Roy Hill Vertebrate Fauna Desktop Review
Roy Hill Level 1 Targeted Vertebrate Fauna Assessment
Roy Hill Iron Ore Pty Ltd
August 2017
Page 1 of 108 Roy Hill Level 1 and Targeted Vertebrate Fauna Survey
DOCUMENT STATUS Revision Approved for Issue to Author Review / Approved for Issue No. Name Date Morgan O’Connell, 1 Chris Knuckey Jen Dickson 31/08/2017 Brad Durrant
2 Chris Knuckey Brad Durrant Jen Dickson 22/09/2017
3 Chris Knuckey Brad Durrant Jen Dickson 06/10/2017
“IMPORTANT NOTE” Apart from fair dealing for the purposes of private study, research, criticism, or review as permitted under the Copyright Act, no part of this report, its attachments or appendices may be reproduced by any process without the written consent of Biologic Environmental Survey Pty Ltd (“Biologic”). All enquiries should be directed to Biologic. We have prepared this report for the sole purposes of Roy Hill Iron Ore Pty Ltd (“Client”) for the specific purpose only for which it is supplied. This report is strictly limited to the Purpose and the facts and matters stated in it and does not apply directly or indirectly and will not be used for any other application, purpose, use or matter. In preparing this report we have made certain assumptions. We have assumed that all information and documents provided to us by the Client or as a result of a specific request or enquiry were complete, accurate and up-to-date. Where we have obtained information from a government register or database, we have assumed that the information is accurate. Where an assumption has been made, we have not made any independent investigations with respect to the matters the subject of that assumption. We are not aware of any reason why any of the assumptions are incorrect. This report is presented without the assumption of a duty of care to any other person (other than the Client) (“Third Party”). The report may not contain sufficient information for the purposes of a Third Party or for other uses. Without the prior written consent of Biologic: a) This report may not be relied on by a Third Party; and b) Biologic will not be liable to a Third Party for any loss, damage, liability or claim arising out of or incidental to a Third- Party publishing, using or relying on the facts, content, opinions or subject matter contained in this report. If a Third Party uses or relies on the facts, content, opinions or subject matter contained in this report with or without the consent of Biologic, Biologic disclaims all risk and the Third Party assumes all risk and releases and indemnifies and agrees to keep indemnified Biologic from any loss, damage, claim or liability arising directly or indirectly from the use of or reliance on this report. In this note, a reference to loss and damage includes past and prospective economic loss, loss of profits, damage to property, injury to any person (including death) costs and expenses incurred in taking measures to prevent, mitigate or rectify any harm, loss of opportunity, legal costs, compensation, interest and any other direct, indirect, consequential or financial or other loss.
Roy Hill Level 1 and Targeted Vertebrate Fauna Survey
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1 Introduction ...... 1 1.1 Background ...... 1 1.2 Objectives ...... 1 1.3 Compliance ...... 1 1.4 Conservation Significance ...... 4
2 Environment ...... 5 2.1 Biogeography ...... 5 2.2 Climate ...... 5 2.3 Topography and Drainage ...... 6 2.4 Vegetation ...... 6 2.5 Land Systems ...... 8 2.6 Important Areas ...... 11 2.6.1 Fortescue Marsh ...... 11 2.6.2 Priority Ecological Communities ...... 12
3 Methodology ...... 15 3.1 Desktop Assessment ...... 15 3.1.1 Literature Review ...... 15 3.1.2 Database Searches ...... 15 3.2 Field Survey ...... 17 3.2.1 Survey Team and Licensing...... 17 3.2.2 Habitat Assessments and Mapping ...... 17 3.2.3 Targeted Searches ...... 20 3.2.4 Remotely Piloted Aircraft Searches...... 20 3.2.5 Acoustic Recordings – Bats ...... 20 3.2.6 Acoustic Recordings – Night Parrot ...... 21 3.2.7 Motion Cameras ...... 21 3.2.8 Taxonomy and Nomenclature ...... 23 3.3 Likelihood of Occurrence for Fauna of Conservation Significance ...... 23 3.4 Potential Limitation and Constraints ...... 24
4 Results and Discussion ...... 26 4.1 Fauna Habitats ...... 26 4.2 Habitat Features ...... 38 4.2.1 Caves ...... 38 4.2.2 Water Pools ...... 38
