2008 Rehabilitation Monitoring
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22001133 RReehhaabbiilliittaattiioonn MMoonniittoorriinngg RReeppoorrtt for Bulga Coal Complex August 2013 Bulga Coal Management Pty Ltd Bulga Underground Operations Pty Ltd Prepared by DnA Environmental 2013 Bulga Coal Complex Rehabilitation Monitoring Report Disclaimer This is a report of work carried out by DnA Environmental on behalf of the Bulga Surface Operations Pty Ltd and Bulga Underground Operations Pty Ltd, collectively referred to as the Bulga Coal Complex and has been prepared according to the brief provided by the client. The information contained herein is complete and correct to the best of my knowledge. The representations, statements, opinions and advice, expressed or implied in this report are produced in good faith but on the basis that DnA Environmental are not liable (whether by reason of negligence, lack of care or otherwise) to any person for any damage or loss whatsoever which has occurred or may occur in relation to that person taking or not taking (as the case may be) action in respect of any or all of the content. Signed: Dr Donna Johnston Restoration Ecologist PhD, B.App.Sc (Hons) MEIANZ Draft submitted: 7th August 2013 Reviewed by: Tom Scott - Bulga Open Cut, Lucy Stuart - Bulga Underground Final submitted: 8th October 2013 DnA Environmental 417 Mandurama Rd Mandurama NSW 2792 Ph/Fax: (02) 63 675 251 Mobile: 0408 221 922 [email protected] ABN 19 607 392 634 Acknowledgements The field surveys and resultant report were undertaken by and prepared by Dr Donna Johnston and Andrew Johnston from DnA Environmental. Stephen Shoesmith (Bulga Environment and Community Officer), Ned Stephenson (Beltana, Environment and Community Coordinator) and Nathan Lane (Beltana, Environment and Community Officer) provided technical information and assistance about the Bulga Coal Complex and rehabilitation sites. Barry Cox (Bulga Technical Officer) provided information and assistance accessing areas of the mine site during the field work period 2010 - 2012. Carbon Based Environmental were contracted to have the soil samples analysed in 2010. Tom Scott (Bulga Open Cut) and Marty Salm and Lucy Stuart (Bulga Underground) provided assistance during 2013. Prepared by DnA Environmental August 2013 i 2013 Bulga Coal Complex Rehabilitation Monitoring Report Executive summary Bulga Surface Operations Pty Ltd and Bulga Underground Operations Pty Ltd, collectively referred to as the Bulga Coal Complex is located approximately 15 kilometres southwest of Singleton, 5 kilometres north of the town of Broke and 6 kilometres east of Bulga, in the upper Hunter Valley of New South Wales. Since 2003, ecological monitoring sites at the Bulga Coal Complex have been established and monitored by Umwelt Environmental Consultants in accordance with the Flora and Fauna Management Plan (Umwelt 2003, Xstrata 2008b). In 2010, DnA Environmental was commissioned to review the vegetation monitoring program such that it would encompass a variety of monitoring requirements. It aimed to: 1. Compare the new revegetation/rehabilitation areas with suitable reference sites using quantified Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and determine a selection of “Ecological Targets” that comply with and are consistent with Xstrata Coal NSW (2009) HSEC Standards and relevant NSW legislation, Mine closure requirements and best practice guidelines (eg. Nichols 2005, NSW I&I 2010, NSW T&I 2012) and Land Management Plan (Xstrata 2011); and 2. Continue monitoring the condition of the remnant vegetation and riparian ecosystems using a methodology which quantifies the changes occurring within these ecological communities and addresses monitoring requirements of the Bulga Underground Operations (BUO) Environmental Impact Statement (Umwelt 2003), Land Management Plan (Xstrata 2011) and Flora and Fauna Management Plan (Xstrata 2008b). To remain consistent with the Bulga Coal Complex domains and associated final land uses and in considering the different monitoring and reporting requirements, the long-term monitoring sites were separated into: 1. Ecological monitoring sites which includes Remnant Native Vegetation, Corridors, Protected and Offset Areas (Domain 6); and 2. Rehabilitation monitoring sites which includes Rehabilitation areas associated with Domains 1, 2, 3 and 4. This may also include newly established tree corridors and offset plantings. Ecological monitoring program The ecological monitoring sites at the Bulga Coal Complex were first established by Umwelt Environmental Consultants with the first seven sites being established in 2003 (Umwelt 2010). Since 2010 there have been at least ten ecological sites. The full ecological monitoring report can be found in DnA Environmental (2010c, 2011c and 