophyll forests), especially in gullies with a
dense, shrubby understorey as well as dry sclerophyll forests and woodlands,
often with a patchy understorey. (Dept. Environment 2012).
Possible. This species occupies the understorey of mountain/lowland
Monarcha trivirgatus Spectacled monarch rainforests, thickly wooded gullies, and waterside vegetation; mostly well below
the canopy, and occasionally mangroves (Pizzey & Knight 1997).
Unlikely. This species occurs in heavily vegetated gullies in eucalypt-dominated
Myiagra cyanoleuca Satin flycatcher
forests and taller woodlands, and on migration, occurs in coastal forests,
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Ecological Assessment – Attunga Heights
Scientific Name Common Name Likelihood of Occurring on the Site
woodlands, mangroves and drier woodland and open forests (Dept. Environment
2012).
Unlikely: Suitable habitat not observed onsite. This species is found in acidic
freshwater systems running through sandy Banksia dominated heath or wallum
Nannoperca oxleyana Oxleyan pygmy perch
communities, or occasionally creeks that have run out of wallum areas (Dept.
Environment 2016).
Unlikely: Suitable habitat not observed onsite. This wading species is usually
Numenius associated with estuaries, bays and lagoons where intertidal mud and sandflats
Eastern curlew
madagascariensis
occur. Occasionally also found on beaches, reefs and rocky islets.
Unlikely: Suitable habitat not observed onsite. This species is most often found
feeding in short, dry grassland and sedgeland, including dry floodplains and
blacksoil plains, which have scattered, shallow freshwater pools or areas
Numenius minutus Little curlew seasonally inundated. Open woodlands with a grassy or burnt understorey, dry
saltmarshes, coastal swamps, mudflats or sandflats of estuaries or beaches on
sheltered coasts, mown lawns, gardens, recreational areas, ovals, racecourses
and verges of roads and airstrips are also used (Higgins & Davies 1996).
Unlikely: Suitable habitat not observed onsite. This species occurs on intertidal
mudflats of sheltered coasts. It is also found in harbours, lagoons, estuaries and
river deltas, often those with mangroves, but also open, unvegetated mudflats.
It is occasionally found on sandy or rocky beaches, on coral or rocky islets, or on
Numenius phaeopus Whimbrel
intertidal reefs and platforms. It has been infrequently recorded using saline or
brackish lakes near coastal areas. It also used saltflats with saltmarsh, or saline
grasslands with standing water left after high spring-tides, and in similar habitats
in sewage farms and saltfields (Dept. Environment 2012).
Unlikely: Suitable habitat not observed onsite. The Richmond birdwing butterfly
Ornithoptera richmondia Richmond birdwing
lives in subtropical rainforest where its larval host plants grow.
Unlikely: Suitable habitat not observed on site. This species is found in littoral
Pandion halietus Osprey
and coastal habitats around the country, occasionally following large
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Scientific Name Common Name Likelihood of Occurring on the Site
watercourses inland. It requires extensive open areas of water for foraging
(Dept. Environment 2016).
Unlikely: Suitable habitat not observed onsite. This species inhabits tall, mature
Petauroides volans Greater glider eucalypt forests and woodlands (Queensland Museum 1995). Requires large tree
hollows for shelter (Menkhorst and Knight 2001).
Unlikely: Suitable habitat not observed onsite. In south-east Queensland, this
Pezoporus wallicus species is usually found in dense, closed heathlands, or open Banksia woodlands
Ground parrot
wallicus with dense heath understories. It requires a high density of food plants such as
sedges from the families Cyperaceae or Restionaceae (Dept. Environment 2016).
Unlikely: Suitable habitat not observed onsite. Breeds in coastal cliffs and under
Phaethon rubricauda Red-tailed tropicbird bushes in tropical Australia. Vagrant birds occur in coastal NSW waters, and
occasionally even inland, particularly after storm events.
Unlikely. This species inhabit a range of temperate, sub-tropical and tropical
forest, woodland and semi-arid communities where suitable food trees are
present. The koala is a leaf-eating specialist that feeds primarily during dawn,
dusk or night. Its diet is restricted mainly to foliage of Eucalyptus spp; however,
Phascolarctos cinereus Koala it may also consume foliage of related genera, including Corymbia spp.,
Angophora spp. and Lophostemon spp. The Koala may, at times, supplement its
diet with other species, including Leptospermum spp. and Melaleuca spp. (Dept.
Environment 2012). No eucalypts or other suitable forage species occur on the
site.
Unlikely: Suitable habitat not observed onsite. This species is found below the
Phyllodes imperialis altitude of 600 m in undisturbed, subtropical rainforest and occurs in association
Pink underwing moth
smithersi
with the vine Carronia multisepalea (Dept. Environment 2016).
Unlikely: Suitable habitat not observed onsite. This species usually inhabits
coastal habitats, though it occasionally occurs around inland wetlands. Pacific
Pluvialis fulva Pacific golden plover
Golden Plovers usually occur on beaches, mudflats and sandflats (sometimes in
vegetation such as mangroves, low saltmarsh such as Sarcocornia, or beds of
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Scientific Name Common Name Likelihood of Occurring on the Site
seagrass) in sheltered areas including harbours, estuaries and lagoons, and also
in evaporation ponds in saltworks. The species is also sometimes recorded on
islands, sand and coral cays and exposed reefs and rocks. They are less often
recorded in terrestrial habitats, usually wetlands such as fresh, brackish or saline
lakes, billabongs, pools, swamps and wet claypans, especially those with muddy
margins and often with submerged vegetation or short emergent grass. Other
terrestrial habitats inhabited include short (or, occasionally, long) grass in
paddocks, crops or airstrips, or ploughed or recently burnt areas, and they are
very occasionally recorded well away from water (Dept. Environment 2012).
Unlikely: Suitable habitat not observed onsite. This species occurs almost
entirely in coastal areas, where they usually inhabit sheltered embayments,
estuaries and lagoons with mudflats and sandflats, and occasionally on rocky
coasts with wave-cut platforms or reef-flats, or on reefs within muddy lagoons.
Pluvialis squatarola Grey plover
They also occur around terrestrial wetlands such as near-coastal lakes and
swamps, or salt-lakes. The species is also very occasionally recorded further
inland, where they occur around wetlands or salt-lakes (Dept. Environment
2012).