Roy Hill Level 1 and Targeted Vertebrate Fauna Survey
4.3 Desktop Assessment ...... 39 4.3.1 Vertebrate Fauna Assemblage ...... 39 4.3.2 Fauna of Conservation Significance ...... 39 4.4 Recorded During this Survey ...... 41 4.5 Likelihood of Occurrence for Fauna of Conservation Significance ...... 41 4.5.1 Confirmed within Study Area...... 41 4.5.2 May Possibly Occur ...... 48 4.5.3 May Rarely Occur ...... 49
5 Conclusion ...... 55
6 References ...... 58
7 Appendices ...... 62
LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1.1: Regional location and IBRA subregions ...... 2
Figure 1.2: The Roy Hill Study Area ...... 3
Figure 2.1 Long-term climatic averages of monthly rainfall and temperature from Newman Airport (BoM, 2017) ...... 6
Figure 2.2: Pre-European vegetation of the Study Area ...... 7
Figure 2.3: Land Systems of the Study Area ...... 10
Figure 2.4: Fortescue Marsh and Priority Ecological Communities ...... 14
Figure 3.1: Habitat assessments conducted in the Study Area ...... 19
Figure 3.2: Sampling locations within the Study Area ...... 22
Figure 4.1 Fauna habitats within the Study Area ...... 33
Figure 4.2 Fauna habitats within the Study Area - North ...... 34
Figure 4.3 Fauna habitats within the Study Area - East ...... 35
Figure 4.4 Fauna habitats within the Study Area - Central ...... 36
Figure 4.5 Fauna habitats within the Study Area - South ...... 37
Figure 4.6: Ghost Bat’s recorded within Study Area, in cave (left), on barbed-wire fence (right) ...... 43
Figure 4.7: Mammals and reptiles of conservation significance records ...... 53
Figure 4.8: Birds of conservation significance records ...... 54
Roy Hill Level 1 and Targeted Vertebrate Fauna Survey
LIST OF TABLES Table 1.1 Definitions and terms for fauna of conservation significance ...... 4
Table 2.1 Land Systems of the Study Area ...... 8
Table 2.2 Fortescue Marsh Management Zones overlapping the Study Area ...... 12
Table 3.1 Literature sources used for the review ...... 15
Table 3.2 Databases used for the review ...... 16
Table 3.3 Fauna habitat significance assessment criteria ...... 18
Table 3.4 Species likelihood of occurrence decision matrix ...... 23
Table 3.5: Survey limitations and constraints ...... 24
Table 4.1: Fauna habitat descriptions ...... 27
Table 4.2 Species of conservation significance identified and their conservation status ...... 39
Table 4.3 Conservation significant species likelihood assessment ...... 51
APPENDICES Appendix A Conservation Status Codes ...... 62
Appendix B SM2 and Motion Camera Sampling Locations ...... 65
Appendix C Habitat Assessments ...... 67
Appendix D Locations of Habitat Features ...... 72
Appendix E Species recorded or with the potential to occur in the Study Area ...... 73
Appendix F Records for Species of Conservation Significance Recorded During the Survey ...... 98
Roy Hill Level 1 and Targeted Vertebrate Fauna Survey
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Roy Hill Iron Ore Pty Ltd (Roy Hill) commissioned Biologic Environmental Survey Pty Ltd (Biologic) to undertake a Level 1 and targeted survey (this assessment) at the Roy Hill Mine. The Roy Hill mine is located within the Pilbara region of Western Australia, approximately 100 kilometres (km) north of the Newman township. The area surveyed, hereafter referred to as the Study Area, covered approximately 82,670 hectares (ha), comprising a 2 km buffer extending out from Roy Hill’s mining, exploration and miscellaneous tenements M46/518, M46/519, L47/346, L47/347, L47/342 and L47/735. The objective of this assessment was to identify the potential occurrence of conservation significant species and their supporting habitats within the Study Area. This was undertaken by completing a thorough desktop assessment and a Level 1 and targeted field survey in August 2017.
A total of 11 assessments were reviewed and five databases were searched. Of the 11 assessments reviewed, five consisted of field surveys that were completed within the current Study Area, while the remaining six were conducted outside the Study Area. The literature review and database searches identified 335 species of vertebrate fauna that have previously been recorded and/or have the potential to occur within the Study Area. This comprises 35 native mammals, eight non-native mammals, 184 birds, 99 reptiles and nine amphibians.
