Opr rail Development Public Environmental Review

8.3.3 
Malleefowl 
Measures to mitigate impacts to Malleefowl during construction and operation include: 
 
OPR commits to not disturbing any active Malleefowl mound. Should a nest be discovered 
that  cannot  be  avoided,  the  nest  will  be  disturbed  only  once  all  Malleefowl  adults  and 
chicks have left the nest. If this is not possible OPR will apply for permission to disturb; 
 
all personnel involved in ground disturbing works are required to attend a site specific 
induction which will include guidelines in avoiding impacts to the species; 
 
OPR have developed fact sheets for all conservation significant flora and fauna species 
recorded along the rail including Malleefowl with photographs of typical habitat and form; 
and 
 
provision of fauna passages below the rail lines to allow movement across the Rail Corridor. 
8.4 
PREDICTED OUTCOMES 
After mitigation and management measures have been applied, the Proposal is expected to result in 
the following outcomes in relation to matters of NES: 
 
no impacts to the Kalbarri Spider‐orchid or Fitzgerald’s Mulla Mulla as they have not been 
recorded within or in proximity to the Proposal Area; 
 
no direct or indirect impacts on the known locations of Hoffman’s Spider‐orchid, Moresby 
Range  Drummondita  or  Howatharra  Mallee  as  the  predicted  rail  alignment  allows  for 
complete avoidance; 
 
low  likelihood  of  significant  impact  on  Carnaby’s  Black‐Cockatoo,  with  only  1.3%  of  the 
potential feeding habitat within the Study Area expected to be impacted by the Proposal.  
Suitable habitat types are also extensively represented beyond the Study Area; 
 
low  likelihood  of  significant  impact  on  Slender‐billed  Thornbill,  with  only  2.9%  of  the 
potential habitat within the Study Area expected to be impacted by the Proposal.  Suitable 
habitat types are also extensively represented beyond the Study Area; 

 
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 
the  Rail  Corridor  alignment  has  been  designed  to  avoid  all  but  two  of  the  more  than  50 
populations  of  the  Western  Spiny‐tailed  Skink  recorded  in  surveys  undertaken  within  the 
Study Area.  The Rail Corridor has been deviated to provide at least a 200 m buffer between 
most populations and the Rail Corridor.  Only two populations will potentially be bisected 
by  the  proposed  rail  centreline.  A  buffer  of  50  ‐  60  m  will  be  maintained  between 
disturbance and outcrop locations so that no known habitat will be directly impacted.  As 
such there are not expected to be any significant impacts to the Western Spiny‐tailed Skink; 
and 
 
there  may  be  some  localised  movement  of  fauna  away  from  the  rail  construction  and 
operational corridor due to increased presence of people and machinery and the resulting 
increase in ambient noise and vibration. 
With the implementation of the identified management measures, potential impacts on matters or 
NES are expected to be minor. 
 
 

 
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9 
 PROPOSAL ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK 
9.1 
PRINCIPLES OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION 
Oakajee Port and Rail (OPR) recognises that environmental responsibilities go beyond those required 
for  compliance  and  aims  to  encompass  strong  commitments  to  environmental  management, 
leadership in sustainable development and social obligations.  
The  Environmental  Protection  Act  1986  (EP  Act)  was  amended  in  2003  to  include  a  core  set  of 
Principles that are applied by the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) in formal assessments. As 
listed in Section 4A of the EP Act, these are: 
 
the precautionary principle; 
 
intergenerational equity; 
 
conservation of biological diversity and ecological integrity; 
 
principles related to improved valuation, pricing and incentive mechanisms; and 
 
waste management. 
OPR has embraced the EPA’s principles of environment protection as part of its Proposal engineering 
and design. The environmental objective of the Proposals design, in order of priority, is to: 
1. 
Completely avoid the impact if possible 
2. 
Substitute with a lesser impact 
3. 
Include rehabilitation / engineering solutions to reduce the degree / risk of impact 
4. 
Design operational controls and emergency response around reduction of impact 
Demonstration of this approach is detailed within this Public Environmental Review (PER). OPR has 
applied  these  principles  through  consideration  of  alternative  designs  for  the  Proposal, 
comprehensive  environmental  investigations,  stakeholder  and  community  engagement  and  the 
commitment to local employment for construction and operation phases of the Proposal.  Table 9‐1 
summarises OPRs consideration of the principles of environmental protection. 

