Attachment 3 - Koala Impact Assesssment

The evolution of the design at this site, reflecting advice across the separate
proposals over time, has been toward a design that retains as many trees as
possible, avoids impediments to the movement of koalas and augments habitat,
providing increased food availability, clear ecological management zones and
an enhanced outcome for koalas that may use the site. Strategic placement of
units should augment the area to the west of the property – moving from
iteration 2 to 4, units have been moved away from the boundary (and one set of
units abandoned altogether) to retain a significant group of trees (between
current units 2 and 3). Several stands of trees are now retained in strategic
locations, retaining a permeable vegetated landscape within the design area,
and reducing impacts at the boundary to the west and south of the property. It is
possible that further amendments in the detailed design will allow retention of
more trees – such as tree #44, which may be retained without creating a
blockage to movement of guests.


These actions are to be augmented with a weed control program, a planting
regime and attention to the replacement, where necessary, of diseased and
dying trees with healthy young trees. Trees that are in poor health and likely to
die or have very limited value as koala habitat will be replaced with healthy
young E. robusta, placed so as not to conflict with structures.


Weeding will focus on removing the climbing vines which are encompassing
canopies across the site and restricting movement through the site. Where
these vines have caused irreparable damage to the koala food trees, those
trees should (and are proposed to) be replaced, either in the same location or
as part of the planting regime. Plantings in the south of the property will provide
both a visual screen for the units and habitat for a range of species over time. E.
robusta is a fast-growing eucalypt in coastal conditions and should be preferred
as a species for planting due to its function as a food resource for koalas.




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                     Lot 3 on SP 126203 Report prepared for Aspect Architects June 2022