536001 PremierOil Australasia EXPLORA TORY DRILLING REPORT BASS BASIN ENWRONMENTALASSESSMENT FEBRUARY 1998 Df<. - 0438 Bass Basin - Environmental Assessment Document Control The control status ofthis document is tabulated below. Document Approval Drilling En ineer Prepared by Premier Oil Operations Dave Evans Geolo ist Approved by Premier Oil Operations Blaine Ulmer Mana er Approved by Premier Oil Team Leader MarkPogson Bass Strait Manual Revision All users are encouraged to submit suggestions for revisions to this manual. Suggestions must be submitted in writing to the custodian. All suggestions must be screened and assessed by the custodian who is responsible for incorporating agreed. approved updates in future revisions ofthe document. Revision Record The revision status ofthis document is tabulated below. o March 1998 rations Mana er March 1998 rations Manaoer 2 March 1998 erations Manaoer 3 March 1998 rations Mana er 4 March 1998 rations Mana er Distribution Control The distribution status of this document is tabulated below. The Document Custodian is responsible for the distribution and registration of uncontrolled copies. 001 002 003 004 005 Resources Limited Ref Monuols/GenJExplorotory FebnlOry 1998 CONTENTS • Environmental Addendum to Premier Oil Environment Assessment ofProposed Exploratory (() drilling at Yolla August 1995. • Land Conservation Council Marine & Coastal Special Investigation - Draft Final (VL) Recommendations (V('c' ) • Telstra Submarine Cable Coordinated - NSWNic/Tas Region • Premier Oil Exploration Drilling Assessment - Supplement (V(' <i) • Executive Summary (x) 1. INTRODUCTION 1 1.1. Objectives and Scope ofReview 1 2. ENVIRONMENTAL INTERACTIONS 2 2.1. Introduction 2 2.1.1. Physical Impacts 2 2.1.2. Operational Impacts 2 2.1.3. Accidental Blowout or Oil Spill 2 2.2. Regional Sensitivity to Oil 3 2.2.1. Public Perception and Community Concerns (Table 2.1) 4 2.2.2. Air and Marine Environment (Table 2.2) 4 2.2.3. Birds and Marine Mammals (Table 2.3) 6 2.2.4. Fisheries (Table 2.4) 9 2.2.5. Industry, Tourism and Cultural Aspects (Table 2.5) 10 3. EXISTING INFORMATION: COASTAL AND MARINE ENVIRONMENT 11 3.1. Oceanography 11 3.1.1. I>ataSources 11 3.1.2. Bathymetry 11 3.1.3. Water Levels 12 3.1.4. Currents 13 3.1.5. Other Currents 14 3.1.6. Water Temperatures and I>ensity Stratification 15 3.1.7. Waves 15 3.1.8. Sediments 16 3.1.9. Weather 16 3.1.10. Modelling the Continental ShelfRegions 17 3.2. Marine Offshore Fisheries 17 3.2.1. The Southern Rock Lobster Fishery 17 3.2.2. The South East Trawl Fishing (SET) 19 3.2.3. Shark Fishery 20 3.2.4. The Scallop Fishery 22 3.2.5.I>eepwater Crab Fishery 23 3.3. Marine Inshore Fisheries 24 3.3.1. Bay And Inlet Fisheries 24 3.3.2. Abalone 24 3.4. Mariculture 26 3.5. Marine Fauna and Flora 26 3.5.1. Marine Benthic Communities 26 3.5.2. Marine Intertidal Communities 27 Ref ManualsiGen/Exploratory February 1998 Bass Basin - Environmental Assessment 3.5.3. Marine and Coastal Flora 27 3.5.4. Avifauna 28 3.5.5. Marine Mammals 29 3.6. Coastal Parks and Reserves: Sensitive Coastal Habitats 30 3.7. Tourism and Recreation 31 3.8. Cultural Heritage Sites 32 3.8.1. European Sites 32 3.8.2. Shipwrecks 33 3.8.3. Aboriginal Sites 33 3.9. Shipping 33 4. COMMUNITY CONSULTATION 3S 4.1. Main Issues 35 4.1.1. General Perceptions and Concerns 35 4.1.2. Conservation Issues 36 4.1.3. Fisheries Issues 37 4.1.4. Councils and Coastal Agencies 37 4.1.5. Suggestions and Requests 37 S. REFERENCES 39 TABLES Table 2.1 Potential Impacts on Public Perception and Community Concerns Table 2.2 Potential Impacts on AirlMarine Environment Table 2.3 Potential Impacts on BirdslMammals Table 2.4 Potential Impacts on Fisheries Table 2.5 Potential Impacts on other Commercial and Recreational Activities/Cultural Aspects Table3.1 Tidal Sea Level Constituents FIGURES Figure 1.1 The Bass Strait Basin Study Region Figure 1.2 Vector Plots ofthe M2 Tidal Currents in Bass Strait - (Greilach et. al. 1991) Figure 1.3 Vector Plots ofCurrents in Bass Strait induced by Coastal - Trapped waves (Black et. al. in prep) Figure .1.4 Distribution ofSediments within the Bass Strait Region (Black, 1991) Figure 1.5 Wind Analysis ofKing Island Figure 1.6 The Regions within Bass Strait Covered by OSSM Figure 2.1 Distribution ofS.E.T. Fishing Methods by Area Figure .2.2 A & B Distribution ofEffort in the S.E.T. for 1986 & 1987 Ref Manua/s/GenlExploratory February 1998 Bass Basin - Environmental Assessment Figure ..2.3 A & B Distribution ofCatch in the S.E.T. for 1986 & 1987 Figure .2.4 Otter Trawling Figure .2.5 Danish Seining Figure: 2.6 Spatial Distribution ofGummy Shark Catches in (a) 1973 - 1975 (b) 1985 - 1987 Figure .2.7 Spatial Distribution ofSchool Shark Catches in (a) 1973 - 1975 (b) 1985 - 1987 "" Figure .2.8 Box Dredge Design for Harvesting Scallops Figure .2.9 Tasmanian Scallop Fishery >l Figure .2.10 Victorian Zones for Management