PARK RIDGE PLANNING REPORT 5.2. Environmental issues 5.2.1. Climate change Climate change is acknowledged as the most serious and wide spread environmental challenge to be dealt with on the global agenda. Climate change is characterised by the rapid and persistent alteration of climatic conditions such as increasing atmospheric and sea temperatures, rising sea levels and destabilising weather patterns. Specific impacts of climate change that have been recently witnessed in SEQ include prolonged drought conditions as summer rainfalls have markedly decreased in frequency and duration. In response to the emerging climate change challenge the land use plan will need to implement a range of sustainable planning practices, for example: • Compact urban form that minimises impacts on natural resources and environmental values and reduces the need for travel by private vehicles; • Buildings that are designed and oriented to take advantage of the region’s climate and reduce the use of energy, especially for cooling and heating; • Low levels of water, energy and material consumption and high levels of recycling and reuse of natural resources, materials and waste products; • Generation and distribution of energy from renewable resources; • Total water cycle management to minimise impacts on the natural water cycle, including aquatic ecosystems; and • Protection from climate hazards, such as the recognition at the strategic level of the problems caused by flooding and the location of new development to ensure development does not exacerbate flood risk. 5.2.3. Wildlife corridors An objective of the land use plan is to enhance the remaining core ecological values through the introduction of environmental planning and management principles and practises that focus on buffering and linking intact habitats and rehabilitating degraded areas. The areas of ecological value which remain in the Park Ridge SAA will be subject to new pressures associated with the future urbanisation of the Park Ridge SAA, including further clearing and fragmentation, interface impacts, edge effects and increased accessibility and human interference. Where possible, the ecological areas will become public land in order to ensure that their pressures can be effectively managed for a variety of environmental, scenic and recreational purposes. A number of district wildlife corridors have been identified within the Park Ridge SAA in a general northsouth orientation. They contain isolated and linked nodes of woodland and wetland habitats as well as disturbed woodlands that are generally suitable for rehabilitation. These wildlife movement corridors share a strong relationship with the broader regional landscape, consolidating links with Karawatha Forest and the Berrinba Wetlands to the north, the Munruben wetlands to the south, and dispersed nodes of remnant vegetation of Greenbank to the west. The identification and protection of suitable wildlife corridors is essential for the survival of the diverse fauna species that inhabit the Park Ridge SAA and surrounding areas. Failure to include wildlife corridors will force native fauna to travel though urbanised areas, greatly increasing the probability of vehicle strike or conflict with domestic animals. 5.2.2. Natural values The Park Ridge SAA covers 2548ha of semi rural and low density residential uses. There are many areas within the Park Ridge SAA which, according to the Logan Planning Scheme and the Vegetation Management Act 1999 have natural values that will constrain future development. Key natural values include wetlands, waterways and associated buffers, vegetation management areas, and the flood plain management areas. Details on these constraints are provided in the following sections. PAGE 19 PARK RIDGE PLANNING REPORT 5.2.4 Vegetation communities Figure 18 Remnant Vegetation (VMA) Source: Logan City Council The Park Ridge SAA is recognised as containing a variety of habitats and vegetation communities which, as a result of historical land uses, are fragmented and mostly in poor to medium condition. The existing vegetation is protected by the Vegetation Management Act 1999 (VMA) and the Logan Planning Scheme, Vegetation Management Area Overlay (Figure 18 and Figure 19). As a consequence of Logan City Council undertaking a remapping exercise of the Remnant Vegetation for the Park Ridge SAA