ELLIOT SPRINGS HILLTOP ESTATE
Ecological Assessment
PR122454-3 Elliot Springs Hilltop Estate 1.5 04 March 2019
rpsgroup.com
REPORT
Document status Review Version Purpose of document Authored by Reviewed by Approved by date
1 Internal Draft Report AF - 16-07-18
2 Draft Report for Client Review AF LL 20-07-18
Approval for issue
Anton Fitzgerald 12 March 2019
This report was prepared by RPS within the terms of RPS’ engagement with its client and in direct response to a scope of services. This report is supplied for the sole and specific purpose for use by RPS’ client. The report does not account for any changes relating the subject matter of the report, or any legislative or regulatory changes that have occurred since the report was produced and that may affect the report. RPS does not accept any responsibility or liability for loss whatsoever to any third party caused by, related to or arising out of any use or reliance on the report.
Prepared by: Prepared for:
RPS Lend Lease
Anton Fitzgerald Simon Walker Senior Environmental Scientist
Level 5, Central Plaza, 370 Flinders Street PO Box 1438 Townsville QLD 4810 Townsville QLD 4810
T +61 7 4724 4244 T 0408 084 900 E [email protected] E [email protected]
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Contents 1 INTRODUCTION ...... 1 1.1 Objectives...... 1 1.2 Scope of works ...... 3 1.3 Statutory considerations ...... 3 2 METHODS ...... 7 2.1 Desktop assessment ...... 7 2.2 Site inspection ...... 8 2.2.1 Vegetation and flora survey methods ...... 8 2.2.2 Bat detection methods ...... 8 2.2.3 Targeted survey for Northern quoll ...... 9 2.2.4 Opportunistic records ...... 9 3 RESULTS...... 10 3.1 Site description ...... 10 3.2 Site topography and drainage ...... 10 3.3 Geology and soils ...... 10 3.4 Vegetation communities ...... 13 3.4.1 Threatened ecological communities ...... 16 3.4.2 Field verified vegetation communities ...... 16 3.4.3 Threatened flora ...... 17 3.5 Fauna ...... 17 3.5.1 Threatened fauna ...... 17 3.5.2 Migratory species ...... 24 3.6 Aquatic ecosystems and wetlands ...... 24 3.6.1 Watercourses ...... 24 3.6.2 Wetlands ...... 27 3.7 Existing impacts ...... 27 4 ANALYSIS OF POTENTIAL IMPACTS AND PROPOSED MITIGATION ...... 29 4.1 Vegetation clearing and habitat loss ...... 29 4.1.1 Vegetation disposal ...... 30 4.2 Habitat fragmentation ...... 30 4.3 Edge effects ...... 30 4.4 Vehicle and machinery strike ...... 31 4.5 Invasive plants and animals ...... 31 4.6 Dust, noise, light and vibration ...... 32 4.7 Sedimentation of surface waters ...... 33 4.8 Chemical contamination of soils, groundwater and surface water...... 33 5 LEGISLATIVE CONSTRAINTS AND REQUIREMENTS ...... 34 5.1 State legislation ...... 34 5.1.1 Matters of state environmental significance ...... 34 5.2 Federal legislation ...... 40 5.2.1 Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act ...... 40 6 SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS ...... 47 7 REFERENCES ...... 50
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Tables Table 1: Relevant environmental statutory considerations ...... 3 Table 2: Description of vegetation classifications ...... 13 Table 3: Regional Ecosystem Descriptions ...... 13 Table 4: Vegetation community description –Ironbark open woodland ...... 16 Table 5: Wildlife online records of threatened flora species (10 km search radius) ...... 17 Table 6: Threatened fauna that have the potential to occur on the site (desktop assessment only) ...... 18 Table 7: Assessment of the project area ...... 22 Table 8: Migratory species that have the potential to occur on site ...... 24 Table 9: Bioregional clearing impacts ...... 29 Table 10: Matters of state environmental significance assessment ...... 35 Table 11: Significant Impact Assessment – Northern Quoll ...... 42 Table 12: Significant Impact Assessment - Bare-Rumped Sheathtail Bat ...... 44 Table 13: Summary of findings ...... 47 Table 14: Threatened ecological communities likelihood assessment ...... 60 Table 15: Threatened flora likelihood of occurrence ...... 62 Table 16: Threatened and migratory fauna likelihood of occurrence ...... 65 Table 17: Flora Species List ...... 75
Figures Figure 1: Site Location ...... 2 Figure 2: Fauna Survey Location ...... 11 Figure 3: Elevation and Drainage Map ...... 12 Figure 4: Regional Ecosystem Mapping (Version 10.1) ...... 15 Figure 5: Watercourse mapping ...... 26
Appendices Appendix A Protected plants flora survey trigger map ...... 55 Appendix B Wildlife online search results ...... 56 Appendix C EPBC Protected Matters search results ...... 57 Appendix D Beat echolocation call analysis ...... 58 Appendix E Likelihood assessment –Threatened ecological communities ...... 59
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Appendix F Threatened flora desktop likelihood assessment ...... 61 Appendix G Threatened and migratory fauna likelihood of occurrence ...... 64 Appendix H Flora Species List ...... 74 Appendix I Landscape Fragmentation Tool Results...... 77
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1 INTRODUCTION RPS Australia East Pty Ltd (RPS) has been engaged by Lendlease Communities (Townsville) Pty Ltd (Lendlease) to undertake an environmental assessment for the proposed Elliot Springs Hilltop Environmental Residential Sector (HERS), to be located on the northern range of the Elliot Springs Masterplanned Community, approximately 15 minutes south-east of the Townsville CBD (Figure 1). The total area of proposed development area is proposed is approximately 25.2ha, including a buffer area of 10ha surrounding the proposed estate which will be managed in accordance with the Bushfire Hazard Management Plan (RPS 2019). The HERS estate is located within the Elliot Springs conservation corridor on an undulating natural plateau, approximately 500m southwest of Julago. The HERS project area was selected for this relatively level topography and is the only feasible location as steep terrain located adjacent to the HERS is considered a constraint for residential development. Access to the HERS will be via two (2) small residential roads, the first of which approaches the HERS from the south-east (access A) and the second from the south (access B). Site selection for the access roads follow suitable topographical features (i.e. flat ridgelines) and avoids landforms where construction would be difficult and cost prohibitive (i.e. steep slopes, watercourses etc.). A network of recreational walking tracks throughout the conservation area will also provide several access points to the HERS. Alternative sites are not available within the conservation corridor due to the topographical, environmental (particularly connectivity) and cost constraints associated with development in other areas. 1.1 Objectives The objectives of the ecological assessment are to describe the ecological values of the survey area, identify potential environmental constraints and opportunities relating to development of the HERS and ancillary infrastructure with consideration to relevant statutory requirements and will include an assessment of the following: • Threatened species and ecological communities listed as matters of national environmental significance (MNES) under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act); • Threatened species listed under the Nature Conservation Act 1992 (NC Act); • Matters of state environmental significance (MSES) under Queensland legislation; • Regulated vegetation under the Vegetation Management Act 1999; • Aquatic ecosystems and wetlands; and • Other ecologically significant issues. The ecological assessment will also provide supporting information for a referral of the proposed action to the Department of the Environment and Energy (DotEE). The most commonly used style is Body Text. It is important to select Body Text for the bulk of the content as it has pre-set before and after spacing and expanded line spacing to create consistent paragraph spacing. Enter down and type on the very next line – an automatic paragraph.
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Legend (! SITE LOCATION BUSHFIRE HAZARD SETBACK CONSERVATION AREA BOUNDARY PROPOSED HILLTOP RESIDENTIAL ESTATE SUBJECT SITE RESERVOIRS HILLTOP RESIDENTIAL ACCESS ROADS QUEENSLAND CADASTRE
RPS Australia East Pty Ltd CLIENT Source: Department of Natural Resources & Mines - Cadastral data fortnightly extract © State of Queensland (Department ACN 140 292 762 of Natural Resources and Mines) 2014. ABN 44 140 292 76 LEND LEASE Disclaimer: While all reasonable care has been taken to ensure the information contained on this map is up to date Suite 1, Central Plaza and accurate, no guarantee is given that the information portrayed is free from error or omission. 370 Flinders Street Please verify the accuracy of all information prior to use. (PO Box 977) Townsville QLD 4810 FIGURE 1: SITE LOCATION PLAN Coordinate System: GDA 1994 MGA Zone 55 © COPYRIGHT PROTECTS THIS PLAN. T +61 7 4724 4244 Projection: Transverse Mercator Unauthroised reproduction or amendment W rpsgroup.com.au Datum: GDA 1994 not permitted. Please contact the author. 0 290 580 870 1,160 Meters Document Name: 122454-3-1-E-Location Plan Ref Rev Sheet 122454-3-01 E A3 Reference Scale: 1:8,000 Date: 1/03/2019 Author: AF Project Manager: LL REPORT
1.2 Scope of works The scope of the study included the following: • Undertake a desktop assessment of background information and legislative/policy documents; • Undertake a site investigation to describe the vegetation communities’ present within and adjacent to the HERS and identify and record potential habitat for threatened species and ecological communities; • Undertake targeted surveys for threatened species with a potential to occur in the project area; • Prepare a report detailing, methodology and results of the assessment; • Discuss the potential impacts of development and potential legislative constraints and requirements; and • Provide a discussion of recommendations for an approval pathway and any additional works. 1.3 Statutory considerations The following legislation, policy, guidelines and guidance documents provided in Table 1 are relevant to identifying the impacts and constraints relevant to the site and provide guidance in the assessment of the ecological values of the site.
Table 1: Relevant environmental statutory considerations
Legislative Act Brief Description
Commonwealth Legislation
Environment Protection and The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act 1999 Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 provides a mechanism for assessing the environmental impact of activities (EPBC Act) and development where “Matters of National Environmental Significance” (MNES) may be significantly affected. The Act identifies eight matters of MNES, which require consideration and analysis, including: • Ramsar wetland of international importance; • World Heritage properties; • National Heritage places; • Commonwealth Marine areas; • Great Barrier Reef Marine Park; • Nationally threatened species and ecological communities; • Nationally listed migratory species; and • Nuclear actions (including uranium mining). Where a project or action is believed to potentially cause a significant impact on a matter of MNES, it is to be referred to the Australian Government Department of Environment (DoE) for assessment as to whether the action is a ‘controlled action’ requiring Commonwealth approval for the proposed action. The EPBC Act processes also allow voluntary referral of a Project to seek confirmation that a Project will not have significant impacts on matters of MNES. Where an action requires Commonwealth approval, a formal
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Legislative Act Brief Description
assessment process is undertaken in accordance with provisions of relevant legislation. State Legislation
Nature Conservation Act 1992 (NC The Nature Conservation Act 1992 (NCA) aims to conserve nature through Act) strategies such as dedicating and declaring protected areas for those parts of Queensland with outstanding biological diversity, natural features and wilderness values. The Act provides for the protection of near threatened, vulnerable and endangered animals and plants. Nature Conservation (Wildlife) Regulation 2006. In support of the purpose and the provisions of the NCA, the Nature Conservation (Wildlife) Regulation 2006 lists all flora and fauna species which are considered to be ‘extinct in the wild’, ‘endangered’, ‘Vulnerable, ‘Near Threatened’ and ‘Least Concern’ wildlife. Vegetation Management Act 1999 The VM Act is the planning initiative underlying regional management of (VM Act) vegetation in Queensland, including clearing of vegetation types, termed Regional Ecosystems (REs). • The RE classification is a hierarchical system formed by a three-part code with the primary subdivision being bioregion, followed by land zone, and then vegetation. The biogeographic region or bioregion is the primary level of classification for biodiversity values in Queensland describing where the RE is found on a state-wide basis. Land zones are geological and geomorphic categories that describe the major geologies and landforms of Queensland. The system is based primarily on geology, with geologic age also an important determinant; • The status of REs is based on their pre-clearing and remnant extent, and is gazetted under the Act and listed in the RE Description Database (REDD) maintained by the Queensland Department of Environment and Science (DES); and • The Act aims to conserve remnant endangered and of concern REs, prevent land degradation and further loss of biodiversity, manage the environmental impacts of clearing vegetation and reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases. The VMA status of an RE is described below: – Endangered. an RE that is prescribed under the regulation and has either of the following attributes: 1. Less than 10% of its pre-clearing extent remaining; or 2. From 10% to 30% of its pre-clearing extent remaining and the remnant vegetation remaining is less than 10,000ha. – Of concern. an RE that is prescribed under the regulation and has either of the following attributes: 1. From 10% to 30% of its pre-clearing extent remaining; or 2. More than 30% of its pre-clearing extent remaining and the remnant vegetation remaining is less than 10,000 ha; or – Least concern. an RE that is prescribed under the regulation and has more than 30% of its pre-clearing extent remaining and the remnant vegetation remaining is more than 10,000ha; or – The biodiversity status of an RE is classified by DEHP based on the condition of remnant vegetation. A RE will have a vegetation management status and/or a biodiversity status of endangered, of concern or least concern; or – Essential Habitat.
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Legislative Act Brief Description The VMA also has provision for the regulation of essential habitat for species of state significance. Essential habitat (mapped by DES) is vegetation in which a listed species has been known to occur. Clearing or disturbance to areas of essential habitat will require compensatory habitat measures to be developed. For the project development area, core habitat has been used to describe the combination of critical or essential habitat for both national or state listed significant species. Water Act 2000 (Water Act) The Water Act 2000 (Water Act) provides for the sustainable management of water and other resources, a regulatory framework for water sewerage services, and the establishment and operation of water authorities. The Water Act governs the construction, control and management of works with respect to water conservation and protection, irrigation, drainage, water supply, flood control and prevention. The Water Act regulates the destruction/ disturbance of freshwater riverine vegetation in the bed and banks of Department of Natural Resources, Mines and Energy (DNRME) watercourses. Section 266 of the Water Act identifies that: A person may apply to the chief executive for a permit to do any or all of the following activities: • Destroy vegetation in a watercourse, lake or spring; • Excavate in a watercourse, lake or spring; and • Place fill in a watercourse, lake or spring. Destruction of vegetation in accordance with the Water Act is “…the removing, clearing, killing, cutting down, felling, ringbarking, digging up, pushing over, pulling over or poisoning of the vegetation”. In accordance with the Water Act, watercourses are determined as watercourses by the DNRM through topographical mapping, aerial imagery and a possible onsite assessment. Queensland Fisheries Act 1994 The Fisheries Act 1994 (Fisheries Act) provides for the use, conservation (Fisheries Act) and enhancement of the community’s fisheries resources and fish habitat by providing for, amongst other things, the protection of fish habitats. The Fisheries Act has been integrated into the Sustainable Planning Act 2009 (SP Act) so that development permits under the SP Act are required for certain operational works that are assessable development under the SP Act. Operational Works that are assessable development under the SP Act include waterway barrier works and works in a declared fish habitat. Environmental Offsets Act 2014 On 1 July 2014, a new environmental offsets framework was introduced in (Offsets Act) Queensland. The new framework streamlines environmental offsets by providing an outcome-based approach to offsets, removing the complexities and duplication associated with the former offsets framework and aligning offsets across all three levels of government. The new framework includes: • Environmental Offsets Act 2014 which coordinates the delivery of environmental offsets across jurisdictions is the overarching legislation for offsets in Queensland; • Environmental Offsets Regulation 2014 which provides details of the prescribed activities regulated under existing legislation and prescribed environmental matters to which the Act applies; and • Queensland Environmental Offsets Policy which provides a single, consistent, whole-of-government policy for the assessment of offset proposals provided by authority holders to satisfy offset conditions.
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Legislative Act Brief Description The new policy provides greater flexibility in relation to how offsets can be delivered including: • Financial settlement calculated using the Financial Settlement Offset Calculator; • Land-based offsets; and • Offsets delivered as actions in a Direct Benefit Management Plan. • Or a combination of these approaches. Where offset conditions specify, staged offsets can also be delivered. The policy also introduces a more strategic approach to offset delivery through the introduction of Strategic Offset Investment Corridors and Direct Benefit Management Plans (DBMP). This more strategic approach is intended to lead to greater benefits for the environment and will provide more opportunities for landholders to receive income in return for voluntarily agreeing to manage their land, or part of their land, as an offset.
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2 METHODS 2.1 Desktop assessment The desktop assessment involved a review of relevant environmental documents, databases, scientific journals, books, technical reports, maps and legislation (Commonwealth, State and Local) to identify the ecological values that potentially occur within and surrounding the project area. This review included an assessment of the following information: • Rocky Springs Concept Plan and Proposed Western Access alignment 26052/015A. • Rocky Springs – Western Access Environmental Assessment (RPS 2015). • Existing reports, including the Rocky Springs EPBC referral (2007), Rocky Springs Ecological Assessment Report (Hassall 2008a), Rocky Springs Threatened Species Management Plan for the black throated finch and squatter pigeon (Hassall 2008b), Rocky Springs Bat Survey (Natural Solutions 2008), Rocky Springs Flora Survey (Jackes 1994), and Rocky Springs Estate Fauna Survey (Calvert 1994). • Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities (DSEWPaC) approval for Rocky Springs (EPBC 2007/3574). • Review of relevant reports relating to threatened species potentially occurring, including: – Quolls in the Townsville area: a summary of current knowledge (Burnett 2008); – National recovery plan for the black-throated finch southern subspecies (2007); – Habitat management guidelines for the black‐throated finch (2011); and – Rare and threatened plants of the Townsville-Thuringowa region (Calvert et al 2005). • Aerial Photograph Interpretation (API) to determine the broad categorisation of vegetation within and surrounding the site and to review the extent of historical clearing and land use, and any other significant environmental features such as watercourses and wetlands (Figure 2). • Regulated vegetation management map: The most recent version of the DNRME Regulated Vegetation Management mapping (2015) including regional ecosystems (Version 10.1), essential habitat mapping (Version 7.07) (Figure 4). • Referable Wetlands mapping. The referable wetlands mapping produced by the DES was reviewed to provide an indication of the occurrence and location of any wetland management areas (comprising significant wetlands and a 100m wetland buffer area) in relation to the landforms of the site (Figure 5). • DES protected plants flora survey trigger map (Appendix A). • Wildlife online database of flora and fauna. This database holds records of plants and animals that have either been sighted or collected within a given radius of the site (a search parameter was prescribed limiting the search area to a 10 km radius around an approximate central point of the site (-19.367 146.885). Records held in this database are maintained by DES (Appendix B). • Atlas of Living Australia species records review (AoLA, 2016).
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• Protected matters database of Matters of NES. This database applies a range of bio-models to predict the presence of species of flora and fauna and other matters of NES within a given radius of the site (a search parameter was prescribed limiting the search area to a 5km radius around an approximate central point of the study area (-19.367 146.885) (Appendix C). • Review of relevant legislation and associated plans and policies, including but not limited to the EPBC Act, NC Act, VM Act, Water Act, Fisheries Act and Offsets Act. 2.2 Site inspection A preliminary ecological site inspection of the project area was undertaken by RPS ecologists Laurence Liessmann and Anton Fitzgerald on 24 August 2018. A ground traverse of the proposed clearing footprint was undertaken, including examination of vegetation and fauna habitat. Flora and fauna species were recorded, with GPS positions recorded at community boundaries and the location of significant species or habitat. Following the preliminary site inspection, a desktop assessment was undertaken that predicted the potential occurrence of several threatened species, where targeted fauna surveys were conducted between 29 October and 19 November 2018.
2.2.1 Vegetation and flora survey methods Vegetation communities discernible in the field were surveyed using the outline for recording quaternary type information as defined by the ‘Methodology for survey and mapping of regional ecosystems and vegetation communities in Queensland’ (Nelder et al. 2012). Representative survey sites were selected using aerial imagery and a review of available literature to ensure that all vegetation communities in the project area were adequately surveyed. Where possible the probable locations of important/sensitive habitats were identified. Stratified descriptions of each community were recorded and all vascular plants identified during the survey are provided in Appendix H. The habitat assessment focused on identifying the broad habitat features typically associated with threatened flora species that might potentially occur in the project area.
2.2.2 Bat detection methods Two (2) acoustic bat detection devices (Songmeter SM2+ bat) were positioned within the project area to confirm the presence and species composition of microbats Figure 2. Each unit was deployed for at least four nights and programmed to turn on at sunset and record for a 12-hour period. Each device was positioned within potential flyways within the range of vegetation communities present in the project area. Calls were analysed and identified by Balance! Environmental (Appendix D) using the cluster analysis function of Kaleidoscope Pro to group calls with similar pulse characteristics (based on zero-crossing analysis). The clusters were then manually scanned in spectrogram view and allocated either to single species or groups of difficult-to-differentiate species (“unresolved calls”). The manual verification of call identities was based on comparison of call spectrograms and derived metrics with those of reference calls from northern Queensland and/or with published call descriptions (e.g. Reinhold et al. 2001; Milne 2002). Identifications were made by categorising call shape and
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frequency, with a species match given in consideration to region, known bat distributions and habitats present.
2.2.3 Targeted survey for Northern quoll To determine presence-absence of northern quoll, twenty-three (23) remote cameras were deployed in suitable habitat, including areas of rock outcrops and in protected gullies. Each camera trap was deployed for between seven (7) and thirty-four (34) nights with a total survey effort of 534 trap nights. The location of camera survey points is shown in Figure 2. Camera traps were mounted to tree trunks at approximately 1m - 2m and baited with chicken portions in a tamper-proof container. Traps were rebaited at least twice over the survey period. Active searches for D. hallucatus scats and latrine sites were undertaken during foot-traversals of the site including setting out and retrieving remote cameras.
2.2.4 Opportunistic records Opportunistic sightings of secondary indications of fauna presence were noted. Photographic records were taken where possible. Indications of fauna presence can include: • Distinctive scats and scents left by mammals; • Nests constructed by various guilds of birds; • Skeletal material of vertebrate fauna; • The calls of fauna; • Footprints left by mammals and birds; and • Scratch marks of mammals and arboreal reptiles (e.g. monitors). Fauna was also confirmed at night using vehicle headlights during road traverses at low speed.
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3 RESULTS 3.1 Site description The project area is located within the Townsville City Council Local Government Area on part of Lot 12 on SP243847, Julago (Figure 1) and access roads will intersect allotments 12SP243847, 463E12493 and 2EP679. The total area of the lots on which the development is proposed is approximately 317ha. The property and surrounds are rural, consisting of grazed rangelands, remnant woodlands and small residential communities. An aerial photograph of the site and surrounds is provided in Figure 2. 3.2 Site topography and drainage The HERS is located on an undulating plateau oriented north-west to south-east, where the HERS ranges in elevation from approximately 150m AHD to 200m AHD. Adjacent land drops steeply to the northeast and northwest and south-west (>20o), less so along the ridgelines to the south and southeast (15 – 20o) (Figure 3). The project area is located within the Ross River drainage basin sub-area and site drainage is via three well defined gullies to the north-west, south-west and south-east of the project area (Figure 3). These watercourses are tributaries of Stuart Creek, which is located to the south-west of the project area. As the watercourses are located within the headwater source of the Stuart Creek catchment, the watercourses are highly ephemeral and only contain flowing water for short durations following rainfall.
3.3 Geology and soils Under the regional ecosystem (RE) framework, the project area is mapped as land zone 12 – Mesozoic to Proterozoic igneous rocks, which is consistent with the geology of the area. Geological mapping of the area identifies the site as Julago Volcanics, an early Permian stratified unit of mixed mafites and felsites. A lithological summary of the rock unit describes a complex geology including the presence of rhylitic to andesitic lava, tuff, volcanic beccia, agglomerate, some conglomerate, sandstone, siltstone, shale and coal seams (Queensland Globe, Queensland Detailed Surface Geology Mapping, 2018). Soils in the project area were mapped during the Soil survey of the Townsville coastal plains (1:100,000) (Murtha 1975). The project area is mapped as M1 which comprises a range of soil types including shallow to deep uniform sands, coarse massive earths and red duplex soils. The description is generally consistent with the soil types observed.
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Legend (! REMOTE CAMERA SITES (! SITE LOCATION 23 (! MICROBAT SURVEY SITES (! BUSHFIRE HAZARD SETBACK CONSERVATION AREA BOUNDARY PROPOSED HILLTOP RESIDENTIAL ESTATE SUBJECT SITE RESERVOIRS HILLTOP RESIDENTIAL ACCESS ROADS QUEENSLAND CADASTRE
RPS Australia East Pty Ltd CLIENT Source: Department of Natural Resources & Mines - Cadastral data fortnightly extract © State of Queensland (Department ACN 140 292 762 of Natural Resources and Mines) 2014. ABN 44 140 292 76 LEND LEASE Disclaimer: While all reasonable care has been taken to ensure the information contained on this map is up to date Suite 1, Central Plaza and accurate, no guarantee is given that the information portrayed is free from error or omission. 370 Flinders Street Please verify the accuracy of all information prior to use. (PO Box 977) Townsville QLD 4810 FIGURE 2: FAUNA SURVEY SITES Coordinate System: GDA 1994 MGA Zone 55 © COPYRIGHT PROTECTS THIS PLAN. T +61 7 4724 4244 Projection: Transverse Mercator Unauthroised reproduction or amendment W rpsgroup.com.au Datum: GDA 1994 not permitted. Please contact the author. 0 210 420 630 840 Meters Document Name: 122454-3-17-A-HilltopAerial Plan Ref Rev Sheet 122454-3-17 A A3 Reference Scale: 1:6,000 Date: 1/03/2019 Author: AF Project Manager: LL ± (!
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RPS Australia East Pty Ltd CLIENT Source: Department of Natural Resources & Mines - Cadastral data fortnightly extract © State of Queensland (Department ACN 140 292 762 of Natural Resources and Mines) 2014. ABN 44 140 292 76 LEND LEASE Disclaimer: While all reasonable care has been taken to ensure the information contained on this map is up to date Suite 1, Central Plaza and accurate, no guarantee is given that the information portrayed is free from error or omission. 370 Flinders Street Please verify the accuracy of all information prior to use. (PO Box 977) Townsville QLD 4810 FIGURE 3: TOPOGRAPHY AND DRAINAGE MAP Coordinate System: GDA 1994 MGA Zone 55 © COPYRIGHT PROTECTS THIS PLAN. T +61 7 4724 4244 Projection: Transverse Mercator Unauthroised reproduction or amendment W rpsgroup.com.au Datum: GDA 1994 not permitted. Please contact the author. 0 290 580 870 1,160 Meters Document Name: 122454-3-18-A-HilltopTopography Plan Ref Rev Sheet 122454-3-18 A A3 Reference Scale: 1:8,000 Date: 1/03/2019 Author: AF Project Manager: LL REPORT
3.4 Vegetation communities Regulated vegetation mapping in Queensland divides vegetation into three broad categories: remnant, non-remnant and high value regrowth vegetation. The map shows areas that are assessable and non- assessable under the provisions of the VMA. Table 2 outlines the definitions of each of these categories.
Table 2: Description of vegetation classifications
Vegetation classification Definition
Remnant Vegetation (Category A) Areas subject to compliance notices, offsets and voluntary declarations.
Remnant Vegetation (Category B) Remnant vegetation is vegetation which has never been cleared or vegetation which has been cleared but has regrown to meet the following: • 50% of the original undisturbed canopy cover; • 70% of the original undisturbed canopy height; and • Composed of the same floristic species that would exist if the vegetation community were undisturbed. Reef Regrowth watercourse Native woody vegetation on freehold land, Indigenous land or leasehold land vegetation (Category R) granted for agriculture or grazing purposes, located within 50 metres of a watercourse in the Burdekin, Mackay, Whitsunday and Wet Tropics Great Barrier Reef catchments (if there is no native vegetation within 50 metres of a regrowth watercourse, the code does not apply). High Value Regrowth Vegetation Category C regrowth vegetation is an area on leasehold land granted for (Category C) agricultural or grazing purposes that has regrowth vegetation (not remnant vegetation), that is either a least concern, of concern or endangered regional ecosystem, and has not been cleared in the last 15 years. Non-remnant Vegetation (Category Non-remnant vegetation is vegetation which has been cleared and has not X) yet regrown to the meet the definition of remnant vegetation.
Remnant vegetation communities (Category A and Category B) and high value regrowth (Category C) in Queensland are classified into Regional Ecosystems (RE) for the administration of the VM Act. Sattler and Williams (1999) describe regional ecosystems as:
“Communities of vegetation that are consistently associated with a particular combination of geology, land form and soil in a bioregion”. A review of the current RE mapping has determined that the project area includes remnant vegetation and subject to the provisions of the VM Act. The REs mapped within the project area are described in Table 3.
Table 3: Regional Ecosystem Descriptions
Regional Community Description VMA Status Ecosystem 11.12.9 Eucalyptus platyphylla, Corymbia dallachiana, C. tessellaris and E. Lease concern drepanophylla woodland. Corymbia clarksoniana, Eucalyptus drepanophylla and E. platyphylla dominate the woodland canopy. Other species sometimes present are Corymbia erythrophloia, C. dallachiana, Eucalyptus tereticornis, E. exserta and C. tessellaris. On Mt Burrumbush, E. acmenoides is present. The shrub layer is sparse to
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Regional Community Description VMA Status Ecosystem moderately dense, and may include Acacia leptostachya, Planchonia careya, Flueggea virosa subsp. melanthesoides, Albizia procera, Larsenaikia ochreata, Dodonaea viscosa, Pandanus spiralis and Coelospermum reticulatum. The ground layer is dominated by grasses up to 2 metres high. Species include Heteropogon triticeus, Heteropogon contortus, Mnesithea rottboellioides, Themeda triandra and Sorghum nitidum. Other ground layer species include Chamaecrista absus var. absus, Cajanus reticulatus and Grewia retusifolia. Occurs on lower slopes of Mesozoic to Proterozoic igneous rocks.
