Significant Residual Impact criteria Cause disruption to ecologically significant locations (breeding, feeding, nesting, migration or resting sites) of a species.
Assessment
Unlikely While potential foraging habitat will be removed, similar or better-quality habitat remains widely available throughout the region. Only one suitably sized hollow-bearing tree and a handful of suitable forage trees were identified within the project area, this hollow density falls far short of the threshold required to support greater gliders. As such, the project is considered unlikely to cause disruption to ecologically significant locations (breeding, feeding, nesting, migration or resting sites) of a species.
4.5. 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).
Wulguru Technical Services Pty Ltd – Heritage Minerals Upper Mundic Gully TSF – Fauna Survey Assessment Report 52
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