Attachment 4 “Coomera Wood Koala Evaluation and
Assessment Chapter 1 & 2”
COOMERA WOODS KOALA EVALUATION AND ASSESSMENT CHAPTER 1
EVALUATION OF KOALA SURVEY METHODOLOGY
PREPARED FOR POLARIS COOMERA PTY LTD
Planit Consulting Pty Ltd October 2017 Coomera Woods Koala Evaluation and Assessment Chapter 1: Evaluation of Koala Survey Methodology Polaris Coomera PTY LTD
En`vironmental As
This report has been prepared by:
Planit Consulting Pty Ltd
ABN 20 099 261 711
Level 1, 2247 Gold Coast Highway
Nobby Beach QLD 4218
PO Box 206
Nobby Beach QLD 4218
Telephone: (07) 5526 1500
Facsimile: (07) 5526 1502
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.planitconsulting.com.au
Document Control
Issue Date Description Prepared By Checked By A 21/07/2017 Client Issue LT BS B 13/09/2017 Final Issue LT BS C 16/10/2017 Amended Issue- update of aerials LT BS
Prepared by Planit Consulting October 2017
Coomera Woods Koala Evaluation and Assessment Chapter 1: Evaluation of Koala Survey Methodology Polaris Coomera Pty Ltd
CONTENTS
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ...... 4 CONTRIBUTORS ...... 5 1.0 INTRODUCTION ...... 6 2.0 BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT ...... 9
2.1 COOMERA WOODS SITE ...... 9 2.2 KOALA LIFE HISTORY AND ECOLOGY ...... 11 2.3 SUMMARY OF SAMPLING TECHNIQUES ...... 12 2.3.1 TOTAL COUNTS ...... 12 2.3.2 PARTIAL COUNTS ...... 12 2.3.3 INDICES ...... 12 2.4 PREVIOUS METHODS TO SURVEY THE CW SITE ...... 12 2.4.1 BIOLINK 2007 ...... 13 2.4.2 PHILLIPS 2015 ...... 13 2.4.3 SHG 2017 ...... 13 2.4.4 PLANIT 2017 ...... 15 3.0 METHODOLOGY ...... 16 3.1 SPOT ASSESSMENT TECHNIQUE...... 16 3.1.1 APPLICATION ...... 16 3.1.2 PLANIT 2017 RESULTS ...... 18 3.2 STRIP TRANSECT ...... 18 3.2.1 APPLICATION 18 3.3 LINE TRANSECT ...... 21 3.3.1 APPLICATION ...... 21 3.3.2 PLANIT 2017 RESULTS ...... 22 4.0 EVALUATION OF METHODS ...... 24 4.1 SPOT ASSESSMENT TECHNIQUE...... 24 4.1.1 ASSUMPTIONS...... 24 4.1.2 BENEFITS ...... 24 4.1.3 LIMITATIONS ...... 25 4.2 STRIP TRANSECT ...... 25 4.2.1 ASSUMPTIONS...... 25 4.2.2 BENEFITS ...... 25
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4.2.3 LIMITATIONS ...... 25 4.3 LINE TRANSECT ...... 26
4.3.1 ASSUMPTIONS...... 26 4.3.2 BENEFITS ...... 26
4.3.3 LIMITATIONS ...... 27
4.4 DIRECT COMPARISON OF METHODS ...... 27 4.4.1 BENEFITS ...... 27 4.4.2 LIMITATIONS ...... 28 4.4.3 SURVEY RESULTS ...... 28 5.0 DISCUSSION ...... 30 5.1 SUMMARY ...... 32 6.0 REFERENCES ...... 33
LIST OF TABLES TABLE 1: REPORT CONTRIBUTORS ...... 5 TABLE 2: IMPACT AREA AND SURROUNDING LAND ANALYSIS, INCLUDING CW SITE (SHG 2017; TABLE 3.5) ...... 14 TABLE 3: PLANIT 2017 SAT SURVEY RESULTS...... 18 TABLE 4: OBSERVERS, QUALIFICATIONS AND LICENCES ...... 21 TABLE 5: PLANIT 2017 KOALA LINE TRANSECT RESULTS ...... 22 TABLE 6: COMPARISION OF SURVEY METHOD BENEFITS ...... 27 TABLE 7: COMPARISON OF SURVEY METHOD LIMITATIONS ...... 28 TABLE 8: SAT SITE ACTIVITY LEVEL RESULTS FROM CW SITE SURVEYS ...... 28 TABLE 9: DENSITY RESULTS FROM VARIOUS SURVEY METHODS APPLIED TO THE CW SITE ...... 29
LIST OF FIGURES FIGURE 1: LOCATION AND CONDITION OF CW SITE AND SURROUNDING AREAS IN 2017 (24/05/2017) .. 8 FIGURE 2: LOCATION AND CONDITION OF CW SITE AND SURROUNDING AREAS IN 2006 (25/07/2006) ... 8 FIGURE 3: LOCATION OF CW SITE WITHIN C-PKHA ...... 10 FIGURE 4: THE C-PKHA, SHOWING KCA AND UKA (BIOLINK 2007a) ...... 11 FIGURE 5: AREA REFERENCE FOR TABLE 1 ABOVE (SHG 2017)...... 15 FIGURE 5: LOCATION OF SAT SITES PERFORMED DURING PLANIT 2017 SURVEY ...... 17
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FIGURE 6: FIRST ROUND OF STRIP TRANSECT SURVEY BY SHG (2017) ...... 19 FIGURE 7: SECOND ROUND OF STRIP TRANSECT SURVEY BY SHG (2017) ...... 20 FIGURE 8: KOALA RECORDING AND TRANSECTS PERFORMED BY PLANIT (2017) ...... 22
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Planit Consulting has been commissioned by Polaris Coomera Pty Ltd to prepare an evaluation and assessment of koala surveying methods as a part of the koala investigations for a Development Application over part of Lot 44 SP207822 and part of Lot 1 on SP165374), 49 George Alexander Way Coomera, Figure 1 . This site will be referred to as the Coomera Woods Site hereafter.
As the koala is a ‘vulnerable’ species listed under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 the koala population needs to be documented and assessed. The CW Site has undergone a number of surveys to estimate the koala population over a number of years:
• Biolink 2007a, Koala habitat and population assessment for the Gold Coast City LGA. Final report to Gold Coast City Council. Biolink Ecological Consultants; • Biolink 2007b, Conserving Koalas in the Coomera-Pimpama Koala habitat area: a view to the future. Final Report to Gold Coast City Council. Biolink Ecological Consultants; • Phillips, S. 2015, Impacts of proposed clearing activity on the koala habitat located at 49 George Alexander Way, Coomera in the City of Gold Coast LGA, South- Eastern Qld. Australian Government, Dept. of Environment; • Saunders Havill Group, 2017, Coomera Woods: Koala Assessment Report, 49 & 51 George Alexander Way, Coomera; and • Planit Consulting, 2017, Coomera Woods Koala Survey.
This report evaluates the different survey methodologies implemented by the organisations over this time period to establish the most reliable method and results. The survey methods that have been assessed;
1. The Spot Assessment Technique 2. Strip Transect Technique 3. Line Transect Technique
These methods were assessed on their appropriateness to the CW Site and koala ecology, and their benefits and limitations as evaluated by scientific grounds.
The conclusions are:
• As the SAT method has been used within each survey the SAT site activity levels can be compared to evaluate trends concerning the use of habitat and distribution of Koalas within the CW Site. • Visual observations along a line transect over the entire CW Site results in a more accurate representation than provided by SAT or strip transect methods. • The methods employed by Planit 2017, line transect and SAT, are the most reliable and produces an accurate representation of the koala abundance and density on the CW Site • The Results from Planit are significantly different to previous results from Biolink 2007 and Phillips 2015.
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REPORT CONTRIBUTORS
Contributors to this report and their roles are tabulated below:
TABLE 1: REPORT CONTRIBUTORS
NAME ORGANISATION ROLE Boyd Sargeant Planit Consulting Report preparation, flora/fauna survey and assessment, technical and quality assurance review Tomy Rados Planit Consulting Flora/fauna survey and assessment
Laura Thorley Planit Consulting Report preparation
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1.0 INTRODUCTION Planit Consulting (Planit) has been engaged by Polaris Coomera Pty Ltd to undertake an assessment of potential koala habitat within its proposed Coomera Woods development site (CW Site).
There are important legislative requirements which relate to the koala as it is listed as a ‘vulnerable’ species under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC) and Nature Conservation Act 1992 (NCA). The State Planning Policies (SPP), State Planning Regulatory Provisions (SPRP), South East Queensland (SEQ) Regional Plan and Gold Coast City Council’s City Plan (City Plan) will also need to be considered in respect to the proposed development.
The CW Site is located within Coomera, Gold Coast on the eastern side of the Pacific Motorway. The surrounding area has experienced considerable development over the past decade as illustrated in figures 1 and 2. An assessment of the koala population within the proposed CW Site is required to evaluate current use of the CW Site as koala habitat. This report addresses the accuracy and reliability of the previous survey methods and provides a basis for the methods employed by Planit for the 2017 survey. It is important to assign the correct ecological value to the CW Site to guide planning and development decisions within the overarching legislative framework. Different survey methods can skew results which can lead to poor decision making. To choose the correct method the CW Site, surrounding areas, target species, and time and financial constraints must be considered.
It is important to understand which survey method is more reliable and gives a true representation of the Koala population at the CW Site to evaluate the current ecological value. A study was performed in 2006 by Biolink which surveyed the entire Coomera-Pimpama Koala Habitat Area (C-PKHA). At the time of this survey, Biolink estimated that the habitat provided significant value to a large koala population (Biolink 2007a; 2007b). The 2006 assessments were performed over 3640 hectares and before adjacent areas to the CW Site were developed. The methods used within this survey were the spot assessment technique (SAT) and strip transects. The resulting density was 0.23 koalas per hectare and population estimate for the C-PKHA was 510 koalas.
In 2015, Phillips performed a site-specific evaluation of the CW Site, which included a habitat quality assessment and replicated SAT sites from the 2006 survey by Biolink. Results from these methods led Phillips to justify the application of the original density estimate from the 2006 survey of the C-PKHA (0.23 koalas per hectare) with an occupancy rate of 33.3% to the current CW Site. Phillips concluded that there was a resident koala population within the CW Site of an estimated 15 individuals.
In 2016, Saunders Havill Group (SHG) performed an independent site-specific survey of the CW site. The SHG employed the SAT and strip transect methods to assess the use of the CW Site by koalas. In conjunction with these survey techniques a desktop search was performed which resulted in an estimated density using translocation records of adjacent sites. The results found within this report contradicted those by Biolink 2007 and Phillips 2015. The estimated density from translocation records of the CW Site and adjacent lots was 0.151 Koalas per hectare. This density rate is supported within the City of Gold Coast’s Koala Conservation Plan (Draft), it states that 180 koalas have been removed from high risk areas and estimate that 40 individuals remain within future development areas. The estimate population of 220
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To determine which survey method would be suitable for this CW Site, the area and surrounding land uses need to be considered so the results reflect the value of the CW Site. The proposed CW development site is a relatively large area (147 ha) with dense to open forest, within a fragmented landscape with residential development now bordering much of the CW Site. The ecology and nature of the Koala will also need to be considered when selecting which type of survey method to choose, so that the results are not skewed to show abundance or density, higher or lower than the true population.
All the factors above were considered when Planit employed the SAT and line transect methods to perform a site-specific survey in 2017. The CW Site has now been surveyed using the spot assessment technique (SAT) and, the strip transect and line transect methods. These will be assessed within this report to determine reliability and accuracy of Koala abundance and density results. The survey methods can be broken down into three categories; total counts, partial counts and indices.
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CW Site
FIGURE 1: LOCATION AND CONDITION OF CW SITE AND SURROUNDING AREAS IN 2017 (29/08/2017)
CW Site
FIGURE 2: LOCATION AND CONDITION OF CW SITE AND SURROUNDING AREAS IN 2006 (25/07/2006)
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2.0 BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT 2.1 COOMERA WOODS SITE The proposed Coomera Woods development site (part of Lot 44 SP207822 and part of Lot 1 on SP165374), is located at 49 George Alexander Way, Coomera on the Gold Coast (figure 3). The Gold Coast falls within SEQ which is an area of significant population growth. The Regional Plan states that the Gold Coast is the fastest growing region within SEQ and urgently requires the creation of new dwellings to accommodate this population. The City Plan has integrated these requirements of the Regional Plan through the promise to create 130,000 new homes to support population growth over the next 20 years. Coomera has been identified within the City Plan as an area that will be allocated to meet these residential requirements.
Much of the surrounding areas have been developed to follow through with the City Plan promises and provide residential housing and local amenities such as schools, shopping precincts and essential transport infrastructure (figure 2). There are dedicated green spaces within these developments for nature and recreation. As the CW Site is located within the Gold Coast and SEQ, the development will also need to consider SPP and SPRP constraints. The Gold Coast is within a Koala Protection Area under the SPP and there is medium value bushland and rehabilitation mapped within the CW Site. There are no assessable development areas within the CW Site under the SPRP.
The Biolink reports (Biolink 2007a; 2007b) of the C-PKHA determined that there were preferred Koala food trees in the sample area; Red Gum E. tereticornis, Tallowwood E. microcorys and Grey Gum E. propinqua. These studies also estimated that approximately 87% of the C-PKHA supported Koala activity levels that are consistent with occupancy by resident Koala populations and estimated density across the CW Site and adjoining areas was estimated at 0.23 ± 0.03 (SE) Koalas ha-1. The density is not specific to the CW Site but an average from the C-PKHA, 3640ha (figure 3 and 4). Biolink 2007a, estimated that the population of Koala at 2006 was 510 individuals over the C-PKHA, 70% of which were residing within the Urban Koala Area (UKA) (figure 4).
The site-specific report in 2015 estimated that there were approximately 15 koalas on the CW Site using the density figures from 2006. The density was justified as being relevant based upon a habitat quality assessment and the presence/absence of koala faecal pellets using the SAT method to estimate an area of occupied habitat. These methods are indirect approaches using indices to estimate use of a habitat by a target species, and cannot be used on their own to derive species abundance or density. The area of occupied habitat within the 2015 report was calculated incorrectly for the proposed development area.
