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OPR Rail Proposal – Vegetation and Flora Assessment
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Land or Soil
Landscape
System
Area in
WA (ha)
% of
the
Total
System
Area in
Study
Area
(ha)
% in
the
Study
Area
% of
Native
Vegetation
Remaining
Within the
Study Area
% With
No to
Minor
erosion
% With
Moderate
to Severe
Erosion
% That is
Severely
Degraded
& Eroded
No of
Cons Sig
Flora
Recorded
% of
Priority
Flora
Records
Density of
Priority
Flora
Records
(per ha)
Vegetation Communities
Associated With the System
Land
System
Mulline
19,688
0.5
89
<0.1
‐
100
‐
‐
‐
0.0
‐
n/a
Nerramyne
250,958
2.3
5,752
2.6
‐
93
7
0.4
3
0.2
1150.4
Yh2, Yp1, Yp2, Yp5
Norie
211,177
1.1
2,393
1.1
‐
100
‐
‐
4
1.1
108.8
Mh11, Mh12, Mh17, Mp10
Pindar
151,876
0.4
646
0.3
‐
100
‐
‐
1
0.1
323.2
Yp4
Sherwood
1,579,691
0.6
9,636
4.3
‐
89
11
2.1
12
5.9
79.6
Mh13, Mp5, Mp6, Mc5
Tallering
32,949
3.2
1,045
0.5
85.4
100
‐
‐
‐
0.0
‐
Yh1, Yp2
Tindalarra
713,173
4.1
29,231
13
‐
96
4
1.6
8
4.5
321.2
Yp2, Yp5, Yf1, Yf2, Yf5, Yc1, Yc2
Violet
584,096
0.3
1,981
0.9
‐
98
2
0.2
4
1.1
90.1
Mp8
Waguin
317,146
0.2
586
0.3
‐
99
1
‐
3
0.6
48.9
Mh18
Weld
37,235
9.7
3,604
1.6
‐
100
‐
‐
7
3.7
48.0
Mh1, Mh2, Mh3, Mh4, Mh5, Mh6,
Mh8, Mc3, Mc4
Wiluna
258,978
0.3
814
0.4
‐
99
1
‐
3
2.0
20.3
Mh15
Yandil
494,525
0.6
3,055
1.4
‐
95
5
3.2
2
0.5
305.5
Mr3, Mp2, Mp3, Mp4, Mp5, Mp8,
Mp9, Mp11, Mp12, Mc5
Yanganoo
2,019,907
1.8
35,446
15.7
‐
98
2
0.8
8
6.3
276.9
Yp5, Yc2, Mp7, Mc5, Mc6, Mc7,
Mc8
Yarrameedie
68,324
10.3
7,045
3.1
‐
100
‐
‐
5
1.0
335.5
Mh3, Mh5, Mh7
Yewin
45,709
3.7
1,692
0.8
‐
89
11
3.4
1
0.3
241.8
Yf4, Yf5
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7.3.2
Beard Mapping Analysis
Assessment of the significance at a state level of the vegetation of the Study Area is constrained by
the lack of mapping across the state at a scale comparable to the mapping during the current survey.
The only source of vegetation mapping available across the state is that conducted by Beard (1976)
and Beard & Burns (1976) at a scale of 1:1000000, with areas of the south‐west mapped at
1:250,000. The vegetation of the Study Area was mapped as 28 communities by Beard (1976) and
Beard & Burns (1976). As this mapping was completed at a large scale, it does not accurately
represent the mapped communities in the Study Area. Quite often one or a number of the
vegetation communities mapped during the current survey can be attributed to a Beard vegetation
unit, where it becomes a useful tool to loosely determine the potential extent of this community in
the region.
As the Beard mapping was completed at a high scale many minor details including drainage channels,
creeklines and low hill slopes are not mapped and cannot be related to the Beard mapping. As this
mapping was completed in 1976 old species names used by Beard could be referring to a newly
described species.
