2.4.1 Conservation Significant Flora
The DPaW threatened flora databases, including the Threatened and Priority Flora Database
(TPFL), the Western Australian Herbarium (WAHerb) specimen database, and the Threatened
and Priority Flora List (TP List) were interrogated for information regarding CS flora taxa
known from within or in the vicinity of the Study Area (DEC 2012). The TPFL and WAHerb
databases are interrogated for information that is directly known from within the requested
search area (i.e. information from specimens housed at the WAHerb, or known records in the
TPFL database). The TP List returns a much broader set of information regarding CS taxa
known from within the region of the search area; in this case, the Midwest Region (DPaW
region). Therefore, taxa which are returned from the TP List may not actually occur within
the search area itself. Appendix B presents conservation codes for Western Australia flora
(DPaW 2013c).
The Tronox conservation significant flora database was interrogated for locations of CS flora
taxa within the Study Area. This database contains all information regarding CS flora taxa
recorded by consultants within the Cooljarloo area, and is current to 2013.
A list of CS flora taxa historically known to occur within or in the vicinity of the Study Area
is presented in Appendix C. The list includes CS taxa returned from the DEC database
interrogation as well as additional records from other historical studies undertaken in the area
(via the Tronox database). A total of 121 CS taxa are known to occur within or in the vicinity
of the Study Area, including 16 T-DRF taxa. Of these taxa, 37 are solely from the DEC TP
List, and therefore may not occur within the Study Area.
Helena Holdings (2007) undertook a survey for significant Schoenus spp. within the wider
Cooljarloo area, including Wondonderrah Nature Reserve, and habitat within the Falcon,
Woolka Road, Wongonderrah Road and Yerramullah Road areas. It was determined by
Helena Holdings that Schoenus badius (P2) (previously identified by Woodman
Environmental within the Falcon area) was actually Schoenus pennisetis (P1). The specimen
lodged at the WAHerb of Schoenus badius (P1) (collected by Woodman Environmental) is
still held under this name, and therefore this taxon was returned as part of the WAHerb
database search; however, for the purposes of this report it has been removed from Appendix
C (and Table 9).
A search for environmental matters of national significance using the Protected Matters
Search Tool (PMST) as listed under the EPBC Act, was performed for the Study Area
(DSEWPC (now DoE) 2013a). The results of this search returned eight threatened flora taxa
(as listed under the EPBC Act) which may occur in the search area, or species habitat may
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occur in the search area. Three of these taxa were also returned from the DEC database
search and/or were found in previous surveys as shown in Appendix C (Andersonia gracilis,
Anigozanthos viridis subsp. terraspectans and Macarthuria keigheryi). The remaining five
taxa (Centrolepis caespitosa, Darwinia foetida, Drakaea elastica, Epiblema grandiflorum
var. cyaneum and Hemiandra gardneri) were not returned from the DEC database search
(DSEWPC 2013a):
Epiblema grandiflorum var. cyaneum was originally listed as Threatened under the
EPBC Act under the name E. grandiflorum var. cyanea K. Dixon ms (Commonwealth
of Australia 2000); the name was subsequently updated under the Act in 2007 to E.
grandiflorum var. cyaneum (Commonwealth of Australia 2007). It was noted in the
Interim Recovery Plan (IRP) for this taxon that the genus Epiblema is represented by
only one species, with two varieites, and that the only difference between the two
varieties is the colour of the flowers (sky-blue in the case of var. cyaneum; lilac-blue to
dark mauve in var. grandiflorum) (Luu and English 2004). E. grandiflorum var.
cyaneum was only known from one population in the Perth metropolitan area
(approximately 160 km south of the Study Area). The name Epiblema grandiflorum
var. cyaneum is no longer current, with the two varieties being removed from useage;
this taxon is now known as Epiblema grandiflorum, a common taxon (DPaW 2013a). It
was noted by Thiele (2011) that the population known as E. grandiflora var. cyaneum
was based on a colour variation, with normal coloured plants also occurring in the area;
genetic analysis of a very small sample size resulted in little or no genetic differentiation
between the paler coloured flowered individuals, and the normal coloured individuals
(Thiele 2011).