Since the initial studies were performed in 2006 the UKA has undergone a number of significant changes. These factors are important to consider when assessing the resident Koala population as habitat quality and surrounding land uses can have a significant impact on Koala abundance and density. The CW Site is 147ha of dense to open forest within a fragmented landscape, with the Pacific Motorway and railway line to the west and residential development to the north and east. The northern residential development is almost complete with a school and the majority of lots occupied by dwellings. The development to the east is still under construction, as a result there is a lot of dust and noise from passing trucks and earth
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CW Site
C-PKHA
FIGURE 3: LOCATION OF CW SITE WITHIN C-PKHA (29/08/2017)
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FIGURE 4: THE C-PKHA, SHOWING KCA AND UKA (BIOLINK 2007a)
2.2 KOALA LIFE HISTORY AND ECOLOGY The Koala, Phascolarctos cinereus, is a vulnerable species protected under the EPBC and NCA. It is an arboreal marsupial and is distributed along the eastern coast of Australia. The Koala spends up to 20 hours a day resting in trees to conserve energy due to their nutrient poor diet of primarily eucalyptus leaves. They tend to favour Red Gums (E. camaldulensis and tereticornis), Tallowwood (E. microcorys) and Grey Gums (E. punctate and E. propinqua) (Van Dyck and Strahan 2008).
The quality of habitat including the abundance of food trees and sex of the Koala determine the home range size (Phillip and Callaghan 2011). If the habitat is of high quality with an abundance of primary food trees, home ranges can be as small as 1-2 hectares and overlap. Large home ranges can mean that favoured food trees can be hundreds of metres apart resulting in the Koala spending a considerable amount of time on the ground. Koalas are largely nocturnal and travel during the night.
Given the factors mentioned above, it is difficult to survey an animal as elusive and cryptic as the Koala, which has contributed to the lack of a standardised survey method (Phillips and Callaghan 2011). Visual observations through spotlighting can be effective at detecting Koalas. At night when the animal is more active and eyeshine can be used to detect individuals. Animal signs such as tree scratches and faecal
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2.3 SUMMARY OF SAMPLING TECHNIQUES Sampling techniques can be direct or indirect and categorised into three different approaches;
1. total counts;
2. partial counts; and 3. indices.
2.3.1 TOTAL COUNTS Total counts are direct visual observations where each individual is counted within a survey area. This technique is popular with large easy to detect and identifiable animals. It determines the total number of individuals within the sampling site. This method is not always viable over large areas or where animals are hard to detect.
2.3.2 PARTIAL COUNTS Partial counts using line transect with distance sampling or strip transects where individuals are counted within a predetermined distance of the transect. Distance sampling with line transects can be used to determine relative density/abundance of a population based on the recorded distance from the line to the animal and the angle at which the animal is from the observer.
The strip transect method is important to note as this was the method used by SGH (2017) and Biolink 2007a used this method to reinforce their SAT results. Individuals within a predetermined width of a transect line were recorded and the results were the stratified over the entire study site to result in an average abundance and density. The strip transect method used by SHG and Biolink will be assessed within this report.
2.3.3 INDICES Indices using animal signs such as scats, tracks or scratches are used to indicate presence/absence and activity within habitats. Animal signs can be sampled along line transects, strip transects or selection of specific habitat element. For example, the SAT method uses the radius around the base of a tree that are considered important to the Koala as the assessment area, this method has been used in each survey of the site. Munks et al. 1996 found that due to koala behavior they require more effort to survey using visual observations. Sullivan et al. 2002 advocates for the use of faecal pellet counts for sampling as this method requires less effort.
Indices sampled along a line transect will require a quadrant to be searched for animal signs at equal intervals. This method was determined to be not useful for this study as a result of Koala behaviours and is more applicable for large macropods such as kangaroos and wallabies.
2.4 PREVIOUS METHODS TO SURVEY THE CW SITE Below are the different methods used to survey the CW site in numerous reports.
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2.4.1 BIOLINK 2007 M ethods:
1. SAT and; 2. used strip transect method in identified medium-high activity areas on Coombabah Koala Habitat
Area (CKHA) to reinforce SAT results for both the Coombabah and Coomera-Pimpama areas.
The SAT is an index based approach and the strip transect method is a partial count. These methods were used to survey C-PKHA (3640ha).
2.4.2 PHILLIPS 2015 Methods:
1. Habitat quality assessment; and 2. SAT.
The habitat quality assessment and SAT method are index based approaches that can identify potential habitat. These methods were used by Phillips 2015 and determined that;
“the number of koalas to be present on the CW Site to be approximately 15 animals, this being the product of the number of hectares estimated to be occupied (i.e. 61) multiplied by the density estimate of 0.23 Koalas ha-1 previously established for the area in 2006.”
Phillips has overestimated this population as;
61 x 0.23 = 14.03 koalas ha-1
Phillips has rounded this figure up to 15 individuals.
This method of calculating estimated occupied habitat is incorrect as the total proposed development area is 147ha and therefore the estimated occupied was calculated incorrectly;
147 x 0.33 = 48.51ha
Not the 61 estimated by Phillips (2015).
Using this area as estimated occupied habitat would result in 11.2 koalas ha-1
If the calculations by Phillips (2015) were corrected and it was appropriate to use the density figures estimate within 2006 the estimated population within the CW Site should have been 11 koalas.
2.4.3 SHG 2017 Methods:
1. SAT; 2. Strip transect and motion detection cameras; and 3. Capture Records
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The SAT is an index based approach and the strip transect method is a partial count. SHG (2017) assessed the number of koalas captured from within the impact area and surrounding lots from recorded data and estimated a density. This density estimate (Table 2) is much lower than that found by Biolink and more reliable as the abundance is produced through capture records. The data was recorded from the CW site and areas directly surrounding the impact area. Unlike the Biolink (2007) density estimate which was produced from the entire C-PKHA before development within the UKA.
TABLE 2: IMPACT AREA AND SURROUNDING LAND ANALYSIS, INCLUDING CW SITE (SHG 2017; TABLE 3.5)
Area Ref Ha Koala Captures Koala No# inc Joeys 1 8.543 2 2 2 19.547 5 6 3 14.723 4 7 4 53.99 7 8 5 7.307 4 5 6 3.391 1 1 7 44.979 4 4 8 157.331 14 19 9 23.548 2 2 10 42.985 2 3 11 32.624 0 0 Total 376.344 45 57 Koala Capture Densities 0.120 0.151
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FIGURE 5: AREA REFERENCE FOR TABLE 1 ABOVE (SHG 2017)
2.4.4 PLANIT 2017 Methods:
1. line transect; and 2. SAT replicated sites from Biolink 2007 and Phillips 2015.
The line transect method is a direct total count and was repeated day and night, and by experienced and qualified observers to account for limitations. The SAT is an index based approach that results in activity levels that identify potential habitat. These methods were used to survey the CW Site.
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3.0 METHODOLOGY 3.1 SPOT ASSESSMENT TECHNIQUE This method was used in all the past surveys and is the foundation of the original survey in 2006. The SAT method is an indirect assessment of Koala activity and involves the search of the base of a tree of any s pecies known to have been utilised by a koala, or to be considered of some importance for a koala. In order of priority selection of the centre tree for a SAT site to be based on one or more of the following criteria (Phillip and Callaghan, 2011);
1. a tree of any species which one or more Koala feacal pellets have been observed; and/or 2. a tree in which a Koala has been observed; and/or 3. any other tree known or considered to be potentially important for koalas or for other assessment purposes
The SAT approach locates one tree of the above criteria and then samples 29 of the closet trees. Sampling a minimum of 30 trees establishes a meaningful confidence interval for the activity level and creates a SAT site. The activity level identifies potential habitat and distribution of target species.
3.1.1 APPLICATION The following method was implemented during the Planit 2017 CW Site survey;
1. usually the centre tree that meets one or more of the above criteria was located and marked with flagging tape, Planit replicated the 15 original SAT sites from Biolink 2007a. 2. the next 29 nearest trees to the centre tree were marked with spray paint; 3. a systematic search for Koala faecal pellets beneath each of the marked trees was undertaken to inspect the undisturbed ground surface within 100 centimetres from the base of each tree, if no faecal pellets were found then a more thorough inspection involving the disturbance of leaf litter and ground cover was conducted; 4. samples of scats were taken from the CW Site to be evaluated and confirmed; 5. The coordinates and tree species was recorded with a GPS; 6. The above steps were then repeated for the 15 SAT sites shown in the figure 5 (replicated coordinates from Biolink 2007 and Phillips 2015).
A maximum of two person minutes/tree was dedicated to each search or concluded once a single Koala faecal pellet was detected.
Searches were undertaken over 2 days by 2 people.
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FIGURE 6: LOCATION OF SAT SITES PERFORMED DURING PLANIT 2017 SURVEY
The calculation of activity level for a SAT site is expressed as a percentage equivalent of the proportion of surveyed trees within the CW Site where faecal pellets were recorded within the search area. As an example, each site sampled 30 trees if one site recorded faecal pellets being detected at 9 of those trees sampled the calculation would be;
9/30= 0.3 which would equal a 30% activity level.
The Australian Koala Foundation has created a table to determine activity level within three different Koala regions; East Coast (low), East Coast (med-high) and Western areas (med-high). For the CW Site, the activity category was East Coast (med-high);
Low use <22.52% Medium use >22.52% but <32.84% High use >32.84%
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3.1.2 PLANIT 2017 RESULTS
TABLE 3: PLANIT 2017 SAT SURVEY RESULTS
SAT site activity level High Medium Low Nil # of sites 1 2 11 1
3.2 STRIP TRANSECT The method involves observers travelling along a transect line with a determined observation width on either side. Whilst travelling along the line observers attempt to count every individual within the width of the strip transects (Burnham and Anderson 1984). The distance of the animal from the line does not need to be recorded as in the line transect with distance sampling method. Data from the strip transects are then stratified across a large area. It is advised that each study site should be split into strata, based on different habitat types or features (Sinclair et al. 2006). Biolink (2007a) used the strip transect method at the CKHA to reinforce the SAT results. The transects used by Biolink were 250mX20m and placed in high/medium SAT site activity. Below is the strip transect method used by SHG (2017).
3.2.1 APPLICATION The strip transect method implemented by SHG (2017);
1. Choose a number of sites that are likely to be representative of the entire CW Site with a number of different habitat types and features. 2. 95 pre-determined visual koala identification transects 100mx20m were identified (round 1 and 2 of the survey used different transect locations; Figures 6 and 7). 3. Motion detecting cameras were set up in three locations thought to be strategic potential linkage locations (Figure 6). 4. Observers travelled along the centre line within each strip counting every individual within. 5. If target species were recorded, the results would then be stratified over the entire CW Site as the sampled area is calculated with the length and width of the strips. 6. The calculation can result in abundance and density of the target species. 7. The above steps were then repeated for a second survey of different sampling sites without the use of motion detecting cameras (Figure 7).
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FIGURE 7: FIRST ROUND OF STRIP TRANSECT SURVEY BY SHG (2017)
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FIGURE 8: SECOND ROUND OF STRIP TRANSECT SURVEY BY SHG (2017)
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3.3 LINE TRANSECT The method of line transects record visual observation of animals and can be used to sample populations directly or indirectly (refer section 2.3.2). This method combined with spotlighting would be the most suited to observing Koala’s as they are nocturnal and easier to observe with eyeshine (refer section 2.2). The sampling method was concentrated to a period of 2 day and 1 night session to reduce possible sampling limitations and produce reliable results. The entire CW Site was covered within each session.
3.3.1 APPLICATION
Method performed by Planit 2017:
Daytime;
1. Experienced observers walked along a transect line 10-20m apart back and forth across the CW Site providing total site coverage; 2. When an animal was detected the GPS location was recorded and plotted.
Nocturnal;
1. Experienced observers walked along a transect line 10-20m apart back and forth across the CW Site providing total site coverage; 2. Using a spotlight on either side of the line transect to detect individuals with eyeshine; 3. When an animal was detected the GPS location was recorded and plotted.
Figure 8 shows every transects performed and koalas observed during the sampling period (2 days/1 night).
Searches were undertaken over a 2 day, 1 night period by 6 people.
TABLE 4: OBSERVERS, QUALIFICATIONS AND LICENCES
OBSERVER QUALIFICATIONS AND/OR LICENCES Boyd Sergeant Director, Planit Consulting Graham Dart Senior Environmental Planner, Planit Consulting Tomy Rados Environmental Planner, Planit Consulting Frank Court Qualified Spotter/Catcher Brendan Lackey Qualified Spotter/Catcher Evan Court Assistant
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FIGURE 9: KOALA RECORDING AND TRANSECTS PERFORMED BY PLANIT (2017)
3.3.2 PLANIT 2017 RESULTS
TABLE 5: PLANIT 2017 KOALA LINE TRANSECT RESULTS
Day/night Day 1 Night 1 Day 2 Koala recordings 3 + 1 skull 4 (1 Additional found at night) 4* Total 5* *On Day 2, 4 koalas were observed, however the individual identified within the south-west could be the same as the one identified on Day 1 to the north-west but considered another individual due to perceived size difference between the two koalas.
Total CW Site koala density:
5*/147= 0.034 koalas/hectare
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If the potential occupancy rate of 33% determined by Phillips in 2015 was applied to this abundance of koalas the density estimate would be approximately 0.103 a figure much lower than the 0.23 estimated by Biolink (2007).
147 x 0.33 = 48.51ha
5*/48.51 = 0.103 koalas/hectare
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4.0 EVALUATION OF METHODS In this section, the SAT, strip transect and line transect methods explained in section 3 will be evaluated.
4.1 SPOT ASSESSMENT TECHNIQUE Developed by Australian Koala Foundation in 1995, as a tool for planning and management of Koala populations. The SAT approach is recommended for surveying elusive species occurring at low densities and/or large areas (Phillips and Callaghan 2011). It was designed as a reliable means to determine the presence or absence of Koala within an area and can also be used to identify tree species preferences and rate of use.
The SAT approach is a tree based sampling method which assesses an area surrounding a tree of any species known to have been utilised by a koala, or to be considered of some importance for a koala. This approach results in an activity level; low, medium or high for the study area. Activity levels derived from SAT sites should only be interpreted in the context of location specific habitat use. Low activity levels can be associate with low density populations, density is usually affected by primary food tree availability (Phillip and Callaghan 2011; Phillips and Callaghan 2000; Phillips 2000).
It is recommended that this technique be used in conjunction with other survey techniques as it can only determine presence or absence of Koala not abundance or density (Phillips and Callaghan 2011; Biolink. 2007; Phillips and Hopkins 2007; Phillips and Hopkins 2009; Allen et al. 2010).
4.1.1 ASSUMPTIONS There are a number of assumptions associated with this method;
1. Minimum sample size of 30 trees per SAT site. 2. Easier to record animal signs then visual observations and scats are correctly identified 3. Abundance and density based on presence and absence 4. Stable populations have higher rate of faecal pellet deposition (Lunney et al. 1998). 5. Fixed amount of sampling gives fixed proportion of population and the rate of proportionality should be constant 6. Index always associated with true abundance where value of index usually increases with population density
4.1.2 BENEFITS There are a number of benefits to this survey method. The SAT technique is a relatively fast process with little labour required, which can be applied to large areas and is cost effective. It is a passive method of sampling and does not require disturbance of the target species and is easy to repeat. This method establishes if the area is occupied by Koalas, their possible distribution within the area and identifies potential habitat through the recorded tree preference data. As the SAT method is easy to repeat with reproducible results conducting a study over time will be able to determine possible changes in distribution over time and the reason for this change.
