Environment
The Southern Thornlands PDA plan includes a connected Green Network intended to protect important habitat, waterways and ecological connections as development occurs.
The current planning maps identify Habitat Investigation Areas, Multipurpose Green Space, strategic ecological corridors and waterways. These layers guide future site planning rather than fixing every final environmental boundary today.
Green Network map
Environmental planning layers across the Southern Thornlands PDA
Use the controls to compare the Habitat Investigation Area, Multipurpose Green Space and waterways. Strategic ecological corridor widths are explained below; no corridor boundary has been invented for this interactive map.
Strategic ecological corridors
Keeping habitat connections through the developing area
The proposed Development Scheme identifies three levels of ecological corridor. The widths are indicative planning targets used to protect and strengthen ecological connectivity; they should not be read as surveyed buffers around every property.
Significant corridor
300 m averageEprapah Creek is specifically noted as 150 m within the PDA.
Moderate corridor
100 m averageProvides an important ecological connection through the Green Network.
Minor corridor
50 m averageSupports finer-grained links between habitat, waterways and larger corridors.
The wider corridor can include core conservation areas and Multipurpose Green Space. Compatible uses such as informal open space, low-impact recreation, active transport, flood management and stormwater infrastructure may be accommodated where they do not compromise environmental values or corridor function.
Habitat Investigation Area
Further ecological investigation is required before final boundaries are settled
Approximately 2,126,675 m² (212.7 ha) is currently shown within the Habitat Investigation Area. The shaded area follows the planning overlay itself rather than being snapped to current property boundaries.
The hatching on Map 4 identifies areas where further ecological investigation is required to determine the final Green Network extent. Site-specific assessment can refine what should be retained, restored, avoided or otherwise managed as development is designed.
The mapped investigation area does not by itself mean the land cannot be developed. The Scheme allows site planning to respond to ecological value, avoid high-value habitat where possible and minimise or mitigate impacts where avoidance is not practicable.
Waterways
Waterway significance affects how development can respond
Map 5 classifies waterways separately from the Green Network. The live map above shows waterways for geographic context; the official Map 5 remains the source for their High, Moderate or Low significance classification.
High significance
Retain the existing alignment
The Scheme requires High significance waterways to remain in their existing alignment.
Moderate significance
Retain the existing alignment
Moderate significance waterways are also intended to remain in their existing alignment.
Low significance
Realignment may be possible
A Low significance waterway may be realigned where an appropriate design maintains natural waterway processes and ecological functions.
Environment & development
Development can still occur — environmental values shape the design
Maintain connectivity
Roads, earthworks and development layouts should avoid unnecessary fragmentation of ecological corridors.
Retain and restore
High-value vegetation and habitat should be retained where possible, with rehabilitation and native planting used to strengthen the network.
Manage interfaces
Buffers, planting and careful site design help manage edge effects where new neighbourhoods meet ecological areas.
Planning information & sources
Where this information comes from
The Green Network and Habitat Investigation Area are identified on Map 4. Waterway significance is identified separately on Map 5.