prior to the commencement of the structure planning process, the remnant vegetation map is considered accurate. The Logan Planning Scheme protects additional vegetation which does not meet current state remnant vegetation criteria. The Queensland Herbarium data, which is the basis of the VMA mapping, identifies 493 ha of remnant vegetation within the Park Ridge SAA as well as an additional 11,962ha within a 10km radius surrounding the Park Ridge SAA. This includes National Parks, conservation reserves and large quantities of land in private landholdings. Regional ecosystems Eight Remnant Ecosystems (RE) communities, including subgroups, have been confirmed as occurring within the Park Ridge SAA. The VMA lists the status of the eight RE’s confirmed as occurring in the SAA as follows: • Endangered Regional Ecosystem - 12.9-10.12 – Woodland (137ha); • Of Concern Regional Ecosystem - 12.3.11 – Open Forest (59ha); • Of Concern Regional Ecosystem - 12.9-10.7 – Woodland (1ha); • Not of Concern Regional Ecosystem - 12.3.5 – Open Forest (8ha); • Not of Concern Regional Ecosystem - 12.3.6 – Woodland (8ha); • Not of Concern Regional Ecosystem - 12.9-10.2 – Open Forest (7ha); • Not of Concern Regional Ecosystem - 12.9-10.4 – Woodland (251ha); and • Not of Concern Regional Ecosystem - 12.9-10.17 – Open Forest (14ha). Park Ridge Scheme Amendment Area (SAA) Endangered (Dominant) Endangered (Sub Dominant) Of Concern (Dominant) Of Concern (Sub Dominant) Not of Concern Figure 19 Vegetation Management Area - Logan Planning Scheme 2005 10 13 17 Source: Logan City Council Park Ridge Scheme Amendment Area (SAA) Districts 1-17 in the Vegetation Management Area Balance Area District 18 in the Vegetation Management Area District 19 in the Vegetation Management Area (Endangered and Of Concern Remnant Vegetation) Category 1 Land Sub District (All Plants) Category 2 Land Sub District (All Significant Trees) Mount Lindesay Highway District (Category 1 - All Plants & Category 2 - All Significant Trees) Park Ridge District (Category 1 - All Plants & Category 2 - All Significant Trees) Heritage Park District (All Plants) PAGE 20 PARK RIDGE PLANNING REPORT Essential habitats Most of the regional ecosystems mapped for the Park Ridge SAA are recorded as providing essential habitat for endangered, vulnerable or rare (EVR) wildlife species. However, this mapping status is derived from EVR species being recorded within those ecosystem types elsewhere in Queensland and as such must only be considered as potential habitat. Tables 1 and 2 list the fauna and flora that may utilise these ecosystems but EPA data shows that only two species, the spotted-tail quoll and the koala have been recorded within the Park Ridge SAA. The Park Ridge Structure Plan will need to address the issue of the potential to provide habitat for EVR species. General habitats Five key habitat types have been identified within the Park Ridge SAA, including: • Riparian woodland / wetland; • Spotted gum – iron bark open forest; • Gum – bloodwood open forest / woodland; • Open forest complex with stringybarks, gums and ironbarks; and • Largely rural land and non-remnant vegetation. This landscape matrix of woodlands, wetlands, open forests and grasslands present within the Park Ridge SAA is a key component of the broader regional landscape, providing visual relief and a number of significant north-south wildlife corridors supporting the movement of local fauna species. The Scheme Amendments will need to protect core areas and ensure that effective corridor linkages are established and maintained. Table 1: Floral Species Listed by the Nature Conservation Act 1992 as Rare or Threatened. Scientific Name Common Name NCA status Arthaxon hispidus Hairy-joint grass Vunerable Marsdenia coronata Slender milkvine Vulnerable Marsdenia longiloba Clear milkvine Vulnerable Choricarpia subargentea Giant Ironwood Rare Corchorus cunninghamii Native jute Endangered Cupaniopsis shirleyana Wedge-leaf tuckeroo Vulnerable Cupaniopsis tomentella Boonah tuckeroo Vulnerable Eucalyptus curtisii Plunket Mallee Rare Haloragis exalata subspecies venutina Tall velevet sea-berry Vulnerable Hydrocharis dubia Frogbit Vunerable Leucopogon recurvisepalus Endangered Persicaria elatior Vunerable Picris conyzoides Rare Prasophyllum exilis Rare Ricinocarpos speciosus Vunerable Sophora fraseri Vunerable Source: EPA 