untitled
Wonnerup North Mineral Sands Project (EPBC 2014/7205) – Preliminary Documentation
00645801.DOCX
APPENDIX A
FLORA AND VEGETATION SURVEY BY ASTRON ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES
© Copyright 2014 Astron Environmental Services Pty Ltd. All rights reserved.
This document and information contained in it has been prepared by Astron Environmental Services under the terms and conditions of its
contract with its client. The report is for the clients use only and may not be used, exploited, copied, duplicated or reproduced in any form
or medium whatsoever without the prior written permission of Astron Environmental Services or its client.
Wonnerup North Mineral Sands Project
Flora and Vegetation Assessment
October 2013
Prepared for
Cristal Mining Australia Limited
© Copyright 2014 Astron Environmental Services Pty Ltd. All rights reserved.
This document and information contained in it has been prepared by Astron Environmental Services under the terms and conditions of its
contract with its client. The report is for the clients use only and may not be used, exploited, copied, duplicated or reproduced in any form
or medium whatsoever without the prior written permission of Astron Environmental Services or its client.
Wonnerup North Mineral Sands Project
Flora and Vegetation Assessment
Prepared for
Cristal Mining Australia Limited
Job Number: 21097-13
Reference:
21097-13_BSR_1Rev0_140407
Revision Status
Rev Date
Description
Author(s)
Reviewer
A
07/11/2013
Draft Issued for Client Review
V. Clarke
R. Orifici
B
11/12/2013
Draft Issued for Client Review
V. Clarke
S. Pearse
C
04/04/2014
Draft Issued for Client Review
V. Clarke
S. Pearse
0
07/04/2014
Final
V. Clarke
S. Pearse
Approval
Rev Date
Issued to
Authorised by
Name
Signature
A
07/11/2013
Resource Strategies Pty Ltd
S. Pearse
B
11/12/2013
Resource Strategies Pty Ltd
S. Pearse
C
04/04/2014
Resource Strategies Pty Ltd
S. Pearse
0
07/04/2014
Resource Strategies Pty Ltd
S. Pearse
Cristal Mining Australia Limited
Wonnerup North Mineral Sands Project – Flora and Vegetation Assessment, October 2013
Page | ii
Abbreviations
Abbreviation
Definition
Astron
Astron Environmental Services
BAM Act
Biosecurity and Agriculture Management Act 2007 (State)
BOM
Bureau of Meteorology
Cristal Mining
Cristal Mining Australia Limited
DEC
Department of Environment and Conservation (now DPaW)
DPaW
Department of Parks and Wildlife
DSEWPaC
Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities
EPA
Environmental Protection Authority (State)
EPBC Act
Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Commonwealth)
ESA
Environmentally Sensitive Area
GDE
Groundwater Dependent Ecosystem
GPS
Geographical positioning system
IBRA
Interim Biogeographic Regionalisation for Australia
km
Kilometres
m
Metres
MNES
Matters of national environmental significance (as listed under the Commonwealth
Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999)
NVIS
National Vegetation Information System
The project
Wonnerup North Mineral Sands Project
RFA
Regional Forest Agreement
SCP
Swan Coastal Plain
The survey area
The area defined within the boundary provided by Cristal Mining and illustrated in
Figure 1.
Cristal Mining Australia Limited
Wonnerup North Mineral Sands Project – Flora and Vegetation Assessment, October 2013
Page | iii
Executive Summary
Cristal Mining Australia Limited (Cristal Mining) proposes to develop a mineral sands mining
operation approximately 44 km south of Bunbury, Western Australia; herein referred to as the
Wonnerup North Mineral Sands Project (the Project). Astron Environmental Services was
commissioned by Cristal Mining to undertake a two-season flora and vegetation assessment for the
Project.
An initial desktop assessment revealed that 25 plant taxa declared as rare flora under the State
Wildlife Conservation Act 1950 (and all listed under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and
Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act)) are located within a 10 km radius of the survey area.
In addition, two priority one taxa, five priority two, 10 priority three and 11 priority four taxa are
also found within the same radius. It should be noted however, that many of these conservation
listed taxa are restricted to particular habitats not found within the survey area (i.e. Whicher Scarp
and Busselton ironstone) and not likely to occur within the survey area.
The initial field survey was undertaken over two days in June; being the first phase of a level two
survey with a follow-up field survey undertaken from 3 to 6 October 2013. A combined total of 201
plant taxa from 49 plant families and 130 genera were recorded during the survey, from the
remnant vegetation within farm paddocks, degraded farm remnants and from roadside remnant
vegetation, which varied in condition.
One specimen collected from Wonnerup South Road from a small population directly adjacent to
Abba River is the declared rare flora species: Chamelaucium sp. C Coastal Plain (R.D. Royce 4872).
