A proposed road upgrade has been identified as having potential impacts on native habitat, according to a federal environmental referral.
The Beckmans Road and Eumundi-Noosa Road Stage 2 project would involve a range of works including lane duplication.
A referral from Noosa Council and the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads to the federal government identified potential impacts on native habitat within and around the 16.22ha project area, which covers a 1.7km section of Beckmans Road (Sea Eagle Drive to Eumundi-Noosa Road and east to Rene Street intersection) and extends south about 500m down Eumundi-Noosa Road.
The report noted several threatened species as likely to be affected including koalas, greater gliders, yellow-bellied gliders, the south-eastern glossy black-cockatoo and the grey-headed flying-fox.
It also outlined mitigation measures including limiting vegetation clearing, using existing disturbed areas within the corridor where possible, and fauna protection initiatives during construction.
The report stated the significance of the planned works, which would include road duplication, widened shoulders, a new intersection connecting Eumundi-Noosa Road and Beckmans Road, and more.
“The key project objectives include increasing capacity along the corridor to support future demand while improving road user safety (for road users, pedestrians, and other active transport users), alleviating congestion and supporting the growing transport demands of the Noosa Shire and Sunshine Coast region by upgrading the existing route.”
The report said that the proposed action was likely to have significant impacts on threatened species and ecological communities and it would be a controlled action. A controlled action could lead to a more thorough review by the federal Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.
The report highlighted the likelihood of significant impacts to habitats, including the loss of breeding, foraging, resting and dispersal habitat of up to 7.9ha.
Local journalists supporting local people. Help keep independent and fair Sunshine Coast news coming by subscribing to our FREE daily news feed. All it requires is your email at the bottom of this article.
The referral stated that the project has been designed to minimise impacts where possible, including by largely using the existing road corridor, reducing vegetation clearing and refining the project footprint during detailed design.
Proposed mitigation measures include fauna spotter-catchers during vegetation clearing, fauna connectivity infrastructure such as glider poles and canopy rope bridges, nest boxes to replace lost habitat trees, revegetation with native species, water quality protection measures and potential speed reduction initiatives to reduce wildlife strikes.
The referral also proposed lighting controls, biosecurity measures and environmental management plans.
The referral stated than an environmental offsets strategy would be developed to compensate for any significant residual impacts on protected species habitat. Potential offset sites are being investigated, with habitat connectivity and proximity to the project among the factors to be considered.
The document also outlined what could happen if work was not carried out.
“If the project were not to proceed, the following may occur: increased congestion as a result of population growth increasing peak traffic demands; increased safety risks and road incidents as a result of congestion; community concern regarding traffic congestion; increase in traffic on local government road creating increased safety risks; (and) increased pressure on Doonella Bridge on Memorial Avenue, which is subject to inundation during high rainfall events and the only other access route from Tewantin to Noosa.”
The project would contribute to a wider upgrade plan along Beckmans Road, which would allow it to essentially become a free-flowing bypass between Noosaville and Tewantin, with improved intersections at either end.
The referral was open to public comment until June 23.