Unlikely: Suitable habitat not observed onsite. The black-throated finch
(southern) occurs at two general locations: in the Townsville region and at
scattered sites in central-eastern Queensland (between Aramac and Great Basalt
Wall National Park). This species occurs mainly in grassy, open woodlands and
forests, typically dominated by Eucalyptus, Corymbia and Melaleuca, and
Southern black-throated occasionally in tussock grasslands or other habitats (for example freshwater
Poephila cincta cincta
finch wetlands), often along or near watercourses, or in the vicinity of water. The
species is thought to require a mosaic of different habitats in which it can find
seed during the wet season. Some of the more common species of eucalypts in
woodlands and forests frequented by the subspecies include Narrow-leaved
Ironbark (E. crebra), River Red Gum (E. camaldulensis), Silver-leaved Ironbark
(E. melanophloia), Reid River Box (E. brownii), Yellowjacket (E. similis) and
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Scientific Name Common Name Likelihood of Occurring on the Site
Forest Red Gum (E. tereticornis). The subspecies occasionally occurs in
Melaleuca woodlands, or in grasslands comprised of genera such as Astrebla,
Dichanthium or Panicum (Dept. Environment 2012).
Unlikely: Suitable habitat not observed onsite. This species inhabits coastal
heaths and dry and wet sclerophyll forests. Dense understorey with occasional
Potorous tridactylus Long-nosed potoroo open areas is an essential part of habitat, and may consist of grass-trees, sedges,
ferns or heath, or of low shrubs of tea-trees or melaleucas. A sandy loam soil is
also a common feature.
Unlikely: Suitable habitat not observed onsite. This species inhabits acidic
aquatic environments, such as lakes, streams and wetlands within coastal wallum
Pseudomugil mellis Honey blue eye
heath environments. It is usually found in areas of little or no flow with dense
vegetation for shelter.
Known: this species was recorded onsite. This species occurs in subtropical and
temperate rainforests, tall sclerophyll forests and woodlands, heaths and
swamps as well as urban gardens and cultivated fruit crops (NSW OEH 2014). This
species feeds on the nectar and pollen of native trees, in particular Eucalyptus,
Melaleuca and Banksia, and fruits of rainforest trees and vines. It also feeds on
commercial fruit crops and on introduced tree species in urban areas (NSW OEH
2014). The grey-headed flying-fox roosts in aggregations of various sizes on
Pteropus poliocephalus Grey-headed flying-fox exposed branches. Roost sites are generally located within 20 km of a regular
food source (NSW OEH 2014) and are typically located near water, such as lakes,
rivers or the coast (Dept. Environment 2012). Roost vegetation includes
rainforest patches, stands of Melaleuca, mangroves and riparian vegetation, but
colonies also use highly modified vegetation in urban and suburban areas (Dept.
Environment 2012). The species can maintain fidelity to roost sites for extended
periods, although new sites have been colonised (NSW OEH 2014, Dept.
Environment 2012).
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Scientific Name Common Name Likelihood of Occurring on the Site
Possible. In east and south-east Australia, the Rufous Fantail mainly inhabits wet
sclerophyll forests, often in gullies dominated by eucalypts such as Tallow-wood
(Eucalyptus microcorys), Mountain Grey Gum (E. cypellocarpa), Narrow-leaved
Peppermint (E. radiata), Mountain Ash (E. regnans), Alpine Ash (E. delegatensis),
Blackbutt (E. pilularis) or Red Mahogany (E. resinifera); usually with a dense
shrubby understorey often including ferns. They also occur in subtropical and
temperate rainforests; for example near Bega in south-east NSW, where they are
recorded in temperate Lilly Pilly (Acmena smithi) rainforest, with Grey Myrtle
(Backhousia myrtifolia), Sassafras (Doryphora sassafras) and Sweet Pittosporum
Rhipidura rufifrons Rufous fantail
(Pittosporum undulatum) subdominants. They occasionally occur in secondary
regrowth, following logging or disturbance in forests or rainforests. When on
passage, they are sometimes recorded in drier sclerophyll forests and woodlands,
including Spotted Gum (Eucalyptus maculata), Yellow Box (E. melliodora),
ironbarks or stringybarks, often with a shrubby or heath understorey. They are
also recorded from parks and gardens when on passage. In north and north-east
Australia, they often occur in tropical rainforest and monsoon rainforests,
including semi-evergreen mesophyll vine forests, semi-deciduous vine thickets
or thickets of Paperbarks (Melaleuca spp.) (Dept. Environment 2016).
Unlikely: Suitable habitat not observed onsite. This species inhabits shallow
terrestrial freshwater (occasionally brackish) wetlands, including temporary and
permanent lakes, swamps and claypans. They also use inundated or waterlogged
grassland or saltmarsh, dams, rice crops, sewage farms and bore drains. Typical
sites include those with rank emergent tussocks of grass, sedges, rushes or reeds,
Rostratula australis Australian painted snipe or samphire; often with scattered clumps of lignum Muehlenbeckia or canegrass
or sometimes tea-tree (Melaleuca). The species sometimes utilises areas that
are lined with trees, or that have some scattered fallen or washed-up timber.
Breeding habitat requirements may be quite specific: shallow wetlands with
areas of bare wet mud and both upper and canopy cover nearby. Nest records
are all, or nearly all, from or near small islands in freshwater wetlands , provided
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Scientific Name Common Name Likelihood of Occurring on the Site
that these islands are a combination of very shallow water, exposed mud, dense
low cover and sometimes some tall dense cover (Dept. Environment 2012).
Unlikely. This species inhabits rainforest and occasionally moist eucalypt forest,
on loamy or sandy soils. This species feeds on earthworms and beetle grubs and
Three-toed snake-tooth is found in leaf litter, often immediately adjacent to fallen tree trunks (Dept.
Saiphos reticulatus
skink
Environment 2012). While some suitable habitat may occur on the site, this
habitat is isolated and unlikely to sustain populations of this species.
Unlikely: Suitable habitat not observed onsite. This species is dependent on
Tenuibranchiurus glypticus Swamp crayfish coastal, acidic sedge-heath and paperbark swamps, characterised by pools of
tannin-stained water, and sandy soils covered in organic matter.
Unlikely: Suitable habitat not observed onsite. Suitable habitat for this species
Tringa brevipes Grey-tailed tattler includes tidal reefs and pools, weed-covered rocks, pebbly, shelly and sandy
shores with stranded seaweed, and mudflats (Dept. Environment 2012).
