Survey methodology was developed with regard to the Commonwealth and State guidelines applicable to the relevant species and involved: Fish survey - the fish survey undertaken aimed to sample the broad range of fish species that could potentially inhabit the project study area and included methods to specifically target threatened species. Survey techniques included: – Box traps – box traps were baited and set for a minimum of two (2) hours within suitable habitats. A total of ten (10) traps were set within the project study area. Individual trap placement aimed to sample the variety of microhabitats (e.g. woody debris, root); – Fyke netting – fyke netting was conducted where water levels provided suitable trapping conditions. The net was set with the cod end attached to the bank with the wings of the net outstretched and staked into the substrate (Plate 2-1). The fyke net was set overnight; and – Pool watches – pool watches were conducted within each aquatic habitat assessment site. Watches were a minimum of 30 search minutes in duration. Turtle survey - ten cathedral traps were baited with beef heart and set within the project study area. Traps were set for approximately 18 hours and checked twice during this period. Trapping targeted key habitat areas such as undercut banks and submerged woody debris. Bank margins within the project study area were also assessed for nesting habitat suitability; Platypus survey - suitability of the project study area for platypus habitat was assessed through habitat assessment and identification of banks potential suitable for burrows. Thirty minute pool watches were also undertaken within each habitat assessment site; and Opportunistic observations of aquatic fauna species were also undertaken within the project study area during the field survey event. Note – high water levels and poor visibility within the project study area prevented the inclusion of electrofishing and snorkelling as part of the field survey techniques. The survey techniques that were implemented are considered suitable for the purpose of identifying environmental values and potential project impacts. The exclusion of electrofishing and snorkelling is not considered to have impacted the likelihood of occurrence assessment for conservation significant species. The target surveys for aquatic fauna species builds on the surveys conducted within the project study areas by Central Queensland University in 2011 (Wormington and Black 2011). 2.2.5 Qualifications The results of the field survey are based on a single sampling event undertaken in February 2016. Field surveys aimed to identify the presence of terrestrial and aquatic environmental values within the project study area and were not designed to determine population abundance or density. The likelihood of occurrence of species not recorded during the field survey event is based on an assessment of habitat conditions/suitability and information identified during the desktop assessment. Habitat assessment, species profiles and hydrological information has been used to provide an understanding of the seasonal variability in the environment. 10 | GHD | Report for Department of Transport and Main Roads - Coondoo Creek Bridge Replacement, 41/29634 Plate 2-1 Turtle cathedral traps within the project study area 2.3 Likelihood of occurrence assessment The potential for species of conservation significance (listed as critically endangered, endangered, vulnerable, near threatened or special least concern under the EPBC Act and/or NC Act) to be present within the project study area was determined based on a likelihood of occurrence assessment. Conservation significant species identified during the desktop assessment were assessed using the following categories: Unlikely to occur: species has not been recorded in the desktop search extent and/or current known distribution does not encompass the project study area and/or suitable habitat is generally lacking from the project study area; May occur: species has not been recorded in the desktop search extent although species’ distribution incorporates the project study area and potentially suitable habitat occurs in the project study area (but may not be particularly abundant or optimal habitat); Likely to occur: species has been recorded in the desktop search extent and suitable habitat is present in the project study area (species determined to be ‘likely to occur’ are otherwise known to occur within the project study area or surrounding landscape, and has suitable habitat present; however were not recorded during field surveys); and Confirmed present: species recorded during field surveys in the project study area. GHD | Report for Department of Transport and Main Roads - Coondoo Creek Bridge Replacement, 41/29634 | 11 3. Existing ecological values 3.1 Mary River catchment The project study area is located within the lower Mary River drainage sub-basin, which has a total area of 6,758 square kilometres (km2) (DEHP 2016) (Figure 1-1). Major towns within the sub-basin include Gympie, Kilkivan, Maryborough and Tiaro (DEHP 2016). Coondoo Creek is a fifth order tributary that flows into the Mary River via Tinana Creek. The Mary River discharges into the Great Sandy Strait, approximately 110 km downstream from the project construction footprint. The Great Sandy Strait is a Wetland of International Importance (Ramsar wetland). Land use is dominated by state forest pine plantations. Queensland DAF has identified Coondoo Creek is an important waterway for fish passage and as such, the presence of an artificial barrier has the potential to have a major (purple) risk of impact on fish movement (Queensland Waterways for Waterway Barrier Works spatial layer; Figure 1-1). The design of temporary and permanent structures for the project must therefore consider potential impacts on fish movement. 3.2 Terrestrial habitat 3.2.1 Habitat description The existing environment within the project study area consists of mature riparian vegetation dominated by Melaleuca, Allocasuarina, Eucalyptus and Lophostemon species (Plate 3-1). The riparian vegetation associated with Coondoo Creek represents a large tract of remnant vegetation which provides fauna connectivity across the landscape. Toolara State Forest surrounds Coondoo Creek to the east and west of the project construction footprint (Figure 3-1). The dominant land use in the immediate surrounding area is plantation forestry of Pinus elliottii (slash pine). Road side maintenance and management of existing power easements appear to be the primary disturbances of fauna habitat, with a small amount of litter present and evidence of road drainage into adjacent habitats. Plate 3-1 Terrestrial habitat upstream (left) and downstream (right) of the existing Coondoo Creek bridge on Tin Can Bay Road 12 | GHD | Report for Department of Transport and Main Roads - Coondoo Creek Bridge Replacement, 41/29634 Terrestrial fauna habitat types present within the project study area, as described by GHD 2012, include: Riparian vegetation dominated by Melaleuca quinquenervia and Allocasuarina litoralis. Bank edges dominated by Lomandra longifolia (Plate 3-1) - upstream of the existing Coondoo Creek bridge; Riparian vegetation dominated by Melaleuca quinquenervia and Lophostemon suaveolens. Bank edges dominated by Lomandra longifolia (Plate 3-1) – downstream of the existing Coondoo Creek bridge; Non-riparian vegetation consisting of Allocasuarina open woodland, with edge effects from adjacent exotic pine plantation (Plate 3-2) - roadside vegetation on south-eastern side of Tin Can Bay Road; and Melaleuca swamp area (Plate 3-2) - patches of this habitat occur parallel to Coondoo Creek downstream of the existing bridge and south of the existing forestry track on the southern side of the road. The location of terrestrial habitats within the project study area are illustrated in Figure 3-1, while detailed terrestrial habitat descriptions are provided in Appendix B. Plate 3-2 Allocasuarina open woodland (left) and Melaleuca swamp (right) 3.2.2 Essential habitat The project construction footprint is mapped as containing essential habitat for two (2) NC Act listed threatened species; wallum froglet (Crinia tinnula) and wallum rocketfrog (Litoria freycineti) (Figure 3-1). The riparian habitat and Allocasuarina woodland within the project construction footprint contains limited suitable habitat for these species and no suitable breeding habitat occurs. The Melaleuca swamp habitat located adjacent to the project construction footprint (Figure 3-1), does provide suitable habitat for the wallum froglet and the species is considered likely to occur (refer to Section 3.5.3). The Melaleuca swamp provides suitable, although sub-optimal, habitat for the wallum rocketfrog and the species may occur. GHD | Report for Department of Transport and Main Roads - Coondoo Creek Bridge Replacement, 41/29634 | 13 483,250 483,400 483,550 483,700 483,850 484,000 484,150 484,300 484,450 484,600 7,125,600 7,125,600 NEERDIE STATE FOREST 2 OAD R Y Main view A NEERDIE STATE FOREST 1 B N A C IN T 7,125,450 TOOLARA STATE FOREST 7,125,450 5 4 GREAT SANDY NATIONAL PARK 1:150,000 3 2 Based on or contains data provided by the State of QLD (DNRM) 2016. 2 In consideration of the State permitting use of this data you acknowledge 7,125,300 and agree that the State gives no warranty in relation to the data 7,125,300 (including accuracy, reliability, completeness, currency or suitability) and accepts no liability (including without limitation, liability