A summary table for each Beard unit is provided in Table 7.2 and are further described below;
The Beard mapping has been completed as if it was pre‐European settlement, therefore the areas in
the Freehold section of the Study Area are inaccurate as they don’t take any land clearing into
consideration. Areas of remnant vegetation in the Geraldton Sandplains region have been mapped
and overlain over the Beard vegetation map to give an idea of the amount of each remaining (Table
7.3).
a1,14Si: Acacia aneura and Acacia quadrimarginea scrub.
a1,14Si is a moderate to large and widespread Beard unit that is mapped as 1.1% of the Study
Area. Of the total area of the Beard unit, 0.6% occurs within the Study Area. The vegetation
communities related to this unit include those associated with the Jack Hills PEC; Mh1, Mh2,
Mh3, Mh4 and Mc3 and those associated with the Weld Range PEC; Mh5, Mh6, Mh7, Mh8,
Mc3 and Mc4. The distribution of this vegetation unit includes many of the BIF ranges in
Western Australia and because the vegetation communities vary substantially between each
BIF range, it does not accurately represent the potential distribution of these ecologia
vegetation communities.
a1,8Sr k1,2Ci: Acacia aneura and Acacia sclerosperma with Atriplex and Maireana spp. succulent
steppe.
a1,8Sr k1,2Ci is a small to moderate and restricted Beard unit that is mapped as 1.5% of the
Study Area. Of the total area of the Beard unit, 1.6% occurs within the Study Area. The
vegetation communities related to this unit include those associated with the salt lake
floodplains near Weld Range: Mf1, Mf2 and Mf3. The distribution of the Beard unit in Western
Australia includes the floodplains from a number of different land systems and because these
vary substantially, it is unlikely to be an indicator for the regional distribution of the ecologia
communities. It does however indicate areas with the potential for these vegetation units to
occur, which shows that there is not much in Western Australia and are therefore significant.
a1,9Li: Acacia aneura, Acacia ramulosa var. ramulosa and Acacia ramulosa var. linophylla low
woodland.
a1,9Li is a small and restricted Beard unit that is mapped as 3% of the Study Area. Of the total
area of the Beard unit, 7.3% occurs within the Study Area. The vegetation communities related
to this unit include those associated with the red sandplains, Mr2. The distribution of this
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vegetation unit is not an accurate representation of the potential distribution of the ecologia
vegetation community.
a10,11Si k1,2Ci: Acacia victoriae, Acacia xiphophylla and Acacia eremaea with Atriplex and Maireana
spp. succulent steppe.
a10,11Si k1,2Ci is a small and restricted Beard unit that is mapped as 1% of the Study Area. Of
the total area of the Beard unit, 3% occurs within the Study Area. The vegetation communities
related to this unit include; Yf3 and Mc1. The distribution of this vegetation unit loosely
represents the potential distribution of the ecologia vegetation communities and shows that
they are represented out side of the Study Area.
a14Si: Acacia quadrimarginea scrub.
a14Si is a very small and restricted Beard unit that is mapped as 0.1% of the Study Area. Of the
total area of the Beard unit, 3% occurs within the Study Area. The vegetation communities
related to this unit include that associated with the Tallering Peak PEC, Yh1. The distribution of
this vegetation unit represents the potential distribution of the ecologia vegetation
community, showing that it is very restricted and uncommon locally and regionally.
a1Li: Acacia aneura low woodland.
a1Li is the largest and most widespread Beard unit that is mapped as 24% of the Study Area.
Of the total area of the Beard unit, 0.2% occurs within the Study Area. The ecologia vegetation
communities related to this unit include those recorded on the hardpan plains across the
Yalgoo and Murchison bioregions, including; Mp6, Mp9, Mp11, Mp12, Mc5, Mr3, Mh5, Mp5,
Mh9, Mh10, Mh14, Mp1, Mp2 and Mp8. The large area covered by this vegetation unit shows
that the potential distribution of the ecologia vegetation communities associated with it are
widespread and common in Western Australia.
a1Li a9,17Si: Acacia aneura low woodland with understory of Acacia ramulosa var. ramulosa, Acacia
ramulosa var. linophylla and Acacia grasbyi.
a1Li a9,17Si is a very large and widespread Beard unit that is mapped as 13.4% of the Study
Area. Of the total area of the Beard unit, 2.7% occurs within the Study Area. The vegetation
communities related to this unit include those associated with floodplains of the Yalgoo region,
including; Yp5 and Yp6. The large area covered by this vegetation unit shows that the potential
distribution of the ecologia vegetation communities associated with it are widespread and
common in Western Australia.