Unlikely: Suitable habitat not observed onsite. This species is known to occupy
Tringa nebularia Common greenshank
habitat associated with estuaries.
Unlikely: Suitable habitat not observed onsite. This species is restricted to
rainforests and forests, mostly in areas with 770-1200 mm rainfall per annum.
They prefer drier low closed forests, particularly semi-evergreen vine thicket,
low microphyll vine forest, araucarian microphyll vine forest and araucarian
Black-breasted button- notophyll vine forest. This species may also be found in low, dense acacia
Turnix melanogaster
quail thickets and, in littoral area, in vegetation behind sand dunes. An extensive
dense leaf-litter layer is required for foraging and possibly also roosting. Fallen
logs and a dense, heterogeneously distributed shrub layers are also considered
to be important habitat characteristics for shelter and breeding (Dept.
Environment 2012).
Unlikely: Suitable habitat not observed onsite. The Terek Sandpiper mostly
Xenus cinereus Terek sandpiper forages in the open, on soft wet intertidal mudflats or in sheltered estuaries,
embayments, harbours or lagoons. The species has also been recorded on islets,
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Scientific Name Common Name Likelihood of Occurring on the Site
mudbanks, sandbanks and spits, and near mangroves and occasionally in
samphire (Halosarcia spp.). Birds are seldom near the edge of water,
however, birds may wade into the water. Occasionally, on sandy beaches, among
seaweed and other debris and in rocky areas, Terek Sandpipers will use the
supralittoral or upper littoral zone, where a film of water covers the sand.
However, on exposed rock platforms, the species forages in the lower littoral
zone and not the supralittoral or upper littoral zones. Less often seen on sandy
or shingle beaches, or on rock or coral reefs or platforms, Terek Sandpipers are
occasionally sighted around drying sewage ponds and saltpans if surrounded by
mudflats. The species is also found around brackish coastal swamps, lagoons and
dune-lakes; and also on gravel or rocky edges of estuarine pools and freshwater
river-pools. Very occasionally, birds use swampy, grassy or cultivated paddocks
near the coast. Preferring to roost in or among mangroves, birds may perch in
branches or roots up to 2m from the ground, or beneath them in the shade on
hot days. Occasionally, they roost in dead trees or among tangled driftwood.
They may roost with other waders on flat shores, on muddy spits, islets or banks,
and sometimes on sandy and pebbly beaches (Dept. Environment 2012).
Unlikely: Suitable habitat not observed onsite. This species inhabits mangrove
Xeromys myoides Water mouse communities and associated saltmarsh, sedgelands, clay pans, and heathlands as
well as adjacent freshwater wetlands (NSW OEH 2014).
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APPENDIX 3 – STATE DEVELOPMENT ASSESSMENT PROVISIONS (SDAP) STATE CODE 16: CLEARING NATIVE
VEGETATION
TABLE 16.2.2 – GENERAL
Performance outcomes Acceptable outcomes Response Comment
Clearing avoids or minimises impacts
PO1 Clearing and adverse impacts of No acceptable outcome is prescribed. The proposed development has been designed to
clearing do not occur unless the maximise use of those areas on the site that have been
application has demonstrated that the designated for residential purposes. The layout has
clearing and the adverse impacts of been modified to minimise the impacts to native
clearing have been: vegetation.
1. reasonably avoided; or
2. reasonably minimised where it cannot be
reasonably avoided.
Clearing on land in particular circumstances
PO2 Clearing is consistent with any notice No acceptable outcome is prescribed. Not applicable.
requiring compliance on the land subject to
the development application, unless a
better environmental outcome can be
achieved.
Note: The discharge of the vegetation management
requirements under the notice requiring compliance n/a
can only occur in conjunction with the better
environmental outcome being legally secured.
Further guidance on meeting the requirements of a
better environmental outcome can be found in State
Development Assessment Provisions Guidance
Material: State code 16: Native vegetation clearing,
Department of Natural Resources and Mines, 2017
PO3 Clearing is consistent with vegetation No acceptable outcome is prescribed. n/a Not applicable.
management requirements for particular
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Ecological Assessment – Attunga Heights Performance outcomes Acceptable outcomes Response Comment regulated areas unless a better environmental outcome can be achieved. Note: The discharge of the vegetation management requirements under the notice requiring compliance can only occur in conjunction with the better environmental outcome being legally secured. Further guidance on meeting the requirements of a better environmental outcome can be found in State code 16: Native vegetation clearing guidance material. PO4 Clearing of a legally secured offset No acceptable outcome is prescribed. Not applicable. area: 1. is consistent with the offset delivery plan; or agreement for the offset area on the land subject to the development application; or 2. only occurs if an additional offset is provided that is consistent with the Environmental Offsets Act 2014 and the n/a relevant policy in the Queensland Environmental Offsets Policy, Department of Environment and Heritage Protection, 2014. Note: Reference to ‘agreement’ above includes the ‘agreed delivery arrangement’ for the offset area as well as instruments associated with the legally secured offset area. Clearing should be consistent with any agreement however described. Job No: Q12038/RW3 JWA Pty Ltd 85
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TABLE 16.2.3: Specific
Performance outcomes Acceptable outcomes Response Comment
Clearing associated with wetlands (public safety and infrastructure, a coordinated project, extractive industry, high value agriculture clearing, and
irrigated high value agriculture clearing)
AO7.1 Clearing does not occur in a natural Not applicable.
PO7 Clearing maintains the current extent
wetland or within 100 metres of the defining
of vegetation associated with any natural bank of any natural wetland. n/a
wetland to protect:
OR
1. bank stability by protecting against
bank erosion AO7.2 Clearing within 100 metres of the Not applicable.
defining bank of any natural wetland:
2. water quality by filtering sediments,
nutrients and other pollutants 1. does not occur within 50 metres of the
defining bank of any natural wetland; and
3. aquatic habitat; and
n/a
4. terrestrial habitat. 2. does not exceed widths in table 16.3.1 in
this code.
OR
AO7.3 Where clearing cannot be reasonably Not applicable
avoided, and clearing has been reasonably
minimised, an offset is provided for any
acceptable significant residual impact from
clearing of vegetation associated with a
n/a
natural wetland (matter of state
environmental significance).