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4.1.3 LIMITATIONS As there are more assumptions with the SAT method there are also a larger proportion of limitations. The most important of which is the accuracy of results. The abundance and density of Koalas cannot be determined through this method. It is only useful in establishing that there are koalas present or absent within the sampling area. Home ranges can be large depending on sex of the animal and availability of preferred food trees (Phillip and Callaghan 2011), therefore multiple SAT sites can be occupied by only the one animal (Phillips and Hopkins 2008).
The selection of SAT sites is also very important as they may be in places where there is either really high or low activity rates which can skew results. Environmental factors can contribute to loss or accumulation of animal signs. After severe weather events animal signs can be washed away or hidden and may not be detected. Accumulation of feacal pellets can occur if there are environmental factors that allows for scat persistence, providing activity levels that may not be an accurate representation of the site use at the time of survey. This limitation was reduced within the survey by Planit as old pellets were washed away during a rain event 6-8 weeks before the SAT sites were sampled resulting in a current representation of koala activity on the CW Site.
The feacal pellets must be located and identified correctly as they look very similar to possum faecal pellets. This limitation was mitigated by Planit as pellets were identified by an experienced professional and samples were taken from the CW Site to be analysed within a lab to confirm they are from a Koala. There is the chance that some faecal pellets could be missed during the allocated observation timeframe. Cristescu et al. 2012, found that detectability varied up to 16% between plots of different ground cover.
4.2 STRIP TRANSECT SHG (2017) used this technique to sample the CW Site. This method was also used within Biolink 2007 at the CKHA site to reinforce SAT findings from the CKHA and C-PKHA.
4.2.1 ASSUMPTIONS The assumptions that need to be met with the strip transect method (Southwell 1994);
1. Accurate assessment of individuals within or not within the sampling width. 2. No individuals are missed within the width. 3. No individuals are counted twice. 4. Density within the strip is representative of the whole area.
4.2.2 BENEFITS The method is simple and relatively fast process as only samples a few areas are sampled within the site which makes it suitable for large areas. Only a few sites are sampled but the estimated abundance and density can be derived for the entire area. It can also be used across a variety of landscapes. Existing tracks or roads can be used as the centre line for the transects making the areas easier to traverse.
4.2.3 LIMITATIONS The width of the strip transects must be easy to measure to determine whether an individual is within the sampling area. When choosing centre lines for the transect it may not be wise to use existing tracks as these are disturbed areas where the target species may avoid. Sampling must be done within a condensed
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Coomera Woods Koala Evaluation and Assessment Chapter 1: Evaluation of Koala Survey Methodology Polaris Coomera Pty Ltd time frame so individuals do not have the opportunity to be counted in one sampling site then move to another and be counted again.
T here is a chance for reactive movement, where the target species can have time to move or hide from observers before they are recorded. This method does not sample the entire area and the sampling sites are assumed to be representative of the entire area. If there are sites with abnormally high or low recordings they may not be representative of the whole area and results can be skewed. SGH did not detect any koalas within the strip transect survey, only observing 2 individuals out of strip transects. No abundance or density could be derived from this survey. A comparison with the total count results from Planit using the line transect method demonstrated that the strip transect method has limitations if used in a habitat with a low-density population. It does however confirm a low koala population density, as koalas were absent from randomly selected search areas across the CW Site.
This method was also used by Biolink 2007a in the CKHA to support the SAT results. CKHA is not the same as the CW Site and results are not site specific. The transects were large (250mx20m) and placed in areas where activity levels of high/medium were recorded. This is a bias, choosing to use these areas to have strip transects and would have reflected the SAT sites but may not have been a representation of the entire CKHA. Biolink justified the density results through the strip transect method but as this method is only a partial count it does not give a reliable representation of the entire CKHA especially when the areas chosen have demonstrated to be high activity areas. When this result is extrapolated over the entire CKHA it skews the ecological value of the CKHA.
4.3 LINE TRANSECT Line transects have been found to be more accurate and logistically effective than other techniques (Ogutu et al. 2006). For this survey, the line transect method is the most effective as it is based on visual observations of individuals and results in a total count. Combined with spotlighting, the results increase in reliability as Koalas are most active at night observations can be made with the use of eyeshine.
4.3.1 ASSUMPTIONS To be successful and avoid bias while using the line transect method to survey the entire area the following assumptions must be met;
1. All individuals must be counted. 2. Individuals do not move in response to the observers’ presence before the observer has the opportunity to record the individual. 3. All the detections are independent from each other.
4.3.2 BENEFITS The main benefits of this method are the reliability and accuracy of the results that give a total count to the Koala abundance and density. Visually observing Koalas results in a more accurate representation of the population within a survey area. This method makes it highly unlikely that any have been counted more than once, reducing preventing overcounting. Comparing this with a distance sampling method, if a transect had an unusually high density and that result was calculated to represent the entire study area the survey would be biased. Observing the Koala within trees also allows for information to be recorded
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Coomera Woods Koala Evaluation and Assessment Chapter 1: Evaluation of Koala Survey Methodology Polaris Coomera Pty Ltd about tree preferences, which can then be used to identify trees of importance or potential habitat (Phillip and Callaghan 2011).
4.3.3 LIMITATIONS The first limitation to this method is that all the individuals must be counted within the area, assumption
1. If a Koala is not recorded this can lead to incorrect information resulting in incorrectly informed decisions. This limitation has been minimised by using teams of experienced and qualified observers to detect and record visual confirmations. Dique et al. 2003, found that the probability of detecting koalas reduces significantly once the animal is 30m or more away from the observer. The use of spotlighting also reduced this limitation as Koalas are most active at night and easier to observe using eyeshine. Another koala was identified using spotlight that was not detected during the day surveys.
Assumption 2, the movement of individuals and hiding in response to observer presence could vary depending on the distance between the observer and individual. Due to the sedentary nature and roosting behavior of koalas during the day make them a suitable species for using line-transect sampling as they are unlikely to move as a result of observer presence (Dique et al. 2003). At night koalas are more active but are easily detected with spotlighting using eyeshine. The combination of the two methods allows for a reliable abundance estimate.
It is highly unlikely that assumption 3 would be violated due to saturation bias as the density of koala populations are low. However, there was a koala found during the second day of surveying that was not identified during the first, it may have been the same found during the first day that was further north of the site but it looked different and so was considered another animal. The chance of koalas moving into or out of CW Site was reduced with concentrated survey time (2 days, 1 night).
4.4 DIRECT COMPARISON OF METHODS 4.4.1 BENEFITS
TABLE 6: COMPARISION OF SURVEY METHOD BENEFITS
SAT Strip Transect Line Transect • Fast process • Rapid and simple process • Reliability • Cost effective good for Large areas • Accuracy • Easy to repeat • Use in many different • Result in total count • Passive sampling landscapes • Abundance and density • Establish presence/absence in • Use of existing tracks- • Identifies preferred tree habitat easy to travers species • Identifies tree preferences
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4. 4.2 LIMITATIONS
TABLE 7: COMPARISON OF SURVEY METHOD LIMITATIONS
SAT Strip Transect Line Transect • Accuracy of results, activity • Assumed that sites are • All animals within the site levels may not be representative of the must be counted representative due to large whole area • If the animals move or home ranges, therefore • Missing or counting hide in response to abundance and density individual multiple times- observer cannot be estimated from If they were done over • All detections must be SAT multiple days-weeks independent of each • Site activity levels should koalas could have moved other only be interpreted in the into areas and been • Can be time consuming context of location-specific counted again and labour intensive as habitat utilization data • Width of strips need to be the entire area was (Phillips and Callaghan 2011) accurate and all uniform covered • Selection of SAT sites- true and koalas classified as indication of the entire ‘in’ or ‘out’ appropriately sampling site • Reactive movement bias • Minimum sample size per • Using existing tracks, SAT site (30 trees) target species may avoid • Detect and identify pellets disturbed areas correctly- dense ground • Biolink 2007a only placed cover or leaf litter can make transects within areas of it hard to find and they look high/medium SAT site similar to possums. activity levels • Environmental factors can remove faecal pellets
4.4.3 SURVEY RESULTS
TABLE 8: SAT SITE ACTIVITY LEVEL RESULTS FROM CW SITE SURVEYS
Activity Level/ # of sites Surveyor High Medium Low Biolink 2007 13- significant koala activity levels Phillips 2015 5 SHG 2017 4 3 6 Planit 2017 1 2 11
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The 15 SAT sites that were originally used by Biolink (2007) on the impact area were replicated within this survey and determined that 33% of the CW Site was occupied by koalas. This occupancy rate was applied to the following table to calculate and compare the density estimates from the various survey methods.
TABLE 9: DENSITY RESULTS FROM VARIOUS SURVEY METHODS APPLIED TO THE CW SITE
Surveyor Survey Method Biolink 2007 Phillips 2015 SHG 2017 Planit 2017 Habitat Assessment 0.23 k/ha2 SAT 0.23 k/ha1 Strip transect N/A3 Capture records 0.151 k/ha4 Line Transect 0.103 k/ha5 1 Density estimate from the study over the entire C-PKHA from 2007 before development of the areas surrounding the CW site.
2 Density estimate from the study over the entire C-PKHA from 2007 before development of the areas surrounding the CW site. Phillips (2015) performed a habitat assessment and concluded that the same density could be used from 2007 and applied to the CW site in 2015. It is unlikely that the density from sampling an area of 3640ha (C-KPA) before development of the surrounding areas in 2006 would still be applicable to the CW Site (147ha) now. The problems associated with these assumptions are discussed further in section 5.
3 No koalas were recorded within the strip transects. Two individuals were recorded outside of the strip transects.
4 This density estimate was derived from koala capture records of the CW site and surrounding areas.
5 This density estimate was calculated using the occupancy rate from Phillips (2017): 5/(147 x 0.33)
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5.0 DISCUSSION The most important factor in selecting an appropriate survey technique should always be the accuracy and reliability of the results. Especially in referring to this development site where the results can have significant planning and management repercussions.
Initial surveys in 2006 by Biolink 2007a used the SAT method to survey the entire C-PKHA. The area that had to be sampled was 3640ha which would have contributed to the reasoning to select this method. The financial and time constraints would have made it almost impossible to survey the entire C-PKHA with a total count method. The SAT method contains a number of assumptions that are difficult to meet and results in limitations that cannot be ignored when justifying accuracy of results. This method results in Koala activity levels but cannot accurately distinguish the abundance of Koalas within an area as a result of the activity levels.
Koala ecology is complex and a general home range cannot be determined as home ranges differ in size reliant on the sex of the animal and abundance of preferred trees within the habitat (Phillip and Callaghan 2011). If the home ranges within the CW Site are large then multiple SAT sites could be occupied by the one animal. The SAT method alone is not completely accurate in confirming how a habitat is used by the target species and it is recommended that this technique be used in conjunction with more reliable sampling methods (Phillips and Callaghan 2011). Activity levels derived from SAT sites should only be interpreted in the context of location specific habitat use (Phillips and Callaghan 2011).
The sampling sites chosen may not be representative of the entire area and if the other assumptions are not met this can lead to an even greater discrepancy in perceived and actual Koala abundance and density. Sampling over time can give an indication to how the use of the site has changed over time and inform on Koala distribution within a site (Biolink. 2007a). The SAT is a reasonable method to establish whether Koalas are inhabiting a site, but the ecological value of the site cannot be determined from this method as it does not record abundance or density of the target species.
The strip transect method was used by Biolink. 2007a to reinforce the results they received while performing SAT sampling of the C-PKHA. Biolink (2007a) calculated over the C-PKHA area the SAT and strip transect results were almost the same, though there was a greater variance in the strip transect method. Biolink targeted their strip transects in high/medium SAT site results, this created a bias with the results as they are only surveying areas where they are likely to find Koalas and may not have been representative of the entire area.
When Biolink performed the same method to calculate the entire Gold Coast City Local Government Area Koala population the SAT density results were 0.11 ± 0.03 koalas per hectare overall population of 5435 ± 174 from sampling only 18.62ha and the strip method was density estimate of 0.09 ± 0.04 koalas per hectare and overall population of 4724 ± 208 from sampling 32.2ha. These results would suggest that there is a significant difference in sampling with SAT and the strip transect method and the SAT may skew results and suggest the density is greater than in reality. As the strip transect method sampled almost double the area of the SAT, therefore likely that the strip transect method is a more accurate
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Coomera Woods Koala Evaluation and Assessment Chapter 1: Evaluation of Koala Survey Methodology Polaris Coomera Pty Ltd representation of the entire area as it may have incorporated a more diverse environment (Sinclair et al. 2006 ).
The strip transect method is a partial count of an area to obtain a representative koala abundance and density. This sampling method is more reliable than using an index as it relies on visual observations of the target species to derive an overall abundance and density. As this method is only a partial count there are still several limitations that are encountered upon its application. The selected sample sites need to be representative of the whole environment to make a sound judgement on the ecological value of the habitat. This method was employed by SHG (2017) to survey the CW Site.
The strip transect method was performed in two rounds at 95 sites for each round and sampling completed over five days. This method would have been perceived as more efficient method to sampling instead of attempting to survey the entire CW Site. Planit however believed the CW Site was not large enough to justify not sampling the entire CW Site if the results would be more accurate. The SAT and line transect methods were employed by Planit in the 2017 surveys. The SAT method was used to assess reliability of past survey results and evaluate any possible trends by looking at the results over time.
The benefits of the line transect method outweigh that of the SAT and strip transect method. The SAT and strip transect methods are associated with many assumptions and limitations, where the line transect method has fewer and are easier to manage. The line transect method results in a total count of the entire CW Site, which means there is a scientifically informed result on the abundance or density of the target species. As the entire CW Site was sampled, there were fewer assumptions and any remaining were managed effectively to reduce limitations and possible bias within the results.
Performing the survey within a condensed timeframe meant that the observations were independent of one another. The likelihood that an individual could have been counted twice was reduced, as there was inadequate time to travel from one location to another. The chance that any individuals were missed during the survey was reduced by Planit in their approach by performing the survey over 2 days and 1 night. At night Koalas are more active and are easier to observe using eyeshine. The line transect method is considered to produce the most reliable results as it has fewer assumptions that must be met and therefore reduces the possible limitations.
