2016-07-12 - Item 10 - Att 1 - Koala Conservation Plan

                                                       Noosa Shire Koala Conservation Plan 2016




National
The koala is listed as a ‘Vulnerable’ species under the Commonwealth Environment Protection
& Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). Development that has a significant impact
on koalas requires referral to the Australian Government Minister for the Environment. Under
the EPBC Koala Referral Guidelines impacts on ‘habitat critical to the survival of the species’
and impacts that ‘substantially interfere with the recovery of the species’ are a ‘significant
impact’. For example the loss of twenty (20) hectares or more of high quality connected
habitat critical to the survival of koalas is likely to be a significant impact. Under the guidelines
a development in an urban area is unlikely to require referral because it will become highly
fragmented over time, there are substantial risks to koalas, and it is unlikely that populations
and habitat will recover over time.

A development that avoids or mitigates a significant impact also does not require referral.
The EPBC Koala Referral Guidelines provide guidance on how to mitigate significant impacts
covering:
     •      Dog control
     •      Vehicle strike
     •      Koala infection control
     •      Koala friendly infrastructure
     •      Maintaining ground water hydrology to support habitat

Under the EPBC Act Environment Offset Policy, any residual impact of an assessable
development will require an offset obligation.

In most cases the EPBC Act does not stop development, but provides measures to avoid,
mitigate, or offset the significant impacts of development on koalas.


State
Most regulatory control that affects koalas occurs at a State Government level. Under the
Nature Conservation Act 1992 koalas are listed as ‘Vulnerable’. Under the Queensland
Vegetation Management Act (VMA) 1999 clearing of vegetation is generally avoided if an
area is mapped as Essential Habitat. These are areas of potential habitat for Endangered,
Vulnerable, or Near Threatened species, including koalas. Development applications in
mapped Essential Habitat are assessed by the State.

The SEQ Regional Plan 2009 states the principle of koala conservation as ‘populations in the
region are enhanced through the protection, management and the achievement of a net gain
in bushland koala habitat and through managing conflict with urban development’. The key
planning instruments to achieve this are the State Planning Policy (SPP) 2014 and the South
East Queensland Koala Conservation State Planning Regulatory Provisions (SPRP). The
SPP is to be reflected in local planning instruments and aims to provide a net gain in koala
habitat. The SPRP identifies assessable development areas which are areas of highest risk
to koalas in SEQ. Development assessment in these areas is devolved to Council from the
State (see Map 1).




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