LAKE VERMONT NORTHERN EXTENSION Matters of National Environmental Significance Assessment Report
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LAKE VERMONT NORTHERN EXTENSION Matters of National Environmental Significance Assessment Report PREPARED FOR BOWEN BASIN COAL PTY LTD APRIL 2016 Document History and Status Issue Rev. Issued To Qty Date Reviewed Approved 1 0 BBC 1 29/09/14 GB GB 2 0 BBC 1 21/12/15 GB GB 3 0 BBC 1 01/01/16 GB GB Author: Sally Croker Project Manager: Gareth Bramston Name of Client: Bowen Basin Coal Pty Ltd Name of Project: Lake Vermont Northern Extension Matters of National Environmental Title of Document: Significance Assessment Report Document Version: Final This controlled document is the property of AustralAsian Resource Consultants Pty Ltd and all rights are reserved in respect of it. This document may not be reproduced or disclosed in any manner whatsoever, in whole or in part, without the prior written consent of AustralAsian Resource Consultants Pty Ltd. AustralAsian Resource Consultants Pty Ltd expressly disclaims any responsibility for or liability arising from the use of this document by any third party. Opinions and judgments expressed herein, which are based on our understanding and interpretation of current regulatory standards, should not be construed as legal opinions. Information obtained from interviews and contained in the documentation has been assumed to be correct and complete. AustralAsian Resource Consultants Pty Ltd does not accept any liability for misrepresentation of information or for items not visible, accessible, nor able to be inspected at the sites at the time of the site visits. MNES REPORT APRIL 2016 i E [email protected] AARC.NET.AU LAKE VERMONT NORTHERN EXTENSION MNES Assessment Report 1.0 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................. 1 1.1 STATUTORY CONTEXT ....................................................................................................... 1 1.2 APPROVAL PROCESS ......................................................................................................... 2 1.2.1 Commonwealth .................................................................................................................. 2 1.2.2 State (Queensland) ............................................................................................................ 4 2.0 DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSED ACTION ...................................................... 5 2.1 PROJECT LOCATION .......................................................................................................... 5 2.2 CURRENT LAND USE .......................................................................................................... 5 2.3 PROJECT ACTIVITIES ......................................................................................................... 8 2.3.1 Mining ................................................................................................................................ 8 2.3.2 Processing ......................................................................................................................... 8 2.3.3 Support Infrastructure ........................................................................................................ 9 2.3.4 Land Clearing................................................................................................................... 11 2.3.5 Flood Levee ..................................................................................................................... 11 2.3.6 Phillips Creek Diversion ................................................................................................... 11 2.3.6.1 Functional Design ................................................................................................................ 11 2.4 SITE WATER MANAGEMENT STRATEGY ....................................................................... 14 2.4.1 Water Management Principles......................................................................................... 14 2.4.2 Northern Extension Site Water Management Strategy ................................................... 15 2.4.3 Water Management Infrastructure ................................................................................... 15 2.4.3.1 Sediment Dam Design ......................................................................................................... 24 2.4.3.2 North Mine Water Dam Design ............................................................................................ 24 2.4.4 Site Water Balance Model ............................................................................................... 25 2.4.4.1 Water Demands ................................................................................................................... 25 2.4.4.2 Groundwater Inflow .............................................................................................................. 25 2.4.4.3 Overall Water Balance ......................................................................................................... 26 2.4.4.4 Imported Water Requirements ............................................................................................. 27 2.4.5 Salinity Balance ............................................................................................................... 27 2.4.5.1 Stored Salinity ...................................................................................................................... 29 2.4.6 Final Void Behaviour ........................................................................................................ 29 2.4.6.1 Long-term Water Levels ....................................................................................................... 29 2.4.6.2 Long-term Salinity ................................................................................................................ 30 MNES REPORT APRIL 2016 ii E [email protected] AARC.NET.AU 2.5 REHABILITATION ............................................................................................................... 30 2.5.1 Diversion Rehabilitation Strategy..................................................................................... 31 3.0 MATTERS OF NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL SIGNIFICANCE POTENTIALLY IMPACTED BY THE PROJECT ..................................................... 32 3.1 WORLD HERITAGE PROPERTIES .................................................................................... 32 3.1.1 Nature and Extent of Likely Impact .................................................................................. 32 3.1.1.1 Significant Impact Criteria .................................................................................................... 33 3.1.1.2 Potential Impact on World Heritage Properties .................................................................... 33 3.2 NATIONAL HERITAGE PLACES ....................................................................................... 33 3.2.1 Nature and Extent of Likely Impact .................................................................................. 33 3.2.1.1 Significant Impact Criteria .................................................................................................... 33 3.2.1.2 Potential Impact on National Heritage Properties ................................................................. 34 3.3 WETLANDS OF INTERNATIONAL IMPORTANCE ........................................................... 34 3.4 GREAT BARRIER REEF MARINE PARK .......................................................................... 34 3.4.1 Nature and Extent of Likely Impact .................................................................................. 34 3.4.1.1 Significant Impact Criteria .................................................................................................... 34 3.4.1.2 Potential Impact on Great Barrier Reef Marine Park ............................................................ 35 3.5 COMMONWEALTH MARINE AREAS ................................................................................ 35 3.5.1 Nature and Extent of Likely Impact .................................................................................. 35 3.5.1.1 Significant Impact Criteria .................................................................................................... 35 3.5.1.2 Potential Impact on Commonwealth Marine Areas .............................................................. 36 3.6 NUCLEAR ACTIONS .......................................................................................................... 36 3.7 COMMONWEALTH LAND .................................................................................................. 36 3.8 LISTED THREATENED ECOLOGICAL COMMUNITIES ................................................... 36 3.8.1 Field Survey ..................................................................................................................... 37 3.8.1.1 Flora Survey Methodology ................................................................................................... 37 3.8.1.2 Ecological Communities Identified on the Project Site ......................................................... 38 3.8.2 Nature and Extent of Likely Impact .................................................................................. 39 3.8.2.1 Significant Impact Criteria .................................................................................................... 39 3.8.2.2 Potential Impact on Threatened Ecological Communities .................................................... 42 3.8.3 Management