The species occurs on both sides on Wonnerup South Road and the WA Department of Parks and
Wildlife has been advised of its location. This taxon is listed as vulnerable under the Commonwealth
EPBC Act. Another species of threatened flora, Verticordia densiflora var. pedunculata was thought
to have potential to occur on the north side of Ruabon Road adjacent to quadrat 17. However, three
further visits to this vicinity over its peak flowering period (December-January), found only the
priority three taxon, Verticordia attenuata.
Four species of priority flora were recorded during the spring survey, all within the north of the
survey area. The desktop assessment found previously recorded locations of priority flora on the
private properties in the survey area. However, the location descriptions of the previous records do
not match the coordinate locations and these taxa have not been located during either of the 2013
surveys; their collection information do not suggest they were ever found within the survey area.
Of the 38 weed species recorded; four are listed as declared pests under the WA Biosecurity and
Agriculture Management Act 2007 and are bridal creeper (* Asparagus asparagoides), narrowleaf
cotton bush (* Gomphocarpus fruticosus), apple of Sodom (* Solanum linnaeanum), and arum lily
(* Zantedeschia aethiopica).
Five vegetation complexes have been previously mapped across the survey area (Mattiske and Havel
1998) and each of these units is described with the more recent assessment of reservation and pre-
European status (Havel and Mattiske 2002):
•
Abba complexes AB, AF, Ad, Aw all with 0% in reservation and with 2%; 0% (8 hectares only
of 1901 hectares); 14%; and 2% pre-European area remaining respectively.
•
The Ludlow complex Lw also has 0% in reservation and 0% of its pre-European area
remaining.
Cristal Mining Australia Limited
Wonnerup North Mineral Sands Project – Flora and Vegetation Assessment, October 2013
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To be consistent with the vegetation complex mapping (Mattiske and Havel 1998) that covers the
survey area; the vegetation within the survey area was ascribed to one of the pre-defined complexes
already mapped. However, the previous vegetation complex mapping was undertaken at a broader
scale (1: 50,000) than the Astron survey (1: 5,000) so the boundaries of the broader mapping were
refined following ground-truthing.
Most of the remnant vegetation found within the farmland of the survey area was found to be in a
completely degraded condition, with the majority parkland cleared or consisting of individual
paddock trees. Some very small areas of remnant vegetation which retained some understorey
occurred on the farmland adjacent to Ruabon Road in the north of the study area.
The only intact remnant vegetation within the survey area was found in the road reserves along both
sides of Wonnerup South and Ruabon Roads. Wonnerup South Road east side is a fine mosaic of
condition ranging from good to degraded condition; to completely degraded condition. The west
side of the road ranged from degraded condition to completely degraded (with some areas
completely cleared of remnant vegetation).
The road reserve along Ruabon Road retained reasonable stands of intact vegetation that was in
‘excellent’ condition. In addition, two wetland areas exist near the Bussell Highway intersection,
which remain in relatively ‘good’ to ‘very good’ condition despite historical disturbance. The
remnant vegetation along Ruabon Road is significant in that it contains intact Abba vegetation
complexes that have critically low representation remaining (i.e. less than 30% extent of original
extent; or 10% within constrained areas); it contains a suite of priority flora ( Isopogon formosus
subsp. dasylepis P3, Jacksonia gracillima P3, Verticordia attenuata P3, and a Lepyrodia species of
unknown conservation significance ( Lepyrodia aff. riparia). In addition, it provides a corridor or
linkage from the Wonnerup Ramsar wetlands and tuart conservation areas towards the Whicher
Scarp and therefore provides a catena of vegetation types representative of the Busselton Plain; an
example of which is not found elsewhere.
Section 5 and 6 of this report contains information relevant to the minimisation, mitigation and
management of potential impacts of the vegetation clearing associated with the project. Essentially,
approximately 90% of the project area is cleared farmland containing some small isolated stands of
highly degraded remnant vegetation. The only areas of intact vegetation are along Wonnerup South
Road (not impacted by the project) and Ruabon Road where a small amount of clearing is proposed.
Remnant vegetation along Ruabon Road will only be marginally impacted through road widening.
The road widening will be limited to approximately 1.6 m either side of the road to provide the main
access to the project area and to accommodate increased traffic generated by the haulage vehicles.
Up to two individuals of Jacksonia gracillima P3 may potentially be taken as a result of the clearing
associated with the road widening. The roadside clearing will largely impact on vegetation that is in a
degraded condition with small areas that remain in good or better condition. It is noted that Ruabon
Road is a designated Flora Road within the Shire of Busselton.
Other impacts of the project include the clearing of some degraded areas of riparian vegetation
associated with the Abba River and potential impacts to ground water dependant vegetation.