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Legend (! SITE LOCATION 11.3.35 BUSHFIRE HAZARD SETBACK VM ACT WATERCOURSES (VERSION 1.4) CONSERVATION AREA BOUNDARY PROPOSED HILLTOP RESIDENTIAL ESTATE SUBJECT SITE REGIONAL ECOSYSTEM MAPPING (V10.1) LeastC non-rem RESERVOIRS 11.3.35 HILLTOP RESIDENTIAL ACCESS ROADS non-rem QUEENSLAND CADASTRE ELEVATION CONTOURS (10M INTERVALS) non-rem
RPS Australia East Pty Ltd CLIENT Source: Department of Natural Resources & Mines - Cadastral data fortnightly extract © State of Queensland (Department ACN 140 292 762 of Natural Resources and Mines) 2014. ABN 44 140 292 76 LEND LEASE Disclaimer: While all reasonable care has been taken to ensure the information contained on this map is up to date Suite 1, Central Plaza and accurate, no guarantee is given that the information portrayed is free from error or omission. 370 Flinders Street Please verify the accuracy of all information prior to use. (PO Box 977) FIGURE 4: REGIONAL ECOSYSTEM Townsville QLD 4810 Coordinate System: GDA 1994 MGA Zone 55 © COPYRIGHT PROTECTS THIS PLAN. T +61 7 4724 4244 MAPPING (V10.1) Projection: Transverse Mercator Unauthroised reproduction or amendment W rpsgroup.com.au Datum: GDA 1994 not permitted. Please contact the author. 0 210 420 630 840 Meters Document Name: 122454-3-3-D-RE Plan Ref Rev Sheet 122454-3-3 D A3 Reference Scale: 1:6,000 Date: 1/03/2019 Author: AF Project Manager: LL REPORT
3.4.1 Threatened ecological communities Listed threatened ecological communities (TEC) are matters of national environmental significance (protected matters) under the EPBC Act. There are currently three listing categories for TECs: critically endangered, endangered and vulnerable. The results of the protected matters database search (Appendix C) identified one TEC that is modelled to occur in the project area; Semi-evergreen vine thickets of the Brigalow Belt (North and South) and Nandewar Bioregions. The TEC is not present in the project area or on adjacent land. A description of the community is provided in Appendix E.
3.4.2 Field verified vegetation communities The field survey confirmed that vegetation within the project area is consistent with the RE shown in the RE mapping Version 10.1 (RE mapping), specifically RE 11.12.9. All communities are classified as least concern under the VM Act.
3.4.2.1 Eucalypt open woodland Approximately 16.5ha of eucalypt open forest occurs in the project area (i.e. hilltop residential sector and access tracks). This habitat type contains one regional ecosystem as detailed Table 2. This habitat type follows elevated sections of the conservation corridor shown in Figure 4, including the hilltop plateau, midslope and lower slopes. The community consists of an open woodland heavily dominated by narrow-leaved ironbark (Eucalyptus crebra), which is analogous with RE 11.12.9. A summary of the structural characteristics and species composition of the communities is provided in Table 4. It should be noted that the site was very dry at the time of the survey and the ground layer diversity appeared to be lower than would be usually expected for this community. A complete species list is provided in Appendix H.
Table 4: Vegetation community description –Ironbark open woodland
Layer Canopy Height Median Species List Density Range Height
Tree 1 (T1) Mid-dense 15-25m 20m Eucalyptus crebra (dominant), Corymbia clarksoniana (scattered), Corymbia dallachiana (scattered), Eucalyptus platyphylla (occassional) Tree 2 (T2) Mid-dense 10-12m 11m E. crebra (dominant), Corymbia clarksoniana
Shrub 1 (S1) Sparse to 1-3m 2m Ziziphus mauritiana (dominant) with recruitment of dense canopy species Ground (G) Dense 0-1.5m 1.2m Hyptis suaveolens, Sida cordifolia and Heteropogon triticeus (co-dominant), Heteropogan contortus and Lomandra. longifolia.
* = exotic; canopy density terminology from Walker and Hopkins (1990) Vegetation. in Australian Soil and Land Survey Field Handbook. CSIRO Publishing.
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3.4.3 Threatened flora Desktop searches for threatened flora and fauna species that may occur in the locality were undertaken using the MNES Protected Matters database (Appendix C) and the Wildlife Online database (Appendix B) using a 10km radius of the site. In total, five nationally threatened flora species were returned from the protected matters database. The wildlife online report returned known records of three species, including one EPBC Act listed species and two NC Act listed species (Table 5). We note that the EPBC protected matters report utilises a combination of known records and modelled environmental data to predict species occurrence, but this does not necessarily indicate species presence. A description of each species habitat and an assessment of the species likelihood of occurrence is provided in Appendix F. The likelihood of occurrence was assessed with consideration of their known ecological requirements, the habitat value of the project area, the presence of local records and the current environmental conditions of the site. Whilst there is one local record of Croton magneticus, habitat is not considered suitable for the species, however, marginal habitat for Eucalyptus paedoglauca and Sanantha papillosa is considered to occur in the project area.
Table 5: Wildlife online records of threatened flora species (10 km search radius)
Species name Common name NC Act Status EPBC Act Status Species Records*
Croton magneticus Vulnerable - 1
Eucalyptus paedoglauca Mt. Stuart ironbark Vulnerable Vulnerable 1
Sanantha papillosa Endangered - 3
The legislative implications in relation to threatened plants occurring within the project area are addressed in Section 5 of this report. 3.5 Fauna 3.5.1 Threatened fauna Desktop searches for threatened flora and fauna species potentially occurring within the locality were undertaken using the Wildlife Online database (Appendix B) and the Protected Matters database of Matters of NES (Appendix C). Each species was assessed for their likelihood of occurrence, based on the known ecological requirements of the species and the current environmental conditions and habitat values of the site (Appendix G). Of the species assessed, five (5) threatened species and one (1) terrestrial special least concern species (NC Act) are considered to potentially occur within the project area (Table 6). Local records (within 10km of the site) of four (4) threatened species and one (1) terrestrial special least concern species were returned from the wildlife online database search (Appendix E). The small number of records may be due to a lack of local survey effort and should not be used as an indicative measure of threatened species presence/absence.
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Table 6: Threatened fauna that have the potential to occur on the site (desktop assessment only)
Species name Common name NC Act Status EPBC Act Status
Dasyurus hallucatus Northern Quoll - Endangered
Erythrotriorchis radiatus* Red goshawk Endangered Vulnerable
Geophaps scripta scripta* Squatter pigeon Vulnerable Vulnerable
Phascolarctos cinereus Koala Vulnerable Vulnerable
Saccolaimus saccolaimus Bare-rumped sheathtail Endangered Vulnerable nudicluniatus* bat Tachyglossus aculeatus* Short-beaked echidna Special least concern -
* Species recorded within 10km of the project area.
3.5.1.1 Threatened fauna habitat assessment and survey results A field assessment of the habitat value was undertaken with consideration of critical microhabitat features relevant to threatened species with a focus on tree hollows, large logs, leaf litter, caves and exposed rock outcrops which have significance as denning, breeding and nesting sites for a range of threatened species. The woodland habitat assessed supported few critical microhabitat features at the time of the field investigation. Hollow-bearing trees such as E. platyphylla or large E. crebra were extremely rare within the project area, providing limited opportunity for hollow-dwelling species including microbats, forest owls and arboreal mammals such as gliders. Surface water in the form of springs, waterholes and dams was absent from the project area at the time of the survey. Water provides a critical resource enabling animals to regulate body temperature and osmotic balance and is an important factor influencing species richness. The absence of springs, waterholes and dams within and immediately adjacent to the project area provides local fauna limited opportunity to hydrate which disadvantages certain small mammals, granivorous birds and amphibans, including target species such as northern quoll, squatter pigeon and bare-rumped sheathtail bat. Boulder and rock piles, whilst present, do not form a significant microhabitat feature in the project area. In almost all instances granitic outcrops are only slightly exposed with few interstial spaces available for denning animals. The paucity of denning opportunities has implications on the presence and potential density of target species such as northern quoll and as such, habitat for this species is considered marginal within the project area. We note that adjacent habitats, particularly in the vicinity of watercourses, where the erosive forces of flowing water have exposed underlying boulders, provided more suitable habitat. Coarse woody debris (CWD) including logs and large branches that lie on the soil surface or are partly buried provide both a significant habitat opportunity and potential food source for a range species, particularly as the decomposition process progresses and arthropod populations increase in response. Hollow logs are therefore particularly important for species that den at ground level. Arthropodivorous species such as the targeted northern quoll are likely to forage within and around decaying CWD. Although scarce within the project area, the large, hollow logs identified were monitored with remote
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cameras and confirmed the presence of other species that consume arthropods / insects including echidna and brown bandicoot. No caves or rock overhangs were observed in the project area. No threatened species were confirmed to occur within the project area during field investigations using targeted methods, indirect observations of tracks, scratches or scats or incidental observations. The overall sense gained from the project area is that critical habitat features utilised by the threatened species targeted are very limited an unlikely to support a population of the species. Opportunistic fauna records taken during the survey consisted of mobile, generalist species, common to the Townsville region. A detailed assessment of the targeted species follows with a revised likelihood of occurrence, following the site investigations and targeted surveys were undertaken.
3.5.1.1.1 Northern quoll The northern quoll occurs as far south as Gracemere and Mt Morgan, south of Rockhampton, and as far north as Cooktown. It occupies a diversity of habitats including rocky areas, eucalypt forest and woodlands, rainforests, sandy lowlands and beaches, shrubland, grasslands and deserts. However, habitat generally encompasses some form of rocky area or hollow logs for denning purposes with surrounding vegetated habitats used for foraging and dispersal (DoEE 2018a). The project area contains potential foraging or dispersal habitat, which is classified as any land comprising predominantly native vegetation in the immediate area (i.e. within 1 km) of shelter habitat, quoll records or land comprising predominately native vegetation that is connected to shelter habitat within the range of the species (DoEE 2018a). The site does not contain habitat considered by RPS to be critical to the survival of northern quoll. Structurally diverse woodland or forest areas containing large diameter trees, termite mounds or hollow logs are considered critical to survival (DoEE 2018a) were very sparse in the project area. Dispersal and foraging habitat associated with or connecting, populations important for the long-term survival of the northern quoll is also considered habitat critical to the survival of the species. We note that there are no local records of northern quoll within 10km of the project area, with key quoll populations located at Mt Elliot, in Bowling Green Bay National Park to the south and Cape Cleveland to the south- east. Remnant connectivity with these populations has been severed and this action is unlikely to prevent dispersal from these core populations.
3.5.1.1.2 Squatter pigeon The squatter pigeon (southern subspecies) mainly inhabits grassy woodlands and open forests dominated by eucalyptus. It has also been recorded in sown grasslands with scattered remnant trees, disturbed sites in scrub and acacia. The species displays a preference for open areas with a short grass cover and is regularly found adjacent to tracks and areas with short grass (DoEE 2018b). Species movement is not well known, however, individuals and populations are not known to undertake extensive seasonal movements, instead remaining resident or locally dispersive in response to changing resource availability (i.e. water, seed). The species is reliant on a permanent water source which might include rivers, creeks, waterholes, farm dams and water troughs and there is likely to be significant contraction toward important water resources during the dry season (DoEE 2018b).
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Squatter pigeon populations north of the Carnarvon Ranges in southern Queensland are not considered to be important populations for the EPBC Act. The species remains common in heavily-grazed country north of the Tropic of Capricorn, where there is believed to be a continuous interbreeding sub-population (Squatter Pigeon Workshop 2011). The contraction of the species range in a northward direction has led to the isolation of the following sub-populations which are considered to important populations: • Populations occurring in the Condamine River catchment and Darling Downs of southern Queensland; • The populations known to occur in the Warwick-Inglewood-Texas region of southern Queensland; and • Any populations potentially occurring in NSW. Squatter pigeons were not observed during field investigations but are known to occur on low hills south of the project area. Additionally, the grazed E. platyphylla woodlands on the surrounding alluvial plains provide excellent habitat for squatter pigeon, particularly where a short, well grazed grassy of native and introduced grasses is present near permanent water. The landform of the project area, being a hilltop plateau, does not support permanent water which is likely to excludes the species from the site.
3.5.1.1.3 Red Goshawk The species inhabits tall open forest and woodland, tropical savannas containing wooded rivers and the edges of rainforests. In cleared areas, the species is generally associated with gorge and escarpment country (Czechura & Hobson, 2000; Czechura et al., 2009). Nesting sites rarely occur in areas where vegetation is fragmented (Aumann & BakerGabb, 1991; Czechura, 2001) and only occur in trees exceeding 20m in height and within 1km of a watercourse or wetland (Aumann & Baker-Gabb, 1991). Breeding pairs use the same nesting territories year after year, renovating the nest used in the previous year or nesting nearby (Aumann & Baker-Gabb 1991). Preferred habitat must be sparse enough for fast attack and manoeuvring in flight whilst still providing cover to ambush prey. Forests of intermediate density are favoured, or ecotones between habitats of differing densities, whilst very dense and very open habitats are avoided (Marchant & Higgins 1993). Radio-telemetry on a pair of red goshawks in northern Australia indicated an estimated home range for the breeding female of 120km² and 200km² for the male (Aumann & Baker-Gabb 1991). This species was not detected during field investigations, however, given the large home range of individual birds there is significant potential for a non-detection even if the species utilises the project area. No nests were observed during field investigations despite the survey being undertaken during the northern Australian nesting season, where eggs are generally laid between May and October (Aumann & Baker-Gabb 1991).
3.5.1.1.4 Koala Koalas are very sparsely distributed in North Queensland. In the Brigalow Belt North Bioregion, koalas are estimated to occur in abundances near 0.01/ha to 0.005/ha (pers. comm. Alistair Meltzer). They are uncommon in the Townsville region, occurring in very low densities, much lower than in south-east Queensland or Magnetic Island (DoEE 2018c) and there are no confirmed local records within 10km of the project area.
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The koala diet is mainly restricted to the leaves of Eucalyptus spp, whilst related genera, including Corymbia spp., and Lophostemon spp form a secondary component of the diet (Martin & Handasyde 1999; Moore & Foley 2000). Melaleuca spp. and Leptospermum spp. may be used to supplement the diet (Martin & Handasyde 1999; Moore & Foley 2000). Primary food trees known to occur in the region include Eucalyptus crebra, E. tereticornis and E. platyphylla (seasonally) (pers. comm. Alistair Meltzer; Meltzer et al. 2014). The project area supports an abundance of one primary food trees, E. crebra. Koalas obtain all their water requirements through the consumption of leaves. In seasonally dry areas such as Townsville, koala populations contract into refugial habitat including sandy creek flats and river flats, during dry periods. Riparian vegetation and communities in floodplain habitats are therefore considered to be critically important habitat for koala in the dry tropics, not only for the diversity of food trees (primary and secondary), but also for the leaf moisture content. In contrast, vegetation in exposed and elevated sites (e.g. hilltops, hillslopes, ridges, etc.) or containing permeable soils often possess a lower leaf water content and therefore are not considered a valuable resource to the species. In assessing the project area holistically, there are several key features of the project area and surrounds that influence species presence: 1. The low diversity of food trees, which is almost entirely composed of E. crebra; 2. The landform and associated impacts on soil moisture (the project area is located on an elevated hilltop); 3. The presence of a national highway in proximity of the project area; 4. The absence of confirmed koala records within 10km of the project area; 5. The presence of wild dogs or dingos in the project area; and 6. No koalas were detected in the project area despite a thorough assessment which included searches for koala scats, scratches and visual scans of the canopy. The EPBC Act referral guidelines for the vulnerable koala (DoE 2014) encourage the assessment of significant impacts primarily through the assessment of habitat critical to the survival of the koala and actions that interfere substantially with the recovery of the koala (DoE 2014). The koala habitat assessment tool in Table 4 of the guidelines is used to score habitat attributes, which are added to give a total out of 10. Habitats that score five or more are classified as habitat critical to the survival of koala and a referral is recommended. An assessment of the project area has been undertaken in Table 7, with habitat in the project area given an overall score of four and therefore unlikely to contain habitat critical to the survival of the species.
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Table 7: Assessment of the project area
Attribute Score Inland Score and Comments
+2 (high) Evidence of one or more Koalas within the last 2 years. Score = 0 +1 Evidence of one or more Koalas within 2 km Koala Occurrence There are no confirmed (medium) of the edge of the Development Footprint records of koala within 10 within the last 5 years. km of the project area. 0 (low) None of the above
+2 (high) Has forest or woodland with 2 or more known koala food tree species, OR 1 food tree species that alone accounts for >50% of the vegetation in the relevant Score = 2 Vegetation Composition strata. Two or more species of +1 Has forest or woodland with only 1 species koala food tree are present. (medium) of known Koala food tree present. 0 (low) None of the above
+2 (high) Area is part of a contiguous landscape ≥ 500 ha. Score = 2 Habitat Connectivity +1 Area is part of a contiguous landscape < The project area is part of a (medium) 500 ha, but ≥ 300 ha. contiguous landscape that exceeds 500 ha. 0 (low) None of the above
+2 (high) Little or no evidence of Koala mortality from vehicle strike or dog attack at present in areas that score 1 or 2 for Koala occurrence. Areas which score 0 for Koala occurrence and have no dog or vehicle threat present +1 Evidence of infrequent or irregular Koala Score = 0 (medium) mortality from vehicle strike or dog attack at present in areas that score 1 or 2 for Koala The project area scores a Key Existing Threats occurrence, OR zero for koala occurrence and there is a significant Areas which score 0 for Koala occurrence dog or vehicle threat and are likely to have some degree dog or present. vehicle threat present. 0 (low) Evidence of frequent or regular Koala mortality from vehicle strike or dog attack in the study area at present, OR Areas which score 0 for Koala occurrence and have a significant dog or vehicle threat present. +2 (high) Habitat is likely to be important for achieving Score = 0 the interim recovery objectives. The habitat is unlikely to be Recovery Value +1 Uncertain whether the habitat is important important for achieving the (medium) for achieving the interim recovery objectives. interim recovery objectives
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Attribute Score Inland Score and Comments
0 (low) Habitat is unlikely to be important for for koala in the coastal achieving the interim recovery objectives. context. The first key recovery objective in the coast context is to protect and conserve large, connected areas of koala habitat, particularly large, connected areas that support koalas that are: • of sufficient size to be genetically robust or operate as a viable sub- population; • free of disease or have a very low incidence of disease; OR • breeding. Whilst koala habitat in this area is large and connected, there is no evidence to suggest that a significant koala population occurs within the habitat and therefore the likelihood that the habitat is critical to achieving the interim recovery objectives is low. Corridors and connective habitat will be retained in areas surrounding the project area enabling free movement of koalas in the area. Total habitat score = 4 Habitat is not critical to the survival of the species
3.5.1.1.5 Bare-Rumped Sheathtail Bat Two distinct populations of the species are known, one in the Top End of the Northern Territory and the other in coastal areas of north-eastern Queensland, from Bowen to Cape York Peninsula. They occur in tropical woodland and tall open forests and are most commonly found in E. platyphylla woodland (Churchill 2008). Ultrasonic echolocation call detection confirmed the presence of S. saccolaimus, where numerous calls were attributed to the species (Appendix D). All confirmed roosts, including maternity roosts of the bare-rumped sheathtail bat have been from deep tree hollows. No in-depth studies have been undertaken to quantify the structural attributes of roosts have been undertaken to date and therefore accurately quantifying roost availability in the landscape is not
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currently feasible beyond determining a basic density of hollow bearing trees. As previously discussed, there is a lack of hollow-bearing trees in the project area to provide substantial roosting opportunities, however, adjacent vegetation communities supporting a higher abundance of E. platyphylla and C. dallachiana are likely to be within the foraging range of the species, and therefore the slight loss of potential foraging habitat may occur. In our view the proposed action will not necessitate the removal of significant roosting or foraging resources and is unlikely to have a significant impact on a population of the species.
3.5.2 Migratory species Marine and Migratory species are listed under schedules of the EPBC Act, where any significant impact on migratory species is regarded as a ‘controlled action’. An assessment of the likelihood of occurrence for each migratory fauna species have been provided based on the known ecological requirements of each species and the current environmental conditions and habitat values of the site (Appendix G). Of the species assessed, four (4) are considered to have the potential to occur within the project area, either due to the presence of suitable habitat or the site location being located within the species range (Table 8). No listed migratory species were observed on site during the field survey. Additionally, based on the habitat present, it is unlikely that any migratory species would occur in significant numbers in the project area.
Table 8: Migratory species that have the potential to occur on site
Species Name Common Name NC Act Status EPBC Act Status
Apus pacificus* Fork-tailed swift Special least concern Migratory
Cuculus optatus Oriental cuckoo Special least concern Migratory
Hirundapus caudacutus* White-throated needletail Special least concern Migratory
* Species recorded within 10km of the project area 3.6 Aquatic ecosystems and wetlands 3.6.1 Watercourses
3.6.1.1 VM Act watercourses – regulated vegetation All assessable regional ecosystems are MSES’s if located within a defined distance (buffers) of the defining banks of a watercourse as stipulated in the Environmental Offsets Policy (EO Policy). The VM Act watercourse mapping identifies watercourses that support regulated vegetation under the VM Act. The watercourse mapping shows three (3) stream order 1 watercourses in the vicinity of the project area, each requiring a 10m watercourse protection buffer. RPS field verified the high bank of each watercourse, from which the 10 m protection buffer applies. The watercourse buffers have been applied to field verified high bank data as shown in Figure 5.
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3.6.1.2 Water Act watercourses The purpose of the Water Act 2000 is to provide for the sustainable management of water and other resources. Various activities are regulated under the Water Act and incorporated into the DA approval system via the Queensland Planning Act 2016. To trigger the Water Act however, the watercourse needs to meet the definition of a watercourse under the Act. The Watercourse Identification Map (Water Act), shows watercourses that are classified under the Act and therefore require an RPP. No mapped Water Act watercourses occur in the project area.
3.6.1.3 HEV wetlands and watercourses Watercourses and wetlands located in high ecological value waters (HEV’s) are defined in the Environmental Protection (Water) Policy 2009, schedule 1 and are classified as MSES. The high ecological value waters spatial layer produced by the Department of Environment and Science (DES) shows the location of all wetlands and watercourses in high ecological value (HEV) waters in Queensland. A review of the spatial layer confirmed that no HEV watercourses intersect the project area.
3.6.1.4 Queensland waterways for waterway barrier works The spatial data layer Queensland Waterways for Waterway Barrier Works shows the extent of the Fisheries Act 1994 interest in barrier works on waterways, where the streams are colour-coded according to their level of risk of impact. An assessment of the spatial layer indicates that no waterways intersecting the project area would trigger waterway barrier works.
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RPS Australia East Pty Ltd CLIENT Source: Department of Natural Resources & Mines - Cadastral data fortnightly extract © State of Queensland (Department ACN 140 292 762 of Natural Resources and Mines) 2014. ABN 44 140 292 76 LEND LEASE Disclaimer: While all reasonable care has been taken to ensure the information contained on this map is up to date Suite 1, Central Plaza and accurate, no guarantee is given that the information portrayed is free from error or omission. 370 Flinders Street Please verify the accuracy of all information prior to use. (PO Box 977) Townsville QLD 4810 FIGURE 5: WATERCOURSE MAPPING Coordinate System: GDA 1994 MGA Zone 55 © COPYRIGHT PROTECTS THIS PLAN. T +61 7 4724 4244 Projection: Transverse Mercator Unauthroised reproduction or amendment W rpsgroup.com.au Datum: GDA 1994 not permitted. Please contact the author. 0 210 420 630 840 Meters Document Name: 122454-3-5-C-HilltopWatercourses Plan Ref Rev Sheet 122454-3-05 C A3 Reference Scale: 1:6,000 Date: 1/03/2019 Author: AF Project Manager: LL REPORT
3.6.2 Wetlands
3.6.2.1 Referrable wetlands The map of referable wetlands identifies the location of wetland protection areas (WPA) in Great Barrier Reef (GBR) catchments which apply to State Development Assessment Provisions (SDAP) State code 9: Great Barrier Reef Wetland Protection Areas. The map of referable wetlands also identifies wetlands of high ecological significance (HES) and general ecological significance (GES). HES wetlands are defined in the Environmental Protection Regulation 2008 and are ‘matters of state environmental significance’ (MSES) under the Planning and Environmental Offsets legislation. A review of the spatial database did not identify any WPA’s or HES wetlands near the project area. The closest WPA in the catchment is located approximately 6km north of the project area.
3.6.2.2 Ramsar wetlands The Ramsar Convention (The Convention on Wetlands of International Importance) is an international treaty for the conservation and sustainable utilisation of wetlands. Australia is a signatory to this convention. The Ramsar list of wetlands of international importance now includes 1,950 sites (known as Ramsar sites). Ramsar sites are a listed as a MNES pursuant to the EPBC Act. Ramsar wetland mapping indicates that the Bowling Green Bay Ramsar site is located approximately 10km downstream of the project area. The Ramsar wetlands potentially form part of the downstream receiving environment as watercourses immediately north of the HERS form part of the catchment entering the wetlands. 3.7 Existing impacts The project area was found to consist of predominantly intact but anthropogenically modified vegetation, the following existing impacts were noted: • No broadscale clearing is evident within or adjacent to the project area; • Grazing was evident throughout most of the property, with observed impacts such as foraging and trampling of vegetation; • Evidence of historical fire was observed, however the exact timing, area and intensity of fire at the site and its relevance to threatened species and fauna is unknown. The dense weedy shrub layer consisting of Ziziphus mauritiana (chinee apple) and Lantana camara (lantana) suggests that fire hasn’t recently contributed to the ecology of the site; • Weed density is high throughout the project area, both in the woody shrub layer and the herb layer. Ziziphus mauritiana (chinee apple), Lantana camara (lantana), Sida cordifolia (flannel weed) and Hyptis suaveolens are the dominant species in their respective strata, forming significant infestations. Cryptostegia grandiflora (rubber vine) was also observed, particularly where vine thicket elements were present; • No erosion was observed in the project area; and
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• Wild pigs and dogs were photographed on the deployed remote cameras and we also expect feral cats and cane toads to occur in the project area.
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4 ANALYSIS OF POTENTIAL IMPACTS AND PROPOSED MITIGATION 4.1 Vegetation clearing and habitat loss Excluding riparian communities, the proposed land clearing will remove most or all vegetation occurring in the project area. Statistics on vegetation community extent within the brigalow belt bioregion produced by the Department of Natural Resources, Mines and Energy (2015), indicate that clearing impacts will be relatively minor at the bioregional scale (Table 9). Habitat loss is the removal of an area of suitable habitat that cannot be reinstated. Microhabitat features such as tree hollows, large logs, leaf litter, and rock and boulder piles and caves are particularly significant for their value as denning, breeding and nesting sites. The removal of these features from the landscape can substantially reduce the carrying capacity for native species and their removal prevents future recolonization of the resource. As discussed in Section 3.5.1.1, key microhabitat features for threatened species are extremely rare in the project area, as such threatened species habitat is considered marginal with a low risk of a significant impact to threatened species populations resulting from the proposed action.
Table 9: Bioregional clearing impacts
Regional ecosystem Area within the project Area in the bioregion % of bioregional area footprint (ha) RE in 2015 (ha) to be cleared mapping V10.1 11.12.9 16.52ha 97,000 0.017
Totals 16.52ha 97,000 0.017
Clearing within each individual area is to occur in accordance with the requirements and sequencing listed on a clearing plan, ensuring native animals are flushed towards the haven of larger retained areas of remnant bushland and away from adjoining roads and areas of existing development. The clearing plan should be implemented with consideration to the following principles: • Clearing occurs once a spotter/catcher gives sign off that the site is clear of native fauna; • Clearing commences in areas of least connectivity and directs fauna towards retained areas (in this case, from south to north); • Clearing is sequenced to ensure adequate time for fauna to relocate towards retained areas; • Habitat trees should be gently disturbed using a hammer or bulldozer prior to clearing to warn resident fauna of the impending clearing. • The timing of clearing works should be scheduled, where possible, outside the breeding season of protected species; • Periodic impact noise can be used to flush fauna including the use of noise cannons. • Hollow-bearing trees should be marked and cleared in the late evening to ensure nocturnal species are not displaced during the day.
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Prior to any native vegetation being removed, the extent of the area will be clearly demarcated on the ground to avoid confusion amongst site personnel and to ensure additional vegetation is not removed or damaged unnecessarily.
4.1.1 Vegetation disposal Cleared vegetation should be reused on or off premises. Recycling techniques include mulching, tub- grinding, wood chipping and salvage (e.g. custom milling). Trees with identified hollows should have the hollow section preserved and this section should be suitably mounted on nearby or adjacent suitable trees. 4.2 Habitat fragmentation Habitat fragmentation is difficult to define, and the impacts of fragmentation are also difficult to measure. Habitat fragmentation is broadly the division of large contiguous habitat into smaller disjunct habitats and contributes to population decline, biodiversity loss and alters community structure and ecosystem function (Didham 2010). Populations are therefore more exposed to environmental factors, natural disasters and reduced genetic diversity (Hanski and Gaggiotti, 2004). The impact of habitat fragmentation is dependent on factors including the remaining habitat patch area, patch shape and degree of isolation, plus species-specific factors including species mobility. Impacts relating to fragmentation and connectivity must be assessed based on sensitive and threatened species of interest. The DES has published a landscape fragmentation and connectivity assessment tool which is used to assess connectivity impacts at the local (5km) and regional scale (20km). The LFC tool determines the significance of a proposed impact on connectivity areas by assessing: 1. Whether the change in the core ecosystem extent at the local scale (post impacts) is greater than a threshold determined by the level of fragmentation at the regional scale; or 2. If any core area (greater than or equal to one hectare) is lost or reduced to patch fragments (core to non-core). The analysis determined there would not be a significant impact on connectivity areas as there are no core remnant areas within and adjacent to the project area. The complete results of the assessment are provided in Appendix I. 4.3 Edge effects Vegetation clearing in the landscape creates edges between the vegetation and the cleared area. Along edges, an ecotone is created with different environmental conditions which may be unsuitable for the existing biota. Microclimatic changes related to solar radiation, wind speed and soil moisture, introduce drier, warmer conditions in the interior habitat. Species remaining in the ecotone are therefore exposed to altered biotic processes of predation, competition and parasitism. Species are differentially impacted by edge effects, depending on their environmental niche or envelope. Generalist species with a wide climatic niche are favoured over specialist interior species which have an obligate requirement for certain microclimatic conditions. These include a range of pest animal and weed species which are disproportionately favoured in disturbed areas.
