2 David Low Way - Attachment 2 - Ecological and Bushfire Assessment Report 9-8-17

                                                                            Ecological and Bushfire Assessment Report
                                                                                Lot 71 on MCH 2854, Castaways Beach



No threatened flora species, pursuant to the NC Act or EPBC Act were observed within the Site or surrounding
lands.
Field surveys confirmed the presence of seven non-native flora species of management significance including:
four species listed as Weeds of National Significance (WoNS) and seven Category 3 Restricted Plants under
the Biosecurity Act 2014. A list of these weed species is provided in Error! Reference source not found.1.

Table 3-1       Non-native Flora Species of Management Significance Recorded Within the Site
                                                                          Biosecurity Act
 Scientific Name                             Common Name                                             WoNS
                                                                               2014
 Asparagus aethiopicus                       Basket asparagus fern              C3                     Yes
 Asparagus africanus                         Climbing asparagus fern            C3                     Yes
 Lantana camara                              Lantana                            C3                     Yes
 Lantana montevidensis                       Creeping lantana                   C3
 Oputina stricta                             Prickly pear                       C3                     Yes
 Schinus terebinthifolius                    Broadleaved pepper                 C3
 Sphagneticola trilobata                     Singapore daisy                    C3


The management of these and other non-native plant species within areas of retained vegetation provides an
opportunity to enhance the ecological values of the Site.

3.2.2           Fauna
In general the fauna habitat values of the Site are derived largely from its association with:
>   Castaways Beach and the adjacent near shore environment which provides habitat resources for a
    diversity of marine and shoreline species;
>   the vegetated coastal dune system, the majority of which is located within state land to the north, east and
    south of the Site;
>   the extensive areas open forest and heathland habitat associated with the Lake Weyba complex to the
    west of the Site; and
>   Burgess Creek located to the north of the Site.
These extensive areas of diverse fauna habitat provide resources that sustain populations of many native
fauna species, including species that are permanent residents of the Site locality and other that are seasonal
migrants (i.e. migratory shorebirds).
The contribution that the Site makes to the persistence of populations of these wildlife species is minor due to
the limited extent and existing land uses of the Site. In addition the Site’s fauna habitat values are limited by:
>   the small extent of the Site (i.e. < 1 hectare) and the fact that it has been developed and utilised for
    residential purposes since the 1980s;
>   the absence of large old growth hollow bearing trees;
>   the general absence of permanent or ephemeral wetland habitats, apart from a very narrow fringe that
    exists along the banks of Burgess Creek; and
>   the position of the Site, approximately 15-20m upslope and 90-100m inland from the active beach zone.
Furthermore:
>   the presence of David Low Way and existing residential development to the west limits the movement of
    many native fauna species between the Site and habitat areas associated with Lake Weyba; and
>   Burgess Creek located to the north of the Site is a freshwater system that is in poor ecological condition
    due to the fact that it is used to as an outfall from the Noosa wastewater treatment plant.
Based on the findings of the field surveys, none of the threatened or migratory fauna species identified in the
desktop assessment presented in Appendix B as being Known, Likely or Possible occurrences on the Site
would be likely to utilise the Site. Specifically in this respect it is noted that the Site:


8 August 2017                                         Cardno                                                       7