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5.1 SUMMARY • Visual observations along a line transect over the entire CW Site results in a more accurate representation than SAT or strip transect methods. 1. SAT method is unreliable due to assumptions and limitations which mean that; ▪ this method can only record the presence/absence of koalas and possible tree preference;
▪ the abundance or density cannot be derived from results due to Koala specific ecology factors. Activity levels recorded over multiple SAT sites could be one individual as home ranges can vary depending on sex of the animal and preferred tree availability and; ▪ samples only some of the habitat and assume the entire CW Site is represented within the SAT sites. 2. The strip transect method is more reliable than the SAT, associated limitations of using this method over areas of low-density make the line transect method more reliable because; ▪ Visual confirmation of individuals and can sample a large area to derive an overall abundance and density as it uses visual observations instead of an index and; ▪ Sampling sites are not always representative of the entire area and bias through unmet assumptions can lead to skewed results 3. Line Transect method is reliable and generates an accurate representation of the resident population and use of the habitat as there is; ▪ Visual confirmation of individuals within the site which reduces the number of assumptions within this method; ▪ This allows for recording reliable koala abundance and density on specific sites and; ▪ Planning and development decisions can be made based on true ecological value of proposed development sites. • As the SAT method has been used within each survey the SAT site activity levels can be compared to evaluate trends concerning the use of habitat and distribution of Koalas within the CW Site. • The methods employed by Planit 2017, line transect and SAT, are the most reliable and produces an accurate representation of the koala abundance and density on the CW Site.
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6.0 REFERENCES Allen, C., Saxon, M. and McDougall, K. 2010. Summary report on surveys conducted in 2007-2009 for Koalas in the coastal forests of the Bermagui/Mumbulla area. NSW Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water.
Biolink 2007a. Koala habitat and population assessment for the Gold Coast City LGA. Final report to Gold Coast City Council. Biolink Ecological Consultants.
Biolink 2007b. Conserving Koalas in the Coomera-Pimpama Koala habitat area: a view to the future. Final Report to Gold Coast City Council. Biolink Ecological Consultants.
Burnham, K. and Anderson, D. 1984. The need for distance data in transect counts. Journal of Wildlife Management 48:1248-54.
Cristescu, R., Goethals, K., Banks, P., Carrick, F., and Frere, C. 2012. Experimental evaluation of koala scat persistence and detectability with implications for pellet-based fauna census. International Journal of Zoology 2012: 1-12.
Ellis, W. A. H., Melzer, A., Carrick, F. N. and Hasegawa, M. 2002. Tree use, diet and home range of the koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) at Blair Athol, central Queensland. Wildlife Research 29: 303 – 11.
Jurskis, V., and Potter, M. 1977. Koala surveys, ecology and conservation at Eden. Research Paper No. 34, State Forests of New South Wales, Sydney
Lunney, D., Phillips, S., Callaghan, J. and Coburn, D. 1998. A new approach to determining the distribution of Koalas and conserving their habitat: a case study from Port Stephens Shire on the central coast of New South Wales. Pacific Conservation Biology 4: 186–96.
Melzer, A. and Lamb, D. 1994. Low density populations of the Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) in Central Queensland. Proceedings of the Royal Society of Queensland 104: 89–93
Munks, S., Corkrey, R. and Foley, W. 1996. Characteristics of arboreal marsupial habitat in the semi-arid woodlands of northern Queensland. Wildlife Research, 271: 417-27.
Phillips, S. 2015. Impacts of proposed clearing activity on the koala habitat located at 49 George Alexander Way, Coomera in the City of Gold Coast LGA, South- Eastern Qld. Australian Government, Dept. of Environment.
Phillips, S. and Callaghan, J. 2000. Tree species preferences of a Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) population in the Campbelltown area south-west of Sydney, New South Wales. Wildlife Research 27: 569–75.
Phillips, S. and Callaghan, J. 2011. The Spot Assessment Technique: a tool for determining localised levels of habitat use by Koalas Phascolarctos cinereus. Australian Zoologist 35: 774-80.
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Phillips, S. and Hopkins, M. 2009. Comprehensive Koala Plan of Management for eastern portion of Kempsey Shire Local Government Area, Vol II – Resource Study. Prepared for Kempsey Shire Council. Biolink Ecological Consultants.
Phillips, S., Callaghan, J. and Thompson, V. 2000. The tree species preferences of Koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) inhabiting forest and woodland communities on Quaternary deposits in the Port Stephens area, New South Wales. Wildlife Research 27: 1–10.
Saunders Havill Group, 2017. Coomera Woods Koala Assessment Report. Prepared for Polaris Coomera Pty Ltd.
Southwell, C. 1994. Evaluation of walked line transect counts for estimating macropod density. Journal of Wildlife Management 22: 757-65.
Sullivan, B. J., Baxter, G. S. and Lisle, A. T. 2002. Low-density koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) populations in the mulgalands of south-west Queensland. I. Faecal pellet sampling protocol. Wildlife Research, 29: 455-62.
Sullivan, B. J., Baxter, G. S., Lisle, A. T., Pahl, L. and Norris, W. M. 2004. Low-density Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) populations in the mulgalands of south-west Queensland. IV. Abundance and conservation status. Wildlife Research 31: 19 – 29.
Van Dyck, S. and Strahan, R. 2008. The Mammals of Australia. New Holland Publishers, Sydney.
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COOMERA WOODS KOALA EVALUATION AND ASSESSMENT CHAPTER 2
RESPONSE TO DEPT. OF ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY REFERRAL DECISION BRIEF
PREPARED FOR POLARIS COOMERA PTY LTD
Planit Consulting Pty Ltd October 2017 Coomera Woods Koala Evaluation and Assessment Chapter 2: Response to Referral Decision Brief Polaris Coomera PTY LTD En`vironmental As
This report has been prepared by:
Planit Consulting Pty Ltd
ABN 20 099 261 711
Level 1, 2247 Gold Coast Highway
Nobby Beach QLD 4218
PO Box 206
Nobby Beach QLD 4218
Telephone: (07) 5526 1500
Facsimile: (07) 5526 1502
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.planitconsulting.com.au
Document Control
Issue Date Description Prepared By Checked By A 21/07/2017 Client Issue LT BS B 13/09/2017 Final Issue LT BS C 16/10/2017 Amended Issue- update of aerials LT BS
Prepared by Planit Consulting October 2017
Coomera Woods Koala Evaluation and Assessment Chapter 2: Response to Referral Decision Brief Polaris Coomera Pty Ltd
CONTENTS
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ...... 3 CONTRIBUTORS ...... 4 1.0 INTRODUCTION ...... 5 1.1 EPBC ACT REFERRAL GUIDELINES FOR THE VULNERABLE KOALA...... 5
1.1.1 STUDY AREA ...... 5 1.1.2 IMPACT AREA ...... 6 1.1.3 HABITAT CRITICAL TO THE SURVIVAL OF THE KOALA ...... 6 1.1.4 IMPORTANT POPULATION ...... 6 1.1.5 THE SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ...... 6 1.2 DEPARTMNET OF ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY REFERRAL DECISION BREIF ...... 7 2.0 CW SITE KOALA POPULATION ...... 11 2.1 ESTABLISHING KOALA POPULATION ON CW SITE ...... 11 2.1 BIOLINK 2007 RESULTS...... 12 2.2 PHILLIPS 2015 RESULTS ...... 12 2.3 SHG 2017 RESULTS ...... 12 2.4 CITY OF GOLD COAST’S KOALA CONSERVATION PLAN (DRAFT) ...... 13 2.5 PLANIT 2017 RESULTS ...... 13 2.6 SUMMARY OF REPORT RESULTS ...... 14 2.7 ASSESSMENT AGAINST EPBC ACT REFERRAL GUIDELINES ...... 15 3.0 THE CW SITE CARRYING CAPACITY ...... 17 3.1 HABITAT CONSERVATION PRINCIPLES ...... 17 3.2 CW SITE ASSESSMENT ...... 18 3.2.1 HISTORICAL CW SITE CONDITION ...... 18 3.2.2 SURROUNDING LAND USES...... 19 3.2.3 CURRENT CW STE CONDITION ...... 20 4.0 LONG-TERM PERSISTENCE OF KOALAS ON THE CW SITE ...... 22 4.1 LIMITING FACTORS ...... 22 4.1.1 CRITICAL HABITAT ...... 23 4.2 SIGNIFICANT IMPACT EVALUATION ...... 24 5.0 REVIEW OF THREATS TO KOALAS...... 25 6.0 ECOLOGICAL CORRIDOR FUNCTIONALITY ...... 26 6.1 SIGNIFICANCE OF LANDSCAPE CONNECTIVITY ...... 26 6.2 ECOLOGICAL CORRIDORS AND KOALA SENSITIVE DESIGN ...... 26
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Coomera Woods Koala Evaluation and Assessment Chapter 2: Response to Referral Decision Brief Polaris Coomera Pty Ltd
6.2.1 TYPES OF ECOLOGICAL CORRIDORS ...... 26 6.2.2 WILDLIFE MOVEMENT SOLUTIONS ...... 27 6.3 ECOLOGICAL CORRIDOR ASSESSMENT ...... 27
7.0 DISCUSSION ...... 33 7.1 SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS ...... 34
8.0 REFERENCES ...... 35
8.1 DOCUMENTS REFERRED TO WITHIN THIS REPORT ...... 36 8.1.1 BIOLINK 2007 ...... 36 8.1.2 PHILLIPS 2015 ...... 36 8.1.3 SAUNDERS HAVILL GROUP 2017 ...... 36
LIST OF TABLES TABLE 1: REPORT CONTRIBUTORS ...... 4 TABLE 2: PLANIT 2017 SURVEY RESULTS...... 13 TABLE 3: SURVEY METHODS PERFORMED BY EACH ORGANISATION...... 14 TABLE 4: ESTIMATED KOALA POPULATION WITHIN THE CW SITE ...... 14 TABLE 5: ECOLOGICAL CORRIDOR ASSESSMENT ...... 30
LIST OF FIGURES FIGURE 1: THE COOMERA-PIMPAMA HABITAT AREA (BIOLINK 2007) ...... 9 FIGURE 2: STUDY AREA AND IMPACT AREA (SGH 2017) ...... 10 FIGURE 3: TIMELINE OF SURVEYS AND SIGNIFICANT ACTIVITIES SURROUNDING THE CW SITE ...... 11 FIGURE 4: DIAMOND, J, 1975 PRINICIPLES FOR THE DESIGN OF NATURAL RESERVES (APPLY TO HABITAT PATCHES) ...... 18 FIGURE 5: CONDITION OF AREAS SURROUNDING THE CW SITE IN 2006 (25/07/2006) ...... 19 FIGURE 6: CONDITION OF AREAS SURROUNDING THE CW SITE IN 2017 ...... 20 FIGURE 7: AERIAL SHOWING THE EXISTING CORRIDOR TO THE NORTH-EAST OF THE CW SITE (SOURCE: GOOGLE EARTH 2017) ...... 28 FIGURE 8: DIAGRAM ILLUSTRATES THE CONTINUED ECOLOGICAL CORRIDOR THROUGH THE CW SITE (SOURCE: SHG 2015) ...... 28 FIGURE 9: KOALA WITNESSED USING CORRIDOR TO MOVE IN AND OUT OF IMPACT AREA (SHG 2017) ...... 32
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Coomera Woods Koala Evaluation and Assessment Chapter 2: Response to Referral Decision Brief Polaris Coomera Pty Ltd
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Planit Consulting has been commissioned by Polaris Coomera Pty Ltd to prepare a response to the statements made by the Department of Environment and Energy (DEE) within the Referral Decision Brief as a part of the koala assessment for a Development Application over part of Lot 44 SP207822 and part of Lot 1 on SP165374), 49 George Alexander Way Coomera, Figure 1. This site will be referred to as the Coomera Woods Site (CW Site).
The DEE agreed that in line with the Koala Referral Guidelines, this area does not constitute habitat critical to the survival of the koala. The DEE however concluded that the proposed action is likely to have a significant impact on the koala due to a range of factors. Relevantly, the DEEs Referral Decision Brief relies on the following propositions in recommending that the proposed action is likely to result in a significant impact on the koala:
• The Impact Area may allow for the long-term persistence of the koala population present on the CW Site (despite the lack of connectivity). • The koala population in the Impact Area is important for the viability of the species in the Coomera area. • The proposed action is likely to facilitate additional impacts from other actions in the area. This is likely to increase all threats to the koala. • The proposed clearing will force koalas into adjoining residential areas. These koalas will likely be killed by domestic dogs, struck by motor vehicles and/or succumb to disease. Sequential clearing is likely to increase stress on the koalas which will increase vulnerability to disease.
This report addresses these concerns through:
• Determining an estimate of the koala population on the CW Site and importance to the Coomera area; • evaluating long-term persistence of this population through the determined minimum viable population (MVP) and the CW Site’s carrying capacity; • review of threats to koalas within the surrounding area; and • assessment of the established ecological corridor against a review of best practice corridor principles.
The conclusions are:
1. The koala population within the CW site is not important for the viability of the species in the Coomera area. 2. The Impact Area will not allow for the long-term persistence of the koala population present on the CW Site. 3. The proposed action is unlikely to facilitate additional impacts from other actions in the area and unlikely to increase all threats to the koala. 4. The proposed sequential clearing will guide koalas into the ecological corridor and facilitate movement into the Coomera Koala Habitat Area, an area which will allow for the long-term persistence of the koala population. The ecological corridor will provide safe passage and reduce threats by domestic dogs, motor vehicles and aggressive wildlife.
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CONTRIBUTORS Contributors to this report and their roles are tabulated below:
TABLE 1: REPORT CONTRIBUTORS
NAME ORGANISATION ROLE Boyd Sargeant Planit Consulting Report preparation, koala survey and assessment, technical and quality assurance review Laura Thorley Planit Consulting Report preparation, technical and quality assurance review
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1.0 INTRODUCTION Planit Consulting (Planit) have been engaged by Polaris Coomera Pty Ltd to undertake this report along with that in Chapter 1 to establish the ecological significance of the proposed Coomera Woods development at 49 George Alexander Way, Coomera, hereafter referred to as the CW Site. This is in respo nse to the Department of the Environment and Energy (DEE) criteria outlining development upon the CW Site as ‘a controlled action’.
This development was outlined in the City of Gold Coast City Plan (City Plan) as a part of the Coomera
Town Centre development within the Coomera-Pimpama Koala Habitat Area (C-PKHA) (Figure 1). The CW Site is situated within the designated Urban Koala Area (UKA). The area to the east has been reserved as a Koala Conservation Area (KCA). The total area of the original C-PKHA was 3640ha with a total of 2148ha designated to UKA and 1492ha to KCA under the Nature Conservation (Koala) Conservation Plan 2006 and Management Program 2006-2016.
The total area covered by the CW Site is 147ha, approximately 137ha is a proposed master-planned development to increase essential residential dwellings to house the expected population growth within South East Queensland (SEQ) over the next 20 years. Within the design there is the provision for ecological corridors to aid wildlife movement from within the CW Site to the designated KCA.
Original surveys were performed over the entirety of C-PKHA and estimated that the koala population at the time was approximately 510 koalas in 2006 at the time of survey before the development within the UKA. The surrounding landscape is a mix of completed and under-construction residential developments and well-established transport links.
