Horizon Power Learmonth Line Rebuild Clearing Permit Supporting Report 61-35749-00013-EN-RPT-001 May 2018
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Horizon Power Learmonth Line Rebuild Clearing Permit Supporting Report 61-35749-00013-EN-RPT-001 May 2018 GHD | Report for Horizon Power - Learmonth Line Rebuild, 613574913 | i Table of contents 1. Introduction..................................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Background .......................................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Purpose ................................................................................................................................ 1 1.3 Scope of works .................................................................................................................... 1 1.4 Relevant legislation requirements ........................................................................................ 1 1.5 Limitations and assumptions ............................................................................................... 2 2. Description of project ..................................................................................................................... 3 2.1 Project description ............................................................................................................... 3 2.2 Project footprint .................................................................................................................... 3 3. Methodology ................................................................................................................................... 4 4. Assessment of desktop environmental aspects and impacts ........................................................ 5 4.1 Physical environment ........................................................................................................... 5 4.2 Land use .............................................................................................................................. 6 4.3 Hydrology ............................................................................................................................. 7 4.4 Vegetation and flora ............................................................................................................. 9 4.5 Fauna ................................................................................................................................. 12 5. Assessment of vegetation clearing .............................................................................................. 14 6. References ................................................................................................................................... 22 Table index Table 1 Key environmental legislation relevant to the project .......................................................... 1 Table 2 Information sources ............................................................................................................. 4 Table 3 Water resource aspects within the project footprint ............................................................. 7 Table 4 Extent of pre-European vegetation associations mapped with the project footprint (Beard 1975, GoWA 2018) .................................................................................... 9 Table 5 Assessment of the proposed clearing footprint against the ten clearing principles ............................................................................................................................ 15 Appendices Appendix A – Figures Appendix B – Relevant legislation, conservation codes and background information Appendix C – Desktop searches Appendix D – Likelihood of occurrence assessments GHD | Report for Horizon Power - Learmonth Line Rebuild, 613574913 | ii 1. Introduction 1.1 Background Horizon Power is proposing to rebuild the Learmonth (Exmouth) Line adjacent to the existing line that extends from the Exmouth townsite south to RAAF Learmonth in Western Australia (Figure 1, Appendix A). The construction of this new line is likely to be considered new infrastructure and therefore may require approvals under Commonwealth and State Legislation. 1.2 Purpose GHD was commissioned by Horizon Power to prepare a Clearing Permit Supporting Report for the proposed Learmonth Line re-build. The purpose of this report, on the basis of desktop studies, is to identify the major environmental issues in relation to construction of the line and undertaken an assessment of the proposed Project against the Ten Clearing Principles. 1.3 Scope of works The GHD scope of works for this project included desktop searches of publically available, relevant literature and databases and the preparation of this report. 1.4 Relevant legislation requirements Key Commonwealth and Western Australian environmental legislation that may be relevant to the Project is outlined in Table 1. This PEIA identifies (but does not apply for) additional clearances required under legislative requirements, including those required under the following Acts. An overview of key legislation and guidelines, conservation codes and background information relevant to this project is provided in Appendix B. Table 1 Key environmental legislation relevant to the project Legislation Responsible agency Aspect Commonwealth legislation Environment Protection and Department of the Matters of National Biodiversity Conservation Environment and Energy Environmental Significance Act 1999 (DEE) including threatened flora and fauna State legislation Biosecurity and Agricultural Department of Primary Weeds and feral animals Management Act 2007 Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) Conservation and Land Department of Biodiversity, Use, protection and Management Act 1984 Conservation and management of public lands Attractions (DBCA) and waters and its flora and fauna Contaminated Sites Act Department of Water and Management of contaminated 2003 Environment Regulation sites (DWER) Environmental Protection Environmental Protection Environmental impact Act 1986 Authority (EPA) (Part IV) assessment and management DWER (Part V) Environmental Protection DWER Noise standards (Noise) Regulations 1997 GHD | Report for Horizon Power - Learmonth Line Rebuild, 613574913 | 1 Legislation Responsible agency Aspect Environmental Protection DWER Clearing of native vegetation (Clearing of Native Vegetation) Regulations 2004 Land Administration Act DPIRD Administration of State Land 1997 Rights in Water and DWER Access to and use of water Irrigation Act 1914 resources; protection and management of river flows and drainage Soil and Land Conservation DPIRD Protection of soil and Act 1945 prevention/management of soil erosion Wildlife Conservation Act DBCA Protection of native wildlife 1950 1.5 Limitations and assumptions This report has been prepared by GHD for Horizon Power and may only be used and relied on by Horizon Power for the purpose agreed between GHD and the Horizon Power as set out in section 1.2 of this report. GHD otherwise disclaims responsibility to any person other than Horizon Power arising in connection with this report. GHD also excludes implied warranties and conditions, to the extent legally permissible. The services undertaken by GHD in connection with preparing this report were limited to those specifically detailed in the report and are subject to the scope limitations set out in the report. The opinions, conclusions and any recommendations in this report are based on conditions encountered and information reviewed at the date of preparation of the report. GHD has no responsibility or obligation to update this report to account for events or changes occurring subsequent to the date that the report was prepared. The opinions, conclusions and any recommendations in this report are based on assumptions made by GHD described in this report. GHD disclaims liability arising from any of the assumptions being incorrect. GHD has prepared this report on the basis of information provided by Horizon Power and others who provided information to GHD (including Government authorities), which GHD has not independently verified or checked beyond the agreed scope of work. GHD does not accept liability in connection with such unverified information, including errors and omissions in the report which were caused by errors or omissions in that information. GHD | Report for Horizon Power - Learmonth Line Rebuild, 613574913 | 2 2. Description of project 2.1 Project description The existing Learmonth Line extends from near Welch Street in Exmouth, south to RAAF Learmonth and was installed prior to the establishment of Horizon Power. The Learmonth Line has been identified as potentially non-compliant with current Western Australian standards, in particular the overhead conductor clearance. In order to improve quality and compliance, two options are being considered for the Learmonth Line: 1. Improving the existing line – this option would involve maintenance along the line including replacement of poles at the existing locations and/or installing additional poles within existing spans at a greater height to raise the clearance level of the overhead conductor. This option would include vegetation clearing and require backup generation as the line would need to be systematically de-energised to allow maintenance works to be undertaken. 2. Rebuilding the existing line – this option would include rebuilding a new line adjacent to the existing line compliant with current West Australian standards. This option would require vegetation clearing along the length