Significant Residual Impact criteria resting sites) of a species.
Assessment
6.9.1.5. Yellow-bellied glider (south-eastern) (Petaurus australis australis)
Yellow-bellied glider (south-eastern) ( Petaurus australis australis ) is listed as vulnerable under the
EPBC Act and NC Act.
The subspecies occurs in tall mature eucalypt forest, generally in areas with high rainfall and nutrient
rich soils. The subspecies can occur in varying forest types from mixed coastal forests to dry
escarpment forests, moist coastal gullies and creek flats to tall montane forests. The species is reliant
on access to smooth-barked eucalypts, as the species utilises smooth-barked eucalypts, feeding on
exudates from incised bark, and insects that occur in shedding bark (Eyre and Smith 1997). The
subspecies dens in family groups, often in the hollows of large trees. Home ranges vary in size from 20
to 85 ha (DAWE, 2022a).
While the subspecies, or evidence of its use of the project area, was not recorded during field surveys,
there is a historical record approximately 14 km east of the project area from 1994 (DETSI, 2025).
Potentially suitable foraging habitat for the yellow-bellied glider exists within RE 11.10.1, due to the
presence of Corymbia citriodora . In total, 9.41 ha of potential habitat for the yellow-bellied glider is
present within the project area. The threshold for suitable denning habitat—defined as a minimum
density of 0.05 to 0.1 hollow-bearing trees per hectare (DAWE, 2022a)—was not met within the project
area. Consequently, suitable denning habitat for the yellow-bellied glider is not expected to occur within
the site. Habitat within the project area has been described as a mixture of remnant and non-remnant
vegetation. During investigation of the Project area’s history, the majority of the potentially suitable
habitat that was identified within the project area was found to occur within a historically highly disturbed
area. Dumping of mine waste by previous site operators has resulted in land contamination across most
of the Mount Morgan Mine. Contaminated runoff and seepage from existing mine infrastructure are
actively contributing to land contamination. Prior to mining activities occurring at the Mount Morgan
Mine, the headwater of the Mundic Gully flowed north to south before flowing in an easterly direction
towards the Dee River. What should be the headwater of the Upper Mundic Creek is now an ephemeral
waterbody at the lowest topographical point of the Upper Mundic Gully that drains through a stormwater
diversion tunnel into Dam 8 located to the northeast, and as such less water is likely available within
the project area compared to prior to disturbance. Due to the degraded nature of the project area, this
habitat is likely less preferable than intact habitat in the surrounding region.
Therefore, the Project is not anticipated to result in a significant impact on the yellow-bellied glider
(south-eastern).
Table 48. SRI assessment - yellow-bellied glider ( Petaurus australis australis )
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Wulguru Technical Services Pty Ltd – Supporting Information to Amend an Environmental Authority
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