Proston Town Reserve

Ecological values assessment

South Burnett Regional Council

Job Type: Ecology
Sector: Local Government
Completion date: December 2018

  • Identification of non mapped Regional Ecosystems
  • Identification of two Vulnerable flora species
  • Review of flying fox roost management options specific to the communities needs and expectations

Nature Conservation Act 1992

Vegetation Management Act 1999

Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999

Code of Practice - Ecologically Sustainable Management of Flying Fox Roosts (under the Nature Conservation Act 1992)

The South Burnett Regional Council (SBRC) appointed Range Environmental Consultants to complete an ecological values assessment of the Proston Town Reserve, a 30.6 hectare site located near Proston township. The Reserve is managed by the SBRC and contains a quarry, town water supply infrastructure and a waste transfer station. There is also natural areas at the site which include tall open eucalypt woodland and semi-evergreen vine thicket vegetation communities.

The scope of work included an evaluation of the condition of the Reserve’s natural environment, with a specific focus on native flora, pest species, and the quality and presence of faunal habitat and breeding places. This was achieved through the completion of a desktop assessment (including the interrogation of relevant government databases and mapping layers) followed up with a two-day field assessment of the Reserve. The findings of the assessment included:

  • Identification of two areas of vegetation equivalent to Regional Ecosystem (RE) 11.12.4 semi-evergreen vine thicket and RE 11.12.1 Eucalyptus crebra woodland (both classified under the Vegetation Management Act 1999 as Least Concern vegetation);
  • Identification of two observed flora species (Denhamia parvifolia and Zieria verrucosa) listed as Vulnerable under the Nature Conservation Act 1992; and
  • Evaluation of a large flying fox roost comprising mostly of Little Red Flying Foxes (Pteropus scapulatus). 
Following the desktop and field assessments, Range Environmental completed a review of identified potential management strategies for the flying fox roost. A Flying Fox Management Options Matrix, designed to assist the SBRC to review the feasibility, legality, sustainability and the likely success and/or benefit of each potential management strategy was developed. This matrix will assist the SBRC to identify the best possible outcome for both the flying fox roost and the local Proston community.