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These impacts can be exacerbated along watercourses as seeds are transported hydrologically downstream of the project area, facilitating weed proliferation offsite. It is noted that the impact of edge effect is somewhat related to the existing species composition and the abruptness of the change in community. Open woodlands for example are less likely to be impacted by edge effects than closed forests. In general edge effects can be observed up to 50m into the community from the cleared edge. Remnant vegetation in this 50m edge effect area is consistent with the community present within the project area. To minimise the impact of edge effects we recommend regular maintenance in this area to control woody weeds, particularly chinee apple and lantana. 4.4 Vehicle and machinery strike Vehicle and machinery strike have the potential to injure or kill animals via collision and crushing. These events can occur during construction activities including land clearing, cut and fill earthwork and any associated light vehicle movements. Vehicle strike has the potential to continue during operation of the site as tradespeople involved in housing construction and residents utilise the site. Machinery used to fell and clear trees can crush animals, especially when shelter and nesting sites are destroyed. These impacts are more likely to impact less mobile and nocturnal species which are highly susceptible due to their inability to move toward safe habitats. By utilising the most appropriate machinery and equipment during vegetation clearing, the probability of injury or death of wildlife during clearing can be significantly reduced or eliminated while still maintaining an efficient vegetation removal process. We suggest the following techniques to minimise the likelihood of fauna mortality resulting from construction: • A vertical tree grab attachment on an excavator (30 tonne) can be used to pull entire trees in size up to 30cm - 40cm DBH above ground level and lay them down in a steady controlled fashion, allowing inspection by a wildlife spotter-catcher; • Where large trees are too large for a vertical tree grab and have been identified, an elevated work platform or cherry picker should be used in conjunction with a chainsaw operator and wildlife spotter/catcher; and • The use of bulldozers to clear vegetation is limited to low or regrowth vegetation that has been thoroughly inspected by a wildlife spotter/catcher and is found to contain no fauna or potential habitat. Bulldozers are not to be used to push over large trees that contain hollows or other habitat features. The anticipated frequency and intensity of vehicle traffic along the two access roads is likely to be relatively low but will pose an ongoing threat to non-flying wildlife. Suitable mitigation measures may include the installation of exclusion fencing along the length of the road and installing fauna underpasses to facilitate unimpeded crossing. The underpass construction should conform to guidelines provided in Chapter 6 of the Fauna Sensitive Road Design Manual Vol. 2 (DTMR 2010). 4.5 Invasive plants and animals Weeds typically produce a large quantity of seeds, facilitating their proliferation, and rapidly disturbed areas via vectors including wind, water, vehicles and machinery, and people, birds and other animals.
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Weed incursion impacts on vegetation function and floristic composition and can impede or prevent natural regeneration, additionally weeds can have a pronounced effect on fire ecology. Clearing activities often result in the incursion of weeds to adjacent vegetation. The impact of weeds is currently significant in the project area, where a range of introduced herbs and woody weeds directly compete with native vegetation. If not managed correctly, future clearing activities may cause the proliferation and expansion of existing weeds and lead to the introduction of new species. The dispersal of weeds from internal and external sources can be avoided by implementing the following control measures: • Minimising the disturbance footprint to only those areas that would be utilised for the development. • Ensuring all vehicles are cleaned (i.e. free of contaminants) prior to entering and on exiting the site. • Removed weeds, weed-affected materials and rubbish should be disposed of off-site, with no dumping of refuse onsite or into adjacent retained vegetation or gullies. • Cleared vegetation should be mulched and placed in a layer over disturbed surfaces to minimise erosion and retain the native seed bank. • Rigorous weed control of disturbed surfaces until suitable ground cover is established. • Weed management within adjacent remnant vegetation up to 50 m of the cleared edge to mitigate against edge effects. There should also be a focus on the upper reaches of watercourses to minimise the transport and establishment of weed seeds into downstream environments. 4.6 Dust, noise, light and vibration Noise, vibration and excessive light generated during the construction phase should adhere to the requirements of the EP Act and subordinate policies. RPS recommends addressing these matters through the implementation of a Construction Environmental Management Plan (CEMP). Construction activities have the potential to adversely affect local fauna by causing individuals to alter their behaviour or relocate to avoid noise. These responses can have cascade effects to species populations and communities by altering food webs, changing species composition and relative abundances and causing an enforced form of adaptation. Recommendations to minimise the impact of noise, light and vibration on local fauna include, but are not limited to the following: • Employ a preventative maintenance program for plant and machinery to reduce the risk of equipment failure and environmental harm; • Ensuring light vehicles, plant and machinery are regularly serviced and running efficiently; • Avoid night works so that light spill into adjacent habitats will not impact on sensitive nocturnal species unless for the specific purpose of removing habitat trees; • Sequence vegetation clearing and earthworks to develop several smaller areas as opposed to a smaller number of larger parcels; • Undertake regular inspections, surveillance and monitoring to identify any failures in controls and respond with remedial actions; • Utilise dust suppression systems on access tracks to reduce airborne dust; and
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• Provide additional supervision to new employees with reduced skill levels or knowledge undertake vegetation clearing work and/or earthworks.
4.7 Sedimentation of surface waters At disturbed sites, exposed soils transported via runoff to the local surface drainage network have the potential to reduce water quality with flow-on effects to aquatic ecosystems. Additionally, multiple sources of erosion have a cumulative effect, increasing the overall sediment load in the downstream receiving environment. Construction activities involving vegetation clearing that reduce vegetated cover or earthworks that disturb surface soils present the highest risk of sedimentation of waterways. These impacts are best controlled by through effective planning and staging of works and implementing effective stormwater design controls prior vegetation clearing. The following mitigation measures may be utilised to avoid or minimise soil erosion and reduce the potential for sedimentation of the downstream receiving environment: • Maximise the retention of vegetation along all watercourses and retain adequate ground cover within watercourse protection areas; • Avoid highly erodible soils and steep slopes; • Avoid works during seasons where high intensity rainfall is predicted; • Revegetate and mulch progressively as each stage of works is complete and minimise the time between vegetation clearing, earthworks and rehabilitation/revegetation; • Divert clean stormwater away disturbed sites using diversion banks, intercept drains or other methods of stormwater control prior to any land disturbance; • Slow water velocities using rock checks or other velocity reducing structures; • Line drainage lines with rock or geotextile fabric to prevent scouring of watercourse banks; • Install sediment interception devices such as detention basins or ponds; • Regularly inspect, maintain and assess the effectiveness of control structures and respond to control failures with remedial action; • Stage earthworks and revegetate the ground layer with a suitable grass species. • Provided that an effective erosion and sediment control plan is implemented, impacts to the downstream receiving environment are likely to be insignificant and immeasurable due to the distance from the project area. 4.8 Chemical contamination of soils, groundwater and surface water The accidental spill of fuel, oil or other chemicals has the potential to contaminate soils, surface water and groundwater. Whilst the development is relatively large scale, the likelihood of contamination to the environment can be effectively reduced by staging activities and by implementing control measures such as training personnel in the use of spill kits, storing diesel within self-bunded units, ensuring equipment is properly maintained and ensuring equipment servicing is completed off site.
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5 LEGISLATIVE CONSTRAINTS AND REQUIREMENTS 5.1 State legislation 5.1.1 Matters of state environmental significance Matters of state environmental significance (MSES) are referenced in the Schedule 2 of the Environmental Offset Regulation 2014 (EO Act) and include certain environmental values that are protected under Queensland legislation. A preliminary assessment of each of MSES with respect to the project site is included below in Table 10. An environmental offset condition may be imposed under various State assessment frameworks for prescribed activities under the EO Act, if the activity will, or is likely to have a significant residual impact (SRI) on a prescribed environmental matter that is a MSES. An offset condition may be imposed where an activity will, or is likely to have a Significant Residual Impact (SRI) on a MSES. An SRI is defined under the EO Act, section 8 as: “an adverse impact, whether direct or indirect, of a prescribed activity on all or part of a prescribed environmental matter that: a) remains, or will or is likely to remain, (whether temporarily or permanently) despite on-site avoidance and mitigation measures for the prescribed activity; and b) is, or will or is likely to be, significant.” Where an MSES is triggered, the ‘Significant Residual Impact Guideline – For matters of state environmental significance and prescribed activities assessable under the Planning Act 2016 (DSDIP 2014) is used to determine the significance of the impact. In the current location, the project potentially triggers the following MSES: • Regulated vegetation - A prescribed regional ecosystem is a matter of state environmental significance to the extent the ecosystem is located within a defined distance from the defining banks of a relevant watercourse; and • Protected wildlife habitat (fauna) - A habitat for an animal that is endangered wildlife or vulnerable wildlife, or a special least concern animal is a matter of state environmental significance. A summary assessment of MSES triggers in relation to the project is provided in Table 10, below. Where the trigger is identified with a moderate to high degree of certainty, an assessment against the relevant SRI criteria is provided. Where there are uncertainties in relation to the significance or likelihood of impacts these have been identified.
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Table 10: Matters of state environmental significance assessment
Matter of state environmental significance Trigger
Regulated Vegetation 1. The prescribed regional ecosystems that are No category B areas on the regulated vegetation endangered regional ecosystems comprise a matter management map that are ‘endangered’ regional of State environmental significance. ecosystems in the project area. 2. The prescribed regional ecosystems that are of There are no category B areas on the regulated concern regional ecosystems comprise a matter of vegetation management map that are ‘of concern’ State environmental significance. regional ecosystems in the project area. 3. A prescribed regional ecosystem is a matter of state There are no areas shown as a wetland on the environmental significance if it is— vegetation management wetlands map in the project a. a regional ecosystem that intersects with an area area. shown as a wetland on the vegetation No essential habitat on the essential habitat map for an management wetlands map (to the extent of the animal that is endangered wildlife or vulnerable wildlife or intersection); or a plant that is endangered wildlife or vulnerable wildlife b. an area of essential habitat on the essential intersects the project area. habitat map for an animal that is endangered Approximately 0.349 ha of a prescribed regional wildlife or vulnerable wildlife or a plant that is ecosystem is located within the defined distance from the endangered wildlife or vulnerable wildlife. defining banks of watercourses within the project area. 4. A prescribed regional ecosystem is a matter of state environmental significance to the extent the ecosystem is located within a defined distance from the defining banks of a relevant watercourse. Connectivity Areas 1. This section applies to a prescribed regional The landscape fragmentation and connectivity tool (DES) ecosystem— has been utilised to ascertain whether a significant a. to the extent the ecosystem contains remnant residual impact (SRI) on connectivity is likely to occur vegetation; and because of vegetation clearing in the project area. b. if the ecosystem contains an area of land that is The analytical results from the tool determined that the required for ecosystem functioning (a connectivity impact on connectivity areas is not significant (i.e. a area). significant reduction in core remnant or a change from 2. The prescribed regional ecosystem is a matter of core to non-core remnant at the local scale will occur). State environmental significance if the administering The assessment log and relevant mapping is provided in agency is satisfied, having had regard to criteria in Appendix A. the environmental offsets policy about connectivity The current project area complies with module 16 of the areas, that— state development assessment provisions (SDAP). The a. the connectivity area is of sufficient size or assessment excludes areas that have been previously configured in a way that maintains ecosystem approved for clearing but have not yet been cleared. functioning; and Inclusion of these areas is likely to affect the likelihood of an SRI. b. the prescribed regional ecosystem will remain despite a threatening process within the meaning of the Nature Conservation Act 1992. Wetlands and Watercourses 1. Each of the following matters is a matter of State No wetland protection areas (WPA) displayed on the environmental significance— map of referable wetlands occur near the project area. a. a wetland; The closest is WPA is approximately 6 km north of the - in a wetland protection area; or project area. - of high ecological significance (HES) shown No HES wetlands as shown on the Map of Referable on the Map of Referable Wetlands; Wetlands are in the vicinity of the project area. b. a wetland or watercourse in high ecological value No HEV wetlands on the Environmental Protection Policy waters. (Water) scheduled data – surface water mapping occurs
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Matter of state environmental significance Trigger within the project area or the immediate downstream receiving environment. HEV wetlands are in a direct line approximately 6 km north and around 6 km east of the project area. No impact to MSES wetlands and watercourses are expected with the implementation with best practice erosion and sediment control practices. Designated precinct in a strategic environmental The project area does not intersect or contain a strategic area environmental area. A designated precinct in a strategic environmental area The proposed action therefore does not trigger the is a matter of State environmental significance. MSES – designated precinct in a strategic environmental area. Protected wildlife habitat 1. An area that is shown as a high-risk area on the flora No high-risk areas shown on the flora survey trigger map survey trigger map and that contains plants that are occur near the Project Area. endangered wildlife or vulnerable wildlife is a matter of No plants that are endangered wildlife or vulnerable state environmental significance. wildlife were located during the field investigation. 2. An area that is not shown as a high-risk area on the The site is not located on Map of Assessable flora survey trigger map, to the extent the area Development Area Koala Habitat Values’ that applies contains plants that are endangered wildlife or under the South-East Queensland Koala Conservation vulnerable wildlife, is a matter of State environmental State Planning Regulatory Provisions. significance. The project area is not mapped as habitat for an animal 3. A non-juvenile koala habitat tree located in an area that is endangered wildlife, vulnerable wildlife or a shown as bushland habitat, high value rehabilitation special least concern animal. Field investigations habitat or medium value rehabilitation habitat on the detected one special least concern animal, echidna and map called ‘Map of Assessable Development Area therefore the project area is identified as a matter of Koala Habitat Values’ that applies under the South- state environmental significance. East Queensland Koala Conservation State Planning Regulatory Provisions is a matter of State environmental significance. 4. A habitat for an animal that is endangered wildlife or vulnerable wildlife, or a special least concern animal is a matter of State environmental significance. Protected areas No protected areas under the NC Act occur near the A protected area is a matter of state environmental project area site. significance. The proposed action therefore does not trigger the MSES – protected areas. Highly protected zones of state marine parks No marine parks or land within a ‘marine national park’, A highly protected area of a relevant Queensland marine ‘conservation park’, ‘scientific research’, ‘preservation’ or park is a matter of state environmental significance. ‘buffer’ zone occur near the project area. The proposed action therefore does not trigger the MSES – highly protected zones of state marine parks. Fish Habitat Areas No declared fish habitat areas intersect the site. An area declared under the Fisheries Act 1994 to be a The proposed action therefore does not trigger the fish habitat area is a matter of State environmental MSES – fish habitat areas. significance. Waterway providing for fish passage No waterways mapped in the Queensland Waterways for Any part of a waterway providing for passage of fish is a Waterway Barrier Works spatial layer occur in the project matter of State environmental significance only if the area. construction, installation or modification of waterway The proposed action does not trigger MSES – waterway providing for fish passage.
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Matter of state environmental significance Trigger barrier works carried out under an authority will limit the passage of fish along the waterway. Marine plants Marine plants with the meaning of the Fisheries Act 1994 A marine plant within the meaning of the Fisheries Act do not occur in the project area. 1994 is a matter of State environmental significance. The proposed action therefore does not trigger the MSES – marine plants. Legally secured offset areas No legally secured offset areas intersect the project area. A legally secured offset area is a matter of state The proposed action therefore does not trigger the environmental significance. MSES – legally secured offset areas.
5.1.1.1 Regulated vegetation The State Development Assessment Provisions, State code 16: Native Vegetation Clearing sets a range of provisions for acceptable vegetation clearing in Queensland. A review of the requirements has determined that the project potentially triggers the following provisions of the code: • PO 11: Clearing maintains the current extent of vegetation associated with any watercourse or drainage feature to protect: – bank stability by protecting against bank erosion; – water quality by filtering sediments, nutrients and other pollutants; – aquatic habitat; and – terrestrial habitat. • PO 16: In consideration of vegetation on the land subject to the development application and on adjacent land, sufficient vegetation is retained to maintain ecological processes and remains in the landscape despite threatening processes. One of the primary aims of the state code is to avoid impacts on vegetation that is an MSES, and where this is not possible, minimises and mitigates impacts and provides an offset for acceptable significant residual impacts.
5.1.1.1.1 Regulated vegetation – vegetation associated with watercourses The significant residual impact guidelines (SRI guidelines) states that an action is likely to have an SRI on remnant vegetation within the defined distance of a watercourse if the action will result in: • Permanent removal of vegetation within the defined distance of a stream order 2 or higher where no rehabilitation is proposed; or • Permanent clearing of more than 0.5ha of an endangered or of concern RE, within the defined distance of a watercourse. Notwithstanding the above, an action is unlikely to have an SRI on remnant vegetation within the defined distance of a watercourse, if the action will result in:
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• Lineal clearing of vegetation (that is for a purpose under section 22A of the VMA) less than 25 m in width on a stream order 1 or 2 mapped watercourse, where the works include: – Revegetation of exposed embankment areas (e.g. from a new road crossing and culvert installation) in accordance with a vegetation management or rehabilitation plan; – Temporary erosion and sediment control until construction is completed or stream banks have been stabilised; and – A crossing design which can be demonstrated (through a site-specific study or similar) not to interfere with existing aquatic and terrestrial habitat of the watercourse. • Temporary clearing of a ‘least concern’ RE of up to 1 ha on a stream order 1 or 2 where erosion and sediment measures are in place and the area is to be rehabilitated on the subject site; • Removal of vegetation from a partially vegetated / degraded stream order 1 or 2 where revegetation greater than the area removed occurs on other stream order areas within or adjoining the site; • Clearing of a ‘least concern’ RE not containing essential habitat up to 1ha for lineal infrastructure (e.g. roads and rail); or • Removal of understorey vegetation of up to 3ha within a remnant area (excluding clearing within the high bank of the watercourse) for the purposes of open space or safety where not removing any trees with a trunk Diameter at Breast Height (DBH) greater than 150mm in diameter. The significance of impacts associated with vegetation clearing is therefore dependent on the final design of the development, the area and vegetation to be cleared, any proposed erosion and sediment controls and proposed rehabilitation of the area. Whilst we recommended to avoid vegetation associated with these watercourses, there are offset options available where clearing is deemed to have an SRI on this MSES.
5.1.1.1.2 Regulated vegetation - connectivity In accordance with the SRI guidelines the administering agency must consider the significance of the vegetation in the context of the local and the regional landscape. The measure of impact significance is based on how the prescribed activity will change the size and configuration of remnant vegetation areas and the level of fragmentation that will result at the local scale (5km radius) given regard to the regional scale (20km radius). Impact significance is measured by the reduction in the extent of remnant vegetation and increase in patchiness at the local scale. Where the activity will have an SRI on connectivity areas, then offsets would be required at a multiplier of one and located in fragmented subregions to ensure that any lost connectivity is replaced in another fragmented landscape. The LFC tool, which is used by the administering agency to determine whether an action will have a significant impact on connectivity, identified the clearing impacts as not significant (refer Section 4.2).
5.1.1.2 Protected wildlife habitat The NC Act provides for the protection of near threatened, vulnerable and endangered animals and plants by preserving the following protected wildlife habitat: 1. An area that contains plants that are ‘endangered’ or ‘vulnerable’ wildlife; and
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2. A habitat for an animal that is ‘endangered’ or ‘vulnerable’ wildlife or a special least concern animal, including areas or features used by an animal for foraging, roosting, nesting or breeding. Habitat for a special least concern animal has been confirmed in the project area. We recommend engaging DES early in relation to impacts on protected species. Based on the results of the targeted survey and habitat assessment, there is potential for impacts to echidna and to a lesser extent bare- rumped sheath tail bat, northern quoll and koala for which marginal habitat occurs. The SRI guidelines have different sets of criteria for plants, animals that are endangered or vulnerable and terrestrial least concern animals. Each of these criteria may apply to the project depending on species occupancy, the size of the population and the area of preferred habitat and resources in the project area. It is not possible to provide a detailed analysis on species populations based on the presence/absence investigations undertaken to date as there is potential for Type II error (i.e. false negatives of presence). Notwithstanding, it is our view that the survey methodology and intensity employed to detect the target species was sufficient to detect a significant population of the species if present.
5.1.1.2.1 Threatened plants For plants that are ‘endangered’ or ‘vulnerable’ wildlife, actions are unlikely to have an SRI on a plant if the action will result in: a. Clearing of plants that are threatened wildlife and not located within a natural setting (i.e. does not meet the definition of ‘in the wild’ under the Nature Conservation Act 1992) where the proposal includes translocation; b. Clearing of up to 10% of the total number of plants that are threatened wildlife occurring on a site where the proposal results in 90% of all plants that are threatened wildlife being retained and protected as a reserve or similar; c. Clearing of regenerating plants that are threatened wildlife which have previously been cleared within the last five (5) years and that are historically maintained through slashing or grazing; OR d. The proposed relocation of an area of plants that are threatened wildlife less than 1,000m2 not occurring in a relatively natural ecological situation (e.g. bushland), to a permanent retention area via an approved management plan. As indicated in Appendix E, the environmental conditions and habitat values of the project area are considered marginal for Eucalyptus paedoglauca and Sanantha papillosa, but neither species was identified during the survey. With respect to survey requirements for threatened plants under the NC Act, the protected plants flora survey trigger map (trigger map) identifies high-risk areas for protected plants where certain provisions of the NC Act apply to the clearing of protected plants. Where high-risk areas are identified on the map, a flora survey must be undertaken in accordance with the ’Flora survey guidelines – Protected Plants’ (DEHP 2014). A review of the trigger map confirmed that there are no high-risk areas within or adjacent to the project area and therefore a threatened plant survey is not required under the NC Act. Notwithstanding the above, if an EVNT plant is identified prior to clearing, a protected plant clearing permit will be required to clear the plants. Under the NC Act an offset condition may be required for the clearing activity to ensure the viability of one or more taxa of protected plant species in the wild.
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5.1.1.2.2 Threatened animals For animals that are endangered or vulnerable species, an action is likely to have an SRI on the protected animals’ habitat if the action will: a. Lead to a long-term decrease in the size of a local population; b. Reduce the extent of occurrence of the species; c. Fragment an existing population; d. Avoid genetically distinct populations forming because of habitat isolation; e. Result in invasive species that are harmful to an endangered or vulnerable species becoming established in the endangered or vulnerable species’ habitat; f. Introduce disease that may cause the population to decline; g. Interfere with the recovery of the species; OR h. Cause disruption to ecologically significant locations (breeding, feeding, nesting, migration or resting sites) of a species. For animals that are special least concern (non-migratory) species, an action is likely to have an SRI on the protected animals’ habitat if the action will result in: a. A long-term decrease in the size of a local population; b. A reduced extent of occurrence of the species; c. Fragmentation of an existing population; d. Reduced gene flow among populations; OR e. Disruption to ecologically significant locations (breeding, feeding or nesting sites) of a species. As indicated in Appendix E, the environmental conditions and habitat values present in the project area are considered suitable, albeit marginal for four, NC Act threatened animals and one special least concern animal. One special least concern animal, echidna, was identified during the survey but no threatened animals were identified. Given the extent of the clearing area, the landform, the lack of water availability and the habitat quality present, we consider a significant impact on any protected species population very unlikely. A detailed impact assessment on each of the species is provided in Section 5.2. In general, we recommend engaging DES and DoEE early to confirm an appropriate assessment pathway for threatened species to streamline approvals and find an acceptable solution and project outcome. 5.2 Federal legislation 5.2.1 Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act Under the EPBC Act, an action requires approval from Federal Environment Minister if the action has, will have, or is likely to have a significant impact on any Matter of National Environmental Significance (MNES) including listed threatened flora and fauna, migratory fauna and threatened ecological communities. Approval is obtained via a referral to the Australian Government DotEE and Energy for a decision.
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Significant impacts include those that degrade important habitats for listed species or disrupt the lifecycle of ecologically significant populations of listed species. The Matters of National Environmental Significance – Significant Impact Guidelines (SIG) contain significant impact criteria which are used for the assessment of impacts on MNES. Separate criteria are applied for critically endangered and endangered species, vulnerable species and migratory species under the SIG. For critically endangered or endangered species, an action is likely to have a significant impact on a critically endangered or endangered species if there is a real chance or possibility that it will: • Lead to a long-term decrease in the size of a population; • Reduce the area of occupancy of the species; • Fragment an existing population into two or more populations; • Adversely affect habitat critical to the survival of a species; • Disrupt the breeding cycle of a population; • Modify, destroy, remove, isolate or decrease the availability or quality of habitat to the extent that the species is likely to decline; • Result in invasive species that are harmful to a critically endangered or endangered species becoming established in the endangered or critically endangered species’ habitat; • Introduce disease that may cause the species to decline; or • Interfere with the recovery of the species. For vulnerable species the same criteria apply, only the focus is for ‘important populations’ of the species or community. An important population is defined in the guidelines as a population that is necessary for a species’ long-term survival and recovery. This may include populations identified as such in recovery plans, and/or that are: • Key source populations either for breeding or dispersal; • Populations that are necessary for maintaining genetic diversity; and/or • Populations that are near the limit of the species range. For migratory species, an action is likely to have a significant impact if there is a real chance or possibility that the action will: • Substantially modify (including by fragmenting, altering fire regimes, altering nutrient cycles or altering hydrological cycles), destroy or isolate an area of important habitat for a migratory species; • Result in an invasive species that is harmful to the migratory species becoming established in an area of important habitat for the migratory species; or • Seriously disrupt the lifecycle (breeding, feeding, migration or resting behaviour) of an ecologically significant proportion of the population of a migratory species. Important habitat for a migratory species is defined in the EPBC Act as: • Habitat utilised by a migratory species occasionally or periodically within a region that supports an ecologically significant proportion of the population of the species;
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• Habitat that is of critical importance to the species at certain life-cycle stages; • Habitat utilised by a migratory species which is at the limit of the species range; and • Habitat within an area where the species is declining. The desktop assessment and habitat assessment confirmed the presence of marginal habitat for several protected species of flora and fauna, as well as migratory species. This assessment was not supported by the targeted survey which failed to detect any threatened species using a suite of methodologies known to effectively detect the relevant species if present. Whilst no survey is infallible and Type II errors are possible, we consider the survey effort and intensity employed as both reasonable and sufficient to detect a population of the target species. Whilst we consider the action in its current form as highly unlikely to have a significant impact on the population of a protected species, a significant impact assessment has been undertaken for northern quoll, koala and bare-rumped sheathtail bat. We note that impacts on migratory species are unlikely to be significant as the habitat is generally marginal and unlikely to support an ecologically significant proportion of the species population. We also note that only through formal referral and determination under the EPBC Act can legal certainty for a proposed action be attained, and it is the obligation of the applicant to decide whether a referral is necessary, based on the extent of the projects impacts.
5.2.1.1 Significant impact assessment for potentially affected MNES Following the desktop and field investigations we determined that a significant impact assessment was required for bare-rumped sheathtail bat and northern quoll. The assessment for S. saccolaimus was required, based on the confirmed detection of the species using ultrasonic echolocation call detection on numerous occasions during the field survey. Whilst northern quoll was not detected during field investigations, the site occurs within the modelled distribution of the species, low density denning/shelter habitat is present on the site and higher quality habitat occurs in vegetation in the local area. A detailed impact assessment has been undertaken for both species with consideration to the ‘Matters of National Environmental Significance – Significant Impact Guidelines 1.1’ (significant impact guidelines) and the ‘EPBC Act referral guidelines for the endangered northern quoll, Dasyurus hallucatus’ (northern quoll referral guidelines). No species-specific guidelines have been published for bare-rumped sheathtail bat.
5.2.1.1.1 Northern Quoll The following significant impact assessment concludes that impacts on northern quoll from the proposed action are likely to be ‘low’ for each of the ‘significant impact criteria’.
Table 11: Significant Impact Assessment – Northern Quoll
Significant Impact Criteria Level of impact
An action is likely to have a significant impact on a critically endangered or endangered species if there is a real chance or possibility that it will:
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Significant Impact Criteria Level of impact
lead to a long-term decrease in the Low size of a population Dasyurus hallucatus was not recorded during the survey and it is expected that the survey intensity utilised would detect a population of D. hallucatus if they were present. Given the estimated range size of D. hallucatus (males – 100 ha; females – 35 ha), the site is not considered to be of sufficient size to support a significant breeding population. Since 1980 there have been no confirmed records of this species within 10 km of the site. A report prepared by Scott Burnett for the Townville City Council and Burdekin Dry Tropics Natural Resource Management (Burnett 2008), states that all known northern quoll populations in the Townsville area are found on or about the Mount Elliot/Saddle Mountain massif, Cape Cleveland and Cape Upstart. The foothills of the Mount Elliot/Saddle Mountain massif are located approximately 10 km SSE of the site. Connectivity with this population has been severed because of rural residential development and associated road infrastructure. The project area contains the broad habitat features associated with potential foraging habitat and potential denning habitat is located nearby, however despite significant efforts to confirm the species presence via targeted surveys, no individuals have been detected to date. reduce the area of occupancy of the Low species We do not believe that the project area is occupied by the species. In the context of the wider landscape the site represents a small area of potential habitat that may be utilised during dispersal. fragment an existing population into Low two or more populations It is unlikely that a population of D. hallucatus is present within the site; however, we recognise that the project contains potential foraging/dispersal habitat and is located near potential denning habitat. Burnett (2008) indicates that sightings of the species have contracted towards the coast over past decades citing the closest population to the proposed action, occupies the habitat of Mt Elliott/Saddle Mountain Massif. The survey intensity utilised during this and previous investigations is considered sufficient to determine the presence of this species. The lack of confirmed evidence suggests that the Mt Elliot/Saddle Mountain population does not extend to the site. Connectivity to habitat in the wider landscape will be reduced as a result of the action. However, as there have been no recently confirmed records within the area, the proposed action is unlikely to fragment a population. Underpasses are recommended as a general mitigation measure against animal mortality as they will provide alternative crossing points for the species should they traverse the site. adversely affect habitat critical to the Low survival of a species The project area is located within the modelled distribution of the species and provides potential habitat for the species; however, the habitat is not considered critical to the survival of the species for the following reasons: • The project area is not located on an offshore island; • Rocky habitats, whilst present, provide virtually no denning opportunities with very few interstial spaces; and • The woodland is not structurally diverse, termite mounds are absent hollow logs are rare and large diameter trees containing hollows are sparse.
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Significant Impact Criteria Level of impact The site contains dispersal and foraging habitat, however there is no evidence to suggest that this habitat connects populations important to the long-term survival of the species. During the construction we recommend that any boulders, hollow logs and trees with hollows are retained in the adjacent landscape to provide future denning opportunities for the species, if only as a temporary habitat used during dispersal. disrupt the breeding cycle of a Low population It is unlikely that a population or significant population occurs in the project area as previously stated, however there is a small possibility that the species utilises the site transiently. As underpasses are recommended as a general mitigation measure against animal mortality, genetic exchange between populations will be facilitated through incorporation of fauna underpasses in the road design. modify, destroy, remove, isolate or Low decrease the availability or quality of The widespread distribution of the species, which includes isolated habitat to the extent that the species populations without any connectivity to the project area, indicates that any is likely to decline decrease in the availability or habitat quality associated with this action would not impact other populations and cause the species to decline. result in invasive species that are Low harmful to a critically endangered or The disturbance associated with the proposed expansion has the potential to endangered species becoming introduce new weeds or increase the likelihood of existing weeds spreading established in the endangered or through the local area. Impacts of changed fire regimes may be a potential significant impact if not adequately managed. critically endangered species’ habitat A pest management plan and bushfire management plan incorporating weed control is recommended for the site and it is expected that its implementation will limit harm to critically endangered or endangered species and their habitat. introduce disease that may cause the Low species to decline; or There are no known identified diseases that may lead to the species decline of D. hallucatus. interfere with the recovery of the Low species No recovery programs are currently occurring within the area of the proposed development.
