Opr rail Development Public Environmental Review
Table 5‐3 Conservation estates within the Proposal Area
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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 OPR Rail Development Public Environmental Review 49 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. OPR Rail Development Public Environmental Review 50 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. OPR Rail Development Public Environmental Review 51 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 Maireana 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 OPR Rail Development Public Environmental Review 52 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 OPR Rail Development Public Environmental Review 53 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. OPR Rail Development Public Environmental Review 54 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. Kataloq: sites -> default -> files -> PER documentation PER documentation -> Oakajee port and rail opr rail development vegetation and flora assessment PER documentation -> Flora and vegetation of aviva lease area PER documentation -> Enclosure 1 2007 Seismic Survey Vegetation PER documentation -> Vegetation and Flora Survey Report PER documentation -> Midwest corporation limited PER documentation -> Tronox management pt y ltd PER documentation -> Flora and vegetation of barrambie survey area, bore fields and water pipeline corridor Yüklə 26,37 Mb. Dostları ilə paylaş:
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