Wildlife checks will be compulsory before approved tree clearing and pruning can proceed at a Sunshine Coast golf course partly covered by environmental mapping.
Sunshine Coast Council has approved vegetation works at Mount Coolum Golf Club, involving the removal of 11 trees and pruning or monitoring of another 11.
A council spokesperson said the approval related to the club’s annual vegetation maintenance program and involved the removal of “dead, dying and declining trees”.
While the southern portion of the property is mapped as Core Koala Habitat Area, the spokesperson said the approved works were confined to the northern portion and did not affect the mapped koala habitat area.
Council said some vegetation elsewhere on the site was within biodiversity overlay mapping, but the works were assessed as not resulting in significant impacts to retained ecological values.
The application arose from an assessment commissioned by the club to identify trees that could pose a risk to public safety, buildings, infrastructure or the field of play.
Consult Arborist, engaged by Mount Coolum Golf Club, assessed the trees and prepared the supporting arboricultural report.
Its August assessment examined 22 numbered tree locations across accessible areas of the course, with recommendations ranging from monitoring and pruning to removal.
Council said it assessed the application against biodiversity and vegetation management provisions in the Sunshine Coast Planning Scheme, including potential impacts on native vegetation, biodiversity values, ecological connectivity and fauna management.
Its assessment did not identify any trees approved for removal or pruning as containing confirmed koala habitat, breeding places or hollows.
No koalas, other protected fauna, breeding places or native bee hives were identified during the council assessment.
However, the arborist’s report had addressed wildlife considerations and recommended a qualified fauna spotter-catcher be consulted before tree works where wildlife could be active.
The report said tree work affecting native animals could constitute an offence under the Nature Conservation Act and referred to protections applying to koala habitat areas in South-East Queensland.
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Council included fauna safeguards in the approval as a precaution.
“Prior to any vegetation removal or pruning, all trees (including those retained with overlapping canopy) must be inspected for wildlife (e.g., koalas, possums, birds),” the decision stated.
“If wildlife is present, works must not proceed until the animal has vacated the tree or has been relocated by a qualified fauna spotter catcher.”
The council spokesperson said the requirement was consistent with the Vegetation Management Code and was intended to protect wildlife during clearing activities.
Native stingless bee hives also have specific protection. Any hives from the Tetragonula and Austroplebeia groups found during clearing must be recovered and moved into adjacent retained vegetation, with damaged hives to be “boxed-up” for later relocation.
A qualified person must supervise tree protection and ensure vegetation intended for retention is not damaged. Stumps must remain in place or be ground rather than removed to reduce ground disturbance and associated erosion and sedimentation.
Council has not required replacement planting, revegetation or habitat restoration, saying the approved works do not affect retained ecologically important vegetation.
The approval also does not require fauna spotter-catcher records to be submitted to council or mandate inspections during the works, although council said it could investigate compliance where required.
The arborist report separately recommends retaining habitat features where possible during remedial works, stating hollow sections “take many years to be created and are a highly valuable habitat”.
Mount Coolum Golf Club has been approached for comment.