There are important legislative requirements associated with this development as the koala is listed as a vulnerable species under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC) and Nature Conservation Act 1992 (NCA) and is therefore a matter of National and State environmental significance. Within the CW site there is mapped medium value bushland and rehabilitation under the State Planning Policies and no assessable development koala areas under the State Planning Regulatory Provisions (SPRP).
1.1 EPBC ACT REFERRAL GUIDELINES FOR THE VULNERABLE KOALA The guidelines were consulted during the referral stage and the CW Site was not valued as critical habitat. It is important to understand the terms used within the guidelines to assess the development and likely impacts on potential koala habitat and populations.
1.1.1 STUDY AREA The study area as defined by the guideline:
“Area that includes the impact area and any other areas that are, or may be, relevant to the assessment of the action. When determining the study area, consideration should be given to the extent of the koala habitat, koala records, likely koala home range, connectivity of habitat, control sites, comparison sites etc. in some circumstances the study area may be confined to the impact area, it may be necessary to revise the study area during the assessment if the need for additional information becomes apparent.”
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The study area for this report is the UKA described and mapped within previous Biolink reports and referred to as the Urban Footprint in the Koala Conservation Plan for East Coomera 2148ha and includes the impact area (Figure 2).
1.1.2 IMPACT AREA
The impact area as defined by the guideline:
“Area in which direct, indirect and facilitated impacts on the koala will, are likely to or may occur.”
The impact area is the CW Site at 49 George Alexander Way, Coomera and is located within the UKA (Figure 2).
1.1.3 HABITAT CRITICAL TO THE SURVIVAL OF THE KOALA Critical Habitat as defined by the guideline:
“Habitat that is Important for the species long-term survival and recovery and scores a ‘5’ or more using Koala habitat assessment tool.”
The habitat within the impact area was assessed with the Koala Habitat Assessment Tool and was scored a total of ‘4’ and therefore not considered as critical habitat and would usually not need a referral as it has a low risk of resulting in a significant impact.
1.1.4 IMPORTANT POPULATION The Matters of National Environmental Significance – Significant Impact Guidelines 1.1 define an important population 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:
i. key source populations either for breeding or dispersal ii. populations that are necessary for maintaining genetic diversity, and/or iii. populations that are near the limit of the species range.”
The population within the impact area has been assessed within a number of reports and the most recently performed survey by Planit 2017. Estimates of population size range from 1-15 within the impact area. The population within the impact area is not perceived as an important population as it does not meet the requirements stated within the Significant Impact Guidelines.
1.1.5 SIGNIFICANT IMPACT The Significant Impact Guidelines defines a Significant Impact as:
“an impact which is important, notable, or of consequence, having regard to its context or intensity. Whether or not an action is likely to have a significant impact depends upon the sensitivity, value, and quality of the environment which is impacted, and upon the intensity, duration, magnitude and geographic extent of the impacts. You should consider all of these factors when determining whether an action is likely to have a significant impact on matters of national environmental significance.”
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As the impact area is not declared a critical habitat and the population is not important to the long- term survival and recovery of koalas there would not be a significant impact.
1.2 DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY REFERRAL DECISION BREIF The DEE agreed that in line with the Koala Referral Guidelines, this area does not constitute habitat critical to the survival of the koala. The DEE however concluded that the proposed action is likely to have a significant impact on the koala due to a range of factors. Relevantly, the DEEs Referral Decision Brief includes the following:
“Although the habitat is not identified as being critical to the species' survival under the koala guidelines, the Department has considered a range of factors specific to this proposal when assessing the likelihood of significant impacts.
The proposed action area is a large contiguous area of habitat (147 ha) which may allow for the long-term persistence of the koala population present on site, despite the lack of connectivity. Therefore, the Department considers that the proposed action will result in the loss of a population which could be important for the viability of the species in the Coomera area.
The proposed action to develop the town centre is likely to facilitate additional impacts from other actions in the area such as clearing of land or widening of roads. In combination, these facilitated additional impacts are likely to lead to an increase in all of the key threats to the koala.
The proponent is proposing sequential vegetation clearing to allow the koalas to move offsite. The compliance report states, and the Department agrees, that clearing will result in a forced dispersal of koalas into adjoining residential areas where they will likely be killed by domestic dogs, encounter motor vehicle strike and/or succumb to disease. The sequential clearing of vegetation is also likely to increase stress on the animals, which will increase vulnerability to disease.”
The essence of the above is contained within the following four statements:
1. The koala population in the Impact Area is important for the viability of the species in the Coomera area. 2. The impact area may allow for the long-term persistence of the koala population present on the CW Site (despite the lack of connectivity). 3. The proposed action is likely to facilitate additional impacts from other actions in the area. This is likely to increase all threats to the koala 4. The proposed clearing will force koalas into adjoining residential areas. These koalas will likely be killed by domestic dogs, struck by motor vehicles and/or succumb to disease. Sequential clearing is likely to increase stress on the koalas which will increase vulnerability to disease.
This report will consider the statements above.
In order to address statements 1 and 2 above, it is necessary to evaluate the following:
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• How many koalas are present in the Impact Area. • Assessment of the koala population against EPBC Referral Guideline’s Important population criteria. • How many koalas constitute a Minimum Viable Population (MVP) and does the population in the Impact Area constitute a MVP. • What is the koala carrying capacity of the Impact Area.
Sections 2, 3 and 4 hereunder considers the above and address statements 1 and 2.
In order to address statements 3 and 4 above, it is relevant to consider the following:
• The current threats to koalas within the Study Area • The remedial actions and controls that are required by State and Local Government to be put in place as part of the staged vegetation clearing process. • The dispersal of koalas along the ecological corridor.
Sections 5 and 6 hereunder considers the above and address statements 3 and 4.
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FIGURE 1: THE COOMERA-PIMPAMA HABITAT AREA (BIOLINK 2007)
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FIGURE 2: STUDY AREA AND IMPACT AREA (SGH 2016)
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2 .0 CW SITE KOALA POPULATION The first factor to address was to determine the koala population size on the CW Site. This was necessary to address whether the population was vital to the survival of the local Coomera Koala population. To be vital to the survival of the local population the CW Koala population would need to constitute a viable and important population, as described in section 1.1.4;
i. “key source populations either for breeding or dispersal ii. populations that are necessary for maintaining genetic diversity, and/or
iii. populations that are near the limit of the species range.”
2.1 ESTABLISHING KOALA POPULATION ON CW SITE Over the last decade there have been a number of studies and reports publishing conflicting koala population data within the study area. The initial survey performed by Biolink in 2006 was inclusive of the entire study area, C-PKHA using the spot assessment technique (SAT) method. Between then and the more current surveys there has been ongoing development of areas surrounding the impact area and the translocation of 180 koalas under the Koala Conservation Plan for East Coomera.
In 2015 the impact area was assessed again by Phillips through a habitat quality assessment and the SAT method and determined from these methods that the density results produced within the 2007 reports would still be applicable to the impact area. In 2016, Saunders Havill Group (SHG) undertook a survey of the impact area using the SAT and strip transect method. Planit 2017 replicated the SAT sites by Biolink and performed a line transect survey over the entire impact area.
Figure 3 shows the timeline of surveys and other significant activities that have impacted the current koala population within the study area. Each survey method was assessed for result accuracy and possible bias within Chapter 1 of this report and concluded that the methods used by Planit 2017 were the most reliable.
FIGURE 3: TIMELINE OF SURVEYS AND SIGNIFICANT ACTIVITIES SURROUNDING THE CW SITE
The koala population and density estimates for the CW Site derived from the various surveys are discussed in detail in Chapter 1 of this report. These can be summarised as follows:
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1. Biolink 2007 Report 2. City of Gold Coast Translocation Program 3. Phillips 2015 Report 4. Saunders Havill Group 2017
5. City of Gold Coast Plans and Reports 6. Planit 2017
2.1 BIOLINK 2007 RESULTS Initial surveys of the study area, were performed by Biolink and published their results in 2007 within the Koala Habitat and Population Assessment for Gold Coast City LGA. The study area was the C-PKHA which covered 3640ha.
The results from the SAT method and opportunistic visual observations over 39.2 hectares estimated that koala density over the C-PKHA was at 0.23 ± 0.03 (SE) koalas ha-1 and resulted in a population estimate of 510 ± 129. The accuracy of these results were assessed in Chapter 1 of this report.
2.2 PHILLIPS 2015 RESULTS In 2015 Phillps was engaged by the Department of the Environment for expert advice regarding the presence and quality of koala habitat associated with proposed clearing action at the Impact Area.
The first phase of this survey was a habitat quality assessment of the Impact Area. Phillips determined that the CW Site was heavily disturbed with simplified mid- and lower- strata which coincides with a history of under-scrubbing and low-intensity fires. The CW Site did support preferred koala trees; Red Gum (E. tereticornis), Tallowwood (E. microcorys) and Grey Gum (E. propinqua).
The 15 SAT sites that were originally used by Biolink (2007) on the impact area were replicated within this survey and determined that 33% (61ha) of the CW Site was occupied by koalas as only 5 of the 15 SAT sites recorded faecal pellet deposition. Phillips, determined that the original density estimate of 0.23 ± 0.03 (SE) koalas ha-1 would still apply to the 61ha within the Impact Area estimated to be occupied by koalas. This resulted in a population estimate of 15 individuals.
Chapter 1 of this report analysed the calculations Phillips used and established that the 15 individuals calculated is incorrect and using Phillips’ own figures should be;
(147 x 0.33) x 0.23 = 11.2.
11 koalas.
Chapter 1 of this report evaluated the reliability of results from using SAT site activity levels and determined that it was not an accurate method to determine koala abundance and density.
2.3 SHG 2017 RESULTS The SHG surveyed the impact area in 2016 and finalised results in 2017. SAT site activity levels were performed over the impact area. 16 sites were sampled, only 3 sites recorded high activity levels. These activity levels suggest limited use of the CW Site by koalas and a potential transitioning population.
SHG also undertook strip transect surveys to produce more reliable population estimates. The strip transects were performed in two rounds each with 95 strip transects. No koalas were observed within the strip transects during either round of the surveys. In the first round a koala was observed moving in and out of the CW Site. The second round observed a koala in between two transects.
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SHG determined that the impact area was being used by transitioning koalas and does not provide critical habitat for resident koala. The extensive coverage of this survey and use of direct observations are considered to provide reliable results and robust support for a limited koala population.
Chapter 1 of this report established that the strip transect method did produce more reliable results than SAT as it was based on visual observations instead of indices. The results from this report would hold more robustness against those produced in 2007 and 2015.
The number of koalas captured from within the impact area and surrounding lots were assessed from recorded data and used to estimate population density for the CW site. The result was 0.151 k/ha including joeys (refer Chapter 1). Which would result in a Koala population of 7 on the CW site.
This density estimate is much lower than that found by Biolink (2007) and more reliable as the abundance is produced through capture records. The data recorded from the CW site and areas directly surrounding the impact area. Unlike the Biolink (2007) density estimate which was produced from the entire C-PKHA before development within the UKA.
2.4 CITY OF GOLD COAST’S KOALA CONSERVATION PLAN (DRAFT) The City of Gold Coast’s Koala Conservation Plan (Draft) supports the density figures found by SHG through translocation records. The council translocated 180 koalas from within the UKA and estimated that 40 koalas were still residing within the UKA after the translocation, suggesting a total population within the UKA at 220. The density would then result in 0.102 koalas per hectare. If this density was applied to the CW Site with the occupancy rate of 33.3% recorded by Phillips 2015, the estimated koala population would be 4.99 koalas.
2.5 PLANIT 2017 RESULTS Planit 2017 employed two sampling methods to survey the impact area; SAT sites and line transect method. The 15 original SAT sites by Biolink were replicated by Planit to compare results with previous reports. The SAT site activity levels recorded, only 1 site of high activity levels. This sampling method was applied to the impact area approximately 8 weeks after a heavy rain event. The resulting activity levels are likely to be a current representation of activity levels as any older faecal pellets would have been removed.
The line transect method was extensive and covered the entire impact area, something none of the previous visual observations have done. The result was 5 koalas recorded over the entire impact area. This result is a third of that estimated by Phillips in 2015. Chapter 1 of this report established that the line transect method applied to the entire impact area performed during the day and a night with spotlighting is the most reliable method to produce accurate koala abundance and density results.
TABLE 2: PLANIT 2017 SURVEY RESULTS
Day/night Day 1 Night 1 Day 2 Koala recordings 3 + 1 skull 4 (1 Additional found at night) 4* Total 5* *On Day 2, 4 koalas were observed, however the individual identified within the south-west could be the same as the one identified on Day 1 to the north-west but considered another individual due to the perceived size difference between the two koalas.
If the potential occupancy rate of 33% determined by Phillips in 2015 was applied to the koala population recorded by Planit (2017) the density estimate would be approximately 0.103 a figure significantly lower than the 0.23 estimated by Biolink (2007).
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147 x 0.33 = 48.51ha
5*/48.51 = 0.103 koalas/hectare
2.6 SUMMARY OF REPORT RESULTS TABLE 3: SURVEY METHODS PERFORMED BY EACH ORGANISATION
Survey Method Organisation Year Habitat Quality SAT Strip Transect Line Transect Assessment Biolink 2007 2007 X X Phillips 2015 2015 X X SHG 2017 2017 X X Planit 2017 2017 X X
TABLE 4: ESTIMATED KOALA POPULATION WITHIN THE CW SITE
Survey Method Surveyor Phillips 2015 SHG 2017 Planit 2017 Habitat Assessment 15 Koalas1 SAT Strip Transect N/A2 Capture Records 7 Koalas3 Line Transect 5 Koalas4 1 This figure was produced from Biolink 2007 density estimate of 0.23k/ha over the entire C-PKHA and using an estimated occupancy rate of 33% of the CW site. However, this calculation is in correct (refer section 2.4.2). If the calculations by Phillips (2015) were corrected and it was appropriate to use the density figures estimate within 2006 the estimated population within the CW Site should have been 11 koalas.
2 No koalas were recorded within the strip transects. Two individuals were recorded outside of the strip transects.
3 This was calculated from the density estimate from capture records and the estimated occupancy rate of 33% estimated by Phillips (2015). Workings - 0.151 x (147 x 0.33) = 7.33 koalas.
4 The entire CW site was covered three times (2 days, 1 night) by experienced observers and each individual recorded. On Day 2, 5 koalas were observed, however one individual could have been one already identified on Day 1 of surveying, due to perceived size difference it has been considered a separate koala.
The methods employed by Planit 2017 have been assessed as the most reliable in producing abundance and density results that are representative of the impact area. The original surveys performed by Biolink were implemented over the C-PKHA which was a large (3640ha) intact habitat using an indirect survey method.
The SAT method has been reviewed and found to be accurate at establishing the presence/absence of target species and not reliable at estimating abundances and densities. Within the Biolink 2007
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reports there were conflicting results and when SAT were compared with strip transect results, SAT were found to estimate much higher densities.
