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Table 5‐18 Conservation significant fauna not recorded but may potentially occur within Study Area
Species
Cons status Habitat
Species distribution
Records
Likelihood of occurrence in Study Area
Mammals
Long-tailed
Dunnart
DEC Priority
3
Rocky habitat
with grass
hummocks or
open mulga
habitats
Long-tailed Dunnarts are patchily
distributed across much of central
WA and southern parts of the
Northern Territory, restricted to rocky
ridge-top and hillslope areas.
Several records of this species
from previous surveys
at Jack Hills and Weld Range (MBS 2005b; Ecologia
2009c, d).
ALMOST CERTAIN – RESIDENT
Likely to occur within Study Area in areas of
suitable habitat associated with Jack Hills
and Weld Range. Not recorded outside
these areas and unlikely to occur away from
the ranges.
Birds
Carnaby’s
Black-
Cockatoo
EPBC Act
Endangered
WC Act
Schedule 1
Sandplain
woodland,
proteaceous
scrub, heath,
mallee.
Geraldton Hills subregion
Howatharra (10 km NNE) and Geraldton (20 km S) of
the Study Area (Birdata, EPBC Database).
POSSIBLE – FEEDING VISITOR
This species’ presence within the Study
Area would be limited to the western extent
in the Geraldton Hills subregion. Some
nearby records, but there is limited suitable
feeding habitat within the Study Area.
Malleefowl
EPBC Act
Vulnerable,
EPBC Act
Migratory,
WC Act
Schedule 1
Dry inland scrub,
mallee
Occupies semi-arid mallee scrub on
the fringes of the relatively fertile
areas of southern Australia, where it
is now reduced to three separate
populations: the Murray-
Murrumbidgee basin,
west of
Spencer Gulf along the fringes of the
Simpson Desert, and the semi-arid
fringe of WA’s fertile south-west
corner
Malleefowl tracks and a recently used mound were
found in a small area of low, dense acacia scrub
located just outside the Study Area. A targeted
Malleefowl survey adjacent to this location yielded an
abandoned nest mound that had not been used for
several years. Targeted searches were also conducted
in the wider area but did not yield any further evidence
of Malleefowl.
A Malleefowl call was heard at OPR-F1 some distance
from the location of the trapping grid. A transect was
walked toward the direction of the call but failed to
record further evidence of the species.
ALMOST CERTAIN
Malleefowl tracks and a recently used
mound were found in a small area of low,
dense acacia scrub with accumulated leaf
and wood
debris on sandy soil, located just
outside the Study Area. A targeted
Malleefowl survey along 4.7 km of the
Proposal centreline adjacent to this location
yielded an abandoned nest mound that had
not been used for several years. Targeted
searches were also conducted in the wider
area but did not yield any further evidence of
Malleefowl.
Slender-billed
Thornbill
EPBC Act
Vulnerable
Treeless or
sparsely wooded
flatlands,
samphire and
low melaleuca
scrubs
Specific habitat requirements such
as the halophyte vegetation around
the salt flats to the north of Weld
Range. These areas are patchily
distributed in the Murchison and the
Slender-billed Thornbill is generally
uncommon.
Slender-billed Thornbills were recorded during a
previous survey of
Weld Range in the chenopod
shrubland to the north of the Weld Range Gap
(Ecologia 2009c). Slender-billed Thornbills have also
been recorded along the Sandford River, 30 km south-
east of Wooleen Lake, and during the survey of the
previous rail alignment.
ALMOST CERTAIN – RESIDENT
Few local records, although has been
recorded previously from within Study Area.
Habitat is at Weld Range and associated
with wide reticulated drainage systems of
Sanford River near OPRC sites 7 and 8,
which are 43 km upstream from regional site
M2 (Figure 5‐24). Suitable habitats also
available in Section F of the Rail.