A Level 1 and targeted field survey was undertaken in August 2017 to verify the data collated during the literature and database reviews, map and describe the fauna habitats present within the Study Area, and undertake targeted surveys for fauna of conservation significance. A total of 11 broad fauna habitat types were recorded and mapped across the Study Area comprising, in order of extent, Mulga Woodland, Open Tussock Grassland, Spinifex Stonyplain Spinifex Sandplain, Eucalypt Woodland, Mulga Drainage Line, Major Drainage Line, Mulga Spinifex, Low Rocky Hills, Minor Drainage Line, and Chenopod Shrublands. An additional area was also mapped as Cleared Area, which comprised areas cleared of native vegetation. One of the habitats recorded, Spinifex Sandplain, was considered to have a high significance due to the occurrence of fauna of conservation significance. Two habitats, Low Rocky Hills and Major Drainage Line, were considered to have a moderate significance given that fauna of conservation significance were recorded in instances of this habitat and it may support small and sparse populations of such species. The remaining nine habitats were deemed to have a low significance. The condition of habitats within the Study Area ranged from completely degraded to pristine. Areas considered completely degraded comprised only Cleared Areas. The largest impacting factor to fauna habitats within the Study Area was Cattle (Bos taurus).
A total of 36 fauna species of conservation significance were identified from the literature review and database searches, as having previously been recorded and/ or have the potential to occur based on distribution. This comprised 11 mammals, 22 birds and three reptiles. Of the 36 species of conservation significance identified, 15 have been recorded within the Study Area based on the literature review, database searches and/or this field survey. All of these species bar one, the Northern Quoll (Dasyurus hallucatus) have been recorded within tenements currently held by Roy Hill. Based on habitats present within the Study Area and nearby records, it was assessed that five species of conservation significance
Roy Hill Level 1 and Targeted Vertebrate Fauna Survey may possibly occur, two species of conservation significance may rarely occur and seven species of conservation significance are unlikely to occur.
Current
Conservation Status Likelihood of
Species Scientific Name Occurrence
in Study Area
Act Act
WC WC EPBC EPBC
Mammals Northern Quoll Dasyurus hallucatus EN S2 Confirmed Black-flanked Rock Wallaby Petrogale lateralis lateralis EN S2 Unlikely Greater Bilby Macrotis lagotis VU S3 Confirmed Trichosurus vulpecula Confirmed Northern Brushtail Possum S3 arnhemensis Ghost Bat Macroderma gigas VU S3 Confirmed Pilbara Leaf-Nosed Bat Rhinonicteris aurantia VU S3 Possible Lagorchestes conspicillatus Confirmed Spectacled Hare-wallaby - P3 leichardti Brush-tailed Mulgara Dasycercus blythi - P4 Confirmed Long-tailed Dunnart Sminthopsis longicaudata - P4 Possible Short-tailed Mouse Leggadina lakedownensis - P4 Confirmed Western Pebble-mound Mouse Pseudomys chapmani - P4 Confirmed Birds Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea CR/MI S5 Rarely Night Parrot Pezoporus occidentalis EN S1 Possible Australian Painted Snipe Rostratula australis EN S2 Unlikely Princess Parrot Polytelis alexandrae VU P4 Unlikely Grey Falcon Falco hypoleucos - S3 Confirmed Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus - S7 Confirmed Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica MI S5 Rarely Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia MI S5 Rarely Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos MI S5 Rarely Fork-tailed Swift Apus pacificus MI S5 Possible Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea MI S5 Unlikely Caspian Tern Hydroprogne caspia MI S5 Rarely Gull-billed Tern Gelochelidon nilotica MI S5 Rarely Oriental Plover Charadrius veredus MI S5 Unlikely Pectoral Sandpiper Calidris melanotos MI S5 Rarely Sharp-tailed Sandpiper Calidris acuminata MI S5 Rarely Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola MI S5 Rarely Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava MI S5 Unlikely Osprey Pandion haliaetus MI S5 Possible Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis S5 Confirmed Great Egret Ardea modesta S5 Confirmed Rainbow Bee-eater Merops ornatus S5 Confirmed Reptiles Pilbara Olive Python Liasis olivaceus barroni VU S3 Confirmed - Anilios ganei - P1 Confirmed - Ctenotus nigrilineatus - P1 Unlikely Note: CR = Critically Endangered EN = Endangered; VU = Vulnerable MI = Migratory, Sx = Schedule x; Px = Priority x.
