Table 5‐3 Conservation estates within the Proposal Area
Conservation Estate
Within Proposal Area
Ex Woolgorong (former leasehold)
Yes
Ex Twin Peaks (former leasehold)
Yes
Ex Narloo (former leasehold)
Yes
Reserve 16200
Yes
Moresby Range Nature Reserve
No, has been excised from Proposal Area
Un‐named Nature Reserve
No, has been excised from Proposal Area
Urawa Nature Reserve
No, has been excised from Proposal Area
Wokatherra Nature Reserve
No, has been excised from Proposal Area
Oakajee
Mullewa
Mullewa
Northampton
Northampton
LOCALITY
LEGEND
Cadastral Boundary
OakajeeOakajee
Figure No:
CAD Resources File No:
Drawn:
CAD Resources
g1660_Pub_PER_P_F011.dgn
01
0
Scale
MGA94 (Zone 50)
Notes:
DEC Estates data supplied by Department of Environment and Conservation
Topographic & Cadastral data supplied by Landgate
6950000mN
6850000mN
6950000mN
6850000mN
250000mE
250000mE
350000mE
350000mE
450000mE
450000mE
Road Road
Mt Magnet Mt Magnet
Geraldton
Geraldton
Yalgoo
Yalgoo
20km
ProposedProposed
Conservation ParkConservation Park
WoolgorongWoolgorong
Pastoral leasePastoral lease
ProposedProposed
Conservation ParkConservation Park
WoolgorongWoolgorong
Pastoral leasePastoral lease
Proposed Conservation ParkProposed Conservation Park
Twin Peaks Pastoral LeaseTwin Peaks Pastoral Lease
Proposed Conservation ParkProposed Conservation Park
Narloo Pastoral LeaseNarloo Pastoral Lease
ProposedProposed
Conservation ParkConservation Park
Yuin Pastoral LeaseYuin Pastoral Lease
East YunaEast Yuna
Nature ReserveNature Reserve
WandanaWandana
Nature ReserveNature Reserve
Bindoo HillBindoo Hill
Nature ReserveNature Reserve
UrawaUrawa
Nature ReserveNature Reserve
DEC Estate
Cadastral Reserve
Proposed
Proposed
Conservation ParkConservation Park
Moresby RangeMoresby Range
WokatherraWokatherra
Nature ReserveNature Reserve
ProposedProposed
Conservation ParkConservation Park
Moresby RangeMoresby Range
WokatherraWokatherra
Nature ReserveNature Reserve
OakajeeOakajee
Project Area
Current & Proposed Conservtion Estates
Proposed Conservation Estate
Refer toRefer to
EnlargementEnlargement
Enlargement
Figure 5-6 Conservation estates
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5.2
SUMMARY OF ENVIRONMENTAL INVESTIGATIONS
In developing the Proposal Public Environmental Review (PER), OPR has commissioned a
range of specialist environmental investigations, including:
vegetation and flora;
fauna;
surface hydrology;
groundwater;
acid sulfate soils; and
noise.
Further information about the environmental investigations undertaken specifically for the
PER process is provided below. Information derived from these investigations has been
incorporated into the discussion of potential environmental impacts arising from the
Proposal, and the management of these impacts presented in Section 7 of the PER. The
reports documenting outcomes from the investigations form appendices to this PER.
5.2.1
Vegetation and Flora
Vegetation and flora surveys were conducted during 2009 to describe vegetation
communities in and around the Study Area, and identify any conservation significant flora or
communities and their regional significance. The surveys undertaken had the following
objectives:
to develop an inventory of vascular plant species;
to describe and map plant communities;
to review plant species considered to be rare and endangered, or geographically
restricted, which are known to, or may occur, within the Study Area;
to develop an inventory of exotic plants, including declared weeds; and
to determine the significance of the plant communities in a local, regional and
State context.
5.2.1.1
Previous Vegetation and Flora Surveys in the Region
Several vegetation surveys have been undertaken within the broader region encompassing
the Study Area. Beard (1976) mapped the vegetation associations of the Murchison region at
a scale of 1:1,000,000. The vegetation associations of the Geraldton area were mapped by
Beard & Burns (1976) at a finer‐scale of 1:250,000 and ten vegetation systems were
described in the South‐western Botanical Province and two in the Eremaean Botanical
Province.
Ecologia undertook a number of surveys between 2006 and 2009 at Weld Range, Jack Hills
and along previously proposed rail alignments. In addition DEC, Markey & Dillon, Meissner &
Caruso and Mattiske conducted surveys within the region between 2004 and 2008. The
results of these previous surveys have been used to inform the flora and vegetation
assessments for this PER.
