CAMCOS - Impact Assessment No. 2 - Bio-physical Working Paper Queensland Transport 2. Bio-physical Environment Working Paper 1.0 Introduction 2.0 Study Area 3.0 Data Collection 3.1 Terrestrial Flora 3.2 Terrestrial Fauna 3.3 Aquatic Flora/Fauna 3.4 Flood Hydraulics 3.5 Water Quality 3.6 Noise/Air Quality 4.0 Public Consultation 5.0 Geology, Soils and Geotechnics 5.1 Overview Of Geology And Soils In The Study Area 5.2 Geotechnical Constraints 5.3 Potentially Contaminated Land 5.4 Unexploded Ordinances 5.5 Construction Material Sources 6.0 Agriculture 6.1 Background 6.2 Methodology 6.3 Physical Influences On Agriculture In The Study Area 6.4 Good Quality Agricultural Land 6.5 Historical Trends And Influences/ Occurrences 6.6 Key Agricultural Practices 7.0 Forestry 7.1 Area And Species 7.2 History 7.3 Planting, Growing And Harvesting Of Exotic Pine Plantations 7.4 Processing 7.5 Regional Forestry Agreement 8.0 Ecology 8.1 Terrestrial Flora 8.2 Aquatic Flora 8.3 Terrestrial Fauna 8.4 Aquatic Fauna 8.5 Commercial/Recreational Fisheries 8.6 Biting Insect Habitats 9.0 Water Quality 9.1 Sensitive Waterways 9.2 Existing Surface Water Quality 9.3 Existing Surface And Groundwater Uses 10.0 Flood Hydraulics 10.1 Major Catchments And Floodplain Areas 11.0 Key Data Deficiencies CAMCOS - Impact Assessment No. 2 - Bio-physical Working Paper Queensland Transport 12.0 References 12.1 Textual References 12.2 Map References Tables Table 6.3a Soils Classification Table 6.3b Summary Of Factors Influencing Crop Growth Efficiency Table 6.3c Crop Requirements Table 6.4b Land Suitability Classification System Table 8.1a Priority Ratings for Vegetation Types Table 8.1b Rare and Threatened Plant Species Table 8.3a Status and General Habitat Requirements of Terrestrial Fauna of Conservation Significance within Study Region Table 8.4a Scientific, Common Names and Economic Value of Typical Fish Occurring in Estuaries Table 9.2a Summary of Existing Water Quality from Department of Environment Monitoring Sites Figures Figure 2.0 CAMCOS Study Area Figure 4.4a District Working Group Areas Figure 4.4b Memorandum of Understanding Figure 4.4c Project Framework Figure 5.1a 1:100 000 map sheet "Moreton Geology" Figure 6.3a Rural Zones Map Figure 6.4a SEQ2001 Study Good Quality Agricultural Land Figure 7.1a State Forest Areas Figure 8.1a Vegetation Map Figure 8.1b Rare And Threatened Plant Collection Locations Figure 8.1c Conservation Areas Figure 8.2a Designated QDPI Habitat Areas For The Maroochy River Figure 8.2b Designated QDPI Fish Habitat Areas For Bribie Island Figure 8.2c Mangrove And Saltmarsh Distribution Associated With the Maroochy River And Surrounds Figure 8.2d Seagrass Distribution Associated With The Maroochy River And Surrounds Figure 8.2e Mangrove And Saltmarsh Distribution Associated With The Mooloolah River District Figure 8.2f Mangrove, Saltmarsh And Seagrass Distribution Associated With Pumicestone Passage Figure 9.1a Waterways within the study area CAMCOS - Impact Assessment No. 2 - Bio-physical Working Paper Queensland Transport Appendix A A1.0 Government Policy On Agricultural Land Appendix B Table B1.0 State Forest In SEQ Appendix C C1.0 The Plantation Cycle Appendix D D1.0 Fauna Species In The Study Area CAMCOS - Impact Assessment No. 2 - Bio-physical Working Paper Queensland Transport 1.0 Introduction The Queensland Government has proposed a major initiative to investigate an integrated land use and transportation system for the Caboolture- Sunshine Coast region with the cooperation of the Caboolture, Caloundra and Maroochy Shire Councils. The development of an integrated transportation system challenges traditional approaches to urban management and to quality of life enhancements. New balances between the concentration of urban functions to achieve economics and the dispersion of human services to facilitate local ease of access need to be formulated and implemented. New ways of linking areas where people live and where they work have to be found to rein in the escalating costs of transport infrastructure currently needed for urban areas to operate. In response to these types of outcomes, there has been a clear recognition of the need to plan in an integrated way for transport and land use so that the distribution of human activity occurs in a manner which makes most efficient use of transport investment, and in turn, increase levels of accessibility and provide more livable communities. The former Commonwealth Better Cities Program has assisted in the clear identification of these objectives and priorities. This study provides an opportunity to apply these principles in the Sunshine Coast area, not only to achieve better outcomes for that specific area, but to demonstrate the benefits of an integrated approach to land use and transport planning for communities elsewhere. The CAMCOS Study recognises the fundamental importance of the complex interrelationship between transport networks and land use distribution. This has been increasingly acknowledged in recent years as central to achieving more livable and sustainable