Roy Hill Level 1 and Targeted Vertebrate Fauna Survey
Of the species of conservation significance recorded within the Study Area, four are considered Matters of National Environmental Significance (MNES), an additional two MNES were considered possible to occur:
• The Northern Quoll, has been recorded on three occasions, two in 2016 by the Department of Parks and Wildlife and on one occasion (via fresh scat) during this survey. The species is likely to occur in low densities within the northern section of the Study Area, away from current mining disturbance. • The Greater Bilby was confirmed as having previously occurred within the Study Area due to presence of old diggings and burrows. However, there was no evidence during this survey to suggest that a population continues to persist. Given the lack of mining-related development near the Greater Bilby records, it is likely that the absence of the species is due to other pressures, such as changes to fire regimes and the presence of introduced predators, which are known factors influencing the occurrence of the species. • The Ghost Bat has been confirmed within the Study Area during previous surveys and was recorded within the Study Area on eight occasions during this survey. One cave feature containing extensive evidence of Ghost Bat presence was recorded in the Study Area and is likely to support a colony of the species due to the high-quality foraging habitat within the Study Area. • The Pilbara Olive Python, although not recorded during this Survey, has previously been recorded in the Study Area by Roy Hill staff and it is likely that a population persists within the Low Rocky Hills and Major Drainage Line habitats in the northern section of the Study Area. • The Night Parrot was identified as possibly occurring within the Study Area. Based on the habitat data collected from known populations, the Study Area contains suitable habitat for the species. Additionally, a relatively recent record (2008) from the Fortescue Marsh (65 km west) indicates that a population is likely to occur somewhere within or surrounding the Fortescue Marsh, which intersects the Study Area. • The Pilbara Leaf-nosed Bat was not recorded in the Study Area during this survey or during previous surveys of the Study Area. No caves suitable for roosting of the species were recorded and it is unlikely that a roost occurs within the Study Area. The species has however been recorded <20 km south of the Study Area and it is possible that the species may forage within habitats of the Study Area on an irregular basis.
Roy Hill Level 1 and Targeted Vertebrate Fauna Survey
1 INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background Roy Hill Iron Ore Pty Ltd (Roy Hill) commissioned Biologic Environmental Survey Pty Ltd (Biologic) to undertake a Level 1 and targeted survey (this assessment) at the Roy Hill Mine. The Roy Hill mine is located within the Pilbara region of Western Australia, approximately 100 kilometres (km) north of the Newman township (Figure 1.1). The area surveyed, hereafter referred to as the Study Area, covered approximately 82,670 hectares (ha), comprising a 2 km buffer extending out from Roy Hill’s mining, exploration and miscellaneous tenements M46/518, M46/519, E47/1326, L47/346, L47/347, L47/342, L47/735, L47/642 (Roy Hill tenements, Figure 1.2).
1.2 Objectives The objective of this assessment was to identify the potential occurrence of conservation significant species and their supporting habitats within the Study Area. This was undertaken by completing a desktop assessment, a Level 1 and a targeted survey. Specifically, the assessment was completed to:
• develop an inventory of species recorded that are likely to occur or have been recorded within the Study Area based on previous fauna surveys and relevant databases; • characterise and map broad fauna habitats occurring across the Study Area; • characterise the condition of habitats occurring across the Study Area; • perform targeted searches for the species considered Matters of National Environmental Significance (MNES) which are Likely or Confirmed as occurring within the Study Area; and • assess the likelihood and occurrence of fauna considered of conservation significance (under state and federal legislation) within the Study Area.
1.3 Compliance
This assessment was carried out in a manner consistent with the following documents from the Western Australian Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) and Western Australian Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA):
• EPA (2016b) Technical Guidance: Terrestrial Fauna Surveys; and • EPA (2016a) Technical Guidance: Survey Methods for Terrestrial Vertebrate Fauna (developed in collaboration with DBCA).
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Pindanland 7800000
Port Hedland McLarty !
Roebourne Mackay 7700000
Marble Bar !
