Fauna Surveys

Need a fauna survey for your development site? Queensland Ecologists delivers comprehensive fauna assessments using trapping, spotlighting, call playback, and habitat evaluation to identify threatened species and assess wildlife impacts across Queensland.

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A fauna survey provides a comprehensive assessment of the animal species and habitats present on your development site. Queensland Ecologists conducts professional terrestrial fauna surveys across South East Queensland, using a combination of field techniques to document fauna values and provide the evidence that councils and regulatory agencies require for development applications and environmental approvals.

What Is a Fauna Survey?

A fauna survey is a systematic ecological assessment that identifies the animal species using a site, evaluates the quality of fauna habitat, and assesses the potential for threatened species to occur. In Queensland, fauna surveys are a critical component of ecological assessment for development applications, particularly where sites contain or adjoin native vegetation, waterways, or mapped fauna habitat areas.

Queensland Ecologists offers the following fauna surveys:

  • Habitat assessment - evaluation of the types, extent, and quality of fauna habitat present on the site, including structural features such as hollow-bearing trees, fallen timber, rocky outcrops, water bodies, and connectivity to adjacent habitat areas
  • Threatened species likelihood of occurrence - desktop and field-based assessment of the probability that threatened species listed under the Nature Conservation Act 1992 and the EPBC Act 1999 use the site, based on habitat suitability, geographic range, and database records

Survey methods follow the Survey Guidelines for Australia’s Threatened Species published by the Commonwealth Government, as well as the Terrestrial Vertebrate Fauna Survey Guidelines for Queensland published by the Queensland Government.

When Do You Need a Fauna Survey?

Fauna surveys are required in a variety of planning and regulatory situations across Queensland:

  • Development in fauna habitat areas - council planning schemes across SEQ identify fauna habitat through environmental significance overlays and biodiversity overlays. Development applications on land affected by these overlays typically require a fauna assessment.
  • Matters of State Environmental Significance (MSES) - where a site contains MSES essential habitat, regulated vegetation, or wildlife corridors, state referral under the Planning Act 2016 may require fauna survey data to support assessment against SDAP codes.
  • EPBC Act referrals - if the proposed action may significantly impact threatened species or ecological communities listed under the EPBC Act 1999, fauna surveys provide the evidence base for the referral decision. Many MNES-listed species in SEQ are fauna (koala, greater glider, grey-headed flying fox, and others).
  • Vegetation clearing with fauna habitat - clearing applications under the Vegetation Management Act 1999 affecting mapped essential habitat or habitat for EVNT species will often require fauna survey data.
  • Waterway and wetland development - development near waterways and wetlands may require assessment of aquatic and semi-aquatic fauna, including fish passage, turtle nesting areas, and platypus habitat.

Our Fauna Survey Process

Queensland Ecologists conducts fauna surveys following nationally recognised methodologies to produce reliable, defensible results:

  1. Desktop assessment - we review WildNet species records, EPBC Act Protected Matters Search Tool results, Atlas of Living Australia data, and eBird records to compile a list of threatened and significant fauna species with potential to occur on the site.
  2. Survey design - based on the desktop assessment and site characteristics, we design a survey program that targets the species most likely to be present. We select appropriate methods, survey effort, and timing (season and weather conditions) to maximise detection probability.
  3. Field surveys - our ecologists conduct systematic field surveys over one or more days and nights, using the combination of methods most appropriate for the site. All species detected are recorded with GPS locations.
  4. Habitat quality assessment - we map and assess habitat quality across the site, documenting features such as hollow-bearing trees, feed trees, water sources, and connectivity. This data is essential for impact assessment and offset calculations.
  5. Analysis and reporting - we compile all survey data into a detailed report including species lists, habitat maps, likelihood of occurrence assessments for threatened species, impact assessment against relevant codes, and recommendations for mitigation and management.

Which Councils Require This?

Fauna surveys are required by all SEQ councils for development applications on land with identified ecological values. Common triggers include environmental significance overlays, waterway corridor overlays, and biodiversity overlays:

Related Services

Get a Quote

Need a fauna survey for your development application or environmental approval? Queensland Ecologists provides professional fauna assessments across South East Queensland, with survey programs tailored to your site and regulatory requirements.

Call us on (07) 3018 7538 or request a quote online. We provide fixed-fee quotes and can advise on the optimal survey timing and methodology for your project.

Ecological consulting services across Queensland

Legislative and regulatory references on this page were last checked in June 2026. Requirements can change - Queensland Ecologists confirms current triggers and applicable requirements before preparing any reports or advice. This page is general information only and does not replace site-specific planning, ecological or legal advice.

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