2012b). Rehabilitation monitoring program The primary rehabilitation objectives at the Bulga Coal Complex include the establishment of native woodlands, riparian corridors and where appropriate, pastures suitable for grazing on mining disturbed areas. These broad community types were used as a reference for establishing the ecological targets and quantifying the key performance indicators. The reference sites were located in Domains 6 (woodland communities) or Domains 7 and 8 (grazed grasslands), but not in areas subjected to subsidence. Data obtained from these reference sites quantify the range of ecological performance indicators and these are amended annually. Prepared by DnA Environmental August 2013 ii 2013 Bulga Coal Complex Rehabilitation Monitoring Report The number and location of the rehabilitation sites has changed since monitoring began largely due to the establishment of new rehabilitation areas in combination with the loss of some sites due to mining disturbance. The rehabilitation monitoring sites were considered to be representative of the rehabilitation project as a whole or were similar to and representative of other areas of rehabilitation. The resultant number of rehabilitation sites established in 2010 was 17 which included ten woodland and seven pasture rehabilitation areas. The number of rehabilitation sites monitored in 2013 included nine woodland, six pasture and one riparian woodland. Most sites were named according to their relative location such as NB = North Blakefield, SB = South Blakefield, SE = Southern Extension and BEL = Beltana. Dam01 was and offset planting near the new surge dam, while BM11 was an old Bulga Monitoring site rehabilitated in 1991. The monitoring program involved using a combination Landscape Function Analyses (LFA), comprehensive soil analyses and an assessment of ecosystem characteristics using an adaptation of methodologies derived by the Biometric Model used in the Property Vegetation Planning Process. Permanent transects and photo-points are established to record changes in these attributes over time. Rehabilitation monitoring has been undertaken by DnA Environmental during June in all monitoring years since 2010. This year monitoring was undertaken 11th – 21st June. The methodology used for undertaking the monitoring was consistent with that used in previous years. The rainfall data generally indicates that 2010 and 2011 were relatively “wet” years but the monthly averages also indicate these were highly variable with occasional floods followed by periods of low rainfall activity. Generally 2012 was very dry but there was a period of high summer rainfall which extended into March 2013 but April and May were particularly dry. The vegetation at the Bulga Coal Complex has therefore received poorer growing conditions this year which has also resulted in an increase in animal impacts which has been reflected in the results. Woodland rehabilitation sites summary There was no consistent trend in the changes in ecological function across the range of woodland monitoring sites this year. Sites such as SB1, SE1 and Dam01 continued to demonstrate an increasing trend in ecological function, due to the increasing development of the grassy ground cover, accumulation and decomposition of the leaf litter and increasing growth of the tree and shrub canopy and less evidence of resources being mobilised across the sites. There have been negligible changes recorded in the oldest site BM11, which contained a well developed litter layer and dense canopy cover. Landscape function in sites BEL4, BEL5 and SE3 have demonstrated a marginal decline this year due to increasing levels of animal disturbance causing a reduction in perennial ground cover plants and litter cover, increased levels of erosion and deposition and in some cases increased soil slaking due to exposure of the more unstable soils. One of the newest woodland rehabilitation sites NB5 had very good vegetative cover providing high functional patch area and given its age was relatively stable and had reasonable infiltration and nutrient recycling capacity. In the other new rehabilitation site SB6 there presently was limited patch area and very low ecological function. Rehabilitation sites which fell within the target range for landscape stability, infiltration and nutrient recycling this year included sites BEL5 and SB1. The oldest rehabilitation sites BEL4, BEL5, SB1, SE3 and BM11 all contained a healthy tree population (>5cm dbh) which occurred in densities similar to or in excess of those recorded in the recorded sites. The relatively young rehabilitation sites SE1 and Dam01 both had one tree count this year due to good growth rates however, all 13 tubestock in Dam01 will need to mature to meet this ecological target, Prepared by DnA Environmental August 2013 iii