Report for Upper Mundic Gully TSF, that includes results of the desktop assessment in further detail, is provided in Appendix E. Ecological surveys conducted by GHD from the 7 th – 9 th of April 2025 involved a combination of opportunistic searches for flora and fauna, and/or traces of fauna, flora and habitat assessments and active searches. In depth methodologies and survey effort are discussed in Sections 2.3.2 and 4.2 respectively of GHD’s Ecological assessment report (Appendix E). The results of the ecological surveys are discussed in Sections 4.3 and 4.4 of the same report for flora and fauna respectively. Grant Paterson (Managing Director and Principal Ecologist of GAP Tree Change Pty Ltd) and Lachlan McQuire (Senior Environmental Advisor at SGME) conducted a site visit on 13 June 2025 with the aim of verifying GHD’s ecological observations and subsequently reviewing/revising their conclusions following analysis of the project area context. Grant Paterson has over 30 years’ botanical experience working both in government and in industry and is a suitably qualified person for the purposes of undertaking protected plant surveys. An additional in-depth fauna survey was undertaken by WTS from 27 th – 29 th August and 15 th -19 th September 2025 involving a combination of bird surveys, active searches, nocturnal searches and call playbacks, camera trapping and bat detectors. The methodologies and results are discussed in depth in the Fauna Survey Report (Appendix M). Conservation significant flora Two conservation significant flora species were confirmed present within the project area ( Grevillea hockingsii and Cycas megacarpa ). 6.7.3.1 G. hockingsii is listed as vulnerable under the NC Act (Queensland) but not listed under the EPBC Act (Commonwealth). A population of approximately 67 individuals was confirmed along the northern slopes of Upper Mundic Gully. Individuals ranged from seedlings to mature flowering/seeding individuals. All individuals appeared of good health. In addition to the above population, approximately 29.5 ha of suitable habitat has been mapped for the species within the project area. Suitable habitat for the species, within the project area, has been described as low woodland to open forests dominated by of Corymbia citriodora , Corymbia trachyphloia , Syncarpia glomulifera and/or Acacia spp , on steep slopes and hill crests with shallow, well drained, sandy loam soils derived from sandstone or basalt volcanic rocks. Within the project area this suitable habitat has been verified within both remnant and HVR vegetation. The aforementioned population and its mapped suitable habitat is depicted in Figure 47. C. megacarpa is listed endangered under both the NC Act and EPBC Act. A population of approximately 46 individuals were confirmed along the southern extent of the project area. Individuals ranged in height from 0.3 – 5.5 m tall, with multiple individuals noted with fruit. Health varied across the population. Some individuals presented healthy foliage and new growth, while others presented signs of chlorosis (yellowing) and/or insect herbivory. Multiple dead trunks believed to be C. megacarpa were noted amongst live individuals. In addition to the above population, approximately 34.17 ha of suitable habit was mapped for the species within the project area. Suitable habitat for the species, within the project area, has been described as both remnant, HVR and nonremnant vegetation on steep slopes and hill crests with shallow, well drained, sandy loam soils derived from sandstone or basalt volcanic rocks. Remnant/HVR suitable habitat is defined as woodland to open forests dominated by of Corymbia citriodora , Corymbia trachyphloia , Syncarpia glomulifera and/or Acacia spp . Nonremnant suitable habitat is defined as young Acacia spp. regrowth with mixed native and exotic grassy ground cover. The aforementioned population and its mapped suitable habitat is depicted in Figure 48.
Project number: 25B061
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