Clearing associated with watercourses and drainage features (public safety and relevant infrastructure activities, coordinated project, extractive industry, high value
agriculture clearing, irrigated high value agriculture clearing)
PO11 Clearing maintains the current AO11.1 Clearing does not occur in any Clearing will not occur within the creek line. The
extent of vegetation associated with any watercourse or drainage feature, or within the proposed development includes a vegetation
watercourse or drainage feature to relevant distance of the defining bank of any protection covenant of 10 m from the centreline
protect: of the 1st order stream in accordance with the
requirements of Table 16.3.2 .
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Performance outcomes Acceptable outcomes Response Comment
1. bank stability by protecting against watercourse or drainage feature in table
bank erosion 16.3.2 of this code.
2. water quality by filtering sediments, OR
nutrients and other pollutants
AO11.2 Clearing within any watercourse or Not applicable.
3. aquatic habitat; and drainage feature, or within the relevant
distance of the defining bank of any
4. terrestrial habitat. watercourse or drainage feature in table
16.3.2 of this code:
1. does not exceed the widths in table 16.3.1 n/a
of this code; and
2. does not occur within five metres of the
defining bank, unless clearing is required into
or across the watercourse or drainage feature.
OR
AO11.3 Where clearing cannot be reasonably Not applicable.
avoided, and clearing has been reasonably
minimised, an offset is provided for any
acceptable significant residual impact from n/a
clearing of vegetation associated with any
watercourse or drainage feature (a matter of
state environmental significance)
Maintaining connectivity (public safety and relevant infrastructure activities, extractive industry, high value agriculture clearing, irrigated high value agriculture
clearing)
AO16.1 Clearing occurs in accordance with Responses to the requirements of Table 16.3.3 of
PO16 In consideration of vegetation on the
table 16.3.3 in this code. the code are provided below:
land subject to the development
application and on adjacent land, sufficient
vegetation is retained to maintain
A/S Clearing does not:
1. occur in areas of vegetation that are less than
ecological processes and remains in the
10 hectares:
landscape despite threatening processes.
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Performance outcomes Acceptable outcomes Response Comment
Compliant. The site occurs within a patch of
regulated vegetation covering approx. 22 ha.
2. reduce the extent of vegetation to less than
10 hectares
Compliant. The proposed development will not
reduce the size of the patch of regulated
vegetation to less than 10 ha.
3. occur in areas of vegetation less than 100
metres wide
Does not comply. The proposed development
occurs in a narrow strip of vegetation (on and off
site) averaging approx. 70 m wide.
4. reduce the width of vegetation to less than
100 metres; and
Not applicable. The vegetation strip in which the
subject site is located is already less than 100 m
wide.
5. occur where the extent of vegetation on the
subject lot(s) is reduced to, or less than, 30 per
cent of the total area of the lot(s).
Compliant. The proposed development will not
reduce regulated vegetation to less than 30%.
The subject site is approximately 1.805 ha in area
and is shaped as a long thin rectangle less than 100
m wide. The site is also surrounded by existing
approved development to the east, west and
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Performance outcomes Acceptable outcomes Response Comment
south. While continuous vegetation greater than
10 ha occurs in the locality, connection to this
vegetation from the site is limited to thin
vegetated corridors less than 100 m wide that
contain roads and other impediments.
In addition to being separated from continuous
vegetation regionally, the site also shows a
considerable degree of fragmentation evident.
Areas of exposed sand dominated by Ground
asparagus* (Asparagus aethiopicus) regularly
intersected areas of Callitris forest where a more
protective understorey and layer of leaf litter is
present. The long and narrow shape of the site has
meant that it has been prone to a range of
detrimental edge effects. This has resulted in a
high level of degradation including the presence
of a high proportion of weeds in both vegetation
communities recorded on the site. These edge
effects are likely to have considerably reduced the
corridor value of the site.
As strict compliance with above will not be
achieved on site, due to the proposed clearing
occurring within vegetation less than 100 m wide,
an Alternate Solution (AS) is proposed to achieve
the Performance Outcome 16 (PO16) as discussed
below. It is noted that the following proposal was
devised on site in consultation with Andrew Collins
(Senior Vegetation Management Officer, DNRM) in
January 2016.
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Performance outcomes Acceptable outcomes Response Comment
The proposed development will result in the loss
of approximately 0.57 ha of vegetation, with an
additional 0.52 ha to be impacted by proposed
APZs.
Vegetation to be retained will be of a sufficient
size and configured in such a way that current
connectivity values are maintained. The site
currently holds limited connectivity value in the
context of the locality and clearing of a small
proportion of vegetation is not expected to impact
on movement opportunities for local fauna. An
area of dedicated open space will be retained
along the unnamed creek line, providing a
connectivity corridor at a minimum width of 40 m,
and covering 7,710 m2 in total. A minimum 10 m
wide riparian vegetation buffer, measured from
the top of the bank on each side of the creek, is
also proposed as part of the development.
Proposed rehabilitation works will reduce
threatening processes acting on the site and
ensure that the vegetation continues to contribute
positively to the local landscape.
Soil erosion (public safety and relevant infrastructure activities, coordinated project, high value agriculture clearing, irrigated high value agriculture clearing,
necessary environmental clearing)
PO20 Clearing does not result in: AO20.1 Clearing is undertaken in accordance Clearing will be undertaken in accordance with a
1. accelerated soil erosion including, but
with an erosion and sediment control plan,
which includes measures to ensure the rates of
sediment and erosion control plan which avoids
and minimises land degradation.
not limited to – mass movement, gully soil loss and sediment movement are the same
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Performance outcomes Acceptable outcomes Response Comment
erosion, rill erosion, sheet erosion, tunnel or less than those prior to the proposed
erosion, stream bank erosion, wind erosion, development. OR
or scalding; and
AO20.2 The local government is the Not applicable.
2. any associated loss of chemical, physical assessment manager for the development
or biological fertility – including, but not application.
limited to water holding capacity, soil
structure, organic matter, soil biology, and Note: For guidance on developing a sediment and erosion n/a
control plan, please refer to the Best Practice Erosion and
nutrients, within or outside the land the Sediment Control Document, IECA, 2008.
subject of the development application.
Salinity (public safety and relevant infrastructure activities, coordinated project, extractive industry, high value agriculture clearing, irrigated high value agriculture
clearing, necessary environmental clearing, fodder harvesting)
PO22 Clearing does not contribute to or AO22.1 Clearing does not occur within 100 Clearing will not occur in or within 200 metres of
accelerate land degradation through metres of a salinity expression area. a discharge area or recharge area.
waterlogging, or through the salinisation
of groundwater, surface water or soil.