Centrolepis caespitosa is ranked as Priority (P) 4 in Western Australia and is
widespread in the south west of WA with a known range of approximately 380 km from
north to south and 280 km from east to west. The closest recorded occurrence of this
species is over 120 km from the Study Area (in the vicinity of the Pearce Airforce
Base), with the majority of locations recorded from south of Perth, numerous of which
occur around Albany (DPaW 2013b). It occurs on white sands and clay, including salt
flats and wet areas (DPaW 2013a).
The closest occurrence of Darwinia foetida is over 110 km from the Study Area, in the
vicinity of Muchea, Bullsbrook and Gnangara (DPaW 2013a; 2013b). Collections of
this taxon vouchered in the WAHerb were taken from areas including dry grey sand,
winter-wet damp flats, and seasonally wet areas with poor drainage.
The nearest known occurrence of Drakaea elastica is 25 km south of the Study Area; it
was collected on a fire break on a slope with moist grey sand, under an open woodland
of Banksia menziesii, B. attenuata and B. ilicifolia (DPaW 2013a). The species grows
on bare patches of sand within otherwise dense vegetation in low-lying areas alongside
winter-wet swamps, typically in banksia (Banksia menziesii, B. attenuata and B.
ilicifolia) Woodland or Spearwood ( Kunzea glabrescens) Thicket vegetation (DEC
2008). While there are some records of this species north of Perth, the majority of
records occur south of Perth with numerous records near Busselton (DEC 2013b).
The closest occurrence of Hemiandra gardneri is approximately 50 km north of the
Study Area at Cockleshell Gully; this population has not been relocated since 1978
(Stack and Broun 2004). The majority of populations of this species occur inland
between Watheroo and Gunyidi in deep yellow to yellow-white sand on Sandplains and
hills (DEC 2013b; Stack and Broun 2004).
It is unlikely that any of these five taxa are present in the Study Area. The majority of these
taxa are known only from areas a great distance from the Study Area; considerable survey
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effort for CS flora taxa has also been spent within the Study Area, and no individuals of these
taxa have been recorded in the Study Area.
2.4.2 Introduced Flora
The results of the PMST search also returned eight significant invasive flora taxa that are
likely to occur in, or habitat for these taxa is likely to occur in the Study Area (DSEWPC
2013). These taxa were:
Asparagus asparagoides
Cenchrus ciliaris
Chrysanthemoides monilifera
Genista sp. x Genista monspessulana
Lycium ferocissimum
Olea europaea
Pinus radiata
Urochloa mutica
Asparagus asparagoides, Lycium ferocissimum, Pinus radiata and Urochloa mutica are
known from the wider region surrounding the Study Area and therefore may occur within the
Study Area. However, Cenchrus ciliaris does not generally occur in the south of Western
Australia, and there are no records of Chrysanthemoides monilifera, Genista sp. x Genista
monspessulana or Olea europaea (other than cultivated plantations) within 140 km of the
Study Area (DEC 2013b). It is therefore considered unlikely that these four taxa would occur
within the Study Area.
A search of the WAHerb specimen database for records of introduced flora (weed) taxa
recorded within the Study Area and surrounds was performed using the online tool
NatureMap (DPaW 2013b). A total of seven introduced taxa were returned, as listed in Table
2. Table 2 displays rankings (where available) of introduced taxa in terms of their
environmental impact on biodiversity under the under the then Department of Conservation
and Land Management’s (CALM) Environmental Weed Strategy for Western Australia
(CALM 1999) (Appendix D). There was one result for Weeds of National Significance
(WoNS) returned in this search, this being the Declared Pest Moraea flaccida (Australia
Weeds Committee 2013). This species is ranked as a Declared Pest (s22) for the whole state
under the Biosecurity and Agriculture Management Act 2007 (BAM Act) (Department of
Agriculture and Food 2013).