5.2.1.2
Ecologia Vegetation and Flora Survey Methodology
Vegetation surveys were performed during April ‐ June 2009 in accordance with relevant
Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) Position Statements and Guidance Statement No.
51 Assessment of Environmental Factors for Terrestrial Flora.
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Database Searches
Before the field surveys were conducted, searches of the following databases were
undertaken to determine species of conservation significance previously recorded in the
Study Area:
DEC’s Threatened (Declared Rare) Flora Database;
DEC’s Declared Rare and Priority Flora List (Atkins (2008) (2));
DEC’s WA Herbarium Specimen Database (WA Herbarium);
DEC’s Threatened and PEC Database; and
DEWHA’s Protected Matters Database.
Field Methodology
Field surveys were conducted from May to August 2009 and were undertaken in accordance
with relevant EPA Position Statements and Guidance Statement No. 51 Assessment of
Environmental Factors for Terrestrial Flora.
The survey approach involved the establishment of 20 m by 20 m quadrats approximately
every km along the rail alignment within pastoral areas, and in vegetation remnants within
the freehold area. Where access to freehold lands was denied (only for a small number of
properties), the nearest similar vegetation was surveyed to determine significance.
Transects were also walked targeting Declared Rare and Priority species. In addition to
systematic sampling, opportunistic sampling was also carried out.
Vegetation Mapping
The vegetation of the Study Area was mapped to classify the vegetation communities based
on groups with similar species composition. This was acheived through a combination of
statistical cluster analysis, field observation and aerial photography. The Study Area was
mapped at a scale of 1:30,000, except the area from the Moresby Ranges to the western end
of the Study Area which was mapped at a scale of 1:10,000.
Survey Adequacy
141 person days were spent on the flora and vegetation surveys. The adequacy of the
sampling undertaken during the field surveys was analysed using Species Accumulation
Curves.
The analysis showed that approximately 81% of the flora species potentially present within
the pastoral section, and approximately 77% of the flora species potentially present within
the freehold section were recorded during the survey based on species recoded in quadrats
only.
Inclusion of taxa collected opportunistically during the surveys suggests that approximately
110% (freehold section) and 98% (pastoral section) of the flora species potentially present
within the Study Area were recorded during the survey. The full details of sampling effort
and survey adequacy calculations can be found in Appendix 1.
5.2.1.3
Vegetation recorded within the Study Area
Two data sets were used to interpret vegetation communities within the Study Area; Beard
(1976) vegetation association mapping, and Ecologia (2010) vegetation unit mapping. The
vegetation communities of each are summarised in Table 5‐4 below.
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Beard Vegetation Associations
A description of the vegetation associations recorded by Ecologia is provided in Table 5‐4.
Mapping of these units is included in Appendix 1.
Table 5‐4 Beard vegetation associations within the Study Area
Code
Description
Extent and Distribution
Total pre-
European
extent in
WA (ha)
% of
Study
Area
Associated
Ecologia
vegetation
units
a1,14Si
Acacia aneura and Acacia
quadrimarginea scrub.
Moderate to large and
widespread, the regional
distribution includes
many of the BIF ranges
in WA
448,700
1.1
Mh1, Mh2, Mh3,
Mh4, Mh5, Mh6,
Mh7, Mh8, Mc3,
Mc4.
a1,8Sr
k1,2Ci
Acacia aneura and Acacia
sclerosperma with Atriplex and
Maireana spp. succulent
steppe.
Small to moderate and
restricted, the regional
distribution includes the
floodplains from a
number of different land
systems
199,534
1.5
Mf1, Mf2, Mf3
a1,9Li
Acacia aneura, Acacia
ramulosa var. ramulosa and
Acacia ramulosa var.
linophylla low woodland.
Small and restricted
94,031
3
Mr2
a10,11S
i k1,2Ci
Acacia victoriae, Acacia
xiphophylla and Acacia
eremaea with Atriplex and
Maireana spp. succulent
steppe.
Small and restricted
65,169
1
Yf3, Mc1
a14Si
Acacia quadrimarginea scrub.
Very small and restricted
10,387
0.1
Yh1
a1Li
Acacia aneura low woodland.
Largest and most
widespread.
24,751,239
24
Mc5, Mh5, Mh9,
Mh10, Mh14,
Mp1, Mp2, Mp5,
Mp8, Mp6, Mp9,
Mp11, Mp12,
Mr3
a1Li
a9,17Si
Acacia aneura low woodland
with understory of Acacia
ramulosa var. ramulosa,
Acacia
ramulosa var. linophylla and
Acacia grasbyi.