5.2.1.1.2 Bare-Rumped Sheathtail Bat The following significant impact assessment concludes that impacts on bare-rumped sheathtail from the proposed action are likely to be ‘low’ for each of the ‘significant impact criteria’.
Table 12: Significant Impact Assessment - Bare-Rumped Sheathtail Bat
Significant Impact Criteria Level of Impact
An action is likely to have a significant impact on a vulnerable species if there is a real chance or possibility that it will: lead to a long-term decrease in the Low size of an important population of a The bare-rumped sheathtail bat is currently listed as vulnerable under the species EPBC Act, therefore the act applies to populations that are important for long
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Significant Impact Criteria Level of Impact
term conservation of the species (Schulz and Thomson 2007). Since the species was detected using ultrasonic echolocation call detection the presence of this species must be considered an important population. An assessment of habitat values for the species focused on the presence and density of suitable tree hollows in the project area. Results of the assessment indicate that available hollows are at a very low density in the project area (<1 ha) and use of the project area is most likely limited to foraging. The recovery plan for this species notes that evidence suggests they occur at low densities in the region (Schulz and Thomson 2007). From this we can conclude that the bare-rumped sheathtail bat may be expected to only utilise a small percentage of available suitable hollows in suitable habitat. Other foraging habitat in the area is potentially capable of supporting a population of the species. Provided the proposed mitigation measures are implemented, we do not expect any reduction in foraging habitat, especially since previous investigations have recorded this species adjacent to a national highway (RPS 2012). Coastal Eucalypt woodlands are common both locally and regionally and clearing the site will only incrementally reduce potential habitat for the species. Considering the very small proportion of available roosts being removed and the mitigation measures to be employed, we conclude that the physical removal of trees is unlikely to lead to a long-term decrease in the size of the population. reduce the area of occupancy of an Low important population Like most aspects of the species biology, the range size of bare-rumped sheathtail bat has not been ascertained. However, it is likely that the foraging range of the species is substantially larger than the project area. This area is not at the edge of the species range and therefore the limits of the species range will not be reduced. Consequently, no significant impacted is expected. fragment an existing important Low population into two or more Whilst there is potential for individuals of the species to utilise the project populations area (most likely for foraging), the action is unlikely to fragment a population due to the mobility of the species. The species presence on Magnetic Island implies that they can fly over expanses of open water, and this ability to fly between land masses is supported by their distribution, which ranges from India in the west to Bougainville Island in the East. It is reasonable to expect that a high-flying species capable of flying many kilometres would not regard clearing in the project area as a barrier to movement. Notwithstanding the above, connectivity is being retained along the range surrounding the hilltop estate. adversely affect habitat critical to the Low survival of a species The action will result in the removal of a vegetation from a small area, lacking potential roost hollows. The Recovery Plan does not classify particular vegetation communities as being critical for the survival of the species, but since these communities contain very few hollows and there is substantial remnant vegetation locally and regionally, it is not expected that the proposed action will affect habitat critical to the survival of the species.
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Significant Impact Criteria Level of Impact
disrupt the breeding cycle of an Low important population In Queensland it is known that females give birth to single young between late December and early January, and lactate during the wet season (Churchill 2008). The site does not appear to possess any overly significant or unique features compared to other sites in the local area and we assume that nearby sites will provide equivalent maternity roosting opportunities, however, the selection of maternity roosts is currently unknown. Provided clearing is undertaken outside of the known breeding period it is not expected that the action will disrupt the breeding cycle of the species. modify, destroy, remove or isolate or Low decrease the availability or quality of No information is available in the literature describing the home range or habitat to the extent that the species what area of foraging habitat is required to support a population of bare- is likely to decline rumped sheathtail bat. It is unlikely that the destruction of habitat within the footprint of this site covers sufficient area to cause species decline. result in invasive species that are Low harmful to a vulnerable species The disturbance associated with the proposed expansion has the potential to becoming established in the introduce new weeds or increase the likelihood of existing weeds spreading vulnerable species’ habitat through the local area. Impacts of changed fire regimes may be a potential significant impact if not adequately managed. A pest management plan and bushfire management plan incorporating weed control is recommended for the site and it is expected that its implementation will limit harm vulnerable species and their habitat. introduce disease that may cause the Low species to decline, or No diseases have been recorded in this species in Australia. However, Australian Bat Lyssavirus (ABL) has been recorded in the closely related Saccolaimus flaviventris. In all likelihood, ABL is already present in the area as it occurs in numerous bat species. It is unlikely that this action will introduce Lyssavirus, since it is not known to be carried by humans, soil or machinery. interfere substantially with the Low recovery of the species. No recovery programs are currently occurring within the area of the proposed development. There are currently no conservation measures specifically aimed at S. saccolaimus, with the protection of suitable and potential habitat in conservation reserves being the only measure to reduce any potential decline.
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6 SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS For ease of reference, findings of this investigation are summarised in Table 13 below.
Table 13: Summary of findings
Significant Flora The desktop and field assessment identified potential habitat for the following NC Act and EPBC Act listed plant species: • Eucalyptus paedoglauca (EPBC Act – Vulnerable; NC Act – Vulnerable). The flora survey did not detect any state or federally listed plants in the project area. Threatened ecological communities No TEC’s were returned in the MNES Protected Matter Search or considered likely to occur during the assessment of the site. Remnant vegetation The project area intersects approximately 317 ha of least concern remnant vegetation. State Code 16 of the State Development Assessment Provisions stipulates performance outcomes and acceptable outcomes in relation to vegetation clearing. A review of the code has confirmed that clearing may not meet the following performance outcomes: • PO 16: In consideration of vegetation on the land subject to the development application and on adjacent land, sufficient vegetation is retained to maintain ecological processes and remains in the landscape despite threatening processes (Appendix I); and This assumes that all watercourses and associated buffers will be retained. If clearing within the stipulated distances of watercourses is undertaken, then the following performance outcome also applies: • PO 11: Clearing maintains the current extent of vegetation associated with any watercourse or drainage feature to protect: a. bank stability by protecting against bank erosion b. water quality by filtering sediments, nutrients and other pollutants c. aquatic habitat; and d. terrestrial habitat Significant fauna The field assessment confirmed the presence of the following species in the project area: • Bare-rumped sheathtail bat (Saccolaimus saccolaimus nudicluniatus) – (EPBC Act – Vulnerable; NC Act – Endangered). The desktop and field assessment also confirmed preferred habitat for the following species, which were not detected during the field survey: • Squatter pigeon (Geophaps scripta scripta) - Vulnerable (EPBC Act), Vulnerable (NC Act); • Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) – (EPBC Act – Vulnerable; NC Act – Vulnerable); • Northern quoll (Dasyurus hallucatus) – Endangered (EPBC Act); and • Short-beaked echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus) – (NC Act – Special least concern). Marginal habitat for the following species was also identified in the project area: • Red goshawk (Erythrotriorchis radiatus) – EPBC Act – Vulnerable; NC Act – Endangered); • Fork-tailed swift (Apus pacificus) – (EPBC Act – Migratory; NC Act – Special least concern);
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• White-throated needletail (Hirundapus caudacutus) – (EPBC Act – Migratory; NC Act – Special least concern); and • Oriental cuckoo (Cuculus optatus) – (EPBC Act – Migratory; NC Act – Special least concern). Following the desktop and field investigations RPS determined that a significant impact assessment was required for bare-rumped sheathtail bat and northern quoll. The assessment for S. saccolaimus was required, based on the confirmed detection of the species using ultrasonic echolocation call detection on numerous occasions during the field survey. Whilst northern quoll was not detected during field investigations, the site occurs within the modelled distribution of the species and contains low- density denning/shelter habitat. Where present, denning habitat is poor quality, consisting of shallow overhangs and rock crevices. Higher quality habitat occurs on the steeper slopes surrounding the site. The significant impact assessment concluded that impacts on northern quoll and S. saccolaimus from the proposed action are likely to be ‘low’ for each of the ‘significant impact criteria’. We note that only through formal referral and determination under the EPBC Act, can legal certainty be provided for EPBC Act listed species, and it is the obligation of the applicant to decide whether a referral is necessary, based on the extent of the project. Aquatic ecosystems and wetlands • The Watercourse identification map (Water Act) shows one “Water Act” watercourse adjacent to the project area, other watercourses may also be classified as such upon assessment by DNRME. Depending on the works required within the watercourse formal identification by DNRME is recommended to determine whether a riverine protection permit is required; • A review of the high ecological value waters spatial layer produced by the Department of Environment and Science (DES) confirmed one HEV watercourses slightly intersecting the southern part of the project area. Given the small area involved and the terrain, we recommend excising the area from the project footprint; • No HEV wetlands occur in the project area; and • The closest WPA in the catchment is located near the mouth of Black River approximately 16 km downstream of the project area. Impacts on the WPA are unlikely, provided appropriate erosion and sediment control is implemented. Matters of state environmental • MSES that may be triggered by the project include; regulated vegetation, significance waterways providing for fish passage and protected wildlife habitat (flora and fauna). – Regulated vegetation (vegetation associated with watercourses) – There is unlikely to be a significant residual impact if the 10 m watercourse protection buffer in accordance with the VM Act is maintained and best practice erosion and sediment control are implemented. – Protected wildlife habitat (flora and fauna) - One special least concern animal, echidna, was identified during the survey but no threatened animals were identified. Given the extent of the clearing area, the landform, the lack of water availability and the habitat quality present, we consider a significant impact on any protected species population very unlikely. Matters of national environmental • The significant impact assessment concluded that impacts on northern significance. quoll and S. saccolaimus from the proposed action are likely to be ‘low’ for each of the ‘significant impact criteria’.
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• It should be noted that only through formal referral and determination under the EPBC Act, can legal certainty be provided for EPBC Act listed species, and it is the obligation of the applicant to decide whether a referral is necessary, based on the extent of the projects.
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7 REFERENCES Aumann T and Baker-Gabb DJ (1991). A management plan for the Red Goshawk. Royal Australian Ornithologists Union Report 75. Brooker M.I.H., Kleinig D.A. (1994) Field guide to eucalypts. Vol. 3 Northern Australia. Inkata press, Sydney. Burnett, S. (2008), Surviving the toads: patterns of persistence of the northern quoll Dasyurus hallucatus in Queensland. Calvert, G.A., Lokkers, C. and Cumming, R. (2005) Rare and Threatened Plants of the Townsville - Thuringowa Region. Coastal Dry Tropics Landcare Inc. Czechura GV and Hobson RG (2000). The Red Goshawk Erythrotriorchis radiatus in northern Queensland: status and distribution. Report to Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service. Czechura GV (2001). The status and distribution of the Red Goshawk Erythrotriorchis radiatus on Cape York Peninsula, Queensland. Unpublished report to Birds Australia. Czechura GV, Hobson RG and Stewart DA (2009). Observations on the biology of the Red Goshawk Erythrotriorchis radiatus in Queensland. Australian Field Ornithology 26, 148 – 156. Churchill S.K. (2008). Australian bats- Second Edition. Sydney: Allen and Unwin. Cogger, H., (2000). Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia. Reed Publishers Australia. Cogger, H.G., E.E. Cameron, R.A. Sadlier and P. Eggler (1993). The Action Plan for Australian Reptiles. Canberra, ACT: Australian Nature Conservation Agency. Available from: http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/action/reptiles/index.html. DERM (2010) Queensland Department of Environment and Resource Management. National recovery plan for the spectacled flying fox Pteropus conspicillatus. Report to the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities, Canberra. Available from: http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/recovery-plans/national-recovery-plan-spectacled- flying-fox-pteropus-conspicillatus. DERM (2012) Department of Environment and Resource Management National recovery plan for the red goshawk, Erythrotriorchis radiatus. DEWHA (2008) Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and Arts Approved Conservation Advice for Omphalea celata. http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/species/pubs/64586- conservation-advice.pdf. DEWHA (2009) Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts. Significant impact guidelines for the endangered black-throated finch (southern) (Poephila cincta cincta) Didham, R. (2010). Ecological Consequences of Habitat Fragmentation. DoE (2014) Department of the Environment. EPBC Act Referral Guidelines for the vulnerable koala (combined populations of Queensland, New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory), Commonwealth of Australia.
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DoEE (2018n) Department of the Environment. Species Profile and Threats Database – Tyto novaehollandiae kimberli – Masked Owl, http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi- bin/sprat/public/publicspecies.pl?taxon_id=26048 DoEE (2018o) Department of the Environment. Species Profile and Threats Database – Phascolarctos cinereus Koala. Available from: http://www.environment.gov.au/sprat. DoEE (2018p). Department of the Environment and Energy. Pteropus conspicillatus in Species Profile and Threats Database, Department of the Environment, Canberra. Available from: http://www.environment.gov.au/sprat. DSEWPAC (2011). Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities (2011). Draft Referral Guidelines for the Nationally Listed Brigalow Belt Reptiles. DSEWPAC (2013). Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities. Advice to the Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities from the Threatened Species Scientific Committee (the Committee) on Amendment to the list of Threatened Species under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). Duncan, A., G.B. Baker and N. Montgomery (1999). The Action Plan for Australian Bats. Canberra: Environment Australia. Available from: http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/publications/action/bats/index.html. Garnett, S.T. & G.M. Crowley (2000). The Action Plan for Australian Birds 2000. Canberra, ACT: Environment Australia and Birds Australia. Hacker, J.B. (1990). Herbaceous and Shrub Legumes of Queensland, University of Queensland Press, Brisbane. Hanski, I., & Gaggiotti, O. E. (2004). Ecology, genetics and evolution of metapopulations. San Diego: Elsevier. Higgins, P.J., Davies, S. J., Dabbagh J. F., Yousif K. (1996). Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic birds. Volume 3, Snipe to pigeons. Oxford University Press, Melbourne [Vic.]; Auckland [N.Z.] Higgins, P.J., ed. (1999). Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic Birds Volume 4: Parrots to Dollarbird. Melbourne: Oxford University Press. Higgins, P.J., J.M. Peter & S.J. Cowling, eds. (2006a). Boatbill to Starlings. In: Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic Birds. 7. Melbourne: Oxford University Press. Isles NL. Patterns of Foraging Behaviour of the Black-throated Finch during Breeding Season. Townsville, Queensland James Cook University; 2007. Marchant, S., and Higgins, P.J. (eds) (1993) Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic Birds. Volume 2: Raptors to Lapwings. Oxford University Press, Melbourne. Martin, R. & K. Handasyde (1999). The Koala: Natural history, conservation and management. Sydney, NSW: UNSW Press. McDonald, WJF (1996) Spatial and temporal patterns in the dry season subtropcial rainforests of eastern Australia, with particular reference to the vine thickets of central and southern Queensland. PhD thesis, Botany Department, University of New England, Armidale.
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McDonald, K.R., J.A. Covacevich, G.J. Ingram and P.J. Couper (1991). The status of frogs and reptiles. In: Ingram, G.J. and R.J. Raven, eds. An Atlas of Queensland's Frogs, Reptiles, Birds and Mammals. Page(s) 338-345. Brisbane: Queensland Museum. Milne D.J. (2002). Key to the bat calls of the Top End of the Northern Territory. Parks and Wildlife Commission of the Northern Territory, Technical Report No. 71. Mitchell, D.F. (1996). Foraging Ecology of the Black-throated Finch Poephila cincta cincta. M.Sc. Thesis. Townsville: James Cook University of North Queensland. Moore, B.D. and Foley, W.J. (2000). A review of feeding and diet selection in koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus). Australian Journal of Zoology 48:317-333. Murtha, G.G. (1975) Soils and Land Use Series No. 55. Division of Soils. Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial. Research Organization, Australia. Neldner, V.J., Wilson, B.A., Thompson, E.J. and Dillewaard H.A. (2012) Methodology for Survey and Mapping of Regional Ecosystems and Vegetation Communities in Queensland. Version 3.2. Updated August 2012. Parsons J., A. Cairns, C. Johnson, S. Robson, L.A. Shilton & D.A. Westcott (2006). Diet variation in Spectacled Flying Foxes (Pteropus conspicillatus) in the Wet Tropics of Australia. Australian Journal of Zoology. 54:417-26. Pizzey G., Knight F. (2010) Field guide to the birds of Australia. Angus and Robertson: HarperCollins, Pymble, NSW. Queensland Herbarium (2009). Croton magneticus specimen label information. Queensland Herbarium (2012). Eucalyptus paedoglauca specimen label information. Rechetelo J, Grice AC, Reside AE, Hardesty BD, Moloney J. Movement patterns, home range size and habitat selection of an endangered resource tracking species, the Black-throated finch (Poephila cincta cincta). PLoS ONE. submitted. Reinhold, L. & Queensland Department of Natural Resources and Mines (2001). Key to the bat calls of south-east Queensland and north-east New South Wales. Queensland Department of Natural Resources and Mines. Richards, GC & HJ Spencer (1998). Spectacled Flying-fox, Pteropus conspicillatus (Gould, 1850). In: Strahan, R, ed. The Mammals of Australia. Sattler P., Williams. (1999). The conservation status of Queensland’s bioregional ecosystems. Environmental Protection Agency, Queensland Government, Brisbane. Schulz, M. and Thomson, B. (2007). National recovery plan for the bare-rumped sheathtail bat Saccolaimus saccolaimus nudicluniatus. Report to Department of the Environment and Water Resources, Canberra. Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service, Brisbane. Storr, G.M. (1980). Birds of the Kimberley Division, Western Australia. Special Publications of the Western Australian Museum, No. 11. 11:1-117. Perth, Western Australia: Western Australian Museum. TSSC (2016a) Threatened Species Scientific Committee. Approved Conservation Advice for Petauroides volans (greater glider). Department of the Environment, Canberra. Webb, LJ (1959) A physiognomic classification of Australian rainforests. Journal of Ecology 47: 551-70.
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Webb, LJ (1968) Environmental relationships of the structural types of Australian rainforest vegetation. Ecology 49: 296-311. Webb, LJ and Tracey, JG (1981) Australian rainforests: patterns and change. In A Keast (ed.), Ecological Biogeography of Australia, W.Junk, The Hague, pp 605-74. Webb, LJ and Tracey, JG (1994) The rainforests of northern Australia. Chapter 4 in RH Groves (ed.), Australian Vegetation, second edition, Cambridge University Press. Wieneke, Jo, and Wildlife Preservation Society of Queensland. Townsville Branch Birds of Townsville and where to find them. Wildlife Preservation Society of Queensland, Townsville Branch, Townsville, Qld, 1989.
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Appendix A
Protected plants flora survey trigger map
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Appendix B
Wildlife online search results
PR122454-3 | Elliot Springs Hilltop Estate | 1.5 | 04 March 2019 rpsgroup.com Wildlife Online Extract
Search Criteria: Species List for a Specified Point Species: All Type: All Status: All Records: All Date: All Latitude: -19.367 Longitude: 146.885 Distance: 10 Email: [email protected] Date submitted: Thursday 23 Aug 2018 12:03:37 Date extracted: Thursday 23 Aug 2018 12:10:03 The number of records retrieved = 707
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As the DSITIA is still in a process of collating and vetting data, it is possible the information given is not complete. The information provided should only be used for the project for which it was requested and it should be appropriately acknowledged as being derived from Wildlife Online when it is used. The State of Queensland does not invite reliance upon, nor accept responsibility for this information. Persons should satisfy themselves through independent means as to the accuracy and completeness of this information. No statements, representations or warranties are made about the accuracy or completeness of this information. The State of Queensland disclaims all responsibility for this information and all liability (including without limitation, liability in negligence) for all expenses, losses, damages and costs you may incur as a result of the information being inaccurate or incomplete in any way for any reason.
Feedback about Wildlife Online should be emailed to [email protected] Kingdom Class Family Scientific Name Common Name I Q A Records animals amphibians Bufonidae Rhinella marina cane toad Y 16/1 animals amphibians Hylidae Litoria rothii northern laughing treefrog C 6 animals amphibians Hylidae Litoria bicolor northern sedgefrog C 3/1 animals amphibians Hylidae Litoria inermis bumpy rocketfrog C 7/1 animals amphibians Hylidae Litoria rubella ruddy treefrog C 7 animals amphibians Hylidae Litoria caerulea common green treefrog C 8/1 animals amphibians Hylidae Cyclorana brevipes superb collared frog C 1/1 animals amphibians Hylidae Litoria gracilenta graceful treefrog C 3 animals amphibians Hylidae Cyclorana alboguttata greenstripe frog C 2 animals amphibians Hylidae Cyclorana novaehollandiae eastern snapping frog C 1/1 animals amphibians Hylidae Litoria lesueuri sensu lato stony creek frog C 1 animals amphibians Hylidae Litoria fallax eastern sedgefrog C 4 animals amphibians Hylidae Litoria nasuta striped rocketfrog C 2 animals amphibians Limnodynastidae Platyplectrum ornatum ornate burrowing frog C 15/8 animals amphibians Limnodynastidae Limnodynastes tasmaniensis spotted grassfrog C 2 animals amphibians Myobatrachidae Crinia deserticola chirping froglet C 3 animals birds Acanthizidae Smicrornis brevirostris weebill C 1 animals birds Acanthizidae Gerygone magnirostris large-billed gerygone C 16 animals birds Acanthizidae Gerygone olivacea white-throated gerygone C 11 animals birds Acanthizidae Gerygone levigaster mangrove gerygone C 74 animals birds Acanthizidae Gerygone palpebrosa fairy gerygone C 21 animals birds Accipitridae Circus assimilis spotted harrier C 2 animals birds Accipitridae Accipiter cirrocephalus collared sparrowhawk C 9 animals birds Accipitridae Aquila audax wedge-tailed eagle C 22 animals birds Accipitridae Milvus migrans black kite C 170 animals birds Accipitridae Haliastur indus brahminy kite C 65 animals birds Accipitridae Accipiter novaehollandiae grey goshawk C 5 animals birds Accipitridae Elanus axillaris black-shouldered kite C 13 animals birds Accipitridae Pandion cristatus eastern osprey SL 27 animals birds Accipitridae Circus approximans swamp harrier C 8 animals birds Accipitridae Accipiter fasciatus brown goshawk C 20 animals birds Accipitridae Aviceda subcristata Pacific baza C 7 animals birds Accipitridae Haliastur sphenurus whistling kite C 159 animals birds Accipitridae Haliaeetus leucogaster white-bellied sea-eagle C 69 animals birds Accipitridae Hieraaetus morphnoides little eagle C 2 animals birds Acrocephalidae Acrocephalus australis Australian reed-warbler C 1 animals birds Aegothelidae Aegotheles cristatus Australian owlet-nightjar C 4 animals birds Alaudidae Mirafra javanica Horsfield's bushlark C 26 animals birds Alcedinidae Ceyx pusillus little kingfisher C 8 animals birds Alcedinidae Ceyx azureus azure kingfisher C 13 animals birds Anatidae Aythya australis hardhead C 21 animals birds Anatidae Anas castanea chestnut teal C 1 animals birds Anatidae Anas gracilis grey teal C 16 animals birds Anatidae Cygnus atratus black swan C 7 animals birds Anatidae Tadorna radjah radjah shelduck C 2 animals birds Anatidae Malacorhynchus membranaceus pink-eared duck C 2
Page 1 of 16 Queensland Government Wildlife Online - Extract Date 23/08/2018 at 12:10:03 Kingdom Class Family Scientific Name Common Name I Q A Records animals birds Anatidae Oxyura australis blue-billed duck C 1 animals birds Anatidae Anas superciliosa Pacific black duck C 68 animals birds Anatidae Chenonetta jubata Australian wood duck C 12 animals birds Anatidae Dendrocygna eytoni plumed whistling-duck C 37 animals birds Anatidae Dendrocygna arcuata wandering whistling-duck C 27 animals birds Anatidae Nettapus pulchellus green pygmy-goose C 1 animals birds Anatidae Nettapus coromandelianus cotton pygmy-goose C 16/1 animals birds Anhingidae Anhinga novaehollandiae Australasian darter C 95 animals birds Anseranatidae Anseranas semipalmata magpie goose C 51 animals birds Apodidae Aerodramus terraereginae Australian swiftlet C 20 animals birds Apodidae Apus pacificus fork-tailed swift SL 6 animals birds Apodidae Hirundapus caudacutus white-throated needletail SL 3 animals birds Ardeidae Egretta picata pied heron C 2 animals birds Ardeidae Ardea intermedia intermediate egret C 81 animals birds Ardeidae Egretta garzetta little egret C 107 animals birds Ardeidae Butorides striata striated heron C 73 animals birds Ardeidae Ardea alba modesta eastern great egret C 130 animals birds Ardeidae Ixobrychus flavicollis black bittern C 3 animals birds Ardeidae Egretta novaehollandiae white-faced heron C 49 animals birds Ardeidae Ardea pacifica white-necked heron C 15 animals birds Ardeidae Egretta sacra eastern reef egret C 13 animals birds Ardeidae Bubulcus ibis cattle egret C 123 animals birds Ardeidae Nycticorax caledonicus nankeen night-heron C 20 animals birds Artamidae Cracticus quoyi black butcherbird C 46 animals birds Artamidae Artamus cinereus black-faced woodswallow C 16 animals birds Artamidae Cracticus tibicen Australian magpie C 104 animals birds Artamidae Artamus personatus masked woodswallow C 1 animals birds Artamidae Cracticus nigrogularis pied butcherbird C 25 animals birds Artamidae Cracticus torquatus grey butcherbird C 1 animals birds Artamidae Artamus leucorynchus white-breasted woodswallow C 125 animals birds Artamidae Artamus superciliosus white-browed woodswallow C 2 animals birds Artamidae Strepera graculina pied currawong C 7 animals birds Burhinidae Esacus magnirostris beach stone-curlew V 8 animals birds Burhinidae Burhinus grallarius bush stone-curlew C 43 animals birds Cacatuidae Cacatua galerita sulphur-crested cockatoo C 90 animals birds Cacatuidae Cacatua sanguinea little corella C 60 animals birds Cacatuidae Cacatua tenuirostris long-billed corella Y C 3 animals birds Cacatuidae Eolophus roseicapilla galah C 9 animals birds Cacatuidae Calyptorhynchus banksii red-tailed black-cockatoo C 111 animals birds Cacatuidae Nymphicus hollandicus cockatiel C 6 animals birds Campephagidae Coracina novaehollandiae black-faced cuckoo-shrike C 107 animals birds Campephagidae Coracina tenuirostris cicadabird C 6 animals birds Campephagidae Coracina papuensis white-bellied cuckoo-shrike C 76 animals birds Campephagidae Lalage tricolor white-winged triller C 17 animals birds Campephagidae Lalage leucomela varied triller C 61 animals birds Campephagidae Coracina maxima ground cuckoo-shrike C 1