Essential habitat (public safety and relevant infrastructure activities, coordinated project, extractive industry, high value agriculture clearing and irrigated high value
agriculture clearing, fodder harvesting)
PO24 Clearing maintains the current extent AO24.1 Clearing does not occur in essential While the site is mapped as containing essential
of essential habitat. habitat. habitat for the Wallum froglet and Wallum
rocketfrog, site inspections have determined that
OR the habitat present on the site is not suitable for
these species. It is therefore not considered that
any impact on essential habitat for these species
will be incurred.
The proposed development will result in the
removal of 0.39 ha (34%) of Essential habitat (i.e.
12.2.5) for the Glossy black cockatoo.
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Performance outcomes Acceptable outcomes Response Comment
AO24.2 Clearing in essential habitat does not RE 12.2.5 is mapped as containing Essential
exceed the widths prescribed in table 16.3.1 of Habitat for the Glossy black cockatoo. The
this code. Regional Ecosystem Description Database notes
the structure of this RE as mid-dense. Therefore,
OR in accordance with table 16.3.1 of the code,
clearing of Essential Habitat (i.e. RE 12.2.5) is
limited to 10 m in width.
The width of RE 12.2.5 to be cleared exceeds 10
m in width.
AO24.3 Clearing in essential habitat does not In accordance with table 16.3.1 of the code,
exceed the areas prescribed in table 16.3.1 of clearing of Essential Habitat (i.e. RE 12.2.5) is
this code. limited to less than 0.5 ha (i.e. 0.39 ha in total).
OR
AO24.4 Where clearing cannot be reasonably Not applicable.
avoided, and clearing has been reasonably
minimised, an offset is provided for any
acceptable significant residual impact from n/a
clearing of essential habitat (a matter of state
environmental significance).
Acid sulfate soils (public safety and relevant infrastructure activities, coordinated project, extractive industry, high value agriculture clearing, irrigated high value
agriculture clearing, necessary environmental clearing, necessary to control non-native plants or declared pests, thinning, encroachment)
AO27.1 Clearing does not occur in land zone 1, Clearing will occur on land zone 2.
PO27 Clearing does not result in, or
land zone 2 or land zone 3.
accelerate, disturbance of acid sulfate soils
or changes to the hydrology of the location OR
that will result in either of the following:
AO27.2 Clearing in land zone 1, land zone 2 or Clearing will not occur below 5m AHD.
1. aeration of horizons containing iron land zone 3 in areas below the five metre
sulphides; or Australian Height Datum only occurs where:
2. mobilisation of acid or metals. 1. it does not involve mechanical clearing; and
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Performance outcomes Acceptable outcomes Response Comment
2. acid sulfate soils are managed consistent
with the State Planning Policy, Department of
Infrastructure, Local Government and
Planning, July 2017, and with the soil
management guidelines in the Queensland Acid
Sulfate Soil Technical Manual, Department of
Science Information Technology Innovation
and the Arts, 2014.
OR
AO27.3 The local government is the Not applicable.
assessment manager for the development
application.
n/a
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APPENDIX 4 - THE NOOSA PLAN (AS AMENDED 2017) - BIODIVERSITY OVERLAY CODE ASSESSMENT
Specific Outcomes Probable Solutions Response
13.9 Vegetation retention and conservation1
Environmental Protection Area & Environmental Enhancement Area Vegetation & Riparian Buffer Area
O1 Vegetation of local origin local origin 2 on S1.1 An Ecological Assessment Report prepared in This Ecological Assessment Report has been
premises identified as— accordance with Planning Scheme Policy 18 – prepared in accordance with PSP 18. It has
a) Environmental Protection Area3 or Riparian Ecological Assessment Guidelines demonstrates identified that vegetation occurring on the site is
Buffer Area on the Biodiversity Overlay Maps that the flora on the premises does not constitute degraded and heavily infested with weeds. It is
OM1.1 to OM9.1, is retained and conserved in Environmental Protection Area or Environmental not considered to constitute habitat for any
its present form or improved to ensure its Enhancement Area vegetation5 significant population of threatened fauna and is
ongoing contribution to the natural resources of minimal corridor value in the context of the
and biological diversity of the former Noosa OR locality.
Shire; and
b) Environmental Enhancement Area4 on S1.2 Where constructing a Detached House; or Despite this, the development proposal has sited
Biodiversity Overlay Maps OM1.1 – OM9.1, is Community residence interference with buildings within areas zoned for residential
protected from the impacts of development vegetation does not extend beyond— purposes as far as practicable and will retain and
by— a) 30m of a building or 10m of a structure on lots rehabilitate a large proportion of vegetation to
(i). avoiding edge effects; greater than 10ha; or ensure fauna habitat values persist into the
(ii). avoiding fragmentation; and b) 10m of a building or structure on lots 10ha or future.
(iii). maintaining vegetation in less but more than 0.3ha; or
manageable and viable c) 3m of a building or structure on lots 0.3ha or
configurations. less.
AND
1 PSP18 Ecological Assessment Guidelines details information Council may require as part of an information request.
2 Local origin is defined in the Dictionary (Part 2 Interpretation)
3 Refer to Council’s Vegetation of Noosa Shire study for further details on what constitutes Environmental Protection vegetation.
4 Refer to Council’s Vegetation of Noosa Shire study for further details on what constitutes Environmental Enhancement vegetation.
5 This solution does not apply to the Riparian Buffer Area.
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O2 For the purpose of Reconfiguring a Lot new lots S2.1 Where clearing vegetation on
are only created where they minimise the the premises is for the purpose of
fragmentation and maximise the retention of Reconfiguring a Lot—
existing vegetation. a) new boundaries to lots do not transect and
fragment existing vegetation;
b) new lots are created to allow for suitable
house site areas or other future buildings and
works to be located within existing cleared
areas or areas of low ecological value; and
c) building envelopes are designated for each
lot.
O3 Clearing vegetation only occurs where— S3.1 No solution provided The proposed development layout is considered
a) no other suitable cleared or partially cleared to comply with the requirements of O3.
area is available on the premises;
b) the development minimises the total
footprint within which all activities,
buildings, structures, driveways and other
works are contained; and
c) the development is located in areas of low
ecological value over other areas, to the
greatest extent practicable.