Very large and
widespread.
Widespread and
common in WA
1,136,021 13.4 Yp5,
Yp6
a1Lp
Acacia aneura, trees in groves
or patches.
Very large and
widespread. Large
potential distribution in
WA
7,914,567
16.3
Mp2, Mp3, Mp4,
Mr1, Mr2, Mr3.
a1Si
Acacia aneura scrub.
Very large and
widespread
6,666,951 3.5 Mh10,
Mh11,
Mh12, Mh15,
Mh16, Mp6,
Mp9, Mp10
a33Sc
Acacia rostellifera thicket.
Very small and
restricted. Has half of its
known distribution in the
Geraldton Sandplains
region and is moderately
endemic.
3,478 0.5 Gc2
a8,9Sr
k1,2Ci
Acacia sclerosperma, Acacia
ramulosa var. ramulosa and
Acacia ramulosa var.
linophylla with Atriplex and
M aireana spp. succulent
steppe.
Small to moderate and
restricted
119,058 0.05 -
a8Sr
k1,2Ci
Acacia sclerosperma with
Atriplex and Maireana spp.
Small and restricted
15,539
0.8
Yc1, Yf4 and Yf5
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Code
Description
Extent and Distribution
Total pre-
European
extent in
WA (ha)
% of
Study
Area
Associated
Ecologia
vegetation
units
succulent steppe.
a9,19Si
Acacia ramulosa var.
ramulosa, Acacia ramulosa
var. linophylla and Acacia
acuminata scrub.
Large and widespread
756,674
1.6
Yp2 and Yp6
a9,20Si
Acacia ramulosa var.
ramulosa, Acacia ramulosa
var. linophylla and Acacia
murrayana scrub.
Moderate to large and
fairly widespread
206,457 1.4 Yp2
and
Yy1
a9Si
Acacia ramulosa var.
ramulosa and Acacia
ramulosa var. linophylla scrub.
Very large and
widespread
1,331,779
3.4
Yy1 and Mr2
acSc
Acacia ‐ Casuarina spp.
thicket.
Moderate to large and
widespread
495,385
0.2
Yp3 and Gf2
anSi Mixed
Acacia spp. scrub.
Moderate to large and
widespread
368,979
8.1
Yp1, Yp2, Yp5
and Yf5
ceLr
a9Si
Acacia ramulosa var.
ramulosa and Acacia
ramulosa var. linophylla scrub
with Callitris columellaris and
Eucalyptus spp.
Large and widespread
511,008
1.3
Yp2 and Yp3
e6c5Mr
a9,19Si
Acacia ramulosa var.
ramulosa, Acacia ramulosa
var . linophylla and Acacia
acuminata scrub with
scattered Eucalyptus
loxophleba and Casuarina
huegeliana.
Small and restricted
56,427
2.7
Gf2
e6Mr
a19Si
Acacia acuminata scrub with
scattered Eucalyptus
loxophleba.
Small to moderate and
fairly restricted.
Uncommon locally and
regionally and is
endemic to the
Geraldton Sandplains
region
184,571
3.8
Gp1 and Gf2
e6Mr
eaSi
Eucalyptus spp. (mallee) and
Acacia spp. scrub with
scattered Eucalyptus
loxophleba.
Small and restricted.
Likely to be uncommon
locally and regionally
and is almost endemic
(99%) to the Geraldton
Sandplains region.
97,368
3.6
Gp1, Gf1 and
Gf2
k3Ci
Tecticornia spp. and other
samphires succulent steppe.
Very large and
widespread
2,078,904 0.01 -
mhSc
Melaleuca ‐ Hakea spp.
thicket.
Small and restricted.
Uncommon locally and
is regionally endemic to
the Geraldton
Sandplains region.
51,880 0.9 Gh1,
Gh2
and
Gh3
x2SZc
Scrub heath coastal
association.
Moderate to large and
widespread.
328,738 2.9 Gy1
x3SZc
Scrub heath inland
association.
Large and widespread.
Highly endemic to the
Geraldton Sandplains
region
580,547
1.7
Yp3 and Gf2
x3SZc/
acSc
Acacia ‐ Casuarina spp.
thicket with scrub heath inland
association.
Small and restricted.
Endemic to the
Geraldton Sandplains
region
82,081 2.6 Gy2
and
Gp2
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Ecologia Vegetation Units
72 vegetation units, incorporating 48 sub‐units were mapped in the Study Area. Some
vegetation units were indistinguishable from others on the aerial photographs and
consequently were mapped as one unit incorporating a number of sub‐units. These units are
summarised below and described in detail in Appendix 1.
