Appendix M - Ecology Report

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Also present were birds which favour Open Forest and Woodland habitats including Striated Pardalote
(Pardalotus striatus), Noisy Friarbird (Philemon corniculatus), Forest Kingfisher (Todiramphus
macleaya) and Variegated fairy-wren (Malurus lamberti). Additionally, Cattle egrets (Ardea ibis) were
noted within the horse paddocks. Cattle Egrets are well-known to be associated with livestock as the
hooves of these large animals disturb insects which the Egret feeds.
3.4.3   Mammals

Common Ringtail Possums (Pseudocheirus peregrinus) and Common Brushtail Possums
(Trichosurus vulpecula) are likely to be common in the local area. It is considered highly likely that
individual possums and local bat and flying fox species may utilise the vegetation for foraging and
habitat. It is possible that Koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) and local Glider species may utilize the site
vegetation for foraging and movement opportunities. The site inspection indicated hollow-bearing
limbs within the mature and remnant canopy and termitaria. No mammals were observed during the
time of the field inspection with exception for domestic horses and dogs.
3.4.4   Amphibians

A detailed amphibian survey has not been undertaken at this stage, opportunistic observations were
made during the field inspection. The habitat requirements of most species of native amphibian are
unlikely to be determined by forest cover or floristics, but are more strongly influenced by factors such
as climatic and seasonal variation, distance to water bodies, riparian vegetation structure, hydrological
and morphological characteristics of water bodies and the availability of suitable micro-habitat for
aestivation and shelter. The site dams and waterway would likely provide suitable habitat and
resources for common amphibian species. An Eastern Sedgefrog (Litoria fallax) was heard within the
southern and northern dams within the site. It is likely that other frog species utilise the habitat present
within the site.
3.4.5   Reptiles

Reptile distributions are strongly influenced by structural characteristics of the vegetation, climate and
other factors affecting thermoregulation such as shade and availability of shelter and basking sites
(Smith et al., 1994).
The site provides a moderate amount of leaf litter and suitable understorey conditions in the waterway
corridor which would likely provide suitable hunting grounds and core habitat for some common
species of snakes. It is likely that a number of common reptile species, may utilise the site from time
to time and a number of small unidentified skinks were observed within the leaf litter during the site
inspection.

3.5     Significant Fauna Species
As described in Section 5.0 of this report, Protected Matters and DEHP Wildlife Online data searches
were undertaken to locate records of fauna species that may potentially occur on-site and / or have
been recorded in the locality of the site in the past. These searches were used to identify species
protected under Local, State and Commonwealth Legislation. The likelihood of these species


 REF:S50335ER001_rev a                          10 & 22 Rose Gum Road and 521 Elm Street, Black Mountain
                                                                         Detailed Ecological Assessment