Table 2:
Introduced Taxa Known to Occur Within or in the Vicinity of the Study
Area from DEC Records (DEC 2013b)
Taxon
Common Name
Comments
Centaurium tenuiflorum
-
Ranked as ‘Low’ (CALM 1999)
Juncus capitatus
Capitate Rush
Ranked as ‘Moderate’ (CALM 1999)
Moraea flaccida
(formerly Homeria flaccida)
One-leaf Cape Tulip
Ranked as ‘High’ (CALM 1999);
Declared Pest (Dept. Agriculture 2013)
Ornithopus compressus
Yellow Serradella
Ranked as ‘Mild’ (CALM 1999)
Polypogon maritimus
Coast Beardgrass
Ranked as ‘Low’ (CALM 1999)
Polypogon monspeliensis
Annual Beardgrass
Ranked as ‘Moderate’ (CALM 1999)
Vulpia muralis
-
Ranked as ‘Low’ (CALM 1999)
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2.5
Local Flora and Vegetation
Numerous botanical surveys have been undertaken over many years in the Cooljarloo area,
and Table 3 presents a summary of flora and vegetation of the most significant of these
studies. Figure 6 presents the location of these survey areas, including the extent of various
plant community/Vegetation Type mapping surveys, location of detailed recording sites
(sites) and quadrats, and proposed drill lines which have been surveyed within the Study
Area. This figure also includes the current Study Area and quadrats established during 2012.
Appendix E presents a list of all flora taxa (inclusive of introduced taxa) which have been
recorded during these surveys. Where possible taxonomic nomenclature has been updated to
reflect changes in taxa names since surveys were conducted.
The majority of surveys undertaken in the area have been to characterise the vegetation (either
as structural plant communities or VTs) and/or to survey for CS flora taxa, in order to support
either applications for exploration drilling or in relation to mining (including indirect impacts
such as groundwater drawdown). Additional studies to monitor the effects of mining
activities on the health of flora and vegetation have also been conducted in the area by
Woodman Environmental (as summarised in Woodman Environmental 2013a).
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Table 3:
Summary of Significant Flora and Vegetation Surveys undertaken within Cooljarloo West
Survey (Report
reference)
Timing of
Survey
Location of
Survey
Type of Data
Collected
Size of
Survey
Area
(ha)
Total
Number
of Taxa
Recorded
Number of
Families/Genera
CS Flora
Taxa
Number of
Introduced
Taxa
Numbers of Plant
Communities
Mapped/Described
Mattiske
Consulting Pty
Ltd (Mattiske)
(1996)
(TIW007/203/96)
April 1996
North Mine
Reference
Sites; no
quadrats
established
700
272
40 families
6 CS flora
taxa (all
Priority Flora
taxa)
NA
15 plant communities
Mattiske (1997)
(TIW014/37/97)
September
1997
27000 (South
Mine)
Reference
Sites; no
quadrats
established
1 000
219
39 families
3 CS flora
taxa,
including:
1 T (DRF)
taxon
2 Priority flora
taxa
6
13 plant communities
Landcare Services
(1999)
(LSC 92)
August
1999
ML application
70/1010
No reference
sites, transects
walked;
Survey for CS
flora taxa
199
35 families;
102 genera
7 CS flora
taxa,
including;
1 T (DRF)
taxon
4 Priority flora
1 undescribed
1
4 major habitat types
ecologia (2000)
November
1999
Lancelin DTA
Extension
(includes
majority of
Study Area)
55 quadrats
established
35 000
469
71 families;
231 genera
12 CS flora
taxa,
including;
2 T (DRF)
10 Priority
flora
67
10 vegetation types
Western Botanical
(2002)
North and west
of the north-
western
boundaries of
mapping by
Mattiske (1996),
northwards to
Wongonderrah
Rd
Unknown
Unknown
Unknown
7 (all Priority
Flora taxa)
2 land systems, 5
land types, 12 habitat
units
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Survey (Report
reference)
Timing of
Survey
Location of
Survey
Type of Data