2008 5.2.5. Sensitive flora species A review of online databases identifies a total of 64 EVR native floral species that may occur within the broader regional landscape. Of this total, 16 EVR native flora species are known to occur within the Regional Ecosystems identified in the Park Ridge SAA (Table 1). However, an EPA wildlife online search has indicated that none of the EVR flora species have been recorded within the Park Ridge SAA. This would primarily be due to the fragmented and disturbed nature of the remnant vegetation and other adjacent land management practices. The Scheme Amendments identify and protect the most important remnant vegetation and address the issue of corridors. In so doing it will protect the ecosystems where sensitive flora may occur as the ecosystems recover. PAGE 21 PARK RIDGE PLANNING REPORT 5.2.6. Sensitive fauna species The Environment Protection Agency’s Wildlife Online database was interrogated to provide an account of the terrestrial and aquatic vertebrate species that may potentially utilise habitat within the Park Ridge SAA and surrounding landscape. Of this total, 30 EVR native fauna species have been recorded elsewhere in the regional ecosystems which are identified for the Park Ridge SAA and consequently may possibly occur within the area (Table 2). However, the EPA wildlife online system has official sightings of only two species - Spotted-tail Quoll and the Koala. Given the fragmented nature of the remnant vegetation and only a few records of sightings it is expected that only individual animals of both species would sporadically use the area. Whilst no records exist for the other EVR species, it is reasonable to assume that the more mobile species, such as the Powerful Owl, Grey Goshawk and Glossy Black Cockatoo, would utilise the area occasionally. Table 2: Fauna Species Listed by the Nature Conservation Act 1992 as Rare or Threatened Class Scientific Name Common Name NCA Status Amphibian Crinia tinnula Wallum Froglet Vulnerable Amphibian Litoria brevipalmata Green-thighed Frog Rare Amphibian Adelotus brevis Tusked Frog Vulnerable Amphibian Litoria pearsoniana Cascade Tree frog Vulnerable Bird Lophoictinia isura Square Tailed Kite Rare Bird Accipiter novaehollandiae Grey Goshawk Rare Bird Collocalia spodiopygius White-rumped swiftlet Rare Bird Stictonetta naevosa Freckled Duck Rare Bird Calyptorhynchus lathami Glossy Black-Cockatoo Vulnerable Bird Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus Black Necked Stork Rare Bird Melithreptus gularis Black-chinned honeyeater Rare Bird Nettapus coromandelianus Cotton pygmy-goose Rare Bird Ninix strenua Powerful owl Vulnerable Bird Lewinia pectoralis Lewin's Rail Rare Bird Rostratula australis Australian painted snipe Vulnerable Bird Lathamus discolour Swift parrot Endangered Protecting a diverse representation of habitats within the SAA and establishing wildlife corridors will assist with the long term availability of habitat refuge, feeding, and breeding areas for some of these EVR species. Bird Stipurus malachurus Southern emu-wren Vulnerable Mammal Dasyurus maculatus Spotted-tail quoll Vulnerable Mammal Phascolarctos cinereus Koala Vulnerable Mammal Pteropus policephalus Grey-headed flying-fox Vulnerable 5.2.7 Mammal Potorous tridactylus Long-nose potoroo Vulnerable Mammal Chalinolobus dwyeri Large-eared pied bat Rare Reptile Acanthophis antarcticus Common Death Adder Rare The Wildlife Online database identifies 63 individual species as EVR listed under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC) and / or the Nature Conservation Act 1992. Of this total only 30 EVR native fauna species are known to occur in the ecosystems present within the Park Ridge SAA (Table 2). Koalas New Koala planning provisions are planned to be introduced in December 2009. The draft South East Queensland Koala Conservation State Planning Regulatory Provisions (draft SPRP) and proposed Koala habitat mapping are anticipated to regulate new development in Koala areas. Source: EPA 2008 Under the proposed SPRP approximately 75% of the site is mapped as “Koala Protection Area 2” (KPA2) and 22% of the area is mapped as “Koala Protection Area 3” (KPA3). Altogether, 97% of the area is mapped. been developed to deal with conflicts between remnant environmental values and the pragmatic placement of certain uses. The result is a