Yarrabilba Urban Development
Spanning approximately 2,000 hectares, the Yarrabilba Urban Development Area represents a significant State urban planning initiative in South-East Queensland.
Client: Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads
Project: Large scale infrastructure
Timeline: 2021-2023
The Coomera Connector (sometimes referred to as the Second M1), is a future state-controlled road extending some 45 kilometres from the northern Gold Coast to Loganholme.
Austecology was commissioned to investigate the values of the project area for migratory shorebirds, and in particular, the threatened Latham’s snipe Gallinago hardwickii. A detailed and systematic field survey program was designed and implemented over a 15-month period. That program provided nearly 500 survey person-hours implementing ‘best practice’ approaches to investigate the presence of Latham’s snipe and other migratory shorebirds.
Austecology applied the findings of its survey program and habitat suitability assessments to develop avoidance and mitigation strategies for the design, construction, and operational phases of the project. Collaborative work between the design engineers and ecologists resulted in significant project design changes to mitigate impacts to surface water hydrology and habitat loss regarding migratory shorebirds at key wetland sites.
The completed work formed the basis for the subsequent significant impact assessments as part of the Commonwealth EPBC Act referral for the project.
Other migratory shorebird projects undertaken by Austecology for the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads, include the Direct Sunshine Coast Rail Line Project and the Dohles Rock Road Moreton Connector.
Spanning approximately 2,000 hectares, the Yarrabilba Urban Development Area represents a significant State urban planning initiative in South-East Queensland.
Seafarms Group Limited proposed to develop a substantive aquaculture project located on the Legune coastal floodplain within the extreme north-west corner of the Northern Territory.
Austecology was commissioned by a principal consultant to implement a series offset monitoring surveys across South-west Queensland for Santos energy.
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