A general description of the vegetation communities in each of the bioregions is given
below. The vegetation communities of the Study Area are described based on IBRA region
and landform. Each community has a unique code where the first capital letter indicates the
IBRA region in which it is mapped (G = Geraldton Sandplains, Y = Yalgoo and M = Murchison),
the next lower case letter indicates the landform type (see codes under each bioregion), and
the number indicates the vegetation community (i.e. 1 = Vegetation Community 1). Where
sub‐units occur in a vegetation community, these are identified by an additional letter (e.g.
/a). For example, Gh2/a is sub‐unit a of Geraldton Sandplains rocky hill slope community 2.
Geraldton Sandplains IBRA
The freehold section of the Study Area occurs completely within the Geraldton Sandplains
IBRA region (Figure 5‐5). While most of this section has been cleared, some areas of remnant
vegetation are still in good condition. Twelve vegetation communities, incorporating eight
sub‐units, were mapped along the Geraldton Sandplains section of the Study Area.
The vegetation of the Geraldton Sandplains (G) bioregion has been grouped into:
Rocky hill slope vegetation of the Moresby Range (h);
Yellow sand plain and dune vegetation (y);
Red sand plain vegetation (p);
Floodplain vegetation (f); and
Creek line and minor drainage channel vegetation (c).
Yalgoo IBRA
The Yalgoo IBRA region extends approximately 100 km east from the eastern extremity of
the freehold section of the Study Area (Figure 5‐5). The region has not been cleared and
with the exception of the western 10 km of the section which is dominated by open
Eucalyptus species woodlands, regional vegetation is dominated by Acacia species
woodlands. 17 vegetation communities, incorporating 10 sub‐units, were recorded in the
Yalgoo region.
The vegetation of the Yalgoo region has been grouped into:
Rocky hill slope vegetation (h);
Yellow sand plain vegetation (y);
Red sand plain and sandy‐clay vegetation (p);
Floodplain vegetation (f); and
Creek line and minor drainage channel vegetation (c).
Murchison IBRA
The northern half of the Study Area occurs in the Murchison IBRA region (Figure 5‐5). This
region is characterised by hard red clay pans that support Acacia aneura and varying
Eremophila species. 44 vegetation communities, incorporating 30 sub‐units were recorded
in the Murchison section of the Study Area.
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The vegetation of the Murchison bioregion has been grouped into:
Rocky hill slope vegetation of Jack Hills, Weld Range and other areas (h);
Red sand plain vegetation (r);
Red sand‐clay plain and hard clay pan vegetation (p);
Salt lake and floodplain vegetation (f); and
Creek line and minor drainage channel vegetation (c).
A description of the vegetation units recorded by Ecologia is provided in Table 5‐5. Mapping
of these units is included in Appendix 1.
Table 5‐5 Ecologia vegetation units recorded within the Study Area
Code
Description
Gh1 Isolated
Eucalyptus loxophleba subsp. loxophleba low mallee trees, over Melaleuca megacephala and
Hakea pycnoneura closed mid shrubland, over Hibbertia hypericoides, Acacia lasiocarpa var. lasiocarpa,
Gastrolobium plicatum, Gastrolobium triangulare sparse low shrubland, over Lepidosperma tenue open
sedgeland.
Gh2
Mixed Acacia spp. and Melaleuca spp. sparse to open tall shrubs, over Verticordia chrysanthella and
Gastrolobium plicatum low shrubland.
Gh3
Allocasuarina campestris closed tall to mid shrubland, over Lepidosperma tenue sparse sedgeland.
Gy1
Eucalyptus spp., Xylomelum angustifolium, Actinostrobus arenarius and Banksia spp. sparse to open low
woodland, over mixed Myrtaceae spp. open low to mid shrubland.
Gy2 Mixed
Eucalyptus spp. open low woodland, over Acacia spp. and Melaleuca spp. sparse mid shrubland.
Gp1
Acacia tetragonophylla and Hakea recurva subsp. recurva (+/- Eucalyptus loxophleba subsp. Loxophleba,
Acacia acuminata and Acacia burkittii) low woodland, over Ptilotus obovatus sparse low shrubland, over
* Avena fatua and * Bromus diandrus tussock grassland.
Gp2
Melaleuca adnata sparse low woodland, over Calothamnus quadrifidus and Acacia acuminata open tall
to mid shrubland, over Ptilotus obovatus open low shrubland, over Amphipogon caricinus var. caricinus
open tussock grassland.
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