Phillips visited the impact area in 2015 where a habitat quality assessment was performed and the 15 original SAT sites from Biolink were replicated. The habitat quality assessment found that the impact area was heavily disturbed and SAT site activity levels suggested that only 33% of the CW Site was being occupied by a koala population. The original density estimates were again applied to the CW Site to suggest a population of 15 individuals.
SHG (2017) performed SAT sites and strip transects and only observed 2 koalas over the survey period within the impact area, neither of which were in the strip transects and could not be recorded. It was suggested that the CW Site was not currently being used by a resident koala population but a transient population. SGH estimated a density of 0.151 koalas per hectare (when joeys were included) from the translocation records.
This figure is supported within the Koala Conservation Plan (Draft) as 180 koalas have been translocated from the UKA with a further 40 estimated to still be within future development areas. A population of 220 within the UKA before development is a direct contradiction to the results found by Biolink (2007). Biolink estimated that approximately 510 koalas lived within the C-PKHA and with 70% residing in the UKA which would result in 357 koalas within the UKA;
510 x 0.7 = 357
Even at the lower bound the UKA population estimate was 266 koalas;
(510 – 129) x 0.7 = 266
The review of the reports has revealed that there is a significant discrepancy in koala abundance and density within the impact area. The most recent and reliable report by Planit 2017 has revealed a small population of ~5 individuals within the impact area. The population is not significant as was reported by Phillips in 2015. The bias in the 2015 report has influenced decision making by skewing the ecological value of the impact area.
2.7 ASSESSMENT AGAINST EPBC ACT REFERRAL GUIDELINES EPBC Act Referral Guidelines for the vulnerable koala to determine an Important population;
i. key source populations either for breeding or dispersal
The CW Site koala population is not a source for breeding and dispersal. The population is a sink where the immigration rates are lower than the extinction rates (Pulliam 1988; Dias 1996) and do not allow for an excess in population to disperse.
ii. populations that are necessary for maintaining genetic diversity
As the population is not large enough to allow for dispersal the CW site population is not necessary for maintaining genetic diversity within the Coomera area koala population. iii. populations that are near the limit of the species range
This population is not near the limit of the species range.
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The current koala population size within the impact area does not warrant “important population” status as it does not meet the requirements within the Significant Impact Guidelines. As this population is not important this means that there is also no significant impact to the population if the development were to proceed. The population is not viable due to habitat constraints and koala abundance within the impact area, this will be discussed further in the sections to come.
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3 .0 THE CW SITE CARRYING CAPACITY The DEE agreed that it was not a critical habitat defined as;
“Habitat that is Important for the species long-term survival and recovery and scores a ‘5’ or more using Koala habitat assessment tool.”
The CW Site habitat scored a ‘4’ against the koala habitat assessment tool. The DEE still determined that this habitat may allow for the long-term persistence of the resident koala population;
‘a large contiguous area of habitat that may allow for the long-term persistence of the koala population on site’.
This is a contradiction as the score against the assessment tool suggests that the CW site is unable to allow for the long-term survival of the koala population.
An assessment of the current habitat condition within the CW Site is required to establish carrying capacity and whether it can sustain a viable population. It is important to consider some basic conservation principles such as patch size, shape and connectivity to other patches, to evaluate the current impact area condition. These factors are discussed below.
3.1 HABITAT CONSERVATION PRINCIPLES This section provides a brief overview of conservation principles to get a better understanding of the current quality of site condition. The most well-known conservation principles are embedded within the island biogeography theory (McArthur and Wilson 1967).
McArthur and Wilson 1967 formalised the theory to account for the observations that islands species richness reduces with increasing isolation and decreasing inland size. Depicted in figure 5, this theory states that large patches are better than small patches, one patch better than many, close patches better than patches further away and connected rather than separate (Diamond 1975; Wilson and Willis 1975).
As the landscapes continues to be fragmented through urban development the remnant patches become islands and conservation principles can be applied to assist in their survival (Diamond 1975; Lunney and Recher 1994; Whittaker 1998).
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FIGURE 4: DIAMOND, J, 1975 PRINICIPLES FOR THE DESIGN OF NATURAL RESERVES (APPLY TO HABITAT PATCHES)
Figure 5 should only be considered in the regard to habitat patches. The size and shape of the habitat patch is important to consider when evaluating patches as critical habitat. The size and shape of the habitat influences the availability of resources essential for the survival of species (Chapin et al. 2002; McArthur and Wilson 1967).
If the ratio of area to perimeter is high the edge effects are likely to be more damaging and disturbance can be felt within the ‘core’ of the habitat (Boulter et al. 1999). If disturbances are felt within the core more sensitive species are likely to disperse from the area or species may become locally extinct from such a patch.
Examples of edge effects;
• invasion of exotic species, • predation by aggressive native or exotic species, • change in vegetation structure from human disturbances and fire.
The distance one patch is from another and available resources upon arrival can limit immigration of animals from source populations. Limited immigration can lead to a decline in genetic diversity and often decreases population viability (Hilty et al. 2006).
All the factors mentioned above can influence the carrying capacity of habitat by limiting availability of essential resources, increased disturbances and decreased connectivity to other patches (Chapin et al. 2002; McArthur and Wilson 1967; Diamond 1975).
3.2 CW SITE ASSESSMENT 3.2.1 HISTORICAL CW SITE CONDITION The C-PKHA was a large contiguous site of relatively undisturbed habitat when the initial surveys by Biolink were performed (Figure 6). The entire area covered 3640ha, 2148ha was designated to UKA in
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The initial surveys were required as the Coomera was designated as an area of significant growth within the SEQ regional plan and City Plan to house the expected population growth over the next 20 years and the potential impacts on koala population were required to be assessed.
CW Site
FIGURE 5: CONDITION OF AREAS SURROUNDING THE CW SITE IN 2006 (25/07/2006)
3.2.2 SURROUNDING LAND USES The initial surveys were performed in 2006, since that time the surrounding landscape has undergone a significant transformation. The landscape is now fragmented from the completed and under- construction residential development within the study area and surrounding the impact area (Figure 7). The residential development consists of attached and detached dwellings, schools, shopping centres and transport infrastructure. There is provision for green spaces and ecological corridors within developments for recreation and nature to facilitate dispersal from high risk areas.
The incompatible land uses of the surrounding areas increase the prevalence of edge effects and reduces the connectivity to other patches of remnant vegetation and decrease the habitat value to koalas. The adjacent land uses are primarily residential which lead to a number of edge effects associated with human disturbance.
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The reduced connectivity as a result of surrounding land uses can have significant impacts on the long- term persistence of populations within a patch of habitat. Koalas from source populations are unable to immigrate due to limited availability of resources and core habitat within the patch. As there is limited immigration the CW Site lacks genetic diversity which decreases the viability of the population within the CW Site (Hilty et al. 2006).
CW Site
FIGURE 6: CONDITION OF AREAS SURROUNDING THE CW SITE (29/08/2017)
3.2.3 CURRENT CW STE CONDITION In 2007, Biolink determined that there were preferred koala food trees in the impact area and Phillips reaffirmed in 2015 that these were still present on the CW Site. Recent visits to the CW Site have revealed several site characteristics that are important to mention as it needs to be considered when assessing value of potential habitat for wildlife.
The CW Site is close to the Pacific Motorway and the railway runs along the western side of the lot. North of the CW Site has been developed into residential dwellings and a local school. The eastern side of the CW Site is currently being developed into a residential area. Within the CW Site there are several trails that are frequently used as four-wheel drive and motorbike tracks, despite efforts by the land owner to deter these actions.
The habitat quality assessment by Phillips in 2015 did confirm these disturbances and estimated as a result that only 33% was potentially occupied by koalas. This CW Site is within a fragmented landscape, surrounded by incompatible land uses. As a result of these disturbances the core habitat within the CW Site is limited.
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The current CW Site condition and land use of surrounding areas has had a significant impact on the sites’ carrying capacity. The ecological corridor linking the CW site to the KCA allows for the dispersal of koalas from the CW site, but the current CW Site condition does not encourage immigration or recruitment.
EPBC Act Referral Guidelines;
“Urban areas are not likely to contain habitat critical to the survival of the koala...”
It is unlikely that this area would be able to ensure long-term persistence of a population as a result of limiting resources and reduced connectivity to source populations. The impact area is no longer a large contiguous area of habitat that could sustain a viable koala population.
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4.0 LONG-TERM PERSISTENCE OF KOALAS ON THE CW SITE In order for the koala population to persist long-term the following factors need to be considered;
• Minimum Area o Habitat carrying capacity
▪ Available resources Occupancy rate and Immigration ▪ Edge effects • MVP
For a population to be viable an equilibrium of the rate of immigration is required to match the rate of extinction. This equilibrium is influenced by remoteness and size of the remnant patch (McArthur and Wilson 1967). Biolink ran a variety of scenarios to establish a minimum viable population (MVP) and the minimum area of habitat that would be required to support such a population.
“Population size has been shown to be the major determinant of persistence of a variety of animal species.” (Reed et al. 2003)
A MVP is a threshold number of individuals that once a population has dropped below it cannot recover (Shaffer 1981). A population below MVP can lead to inbreeding and can result in poor genetic diversity making populations less resilient and susceptible to disturbances and disease (Hilty et al. 2006; Franklin 1980; Gilpin and Soule’ 1986). A habitat would need to be able to sustain a MVP to be considered to be important for the species survival.
“Conservation biologists use the concepts of founder effects, demographic bottleneck, genetic drift, inbreeding, and island biogeography to estimate minimum viable population of rare and endangered species: the number of individuals such populations need for long-term survival.” (Miller and Spoolman 2009)
MVPs should be highly specific, depending on the environmental and life history characteristics of the species (Reed et al. 2003).
4.1 LIMITING FACTORS The impact area is degraded habitat as a result of edge effects. The limited core habitat and reduced availability resources has decreased the potential immigration by koalas from source populations (Woolnough 2005).
The current population of koalas within the impact area is approximately 5 as reported by Planit 2017 on an area that is only 147ha. Studies from the Noosa Shire suggest that the chance of koalas being present within a habitat declines once the patch becomes smaller than 150 hectares (City of Gold Coast 2014).
Biolink 2007 reported that the MVP of koalas is 170 individuals which would require a minimum habitat area of 1500ha. The carrying capacity of the impact area could never sustain a viable population of 170 individuals. The CW Site koala population will not recover within this habitat.
The current population is likely to either disperse to a more viable habitat or will go extinct from the impact area within the near future. The current habitat is a sink where the immigration rates are lower than the extinction rates (Pulliam 1988; Dias 1996).
The disturbances, availability of resources and conflicting land uses of surrounding areas have reduced the carrying capacity of the habitat. The current corridors within the developments allow for the
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This reduces the genetic diversity and causes a sink population where mortality rates are higher than recruitment. The impact area is not critical habitat and will not allow for the long-term persistence of the koala population on site.
The current koala population is already well below the required MVP for such a species, even if the over estimated population of 15 individuals were within the impact area they would still not be able to persist within this habitat (Gilpin and Soule’ 1986). The population is not important as defined by the EPBC Act Referral Guidelines and does not contribute to the overall survival of this species.
The Koala Conservation Plan (Draft) estimated that between 16-26 koalas were admitted to the Currumbin Wildlife Hospital between 2010-2016 from the Coomera area were diagnosed with disease. Chlamydia is the major cause of mortality in Gold Coast koalas. There were 371 koalas diagnosed with chlamydia admitted to the Currumbin Wildlife Hospital between 2010-2016 and of that total 77% of them died from the disease.
Biolink reported that the population within the C-PKHA was in healthy condition. The hospital admittance records demonstrate that the population is not healthy and this will have a significant impact on the long-term persistence.
Biolink (2007) came to the following conclusion;
“we determined that a KHA should ideally include a minimum area of approximately 1,500 ha of reasonably well-connected, high quality koala habitat in order to sustain a Minimum Viable Population of ~170 koalas while also allowing for a minimum occupancy rate of approximately 50% of available habitat in order to accommodate meta-population expansion and contraction.”
According to the factors above the CW Site and koala population does not meet;
1. the minimum area; or 2. MVP; and 3. The CW Site has a low occupancy rate (33%, estimated by Phillips 2015).
These factors reduce the potential for long-term persistence of the koala population within the CW Site. The CW Site does not meet the carrying capacity requirements to sustain a MVP and the koala population is already well below the MVP. It is likely that the koala population on the CW site will go extinct in the near future.
4.1.1 CRITICAL HABITAT Critical Habitat as defined by the guideline:
“Habitat that is Important for the species long-term survival and recovery and scores a ‘5’ or more using Koala habitat assessment tool.”
The habitat within the impact area was assessed with the Koala Habitat Assessment Tool and below ‘5’ and therefore not considered as critical habitat. This would usually not need a referral as it has a low risk of resulting in a significant impact.
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The habitat does not allow for the long-term persistence of the koala population currently within the CW Site as assessed above. The CW Site is therefore not important for the species long-term survival and recovery.
4.2 SIGNIFICANT IMPACT EVALUATION The Significant Impact Guidelines defines a Significant Impact as:
“an impact which is important, notable, or of consequence, having regard to its context or intensity. Whether or not an action is likely to have a significant impact depends upon the sensitivity, value, and quality of the environment which is impacted, and upon the intensity, duration, magnitude and geographic extent of the impacts. You should consider all of these factors when determining whether an action is likely to have a significant impact on matters of national environmental significance.”
Sections 2, 3 and 4 above have assessed the CW Site koala population and habitat and found that;
1. the population is not an important population; 2. the CW Site will not allow for the long-term persistence of the koala population on the site; and 3. the habitat is not critical to the survival of the Coomera Koala population.
The actions proposed by the Development Application will not have a significant impact on the species.
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5.0 REVIEW OF THREATS TO KOALAS This section addresses the following statement;
“The proposed action is likely to facilitate additional impacts from other actions in the area. This is likely to increase all threats to the koala”
Threats to Koalas (City of Gold Coasts Draft Koala Conservation Plan 2016);
• Loss of habitat
• Health and Disease • Vehicle strikes • Pest and domestic animal attacks
The loss of habitat will be insignificant (137ha). The CW Site is not critical habitat for the species survival and will not ensure the long-term persistence of the koala population on the CW site.
The adjacent developments to the north of the CW Site encompasses a green space network to facilitate wildlife movements. The planned development on the CW Site has allocated approximately 10 hectares to continue this corridor through the lot and encompass Wildlife Movement Solutions (WMS) to avoid contact with vehicles and domestic animals.
The Koala Conservation Plan (Draft) estimated that between 2010-2016 there were only 3-5 koalas admitted to the Currumbin Wildlife Hospital from a dog attack and 5-7 admitted for vehicle strikes from the Coomera area. These figures are insignificant compared with admittance for diseases.
The development of the surrounding sites has been ongoing for many years with no koala recorded mortalities by vehicle or domestic animals within the development vicinity.