Editor’s note:
Environmental Protection category Vegetation that falls within
the Environmental Protection category comprises regional
ecosystems that possess at least one of the following
environmental values or criteria—
•The regional conservation status under the Queensland
Vegetation Management Act 1999 is “Endangered”;
•It forms habitat for threatened or protected fauna species,
as identified in Vegetation of Noosa Shire;
•It is ‘rare’ or naturally restricted regionally or locally, as
identified in Vegetation of Noosa Shire; or
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•The extent reserved within protected areas in Noosa is ‘low’,
as identified in Vegetation of Noosa Shire.
Environmental Enhancement category
Vegetation that falls within the Environmental Enhancement
category comprises regional ecosystems that possess at least
one of the following environmental values or criteria—
•The regional conservation status under the Queensland
Vegetation Management Act 1999 is “Of Concern”; or
The extent reserved within protected areas in Noosa is
‘medium’, as identified in Vegetation of Noosa Shire.
Wetlands
O4 Wetlands are protected from removal or S4.1 A minimum separation distance of 100m is No wetlands are mapped on the site. This was
degradation and any adverse impacts on wetlands provided between a wetland and any adjacent confirmed during site assessments.
are prevented, minimised or mitigated by— development or use.
a) maintaining adequate separation between the
wetland and any adjacent development or
use6;
b) minimising any modification of the natural
characteristics of the wetland, including the
topography, surface and groundwater
hydrology, water quality and flora and fauna
species;
c) preventing any new development within
wetlands;
d) minimising access to the wetland;
6 The extent of separation will be determined from the size, values and vulnerability of the wetland, likely natural
fluctuations, and the nature of potential threats to its integrity and functions.
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e) minimising impacts associated with pest
insect control and invasion by undesirable
plant species; and
f) providing for the rehabilitation and replanting
of degraded wetlands.
Riparian Zones
O5 The biodiversity and ecosystem values of S5.1 No new development occurs on, or partly on, The site is not mapped as occurring within a
watercourses, drainage lines, wetlands and premises indicated as Riparian Buffer Area on Riparian Buffer Area.
adjacent riparian zones are protected by— Biodiversity Overlay Maps OM1.1 to OM9.1,
a) avoiding any new development in the riparian except for—
buffer area; a) temporary use of the land; or
b) retaining aquatic and terrestrial habitat in b) infrastructure which provides access to a
riparian zones; watercourse for recreational purposes;
c) maintaining wildlife corridors along
watercourses and drainage lines for native OR
fauna movement;
d) avoiding edge effects and incompatible uses S5.2 Where constructing a Detached house
in riparian zones; or Community residence and on an allotment
e) maintaining bank stability by minimising bank situated wholly within the Riparian Buffer Area,
erosion and slumping; a) fronting the Noosa River – development is
f) maintaining water quality by filtering setback a minimum of 40m from mean high
sediments, nutrients and other pollutants; water spring or as otherwise prescribed by
and the Environmental Protection Agency’s
g) removing undesirable plant species and Erosion Prone Area Maps;7
replacing them with vegetation of local b) not fronting the Noosa River – development is
origin; located outside the riparian zone and setback
a suitable distance from the watercourse
having regard to the development constraints
7 The Erosion Prone Area map for the Noosa River is reproduced in Schedule 5.
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of the property and the need to protect
environmental and riparian values;
OR
S5.3 For Animal husbandry on premises in the
Rural Zone—
a) stock proof fencing is installed along
watercourses at a distance of no less than
10m from the top of the bank;
b) stock watering points are located no less than
15m away from the top of the bank of
watercourses; and
c) stock crossing points across watercourses are
defined and controlled with stock proof
fencing, to prevent stock from damaging
riparian vegetation or banks to watercourses;
OR
S5.4 Recreational facilities (including
playgrounds, pergolas, barbeques etc) are
setback a minimum of 30m from the top of the
bank of a watercourse and 10m from the top of
the bank of a drainage line;
OR
S5.5 For Forestry uses the cultivated area is
separated from watercourses by a distance not
less than the distances identified below,
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measured from high water mark or the top of the
bank, whichever is the greater distance—
Feature Distance
Stream order 1 or 2: 5m
Stream order 3 or 4: 10 m
Stream order greater than 4: 20 m
AND
S5.6 Where Forestry is carried out on that part of
premises indicated as Riparian Buffer Area and
outside the separation distances specified in
S5.5—
a) species planted are of local origin and are
harvested through sustainable harvesting;
and
b) any undesirable plant species are replaced by
vegetation of local origin.
Managing public access and edge effects
O6 Development on land adjacent to a waterway S6.1 Development adjacent to a waterway or An area of dedicated open space will be retained
or wetland maintains an appropriate extent of wetland provides that— along the unnamed creek line, providing a
public access to waterways and wetlands and a) no new lots directly back onto the riparian wildlife corridor at a minimum width of 40m, and
minimises edge effects. area; and covering 7,710 m2 in total. A minimum 10m wide
b) new public roads are located between the riparian vegetation buffer, measured from the
riparian buffer and the proposed development top of the bank on each side of the creek, is also
areas. proposed as part of the development.
Due to engineering limitations of the site it is not
possible to construct new public roads between
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Specific Outcomes Probable Solutions Response
the riparian buffer and the proposed
development areas.
Koala Habitat Areas
O7 Development is designed, constructed and S7.1 Development avoids removing and The site is mapped as occurring within a Koala
operated to: fragmenting koala habitat and includes koala Habitat Area (FIGURE 14) in association with
a) avoid adverse impacts on koalas and koala sensitive design measures consistent with the remnant vegetation, however no Koala habitat or
habitat; Nature Conservation (Koala) Plan 2006 and evidence of Koala activity was located during the
b) provide measures to assist the survival of koala Management Program 2006- 2016 and Koala 2018 site inspection. Interestingly, mapping
populations in the area to mitigate any potential Sensitive Design Guideline 201214. associated with State Planning Policy 2/10: Koala
threats or risks to koalas; Conservation in South East Queensland (Koala
c) provide for safe and appropriate koala S7.2 Where clearing of non-juvenile koala habitat SPP) shows the area as generally not suitable as
movement across the landscape; and trees is unavoidable in an area shown as bushland koala habitat (FIGURE 6).
d) provide for a net gain in mature and actively habitat, high value rehabilitation habitat or
regenerating koala habitat. medium value rehabilitation habitat on the map No non-juvenile Koala habitat trees will be
called ‘Map of Values’ 15, such clearing is removed as a result of the proposed
minimised and a biodiversity offset is provided in development.
accordance with the Queensland Environmental
Offset Policy.