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Species
Cons status Habitat
Species distribution
Records
Likelihood of occurrence in Study Area
Eastern Great
Egret
EBPC Act
Migratory
Floodwater,
rivers, shallows
of
wetlands,
intertidal
mudflats.
Numerous records from Murchison
River and surrounding waterways
(Birdata)
Recorded from C and J sites (Figure 5‐24).
This species was recorded regionally in previously
proposed rail alignments surveys.
ALMOST CERTAIN – TRANSIENT
VISITOR
Recorded close to the Study Area. Likely to
be a transient visitor to waterways within the
Study Area when they contain water
Wood
Sandpiper
EBPC Act
Migratory
Mainly shallow
fresh waters;
occasionally
brackish
swamps, rarely
salt lakes and
estuaries
Various coastal locations throughout
WA and the eastern states
Records from Wooleen Lake (BAWA) and 25 km north-
west of Mileura Station (NatureMap)
Records from Wooleen Lake (BAWA) and 25 km NW
of Mileura Station (NatureMap)
POSSIBLE – MIGRATING VISITOR
Few local records. May occasionally visit
water bodies within Study Area when they
contain water
Glossy Ibis
EBPC Act
Migratory
Shallows and
adjacent flats of
freshwater lakes
and swamps,
also river pools,
flooded
samphire and
sewage ponds
Migratory species utilising water
features
in the region
Records from Murchison River and surrounding
waterways (Birdata)
POSSIBLE – TRANSIENT VISITOR
May occasionally visit waterways within the
Study Area when they contain water
Major
Mitchell’s
Cockatoo
WC Act
Schedule 4
Arid to semi-arid
lightly wooded
country near
water and tall
eucalypts.
Major Mitchell’s Cockatoos have
been recorded breeding along the
Murchison River and may
occasionally utilise tall eucalypts
along the larger rivers, such as the
Greenough River, within the Study
Area and surrounding areas for
feeding and breeding.
Several previous records from Mileura (DEC records),
Mullewa (BAWA) and along the Murchison River
(BAWA, Birdata)
LIKELY – VAGRANT
Numerous local records. May occasionally
visit waterways within the Study Area.
Generally restricted to large creeks and
rivers
Reptiles
Western
Carpet
Python
WC Act
Schedule 4
DEC Priority
4
Banksia
woodland,
eucalypt
woodland, rocky
outcrops.
It occupies all the regions of
Southwest Australia, a typical
mediterranean climate, and into the
central arid and semi arid regions.
The northern extent is to Geraldton
and it is found as far east as Eyre.
Buller River (6 km S), Geraldton (20 km S), and
Drummond Cove (10 km S): DEC threatened fauna
database, Moresby Range (10 km SSE; Desmond and
Heriot 2002). Also located at Moresby Range (Maryan
pers. comm., May 2007).
POSSIBLE – RESIDENT
Several records of the species from coastal
areas but far fewer inland. Some suitable
riverine habitat exists in the Study Area.
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5.2.2.5
Short Range Endemic Invertebrate Fauna Survey
Endemism refers to the restriction of species to a particular area, whether it is at the
continental, national or local level (Allen
et al, 2002). Short range endemics (SREs) are those
species that exhibit tight local range restrictions. SRE species typically have poor dispersal
capabilities (i.e. flightless) and display specific or specialised environmental preferences
(Harvey, 2002).
An extensive, reliable taxonomic evaluation of these species has begun only recently and
thus the availability of literature and surveys relevant to SREs is relatively scarce, particularly
within the Study Area.
Due to historical clearing in the freehold area, vegetation remnants may function as refuges
for invertebrates with restricted distributions and may be important for their long‐term
survival (Main 1987, 1991, 1996). SRE’s, including millipedes (Diplopoda), centipedes
(Chilopoda), land snails (Mollusca) and trapdoor spiders (Mygalomorpha) have been
recorded in the Mid‐West region (Bamford, 2006;
Ecologia, 2008 & 2010d).
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