This is confirmed within the koala Conservation Plan for East Coomera as demonstrated in figures B3.1 koala vehicle strikes (July 2008- October 2013) and C1.2 Home range analysis for in-situ koala monitoring. All vehicle strikes were recorded along the Pacific Motorway and roads south of the impact area.
The proposed development will not facilitate additional impacts from other actions in the area and unlikely to increase all threats to the koala.
EPBC Act Referral Guidelines;
“These existing threats are best addressed by local remedial action, rather than through regulation under the EPBC Act.”
The mitigation measures implemented through the proposed development will address these threats and meet the State and Local Government objectives.
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6 .0 ECOLOGICAL CORRIDOR FUNCTIONALITY This section addresses the following statement;
“The proposed clearing will force koalas into adjoining residential areas. These koalas will likely be killed by domestic dogs, struck by motor vehicles and/or succumb to disease. Sequential clearing is likely to increase stress on the koalas which will increase vulnerability to disease.”
6.1 SIGNIFICANCE OF LANDSCAPE CONNECTIVITY Connectivity in nature refers to the movement of processes or organisms through an environment (Crooks and Sanjayan 2006). Some wildlife species have difficulty living in or moving through a developed landscape (Bennett 1991; Riley et al. 2006). They require a continuous link of suitable habitat between two vegetation patches to safely move across the landscape (Bennett 1999). Connectivity of landscapes is important for the foraging and dispersal of koalas.
Koalas can travel hundreds of metres to favoured food trees, the connectivity of the environment in between these locations is important to provide safe passage and a landscape that is easy to traverse (Phillip and Callaghan 2011). Dispersal of species is vital for genetic, behavioural, evolutionary and physical processes (Bennett 1991; Riley et al. 2006).
As koalas are a solitary marsupial they must search for mates, as a result landscape connectivity supports genetic diversity and contributes to long-term persistence of koala populations (Hilty et al. 2006). Dedicated corridors can help facilitate these movements through a variety of structures and undisturbed landscapes reducing isolated populations.
6.2 ECOLOGICAL CORRIDORS AND KOALA SENSITIVE DESIGN An ecological corridor is a linkage of wildlife habitat, generally of native vegetation which connects two or more larger areas of similar habitat that were once connected in historical time (Bennet 1999). Connections between habitats are vital for maintenance of ecological processes, allowing for movement of animals and continuation of viable populations.
Connections between habitat enable migration, colonisation and interbreeding of plants and animals. When areas are isolated and reduced in size, species within become increasingly isolated and the on- going viability is affected. The collapse of ecological processes ensues as species migration, dispersal, recycling of nutrients, pollination of plants and other natural functions decline and usually resulting in the severe decline of biodiversity within a patch.
Ecological corridors can be implemented on varying scales depending on the target habitat and species; national, state and local scale. Local corridors provide connection of remnant patches of veg and landscape features such as creek lines, gullies, wetlands and ridges. In some cases, local corridors are less than 50m wide.
To combat these affects in an increasingly urbanised and fragmented landscape a number of artificial ecological corridors and WMS have been implemented to maintain essential ecological processes between habitat patches (Hayes and Goldingay 2009). Roads often pose a barrier to wildlife movement and threat through vehicle strikes (Jones et al. 2011). WMS have been implemented to facilitate the safe movement of wildlife and reduce mortality rates.
6.2.1 TYPES OF ECOLOGICAL CORRIDORS There are three primary corridor designs that are utilised within fragmented landscapes:
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1. Linear habitat corridor; • The corridor is a long relatively linear patch of remnant or rehabilitated landscape the directly connects one patch to another (NSW Government 2011). 2. Habitat mosaic corridor; • A landscape pattern comprising a number of patchy interspersed habitats of different quality for the target species (Bennett 1999). 3. Stepping stone corridor; • small remnant/rehabilitated vegetation patches or isolated trees, that provides resources and refuge to assist in movement through the landscape (Bennet 1999).
When considering corridor design the scale, target species and potential threats need to be evaluated.
6.2.2 WILDLIFE MOVEMENT SOLUTIONS WMS can be categorised into two different types (Queensland Government 2010):
1. Overpass; this enables the fauna to cross over the barrier • Land bridges • Dual purpose small roads • Cut and cover tunnel • Canopy bridge • poles 2. Underpass; this enables the fauna to cross below the barrier • Culvert • Tunnel • Bridge
6.3 ECOLOGICAL CORRIDOR ASSESSMENT The proposed ecological corridor is shown within Figure 8, this corridor will connect to the established corridor shown within Figure 9. The proposed corridor is on a local scale and will provide dispersal for koalas to remnant patches and protected koalas habitats.
The result will be a corridor to provide immediate refuge and dispersal to wildlife from residential and development areas. The corridor has a dense canopy cover within a preferred landscape of established vegetation. This allows for safe refuge for koalas from threats posed by vehicles and aggressive animals which limits potential edge effects.
The designated corridor is sufficient to provide refuge and dispersal for threatened wildlife. The design is important so that the corridor provides a method of dispersal only and not large enough to encourage recruitment.
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CW Site
Ecological Corridor
FIGURE 8: DIAGRAM ILLUSTRATES THE CONTINUED ECOLOGICAL FIGURE 7: AERIAL SHOWING THE EXISTING CORRIDOR TO THE CORRIDOR THROUGH THE CW SITE (SOURCE: SHG 2015) NORTH-EAST OF THE CW SITE (SOURCE: GOOGLE EARTH 2017)
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Images: Coomera Woods Ecological Corridor
Under the SPRP the impact area is not located within an identified koala broad-hectare area. The proposed development meets the requirements within Column 2, Division 3.2 Development Assessment Criteria:
1. Site design provides safe koala movement opportunities as appropriate to the development type and habitat connectivity values of the site determined by reference to the factors for consideration in Schedule 2. 2. Native vegetation clearing is undertaken as sequential clearing and under the guidance of a koala spotter where the native vegetation in a non-juvenile koala habitat tree. 3. During construction phases: a. Measures are incorporated into construction practices to not increase the risk of death or injury to koalas; and b. Native vegetation that is cleared and in an area intended to be retained for safe koala movement opportunities is progressively restored and rehabilitated. 4. Landscaping activities provide food, shelter and movement opportunities for koalas consistent with site design.
The development would meet objectives 2, 3, 4, 7 and 8 of koala sensitive design within the Nature Conservation (Koala) Conservation Plan 2006 and Management Program 2006-2016 through the design of the planned corridor and WMS:
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• Provision of continuous connection of habitat where fragmentation by roads and other structures is minimised; • linkage of on-site habitat to habitat external to the site; • reconnecting and rehabilitating disturbed habitat linkages and areas retained within open space; • mitigating threats from domestic dogs; and • minimising and mitigating impacts from road traffic.
In the East Coomera Koala Conservation Plan (2014-2018; p. 30) the study of home ranges recorded approximately 4 individuals using the corridor area. This suggests that the established corridor within the residential developments is currently facilitating safe wildlife movement through the residential and development areas.
Further evidence of this was confirmed while SHG were performing strip transects through the CW Site and even though the koala was not counted within the survey it was witnesses moving on and off the CW Site over a period of five days using the existing corridor to the north east of the impact area (Figure 10).
The existing corridor allows for the safe movement of koalas from the impact area demonstrating that there is sufficient connectivity for the current population to disperse into viable habitats, such as the KCA to the east.
The above illustrates that Polaris Coomera Pty Ltd meets requirements of SPRP and the Nature Conservation (Koala) Conservation Plan 2006 and Management Program 2006-2016 by facilitating the safe movement of koalas in and out of the impact area.
In addition to this the implementation of sequential clearing and use of an experienced spotter/catcher will be used to mitigate any potential threat to individuals within the impact area. If there are any outlying koalas within the impact area at the time of clearing they will be guided to safety within the corridor and disperse to the KCA.
TABLE 5: ECOLOGICAL CORRIDOR ASSESSMENT
Criteria Comments Compliance Local Scale Width of corridor meets the requirements for a Y local scale corridor, > 50m. Continuous Linear Corridor The ecological corridor is a linear habitat corridor Y of remnant vegetation. WMS The corridor also integrates WMS solutions to Y reduce wildlife encountering vehicles. Target Species Requirements Dense canopy cover, suitable for the koala to Y provide refuge and reduce edge effects. Preferred food trees available Y Clearing Process within Site Sequential clearing will be undertaken to allow for Y dispersal and guide wildlife towards the ecological corridor. Spotter/Catcher Expert spotter/catcher will be on site during Y clearing to reduce potential threats to wildlife.
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EPBC Act Referral Guidelines;
“These existing threats are best addressed by local remedial action, rather than through regulation under the EPBC Act.”
The proposed development meets the requirements of State and Local planning instrument objectives.
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FIGURE 9: KOALA WITNESSED USING CORRIDOR TO MOVE IN AND OUT OF IMPACT AREA (SHG 2017)
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7.0 DISCUSSION
The purpose of this report was to address the four statements by DEE decisions that development within the CW Site is likely to have a significant impact on the koala due to a range of factors. The four statements are contained within the following;
• The Impact Area may allow for the long-term persistence of the koala population present on
the CW Site (despite the lack of connectivity) • The koala population in the Impact Area is important for the viability of the species in the Coomera area. • The proposed action is likely to facilitate additional impacts from other actions in the area. This is likely to increase all threats to the koala. • The proposed clearing will force koalas into adjoining residential areas. These koalas will likely be killed by domestic dogs, struck by motor vehicles and/or succumb to disease. Sequential clearing is likely to increase stress on the koalas which will increase vulnerability to disease
The surveys performed by Planit in 2017 and the review of literature have confirmed that the current population size, site quality and conflicting land uses of surrounding areas that the population will not persist long-term. The designated ecological corridor will allow for the refuge and safe dispersal of koalas from the impact area.
The present koala population occupying the impact area is estimated to be approximately 5 individuals, a third of the original estimate by Phillips in 2015. The sampling method chosen by Planit to produce this result was evaluated within part 1 of this report as being the most reliable to estimate koala abundance and density.
It was essential to establish a reliable population estimate to analyse the significance of the population and habitat. The population within the impact area is not classified as an ‘Important Population’ under the Significant Impact Guidelines. The population is not vital to the long-term survival or recovery of the species.
When the C-PKHA was first surveyed by Biolink, the area was a large contiguous site of relatively undisturbed habitat. Within the last decade the UKA has undergone a significant transformation to provide essential dwellings, amenities and transport infrastructure for the growing SEQ population. The habitat was declared as not ‘critical habitat’ when assessed against the koala Habitat Assessment Tool. The habitat connectivity, key existing threats and recovery value were all scored low due to the current habitat quality and surrounding land uses.
The habitat’s carrying capacity has significantly reduced due to the size of the patch, edge effects and reduced connectivity from conflicting land uses surrounding the impact area. In 2015 Phillips acknowledged that disturbances have has a significant impact on the quality of habitat during the habitat quality assessment and estimated as a result that only approximately 33% of the site was habitable by koalas. As a result of the present habitat quality and reduced carrying capacity the impact area would not be able to ensure long-term persistence of a viable population.
The estimated koala population size has been established at 5 individuals as reported by Planit 2017 and resides within the impact area, which is 147 hectares. Biolink reported that models they ran
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Coomera Woods Koala Evaluation and Assessment Chapter 2: Response to Referral Decision Brief Polaris Coomera Pty Ltd produced an output of 170 individuals as the MVP and 1500 hectares would be required to sustain a population of that size. The population within the impact area would not be able to recover to create an equilibrium where the immigration/recruitment rate match the extinction rate, as the carrying capacity for the site has declined significantly.
It is likely that the current koala population will not persist within the impact area even if it is reserved for conservation. The population is not important within the scope of species survival or recovery and the habitat will not allow for the long-term persistence of this population in relation to the lack of resources to sustain a viable population and inadequate recruitment from source populations (Pulliam 1988; Dias 1996).
The established ecological corridor within the residential development to the north of the impact area facilitates the movement of fauna through the landscape and away from the impact area. this was confirmed through the Koala Conservation Plan for East Coomera as there were no recorded koala mortality from roads surrounding the impact area and corridor.
During the surveys performed by SHG a koala was witnessed using the corridor to move in and out of the impact area over five days multiple times. The provision of an ecological corridor within the proposed development by Polaris Coomera Pty Ltd meets the SPRP requirements of development within an identified broad-hectare koala area and the Nature Conservation (Koala) Conservation Plan 2006 and Management Program 2006-2016 by addressing a number of koala sensitive design objectives that allow koalas to move safely within a landscape.
7.1 SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS The report concludes that the proposed development within the impact area by Polaris Coomera Pty Ltd will not result in a significant impact on the koala as listed and protected as a Matter of National Environmental Significance under the EPBC Act 1999. The impact area and koala population have been rigorously surveyed and assessed against the Significant Impact Guidelines and concluded that:
1. The Impact Area will not allow for the long-term persistence of the koala population present on the CW Site; 2. The koala population within the Impact Area is not important for the viability of the species in the Coomera area; 3. The proposed action is unlikely to facilitate additional impacts from other actions in the area and unlikely to increase all threats to the koala 4. The proposed sequential clearing will guide koalas into the ecological corridor and facilitate movement into the Coomera Koala Habitat Area, an area which will allow for the long-term persistence of the koala population. The ecological corridor will provide safe passage and reduce threats by domestic dogs, motor vehicles and aggressive wildlife.
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8 .0 REFERENCES Bennett, A. 1991. ‘Roads, roadsides and wildlife conservation: a review’, in Bennet A (ed.), Nature Conservation 2: the role of corridors, Surrey Beatty, Chipping Norton.
Bennett, A. 1999. Linkages in the landscape: the role of corridors and connectivity in wildlife conservation .
Boulter, S., Wilson, A., Anderson, E., Turner, E and Scanlan, J. 1999. Native vegetation management in Queensland, Department of Natural Resources and Mines, Brisbane. Chapin, F., Mooney, H. and Matson, P. 2002. Principles of terrestrial ecosystem ecology. Springer- Verlag, NY.
City of Gold Coast, 2014. Koala Conservation Plan for East Coomera, Planning and Environment Directorate, July 2014 to June 2018.
Crooks, K and Sanjayan, M. 2006. Connectivity Conservation, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.
Diamond, J. 1975. The Island Dilemma: lessons of modern biogeographic studies for the design of natural reserves. Biological Conservation 7: 129-46.
Franklin, I. R. 1980. Evolutionary change in small populations. Pages 135 – 140 in: M. E. Soule and B. A. Wilcox (eds.), Conservation Biology: An Evolutionary Ecological Perspective. Sunderland, Mass.: Sinauer Associates.
Gilpin, M. E., and M. E. Soule. 1986. Minimum viable populations: processes of species extinction. Pages 19–34 in M. E. Soule (ed.), Conservation Biology: The Science of Scarcity and Diversity. Sunderland, Mass.: Sinauer Associates.