Page 2 of 16 Queensland Government Wildlife Online - Extract Date 23/08/2018 at 12:10:03 Kingdom Class Family Scientific Name Common Name I Q A Records animals birds Caprimulgidae Caprimulgus macrurus large-tailed nightjar C 12 animals birds Charadriidae Charadrius bicinctus double-banded plover SL 1 animals birds Charadriidae Charadrius ruficapillus red-capped plover C 11 animals birds Charadriidae Charadrius leschenaultii greater sand plover V V 1 animals birds Charadriidae Pluvialis squatarola grey plover SL 2 animals birds Charadriidae Vanellus miles miles masked lapwing (northern subspecies) C 8 animals birds Charadriidae Erythrogonys cinctus red-kneed dotterel C 5 animals birds Charadriidae Charadrius veredus oriental plover SL 1 animals birds Charadriidae Vanellus miles masked lapwing C 114 animals birds Charadriidae Pluvialis fulva Pacific golden plover SL 3 animals birds Charadriidae Vanellus tricolor banded lapwing C 1 animals birds Charadriidae Elseyornis melanops black-fronted dotterel C 33 animals birds Charadriidae Charadrius mongolus lesser sand plover E E 3 animals birds Ciconiidae Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus black-necked stork C 21 animals birds Cisticolidae Cisticola exilis golden-headed cisticola C 50 animals birds Climacteridae Cormobates leucophaea minor white-throated treecreeper (northern) C 1 animals birds Columbidae Columba livia rock dove Y 18 animals birds Columbidae Ducula bicolor pied imperial-pigeon C 11 animals birds Columbidae Geopelia cuneata diamond dove C 6 animals birds Columbidae Geopelia striata peaceful dove C 491 animals birds Columbidae Geophaps scripta squatter pigeon C 6 animals birds Columbidae Ocyphaps lophotes crested pigeon C 35 animals birds Columbidae Ptilinopus regina rose-crowned fruit-dove C 2 animals birds Columbidae Chalcophaps indica emerald dove C 12 animals birds Columbidae Geopelia humeralis bar-shouldered dove C 83 animals birds Columbidae Ptilinopus superbus superb fruit-dove C 1 animals birds Columbidae Ptilinopus magnificus wompoo fruit-dove C 1 animals birds Columbidae Macropygia amboinensis brown cuckoo-dove C 3 animals birds Columbidae Streptopelia chinensis spotted dove Y 2 animals birds Columbidae Leucosarcia melanoleuca wonga pigeon C 1 animals birds Columbidae Lopholaimus antarcticus topknot pigeon C 2 animals birds Coraciidae Eurystomus orientalis dollarbird C 43 animals birds Corcoracidae Struthidea cinerea apostlebird C 1 animals birds Corvidae Corvus coronoides Australian raven C 29 animals birds Corvidae Corvus orru Torresian crow C 104/1 animals birds Corvidae Corvus sp. 23 animals birds Cuculidae Centropus phasianinus pheasant coucal C 78 animals birds Cuculidae Cacomantis flabelliformis fan-tailed cuckoo C 10 animals birds Cuculidae Scythrops novaehollandiae channel-billed cuckoo C 15 animals birds Cuculidae Chalcites minutillus russatus Gould's bronze-cuckoo C 2 animals birds Cuculidae Chalcites basalis Horsfield's bronze-cuckoo C 16 animals birds Cuculidae Cacomantis variolosus brush cuckoo C 30 animals birds Cuculidae Eudynamys orientalis eastern koel C 48 animals birds Cuculidae Chalcites minutillus little bronze-cuckoo C 12 animals birds Cuculidae Cacomantis pallidus pallid cuckoo C 4 animals birds Cuculidae Chalcites lucidus shining bronze-cuckoo C 2
Page 3 of 16 Queensland Government Wildlife Online - Extract Date 23/08/2018 at 12:10:03 Kingdom Class Family Scientific Name Common Name I Q A Records animals birds Cuculidae Chalcites osculans black-eared cuckoo C 2 animals birds Dicruridae Dicrurus bracteatus spangled drongo C 133 animals birds Estrildidae Neochmia modesta plum-headed finch C 2 animals birds Estrildidae Poephila cincta cincta black-throated finch (white-rumped E E 15 subspecies) animals birds Estrildidae Taeniopygia bichenovii double-barred finch C 48 animals birds Estrildidae Lonchura castaneothorax chestnut-breasted mannikin C 22 animals birds Estrildidae Taeniopygia guttata zebra finch C 21 animals birds Estrildidae Neochmia phaeton crimson finch C 88 animals birds Estrildidae Erythrura gouldiae Gouldian finch E E 1 animals birds Estrildidae Lonchura punctulata nutmeg mannikin Y 49 animals birds Estrildidae Neochmia temporalis red-browed finch C 7 animals birds Eurostopodidae Eurostopodus mystacalis white-throated nightjar C 4 animals birds Falconidae Falco berigora brown falcon C 17 animals birds Falconidae Falco subniger black falcon C 1 animals birds Falconidae Falco peregrinus peregrine falcon C 7 animals birds Falconidae Falco cenchroides nankeen kestrel C 63 animals birds Falconidae Falco longipennis Australian hobby C 45 animals birds Fregatidae Fregata ariel lesser frigatebird SL 1 animals birds Glareolidae Stiltia isabella Australian pratincole C 3 animals birds Gruidae Grus rubicunda brolga C 17 animals birds Haematopodidae Haematopus longirostris Australian pied oystercatcher C 13 animals birds Halcyonidae Tanysiptera sylvia buff-breasted paradise-kingfisher C 1 animals birds Halcyonidae Todiramphus macleayii forest kingfisher C 50 animals birds Halcyonidae Todiramphus sordidus Torresian kingfisher C 6 animals birds Halcyonidae Dacelo leachii blue-winged kookaburra C 62 animals birds Halcyonidae Todiramphus pyrrhopygius red-backed kingfisher C 7 animals birds Halcyonidae Dacelo novaeguineae laughing kookaburra C 44 animals birds Halcyonidae Todiramphus sanctus sacred kingfisher C 71 animals birds Hirundinidae Petrochelidon nigricans tree martin C 8 animals birds Hirundinidae Petrochelidon ariel fairy martin C 49 animals birds Hirundinidae Hirundo neoxena welcome swallow C 129 animals birds Jacanidae Irediparra gallinacea comb-crested jacana C 32 animals birds Laridae Sterna hirundo common tern SL 2 animals birds Laridae Sterna dougallii roseate tern SL 1 animals birds Laridae Sterna sumatrana black-naped tern SL 1 animals birds Laridae Thalasseus bergii crested tern SL 47 animals birds Laridae Chlidonias hybrida whiskered tern C 4 animals birds Laridae Chroicocephalus novaehollandiae silver gull C 83 animals birds Laridae Sternula albifrons little tern SL 10 animals birds Laridae Leucophaeus pipixcan Franklin's gull C 1 animals birds Laridae Gelochelidon nilotica gull-billed tern SL 46 animals birds Laridae Chlidonias leucopterus white-winged black tern SL 1 animals birds Laridae Thalasseus bengalensis lesser crested tern C 1 animals birds Laridae Hydroprogne caspia Caspian tern SL 73 animals birds Maluridae Malurus melanocephalus red-backed fairy-wren C 62
Page 4 of 16 Queensland Government Wildlife Online - Extract Date 23/08/2018 at 12:10:03 Kingdom Class Family Scientific Name Common Name I Q A Records animals birds Megaluridae Megalurus timoriensis tawny grassbird C 5 animals birds Megaluridae Cincloramphus mathewsi rufous songlark C 5 animals birds Megaluridae Cincloramphus cruralis brown songlark C 1 animals birds Megapodiidae Alectura lathami Australian brush-turkey C 49 animals birds Megapodiidae Megapodius reinwardt orange-footed scrubfowl C 1 animals birds Meliphagidae Meliphaga lewinii Lewin's honeyeater C 30 animals birds Meliphagidae Gavicalis versicolor varied honeyeater C 3 animals birds Meliphagidae Entomyzon cyanotis blue-faced honeyeater C 54 animals birds Meliphagidae Manorina flavigula yellow-throated miner C 12 animals birds Meliphagidae Philemon buceroides helmeted friarbird C 104 animals birds Meliphagidae Stomiopera unicolor white-gaped honeyeater C 46 animals birds Meliphagidae Melithreptus gularis black-chinned honeyeater C 3 animals birds Meliphagidae Melithreptus lunatus white-naped honeyeater C 1 animals birds Meliphagidae Ramsayornis modestus brown-backed honeyeater C 52 animals birds Meliphagidae Philemon corniculatus noisy friarbird C 24 animals birds Meliphagidae Manorina melanocephala noisy miner C 2 animals birds Meliphagidae Myzomela sanguinolenta scarlet honeyeater C 24 animals birds Meliphagidae Philemon citreogularis little friarbird C 32 animals birds Meliphagidae Conopophila rufogularis rufous-throated honeyeater C 27 animals birds Meliphagidae Gavicalis fasciogularis mangrove honeyeater C 7 animals birds Meliphagidae Acanthagenys rufogularis spiny-cheeked honeyeater C 1 animals birds Meliphagidae Melithreptus albogularis white-throated honeyeater C 104 animals birds Meliphagidae Stomiopera flava yellow honeyeater C 125 animals birds Meliphagidae Myzomela obscura dusky honeyeater C 65 animals birds Meliphagidae Meliphaga notata yellow-spotted honeyeater C 20 animals birds Meliphagidae Ptilotula fusca fuscous honeyeater C 1 animals birds Meliphagidae Lichmera indistincta brown honeyeater C 153 animals birds Meliphagidae Caligavis chrysops yellow-faced honeyeater C 3 animals birds Meropidae Merops ornatus rainbow bee-eater C 191 animals birds Monarchidae Myiagra rubecula leaden flycatcher C 82 animals birds Monarchidae Myiagra cyanoleuca satin flycatcher SL 6 animals birds Monarchidae Myiagra ruficollis broad-billed flycatcher C 1 animals birds Monarchidae Grallina cyanoleuca magpie-lark C 172 animals birds Monarchidae Monarcha melanopsis black-faced monarch SL 7 animals birds Monarchidae Myiagra inquieta restless flycatcher C 2 animals birds Monarchidae Symposiachrus trivirgatus spectacled monarch SL 26 animals birds Monarchidae Myiagra alecto shining flycatcher C 3 animals birds Monarchidae Arses kaupi pied monarch C 1 animals birds Monarchidae Carterornis leucotis white-eared monarch C 2 animals birds Motacillidae Anthus novaeseelandiae Australasian pipit C 51 animals birds Nectariniidae Dicaeum hirundinaceum mistletoebird C 81 animals birds Nectariniidae Nectarinia jugularis olive-backed sunbird C 113 animals birds Oriolidae Oriolus sagittatus olive-backed oriole C 29 animals birds Oriolidae Sphecotheres vieilloti Australasian figbird C 100 animals birds Otididae Ardeotis australis Australian bustard C 9 animals birds Pachycephalidae Colluricincla harmonica grey shrike-thrush C 5
Page 5 of 16 Queensland Government Wildlife Online - Extract Date 23/08/2018 at 12:10:03 Kingdom Class Family Scientific Name Common Name I Q A Records animals birds Pachycephalidae Pachycephala pectoralis golden whistler C 2 animals birds Pachycephalidae Pachycephala rufiventris rufous whistler C 43 animals birds Pachycephalidae Colluricincla megarhyncha little shrike-thrush C 65 animals birds Pardalotidae Pardalotus rubricatus red-browed pardalote C 1 animals birds Pardalotidae Pardalotus striatus striated pardalote C 36 animals birds Passeridae Passer domesticus house sparrow Y 74 animals birds Pelecanidae Pelecanus conspicillatus Australian pelican C 86 animals birds Petroicidae Peneoenanthe pulverulenta mangrove robin C 1 animals birds Petroicidae Poecilodryas superciliosa white-browed robin C 17 animals birds Petroicidae Microeca flavigaster lemon-bellied flycatcher C 35 animals birds Petroicidae Eopsaltria australis eastern yellow robin C 1 animals birds Petroicidae Microeca fascinans jacky winter C 1 animals birds Phalacrocoracidae Phalacrocorax carbo great cormorant C 18 animals birds Phalacrocoracidae Phalacrocorax sulcirostris little black cormorant C 106 animals birds Phalacrocoracidae Microcarbo melanoleucos little pied cormorant C 103 animals birds Phalacrocoracidae Phalacrocorax varius pied cormorant C 40 animals birds Phasianidae Excalfactoria chinensis king quail C 1 animals birds Phasianidae Pavo cristatus Indian peafowl Y 1 animals birds Phasianidae Coturnix ypsilophora brown quail C 21 animals birds Pittidae Pitta versicolor noisy pitta C 7 animals birds Podargidae Podargus strigoides tawny frogmouth C 23 animals birds Podicipedidae Podiceps cristatus great crested grebe C 1 animals birds Podicipedidae Tachybaptus novaehollandiae Australasian grebe C 21 animals birds Pomatostomidae Pomatostomus temporalis grey-crowned babbler C 2 animals birds Psittacidae Trichoglossus chlorolepidotus scaly-breasted lorikeet C 54 animals birds Psittacidae Trichoglossus haematodus moluccanus rainbow lorikeet C 177 animals birds Psittacidae Melopsittacus undulatus budgerigar C 1 animals birds Psittacidae Platycercus adscitus pale-headed rosella C 59 animals birds Psittacidae Parvipsitta pusilla little lorikeet C 2 animals birds Psittacidae Aprosmictus erythropterus red-winged parrot C 7 animals birds Ptilonorhynchidae Ptilonorhynchus nuchalis great bowerbird C 106 animals birds Ptilonorhynchidae Ptilonorhynchus maculatus spotted bowerbird C 1 animals birds Rallidae Fulica atra Eurasian coot C 7 animals birds Rallidae Amaurornis moluccana pale-vented bush-hen C 1 animals birds Rallidae Porphyrio melanotus purple swamphen C 12 animals birds Rallidae Gallinula tenebrosa dusky moorhen C 13 animals birds Rallidae Tribonyx ventralis black-tailed native-hen C 1 animals birds Rallidae Gallirallus philippensis buff-banded rail C 7 animals birds Rallidae Amaurornis cinerea white-browed crake C 7 animals birds Recurvirostridae Himantopus himantopus black-winged stilt C 15 animals birds Rhipiduridae Rhipidura rufiventris northern fantail C 2 animals birds Rhipiduridae Rhipidura leucophrys willie wagtail C 49 animals birds Rhipiduridae Rhipidura rufifrons rufous fantail SL 16 animals birds Rhipiduridae Rhipidura albiscapa grey fantail C 70 animals birds Scolopacidae Limosa limosa black-tailed godwit SL 8 animals birds Scolopacidae Xenus cinereus terek sandpiper SL 1
Page 6 of 16 Queensland Government Wildlife Online - Extract Date 23/08/2018 at 12:10:03 Kingdom Class Family Scientific Name Common Name I Q A Records animals birds Scolopacidae Numenius madagascariensis eastern curlew E CE 75 animals birds Scolopacidae Limosa lapponica baueri Western Alaskan bar-tailed godwit V V 14 animals birds Scolopacidae Calidris tenuirostris great knot E CE 9 animals birds Scolopacidae Tringa brevipes grey-tailed tattler SL 10 animals birds Scolopacidae Calidris canutus red knot E E 6 animals birds Scolopacidae Numenius minutus little curlew SL 2 animals birds Scolopacidae Tringa nebularia common greenshank SL 15 animals birds Scolopacidae Numenius phaeopus whimbrel SL 74 animals birds Scolopacidae Actitis hypoleucos common sandpiper SL 35 animals birds Scolopacidae Arenaria interpres ruddy turnstone SL 2 animals birds Scolopacidae Calidris acuminata sharp-tailed sandpiper SL 10 animals birds Scolopacidae Calidris melanotos pectoral sandpiper SL 1 animals birds Scolopacidae Tringa stagnatilis marsh sandpiper SL 9 animals birds Scolopacidae Calidris ferruginea curlew sandpiper E CE 2 animals birds Scolopacidae Calidris ruficollis red-necked stint SL 4 animals birds Scolopacidae Gallinago hardwickii Latham's snipe SL 1 animals birds Strigidae Ninox connivens barking owl C 7 animals birds Strigidae Ninox boobook southern boobook C 6 animals birds Strigidae Ninox rufa queenslandica rufous owl (southern subspecies) C 1 animals birds Sturnidae Acridotheres tristis common myna Y 50 animals birds Threskiornithidae Platalea regia royal spoonbill C 100 animals birds Threskiornithidae Platalea flavipes yellow-billed spoonbill C 13 animals birds Threskiornithidae Plegadis falcinellus glossy ibis SL 10 animals birds Threskiornithidae Threskiornis molucca Australian white ibis C 305 animals birds Threskiornithidae Threskiornis spinicollis straw-necked ibis C 102 animals birds Timaliidae Zosterops lateralis silvereye C 7 animals birds Turnicidae Turnix maculosus red-backed button-quail C 3 animals birds Tytonidae Tyto delicatula eastern barn owl C 5 animals insects Coenagrionidae Ischnura heterosticta heterosticta common bluetail 1 animals insects Lycaenidae Liphyra brassolis major moth butterfly C 1/1 animals insects Nymphalidae Melanitis leda bankia evening brown 1 animals insects Nymphalidae Junonia hedonia zelima chocolate argus 1 animals insects Nymphalidae Mycalesis perseus perseus dingy bush-brown 2 animals insects Nymphalidae Euploea corinna common crow 2 animals insects Nymphalidae Cupha prosope 1 animals insects Nymphalidae Hypolimnas bolina nerina varied eggfly 1 animals insects Papilionidae Papilio ulysses joesa Ulysses butterfly C 1 animals insects Papilionidae Cressida cressida cressida clearwing swallowtail 3 animals insects Papilionidae Papilio aegeus 1 animals mammals Canidae Vulpes vulpes red fox Y 1 animals mammals Canidae Canis lupus dingo dingo 5 animals mammals Dasyuridae Planigale maculata common planigale C 1 animals mammals Delphinidae Orcaella heinsohni Australian snubfin dolphin V 1 animals mammals Emballonuridae Saccolaimus saccolaimus nudicluniatus bare-rumped sheathtail bat E V 1/1 animals mammals Emballonuridae Saccolaimus sp. 5 animals mammals Emballonuridae Taphozous sp. 7
Page 7 of 16 Queensland Government Wildlife Online - Extract Date 23/08/2018 at 12:10:03 Kingdom Class Family Scientific Name Common Name I Q A Records animals mammals Leporidae Lepus europaeus European brown hare Y 1 animals mammals Leporidae Oryctolagus cuniculus rabbit Y 1 animals mammals Macropodidae Macropus robustus common wallaroo C 3 animals mammals Macropodidae Macropus parryi whiptail wallaby C 1 animals mammals Macropodidae Macropus agilis agile wallaby C 16/1 animals mammals Macropodidae Petrogale assimilis allied rock-wallaby C 7/1 animals mammals Macropodidae Lagorchestes conspicillatus spectacled hare-wallaby C 2 animals mammals Macropodidae Macropus giganteus eastern grey kangaroo C 1 animals mammals Miniopteridae Miniopterus schreibersii oceanensis eastern bent-wing bat C 11 animals mammals Miniopteridae Miniopterus australis little bent-wing bat C 6 animals mammals Molossidae Mormopterus lumsdenae northern free-tailed bat C 7 animals mammals Molossidae Mormopterus ridei eastern free-tailed bat C 15 animals mammals Molossidae Chaerephon jobensis northern freetail bat C 9 animals mammals Molossidae Tadarida australis white-striped freetail bat C 3 animals mammals Muridae Rattus rattus black rat Y 1 animals mammals Muridae Mus musculus house mouse Y 2 animals mammals Muridae Zyzomys argurus common rock-rat C 1 animals mammals Muridae Hydromys chrysogaster water rat C 2 animals mammals Muridae Pseudomys delicatulus delicate mouse C 2 animals mammals Muridae Uromys caudimaculatus giant white-tailed rat C 1 animals mammals Muridae Melomys cervinipes fawn-footed melomys C 1 animals mammals Peramelidae Isoodon macrourus northern brown bandicoot C 2 animals mammals Phalangeridae Trichosurus vulpecula common brushtail possum C 8 animals mammals Potoroidae Aepyprymnus rufescens rufous bettong C 3 animals mammals Pteropodidae Nyctimene robinsoni eastern tube-nosed bat C 1 animals mammals Pteropodidae Pteropus alecto black flying-fox C 7/3 animals mammals Pteropodidae Pteropus sp. 1 animals mammals Pteropodidae Pteropus scapulatus little red flying-fox C 2 animals mammals Rhinolophidae Rhinolophus megaphyllus eastern horseshoe-bat C 1 animals mammals Suidae Sus scrofa pig Y 1 animals mammals Tachyglossidae Tachyglossus aculeatus short-beaked echidna SL 2 animals mammals Vespertilionidae Nyctophilus bifax northern long-eared bat C 1 animals mammals Vespertilionidae Chalinolobus gouldii Gould's wattled bat C 5 animals mammals Vespertilionidae Vespadelus troughtoni eastern cave bat C 4 animals mammals Vespertilionidae Chalinolobus nigrogriseus hoary wattled bat C 4 animals ray-finned fishes Ambassidae Ambassis agrammus sailfin glassfish 2 animals ray-finned fishes Atherinidae Craterocephalus stercusmuscarum flyspecked hardyhead 1 animals ray-finned fishes Centropomidae Lates calcarifer barramundi 1 animals ray-finned fishes Eleotridae Hypseleotris compressa empire gudgeon 1 animals ray-finned fishes Kuhliidae Kuhlia rupestris jungle perch 1 animals ray-finned fishes Leiognathidae Leiognathus equulus common ponyfish 1 animals ray-finned fishes Melanotaeniidae Melanotaenia splendida splendida eastern rainbowfish 2 animals ray-finned fishes Mugilidae Mugil cephalus sea mullet 1 animals ray-finned fishes Pseudomugilidae Pseudomugil signifer Pacific blue eye 1/1 animals reptiles Agamidae Chlamydosaurus kingii frilled lizard C 1 animals reptiles Agamidae Diporiphora australis tommy roundhead C 6
Page 8 of 16 Queensland Government Wildlife Online - Extract Date 23/08/2018 at 12:10:03 Kingdom Class Family Scientific Name Common Name I Q A Records animals reptiles Boidae Morelia spilota carpet python C 5 animals reptiles Boidae Liasis fuscus water python C 3 animals reptiles Boidae Simalia kinghorni amethystine python (Australian form) C 1 animals reptiles Boidae Antaresia maculosa spotted python C 4 animals reptiles Boidae Aspidites melanocephalus black-headed python C 1 animals reptiles Carphodactylidae Nephrurus asper spiny knob-tailed gecko C 1 animals reptiles Chelidae Emydura macquarii krefftii Krefft's river turtle C 7 animals reptiles Chelidae Wollumbinia latisternum saw-shelled turtle C 7 animals reptiles Colubridae Stegonotus cucullatus slaty-grey snake C 1/1 animals reptiles Colubridae Tropidonophis mairii freshwater snake C 2 animals reptiles Colubridae Boiga irregularis brown tree snake C 4 animals reptiles Colubridae Dendrelaphis punctulatus green tree snake C 4 animals reptiles Crocodylidae Crocodylus porosus estuarine crocodile V 4 animals reptiles Diplodactylidae Amalosia rhombifer zig-zag gecko C 1 animals reptiles Diplodactylidae Oedura castelnaui northern velvet gecko C 1 animals reptiles Elapidae Furina ornata orange-naped snake C 1 animals reptiles Elapidae Pseudonaja textilis eastern brown snake C 2 animals reptiles Elapidae Demansia psammophis yellow-faced whipsnake C 1 animals reptiles Elapidae Demansia vestigiata lesser black whipsnake C 1 animals reptiles Elapidae Furina diadema red-naped snake C 1 animals reptiles Elapidae Oxyuranus scutellatus coastal taipan C 1 animals reptiles Elapidae Pseudonaja nuchalis sensu lato western brown snake C 1 animals reptiles Gekkonidae Heteronotia binoei Bynoe's gecko C 10/1 animals reptiles Gekkonidae Gehyra dubia dubious dtella C 5 animals reptiles Gekkonidae Hemidactylus frenatus house gecko Y 2 animals reptiles Pygopodidae Lialis burtonis Burton's legless lizard C 4/1 animals reptiles Pygopodidae Delma tincta excitable delma C 1/1 animals reptiles Pygopodidae Delma labialis striped-tailed delma C 1 animals reptiles Scincidae Cryptoblepharus virgatus sensu lato C 4 animals reptiles Scincidae Cryptoblepharus pulcher pulcher elegant snake-eyed skink C 1 animals reptiles Scincidae Carlia pectoralis sensu lato C 3 animals reptiles Scincidae Glaphyromorphus punctulatus fine-spotted mulch-skink C 1 animals reptiles Scincidae Pygmaeascincus timlowi dwarf litter-skink C 1 animals reptiles Scincidae Lampropholis mirabilis saxicoline sunskink NT 3 animals reptiles Scincidae Cryptoblepharus adamsi Adams' snake-eyed skink C 1 animals reptiles Scincidae Morethia taeniopleura fire-tailed skink C 5/1 animals reptiles Scincidae Lampropholis delicata dark-flecked garden sunskink C 1 animals reptiles Scincidae Concinnia brachysoma northern bar-sided skink C 1 animals reptiles Scincidae Carlia rhomboidalis blue-throated rainbow-skink C 2 animals reptiles Scincidae Ctenotus spaldingi straight-browed ctenotus C 3 animals reptiles Scincidae Bellatorias frerei major skink C 1 animals reptiles Scincidae Lygisaurus laevis rainforest edge litter-skink C 2/2 animals reptiles Scincidae Carlia schmeltzii robust rainbow-skink C 2/1 animals reptiles Scincidae Eulamprus quoyii eastern water skink C 4 animals reptiles Scincidae Concinnia tenuis bar-sided skink C 2 animals reptiles Scincidae Carlia jarnoldae lined rainbow-skink C 3
Page 9 of 16 Queensland Government Wildlife Online - Extract Date 23/08/2018 at 12:10:03 Kingdom Class Family Scientific Name Common Name I Q A Records animals reptiles Scincidae Carlia decora elegant rainbow skink C 4/4 animals reptiles Scincidae Carlia vivax tussock rainbow-skink C 11/11 animals reptiles Scincidae Carlia sp. 1/1 animals reptiles Scincidae Ctenotus taeniolatus copper-tailed skink C 5 animals reptiles Typhlopidae Anilios torresianus north-eastern blind snake C 1 animals reptiles Typhlopidae Indotyphlops braminus flowerpot blind snake Y 1 animals reptiles Varanidae Varanus gouldii sand monitor C 2 animals reptiles Varanidae Varanus varius lace monitor C 1 animals uncertain Indeterminate Indeterminate Unknown or Code Pending C 5 fungi lecanoromycetes Parmeliaceae Parmotrema lobulascens C 1/1 fungi lecanoromycetes Pertusariaceae Pertusaria xanthoplaca C 1/1 plants cycads Cycadaceae Cycas C 1 plants higher dicots Acanthaceae Ruellia tuberosa Y 1/1 plants higher dicots Acanthaceae Hypoestes floribunda var. floribunda C 1/1 plants higher dicots Acanthaceae Brunoniella acaulis subsp. acaulis C 2/2 plants higher dicots Acanthaceae Harnieria hygrophiloides white karambal C 1/1 plants higher dicots Acanthaceae Thunbergia grandiflora sky flower Y 3/3 plants higher dicots Acanthaceae Thunbergia fragrans Y 1/1 plants higher dicots Acanthaceae Barleria prionitis Y 2/2 plants higher dicots Aizoaceae Trianthema compacta C 1/1 plants higher dicots Aizoaceae Sesuvium portulacastrum sea purslane C 1 plants higher dicots Amaranthaceae Alternanthera brasiliana Y 1/1 plants higher dicots Amaranthaceae Celosia argentea Y 1/1 plants higher dicots Amaranthaceae Ptilotus obovatus C 1/1 plants higher dicots Amaranthaceae Achyranthes aspera C 1/1 plants higher dicots Amaranthaceae Alternanthera ficoidea Y 2/1 plants higher dicots Anacardiaceae Mangifera indica mango Y 1 plants higher dicots Asteraceae Praxelis clematidea Y 1/1 plants higher dicots Asteraceae Peripleura scabra C 1/1 plants higher dicots Asteraceae Blumea benthamiana C 1/1 plants higher dicots Asteraceae Chromolaena odorata Siam weed Y 5/3 plants higher dicots Asteraceae Cyanthillium cinereum C 1/1 plants higher dicots Asteraceae Xerochrysum bracteatum subsp. (Mount C 1/1 Elliot A.R.Bean 3593) plants higher dicots Asteraceae Xanthium occidentale Y 1 plants higher dicots Asteraceae Pluchea rubelliflora C 2/2 plants higher dicots Caesalpiniaceae Tamarindus indica Y 1/1 plants higher dicots Caesalpiniaceae Chamaecrista rotundifolia var. rotundifolia Y 2 plants higher dicots Caesalpiniaceae Senna pendula var. glabrata Easter cassia Y 1/1 plants higher dicots Caesalpiniaceae Parkinsonia aculeata parkinsonia Y 9/4 plants higher dicots Caesalpiniaceae Senna obtusifolia Y 1/1 plants higher dicots Campanulaceae Wahlenbergia caryophylloides C 1/1 plants higher dicots Capparaceae Capparis arborea brush caper berry C 1/1 plants higher dicots Capparaceae Capparis sepiaria C 1/1 plants higher dicots Caryophyllaceae Polycarpaea corymbosa C 1/1 plants higher dicots Celastraceae Celastraceae C 1
Page 10 of 16 Queensland Government Wildlife Online - Extract Date 23/08/2018 at 12:10:03 Kingdom Class Family Scientific Name Common Name I Q A Records plants higher dicots Celastraceae Denhamia disperma C 1/1 plants higher dicots Chenopodiaceae Dissocarpus biflorus var. cephalocarpus C 1/1 plants higher dicots Chenopodiaceae Tecticornia halocnemoides C 1 plants higher dicots Chenopodiaceae Tecticornia pergranulata C 1/1 plants higher dicots Chenopodiaceae Tecticornia indica C 1 plants higher dicots Chenopodiaceae Atriplex muelleri lagoon saltbush C 1/1 plants higher dicots Chenopodiaceae Chenopodium album fat-hen Y 1/1 plants higher dicots Chenopodiaceae Suaeda australis C 1 plants higher dicots Chenopodiaceae Tecticornia C 1 plants higher dicots Cleomaceae Cleome gynandra Y 1/1 plants higher dicots Cleomaceae Cleome aculeata Y 1/1 plants higher dicots Combretaceae Terminalia sericocarpa damson C 1 plants higher dicots Cucurbitaceae Coccinia grandis Y 1/1 plants higher dicots Cucurbitaceae Momordica charantia balsam pear Y 1/1 plants higher dicots Euphorbiaceae Euphorbia hyssopifolia Y 1/1 plants higher dicots Euphorbiaceae Euphorbia bifida C 3/3 plants higher dicots Euphorbiaceae Euphorbia tithymaloides subsp. smallii Y 1/1 plants higher dicots Euphorbiaceae Euphorbia serpens Y 1/1 plants higher dicots Euphorbiaceae Mallotus ficifolius C 1/1 plants higher dicots Euphorbiaceae Mallotus nesophilus C 1/1 plants higher dicots Euphorbiaceae Euphorbia dallachyana C 1/1 plants higher dicots Euphorbiaceae Mallotus philippensis red kamala C 2 plants higher dicots Euphorbiaceae Croton magneticus V 1/1 plants higher dicots Fabaceae Cajanus reticulatus var. reticulatus C 3/3 plants higher dicots Fabaceae Crotalaria montana var. angustifolia C 1/1 plants higher dicots Fabaceae Zornia muelleriana subsp. muelleriana C 2/2 plants higher dicots Fabaceae Crotalaria mitchellii subsp. mitchellii C 1/1 plants higher dicots Fabaceae Cajanus scarabaeoides var. scarabaeoides C 1/1 plants higher dicots Fabaceae Tephrosia sp. (Miriam Vale E.J.Thompson+ MIR33) C 1/1 plants higher dicots Fabaceae Tephrosia juncea C 2/2 plants higher dicots Fabaceae Clitoria ternatea butterfly pea Y 1/1 plants higher dicots Fabaceae Crotalaria juncea sunhemp Y 1/1 plants higher dicots Fabaceae Cullen leucanthum C 1/1 plants higher dicots Fabaceae Millettia pinnata C 1 plants higher dicots Fabaceae Rhynchosia minima C 1/1 plants higher dicots Fabaceae Cajanus marmoratus C 1/1 plants higher dicots Fabaceae Crotalaria pallida Y 1 plants higher dicots Fabaceae Desmodium muelleri C 1/1 plants higher dicots Fabaceae Glycine tomentella woolly glycine C 2/2 plants higher dicots Fabaceae Indigofera hirsuta hairy indigo C 2/2 plants higher dicots Fabaceae Sesbania cannabina C 1 plants higher dicots Fabaceae Aeschynomene indica budda pea C 1/1 plants higher dicots Fabaceae Crotalaria calycina C 1/1 plants higher dicots Fabaceae Crotalaria goreensis gambia pea Y 1/1 plants higher dicots Fabaceae Flemingia parviflora flemingia C 1/1 plants higher dicots Fabaceae Flemingia trifoliata C 2/2