communities. This recognition has occurred both in the community generally and within levels of government, as well as within the professional groups involved in planning for transport and land use. Consequently, the traditional approach adopted in many transport planning initiatives which relied on catering for projected increased transport needs based on a continuation of land use and development trends is now widely acknowledged as an inappropriate way of planning for the future of our communities. This approach tends to perpetuate inefficient land use patterns, dependency on the private vehicle, and urban areas which are characterised by high energy usage (and therefore low sustainability), as well as a range of substantive social concerns. These social concerns result, in part, from a deterioration in the ability of particular groups of people in the community to sustain a lifestyle in which their need for access to supportive human services, employment opportunities, cultural and leisure activities is adequately met. Inefficient systems not only add to costs but also exacerbate disadvantages including environmental disadvantage. CAMCOS - Impact Assessment No. 2 - Bio-physical Working Paper Queensland Transport 1.1 Background to this Working Paper In order to address all potential issues and concerns related to CAMCOS the project team has created four working papers for public comment addressing: ö Planning And Land Use; ö The Bio-physical Environment; ö Social Environment; and ö Land Use/ Transport Strategy Projections. Following consultation these papers will form the basis of a Review of Environmental Factors Report. This document will update any deficiencies highlighted in the Working Papers and incorporate appropriate public comment. During this time it is also anticipated that potential corridors will be defined and disseminated for public comment. This Working Paper has been created in recognition of the need to consider factors related to the bio-physical environment. It is intended to provide an overall, comprehensive overview of the natural environment and the elements that characterise its’ bio-diversity, physical features and functions. A better understanding of the existing conditions will facilitate discussion of related issues and concerns during the CAMCOS study process. The project team recognises this as a key to an informed decision making process affecting people and the communities they live in within the study area. To achieve this goal the paper has been organised to focus on eight key areas of discussion including information on: ö Data Collection; ö Public Consultation; ö Geology, Soils and Geotechnics; ö Agriculture; ö Forestry; ö Ecology; ö Water Quality; and ö Flood Hydraulics; At this stage of the study these areas have primarily been approached from a regional or shire perspective. The information collected will assist in the refinement of the corridor analysis at a later point in the study process. CAMCOS - Impact Assessment No. 2 - Bio-physical Working Paper Queensland Transport 2.0 Study Area The Study Area for the first stage of the study process can be roughly defined as incorporating the Shire Councils of Caboolture, Caloundra and Maroochy. The boundaries of CAMCOS is provided graphically in Figure 2.0. For this stage of the CAMCOS project, the study area will primarily cover a region ranging from Landsborough eastwards to Bell’s Creek, northwards along the coastal plain from Caloundra to Maroochydore, and west to include the communities of Eudlo, Woombye and Nambour. As part of the corridor study process the study will also consider the implications of upgrading the existing north coast rail line to the south through Beerwah, Beerburrum to just north of Caboolture. As the study progresses, potential transportation corridors will be identified and then assessed in the second stage of the project. At this stage impacts, specific to the potential corridors will be considered and the study area will also be refined to reflect the more intensive investigation. This Working Paper will consider bio-physical issues which fall within the Study Area and significantly relate to the first stage of CAMCOS. CAMCOS - Impact Assessment No. 2 - Bio-physical Working Paper Queensland Transport 3.0 Data Collection 3.1 Terrestrial Flora Information on the flora of the study area was gathered from published and unpublished existing reports, studies and GIS information, drawn from a wide range of sources. The principal documents included: ö Vegetation Survey and Assessment of Landscapes within the Boundaries of the Maroochy Shire (Turnbull & Olsen 1992); ö The Vegetation Mosaic of Lands within the Boundaries of Caloundra City Council (Olsen & Drane 1993); ö Conservation status of Queensland's Bio-regional Ecosystems: Summary (QDEH 1995); ö Remnant Bushland of South East Queensland in the 1990's (Catterall & Kingston 1993); and ö Various digital (GIS layer) maps received from Caloundra City, Maroochy Shire, Cabooluture Shire and the SEQ 2001 Unit that include vegetation and conservation areas.