 
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Table 9‐1  Application of Principles of Environmental Protection 
Principle 
Consideration given to the Principle 
Addressed in 
Section of 
PER 
The Precautionary Principle 
Where there are threats of serious or irreversible damage, 
lack of full scientific certainty should not be used as a 
reason for postponing measures to prevent environmental 
degradation. In the application of the of the precautionary 
principle decisions should be guided by:  
a) 
Careful evaluation to avoid, where practicable, 
serious or irreversible damage to the environment. 
b) 
An assessment of the risk-weighted consequences 
of various options. 
OPR has undertaken detailed site 
investigations of the biological and physical 
environs.  Where these investigations identify 
significant conservation issues, management 
measures have been and will continue to be 
incorporated into the Proposal design to 
avoid where practicable, or minimise any 
potential impacts. 
See detailed 
assessment of 
factors in 
Sections 7 & 8  
 Intergenerational Equity 
The present generation should ensure that the health, 
diversity and productivity of the environment is maintained 
or enhanced for the benefit of future generations. 
OPR recognises the responsibility it has to 
ensure that all land within its sphere of 
influence is preserved for future generations. 
This includes prompt and effective 
rehabilitation of disturbed land.  OPR is 
committed to the principles of minimum 
resource use and emissions minimisation 
and will incorporate sustainability into 
Proposal design wherever practicable.  
Section 7 & 8 
Conservation of Biological Diversity and Ecological 
Integrity 
Conservation of biological diversity and ecological integrity 
should be a fundamental consideration. 
OPR will seek to minimise its footprint to 
avoid disturbance as far as practicable.  OPR 
has sought alternative routes to avoid 
impacting recognised areas of conservation 
significance and is continuing biological 
investigations to identify other aspects of 
potential environmental significance of high 
preservation value. 
See detailed 
assessment of 
factors in 
Sections 7 
Rehabilitation 
and closure 
strategies in 
Section 9.2.3 
 Improved Valuation, Pricing and Incentive 
Mechanisms 
a) Environmental factors should be included in the 
valuation of assets and service. 
b) The polluter pays principle – those who generate 
pollution and waste should bear the costs of containment, 
avoidance or abatement. 
c) The users of goods and services should pay prices 
based on the full life cycle of costs of providing goods and 
services, including the use of natural resources and assets 
and the ultimate disposal of any wastes. 
d) Environmental goals, having been established should be 
pursued in the most cost – effective way, by establishing 
incentive structures, including market mechanisms, which 
enable those best placed to develop their own solutions 
and responses to environmental problems. 
OPR acknowledges the need for improved 
valuation, pricing and incentive mechanisms 
and endeavours to pursue these principles 
though out the feasibility phases.  To date 
environmental factors have played a major 
role determining the Proposal design 
including decisions on route length and 
equipment selection to reduce pollution type 
impacts, and decision on route location to 
avoid environmental impact.  
Section 7 
Waste Minimisation 
All reasonable and practicable measures should be taken 
to minimise the generation of waste and its discharge into 
the environment. 
OPRs approach to waste management 
across all phases and components of the 
Proposal is in order of priority: avoid and 
reduce at source, reuse and recycle, and 
treat and/or dispose.  The strategies for 
waste minimisation will be outlined within the 
Proposal Environmental Management 
System (EMS). 
Section 7.10 
 
 
 

 
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9.2 
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM 
OPR has developed an EMS to provide an over‐arching structure by which the environmental management 
strategies  and  associated  control  measures  have  been  developed.  The  OPR  EMS  has  been  developed  in 
accordance with AS/NZS 14001 standard, with a focus on continuous improvement process, as outlined in 
Figure  9‐1.  To  consolidate  the  strategies  and  control  measures,  a  series  of  environmental  objectives  and 
targets  have  been  developed  within  the  EMS  in  accordance  with  the  OPR  Environmental  Policy.  To 
effectively  address  all  potential  environmental  aspects  and  impacts,  the  OPR  EMS  has  implemented  the 
fundamental tools of risk identification and control to assist in developing the management strategies and 
control measures.  
To  ensure  the  implementation  of  all  environmental  objectives,  targets  and  commitments  during  the 
delivery of the project, the OPR EMS will be finalised following final approval to implement procedures that 
integrate commitments within the procurement and construction programs. Routine audits of the system 
and a management review process will ensure the adherence to procedures and commitments during the 
delivery of the project. A detailed framework of the OPR EMS is presented in Figure 9‐1. 
A Safety Management System based on AS/NZS 4801 will be developed separately and aligned to the EMS 
framework.  The  OPR  Incident  Management  System  will  be  developed  within  the  Safety  Management 
System  with  procedures  within  the  EMS  instructing  environmental  teams  and  construction  managers  on 
managing environmental incidents via the Incident Management System. In addition, Emergency Response 
Procedures and Training, Competency and Awareness will be managed via the Safety Management System 
with procedures outlined within the EMS. 
Table 9‐2 outlines the proposed EMS management actions proposed. 
 