a1Lp: Acacia aneura, trees in groves or patches.
a1Lp is a very large and widespread Beard unit that is mapped as 16.3% of the Study Area. Of
the total area of the Beard unit, 0.5% occurs within the Study Area. The vegetation
communities related to this unit include those associated with the sandy plains in the
Murchison region, including; Mp2, Mp3, Mp4, Mr1, Mr2, Mr3. The distribution of this
vegetation unit shows that the common ecologia vegetation communities represent a large
potential distribution in Western Australia.
a1Si: Acacia aneura scrub.
a1Si is a very large and widespread Beard unit that is mapped as 3.5% of the Study Area. Of
the total area of the Beard unit, 0.1% occurs within the Study Area. The vegetation
communities related to this unit include those associated with rockier areas, including; Mh10,
Mh11, Mh12, Mh15, Mh16, Mp6, Mp9 and Mp10. The distribution of this vegetation unit
shows that these ecologia communities have the potential to occur over a large area in
Western Australia and are not significant.
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a33Sc: Acacia rostellifera thicket.
a33Sc is a very small and restricted Beard unit that is mapped as 0.5% of the Study Area. Of
the total area of the Beard unit, 35.9% occurs within the Study Area. The vegetation
community related to this unit include; Gc2. Gc2 is therefore very significant in the Study Area
as such a large percentage of its total is mapped. This is therefore a very significant vegetation
community, as it was more than likely locally abundant as mapped by Beard, but is now largely
cleared. Based on the known current extent of this vegetation unit in the Geraldton Sandplains
region, 75% occurs within the Study Area. This unit has half of its known distribution in the
Geraldton Sandplains region and is moderately endemic.
a8,9Sr k1,2Ci: Acacia sclerosperma, Acacia ramulosa var. ramulosa and Acacia ramulosa var.
linophylla with Atriplex and Maireana spp. succulent steppe.
a8,9Sr k1,2Ci is a small to moderate and restricted Beard unit that is mapped as 0.05% of the
Study Area. Of the total area of the Beard unit, 0.1% occurs within the Study Area. It therefore
is not widespread in the Study Area and any impact to this unit is unlikely.
a8Sr k1,2Ci: Acacia sclerosperma with Atriplex and Maireana spp. succulent steppe.
a8Sr k1,2Ci is a small and restricted Beard unit that is mapped as 0.8% of the Study Area. Of
the total area of the Beard unit, 11.9% occurs within the Study Area. The vegetation
communities related to this unit include those associated with major creeklines in the Yalgoo
area and include; Yc1, Yf4 and Yf5. The distribution of this vegetation unit shows that the
potential distribution of the associated ecologia vegetation communities in Western Australia
is limited and are therefore significant.
a9,19Si: Acacia ramulosa var. ramulosa, Acacia ramulosa var. linophylla and Acacia acuminata scrub.
a9,19Si is a large and widespread Beard unit that is mapped as 1.6% of the Study Area. Of the
total area of the Beard unit, 0.5% occurs within the Study Area. The vegetation communities
related to this unit include those associated with hardpan plains, including; Yp2 and Yp6. The
distribution of this Beard vegetation unit shows that these ecologia communities have the
potential to occur over a large area in Western Australia and are not significant.
a9,20Si: Acacia ramulosa var. ramulosa, Acacia ramulosa var. linophylla and Acacia murrayana scrub.
a9,20Si is a moderate to large and fairly widespread Beard unit that is mapped as 1.4% of the
Study Area. Of the total area of the Beard unit, 1.5% occurs within the Study Area. The
vegetation communities related to this unit include those associated with hardpan plains and
sandy plains; Yp2 and Yy1. The distribution of this Beard vegetation unit shows that these
ecologia communities have the potential to occur over a large area in Western Australia and
are not significant.
a9Si: Acacia ramulosa var. ramulosa and Acacia ramulosa var. linophylla scrub.
a9Si is a very large and widespread Beard unit that is mapped as 3.4% of the Study Area. Of
the total area of the Beard unit, 0.6% occurs within the Study Area. The vegetation
communities related to this unit include those associated with sandy plains of the Yalgoo and
Murchison regions; Yy1 and Mr2. The distribution of this Beard vegetation unit shows that
these ecologia communities have the potential to occur over a large area in Western Australia
and are not significant.