Open space networks and ecological linkages
O8 Open space networks and ecological linkages S8.1 Vegetation and ecological linkages are The site is not mapped as occurring within an
are maintained and enhanced to provide for safe enhanced through revegetation, rehabilitation Open Space Corridor on Schedule 5, Map 3 – Open
movement of fauna and viable connectivity and vegetation maintenance in areas indicated in Space Networks. The site is mapped as containing
between ecologically important areas by Schedule 5 on Map 4 - Open Space Networks in ‘Existing Native Vegetation’ on this map. While
protecting and replanting vegetation of local such a way as to— the site is not identified as occurring within a
origin— a) ensure protection of wildlife refuges; designated wildlife corridor, connectivity through
a) along and around watercourses, wetlands, b) facilitate the dispersal and movement of native the site will be maintained by the retention and
drainage lines and ridgelines; and wildlife; and rehabilitation of a continuous tract of existing
b) as linkages between areas of remnant c) maintain vegetation in patches of the greatest vegetation, with a minimum width of 40 m.
vegetation, including— possible size and with the smallest possible edge-
i. across property boundaries; to-area ratio.
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LEGEND
N
Remnant Habitat
Habitat Regrowth
Subject Site
0 50m
SOURCE: Noosa Interactive Mapping - Noosa CLIENT TITLE
Planning Scheme - Schedule 7 Koala Habitat Novato Group
FIGURE 14 SCHEDULE 7
Areas (accessed 02.05.18) PROJECT
SCALE: 1 : 2000 @ A4 Ecological Assessment
PREPARED: BW KOALA
Lot 27 on RP89506
JWA PTY LTD
Ecological Consultants 27 Attunga Heights, Noosa Hill QLD DATE: 31 October 2018 HABITAT AREAS
Noosa Shire Council LGA FILE: Q12038_Noosa Koala.cdr
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Ecological Assessment – Attunga Heights
Specific Outcomes Probable Solutions Response
ii. to areas of national park, conservation AND
park, State forest or reserve; and
iii. into adjoining local government areas. S8.2 Development is sited and designed to—
a) maximise the ecological connectivity of
vegetation within the site and to adjacent sites;
b) to avoid creating physical barriers and safety
hazards (such as roads, pedestrian access and in-
stream structures) to the movement of fauna
along and within the ecological linkage; and
c) provide mitigation measures such as wildlife
movement infrastructure, fauna exclusion and
directional fencing, underpasses, overpasses and
traffic calming devices, signage and lighting
Scenic amenity
O9 The scenic amenity and vegetated character S9.1 and S10.1 Vegetation is retained and The majority of vegetation within the site will be
of the locality and its watercourses, drainage enhanced— retained and enhanced.
lines, sloping land and ridgelines is retained and a) within 30m of prominent ridgelines and
enhanced; hillslopes;
b) in gullies;
AND c) along watercourses and drainage lines; and
d) within 10m of road reserves.
O10 Vegetation which makes a positive
contribution to the streetscape or major road
network is retained.
Habitat trees
O11 Habitat trees (including dead trees) and S11.1 No clearing of koala habitat trees greater The subject site is not mapped as containing
recruitment habitat trees are protected for than 4m in height or with a diameter greater than suitable koala habitat under the SPRP (2010) or
native fauna habitat, where practicable. 100mm at 1.3m above the ground; SPP (2010). No non-juvenile koala habitat trees
will be removed as a result of the proposed
AND development.
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S11.2 No clearing of other habitat trees or No hollow bearing trees were observed during site
recruitment habitat trees. assessments.
Steep slopes
O13 Vegetation on steep slopes is retained and No solution provided. The majority of vegetation on the site will be
managed to avoid erosion and landslide and to retained and rehabilitated to protect ecological
protect natural resources and values. values and prevent erosion.
Engineering and site works
O14 Development is sited and designed to— S14.1 Works, including roads, driveways, No fauna underpasses or speed reduction features
a) provide adequate separation distance fences, sewer lines and other infrastructure— are considered necessary. It is not expected that
between the vegetation to be protected and a) do not transect areas of vegetation; or fencing will be required within the retained
the development to avoid disturbing, b) are co-located within a combined utility vegetation, however in the event fencing is
destabilising and deoxygenating any tree or corridor; and required, fauna friendly designs will be utilised.
altering the drainage; c) provide for fauna underpasses, speed
b) avoid traversing or fragmenting vegetation or reduction devices and associated fencing, A Vegetation Management Plan will be prepared
habitats for significant flora and fauna lighting and warning signs, where for Council’s approval prior to the
species; and appropriate; commencement of works. This Plan will ensure
c) avoid creating barriers to faunal movement. that retained vegetation is protected from
AND interference, and that appropriate site practices
are adopted during construction.
S14.2 Development within or adjacent to areas of
vegetation, incorporate fauna friendly fences;
AND
S14.3 Vegetation is protected from interference
resulting from clearing or construction activities
by—
a) clearly marking vegetation to be retained
with flagging tape;
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b) installing protective fencing around the
dripline of the vegetation and avoid filling
and excavation in these fenced areas; and
c) ensuring stock piling, storage and vehicle
parking occur outside the identified
vegetation areas;
AND
14.4 Low impact construction techniques are
used around vegetation to minimise interference
with the vegetation.
Filling and excavation
O15 Vegetation is not adversely impacted upon by No solution provided. A Stormwater Management Plan will be prepared
earthworks and changes to the hydrological in order to ensure that vegetation is not impacted
regime, including changes to ground water levels, by changes to hydrological regimes.
flooding levels, run-off and tidal hydraulics.
13.10 Vegetation management
Replanting and rehabilitation
O16 Development provides for ecologically S16.1 Landscaping and rehabilitation Rehabilitation works, including weed removal and
important areas to be restored and enhanced complements and supports ecologically important replanting of native species, will be undertaken
through the following measures— habitats by by— as part of the proposed development. A Site
a) siting landscaped areas to complement and a) utilising native plants of local origin; Rehabilitation Plan will be prepared for Council’s
enhance existing vegetation; b) utilising suitable plant species identified in approval prior to commencement of site works.
b) removal of all species likely to displace native PSP3 – Landscaping Plants and Guidelines; The Plan will require that plants used are of local
flora species or degrade fauna habitat; c) replicating adjacent remnant habitats, provenance and of species appropriate to local
c) replanting and rehabilitating16 degraded including understorey vegetation; habitat types.
habitat; and d) creating or enhancing linkages between
d) replacing any vegetation removed with suitable existing habitats; An appropriate number of replacement plantings
replacement vegetation of local origin. will be provided within the riparian corridor in
conjunction with weed control works.