Chichester 7600000
7500000 !Tom Price
Hamersley
Fortescue
Newman ! 7400000
Ashburton Augustus Trainor
Legend Roy Hill Holding Pty Ltd Study Area IBRA subregions ! Major Towns Vertebrate Fauna Survey Roy Hill Tenements Fortescue Major Roads Fig. 1.1: Regional location and Pilbara bioregion Chichester IBRA subregions 1:1,615,309 Coordinate System: GDA 1994 MGA Zone 50 Other 0 20 40 80 Projection: Transverse Mercator ¯ km Datum: GDA 1994 Size A3. Created 28/08/2017 780000 790000 800000 810000 820000 830000 7510000 7500000 7490000 7480000 7470000 7460000 7450000
Legend Roy Hill Holding Pty Ltd Study Area Vertebrate Fauna Survey Fig. 1.2: The Roy Hill Study Area Roy Hill Tenements
Road 1:200,000 Coordinate System: GDA 1994 MGA Zone 50 0 2.75 5.5 11 Projection: Transverse Mercator Tracks ¯ km Datum: GDA 1994 Size A3. Created 28/08/2017 Roy Hill Level 1 and Targeted Vertebrate Fauna Survey
1.4 Conservation Significance Within Western Australia, native fauna are protected under the Wildlife Conservation Act 1950 (WC Act). Any action that has the potential to impact on native fauna needs to be approved by relevant state and/or federal departments as dictated by the state Environmental Protection Act 1986 (EP Act) and the federal Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act).
Some species of fauna that are determined to be at risk of extinction or decline are afforded extra protection under these Acts. For the purposes of this report, these species are deemed to be of conservation significance. A summary of applicable legislation and status codes is provided in Table 1.1 and additional information on status codes is provided in Appendix A. A number of migratory bird species are also prioritised for conservation under international agreements and therefore protected under the EPBC Act and WC Act as Migratory.
For some species, there is insufficient information to determine their status. These species are generally considered by the EPA/DBCA as being of conservation significance for all development related approvals and are listed on a ‘Priority List’ that is regularly reviewed and maintained by the DBCA (Table 1.1).
Table 1.1 Definitions and terms for fauna of conservation significance
Agreement, Act or List Status Codes Federal Environment Protection and Biodiversity • Extinct (EX) Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) • Extinct in the Wild (EW) • Critically Endangered (CE) The Department of the Environment and Energy • Endangered (EN) (DoEE) lists threatened fauna, which are determined by the Threatened Species Scientific • Vulnerable (VU) Committee (TSSC) per criteria set out in the Act. • Conservation Dependent (CD) The Act lists fauna that are considered to be of • Migratory (MG) conservation significance under one of eight • Marine (MA) categories (listed under ‘Status Codes’). State • Schedule 1 (Critically Endangered) (S1) Wildlife Conservation Act 1950 (WC Act) • Schedule 2 (Endangered) (S2) • Schedule 3 (Vulnerable) (S3) At a state level, native fauna are protected under • Schedule 4 (Extinct) (S4) the Wildlife Conservation Act 1950. Species in need of conservation are given a ranking ranging • Schedule 5 (Migratory) (S5) from Critically Endangered to Vulnerable. • Schedule 6 (Conservation Dependent) (S6) • Schedule 7 (Other Specially Protected) (S7) DBCA Priority List • Priority 1 (Poorly-known species) (P1) • Priority 2 (Poorly-known species) (P2) DBCA produces a list of Priority species that • Priority 3 (Poorly-known species) (P3) have not been assigned statutory protection • Priority 4 (Rare, Near Threatened, and other under the Wildlife Conservation Act 1950. This species in need of monitoring) (P4) system gives a ranking from Priority 1 to Priority 4.
Page 4 Roy Hill Level 1 and Targeted Vertebrate Fauna Survey
2 ENVIRONMENT
2.1 Biogeography The Study Area is located within the Pilbara bioregion (Figure 1.1), as defined by the Interim Biogeographic Regionalisation of Australia (IBRA; Thackway & Cresswell, 1995). The Pilbara bioregion is characterised by vast coastal plains and inland mountain ranges with cliffs and deep gorges (Thackway & Cresswell, 1995). Vegetation is predominantly mulga low woodlands or snappy gum over bunch and hummock grasses (Bastin, 2008).