Cristal Mining Australia Limited
Wonnerup North Mineral Sands Project – Flora and Vegetation Assessment, October 2013
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Table of Contents
1
Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 1
1.1
Project Background ................................................................................................................. 1
1.2
Scope and Objectives .............................................................................................................. 1
1.3
Existing Environment .............................................................................................................. 6
1.3.1
Physical Environment .................................................................................................. 6
1.3.1.1
Geology, Landforms and Soils ...................................................................... 6
1.3.1.2
Hydrology ..................................................................................................... 6
1.3.1.3
Climate ......................................................................................................... 6
1.3.1.4
Land Tenure and Surrounding Land Use ...................................................... 7
1.3.2
Biological Environment ............................................................................................... 7
1.3.3
Groundwater Dependent Vegetation ......................................................................... 8
1.3.4
Flora ............................................................................................................................ 9
1.3.5
Weeds ......................................................................................................................... 9
2
Methodology ................................................................................................................................. 11
2.1
Desktop Assessment ............................................................................................................. 11
2.2
Literature Review .................................................................................................................. 11
2.3
Field Survey ........................................................................................................................... 12
2.3.1
Targeted Survey ........................................................................................................ 13
2.3.2
Vegetation Description and Mapping ....................................................................... 13
2.3.3
Floristic Analysis ........................................................................................................ 13
2.3.4
Specimen Identification ............................................................................................ 14
3
Limitations ..................................................................................................................................... 15
4
Results ........................................................................................................................................... 17
4.1
Desktop Assessment ............................................................................................................. 17
4.1.1
Flora .......................................................................................................................... 17
4.1.2
Vegetation ................................................................................................................. 17
4.1.2.1
Threatened and Priority Ecological Communities ...................................... 19
4.2
Field Survey ........................................................................................................................... 21
4.2.1
Flora .......................................................................................................................... 21
4.2.1.1
Conservation significant flora .................................................................... 21
Cristal Mining Australia Limited
Wonnerup North Mineral Sands Project – Flora and Vegetation Assessment, October 2013
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4.2.2
Vegetation ................................................................................................................. 21
4.2.2.1
Conservation significant vegetation........................................................... 22
4.2.2.2
Groundwater Dependent Vegetation in the Survey Area .......................... 29
4.2.3
Vegetation Condition ................................................................................................ 29
4.2.4
Weeds ....................................................................................................................... 29
5
Evaluation of Potential Impacts ..................................................................................................... 31
5.1
Vegetation Clearing ............................................................................................................... 31
5.2
Potential Impacts Associated with Groundwater Drawdown............................................... 34
5.3
Alteration of Hydrology and Potential Impacts on Vegetation ............................................. 35
5.4
Weeds ................................................................................................................................... 35
5.5
Bushfire Risk .......................................................................................................................... 35
5.6
Dust ....................................................................................................................................... 36
5.7
Conservation Significant Flora .............................................................................................. 36
6
Mitigation and Offset Measures .................................................................................................... 38
6.1
Impact Avoidance and Mitigation Measures ........................................................................ 38
6.1.1
Impact Avoidance...................................................................................................... 38
6.1.2
Vegetation Clearing Protocols .................................................................................. 38
6.1.3
Management of Groundwater Dependent Vegetation ............................................ 38
6.1.4
Habitat Enhancement Works .................................................................................... 38
6.1.5
Rehabilitation ............................................................................................................ 39
6.1.6
Fire Prevention and Control ...................................................................................... 39
6.1.7
Weed Management .................................................................................................. 39
6.1.8
Education/Training .................................................................................................... 39
6.1.9
Dust Management .................................................................................................... 39
6.2
Offsets ................................................................................................................................... 40
7
Conclusions .................................................................................................................................... 41
8
References ..................................................................................................................................... 42
List of Figures
Figure 1: Regional locality plan. .............................................................................................................. 3
Figure 2: Locality plan. ............................................................................................................................ 4
Figure 3 Site plan - project details. ......................................................................................................... 5
Cristal Mining Australia Limited
Wonnerup North Mineral Sands Project – Flora and Vegetation Assessment, October 2013
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Figure 4 Vegetation complexes, ESA, TECs/PECs and conservation significant flora recorded for the
survey area (DEC 2013 a & b). .............................................................................................................. 20
Figure 5: Vegetation mapping, quadrat locations and 2013 conservation significant flora locations for
the survey area. .................................................................................................................................... 28
Figure 6 Vegetation condition mapping for the survey area. ............................................................... 30
List of Charts
Chart 1: Long-term rainfall data compared to 2013 data (BOM 2013). ................................................. 7
List of Tables
Table 1: Database searches conducted. ............................................................................................... 11
Table 2: Limitations of this assessment. ............................................................................................... 15
Table 3 Conservation significant taxa incorrectly noted for the survey area. ...................................... 17
Table 4 Priority flora recorded within the survey area. ........................................................................ 21
Table 5: Vegetation complex comparison for the survey area. ............................................................ 23
Table 6 Approximate vegetation areas to be cleared by the project. .................................................. 33
Table 7 Potential impacts on conservation significant flora. ................................................................ 36
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