consolidation of the small remnants into a core area and corridor system, and the final network is funded through offset provisions in the structure plan. The new Koala provisions will therefore apply to Park Ridge. However, the implementation of the Koala provisions will need to take account of the planned Koala conservation for the area. For Park Ridge, under the structure plan, an offset system has A Draft Koala Conservation State Planning Policy, which will assist local government to plan strategically for growth and mange the impacts of growth on koala habitats is also planned to take effect in mid 2010. PAGE 22 PARK RIDGE PLANNING REPORT 5.2.8. Waterways and wetlands Figure 20 Waterways, Wetlands and Floodplains Source: Logan City Council The Park Ridge SAA contains eleven waterways which provide key habitat refuges to both aquatic and terrestrial fauna and play an important role in the natural water cycle (Figure 20). The quality of urban runoff entering these waterways from development of the Park Ridge SAA is of specific concern. Urban runoff is potentially a major source of pollution that will ultimately affect the health of the Park Ridge SAA’s waterways and the Logan River. Future urban development in the Park Ridge SAA will greatly increase the amount of impermeable surfaces, effectively reducing opportunity for rainwater infiltration. The ecosystem health of waterways is monitored throughout the region through the Ecosystem Health Monitoring Program (EHMP). The program provides a comprehensive regional assessment of waterway health in SEQ. This reporting on the health of SEQ’s rivers, estuaries and Moreton Bay helps to inform and shape management actions aimed at reducing pressures on our catchments and waterways. The EHMP results provide an assessment of the responses of aquatic ecosystems to both natural pressures and human activities, including catchment alterations, pollutant loads and management actions aimed at improving and protecting aquatic ecosystems. Results of the EHMP are reported annually via a scorecard for each major waterway. Report Card grades are derived using a process that includes the comparison of results with regional Ecosystem Health Guidelines, and ranking of the resultant scores. The impact of non-urban diffuse pollution on waterways varies in intensity across South East Queensland. With the Logan River score at D, it is essential the Park Ridge development does not compound the problem further and where possible, improves water quality. In response, the scheme amendments incorporate Water Sensitive Urban Design Principles for new development to manage the quality, quantity and velocity of urban runoff entering local waterways. Maintaining riparian vegetation and vegetated buffers between urban development and the Park Ridge SAA’s waterways will ensure bank stability, maintain valuable wildlife habitats and movement corridors and could potentially provide space for passive recreational pursuits. I 0.5 0 0.5 1 P Kilometres P Scale: 1:30,000 @ A3 E 1.5 Park Ridge Scheme Amendment Area (SAA) Waterways Wetlands Flood Plain and Overland Management Area C 5.2.9. Flood affected land Land east of Chambers Flat Road is identified as forming part of the Logan River flood plain and as such is subject to periodic inundation during significant rainfall and tidal events (Figure 20). Similarly, lands adjacent to the many waterways through the Park Ridge SAA are affected by Q100 overland flow flooding. To minimise exposure to this flooding hazard, the scheme amendments consolidate future urban development in areas that have been determined free of Q100 flooding events. PAGE 23 PARK RIDGE PLANNING REPORT 5.2.10. Topography Figure 21 Topography and Contours Source: Logan City Council The Logan Planning Scheme Steep Slope Overlay identifies areas of land within Logan which contain a slope greater than 15%. However, this overlay does not identify any areas within the Park Ridge SAA. Hence, the Park Ridge SAA is topographically unconstrained for urbanisation. Figure 21 shows the topography and contours which clearly shows the high ground and major ridge line. Park Ridge Scheme Amendment Area (SAA) Existing Roads 5m Contours 2.0581m AHD Minimum AHD (metres) 83.4038 AHD Maximum PAGE 24 PARK RIDGE PLANNING REPORT 5.2.11. Views and visual character The Park Ridge SAA has prominent views