Amended Ecological Assessment Report

                                                                               Ecological Assessment Letter




6       Conclusion
This ecological assessment report identifies ecological values associated with the site at 36 Riverpark
Rd, Ringtail Creek. It is proposed to develop the site with a detached dwelling and associated secondary
buildings. A field assessment determined that the property supports high to very high ecological values,
at both the intrinsic and strategic level, but the proposed house location is already cleared of vegetation
and is currently maintained grass (including required bushfire management buffers). The access
driveway is also already existing and no further clearing is required for this purpose.

Common canopy tree species present on the property include Eucalyptus siderophloia, Eucalyptus
tereticornis, Corymbia intermedia, Lophostemon confertus, Lophostemon suaveolens, Glochidion
sumatranum and Livistona australis. The vegetation resembles remnant regional ecosystems 12.3.11a
(Open-forest of Eucalyptus tereticornis and/or E. siderophloia, Lophostemon confertus with vine forest
understorey) and 12.3.4 (Melaleuca quinquenervia, Eucalyptus robusta woodland on coastal alluvium).
The property also contains an area of saltmarsh vegetation adjoining the Noosa River, being regional
ecosystem 12.3.2 (Saltpan vegetation including grassland, herbland and sedgeland on marine clay
plains). None of these regional ecosystems will be impacted by the proposed house and associated
works.

The site includes koala habitat trees and also some large native habitat trees (DBH greater than
600mm), including trees with habitat hollows. Given the high ecological value of the site and the high
level of connectivity within the landscape for all types of fauna, there is a high likelihood of threatened
species such as the koala utilising the site. However, as no vegetation removal is required for the
development, potential impacts upon the habitat values of the site for common and threatened fauna
species are considered to be negligible to non-existent.

The vast majority of the site is mapped within the Biodiversity, Waterways and Wetlands Overlay (Area
of biodiversity significance; Riparian buffer area; MSES environmental values). As a result, the proposed
dwelling, waste water irrigation area and associated bushfire asset protection zone unavoidably intrudes
into this overlay. However, all development impacts will be located outside of the vegetated areas,
except for the proposed waste-water irrigation area (surface sprinklers, all above ground, no
excavation). Some minor understorey vegetation pruning may be required for its installation. The
proposal complies with all the relevant provisions of the Biodiversity, Waterways and Wetlands Overlay
Code.

The owners acknowledge the prior unapproved vegetation clearing which took place on the property
prior to them purchasing the property. The vegetation previously removed from the property appears to
have been eucalypt forest with a rainforest understorey, akin to regional ecosystem 12.3.11a: Open-
forest of Eucalyptus tereticornis and/or E. siderophloia, Lophostemon confertus with vine forest
understorey. The owners are proposing to partially compensate for this loss of ecological values on the
property by carrying out some rehabilitation works in various locations throughout the property. The
proposed rehabilitation works will be a combination of assisted natural regeneration and reconstruction.
Most of the rehabilitation works will focus on areas of Melaleuca quinquenervia forest, as these areas
are the most degraded on the site. Very little rehabilitation can be done in the area around the dwelling
because this area has to remain a low hazard vegetation type for bushfire management purposes. This
rehabilitation proposal is considered to fully mitigate any ecological impacts of the proposed
development on site.


                                                    PR22098_EA_36 Riverpark Rd, Ringtail Creek     Page 41