Collected
Size of
Survey
Area
(ha)
Total
Number
of Taxa
Recorded
Number of
Families/Genera
CS Flora
Taxa
Number of
Introduced
Taxa
Numbers of Plant
Communities
Mapped/Described
Woodman
Environmental
(2006b)
(Empire05-20)
Sep-Nov
2005; May
2006
Mullering
(vicinity of
Woolka Rd)
131 detailed
recording
sites;
Targeted
survey for CS
flora taxa
undertaken
6 680
486
71 families
12 CS flora
taxa, including
3 T (DRF)
32
25
(also 7 other areas
mapped as mosaics or
cleared)
Woodman
Environmental
(2006c)
(Tiwest05-37)
November
2005
Falcon
Detailed Site
recordings
1 233
289
53
18 (including
1 T (DRF)
15
12 plant communities
Woodman
Environmental
(2007a)
(Tiwest06-23)
December
2006
Cooljarloo West
Survey of drill
lines for CS
flora taxa
NA
NA
NA
3 T (DRF)
Taxa
Plant communities
present as per those
mapped by
Woodman (WEC
2006b)
Woodman
Environmental
(2007b)
(Tiwest06-23)
October -
November
2006
Falcon (and
adjacent UCL
and Nature
Reserves
(regional plots))
M70/1162 &
M70/1163
27 quadrats
established (in
Falcon);
24 quadrats
established
(regional
plots)
1 233
(Falcon)
373
(includes
results
from WEC
2006c);
202 (in
regional
plots)
23 CS flora
taxa
(including two
T (DRF)) at
Falcon –
includes
historical data;
1 T (DRF) and
2 Priority flora
additionally
located only in
regional plots
21
(including
results from
WEC 2006c)
8 (in
adjacent
areas)
Total of 8 FCTs
described; 7 of which
occur at Falcon
Helena Holdings
(2007)
(Tiwest07-01)
October –
December
2007
Wongonderrah
Road to Regans
Ford
Survey for
populations of
Schoenus
species
Not
detailed
NA
NA
2 CS flora
taxa (both
Priority Flora
taxa)
NA
NA
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Survey (Report
reference)
Timing of
Survey
Location of
Survey
Type of Data
Collected
Size of
Survey
Area
(ha)
Total
Number
of Taxa
Recorded
Number of
Families/Genera
CS Flora
Taxa
Number of
Introduced
Taxa
Numbers of Plant
Communities
Mapped/Described
Rockwater Pty
Ltd (2008)
(143.12/08/02)
October -
December
2007
Cooljarloo West
Survey of drill
lines for CS
flora taxa
NA
NA
NA
30 CS flora
taxa
(including 4 T
(DRF)) taxa
NA
30 vegetation
communities
described
Woodman
Environmental
(2009a)
(Tiwest08-03)
March
2008
Falcon
(mapping of
groundwater
extension area,
tying into
Falcon area)
48 quadrats
(in Falcon
extension
area);
4 quadrats
(regional
plots)
3 591
391 native
taxa
(includes
previous
Falcon
studies)
15 (only in
extension
area, includes
1 T (DRF)
taxon
23 (includes
results from
previous
Falcon
studies)
Total of 12 FCTs (all
represented within
the Falcon and/or
Falcon extension
area)
Woodman
Environmental
(2009c)
(Tiwest08-19-01)
November
2008
Cooljarloo West
exploration
lease areas
286 detailed
recording sites
(including
sites from
WEC 2006b)
26 150
617 native
taxa
(including
WEC
2006b;
2007a)
31 CS flora
taxa (an
additional 22
also recorded
in area in
previous
surveys); Four
DRF (T) taxa
recorded
42 (includes
results from
WEC 2006b;
2007a)
Total of 22 structural
plant communities
mapped
Mattiske
Consulting Pty
Ltd (2010)
(TJV1002/130/10)
September
–
November
2010
Cooljarloo West
and Cooljarloo
North-West
Drill Line
survey
NA
NA
NA
13 CS flora
taxa
(including 1 T
(DRF) taxon)
NA
NA
Woodman
Environmental
(2011)
(Tiwest10-35-01)
October
2010
Southern
portions of
Cooljarloo
North
96 quadrats
(72 in
mulched
areas, 24 in
non-mulched
areas)
NA
259 taxa
(250 native
taxa)
130/44
10 CS flora
taxa (all
Priority taxa)
9
6 plant communities
Mattiske
Consulting Pty
Ltd (2012)
(TJV1102/085/11)
September
–
November
2011
Cooljarloo West
(and Cooljarloo
North-West and
Cooljarloo
South-West)
Survey of drill
lines for CS
flora taxa
NA
NA
NA
4 CS flora
taxa, including
3 T (DRF)
taxa
NA
NA
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