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e) avoiding the use of Undesirable Plant Species
listed in Table 9.1 of PSP3 Landscaping Plants
and Guidelines; and
f) planting riparian zones to filter stormwater
run-off and provide for wildlife habitat;
AND
S16.2 Vegetation removed is replaced with—
a) plantings of equivalent area that replicate
the floristic structure of the vegetation
removed; or
b) where this is not possible due to the
characteristics of the site and the
development, plantings twice the number of
the removed trees and plants of local origin.
Fire management
O17 Fire management measures are No solution provided A Bushfire Management Plan will be prepared for
adopted based on ecological principles, Council’s approval.
which—
a) maintain and enhance biodiversity;
b) minimise threat of fire to the natural
environment, life and property; and
c) provide for effective use and maintenance of
buildings and structures.
Clearing protected vegetation in the protected vegetation overlay area
O18 Clearing protected vegetation does not No solution provided The subject site is mapped under the Noosa Plan
involve— (as amended 2017) locality biodiversity overlay
a) the removal of vegetation in ecologically map as containing an Environmental Protection
important areas; Area (FIGURE 11). The proposed development
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b) removal of vegetation or habitat for fauna will impact on 0.53 ha of land identified as an
identified or referred to as requiring protection in Environmental Protection Area (FIGURE 13).
State or Commonwealth legislation;
c) removal of vegetation located on a prominent As previously discussed, vegetation occurring on
hillside, slope or ridgeline; the site is degraded and heavily infested with
d) vegetation within 400 metres of the full level weeds. It is not considered to constitute habitat
of ponded water within Lake Macdonald; for any significant population of threatened fauna
e) removal of riparian vegetation; and is of minimal corridor value in the context of
f) vegetation which is or is capable of forming or the locality. A response to each Specific Outcome
contributing to a buffer between different land within O8 is provided below.
uses;
g) vegetation which is or is capable of forming or a) ‘Ecologically important areas’ is not defined
contributing to a visual buffer or a buffer against within the code. Generally, the term refers to
pollution, light spillage or noise; areas of High Ecological Value as identified by the
h) vegetation which contributes to scenic amenity State Government. In this regard the unnamed
or landscape quality; creek that traverses the site is mapped as a High
i) vegetation the clearing of which may cause or Ecological Significance wetland, areas analogous
contribute to erosion or slippage. with RE 12.2.1 (Of Concern), and areas
potentially providing Essential habitat for the
Glossy black cockatoo occur on site. The majority
of these areas will be avoided by the proposed
development.
b) As discussed above, areas potentially providing
Essential habitat for the Glossy black cockatoo
occur on site. The majority of these areas will be
avoided by the proposed development;
c) It is not considered that the vegetation to be
removed is located on a prominent hillside, slope
or ridgeline;
d) Vegetation will not be removed from within
400 metres of the full level of ponded water
within Lake Macdonald;
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e) An area of dedicated open space will be
retained along the unnamed creek line, providing
a wildlife corridor at a minimum width of 40 m,
and covering 7,710 m2 in total. A minimum 10 m
wide riparian vegetation buffer, measured from
the top of the bank on each side of the creek, is
also proposed as part of the development.
f) Vegetation will be retained on the subject site
which is capable of forming or contributing to a
buffer between different land uses;
g) Vegetation will be retained on site which is or
is capable of forming or contributing to a visual
buffer or a buffer against pollution, light spillage
or noise;
h) Vegetation will be retained on site which
contributes to scenic amenity or landscape
quality;
i) Vegetation clearing on site will comply with
relevant stormwater and erosion control plans to
ensure erosion or slippage do not occur.
O19 Clearing protected vegetation does not No solution provided a) Clearing of 0.15 ha (32%) of RE 12.2.1 (Of
increase the likelihood of or result in adverse Concern) will occur, with an addition 0.08 ha
impacts on— (17%) of RE 12.2.1 to be impacted by proposed
a) remnant vegetation of local origin, classified as APZs. However this vegetation is currently highly
remnant of concern regional ecosystem or degraded and heavily infested with weeds. Talk
remnant endangered regional ecosystem or is about Site Rehab Plan.
vegetation located in a wetland; b) Rehabilitation of the site in accordance with
b) the diversity of flora or fauna species supported the Site Rehabilitation will result in a marked
or likely to be supported by the vegetation improvement in the diversity of flora and fauna
community; species supported by the site.
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c) a flora or fauna community or individual species c) Flora and fauna communities/individuals
which has conservation status in State or utilising the site are considered unlikely to be
Commonwealth legislation; adversely affected by the proposed development
d) hydrology of an area or upon a hydrologically- with the implementation of amelioration
sensitive plant community such as heathland, measures discussed in this report. Conversely, it
sedgeland, melaleuca forest or mangrove forest; is likely they will benefit from proposed
e) a water catchment area or water quality; rehabilitation measures.
f) vegetation which has cultural heritage values; d) not applicable.
g) vegetation required to support, protect and e) Water quality within the unnamed creek and
maintain biodiversity values within the Noosa associated catchment will be protected through
Shire, whether these be of local, regional, state the implementation of appropriate Stormwater
or national significance; Management, and Sediment and Erosion Control
h) a person or industry reliant on maintaining the plans.
vegetation; or f) It is not considered that vegetation on the
i) neighbouring land, scenic amenity and subject site is culturally significant.
environmental values. g) It is not considered that vegetation to be
removed from the site is required to support,
protect and maintain biodiversity values within
the Noosa Shire.
h) there will be no impacts on any person or
industry reliant on maintaining the vegetation.
i) It is not considered that there will be impacts
on neighbouring land or scenic amenity.
Environmental values of the subject site are
considered likely to markedly improve with the
implementation of site rehabilitation works.
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Used in these records
Response to Info Request - Attachment 6b - Ecological Assessment Part 2 MCU18-0015 & RAL18-0001.pdfRelated documentApplication case desk ↗
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