ofAbalone Fishing .. Figure .2.11 Commercial Abalone Reefs - Cape LiptrapIWaratah Bay '" Figure .2.12 Commercial Abalone Reefs - Norman Island/Glennie Group >If Figure .2.13 Commercial Abalone Reefs - Anser Group/South West Point Figure .4.1 A) Oyster Farm Location in Big Bay and Duck Bay, Tasmania Figure .4.1 B) Oyster Farm Location in Robbins Passage, Tasmania Figure .4.1 C) Oyster Farm Locations offKing Island Figure .4.2 South Gippsland Marine and Coastal Parks Figure .5.1 A- H Coastal Resources on the North West Coast ofTasmania and King Island Figure .6.1 A & B Coastal Parks and Reserves ofKing Island and North West Tasmania Figure .6.2 Shallow Inlet Marine and Coastal Park Figure ,.8.1 A & B Wreck Site Locations in Tasmania and King Island Figure .9.1 Tank Ship Routes into King Island and Tasmania APPENDICES Appendix A Simulation ofPossible oil spill trajectories from the Bass Strait oil fields east of King Island Ref Manua/s/Gen/Exp/oratory February /998 ~,)l~(\r,G ~j...JU JV Bass Basin - Environmental Assessment ENVIRONMENTAL ADDENDUM TO PREMIER OIL ENVIRONMENT ASSESSMENT OF PROPOSED EXPLORATORY DRILLING AT YOLLA AUGUST 1995 BACKGROUND Dames & Moore previously (1992) compiled at detailed Environmental Assessment for Premier Oil Resources. The Oil Spill Contingency Plan (OSCP) for the proposed drilling was prepared jointly by Dames & Moore and Labrador Petro Management Ltd. The environmental assessment related to exploration in the Cormorant, Yolla and Pipipa fields (T/18P; TIRLI and T91-2). During 1995, Dames & Moore further assisted Premier Oil with supporting information for their approvals for additional exploration drilling at Yolla, prior to take over by Bora!. This involved some up-dating of the environmental assessment and liaison with the (then) Tasmanian Development and Resources department. However, the proposed drilling did not take place at that time, although it is understood that this was not because of any deficiency in the environmental approvals documentation. As current operator of the permit area, Premier Oil now requires the 1995 environmental assessment and OSCP to be reviewed, and revised where necessary, to reflect Premier Oil's proposed drilling at T/18P and TRLI. (White lbis-I and Yolla 2,3 respectively). Environmental Setting We have reviewed the existing environmental documentation in the Oil Spill Contingency Plan and the supporting environmental assessment. The coastal environment, fauna, Flora and fisheries potentially affected by the proposal and potentially sensitive to spills have not changed materially since the previous update in 1995. Some changes (actual or proposed) to coastal reserves and changes to agency names have occurred. These are discussed below, although they do not necessarily alter the general assessments which were made previously. COASTAL PARKS AND RESERVES: SENSITIVE COASTAL HABITATS North Tasmania In relation to coastal parks and reserves, and sensitive coastal habitats of North Tasmania, the Tasmania Department of Environment and Planning is currently in the process of updating the maps and information. While this update is in early stages, the extracts ofthe Coastal Resources Atlas provided in the 1992 Report remains current. However, there has been new legislation enacted in Tasmania which is relevant to the coastal zone. The new legislation is the State Policies and Projects Act 1993 where provision is made for the development of Tasmanian Sustainable Development Policies. These policies address the use, development and protection of natural and physical resources together with the objectives relating to public involvement and the sharing of responsibility in resource management and planning as well as those relating to economic development. 1~r.n"" 53. -u ,-,' \.1 4 Bass Basin· Environmental Assessment [bqe((c) v In accordance with this Act, the State Coastal Policy 1996 has been developed. This Policy applies to all of Tasmania, including all islands except for Macquarie Island. The Policy emphasises sustainable development and protection of natural and cultural values, as well as shared responsibility for management of the coastal zone and community participation. A State Coastal Advisory Committee will be established under the Policy with representatives from State and local government and the community. As part of the management arrangements for Tasmania's coastline, a number of coastal precincts have been established. Responsibilities for these areas, within the Department of Environment and Planning is as follows: Coast care north West Region Anna Winns 03 6437 2332 Coast Care North East Region Donna Lees 036375 1281 Victoria Victoria has also had changes to its coastal management system with the introduction of new legislation, particularly the Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994; the new Fisheries Act 1995, and; Coastal Management Act 1995.