Page 11 of 16 Queensland Government Wildlife Online - Extract Date 23/08/2018 at 12:10:03 Kingdom Class Family Scientific Name Common Name I Q A Records plants higher dicots Fabaceae Indigofera linifolia C 1/1 plants higher dicots Fabaceae Alysicarpus vaginalis Y 1/1 plants higher dicots Fabaceae Dunbaria rotundifolia C 1/1 plants higher dicots Fabaceae Cajanus confertiflorus C 1/1 plants higher dicots Fabaceae Crotalaria quinquefolia C 1/1 plants higher dicots Fabaceae Indigastrum parviflorum C 1/1 plants higher dicots Fabaceae Tephrosia astragaloides C 2/2 plants higher dicots Fabaceae Macroptilium lathyroides Y 1 plants higher dicots Fabaceae Aphyllodium biarticulatum C 2/2 plants higher dicots Fabaceae Rhynchosia acuminatissima C 1/1 plants higher dicots Fabaceae Vigna radiata var. sublobata C 2/2 plants higher dicots Fabaceae Crotalaria pallida var. obovata Y 1/1 plants higher dicots Fabaceae Galactia tenuiflora var. lucida C 3/3 plants higher dicots Fabaceae Neonotonia wightii var. wightii Y 1/1 plants higher dicots Fabaceae Vigna lanceolata var. lanceolata C 1/1 plants higher dicots Fabaceae Zornia muriculata subsp. muriculata C 1/1 plants higher dicots Goodeniaceae Velleia spathulata wild pansies C 1/1 plants higher dicots Lecythidaceae Planchonia careya cockatoo apple C 2 plants higher dicots Loranthaceae Amyema congener subsp. rotundifolia C 1/1 plants higher dicots Loranthaceae Dendrophthoe vitellina long-flowered mistletoe C 1/1 plants higher dicots Loranthaceae Diplatia furcata C 1/1 plants higher dicots Lythraceae Rotala mexicana C 1/1 plants higher dicots Malpighiaceae Stigmaphyllon australiense C 1/1 plants higher dicots Malvaceae Abelmoschus moschatus subsp. tuberosus C 1/1 plants higher dicots Malvaceae Malvastrum americanum var. americanum Y 1/1 plants higher dicots Malvaceae Abutilon guineense Y 1/1 plants higher dicots Malvaceae Abutilon albescens C 1/1 plants higher dicots Malvaceae Hibiscus normanii C 1/1 plants higher dicots Malvaceae Sida spinosa spiny sida Y 1/1 plants higher dicots Mimosaceae Acaciella angustissima white ball acacia Y 2/2 plants higher dicots Mimosaceae Desmanthus leptophyllus Y 1/1 plants higher dicots Mimosaceae Leucaena leucocephala subsp. leucocephala Y 1/1 plants higher dicots Mimosaceae Neptunia dimorphantha C 1/1 plants higher dicots Mimosaceae Leucaena leucocephala Y 9 plants higher dicots Mimosaceae Vachellia farnesiana Y 1/1 plants higher dicots Mimosaceae Vachellia nilotica prickly acacia Y 2/1 plants higher dicots Mimosaceae Albizia procera C 1/1 plants higher dicots Mimosaceae Acacia simsii C 1/1 plants higher dicots Mimosaceae Prosopis pallida Y 1/1 plants higher dicots Moraceae Ficus rubiginosa forma rubiginosa C 1/1 plants higher dicots Moraceae Trophis scandens subsp. scandens C 1/1 plants higher dicots Moraceae Ficus opposita C 1 plants higher dicots Myrtaceae Melaleuca viridiflora C 2 plants higher dicots Myrtaceae Eucalyptus portuensis C 3/3 plants higher dicots Myrtaceae Eucalyptus platyphylla poplar gum C 3/1 plants higher dicots Myrtaceae Eucalyptus xanthoclada yellow-branched ironbark C 1/1
Page 12 of 16 Queensland Government Wildlife Online - Extract Date 23/08/2018 at 12:10:03 Kingdom Class Family Scientific Name Common Name I Q A Records plants higher dicots Myrtaceae Leptospermum anfractum C 3/3 plants higher dicots Myrtaceae Backhousia angustifolia narrow-leaved backhousia C 1/1 plants higher dicots Myrtaceae Eucalyptus tereticornis C 3 plants higher dicots Myrtaceae Melaleuca quinquenervia swamp paperbark C 1 plants higher dicots Myrtaceae Melaleuca viridiflora var. viridiflora C 1/1 plants higher dicots Myrtaceae Eucalyptus tereticornis subsp. tereticornis C 1/1 plants higher dicots Myrtaceae Eucalyptus exserta Queensland peppermint C 2/2 plants higher dicots Myrtaceae Corymbia clarksoniana C 2 plants higher dicots Myrtaceae Backhousia tetraptera C 1/1 plants higher dicots Myrtaceae Eucalyptus paedoglauca Mt. Stuart ironbark V V 1/1 plants higher dicots Myrtaceae Melaleuca leucadendra broad-leaved tea-tree C 1 plants higher dicots Myrtaceae Corymbia tessellaris Moreton Bay ash C 3 plants higher dicots Myrtaceae Corymbia dallachiana C 2 plants higher dicots Myrtaceae Sannantha papillosa E 3/3 plants higher dicots Myrtaceae Melaleuca viminalis C 1 plants higher dicots Myrtaceae Melaleuca dealbata swamp tea-tree C 1 plants higher dicots Nyctaginaceae Boerhavia burbidgeana C 1/1 plants higher dicots Nyctaginaceae Boerhavia pubescens C 2/2 plants higher dicots Oleaceae Jasminum didymum subsp. racemosum C 1/1 plants higher dicots Oleaceae Olea paniculata C 1/1 plants higher dicots Orobanchaceae Rhamphicarpa australiensis C 2/2 plants higher dicots Passifloraceae Passiflora C 1 plants higher dicots Passifloraceae Passiflora foetida Y 1/1 plants higher dicots Passifloraceae Passiflora aurantia var. aurantia C 1/1 plants higher dicots Pedaliaceae Josephinia eugeniae josephinia burr C 1/1 plants higher dicots Phyllanthaceae Cleistanthus xerophilus C 1/1 plants higher dicots Phyllanthaceae Glochidion C 1/1 plants higher dicots Plantaginaceae Scoparia dulcis scoparia Y 1/1 plants higher dicots Plantaginaceae Bacopa floribunda C 1/1 plants higher dicots Plumbaginaceae Limonium solanderi C 1/1 plants higher dicots Polygalaceae Polygala parviloba C 1/1 plants higher dicots Polygonaceae Antigonon leptopus Y 1/1 plants higher dicots Polygonaceae Polygonum aviculare wireweed Y 1/1 plants higher dicots Proteaceae Grevillea striata beefwood C 1 plants higher dicots Proteaceae Grevillea parallela C 2/1 plants higher dicots Rhamnaceae Ziziphus mauritiana Indian jujube Y 11/1 plants higher dicots Rhamnaceae Alphitonia C 1 plants higher dicots Rhizophoraceae Carallia brachiata carallia C 1/1 plants higher dicots Rubiaceae Psydrax odorata forma australiana C 1/1 plants higher dicots Rubiaceae Timonius timon var. timon C 1/1 plants higher dicots Rubiaceae Triflorensia ixoroides C 2/2 plants higher dicots Rubiaceae Larsenaikia ochreata C 2/2 plants higher dicots Rubiaceae Nauclea orientalis Leichhardt tree C 1 plants higher dicots Rubiaceae Oldenlandia corymbosa var. corymbosa Y 1/1 plants higher dicots Rubiaceae Spermacoce remota Y 1/1 plants higher dicots Rutaceae Dinosperma erythrococcum C 1/1
Page 13 of 16 Queensland Government Wildlife Online - Extract Date 23/08/2018 at 12:10:03 Kingdom Class Family Scientific Name Common Name I Q A Records plants higher dicots Sapindaceae Dodonaea stenophylla C 1/1 plants higher dicots Sapindaceae Ganophyllum falcatum C 1 plants higher dicots Sapindaceae Lepiderema punctulata C 2/2 plants higher dicots Sapindaceae Dodonaea viscosa subsp. burmanniana C 1/1 plants higher dicots Sapindaceae Cardiospermum halicacabum var. halicacabum Y 1/1 plants higher dicots Sparrmanniaceae Triumfetta rhomboidea chinese burr Y 1/1 plants higher dicots Sparrmanniaceae Triumfetta pentandra Y 1/1 plants higher dicots Sparrmanniaceae Grewia scabrella C 1/1 plants higher dicots Sparrmanniaceae Grewia asiatica Y 5/4 plants higher dicots Tamaricaceae Tamarix aphylla athel pine Y 4/4 plants higher dicots Turneraceae Turnera ulmifolia Y 2/2 plants higher dicots Ulmaceae Trema tomentosa C 1 plants higher dicots Violaceae Afrohybanthus enneaspermus C 2 plants higher dicots Vitaceae Cayratia trifolia C 1/1 plants higher dicots Vitaceae Cissus cardiophylla C 1/1 plants lower dicots Annonaceae Melodorum crassipetalum C 1/1 plants lower dicots Apocynaceae Alyxia spicata C 2/2 plants lower dicots Apocynaceae Carissa lanceolata C 1 plants lower dicots Apocynaceae Secamone elliptica C 1/1 plants lower dicots Apocynaceae Ceropegia cumingiana C 1/1 plants lower dicots Apocynaceae Tylophora williamsii Williams' tylophora C 1/1 plants lower dicots Apocynaceae Rauvolfia tetraphylla Y 1/1 plants lower dicots Apocynaceae Cryptostegia grandiflora rubber vine Y 5 plants lower dicots Aristolochiaceae Aristolochia ringens Y 1/1 plants lower dicots Boraginaceae Heliotropium cunninghamii C 1/1 plants lower dicots Boraginaceae Heliotropium leptaleum C 1/1 plants lower dicots Boraginaceae Heliotropium C 2 plants lower dicots Ceratophyllaceae Ceratophyllum demersum hornwort C 1/1 plants lower dicots Convolvulaceae Bonamia dietrichiana C 1/1 plants lower dicots Convolvulaceae Distimake dissectus Y 1/1 plants lower dicots Convolvulaceae Cressa australis C 1/1 plants lower dicots Convolvulaceae Ipomoea abrupta C 2/2 plants lower dicots Convolvulaceae Distimake quinquefolius Y 1/1 plants lower dicots Convolvulaceae Evolvulus nummularius Y 1/1 plants lower dicots Convolvulaceae Ipomoea C 1 plants lower dicots Convolvulaceae Argyreia nervosa Y 1/1 plants lower dicots Lamiaceae Lamiaceae C 1/1 plants lower dicots Lamiaceae Mesosphaerum suaveolens Y 1 plants lower dicots Lamiaceae Anisomeles moschata C 1/1 plants lower dicots Lamiaceae Clerodendrum floribundum C 2/1 plants lower dicots Lauraceae Cryptocarya grandis C 1 plants lower dicots Nymphaeaceae Nymphaea violacea C 1/1 plants lower dicots Solanaceae Lycianthes shanesii C 1/1 plants lower dicots Verbenaceae Stachytarpheta C 2 plants lower dicots Verbenaceae Phyla canescens Y 1/1 plants lower dicots Verbenaceae Stachytarpheta jamaicensis Jamaica snakeweed Y 2/1
Page 14 of 16 Queensland Government Wildlife Online - Extract Date 23/08/2018 at 12:10:03 Kingdom Class Family Scientific Name Common Name I Q A Records plants monocots Aponogetonaceae Aponogeton queenslandicus C 1/1 plants monocots Arecaceae Livistona decora C 1 plants monocots Colchicaceae Gloriosa superba glory lily Y 1/1 plants monocots Commelinaceae Commelina ciliata C 1/1 plants monocots Commelinaceae Commelina ensifolia scurvy grass C 1/1 plants monocots Cyperaceae Scleria levis C 1/1 plants monocots Cyperaceae Fimbristylis polytrichoides C 1/1 plants monocots Cyperaceae Cyperus cyperoides C 1/1 plants monocots Cyperaceae Cyperus javanicus C 1/1 plants monocots Hydrocharitaceae Ottelia alismoides C 3/3 plants monocots Limnocharitaceae Limnocharis flava yellow burrhead Y 1 plants monocots Poaceae Megathyrsus maximus var. maximus Y 1/1 plants monocots Poaceae Aristida holathera var. holathera C 1/1 plants monocots Poaceae Panicum decompositum var. tenuius C 1/1 plants monocots Poaceae Bothriochloa bladhii subsp. bladhii C 2/2 plants monocots Poaceae Urochloa panicoides var. panicoides Y 1/1 plants monocots Poaceae Urochloa holosericea subsp. holosericea C 1/1 plants monocots Poaceae Cenchrus pedicellatus subsp. unispiculus Y 1/1 plants monocots Poaceae Dichanthium sericeum subsp. polystachyum C 2/2 plants monocots Poaceae Cenchrus pedicellatus subsp. pedicellatus Y 1/1 plants monocots Poaceae Sorghum nitidum forma aristatum C 2/2 plants monocots Poaceae Hyparrhenia rufa subsp. rufa Y 1/1 plants monocots Poaceae Sporobolus coromandelianus Y 2/2 plants monocots Poaceae Dactyloctenium aegyptium coast button grass Y 3/3 plants monocots Poaceae Cenchrus pennisetiformis Y 1/1 plants monocots Poaceae Sporobolus jacquemontii Y 3/3 plants monocots Poaceae Hackelochloa granularis C 1/1 plants monocots Poaceae Urochloa subquadripara Y 2/2 plants monocots Poaceae Sehima nervosum C 1/1 plants monocots Poaceae Sarga plumosum C 1 plants monocots Poaceae Chloris inflata purpletop chloris Y 3/1 plants monocots Poaceae Panicum effusum C 2/2 plants monocots Poaceae Melinis repens red natal grass Y 1/1 plants monocots Poaceae Chloris gayana rhodes grass Y 3/3 plants monocots Poaceae Avena sativa common oats Y 1/1 plants monocots Poaceae Sorghum bicolor forage sorghum Y 1/1 plants monocots Poaceae Sorghum x almum Y 1/1 plants monocots Poaceae Urochloa mutica Y 1 plants monocots Poaceae Eriochloa crebra spring grass C 1/1 plants monocots Poaceae Paspalum notatum bahia grass Y 1/1 plants monocots Poaceae Themeda triandra kangaroo grass C 1/1 plants monocots Poaceae Sporobolus caroli fairy grass C 1/1 plants monocots Poaceae Andropogon gayanus gamba grass Y 2/2 plants monocots Poaceae Cenchrus setigerus Y 1/1 plants monocots Poaceae Chrysopogon fallax C 2 plants monocots Poaceae Digitaria ciliaris summer grass Y 1/1
Page 15 of 16 Queensland Government Wildlife Online - Extract Date 23/08/2018 at 12:10:03 Kingdom Class Family Scientific Name Common Name I Q A Records plants monocots Poaceae Aristida gracilipes C 1/1 plants monocots Poaceae Eragrostis basedowii C 1/1 plants monocots Poaceae Themeda quadrivalvis grader grass Y 10 plants monocots Poaceae Alloteropsis cimicina C 1/1 plants monocots Poaceae Dichanthium annulatum sheda grass Y 1/1 plants monocots Poaceae Dichanthium aristatum angleton grass Y 2/2 plants monocots Poaceae Eragrostis tenuifolia elastic grass Y 1/1 plants monocots Poaceae Heteropogon contortus black speargrass C 2/2 plants monocots Poaceae Heteropogon triticeus giant speargrass C 2/2 plants monocots Poaceae Sporobolus virginicus sand couch C 1 plants monocots Poaceae Alloteropsis semialata cockatoo grass C 1/1 plants monocots Poaceae Arundinella nepalensis reedgrass C 1/1 plants monocots Poaceae Urochloa mosambicensis sabi grass Y 1/1 plants monocots Potamogetonaceae Potamogeton C 1/1 plants monocots Smilacaceae Smilax australis barbed-wire vine C 1 plants mosses Mniaceae Pohlia C 1/1 plants mosses Pterigynandraceae Trachyphyllum inflexum C 1/1 protists Streptophyceae Nitella C 1/1 protists Streptophyceae Chara C 1/1
CODES I - Y indicates that the taxon is introduced to Queensland and has naturalised. Q - Indicates the Queensland conservation status of each taxon under the Nature Conservation Act 1992. The codes are Extinct in the Wild (PE), Endangered (E), Vulnerable (V), Near Threatened (NT), Least Concern (C) or Not Protected ( ). A - Indicates the Australian conservation status of each taxon under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. The values of EPBC are Conservation Dependent (CD), Critically Endangered (CE), Endangered (E), Extinct (EX), Extinct in the Wild (XW) and Vulnerable (V). Records – The first number indicates the total number of records of the taxon for the record option selected (i.e. All, Confirmed or Specimens). This number is output as 99999 if it equals or exceeds this value. The second number located after the / indicates the number of specimen records for the taxon. This number is output as 999 if it equals or exceeds this value.
Page 16 of 16 Queensland Government Wildlife Online - Extract Date 23/08/2018 at 12:10:03 REPORT
Appendix C
EPBC Protected Matters search results
PR122454-3 | Elliot Springs Hilltop Estate | 1.5 | 04 March 2019 rpsgroup.com EPBC Act Protected Matters Report
This report provides general guidance on matters of national environmental significance and other matters protected by the EPBC Act in the area you have selected.
Information on the coverage of this report and qualifications on data supporting this report are contained in the caveat at the end of the report.
Information is available about Environment Assessments and the EPBC Act including significance guidelines, forms and application process details.
Report created: 23/08/18 12:03:29
Summary Details Matters of NES Other Matters Protected by the EPBC Act Extra Information Caveat Acknowledgements
This map may contain data which are ©Commonwealth of Australia (Geoscience Australia), ©PSMA 2010
Coordinates Buffer: 10.0Km Summary
Matters of National Environmental Significance
This part of the report summarises the matters of national environmental significance that may occur in, or may relate to, the area you nominated. Further information is available in the detail part of the report, which can be accessed by scrolling or following the links below. If you are proposing to undertake an activity that may have a significant impact on one or more matters of national environmental significance then you should consider the Administrative Guidelines on Significance.
World Heritage Properties: 1 National Heritage Places: 1 Wetlands of International Importance: 1 Great Barrier Reef Marine Park: 2 Commonwealth Marine Area: None Listed Threatened Ecological Communities: 1 Listed Threatened Species: 40 Listed Migratory Species: 65
Other Matters Protected by the EPBC Act
This part of the report summarises other matters protected under the Act that may relate to the area you nominated. Approval may be required for a proposed activity that significantly affects the environment on Commonwealth land, when the action is outside the Commonwealth land, or the environment anywhere when the action is taken on Commonwealth land. Approval may also be required for the Commonwealth or Commonwealth agencies proposing to take an action that is likely to have a significant impact on the environment anywhere.
The EPBC Act protects the environment on Commonwealth land, the environment from the actions taken on Commonwealth land, and the environment from actions taken by Commonwealth agencies. As heritage values of a place are part of the 'environment', these aspects of the EPBC Act protect the Commonwealth Heritage values of a Commonwealth Heritage place. Information on the new heritage laws can be found at http://www.environment.gov.au/heritage
A permit may be required for activities in or on a Commonwealth area that may affect a member of a listed threatened species or ecological community, a member of a listed migratory species, whales and other cetaceans, or a member of a listed marine species.
Commonwealth Land: 2 Commonwealth Heritage Places: None Listed Marine Species: 108 Whales and Other Cetaceans: 12 Critical Habitats: None Commonwealth Reserves Terrestrial: None Australian Marine Parks: None
Extra Information
This part of the report provides information that may also be relevant to the area you have nominated.
State and Territory Reserves: 2 Regional Forest Agreements: None Invasive Species: 35 Nationally Important Wetlands: 3 Key Ecological Features (Marine) None Details
Matters of National Environmental Significance World Heritage Properties [ Resource Information ] Name State Status Great Barrier Reef QLD Declared property
National Heritage Properties [ Resource Information ] Name State Status Natural Great Barrier Reef QLD Listed place
Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar) [ Resource Information ] Name Proximity Bowling green bay Within Ramsar site
Great Barrier Reef Marine Park [ Resource Information ] Type Zone IUCN Conservation Park CP-19-4059 IV General Use GU-16-6004 VI
Listed Threatened Ecological Communities [ Resource Information ] For threatened ecological communities where the distribution is well known, maps are derived from recovery plans, State vegetation maps, remote sensing imagery and other sources. Where threatened ecological community distributions are less well known, existing vegetation maps and point location data are used to produce indicative distribution maps. Name Status Type of Presence Semi-evergreen vine thickets of the Brigalow Belt Endangered Community likely to occur (North and South) and Nandewar Bioregions within area Listed Threatened Species [ Resource Information ] Name Status Type of Presence Birds Calidris canutus Red Knot, Knot [855] Endangered Species or species habitat known to occur within area
Calidris ferruginea Curlew Sandpiper [856] Critically Endangered Species or species habitat known to occur within area
Calidris tenuirostris Great Knot [862] Critically Endangered Roosting known to occur within area Charadrius leschenaultii Greater Sand Plover, Large Sand Plover [877] Vulnerable Roosting known to occur within area Charadrius mongolus Lesser Sand Plover, Mongolian Plover [879] Endangered Roosting known to occur within area Erythrotriorchis radiatus Red Goshawk [942] Vulnerable Species or species habitat known to occur within area
Fregetta grallaria grallaria White-bellied Storm-Petrel (Tasman Sea), White- Vulnerable Species or species habitat bellied Storm-Petrel (Australasian) [64438] likely to occur within area
Limosa lapponica baueri Bar-tailed Godwit (baueri), Western Alaskan Bar-tailed Vulnerable Species or species habitat Godwit [86380] likely to occur within area
Limosa lapponica menzbieri Northern Siberian Bar-tailed Godwit, Bar-tailed Critically Endangered Species or species Name Status Type of Presence Godwit (menzbieri) [86432] habitat may occur within area Neochmia ruficauda ruficauda Star Finch (eastern), Star Finch (southern) [26027] Endangered Species or species habitat likely to occur within area
Numenius madagascariensis Eastern Curlew, Far Eastern Curlew [847] Critically Endangered Species or species habitat known to occur within area
Poephila cincta cincta Southern Black-throated Finch [64447] Endangered Species or species habitat known to occur within area
Rostratula australis Australian Painted-snipe, Australian Painted Snipe Endangered Species or species habitat [77037] likely to occur within area
Tyto novaehollandiae kimberli Masked Owl (northern) [26048] Vulnerable Species or species habitat likely to occur within area
Mammals Balaenoptera musculus Blue Whale [36] Endangered Species or species habitat may occur within area
Dasyurus hallucatus Northern Quoll, Digul [Gogo-Yimidir], Wijingadda Endangered Species or species habitat [Dambimangari], Wiminji [Martu] [331] likely to occur within area
Macroderma gigas Ghost Bat [174] Vulnerable Breeding likely to occur within area Megaptera novaeangliae Humpback Whale [38] Vulnerable Species or species habitat known to occur within area
Petauroides volans Greater Glider [254] Vulnerable Species or species habitat likely to occur within area
Phascolarctos cinereus (combined populations of Qld, NSW and the ACT) Koala (combined populations of Queensland, New Vulnerable Species or species habitat South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory) may occur within area [85104] Pteropus conspicillatus Spectacled Flying-fox [185] Vulnerable Species or species habitat likely to occur within area
Saccolaimus saccolaimus nudicluniatus Bare-rumped Sheath-tailed Bat, Bare-rumped Vulnerable Species or species habitat Sheathtail Bat [66889] likely to occur within area
Xeromys myoides Water Mouse, False Water Rat, Yirrkoo [66] Vulnerable Species or species habitat may occur within area
Plants Dichanthium setosum bluegrass [14159] Vulnerable Species or species habitat likely to occur within area
Eucalyptus paedoglauca Mt Stuart Ironbark [56188] Vulnerable Species or species habitat known to occur within area
Marsdenia brevifolia [64585] Vulnerable Species or species habitat may occur within area
Myrmecodia beccarii Ant Plant [11852] Vulnerable Species or species Name Status Type of Presence habitat likely to occur within area Omphalea celata [64586] Vulnerable Species or species habitat likely to occur within area
Reptiles Caretta caretta Loggerhead Turtle [1763] Endangered Breeding likely to occur within area Chelonia mydas Green Turtle [1765] Vulnerable Breeding known to occur within area Denisonia maculata Ornamental Snake [1193] Vulnerable Species or species habitat may occur within area
Dermochelys coriacea Leatherback Turtle, Leathery Turtle, Luth [1768] Endangered Breeding likely to occur within area Egernia rugosa Yakka Skink [1420] Vulnerable Species or species habitat may occur within area
Eretmochelys imbricata Hawksbill Turtle [1766] Vulnerable Foraging, feeding or related behaviour known to occur within area Lepidochelys olivacea Olive Ridley Turtle, Pacific Ridley Turtle [1767] Endangered Breeding likely to occur within area Natator depressus Flatback Turtle [59257] Vulnerable Breeding known to occur within area Sharks Carcharodon carcharias White Shark, Great White Shark [64470] Vulnerable Species or species habitat may occur within area
Pristis pristis Freshwater Sawfish, Largetooth Sawfish, River Vulnerable Species or species habitat Sawfish, Leichhardt's Sawfish, Northern Sawfish known to occur within area [60756] Pristis zijsron Green Sawfish, Dindagubba, Narrowsnout Sawfish Vulnerable Breeding likely to occur [68442] within area Rhincodon typus Whale Shark [66680] Vulnerable Species or species habitat may occur within area
Listed Migratory Species [ Resource Information ] * Species is listed under a different scientific name on the EPBC Act - Threatened Species list. Name Threatened Type of Presence Migratory Marine Birds Anous stolidus Common Noddy [825] Species or species habitat likely to occur within area
Apus pacificus Fork-tailed Swift [678] Species or species habitat likely to occur within area
Fregata ariel Lesser Frigatebird, Least Frigatebird [1012] Species or species habitat known to occur within area
Fregata minor Great Frigatebird, Greater Frigatebird [1013] Species or species habitat likely to occur within area Name Threatened Type of Presence Sternula albifrons Little Tern [82849] Species or species habitat may occur within area
Migratory Marine Species Anoxypristis cuspidata Narrow Sawfish, Knifetooth Sawfish [68448] Species or species habitat likely to occur within area
Balaenoptera edeni Bryde's Whale [35] Species or species habitat may occur within area
Balaenoptera musculus Blue Whale [36] Endangered Species or species habitat may occur within area
Carcharodon carcharias White Shark, Great White Shark [64470] Vulnerable Species or species habitat may occur within area
Caretta caretta Loggerhead Turtle [1763] Endangered Breeding likely to occur within area Chelonia mydas Green Turtle [1765] Vulnerable Breeding known to occur within area Crocodylus porosus Salt-water Crocodile, Estuarine Crocodile [1774] Species or species habitat likely to occur within area
Dermochelys coriacea Leatherback Turtle, Leathery Turtle, Luth [1768] Endangered Breeding likely to occur within area Dugong dugon Dugong [28] Species or species habitat known to occur within area
Eretmochelys imbricata Hawksbill Turtle [1766] Vulnerable Foraging, feeding or related behaviour known to occur within area Lamna nasus Porbeagle, Mackerel Shark [83288] Species or species habitat may occur within area
Lepidochelys olivacea Olive Ridley Turtle, Pacific Ridley Turtle [1767] Endangered Breeding likely to occur within area Manta alfredi Reef Manta Ray, Coastal Manta Ray, Inshore Manta Species or species habitat Ray, Prince Alfred's Ray, Resident Manta Ray [84994] may occur within area
Manta birostris Giant Manta Ray, Chevron Manta Ray, Pacific Manta Species or species habitat Ray, Pelagic Manta Ray, Oceanic Manta Ray [84995] may occur within area
Megaptera novaeangliae Humpback Whale [38] Vulnerable Species or species habitat known to occur within area
Natator depressus Flatback Turtle [59257] Vulnerable Breeding known to occur within area Orcaella brevirostris Irrawaddy Dolphin [45] Species or species habitat known to occur within area
Orcinus orca Killer Whale, Orca [46] Species or species habitat may occur within area Name Threatened Type of Presence Pristis pristis Freshwater Sawfish, Largetooth Sawfish, River Vulnerable Species or species habitat Sawfish, Leichhardt's Sawfish, Northern Sawfish known to occur within area [60756] Pristis zijsron Green Sawfish, Dindagubba, Narrowsnout Sawfish Vulnerable Breeding likely to occur [68442] within area Rhincodon typus Whale Shark [66680] Vulnerable Species or species habitat may occur within area
Sousa chinensis Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphin [50] Breeding known to occur within area Migratory Terrestrial Species Cuculus optatus Oriental Cuckoo, Horsfield's Cuckoo [86651] Species or species habitat known to occur within area
Hirundapus caudacutus White-throated Needletail [682] Species or species habitat known to occur within area
Monarcha melanopsis Black-faced Monarch [609] Species or species habitat known to occur within area
Monarcha trivirgatus Spectacled Monarch [610] Species or species habitat known to occur within area
Motacilla flava Yellow Wagtail [644] Species or species habitat likely to occur within area
Myiagra cyanoleuca Satin Flycatcher [612] Species or species habitat known to occur within area
Rhipidura rufifrons Rufous Fantail [592] Species or species habitat known to occur within area
Migratory Wetlands Species Actitis hypoleucos Common Sandpiper [59309] Species or species habitat known to occur within area
Arenaria interpres Ruddy Turnstone [872] Foraging, feeding or related behaviour known to occur within area Calidris acuminata Sharp-tailed Sandpiper [874] Roosting known to occur within area Calidris alba Sanderling [875] Foraging, feeding or related behaviour known to occur within area Calidris canutus Red Knot, Knot [855] Endangered Species or species habitat known to occur within area
Calidris ferruginea Curlew Sandpiper [856] Critically Endangered Species or species habitat known to occur within area
Calidris melanotos Pectoral Sandpiper [858] Species or species habitat likely to occur within area
Calidris ruficollis Red-necked Stint [860] Roosting known to occur Name Threatened Type of Presence within area Calidris tenuirostris Great Knot [862] Critically Endangered Roosting known to occur within area Charadrius leschenaultii Greater Sand Plover, Large Sand Plover [877] Vulnerable Roosting known to occur within area Charadrius mongolus Lesser Sand Plover, Mongolian Plover [879] Endangered Roosting known to occur within area Charadrius veredus Oriental Plover, Oriental Dotterel [882] Foraging, feeding or related behaviour known to occur within area Gallinago hardwickii Latham's Snipe, Japanese Snipe [863] Roosting may occur within area Gallinago megala Swinhoe's Snipe [864] Roosting likely to occur within area Gallinago stenura Pin-tailed Snipe [841] Roosting likely to occur within area Limicola falcinellus Broad-billed Sandpiper [842] Foraging, feeding or related behaviour known to occur within area Limosa lapponica Bar-tailed Godwit [844] Species or species habitat known to occur within area
Limosa limosa Black-tailed Godwit [845] Roosting known to occur within area Numenius madagascariensis Eastern Curlew, Far Eastern Curlew [847] Critically Endangered Species or species habitat known to occur within area
Numenius minutus Little Curlew, Little Whimbrel [848] Roosting known to occur within area Numenius phaeopus Whimbrel [849] Roosting known to occur within area Pandion haliaetus Osprey [952] Breeding known to occur within area Philomachus pugnax Ruff (Reeve) [850] Foraging, feeding or related behaviour known to occur within area Pluvialis fulva Pacific Golden Plover [25545] Roosting known to occur within area Pluvialis squatarola Grey Plover [865] Roosting known to occur within area Tringa brevipes Grey-tailed Tattler [851] Roosting known to occur within area Tringa glareola Wood Sandpiper [829] Foraging, feeding or related behaviour known to occur within area Tringa incana Wandering Tattler [831] Foraging, feeding or related behaviour known to occur within area Tringa nebularia Common Greenshank, Greenshank [832] Species or species habitat known to occur within area Name Threatened Type of Presence Tringa stagnatilis Marsh Sandpiper, Little Greenshank [833] Roosting known to occur within area Xenus cinereus Terek Sandpiper [59300] Roosting known to occur within area
Other Matters Protected by the EPBC Act Commonwealth Land [ Resource Information ] The Commonwealth area listed below may indicate the presence of Commonwealth land in this vicinity. Due to the unreliability of the data source, all proposals should be checked as to whether it impacts on a Commonwealth area, before making a definitive decision. Contact the State or Territory government land department for further information. Name Defence - LAVARACK BARRACKS - TOWNSVILLE Defence - Mount Stuart Close Training Area
Listed Marine Species [ Resource Information ] * Species is listed under a different scientific name on the EPBC Act - Threatened Species list. Name Threatened Type of Presence Birds Actitis hypoleucos Common Sandpiper [59309] Species or species habitat known to occur within area