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acSc: Acacia ‐ Casuarina spp. thicket.
acSc is a moderate to large and widespread Beard unit that is mapped as 0.2% of the Study
Area. Of the total area of the Beard unit, 0.1% occurs within the Study Area. The vegetation
communities related to this unit include those associated with floodplains and includes; Yp3
and Gf2. The distribution of this Beard vegetation unit shows that these ecologia communities
have the potential to occur over a large area in Western Australia and are not significant,
however as it is such a small area within the Study Area, this Beard unit was not seen in
ecologia’s communities. Based on the known current extent of this vegetation unit in the
Geraldton Sandplains region, only 1% occurs within the Study Area.
anSi: Mixed Acacia spp. scrub.
anSi is a moderate to large and widespread Beard unit that is mapped as 8.1% of the Study
Area. Of the total area of the Beard unit, 4.9% occurs within the Study Area. The vegetation
communities related to this unit include those associated with the sandy‐clay plains and
includes; Yp1, Yp2, Yp5 and Yf5. The distribution of this Beard vegetation unit shows that
these ecologia communities have the potential to occur over a large area in Western Australia
and are not significant.
ceLr a9Si: Acacia ramulosa var. ramulosa and Acacia ramulosa var. linophylla scrub with Callitris
columellaris and Eucalyptus spp.
ceLr a9Si is a large and widespread Beard unit that is mapped as 1.3% of the Study Area. Of
the total area of the Beard unit, 0.6% occurs within the Study Area. The vegetation
communities related to this unit include those associated with sandy plains and includes; Yp2
and Yp3, however based on the known current extent of this vegetation unit in the Geraldton
Sandplains region, none remains in the Study Area.
e6,8Mi: Eucalyptus loxophleba and Eucalyptus salmonophloia sclerophyll woodland.
e6,8Mi is a large and widespread Beard unit that is mapped as 0.1% of the Study Area. Of the
total area of the Beard unit, 0.04% occurs within the Study Area. The vegetation community
that is related to this unit is associated with red sandy plains and includes; Gy2. The
distribution of this Beard unit shows that the ecologia community has the potential to occur
over a large area in Western Australia and is not significant. Based on the known current
extent of this vegetation unit in the Geraldton Sandplains region, 36% occurs within the Study
Area, however this unit is not endemic to this region (0.28% of the total area is in the
Geraldton Sandplains), the actual impact is likely to be a lot less.
e6c5Mr a9,19Si: Acacia ramulosa var. ramulosa, Acacia ramulosa var. linophylla and Acacia
acuminata scrub with scattered Eucalyptus loxophleba and Casuarina huegeliana.
e6c5Mr a9,19Si is a small and restricted Beard unit that is mapped as 2.7% of the Study Area.
Of the total area of the Beard unit, 10.8% occurs within the Study Area. The vegetation
community related to this unit include that associated with floodplains of the Geraldton
Sandplains region and includes; Gf2. The distribution of this Beard unit represents the
potential distribution of the ecologia vegetation community, showing that it is very restricted
and is likely to be uncommon locally and regionally. Based on the known current extent of this
vegetation unit in the Geraldton Sandplains region, 24% occurs within the Study Area, however
this unit is not endemic to this region (31% of the total area is in the Geraldton Sandplains) and
the actual impact is likely to be a lot less.
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e6Mr a19Si: Acacia acuminata scrub with scattered Eucalyptus loxophleba.
e6Mr a19Si is a small to moderate and fairly restricted Beard unit that is mapped as 3.8% of
the Study Area. Of the total area of the Beard unit, 4.7% occurs within the Study Area. The
vegetation communities related to this unit include those with floodplain of the Geraldton
Sandplains region and includes; Gp1 and Gf2. The distribution of this vegetation unit
represents the potential distribution of the ecologia vegetation community, showing that it is
very restricted and is likely to be uncommon locally and regionally and is endemic to the
Geraldton Sandplains region. Based on the known current extent of this vegetation unit in the
Geraldton Sandplains region, 4% occurs within the Study Area.
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