 

 
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Table 9‐2  EMS management strategies 
Management Strategies 
Phase 
Responsible 
Persons 
Prepare and implement an EMS consistent with the Principles of ISO 14001 that includes the 
following elements: 
 
incident management system; 
 
targets and objectives; 
 
promotion of continuous improvement; 
 compliance 
auditing; 
 
environmental requirements in contracts; 
 
environmental awareness and specific training (where relevant); and 
 obligations 
register. 
Construction 
& Operation 
Environment 
Manager 
Inductions will be conducted for all employees and contractors to include information on:  
 
the appropriate storage, handling and transport procedures for potential contaminants; 
 
the importance of preventing contamination of all areas including marine waters; 
 
emergency response procedures and responsibilities; 
 
the importance of minimizing impacts on terrestrial fauna; 
 
the procedures and protocols for fauna management; 
 
methods of minimising power and water usage within the Proposal; 
 
restricted access areas; 
 
protection of significant flora and vegetation; 
 
restriction of activities to approved areas; 
 
the OPR clearing permit system; 
 
waste management procedures including avoidance and minimisation, re-use and recycling, 
and appropriate disposal; 
 
significance of Aboriginal heritage; 
 
procedures to report potential new Aboriginal Heritage sites; 
 
obligations under the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972 (AH Act); 
 
requirements for the protection of known Aboriginal sites; and 
 
other environmental management risks as identified through risk assessment procedures. 
The induction information may be tailored to particular positions so as to ensure that the information 
presented is relevant to the activities the position is responsible for. 
Construction 
& Operation 
Environment 
Manager 
Prepare and implement an Emergency Response and Crisis Management Plans to include response 
to fire, hazardous material leaks or spillages, accidents and other key risks identified through OPR 
risk assessment and management processes (refer to Emergency Response Plans). 
Construction 
& Operation 
Environment 
Manager, 
Safety 
Manager 
Prepare and implement a purchasing policy that includes: 
 
preference for purchase of materials with low embodied energy; 
 
energy efficiency of key energy using equipment; 
 appropriate 
communications; 
 
spill protection as per regulation; 
 
licences and other precautions regarding hazardous materials and safety risks; 
 
key contractors to minimise waste by avoidance; and 
 
reuse and recycling and ensuring safe waste disposal opportunities. 
Construction 
& Operation 
Construction 
Manager, 
Operations 
Manager 
 

 
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Figure 9‐1 EMS process flowchart 
A Safety Management System based on AS/NZS 4801 will be developed separately but will be aligned to the 
EMS  framework,  including  emergency  response  procedures.  Figure  9‐2  demonstrates  the  proposed 
structure of the EMS. 
 
 
Planning
Environmental Policy
Objectives & Targets
Aspects & Impacts
Risk Evaluation 
Legislative & Regulatory 
Management
Implementation
Structure & Responsibility
Management Control
Training & Communication 
Improvement
Review
Management Plans & Procedures
Contractor Management
Incident Review
Non-Conformance Management
Compliance Auditing 
Monitoring & Measurement
Management Plan Review
Contractor Management 
Review
Training & Communication 
Review
Continuous 
Improvement
Performance Reporting  
EMP & Procedure Implementation
Planning
Environmental Policy
Objectives & Targets
Aspects & Impacts
Risk Evaluation 
Legislative & Regulatory 
Management
Implementation
Structure & Responsibility
Management Control
Training & Communication 
Improvement
Review
Management Plans & Procedures
Contractor Management
Incident Review
Non-Conformance Management
Compliance Auditing 
Monitoring & Measurement
Management Plan Review
Contractor Management 
Review
Training & Communication 
Review
Continuous 
Improvement
Performance Reporting  
EMP & Procedure Implementation

 
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Figure 9‐2  EMS structure 
9.2.1 
Environmental Management Plans 
There are several significant  environmental and social impacts  expected as  a result of this Proposal.  OPR 
have  developed  Environmental  Management  Plans  (EMPs)  for  these  factors  as  a  primary  method  of 
controlling, managing and monitoring the environmental impacts associated. 
The  EMPs  are  elements  of  the  OPR  EMS  that  will  be  used  to  achieve  the  environmental  and  social 
objectives,  targets  and  commitments  of  the  Proposal  and  the  application  of  management  and  mitigation 
measures described in this PER. 
An  ISO  14001  based  EMS  will  be  finalised  prior  to  commencement  of  construction,  as  will  construction 
EMPs for the following: 
 