Anous stolidus Common Noddy [825] Species or species habitat likely to occur within area
Anseranas semipalmata Magpie Goose [978] Species or species habitat may occur within area
Apus pacificus Fork-tailed Swift [678] Species or species habitat likely to occur within area
Ardea alba Great Egret, White Egret [59541] Breeding known to occur within area Ardea ibis Cattle Egret [59542] Breeding likely to occur within area Arenaria interpres Ruddy Turnstone [872] Foraging, feeding or related behaviour known to occur within area Calidris acuminata Sharp-tailed Sandpiper [874] Roosting known to occur within area Calidris alba Sanderling [875] Foraging, feeding or related behaviour known to occur within area Name Threatened Type of Presence Calidris canutus Red Knot, Knot [855] Endangered Species or species habitat known to occur within area
Calidris ferruginea Curlew Sandpiper [856] Critically Endangered Species or species habitat known to occur within area
Calidris melanotos Pectoral Sandpiper [858] Species or species habitat likely to occur within area
Calidris ruficollis Red-necked Stint [860] Roosting known to occur within area Calidris tenuirostris Great Knot [862] Critically Endangered Roosting known to occur within area Charadrius leschenaultii Greater Sand Plover, Large Sand Plover [877] Vulnerable Roosting known to occur within area Charadrius mongolus Lesser Sand Plover, Mongolian Plover [879] Endangered Roosting known to occur within area Charadrius ruficapillus Red-capped Plover [881] Roosting known to occur within area Charadrius veredus Oriental Plover, Oriental Dotterel [882] Foraging, feeding or related behaviour known to occur within area Chrysococcyx osculans Black-eared Cuckoo [705] Species or species habitat known to occur within area
Fregata ariel Lesser Frigatebird, Least Frigatebird [1012] Species or species habitat known to occur within area
Fregata minor Great Frigatebird, Greater Frigatebird [1013] Species or species habitat likely to occur within area
Gallinago hardwickii Latham's Snipe, Japanese Snipe [863] Roosting may occur within area Gallinago megala Swinhoe's Snipe [864] Roosting likely to occur within area Gallinago stenura Pin-tailed Snipe [841] Roosting likely to occur within area Haliaeetus leucogaster White-bellied Sea-Eagle [943] Species or species habitat known to occur within area
Heteroscelus brevipes Grey-tailed Tattler [59311] Roosting known to occur within area Heteroscelus incanus Wandering Tattler [59547] Foraging, feeding or related behaviour known to occur within area Himantopus himantopus Pied Stilt, Black-winged Stilt [870] Roosting known to occur within area Hirundapus caudacutus White-throated Needletail [682] Species or species habitat known to occur within area
Limicola falcinellus Broad-billed Sandpiper [842] Foraging, feeding or related behaviour known Name Threatened Type of Presence to occur within area Limosa lapponica Bar-tailed Godwit [844] Species or species habitat known to occur within area
Limosa limosa Black-tailed Godwit [845] Roosting known to occur within area Merops ornatus Rainbow Bee-eater [670] Species or species habitat may occur within area
Monarcha melanopsis Black-faced Monarch [609] Species or species habitat known to occur within area
Monarcha trivirgatus Spectacled Monarch [610] Species or species habitat known to occur within area
Motacilla flava Yellow Wagtail [644] Species or species habitat likely to occur within area
Myiagra cyanoleuca Satin Flycatcher [612] Species or species habitat known to occur within area
Numenius madagascariensis Eastern Curlew, Far Eastern Curlew [847] Critically Endangered Species or species habitat known to occur within area
Numenius minutus Little Curlew, Little Whimbrel [848] Roosting known to occur within area Numenius phaeopus Whimbrel [849] Roosting known to occur within area Pandion haliaetus Osprey [952] Breeding known to occur within area Philomachus pugnax Ruff (Reeve) [850] Foraging, feeding or related behaviour known to occur within area Pluvialis fulva Pacific Golden Plover [25545] Roosting known to occur within area Pluvialis squatarola Grey Plover [865] Roosting known to occur within area Recurvirostra novaehollandiae Red-necked Avocet [871] Foraging, feeding or related behaviour known to occur within area Rhipidura rufifrons Rufous Fantail [592] Species or species habitat known to occur within area
Rostratula benghalensis (sensu lato) Painted Snipe [889] Endangered* Species or species habitat likely to occur within area
Sterna albifrons Little Tern [813] Species or species habitat may occur within area
Tringa glareola Wood Sandpiper [829] Foraging, feeding or related behaviour known to occur within area Tringa nebularia Common Greenshank, Greenshank [832] Species or species Name Threatened Type of Presence habitat known to occur within area Tringa stagnatilis Marsh Sandpiper, Little Greenshank [833] Roosting known to occur within area Xenus cinereus Terek Sandpiper [59300] Roosting known to occur within area Fish Acentronura tentaculata Shortpouch Pygmy Pipehorse [66187] Species or species habitat may occur within area
Campichthys tryoni Tryon's Pipefish [66193] Species or species habitat may occur within area
Choeroichthys brachysoma Pacific Short-bodied Pipefish, Short-bodied Pipefish Species or species habitat [66194] may occur within area
Choeroichthys suillus Pig-snouted Pipefish [66198] Species or species habitat may occur within area
Corythoichthys amplexus Fijian Banded Pipefish, Brown-banded Pipefish Species or species habitat [66199] may occur within area
Corythoichthys flavofasciatus Reticulate Pipefish, Yellow-banded Pipefish, Network Species or species habitat Pipefish [66200] may occur within area
Corythoichthys intestinalis Australian Messmate Pipefish, Banded Pipefish Species or species habitat [66202] may occur within area
Corythoichthys ocellatus Orange-spotted Pipefish, Ocellated Pipefish [66203] Species or species habitat may occur within area
Corythoichthys paxtoni Paxton's Pipefish [66204] Species or species habitat may occur within area
Corythoichthys schultzi Schultz's Pipefish [66205] Species or species habitat may occur within area
Cosmocampus darrosanus D'Arros Pipefish [66207] Species or species habitat may occur within area
Doryrhamphus excisus Bluestripe Pipefish, Indian Blue-stripe Pipefish, Pacific Species or species habitat Blue-stripe Pipefish [66211] may occur within area
Festucalex cinctus Girdled Pipefish [66214] Species or species habitat may occur within area
Halicampus dunckeri Red-hair Pipefish, Duncker's Pipefish [66220] Species or species habitat may occur within area
Halicampus grayi Mud Pipefish, Gray's Pipefish [66221] Species or species habitat may occur within area
Halicampus nitidus Glittering Pipefish [66224] Species or species habitat may occur within area Name Threatened Type of Presence Halicampus spinirostris Spiny-snout Pipefish [66225] Species or species habitat may occur within area
Hippichthys cyanospilos Blue-speckled Pipefish, Blue-spotted Pipefish [66228] Species or species habitat may occur within area
Hippichthys heptagonus Madura Pipefish, Reticulated Freshwater Pipefish Species or species habitat [66229] may occur within area
Hippichthys penicillus Beady Pipefish, Steep-nosed Pipefish [66231] Species or species habitat may occur within area
Hippocampus bargibanti Pygmy Seahorse [66721] Species or species habitat may occur within area
Hippocampus kuda Spotted Seahorse, Yellow Seahorse [66237] Species or species habitat may occur within area
Hippocampus planifrons Flat-face Seahorse [66238] Species or species habitat may occur within area
Hippocampus zebra Zebra Seahorse [66241] Species or species habitat may occur within area
Micrognathus andersonii Anderson's Pipefish, Shortnose Pipefish [66253] Species or species habitat may occur within area
Micrognathus brevirostris thorntail Pipefish, Thorn-tailed Pipefish [66254] Species or species habitat may occur within area
Nannocampus pictus Painted Pipefish, Reef Pipefish [66263] Species or species habitat may occur within area
Solegnathus hardwickii Pallid Pipehorse, Hardwick's Pipehorse [66272] Species or species habitat may occur within area
Solenostomus cyanopterus Robust Ghostpipefish, Blue-finned Ghost Pipefish, Species or species habitat [66183] may occur within area
Solenostomus paradoxus Ornate Ghostpipefish, Harlequin Ghost Pipefish, Species or species habitat Ornate Ghost Pipefish [66184] may occur within area
Syngnathoides biaculeatus Double-end Pipehorse, Double-ended Pipehorse, Species or species habitat Alligator Pipefish [66279] may occur within area
Trachyrhamphus bicoarctatus Bentstick Pipefish, Bend Stick Pipefish, Short-tailed Species or species habitat Pipefish [66280] may occur within area
Trachyrhamphus longirostris Straightstick Pipefish, Long-nosed Pipefish, Straight Species or species habitat Stick Pipefish [66281] may occur within area
Mammals Dugong dugon Dugong [28] Species or species habitat known to occur within area Name Threatened Type of Presence Reptiles Acalyptophis peronii Horned Seasnake [1114] Species or species habitat may occur within area
Aipysurus duboisii Dubois' Seasnake [1116] Species or species habitat may occur within area
Aipysurus eydouxii Spine-tailed Seasnake [1117] Species or species habitat may occur within area
Aipysurus laevis Olive Seasnake [1120] Species or species habitat may occur within area
Astrotia stokesii Stokes' Seasnake [1122] Species or species habitat may occur within area
Caretta caretta Loggerhead Turtle [1763] Endangered Breeding likely to occur within area Chelonia mydas Green Turtle [1765] Vulnerable Breeding known to occur within area Crocodylus porosus Salt-water Crocodile, Estuarine Crocodile [1774] Species or species habitat likely to occur within area
Dermochelys coriacea Leatherback Turtle, Leathery Turtle, Luth [1768] Endangered Breeding likely to occur within area Disteira kingii Spectacled Seasnake [1123] Species or species habitat may occur within area
Disteira major Olive-headed Seasnake [1124] Species or species habitat may occur within area
Enhydrina schistosa Beaked Seasnake [1126] Species or species habitat may occur within area
Eretmochelys imbricata Hawksbill Turtle [1766] Vulnerable Foraging, feeding or related behaviour known to occur within area Hydrophis elegans Elegant Seasnake [1104] Species or species habitat may occur within area
Hydrophis mcdowelli null [25926] Species or species habitat may occur within area
Hydrophis ornatus Spotted Seasnake, Ornate Reef Seasnake [1111] Species or species habitat may occur within area
Lapemis hardwickii Spine-bellied Seasnake [1113] Species or species habitat may occur within area
Laticauda colubrina a sea krait [1092] Species or species habitat may occur within area
Laticauda laticaudata a sea krait [1093] Species or species habitat may occur within Name Threatened Type of Presence area Lepidochelys olivacea Olive Ridley Turtle, Pacific Ridley Turtle [1767] Endangered Breeding likely to occur within area Natator depressus Flatback Turtle [59257] Vulnerable Breeding known to occur within area Pelamis platurus Yellow-bellied Seasnake [1091] Species or species habitat may occur within area
Whales and other Cetaceans [ Resource Information ] Name Status Type of Presence Mammals Balaenoptera acutorostrata Minke Whale [33] Species or species habitat may occur within area
Balaenoptera edeni Bryde's Whale [35] Species or species habitat may occur within area
Balaenoptera musculus Blue Whale [36] Endangered Species or species habitat may occur within area
Delphinus delphis Common Dophin, Short-beaked Common Dolphin [60] Species or species habitat may occur within area
Grampus griseus Risso's Dolphin, Grampus [64] Species or species habitat may occur within area
Megaptera novaeangliae Humpback Whale [38] Vulnerable Species or species habitat known to occur within area
Orcaella brevirostris Irrawaddy Dolphin [45] Species or species habitat known to occur within area
Orcinus orca Killer Whale, Orca [46] Species or species habitat may occur within area
Sousa chinensis Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphin [50] Breeding known to occur within area Stenella attenuata Spotted Dolphin, Pantropical Spotted Dolphin [51] Species or species habitat may occur within area
Tursiops aduncus Indian Ocean Bottlenose Dolphin, Spotted Bottlenose Species or species habitat Dolphin [68418] likely to occur within area
Tursiops truncatus s. str. Bottlenose Dolphin [68417] Species or species habitat may occur within area Extra Information State and Territory Reserves [ Resource Information ] Name State Bowling Green Bay QLD Stuart Creek QLD
Invasive Species [ Resource Information ] Weeds reported here are the 20 species of national significance (WoNS), along with other introduced plants that are considered by the States and Territories to pose a particularly significant threat to biodiversity. The following feral animals are reported: Goat, Red Fox, Cat, Rabbit, Pig, Water Buffalo and Cane Toad. Maps from Landscape Health Project, National Land and Water Resouces Audit, 2001.
Name Status Type of Presence Birds Acridotheres tristis Common Myna, Indian Myna [387] Species or species habitat likely to occur within area
Anas platyrhynchos Mallard [974] Species or species habitat likely to occur within area
Columba livia Rock Pigeon, Rock Dove, Domestic Pigeon [803] Species or species habitat likely to occur within area
Lonchura punctulata Nutmeg Mannikin [399] Species or species habitat likely to occur within area
Passer domesticus House Sparrow [405] Species or species habitat likely to occur within area
Streptopelia chinensis Spotted Turtle-Dove [780] Species or species habitat likely to occur within area
Sturnus vulgaris Common Starling [389] Species or species habitat likely to occur within area
Frogs Rhinella marina Cane Toad [83218] Species or species habitat known to occur within area
Mammals Bos taurus Domestic Cattle [16] Species or species habitat likely to occur within area
Canis lupus familiaris Domestic Dog [82654] Species or species habitat likely to occur within area
Felis catus Cat, House Cat, Domestic Cat [19] Species or species habitat likely to occur within area
Lepus capensis Brown Hare [127] Species or species habitat likely to occur within area
Mus musculus House Mouse [120] Species or species habitat likely to occur within area Name Status Type of Presence Oryctolagus cuniculus Rabbit, European Rabbit [128] Species or species habitat likely to occur within area
Rattus norvegicus Brown Rat, Norway Rat [83] Species or species habitat likely to occur within area
Rattus rattus Black Rat, Ship Rat [84] Species or species habitat likely to occur within area
Sus scrofa Pig [6] Species or species habitat likely to occur within area
Plants Acacia nilotica subsp. indica Prickly Acacia [6196] Species or species habitat may occur within area
Annona glabra Pond Apple, Pond-apple Tree, Alligator Apple, Species or species habitat Bullock's Heart, Cherimoya, Monkey Apple, Bobwood, likely to occur within area Corkwood [6311] Cabomba caroliniana Cabomba, Fanwort, Carolina Watershield, Fish Grass, Species or species habitat Washington Grass, Watershield, Carolina Fanwort, likely to occur within area Common Cabomba [5171] Cryptostegia grandiflora Rubber Vine, Rubbervine, India Rubber Vine, India Species or species habitat Rubbervine, Palay Rubbervine, Purple Allamanda likely to occur within area [18913] Dolichandra unguis-cati Cat's Claw Vine, Yellow Trumpet Vine, Cat's Claw Species or species habitat Creeper, Funnel Creeper [85119] likely to occur within area
Eichhornia crassipes Water Hyacinth, Water Orchid, Nile Lily [13466] Species or species habitat likely to occur within area
Hymenachne amplexicaulis Hymenachne, Olive Hymenachne, Water Stargrass, Species or species habitat West Indian Grass, West Indian Marsh Grass [31754] likely to occur within area
Jatropha gossypifolia Cotton-leaved Physic-Nut, Bellyache Bush, Cotton-leaf Species or species habitat Physic Nut, Cotton-leaf Jatropha, Black Physic Nut likely to occur within area [7507] Lantana camara Lantana, Common Lantana, Kamara Lantana, Large- Species or species habitat leaf Lantana, Pink Flowered Lantana, Red Flowered likely to occur within area Lantana, Red-Flowered Sage, White Sage, Wild Sage [10892] Opuntia spp. Prickly Pears [82753] Species or species habitat likely to occur within area
Parkinsonia aculeata Parkinsonia, Jerusalem Thorn, Jelly Bean Tree, Horse Species or species habitat Bean [12301] likely to occur within area
Parthenium hysterophorus Parthenium Weed, Bitter Weed, Carrot Grass, False Species or species habitat Ragweed [19566] likely to occur within area
Prosopis spp. Mesquite, Algaroba [68407] Species or species habitat likely to occur within area
Salvinia molesta Salvinia, Giant Salvinia, Aquarium Watermoss, Kariba Species or species habitat Weed [13665] likely to occur Name Status Type of Presence within area Vachellia nilotica Prickly Acacia, Blackthorn, Prickly Mimosa, Black Species or species habitat Piquant, Babul [84351] likely to occur within area
Reptiles Hemidactylus frenatus Asian House Gecko [1708] Species or species habitat likely to occur within area
Lepidodactylus lugubris Mourning Gecko [1712] Species or species habitat likely to occur within area
Ramphotyphlops braminus Flowerpot Blind Snake, Brahminy Blind Snake, Cacing Species or species habitat Besi [1258] likely to occur within area
Nationally Important Wetlands [ Resource Information ] Name State Bowling Green Bay QLD Burdekin - Townsville Coastal Aggregation QLD Great Barrier Reef Marine Park QLD Caveat The information presented in this report has been provided by a range of data sources as acknowledged at the end of the report.
This report is designed to assist in identifying the locations of places which may be relevant in determining obligations under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. It holds mapped locations of World and National Heritage properties, Wetlands of International and National Importance, Commonwealth and State/Territory reserves, listed threatened, migratory and marine species and listed threatened ecological communities. Mapping of Commonwealth land is not complete at this stage. Maps have been collated from a range of sources at various resolutions.
Not all species listed under the EPBC Act have been mapped (see below) and therefore a report is a general guide only. Where available data supports mapping, the type of presence that can be determined from the data is indicated in general terms. People using this information in making a referral may need to consider the qualifications below and may need to seek and consider other information sources.
For threatened ecological communities where the distribution is well known, maps are derived from recovery plans, State vegetation maps, remote sensing imagery and other sources. Where threatened ecological community distributions are less well known, existing vegetation maps and point location data are used to produce indicative distribution maps.
Threatened, migratory and marine species distributions have been derived through a variety of methods. Where distributions are well known and if time permits, maps are derived using either thematic spatial data (i.e. vegetation, soils, geology, elevation, aspect, terrain, etc) together with point locations and described habitat; or environmental modelling (MAXENT or BIOCLIM habitat modelling) using point locations and environmental data layers.
Where very little information is available for species or large number of maps are required in a short time-frame, maps are derived either from 0.04 or 0.02 decimal degree cells; by an automated process using polygon capture techniques (static two kilometre grid cells, alpha-hull and convex hull); or captured manually or by using topographic features (national park boundaries, islands, etc). In the early stages of the distribution mapping process (1999-early 2000s) distributions were defined by degree blocks, 100K or 250K map sheets to rapidly create distribution maps. More reliable distribution mapping methods are used to update these distributions as time permits.
Only selected species covered by the following provisions of the EPBC Act have been mapped: - migratory and - marine The following species and ecological communities have not been mapped and do not appear in reports produced from this database:
- threatened species listed as extinct or considered as vagrants - some species and ecological communities that have only recently been listed - some terrestrial species that overfly the Commonwealth marine area - migratory species that are very widespread, vagrant, or only occur in small numbers The following groups have been mapped, but may not cover the complete distribution of the species: - non-threatened seabirds which have only been mapped for recorded breeding sites - seals which have only been mapped for breeding sites near the Australian continent Such breeding sites may be important for the protection of the Commonwealth Marine environment.
Coordinates
-19.367 146.885 Acknowledgements This database has been compiled from a range of data sources. The department acknowledges the following custodians who have contributed valuable data and advice: -Office of Environment and Heritage, New South Wales -Department of Environment and Primary Industries, Victoria -Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment, Tasmania -Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources, South Australia -Department of Land and Resource Management, Northern Territory -Department of Environmental and Heritage Protection, Queensland -Department of Parks and Wildlife, Western Australia -Environment and Planning Directorate, ACT -Birdlife Australia -Australian Bird and Bat Banding Scheme -Australian National Wildlife Collection -Natural history museums of Australia -Museum Victoria -Australian Museum -South Australian Museum -Queensland Museum -Online Zoological Collections of Australian Museums -Queensland Herbarium -National Herbarium of NSW -Royal Botanic Gardens and National Herbarium of Victoria -Tasmanian Herbarium -State Herbarium of South Australia -Northern Territory Herbarium -Western Australian Herbarium -Australian National Herbarium, Canberra -University of New England -Ocean Biogeographic Information System -Australian Government, Department of Defence Forestry Corporation, NSW -Geoscience Australia -CSIRO -Australian Tropical Herbarium, Cairns -eBird Australia -Australian Government – Australian Antarctic Data Centre -Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory -Australian Government National Environmental Science Program -Australian Institute of Marine Science -Reef Life Survey Australia -American Museum of Natural History -Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery, Inveresk, Tasmania -Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, Hobart, Tasmania -Other groups and individuals
The Department is extremely grateful to the many organisations and individuals who provided expert advice and information on numerous draft distributions.
Please feel free to provide feedback via the Contact Us page.
© Commonwealth of Australia Department of the Environment GPO Box 787 Canberra ACT 2601 Australia +61 2 6274 1111 REPORT
Appendix D
Beat echolocation call analysis
PR122454-3 | Elliot Springs Hilltop Estate | 1.5 | 04 March 2019 rpsgroup.com Microbat Call Identification Report
Prepared for (“Client”): RPS Group Survey location/project name: Townsville, NE Qld Survey dates: 14-20 November 2018 Client project reference: PR122454-3 Job no.: RPS-1901 Report date: 18 January 2019
DISCLAIMER: © Copyright – Balance! Environmental, ABN 75 795 804 356. This document and its content are copyright and may not be copied, reproduced or distributed (in whole or part) without the prior written permission of Balance! Environmental other than by the Client for the purposes authorised by Balance! Environmental (“Intended Purpose”). To the extent that the Intended Purpose requires the disclosure of this document and/or its content to a third party, the Client must procure such agreements, acknowledgements and undertakings as may be necessary to ensure that the third party does not copy, reproduce, or distribute this document and its content other than for the Intended Purpose. This disclaimer does not limit any rights Balance! Environmental may have under the Copyright Act 1968 (Cth). The Client acknowledges that the Final Report is intended for the sole use of the Client, and only to be used for the Intended Purpose. Any representation or recommendation contained in the Final Report is made only to the Client. Balance! Environmental will not be liable for any loss or damage whatsoever arising from the use and/or reliance on the Final Report by any third party. Methods
Survey summary and data received Two Song Meter SM2 bat detectors were deployed for seven consecutive nights (14-20 November 2018) “…in Eucalyptus crebra woodland on a hilltop south of Townsville.” Detectors were set to record between sunset and sunrise each night and saved the resulting echolocation acoustic data as full-spectrum .WAV files. Balance! Environmental received over 7386 WAV files for analysis.
Bat-call analysis and species identification Call analyses were performed using the Cluster Analysis function of Kaleidoscope Pro, which rapidly scanned the WAV files and automatically clustered detected bat-calls into groups with similar pulse- characteristics (based on zero-crossing analysis). All clusters were then manually scanned in spectrogram view and allocated either to single species or groups of difficult-to-differentiate species (“unresolved calls”). Manual verification of call identities was based on comparison of call spectrograms and derived metrics with those of reference calls from northern Queensland and/or with published call descriptions (e.g. Reinhold et al. 2001; Milne 2002). Consideration was also given to the probability of species’ occurrence based on published distribution information (e.g. Churchill 2008; van Dyck et al. 2013) and on-line database records (e.g. http://www.ala.org.au).
Reporting standard The format and content of this report follows Australasian Bat Society standards for the interpretation and reporting of bat call data (Reardon 2003), available on-line at http://www.ausbats.org.au/. Species nomenclature follows Jackson & Groves (2015), who elevated the sub-genus names proposed by Reardon et al. (2008, 2014) for the Mormopterus free-tailed bats to genus level. New names used in this report include:
Ozimops lumsdenae (Northern Free-tailed Bat) – formerly M. beccarii (Beccari’s Freetail Bat); and O. ridei (Ride’s Free-tailed Bat) – formerly M. ridei and M. ‘species 2’ (Eastern Freetail Bat). Jackson and Groves (2015) also allocate the Large (Eastern) Bent-winged Bat to Miniopterus orianae (formerly M. schreibersii).
RPS-1901_Townsville_Nov 2018_batcall analysis.docx 18/01/2019 Page 2 of 7 Results & Discussion The cluster analysis recognised 2369 bat calls and grouped them into 20 clusters; however, many clusters contained slight variants of the same species’ calls. Cluster review and identification resulted in approximately half (1174) of the calls being positively identified to one of six species (see upper portion of Table 1). The other 1195 calls had characteristics that were intermediate between two or more species and were allocated to one of three groups of “unresolved species” (Table 1, lower portion). Two call types made up over 83% (1980) of the total call count. Almost half of these calls were attributed to Saccolaimus saccolaimus (Bare-rumped Sheath-tailed Bat), with the remainder belonging to an unresolved group potentially representing up to three species: Chalinolobus nigrogriseus (Hoary Wattled Bat) / Scotorepens greyii (Little Broad-nosed Bat) / S. sanborni (Northern Broad-nosed Bat). No other species or group contributed more than 5% of the total call count. Sample spectrograms of all identified call types are shown at Appendix 1.
References Churchill, S. (2008). Australian Bats. Jacana Books, Allen & Unwin; Sydney. Corben, C. (2017). AnalookW for bat call analysis using ZCA. Version 4.2n, 16 March 2017. Jackson, S. and Groves, C. (2015). Taxonomy of Australian Mammals. CSIRO Publishing, Melbourne. Milne, D.J. (2002). Key to the bat calls of the Top End of the Northern Territory. Technical Report No. 71; Parks and Wildlife Commission of the Northern Territory, Darwin. Reardon, T. (2003). Standards in bat detector based surveys. Australasian Bat Society Newsletter 20, 41-43. Reardon, T., Adams, M., McKenzie, N. and Jenkins, P. (2008). A new species of Australian freetail bat Mormopterus eleryi sp. nov. (Chiroptera: Molossidae) and a taxonomic reappraisal of M. norfolkensis (Gray). Zootaxa 1875: 1-31. Reardon, T. B., McKenzie, N. L., Cooper, S. J. B., Appleton, B., Carthew, S. and Adams, M. (2014). A molecular and morphological investigation of species boundaries and phylogenetic relationships in Australian free-tailed bats Mormopterus (Chiroptera: Molossidae). Aust. J. Zool. 62, 109–136. Reinhold, L., Law, B., Ford, G. and Pennay, M. (2001). Key to the bat calls of south-east Queensland and north-east New South Wales. Department of Natural Resources and Mines, Brisbane. van Dyck, S., Gynther, I. and Baker, A. (ed.) (2013). Field Companion to the Mammals of Australia. New Holland; Sydney.
RPS-1901_Townsville_Nov 2018_batcall analysis.docx 18/01/2019 Page 3 of 7 Table 1 Microbat species recorded during the Townsville survey, 14th-20th November 2018. Number of calls allocated to distinct species and unresolved species groups per detector-night
Detector: SM2-06 SM2-09 Species Date: 14/11 15/11 16/11 17/11 18/11 19/11 20/11 5/11 6/11 7/11 8/11 9/11 10/11 11/11 total Positively identified calls Scotorepens balstoni 1 1 1 26 11 4 1 45 Vespadelus troughtoni 6 2 2 16 2 26 2 3 4 1 64 Miniopterus australis 1 1 1 1 1 23 4 9 7 11 59 Chaerephon jobensis 1 2 3 2 4 2 1 15 Ozimops lumsdenae 1 1 1 1 4 Saccolaimus saccolaimus 349 272 28 111 113 21 18 1 63 9 2 987 Unresolved calls Chalinolobus nigrogriseus / Scotorepens sp. 1 126 148 142 185 4 5 57 91 61 169 7 6 12 1014 S. saccolaimus / S. flaviventris 22 19 2 3 8 1 1 56 S. saccolaimus / Taphozous troughtoni 3 6 1 112 1 1 1 125 Detector-night total 384 428 184 275 450 64 31 83 96 75 169 78 26 26 2369
RPS-1901_Townsville_Nov 2018_batcall analysis.docx 18/01/2019 Page 4 of 7 Appendix 1 Representative call sequences from the Townsville survey, November 2018. x-axis = time (sec; 20 msec per tick-mark); y-axis = frequency (kHz)
Saccolaimus saccolaimus
Chalinolobus nigrogriseus or Scotorepens sp.
