MCU14/0106 & OPW15/0001 Appendix F - Ecological and Bushfire Management Response

                                                                          Supplementary Ecological Assessment Report
                                                                                               Noosa Civic Expansion



Management of Brush Turkeys and Noisy Miners will be achieved through minimising the availability of food
resources for fauna within the open space area. These species only become nuisance species once they
have become accustomed to human interaction. An important management approach will therefore be to
educate the public through the use of signage and/or other material within the pedestrian link.

3.4             Impact and Control of Mosquitos within Open Air Spaces
The coastal wetlands that are located within and adjacent to the Noosa Civic site provide breeding habitats for
a diversity of mosquito species. Some of the mosquito species that would be expected to breed within adjacent
wetlands and potentially be encountered within the Noosa Civic site, and adjacent residential and commercial
areas, are recognised as pest species capable of adversely impacting upon human amenity and/or health.
The pest species most likely to be encountered at the Noosa Civic site include the following.
> Culex annulirostris which prefers to breed in ephemeral rain-filled ground pools. This species is found
  across most of coastal Australia, has a dispersal range of several kilometres, and is regarded as an
  important vector of several mosquito-borne viruses including Ross River and Barham Forest viruses.
  Existing residential and commercial developments within the Noosa Civic locality and beyond would be
  periodically exposed to this species. This is the species that is most likely to be encountered by staff and
  patrons of the Noosa Civic development.
> Aedes procax which is also a fresh-water breeding ground pool species. This species has a limited
  dispersal range but is considered to be an efficient vector of Ross River virus. This species is not expected
  to pose any significant risk to the Noosa Civic expansion as the proposed extension of Hofmann Drive will
  create an effective barrier to the dispersal of Ae. procax from the extensive paperbark wetlands located to
  the south. Whilst some breeding may occur within Covenant J the extent of suitable breeding habitats in
  this area is limited in extent and implementation of management measures, such as those discussed below,
  should maintain human exposure to acceptable levels.
> Verrallina funerea which typically breeds in paperbark wetlands often adjacent to tidally influenced areas
  such as Eenie Creek. Adults of this species prefer to harbour within dense vegetation associated with their
  breed habitats, are reluctant to traverse open ground and therefore generally have a limited dispersal range.
  This species is not expected to pose any significant risk to the Noosa Civic expansion as the proposed
  extension of Hofmann Drive will create an effective barrier to the dispersal of Ve. funerea from the extensive
  paperbark wetlands located to the south.
> Aedes vigilax, which breeds within saltmarsh habitats that are not free-draining and is a known vector of
  Ross River virus and Barmah Forest virus. The extent of suitable breeding habitat for this species in the
  immediate locality is limited, but the species is frequently encountered in high abundance up to 5km from
  suitable breeding habitats and may be found up to 50km from breeding areas under favourable conditions.
  Whilst Ae. vigilax may occasionally be encountered at the Noosa Civic site, the distance between the site
  and any extensive areas of suitable breeding habitat means that such events are likely to be infrequent and
  exposure levels would be no greater than those experienced within adjacent residential and commercial
  areas.
The Noosa Civic extension will remove some areas of existing mosquito breeding habitat for Cx. annulirostris
and Ae. procax as a consequence of the vegetation clearance and land form modifications that will be
associated with the development. Some potential breeding sites for these two species will be retained within
the Covenant J area. Whilst the extent of those retained habitats will be limited, mosquitoes will still be
encountered within and proximate to Covenant J which will provide a sheltered harbourage for mosquito
originating from within Covenant J and adjacent forest/wetland habitats to the south.

3.4.1           Management of Mosquitos
To ensure that the levels of adverse health and amenity risk exposure are minimised to the greatest practicable
extent, whilst still preserving the positive environmental and amenity values afforded by the retention of native
vegetation within Covenant J, the following management options are available to Centre management.

3.4.1.1         Monitoring
Monitoring of mosquitoes to confirm the species present and abundance levels. This information will assist in
determining:


28 April 2015                                        Cardno                                                       7