to the Scenic Rim in the south as well as to Brisbane in the north (Figure 22). Similarly, some elevated parts of the Park Ridge SAA form key views from external locations (Figure 23). The land use plan will need to • Protect and enhance existing desirable views; • Maximise views from the Park Ridge SAA to the Scenic Rim while maintaining the wooded character of the site’s ridgelines; • Utilise a number of higher locations as key viewing points / nodes within the greenspace network by avoiding tree removal where possible; • Consider the visual “fit” and character of the southern part • of the Park Ridge SAA with the broader rural landscape context to the south. For example maintain the mature wooded character of the landscape where possible; and Consider the areas of highest visibility in the site planning, for example minimise visual intrusion of built form on high ground by locating lower built form at a lower density in visually prominent locations and maintain the tree cover to retain the wooded ridgeline character. This is particularly relevant to the southern flanks of the ridges where the urban edge is transitioning to a semi rural character. Figure 23 Inbound Views and Visual Character Figure 22 Outbound Views and Visual Character Park Ridge Scheme Amendment Area (SAA) High Ground (above 65m+) Key Views (Outbound) Secondary Views (Outbound) Internal Views View Point Major Ridgelines Minor Ridgelines Gullies Source: EDAW on behalf of Logan City Council Park Ridge Scheme Amendment Area (SAA) Potential Areas of High Visibility Future Integrated Urban Edge Future Exposed Urban Edge Key Open Views into the Site Filtered Views into the Site View Points Source: EDAW on behalf of Logan City Council PAGE 25 PARK RIDGE PLANNING REPORT 5.2.12. Bushfire hazard Figure 24 Bushfire Hazard Areas Source: Logan City Council The Logan Planning Scheme identifies a number of lots as a containing moderate risk of bushfire hazard (Figure 24). The scheme amendments will need to ensure: • The personal health and safety and property of the community is protected from bushfire hazard in the bushfire hazard area; • The bushfire hazard area provides for a safe, efficient and legible road network which mitigates against a bushfire hazard; and • Ecosystems and nature conservation values are protected from bushfire hazard. Park Ridge Scheme Amendment Area (SAA) High Bushfire Hazard Medium Bushfire Hazard PAGE 26 PARK RIDGE PLANNING REPORT 5.2.13. Potential acid sulfate soils Figure 25 Acid Sulfate Soils Source: Logan City Council The eastern side of the Park Ridge SAA area contains an area below 20m AHD and is potential acid sulfate soil (Figure 25). These potential acid sulfate soils generally align with flooded land and the planning outcomes have ensured that most of the subject lands are not identified for development. If development occurs within the remaining small areas of potential acid sulfate soils, such development will need to ensure that infrastructure is protected from the adverse impacts of development activities that may disturb acid sulfate soils. Development will also need to ensure that ecosystems, personal health and safety and property are protected from the adverse effects associated with the release of acid and metal contaminants from potential acid sulfate soils, if disturbed. Park Ridge Scheme Amendment Area (SAA) Land above 5m and below 20m AHD Land at 5m AHD and below PAGE 27 PARK RIDGE PLANNING REPORT 5.2.14. Noise Figure 26 Noise Affected Areas Source: Logan City Council The Logan Planning Scheme identifies noise affected areas which are generally located along the major road and rail areas within and near the Park Ridge SAA (Figure 26). The Noise Affected Area Code of the Planning Scheme is designed to protect and enhance the personal health and safety of the community from noise related to road transport activity and rail transport activity. The Code provides noise attenuation measures which development must address to prevent existing identified noise generating areas causing negative amenity impacts on new development. The issue of noise is considered in the Scheme Amendments. In addition, the Noise Affected Areas will need to be amended to accommodate proposed major roads. Park Ridge Scheme Amendment Area (SAA) Noise Affected Areas PAGE 28
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