Aboriginal cultural heritage; 
 
acid sulfate soils (ASS); 
 
air quality; 
 
emergency response; 
 
vegetation and flora (including weed, clearing and rehabilitation); 
 
fauna, including terrestrial vertebrate and subterranean fauna; 
 
groundwater; 
OPR Environmental Policy
Environmental Objectives 
& Targets
Port Marine
Port 
Landside 
PER
Register of Environmental 
Factors & Potential Impacts
Register of Management 
Strategies (Proposed 
Management)
Rail PER
Surface Water
Flora & Vegetation
Fauna
Construction 
Management Plans
Flora & Vegetation
Fauna
Noise & Vibration
Operation 
Management Plans
Legislative Database
Aspects & Impacts
Construction & Operation 
Management Plan
Commitments Register
Construction Procedures 
& Induction
OPR Environmental Management System
Monitoring Plans and 
Contingency Procedures
Document Control & 
Reporting

 
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 
surface water; 
 
hazardous materials and contamination; 
 
noise and vibration; and 
 
sustainable resource efficiency (including waste). 
Operations EMPs will be finalised prior to operation, including management strategies relevant to: 
 
Aboriginal heritage; 
 
air quality; 
 
emergency response; 
 
fauna, including vertebrate, invertebrate and subterranean fauna; 
 
vegetation and flora; 
 
groundwater; 
 
surface water; 
 
hazardous materials and contamination; 
 
noise and vibration; and 
 
sustainable resource efficiency (including waste). 
Table 9‐3 contains a summary of significant management actions that will be included and in many cases 
expanded upon in the EMPs. 
9.2.1 
Consolidated Key Management Actions 
Table 9‐3 consolidates the key management actions proposed in this PER.   
 
 

 
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Table 9‐3  Consolidated key management actions for the Proposal 
Management Strategies 
Relevant 
EMP 
Phase 
Responsible Persons 
Vegetation and Flora 
Vegetation clearing will occur within clearly defined boundaries 
Vegetation 
and Flora 
Management 
Plan (VFMP) 
Design & 
Construction 
Construction Manager 
All conservation significant locations will be avoided where possible and will be visually marked with restricted access 
VFMP 
Design & 
Construction 
Project Engineer, 
Construction Manager 
Required clearing will be minimised, for example: 
 
Material from cut rail sections will be used where practicable in preference to material sourced from borrow pits to minimise clearing; and 
 
Pre-disturbed areas  will be used wherever possible for temporary infrastructure. 
VFMP Design 
& 
Construction 
Project Engineer, 
Construction Manager 
Throughout the freehold area native vegetation will not be cleared except for the purposes of the rail alignment and access tracks where alternative routes are not 
practicable 
VFMP Design 
& 
Construction 
Project Engineer, 
Construction Manager 
The rail alignment will be restricted to an average disturbance width of 100 m in width when it passes through areas of native vegetation in the freehold area 
VFMP 
Design & 
Construction 
Project Engineer, 
Construction Manager 
Priority Ecological Communities (PECs) will be avoided and a 50 m buffer will be put in place around these areas 
VFMP 
Design & 
Construction 
Project Engineer, 
Construction Manager 
The impact on active creek beds will be minimised through the use of bridges and culverts, to help protect riparian vegetation.  For more information see surface water 
section 
Surface Water 
Management 
Plan (SWMP) 
Design & 
Construction 
Project Engineer, 
Construction Manager 
All proposed disturbance areas that are to be located outside of the Study Area will be surveyed for all potential Threatened Ecological Communities, PEC, Declared 
Rare Flora (DRF) and Priority Species to the same level as the remainder of the Study Area. 
The results of these surveys will be used to perform the same vegetation and flora impact assessments as detailed in Section 7.2 of the PER. 
VFMP Design 
& 
Construction 
Environment Manager 
All final proposed disturbance areas will be subject to detailed targeted surveys for DRF and the following Priority Flora species prior to disturbance: 
 
Chamelaucium sp. Yalgoo (P1); 
 
Eremophila sp. Tallering (P1); 
 
Goodenia lyrata (P1); 
 
Gunniopsis divisa (P1); 
 
Petrophile vana (P1); 
 
Ptilotus tetrandrus (P1); 
 
Eremophila arachnoids subsp. arachnoids (P3); 
 
Homalocalyx echinulatus (P3); 
 
Tecticornia cymbiformis (P3); 
 
Thryptomene sp. Moresby Range (P3); and 
 
Thryptomene sp. Wandana (P3). 
The survey information will be included in OPR databases and documentation to ensure that OPR will not disturb beyond the areas approved in the PER.   
VFMP Design 
& 
Construction 
Environment Manager 

 
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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