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SEWPAC COVER & SPACERS.Cdr LIDDELL COAL OPERATIONS APPENDIX J Liddell Coal Mine Extension Aquatic Ecology and Groundwater Dependent Ecosystem Assessment (Eco Logical Australia 2013) APPENDICES - Liddell Coal Mine Modification 5 - Aquatic Ecology and Groundwater Dependent Ecosystem Assessment Prepared for Liddell Coal Operations Pty Ltd July 2013 Liddell Coal Mine Extension – Aquatic Ecology and Groundwater Dependent Ecosystem Assessment DOCUMENT TRACKING ITEM DETAIL Liddell Coal Mine Extension – Aquatic Ecology and Groundwater Dependent Ecosystem Project Name Assessment Project Number 11NEWECO-0006 S:\Synergy\Projects\Newcastle\11NEWECO\11NEWECO-0006 Liddell Colliery Expansion Flora and File location Fauna David Bonjer Project Manager 02 8536 8668 PO Box 20529 World Square NSW 2002 Prepared by Peter Hancock Approved by David Bonjer Status FINAL Version Number 3 Last saved on 23 July 2013 Cover photo Sampling stygofauna from bore ALV7 This report should be cited as „Eco Logical Australia 2013. Liddell Coal Mine Extension – Aquatic Ecology and Groundwater Dependent Ecosystem Assessment. Prepared for Liddell Coal Operations Pty Ltd.‟ ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This document has been prepared by Eco Logical Australia Pty Ltd with support from Liddell Coal Operations Pty Ltd. Disclaimer This document may only be used for the purpose for which it was commissioned and in accordance with the contract between Eco Logical Australia Pty Ltd and Liddell Coal Operations Pty Ltd. The scope of services was defined in consultation with Liddell Coal Operations Pty Ltd, by time and budgetary constraints imposed by the client, and the availability of reports and other data on the subject area. Changes to available information, legislation and schedules are made on an ongoing basis and readers should obtain up to date information. Eco Logical Australia Pty Ltd accepts no liability or responsibility whatsoever for or in respect of any use of or reliance upon this report and its supporting material by any third party. Information provided is not intended to be a substitute for site specific assessment or legal advice in relation to any matter. Unauthorised use of this report in any form is prohibited. © ECO LOGICAL AUSTRALIA P T Y L T D i Liddell Coal Mine Extension – Aquatic Ecology and Groundwater Dependent Ecosystem Assessment Contents Executive Summary ................................................................................................................................ 1 1 Background ................................................................................................................................. 3 1.1 Project background ....................................................................................................................... 3 1.2 Proposed modification .................................................................................................................. 3 1.3 Overview of flow in Bowmans and Bayswater Creeks ................................................................. 4 1.4 Summary of the groundwater environment at Liddell ................................................................... 4 1.5 Director Generals Requirements .................................................................................................. 7 1.6 Policy background ........................................................................................................................ 7 1.6.1 Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 .................................................................... 7 1.6.2 NSW State Groundwater Policy 2002 .......................................................................................... 8 1.6.3 NSW Groundwater Dependent Ecosystems Policy 2002 ............................................................ 8 1.6.4 Guidelines for the management of stream/aquifer systems in coal mining developments – Hunter Region ........................................................................................................................................... 9 2 Desktop assessment ................................................................................................................ 10 2.1 Aquifer ecosystems in the Hunter Valley .................................................................................... 10 2.1.1 Hunter River Hyporheic Survey .................................................................................................. 10 2.1.2 Hunter Valley Alluvial Aquifer Survey ......................................................................................... 13 2.1.3 Other surveys ............................................................................................................................. 14 2.2 Other Groundwater Dependent Ecosystems .............................................................................. 14 2.3 Threatened aquatic species ....................................................................................................... 14 3 Methods ..................................................................................................................................... 15 3.1 Macroinvertebrate sampling ....................................................................................................... 15 3.2 Fish sampling.............................................................................................................................. 15 3.3 Riparian condition ....................................................................................................................... 16 3.4 Stygofauna sampling .................................................................................................................. 16 4 Results ....................................................................................................................................... 19 4.1 Water chemistry .......................................................................................................................... 19 4.2 Riparian Condition Assessment ................................................................................................. 20 4.3 Surface water macroinvertebrates ............................................................................................. 24 4.4 Fish ............................................................................................................................................. 26 4.5 Stygofauna.................................................................................................................................. 26 4.6 Incidentals ................................................................................................................................... 27 © ECO LOGICAL AUSTRALIA P T Y L T D ii Liddell Coal Mine Extension – Aquatic Ecology and Groundwater Dependent Ecosystem Assessment 5 Discussion................................................................................................................................. 29 5.1 Ecological condition of Bayswater Creek ................................................................................... 29 5.2 Ecological condition of Bowmans Creek .................................................................................... 29 5.3 Threatened aquatic species ....................................................................................................... 30 5.4 Groundwater communities of Bowmans Creek Alluvial Aquifer ................................................. 30 5.5 Other groundwater dependent ecosystems ............................................................................... 31 6 Impact Assessment .................................................................................................................. 32 6.1 Expected changes to the groundwater regime resulting from the extension ............................. 32 6.2 Likely impacts on Bowmans Creek aquifer ecosystem .............................................................. 34 6.3 Likely impacts on surface ecology .............................................................................................. 34 6.3.1 Bowmans Creek ......................................................................................................................... 34 6.3.2 Bayswater Creek ........................................................................................................................ 35 7 Conclusions and recommendations ...................................................................................... 36 7.1 Conclusions ................................................................................................................................ 36 7.2 Recommendations ...................................................................................................................... 36 References ............................................................................................................................................. 37 Appendix A: ........................................................................................................................................... 39 © ECO LOGICAL AUSTRALIA P T Y L T D iii Liddell Coal Mine Extension – Aquatic Ecology and Groundwater Dependent Ecosystem Assessment List of Figures Figure 1. Site layout and proposed extensions at Liddell Mine. ................................................................. 5 Figure 2: Location of past stygofauna survey points in the Hunter Valley. .............................................. 12 Figure 3: Overview
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