Hayes, I and Goldingay, R 2009. 'Use of fauna road-crossing structures in north-eastern New South Wales', Australian Mammalogy, vol. 31, no. 2, pp. 89-95.
Hilty, JA, Lidicker Jr, WZ & Merenlender, A 2006. Corridor ecology: the science and practice of linking landscapes for biodiversity conservation, Island Press, Washington.
Jones, DN, Bakker, M, Bichet, O, Coutts, R & Wearing, T 2011. ‘Restoring Habitat Connectivity over the Road: Vegetation on Fauna Land Bridge in South East Queensland’, Ecological Management and Restoration, vol. 12, no. 1, pp. 76-79
Lowry, H, Lilly, A & Wong, BBM 2013. 'Behavioural responses of wildlife to urban environments', Biological Reviews, vol. 88, no. 3, pp. 537-49
Lunney, D. and Recher, H. 1994. The living landscape: an ecological view of national parks and nature conservation, in HF Recher, D lunney and I Dunn (eds), A natural legacy: ecology in Australia, pp. 294- 328.
McArthur, R. and Wilson, E. 1967. The theory of island biogeography. Princeton University Press, NJ, Princeton.
Miller, T. and Spoolman, E. 2009. Living in the Environment: Concepts, Connections and Solutions. Brooks/Cole, Canada.
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New South Wales Government, Office of Environment and Heritage 2011. Conservation Managem ent Notes- Corridors and connectivity.
Phillips, S. and Callaghan, J. 2011. The Spot Assessment Technique: a tool for determining localised levels of habitat use by Koalas Phascolarctos cinereus. Australian Zoologist 35: 774-80.
Queensland Government, Department of Transport and Main Roads, 2010. Fauna sensitive road design manual. Volume 2: preferred practices.
Reed, D, O’Grady, J, Brook, B, Ballou, J and Frankham, R. 2003. Estimates of minimum viable population sizes for vertebrates and factors influencing those estimates. Biological Conservation 113: 23-34.
Riley, S, Pollinger, J, Sauvajot, R, York, E, Bromley, C, Fuller, T and Wayne, R 2006. Fast-Track: A southern California freeway is a physical and social barrier to gene flow in carnivores, Molecular Ecology, vol. 15, pp.1733-1741.
Shaffer, M. L. 1981. Minimum population sizes for species conservation. Bioscience 31: 131–134.
Sinclair, A. Fryxell, J. and Caughley, G. 2006. Wildlife Ecology, Conservation and Management, 2nd Edition, Blackwell Publishing, Carlton, Victoria.
Whittaker, R. 1998. Island biogeography: ecology, evolution and conservation, Oxford University Press, NY.
Wilson, E. and Willis, E. 1975. Applied biogeography. Pages 522−534 in M. L. Cody and J. M. Diamond, editors. Ecology and evolution of communities. Harvard University Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.
8.1 DOCUMENTS REFERRED TO WITHIN THIS REPORT 8.1.1 BIOLINK 2007 Phillips, S., Hopkins, M. and Callaghan, J. 2007a. Koala habitat and population assessment for the Gold Coast City LGA. Final report to Gold Coast City Council. Biolink Ecological Consultants.
Phillips, S., Hopkins, M. and Callaghan, J. 2007b. Conserving Koalas in the Coomera-Pimpama Koala habitat area: a view to the future. Final Report to Gold Coast City Council. Biolink Ecological Consultants.
8.1.2 PHILLIPS 2015 Phillips, S. 2015. Impacts of proposed clearing activity on the koala habitat located at 49 George Alexander Way, Coomera in the City of Gold Coast LGA, South- Eastern Qld. Australian Government, Dept. of Environment.
8.1.3 SAUNDERS HAVILL GROUP 2017 Saunders Havill Group, 2017. Coomera Woods: Koala Assessment Report, 49 & 51 George Alexander Way, Coomera
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Attachment - Koala Habitat Assessment Tool (Saunders Havill Group).
Attribute Score Comment Koala 2 The EPBC Act Protected Matters Search Tool identified the Koala as having potential to occur occurrence on site. A search of Queensland’s Wildlife Online Search Tool using a 10 kilometre radius found 372 records of the Koala, while 11 sightings had been recorded within a 1 kilometre radius of the site. While there is evidence of Koala occurrence on the site, it is noted that East Coomera Koala Conservation Project has involved the relocation of 180 ‘at risk’ Koalas out of the imminent Coomera development area in June 2014. This has included the removal of 19 Koalas off the referral site as well as surrounding areas the site as part of the East Coomera Koala Conservation Project, significantly reducing the number of Koalas in the area. The East Coomera Koala Conservation Project is now complete having relocated 180 species from the area. Recent survey, since the relocation of Koalas, of the site, noted a single juvenile male was observed on Day 1 of the 4 day field survey completed in 2015 and was not resighted on the following three (3) days. In addition, while scats were observed in several locations across the site, these were concentrated to gully lines and foothills and overall use of the site by the species is considered to be “low”. Further, while scats were observed across the site, it is unknown how long they have been on site (i.e. prior to relocation in June 2014), with survey noting in many locations as being ‘old’. Additional comprehensive direct koala surveys were completed in August and again in October 2016. Both surveys occurred post the clearing of vegetated areas associated with the Bloom Estate on the land adjoining to the immediate east. In both surveys a single koala was observed either on or adjacent to the project site. As there is evidence of Koala occurrence is the previous two years, this attribute has been scored 2. Vegetation 2 A detailed description of the vegetation composition on site is provided in earlier sections of composition this report, and based on the results from 2004, 2008 and 2015 ecological field survey. Overall, the site was found to be dominated by species that achieve the definition of ‘woodland’ and ‘forest’ as referenced in the Koala Referral Guidelines. Ecological survey of the site shows the referral area is predominately dominated by Eucalyptus and Corymbia species. Specifically, these species included Eucalyptus tereticornis (Forest Red Gum), Eucalyptus siderophloia (Grey Gum), Corymbia intermedia (Pink Bloodwood), Corymbia citriodora (Spotted Gum) and Broad- leaved Ironbark (Eucalyptus fibrosa)/or Grey Ironbark (E. siderophloia). Further, there was a high dominance of Allocasuarina littoralis (Black She-oak), A. torulosa (Forest She-oak) and Wattles (Acacia disparrima, A. leiocalyx, A. melanoxylon) throughout the shrub layer and a number of weed species were identified. As vegetation composing of canopy species on site is made up of more than two species considered to be Koala food trees, this attribute has been given a score of 2. Two or more Koala food trees were identified in the canopy, resulting in an attribute score of 2. Habitat 0 Contextually, the site is bound by the Gold Coast Railway Line to the west, Foxwell Road the Connectivity south and existing and approved development to the north and east. While current aerial imagery shows vegetated patches to the south, southwest and east (refer Plan 5), connectivity to this vegetation is segregated by existing arterial and rail infrastructure and future development and EPBC approvals. Additionally, the Bloom Estate to the immediate east has now completed vegetation clearing removing the majority of vegetation adjoining the eastern boundary with the exception of the retained gully line. Urban development has expanded significantly in the wider Coomera area over the past decade, with residential estates now dominating the landscape to the east and west of the Pacific Motorway. A primary barrier to dispersal between the site and bushland directly to the west is the Gold Coast Railway Line and Coomera Train Station. Trains travel along this portion of the line between Brisbane and the Gold Coast roughly every half an hour between 5am and 12pm. The high frequency of train movements along the track poses significant threats of injury or death to dispersing Koalas. In addition, vegetation clearing of isolated pockets between the railway line and Pacific Motorway associated with Westfield’s Northern Frame Precinct (EPBC2014/7291) and Shopping Centre (EPBC20147292) has now been completed. The State Government committed to $47.4million, in addition to the existing $410 million commitment from the Australian Government and $17.3 million commitment from the developers of the Coomera Town Centre, for the upgrade of the existing interchange connected to the Pacific Motorway and Coomera Exit 54 located at Foxwell Road. This financial
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commitment demonstrates the obligation from all levels of Government for Foxwell Road to be developed as a major arterial. This upgrade is required to cater for continued growth of the Coomera Area and has recently been completed. The Coomera Town Centre Structure Plan, provided in Plan 5, shows that the surrounding Coomera area is expected to undergo even further development in the future. The subject site comprises a significant proportion of this development zone and as such, will be surrounded by existing and future development. Consequently, the project area will become a completely isolated patch fragmented from habitat patches elsewhere in the landscape once surrounding development is complete. Operational clearing of the Bloom Estate to the east of the project has now been completed. No functioning viable corridors suitable to support the regular and onging movement of koalas between habitat areas has been planned or retained within the Coomera Town Centre. Further, Council have taken direct action through the East Coomera Koala Conservation Project, to relocate the large Koala population outside of the Coomera Town Centre to areas designated for Koala conservation within the broader jurisdiction of the Gold Coast. A minor network of lineal open space has been achieved in fragments through developments to the north and east. These areas range in width from 20m to 80m. No conservation measures have been incorporated into this system (i.e. fencing, signage, Koala tree planting program). Additionally, the linear system is severed by several minor and major roads and in other locations the full width of open space caters for storm water treatment devices. This lineal system is not assessed as supportive of functional connectivity in relation to habitat to and from the site (refer Plan 6). Although not providing functioning connectivity the Koala Conservation Plan for East Coomera maintains these areas for provision of dispersal of any remaining koalas in the Urban Koala Area to the Koala Conservation Area which is to be retained and restored for as permanent koala habitat. Overall, the site is significantly disconnected from large contiguous patches of bushland. While limited movement opportunities are currently exist to the east, future development intent and Council approvals over these areas will inevitable see this vegetation cleared for residential development. Once approvals are in place, contiguous vegetation within the landscape will be confined to the referral site and vegetated properties to the north and south, comprising 185ha. In addition, as no viable movement corridors or areas of Koala habitat have are planned to be retained adjoining the site. The attribute value for habitat connectivity has been determined to be 0. No habitat connectivity values will be retained in the short or long term surrounding the site, resulting in an attribute score of 0. Key Existing 0 Detailed knowledge is known about the existing threats to koalas in the East Coomera area as threats extensive monitoring and research was completed during 2012 and 2013 as a lead in to implementing the Council’s translocation strategy. The following data is provided from Council’s Reports surrounding this strategy and reports on threats at a time when East Coomera was substantially less developed than to the current day. Vehicle Strike: Between 2012 and 2013 Wildcare Australia recorded six (6) koala fatalities from vehicle strike within East Coomera. In the same period Gold Coast City Council recorded a further two (2) koala fatalities taking the total deaths from vehicle strike to 8 for the period. The majority of these strikes occurred along Foxwell Road to the south of the project site. Additionally thirteen (13) koala vehicle strike records were made along the Pacific Motorway as it traverses the Coomera area. Substantial development expansion and vehicle usage on existing and new roads has occurred since this period. Additionally, it is noted that the project areaincludes two new large scale “trunk” road corridors partially funded by the Council and State Government. Dog Attack: There are 60,000 registered dogs within the Gold Coast area with the majority of these residing in urban settings and occurring and proposed through the entire East Coomera area. In 2012, fifteen (15) koalas were rescued or recovered from the East Coomera Area by Wildcare Australia. Many of these were due to threats or actual suspected attacks by dogs. Substantial evidence of both frequent and regular koala mortality from vehicle strike and dog attack is known within the immediate proximity of the project site. These threats along with the removal of habitat are in essence why the CGC commenced the unorthodox strategy of physically capturing and relocating the koalas from the East Coomera area. The Coomera Woods site is almost completely surrounded by these threat factors either through already constructed residential areas and roads or through approved and under construction areas, the majority of which also retain EPBC clearance. Due to the existence of key threats, the attribute has been scored 0.
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Coomera Woods Koala Evaluation and Assessment Chapter 2: Response to Referral Decision Brief Polaris Coomera Pty Ltd
Recovery 0 The interim recovery objective for coastal areas is based upon protecting and conserving large, Value connected areas of Koala habitat, particularly where Koalas are genetically diverse/ distinct, free of disease or have a low incidence of disease or where there is evidence of breeding. None of these elements are considered to be present on the referral site and as such its recovery value is assessed as being 0. This is primarily because, as shown in Plan 6, the site is heavily fragmented and will inevitably be isolated from large, continuous patches of Koala habitat, as local development expands in accordance with the Coomera Town Centre Structure Plan. Further, the site makes up significant proportion of the Coomera Town Centre development area and adjoins the Activity Centre Precinct and Rail Station. If the development does not proceed it dramatically effects all existing development and proposed development in the Coomera area. The referral site is already highly fragmented and isolated by surrounding roads and rails, and while some connectivity remains to the east, future approvals will remove connectivity opportunities between the site and areas of potential koala habitat. Further, this development will result in the isolated site surrounded by\ increased key threats to the species including roads and domestic pets. The site is not considered large enough in isolation to function and sustain koala populations. While a small juvenile male was observed on the site during the first day of field survey, it was not resighted on the remaining 3 days by field ecologists suggesting it, or other potential individuals, are not confined to the project site. This assumption is further supported by two census style direct koala surveys completed in 2016 (August and October). Both surveys noted only a single koala and infrequently despite targeted efforts to capture records during 160 person hours of survey and over 100 hours of infred camera surveys. Further, while evidence of scats on site indicated a ‘low’ level of usage by the species, the age of these scats cannot be ascertained and it is likely that a portion of the scats recorded as part of the SATs were left prior to relocation of koalas off the site as part of the East Coomera Koala Conservation Project in June 2014. Further previous field work as well as research undertaken as part of the East Coomera Koala Conservation Project indicates the site in isolation does not support a viable subpopulation of koalas. As shown in Plan 5, the Coomera Town Centre Structure Plan, planning intent is for the area to be completely developed, with no conservation linkages proposed to be retained within the landscape. While two slithers of Conservation land area mapped over the referral site, and are to be retained by the development, these have been designated due to topographical constraints and reflect drainage lines. The will not in isolation support viable movement corridors for the species and were not designed to form part of conservation linkages for Koala movement in the Coomera Town Centre. The western slither of conservation land adjoins and mapped Recreational Open Space/Urban Parkland linkage which connects the site to parkland associated with Oxley Creek to the west of the railway line. This corridor is intended as a recreational linkage for residents a visitors and will be embellished with amenities. No Environmental Corridors or meaningful areas of conservation are mapped within or adjoining to connect the site with external koala habitat areas. Further, over 180 koalas have been relocated from the area as part of the East Coomera Koala Conservation Project, including nineteen (19) individuals from the site itself due to it being identified as a ‘high risk’ development area. Planning intent and actions by Council do not support the retention of habitat for koala or existing populations in the area. Overall, the site does not meet the interim recovery objectives for coastal regions and as such, is given an attribute score of 0. As the referral site does not meet the interim recovery objectives, the attribute has been scored 0 Total 4
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