| Summary: | Thiess Contractors Pty Ltd act as the Managing Contractor for the proposed Ross Island Development, Townsville on behalf of the Department of Defence. The project involves the relocation of two Army units (10th Terminal Regiment and the Army Maritime School) from four established sites in Sydney to a ‘greenfields’ site at the Ross Island on the Ross River. The ACTFR has been engaged by Thiess to conduct a baseline survey and review of the mixed flying fox camp and ibis colony on the south bank of the Ross River adjacent to the development site, in order to determine the impact or otherwise of Defence facilities as proposed for the site. Potential monitoring programs are also to be recommended, if necessary. More specifically, the terms of reference requires the investigation to include: •a behaviour literature survey (species descriptions, including colony/camp behaviour, importance of these colonies/camps, behaviour near urban areas, etc.); •discussions with Department of Environment and local natural history clubs or interested persons, particularly in regards to the history of this camp/colony; •colony descriptions based on site inspections; •identification of present sources of impact; •an assessment of potential risks to the colonies with particular reference to the Defence facilities as proposed; and •recommendations (if needed and feasible) for an ongoing monitoring program, including details of proposed techniques. This document addresses and reports the results of the required investigations.
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