Scotorepens balstoni
RPS-1901_Townsville_Nov 2018_batcall analysis.docx 18/01/2019 Page 5 of 7 Vespadelus troughtoni
Miniopterus australis
Chaerephon jobensis
RPS-1901_Townsville_Nov 2018_batcall analysis.docx 18/01/2019 Page 6 of 7 Ozimops lumsdenae
S. flaviventris/S. saccolaimus Note the curvature of last two pulses – more suggestive of S. flaviventris, but call too brief for diagnosis
S. saccolaimus/Taphozous troughtoni The curvature and higher frequency of these pulses is more suggestive of T. troughtoni
RPS-1901_Townsville_Nov 2018_batcall analysis.docx 18/01/2019 Page 7 of 7 REPORT
Appendix E
Likelihood assessment –Threatened ecological communities
PR122454-3 | Elliot Springs Hilltop Estate | 1.5 | 04 March 2019 rpsgroup.com REPORT
Table 14: Threatened ecological communities likelihood assessment
TEC EPBC Status Description Associated Queensland regional ecosystems Semi-evergreen vine thickets of the Endangered Semi-evergreen vine thicket (SEVT) is an extreme form of dry seasonal 11.2.3; 11.3.11; 11.4.1; 11.5.15; 11.8.3; Brigalow Belt (North and South) subtropical rainforest, characterised by the prominence of trees with 11.8.6; 11.8.13; 11.9.4; 11.9.8; 11.11.18 and Nandewar Bioregions microphyll sized leaves, 2.5–7.6 cm long, the presence of bottle trees (Brachychiton spp.) as emergent trees and occurring in subtropical, seasonally dry climates on soils of high to medium fertility (e.g. Webb 1959, 1968; Webb & Tracey 1981, 1994). In 'northern SEVT' areas in Queensland, a high diversity of plant species occurs, although only a small number are always present, including Brachychiton australis (bottle tree, broad-leaved bottle tree), Drypetes deplanchei (grey boxwood, yellow tulip), Diospyros humilis, Gyrocarpus americanus, Geijera salicifolia (brush wilga), Pouteria cotinifolia and Strychnos psilosperma (strychnine) and the vines Cissus reniformis and Jasminum didymum. Vine thickets on volcanics are characterised by Alectryon oleifolius (Boonaree), Grewia scabrella, Croton arnhemicus, Gyrocarpus americanus and Capparis lasiantha (Nipan, Split-jack) (McDonald 1996).
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Appendix F
Threatened flora desktop likelihood assessment
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Table 15: Threatened flora likelihood of occurrence
Species Common Name NCA EPBC Habitat Record Likelihood Status Status Dichanthium setosum Blue Grass V In Queensland this species has been reported from the No Unlikely: Soils present in the Leichhardt, Morton, North Kennedy and Port Curtis Project Area are unlikely to regions. It is associated with heavy basaltic black soils support the species which prefers and stony red-brown hard-setting loam with clay subsoil heavy soils. and is found in moderately disturbed areas such as cleared woodland, grassy roadside remnants, grazed land and highly disturbed pasture (DoEE 2018d). Croton magneticus V Croton magneticus occurs in north-east Queensland Yes (1) Unlikely: No SEVT communities between Greenvale, in the north, to near Collinsville, in the occur in the project area. south. This species grows in deciduous vine thickets on soils derived from sandstone, granite or acid agglomerate substrates (SEWPaC 2013). RE: 11.8.13 - Semi- evergreen vine thicket and microphyll vine forest on Cainozoic igneous rocks. Lowlands (ANRA, 2007). RE: 11.8.3 – semi-evergreen vine thicket on Cainozoic igneous rocks, steep hillslopes (ANRA, 2007). Known from eight locations: Magnetic Island, Mt Stuart, Greenvale, Mt Blackjack and adjacent areas, Gloucester Island, Mt Abbot, Leichhardt Range and the Fanning River (Queensland Herbarium, 2009). Eucalyptus Mt. Stuart V This small eucalypt species is best known from Mt Stuart Yes (1) Possibly: The species has the paedoglauca Ironbark where it dominates woodland communities at the summit, potential to occupy the lower however, it also occurs on other ranges further to the slopes and flats of Hervey south where it is known to occupy lower slopes and flats Range. (Calvert et al. 2005). Although previously regarded as being restricted entirely to Mt Stuart (Brooker & Kleinig 1994), it is also known to occur on the alluvial flats on the south-east side of Pepper Pot Mountain south-west of
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Species Common Name NCA EPBC Habitat Record Likelihood Status Status Townsville, and on a hill in the Reid River - Fanning River watershed (Qld Herbarium Herbrecs). Although it is noted to occur within the Cape Bowling Green National Park (Qld Herbarium 2009), there are no herbarium records from that area. Marsdenia brevifolia shrubby bush V V Marsdenia brevifolia is a small shrub that has been No Unlikely: Whilst some rock pear recorded growing amongst large boulders and outcrops on outcrops occur in the project serpentinite, granite and acid volcanic soils in open area, they would offer very little eucalypt woodlands (Calvert et al. 2005). Although it fire protection. At best habitat is resprouts after fire (Calvert et al. 2005), it is usually on marginal for this species. recorded in microhabitats that provide some fire protection (pers. Obs.). Myrmecodia beccarii Ant plant V V Myrmecodia beccarii occurs from Cooktown to Clemant No Unlikely: The species occurs State Forest north of Townsville. It occurs as an epiphyte predominantly on alluvial plains. primarily in Broad-leaved paperbark (Melaleuca viridiflora) open woodland on alluvial plains, but also inhabits mangrove communities (Calvert et al. 2005). Omphalea celata V V This small tree to 12m is known from three sites in central No Unlikely: The preferred rainforest east Queensland; including rainforest and vine thickets on and vine thicket communities do Gloucester Island near Bowen, semi-evergreen vine not occur in the project area. thicket at Hazelwood Gorge and a creek bed and adjacent Marginal habitat may occur in bank at Homevale Station north-west of Nebo. The riparian communities to the south species has been recorded at altitudes up to 560 metres of the project area. (DEWHA 2008). Sannantha papillosa E Sannantha papillosa is confined to shrubland on outcrops Yes (3) Possibly. The species has been of granite-like rocks, on skeletal soil, and is associated identified on the foothills of Mt with shrubs such as Leptospermum brachyandrum, Elliot, Cape Cleveland and the Leptospermum petersonii subsp. lanceolatum, Corymbia Pinnacles. trachyphloia and Melaleuca pearsonii (Queensland Herbarium, 2012b).
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Appendix G
Threatened and migratory fauna likelihood of occurrence
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Table 16: Threatened and migratory fauna likelihood of occurrence
Species Common Name NCA EPBC Migratory Habitat Record Likelihood Status Status Reptiles
Denisonia maculate Ornamental V V Known only from limited records in the Brigalow No Unlikely: No cracking clay soils snake Belt North and parts of the Brigalow Belt South occur in the project area. biogeographic regions. The core distribution occurs within the drainage system of the Fitzroy and Dawson Rivers (McDonald et al. 1991; Cogger et al. 1993). Thought to prefer woodlands and open forests associated with moist areas, particularly gilgai (melon-hole) mounds and depressions in Queensland Regional Ecosystem Land Zone 4, but also lake margins and wetlands (SEWPAC 2011). Egernia rugosa Yakka skink V V The known distribution of the Yakka skink extends No Unlikely: There are no local records from the coast to the hinterland of sub-humid to from the region and the species semi-arid eastern Queensland. Locations range has not been detected on land from the Queensland/New South Wales border to zone 12 – hills and lowlands on Cape York Peninsula. It is known to occur in open granitic rocks. dry sclerophyll forest, woodland and scrub and within these habitats is commonly found in cavities under and between partly buried rocks, logs or tree stumps, root cavities and abandoned animal burrows. In cleared habitat, this species can persist where there are shelter sites such as raked log piles, deep gullies, tunnel erosion/sinkholes and rabbit warrens (DoEE 2018e).
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Species Common Name NCA EPBC Migratory Habitat Record Likelihood Status Status Birds
Apus pacificus Fork-tailed Swift SL Migratory The fork-tailed swift is a non-breeding visitor to all Yes (6) Possibly: May utilise the aerial (CAMBA, states and territories of Australia (Higgins 1999). space above the project area. JAMBA, In north-east Queensland there are many records ROKAMB east of the Great Divide from near Cooktown and A) south to Townsville. The species is almost exclusively aerial, and mostly occur over inland plains, over dry or open habitats, including riparian woodland and tea-tree swamps, low scrub, heathland or saltmarsh. They also occur over settled areas, including towns, urban areas and cities (DoEE 2018f). Cuculus optatus syn. Oriental cuckoo SL Migratory The oriental cuckoo is distributed throughout No Possibly: The species inhabits a Cuculus saturates (CAMBA, coastal and sub-coastal regions of northern and range of vegetation communities, JAMBA, eastern Australia. Broad scale vegetation groups but the preferred dense vegetation ROKAMB used by the species include monsoon forest, communities are located only in the A) rainforest edges, dense tree canopies within south of the project area (SV eat paddocks, mangroves and islands (Pizzey and and SV west) and along large Knight 2010). This species is a non-breeding watercourses. migrant (September-May) to Australia (Pizzey and Knight 2010). Erythrotriorchis radiatus Red goshawk E V The Red goshawk has a widespread, patchy Yes (1) Possibly: Forest / woodlands distribution in coastal and sub-coastal areas of (approximately 30 m canopy) occur tropical and warm temperate Australia (Marchant in the project area. Potential nest & Higgins 1993). The species inhabits tall open sites are present (i.e. trees >20m forest and woodland, tropical savannas containing and within 1km of water). The site wooded rivers and the edges of rainforests. In is also located within an extensive cleared areas, the species is mostly associated patch of vegetation which is with gorge and escarpment country (Czechura & preferred by the species. Hobson, 2000; Czechura et al., 2009). Nesting
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Species Common Name NCA EPBC Migratory Habitat Record Likelihood Status Status sites rarely occur in areas where vegetation is fragmented (Aumann & Baker-Gabb, 1991; Czechura, 2001) and only occur in trees exceeding 20m in height and within 1km of a watercourse or wetland (Aumann & Baker-Gabb, 1991). Erythrura gouldiae Gouldian finch E E The Gouldian Finch inhabits open woodlands Yes (1) Unlikely: Whilst S.nitidum occurs in dominated by Eucalyptus.spp with a ground cover the project area, the species has of Sorghum and other grasses. It has been not been recorded in undescribed thickets of vegetation along streams and gorges, and at the margin of mangroves. The species often seen near water in grass-covered banks around shallow waterholes, watercourses, soaks and springs. Critical habitat includes favoured annual and perennial grasses (especially Sorghum), a nearby source of surface water and, in the breeding season, unburnt hollow-bearing Eucalyptus trees (especially E. tintinnans, E. brevifolia and E. leucophloia). Breeding habitat is usually confined to ridges and rocky foothills (Pizzy and Knight 2007). Geophaps scripta Squatter Pigeon V V The Squatter pigeon (southern subspecies) No Possibly: Suitable habitat is occurs mainly in grassy woodlands and open abundant in the project area, but forests that are dominated by eucalypts. It has the species was not detected also been recorded in sown grasslands with during the survey. scattered remnant trees, disturbed habitats, in scrub and acacia growth, and remains common in heavily-grazed country north of the Carnarvon Ranges. It is almost always found close to bodies of water (DoEE 2018b).
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Species Common Name NCA EPBC Migratory Habitat Record Likelihood Status Status Hirundapus caudacutus White-throated SL Occupies airspace over forests, woodlands, Yes (3) Possibly: Flyover species. Needletail farmlands, plains, lakes, coasts and towns, frequently foraging over hilltops and timbered areas (DoEE 2018k; Pizzey and Knight 2010). Monarcha melanopsis Black-faced SL Migratory The Black-faced monarch is found along the Yes (2) Unlikely: Preferred species habitat Monarch (Bonn) coast of eastern Australia, becoming less is not present in the project area. common further south. The species inhabits rainforest ecosystems, including vine-thickets, vine-forest, tropical, subtropical and temperate rainforest, mesophyll thickets and shrubland and monsoon rainforest. Other habitat types include old regrowth forest and open eucalypt forest near the preferred rainforest ecosystems DoEE 2018l). Monarcha trivirgatus Spectacled SL The Spectacled monarch is found throughout Yes (13) Unlikely: Suitable habitat does not Monarch coastal north-eastern and eastern Australia and occur in the project area. coastal islands, from Cape York (Qld) to the Watson River on the west coast and to Port Stephens (NSW) on the east coast. It inhabits the understorey of mountain and lowland rainforests, thickly wooded gullies, waterside vegetation including mangroves, mostly well below the canopy (Pizzey and Knight 2010). Motacilla flava Yellow wagtail SL Migratory The Yellow wagtail is a summer migrant to mostly No Unlikely: Preferred habitat is not (CAMBA, coastal areas of Australia, especially around present in the project area. JAMBA, Darwin through to Broome (Pizzey and Knight, ROKAMB 2010). In Queensland, records of the species A) have been predominantly taken in coastal habitats between Cairns and Townsville. Important habitat for the species includes well- watered open grasslands and the fringes of
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Species Common Name NCA EPBC Migratory Habitat Record Likelihood Status Status wetlands. Roosting habitat includes mangroves and other dense vegetation (DoEE 2018m). Myiagra cyanoleuca Satin Flycatcher SL Migratory The Satin flycatcher is widespread in eastern No Unlikely: Preferred habitat is not (Bonn) Australia. In Queensland, it is widespread but present in the project area. scattered in the east (DoEE 2018j). Satin flycatchers inhabit heavily vegetated gullies in eucalypt-dominated forests and taller woodlands. They especially prefer wet sclerophyll forest with a tall shrubby understorey of tall acacias (Blakers et al. 1984) but are sometimes seen in littoral forest (Unpublished data). Neochmia ruficauda Star finch – E E The distribution of the Star finch (eastern No Unlikely: The species has not been eastern subspecies) is very poorly known. It was last seen recorded in the Townsville region subspecies in the Townsville region in 1978 (Wieneke 1989). for 40 years. Recent records are an The subspecies now occurs only in central extensive distance from the project Queensland. Based on the small number of area. accepted records, the distribution of the subspecies is believed to extend north to Bowen, west to beyond Winton and, based on recent records, south to near Wowan. Within this range it occurs mainly in grasslands and grassy woodlands that are located close to bodies of fresh water (DoEE 2018u). Pandion cristatus Osprey SL Migratory Osprey is a cosmopolitan species predominantly Yes (27) Unlikely: Although the species (Bonn) occupying all coastal habitats and surrounding occurs locally, they are waters throughout the world, including the predominantly coastal, foraging in Queensland coast. Nest sites are generally estuaries and along beaches. No located on tall structures, often the highest in the large rivers or lakes occur in the nearby landscape, including trees; alive and project area. dead, rock pylons and transmission towers. The species may be sedentary or dispersive but tends
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Species Common Name NCA EPBC Migratory Habitat Record Likelihood Status Status to maintain a regular breeding site which they develop over many seasons (DoEE 2018l). Poephila cincta black-throated E E The Black-throated finch (southern subspecies) Yes (15) Unlikely: The species prefers finch – southern occurs mainly in grassy, open woodlands and alluvial plains. subspecies forests, typically dominated by Eucalyptus (especially E. platyphylla), Corymbia and Melaleuca, and occasionally in tussock grasslands or other habitats (for example freshwater wetlands), often along or near watercourses, or near water. It is likely that permanent sources of water provide refuge for this species during the dry season, especially during drought years (DEWHA 2009). Rhipidura rufifrons Rufous fantail SL Migratory The rufous fantail occupies a range of coastal and Yes (7) Unlikely: Preferred habitat is not (Bonn) near coastal habitats of northern and eastern present in the project area. Australia. Occurs in understorey of rainforest, wetter eucalypt forest, gullies, monsoon forest, paperbarks, sub inland and coastal scrubs, watercourses, parks and gardens (Pizzey and Knight 2010). Rostratula australis syn Australian V E The Australian painted snipe generally inhabits No Unlikely: The preferred wetland Rostratula Painted Snipe shallow terrestrial freshwater (occasionally habitat does not occur in the project benghalensis (sensu brackish) wetlands, including temporary and area. lato) permanent lakes, swamps and claypans. They also use inundated or waterlogged grassland or saltmarsh, dams, rice crops, sewage farms and bore drains. Typical sites include those with rank emergent tussocks of grass, sedges, rushes or reeds, or samphire (DoEE 2018m).
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Species Common Name NCA EPBC Migratory Habitat Record Likelihood Status Status Tyto novaehollandiae Masked owl V V The masked owl occurs mainly in eucalypt tall No Unlikely: The lack of hollow-bearing Kimberli (northern open forests (especially those dominated by trees in the project area provides subspecies) Darwin woollybutt Eucalyptus miniata and Darwin limited roosting and breeding stringybark E. tetrodonta), but also roosts in habitat for the species. Very few monsoon rainforests, and forages in more open records from the region. vegetation types, including grasslands. Although it may roost in dense foliage, it more typically roosts, and nests, in tree hollows (DoEE 2018n). Mammals
Dasyurus hallucatus Northern quoll E The Northern quoll is known to occur as far south No Possibly: Potential denning sites as Gracemere and Mt Morgan, south of occur in adjacent habitats (i.e. rock Rockhampton, and as far north as Cooktown. It outcrops). The project area may fall occupies a diversity of habitats including rocky with the home range of animals areas, eucalypt forest and woodlands, rainforests, denning offsite. sandy lowlands and beaches, shrubland, grasslands and desert. However, habitat generally encompasses some form of rocky area or hollow logs for denning purposes with surrounding vegetated habitats used for foraging and dispersal (DoE 2015). Macroderma gigas Ghost bat E V The Ghost bat is distributed around the coast and No Unlikely: No cave formations would up to 400km inland, throughout northern be impacted by the proposed Australia, generally north of the Tropic of development. Marginal foraging Capricorn. It has been recorded from a wide habitat may occur in the project range of habitats from rainforest, monsoon and area. vine scrub in the tropics to open woodlands and arid areas. It is an obligate troglodyte, and survival is critically dependent on finding natural roosts in caves, crevices, deep overhangs, and
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Species Common Name NCA EPBC Migratory Habitat Record Likelihood Status Status artificial roosts such as abandoned mines (Environment Australia 1999). Petauroides volans Greater glider V V This species occurs only in eastern Australia from No Unlikely: Eucalyptus woodlands the Windsor Tablelands in north Queensland to occur in the project area; however, central Victoria. Greater glider is mostly restricted the species prefers taller wet to Eucalypt forest and woodlands due to a diet sclerophyll woodlands and consisting of eucalypt leaves and flowers. The woodlands with abundant hollows. species is most abundant in tall, moist eucalypt forest with abundant hollows, but prefers habitats with a diversity of Eucalypt species (TSSC 2016a). Phascolarctos cinereus Koala V V The protected Distribution extends from Cairns to No Possibly: Marginal habitat occurs in the NSW- border in range of temperate, sub- the project area. The species tropical and tropical forest, woodland and semi- occurs in very low density in the arid veg dominated by Eucalyptus diet is region and tend to inhabit riparian restricted mainly to foliage of Eucalyptus spp also vegetation or sites where eat foliage of related genera, incl. Corymbia and vegetation has greater access to Lophostemon may supplement diet with other water. spp, incl. spp from the genera Leptospermum and Melaleuca (Moore & Foley 2000). In the Townsville area, they are uncommon and occur in naturally very low densities much lower than in south-east Qld or Magnetic Island (DoEE 2018). Pteropus conspicillatus Spectacled V V The Spectacled flying-fox occurs in north-eastern No Unlikely: Rainforest communities flying-fox Queensland, between Ingham and Cooktown, are not present in the project area. and between the McIlwraith and Iron Ranges of The site contains marginal foraging Cape York. The species is associated primarily habitat at best. with rainforest and sometimes with mangroves. Roosts are always found within 6 km of rainforest
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Species Common Name NCA EPBC Migratory Habitat Record Likelihood Status Status (DoEE 2018p). This species has been rarely recorded south of Ingham (Unpublished data). Saccolaimus Bare-rumped E V Two distinct populations of the species are Yes (1) Confirmed: E. platyphylla woodland saccolaimus sheathtail bat known, one in the Top End of the Northern adjacent to the site provides nudicluniatus Territory and the other in coastal areas of north- potential roosting habitat. Species eastern Queensland, from Bowen to Cape York regularly recorded in the Townsville Peninsula. They occur in tropical woodland and region. Hollow-bearing trees are tall open forests. Most commonly found in poplar virtually absent in the project area. gum woodland (Churchill 2008). Tachyglossus Short-beaked SL The Short-beaked Echidna is found throughout Yes (2) Possibly: Common in woodland aculeatus echidna Australia, including Tasmania. Habitat consists of communities throughout eastern forests and woodlands, heath, grasslands and Australia. arid environments. Xeromys myoides Water mouse V V The preferred habitat for this species included No Unlikely: The preferred coastal, mangroves and the associated saltmarsh, marine habitats are not present in sedgelands, clay pans, heathlands and the project area. freshwater wetlands. The main habitat difference at each location is the littoral, supralittoral and terrestrial vegetation which differs in structure and composition. These differences dictate the species' nesting behaviour (DoE, 2015).
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Appendix H
Flora Species List
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Table 17: Flora Species List
Family Scientific Name Common Name Predominant Layer
ANACARDIACEAE Euroschinus falcatus var. falcatus Ribbonwood Tree
ANACARDIACEAE Pleiogynium timorense Burdekin plum Tree
APOCYNACEAE Cryptostegia grandiflora* Rubber vine Vine
BURSERACEAE Canarium australasicum Mango Bark Tree
CAPPARACEAE Capparis canescens Shrub
CELASTRACEAE Maytenus disperma Orange boxwood Tree
CYPERACEAE Herb
EBENACEAE Diospyros geminate Queensland ebony Tree
EUPHORBIACEAE Mallotus philippensis Red Kamala Shrub
FABACEAE Cajanus reticulatus var. reticulatus Nalta jute Herb
FABACEAE Erythrina vespertilio Bats-wing coral tree Tree
FABACEAE Galactia tenuiflora Herb
HEMEROCALLIDACEAE Dianella caerulea Blue flax-lily Herb
LAMIACEAE Hyptis suaveolens* Hyptis Herb
LAXMANNIACEAE Eustrephus latifolius Wombat berry Herb
LAXMANNIACEAE Lomandra longifolia Spiny-head mat-rush Herb
LECYTHIDACEAE Planchonia careya Cocky apple Shrub
MALVACEAE Sida cordifolia* Flannel weed Herb
MORACEAE Ficus opposite Sandpaper fig Shrub
MORACEAE Ficus virens White fig Tree
MYRTACEAE Corymbia clarksoniana Clarkson's Tree bloodwood MYRTACEAE Corymbia dallachiana Dallachy's gum Tree
MYRTACEAE Corymbia tessellaris Moreton Bay ash Tree
MYRTACEAE Eucalyptus drepanophylla Narrow-leaved Tree ironbark MYRTACEAE Eucalyptus platyphylla Poplar gum Tree
OLEACEAE Jasminum didymium Native jasmine Vine
PHYLLANTHACEAE Actephila latifolia Shrub
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PITTOSPORACEAE Pittosporum venulosum Rusty pittosporum Shrub
POACEAE Heteropogon contortus Black speargrass Herb
POACEAE Heteropogon triticeus Giant speargrass Herb
POACEAE Themeda quadrivalvis* Grader grass Herb
POACEAE Themeda triandra Kangaroo grass Herb
PUTRANJIVACEAE Drypetes deplanchei Yellow tulipwood Tree / Shrub
RHAMNACEAE Alphitonia excelsa Red Ash Shrub
RHAMNACEAE Ziziphus mauritiana* Chinee apple Shrub
RUBIACEAE Psychotria dallachiana Shrub
SAPINDACEAE Cupaniopsis anacardioides Tuckeroo Tree
SPARRMANNIACEAE Grewia asiatica* Grewia Shrub
SPARRMANNIACEAE Grewia retusifolia Dysentery Bush Herb
Table Note
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Appendix I
Landscape Fragmentation Tool Results
PR122454-3 | Elliot Springs Hilltop Estate | 1.5 | 04 March 2019 rpsgroup.com Department of Environment and Heritage Protection (DEHP) Landscape Fragmentation and Connectivity (LFC) Tool version 1.4 LOGFILE Process started at 12-10-2018 03:43:19 PM Python version: 2.7.5 (default, May 15 2013, 22:43:36) [MSC v.1500 32 bit (Intel)] Arcpy version: 10.2.1 Username: Danielle.Lane
INPUT PARAMETERS Output Workspace: H:\TEMP\DP_EHP_LFC_TOOL\ModResults_DevA100Buffer Threshold lookup table: H:\TEMP\DP_EHP_LFC_TOOL\LFC_data.gdb\tbl_Regional_frag_local_threshold Remnant cover layer: H:\TEMP\DP_EHP_LFC_TOOL\ModData.gdb\Modified_RVM_2p07_Unclipped Remnant cover layer edited: True Regional buffer extent: 20 kilometres Local buffer extent: 5 kilometres Impact layer: H:\TEMP\DP_EHP_LFC_TOOL\ModData.gdb\ImpactArea100mBufferV2 layer projection: GDA_1994_MGA_Zone_55 Raster cell resolution for analysis: 10 metres Edge Width: 50 metres (The distance from non-remnant landscapes through to the core ecosystem - the edge of remnant ecosystems) Default projection: H:\TEMP\DP_EHP_LFC_TOOL\scripts\QLD Albers Equal Area Conic.prj
15:43:19 Checking out the spatial analyst tool - required for LFC
15:43:19 ______BEGINNING LANDSCAPE FRAGMENTATION AND CONNECTIVITY ANALYSIS______
15:43:19 This tool will categorise the landscape into: {0: 'non-rem', 1: 'patch', 2: 'edge', 3: 'perforated', 4: 'core (< 100 hectares)', 5: 'core (100-500 hectares)', 6: 'core (> 500 hectares)'}
15:43:20 H:\TEMP\DP_EHP_LFC_TOOL\ModResults_DevA100Buffer\lyr_file does not exist, creating it now. 15:43:20 Copying across impact site feature(s) and calculating area in hectares (AreaHA) 15:43:21 Making a local copy of the impact site 15:43:22 Preparing remnant cover layer for analysis 15:43:23 Created regional scale buffer of 20 kilometres 15:43:23 Created local scale buffer of 5 kilometres 15:43:29 Clipped the remnant cover to the regional buffer extent 15:43:31 Unioned the pre impact remnant layer with the impact site 15:43:34 Attributed the impact area as non-remnant 15:43:35 Categorised the cover attributes in clip_remcover_pre.shp ready for raster conversion 15:43:48 Converted clip_remcover_pre.shp to raster
15:43:49 Categorised the cover attributes in clip_remcover_post.shp ready for raster conversion 15:44:01 Converted clip_remcover_post.shp to raster
15:44:01 Run Landscape fragmentation analysis on the pre impact regional landscape
NATURALLY VEGETATED AND CLEARED LAND BEING EXTRACTED FROM LAND COVER IDENTIFICATION OF CORE, PATCH, EDGE AND PERFORATIONS COMBINING FRAGMENTATION CLASSES CLASSIFYING CORE FOREST PATCHES BY AREA COMPOSING FINAL FRAGMENTATION MAP
file:///tsvfs04/...cky%20Springs/Word%20-%20Reports/Hilltop%20Constraints%20Assessment/Appendix%20A_DevA100m_LOGFILE.txt[23/10/2018 4:49:10 PM] COMPOSING FINAL FRAGMENTATION MAP (FRAGMENTATION CALCULATION TIME WAS 2.8 MINUTES)
15:46:51 Run Landscape fragmentation analysis on the post impact regional landscape
NATURALLY VEGETATED AND CLEARED LAND BEING EXTRACTED FROM LAND COVER IDENTIFICATION OF CORE, PATCH, EDGE AND PERFORATIONS COMBINING FRAGMENTATION CLASSES CLASSIFYING CORE FOREST PATCHES BY AREA COMPOSING FINAL FRAGMENTATION MAP COMPOSING FINAL FRAGMENTATION MAP (FRAGMENTATION CALCULATION TIME WAS 2.9 MINUTES)
Extracting a local subset of lfc_regional_pre_impact Extracting a local subset of lfc_regional_post_impact
Collating pre and post impact statistics and trigger assessment 15:50:00 Summarising area statistics for: lfc_localmsk_pre_impact 15:50:00 Summarising area statistics for: lfc_localmsk_post_impact 15:50:00 Summarising area statistics for: lfc_regional_pre_impact 15:50:00 Summarising patch count for lfc_localmsk_pre_impact 15:50:04 Summarising patch count for lfc_localmsk_post_impact
Analysing impact on Connectivity Areas
SIGNIFICANCE TEST ONE
The regional total area is 133590.35 The regional extent of core remnant is 64806.84 The regional extent of core remnant is 48.51 percent This level of regional fragmentation sets a local impact threshold of: 10.0 percent
The table below lists the local impact thresholds for categories of regional core remnant extent:
REGIONAL CORE CATEGORY LOCAL IMPACT THRESHOLD < 10 2.0 10 - 30 5.0 30 - 50 10.0 50 - 70 20.0 70 - 90 30.0 >90 50.0
Area of core at the local scale (pre impact): 4809.64 Area of core at the local scale (post impact): 4809.64 Percent change of core at the local scale (post impact): 0.00 percent
SIGNIFICANCE TEST TWO No core remnant areas occur on the site (lfc_site_scale_summary.csv table will not be available)
RESULT
15:50:09 This analysis has determined any impact on connectivity areas is NOT significant file:///tsvfs04/...cky%20Springs/Word%20-%20Reports/Hilltop%20Constraints%20Assessment/Appendix%20A_DevA100m_LOGFILE.txt[23/10/2018 4:49:10 PM] (A significant reduction in core remnant at the local scale is False OR a change from core to non-core remnant at the site scale is False)
The significance table has been written to: ..\main_output\lfc_significance_assessment.csv The local scale summary table has been written to: ..\main_output\lfc_local_scale_summary.csvGIS layer files copied into folder \lyr_file within the project folder. View layers in ArcMAP using..\H:\TEMP\DP_EHP_LFC_TOOL\ModResults_DevA100Buffer\lyr_file\lyr_file\Connectivity Area Impact Assessment.lyr
Please scrutinise the output tables and spatial layers to confirm the desktop modelling of connectivity area impact
This analysis used an edited version of the Regulated Vegetation layer.
15:51:04 ______COMPLETED LANDSCAPE FRAGMENTATION AND CONNECTIVITY ANALYSIS______
file:///tsvfs04/...cky%20Springs/Word%20-%20Reports/Hilltop%20Constraints%20Assessment/Appendix%20A_DevA100m_LOGFILE.txt[23/10/2018 4:49:10 PM]