Within the Pilbara bioregion, the Study Area lies on the boundary of the Chichester (PIL 1) and Fortescue Plains (PIL 2) subregions (Figure 1.1). The Chichester subregion is comprised of undulating Archaean granite and basalt plains with areas of basaltic ranges (Kendrick & McKenzie, 2001). The plains support a shrub steppe characterised by Acacia inaequilatera over Triodia wiseana hummock grasslands, while Eucalyptus leucophloia tree steppes occur through the ranges (Kendrick & McKenzie, 2001). The Fortescue Plains subregion is characterised by alluvial plains and river frontage (Kendrick, 2001). The Fortescue Plains contains extensive salt marsh, mulga-bunch grass, and short grass communities on alluvial plains, and river gum woodlands fringing major drainage lines (Kendrick, 2001). The significant and dominant feature of this subregion is the Fortescue Marsh. This drainage feature, 100 km long, is effectively the terminus of the upper Fortescue River (EPA, 2013). The lower Fortescue River arises from streams draining the Chichester and Hamersley Ranges below the Marsh and west of the Goodiadarrie Hills (McKenzie et al., 2003).
2.2 Climate The Pilbara bioregion has a semi-desert to tropical climate, with rainfall occurring sporadically throughout the year, although mostly during summer (Thackway & Cresswell, 1995). Summer rainfall is usually the result of tropical storms in the north or tropical cyclones that impact upon the coast and move inland (Leighton, 2004). The winter rainfall is generally lighter and is the result of cold fronts moving north easterly across the state (Leighton, 2004). The average annual rainfall ranges from 200-350 mm, although there are significant fluctuations between years (BoM, 2017), with up to 1200 mm falling in some locations in some years (McKenzie et al., 2009).
Long-term climatic data is not available for the Study Area itself; however, long term climatic data is available from the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) weather station at Newman Airport (Station 7176), 100 km south of the Study Area (BoM, 2017). The Newman Airport is expected to provide the most accurate long-term average (LTA) dataset for climatic conditions experienced within the Study Area (Figure 2.1).
Page 5 Roy Hill Level 1 and Targeted Vertebrate Fauna Survey
45 80
40 70
35 60 30
50 C) C) ° 25 40 20 30
15 Rainfall (mm)
Temperature( 10 20 5 10 0 0 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec LTA Rainfall (mm) LTA Min Temp (°C) LTA Max Temp (°C)
Figure 2.1 Long-term climatic averages of monthly rainfall and temperature from Newman Airport (BoM, 2017)
2.3 Topography and Drainage The major hills and ranges of the local area occur immediately to the north-east of the Study Area. The remaining portion of the Study Area exists as the valleys between the northern Chichester Ranges and the Hamersley Ranges to the south. The significant and dominant drainage feature in the area is the Fortescue Marsh, as described above.
Watercourses flow generally only after prolonged heavy rain as short-duration flooding with rapid peaks and slightly less rapid decline. Along major watercourses, including the Fortescue River, water can pond and may persist as pools for short periods following major flow events.
The Study Area is located in the lower Fortescue River catchment, which flows in a west-north- westerly direction before discharging into the Indian Ocean. The Fortescue River and its tributaries intersect the central portion of the Study Area flowing west towards the Fortescue Marsh.
2.4 Vegetation The Study Area is situated in the Hamersley Plateau, which forms part of the Fortescue Botanical District in the Eremaean Botanical Province of Western Australia (Beard, 1975). Four vegetation types are described from the Study Area:
• Low Woodland: Mulga • Spinifex grassland: shrub steppe • Succulent Steppe: Unwooded • Tall-bunch Grassland: Scattered tree
Each of these vegetation types occurs widely throughout the Pilbara bioregion (Shepherd et al., 2001).
Page 6 780000 790000 800000 810000 820000 830000 7510000 7500000 7490000 7480000 7470000 7460000 7450000
Legend Roy Hill Holding Pty Ltd Study Area Vegetation Type Vertebrate Fauna Survey Roy Hill Tenements Low Woodland: Mulga Fig. 2.2: Pre-European vegetation Spinifex Grassland: Shrub steppe Spinifex Grassland: Tree steppe of the Study Area 1:200,000 Coordinate System: GDA 1994 MGA Zone 50 Succulent Steppe: Unwooded 0 2.75 5.5 11 Projection: Transverse Mercator Tall-Bunch Grassland: Scattered tree ¯ km Datum: GDA 1994 Size A3. Created 28/08/2017 Roy Hill Level 1 and Targeted Vertebrate Fauna Survey
2.5 Land Systems The land systems of the Pilbara region are classified according to similarities in landform, soil, vegetation, geology and geomorphology, following van Vreeswyk et al. (2004). Ten land systems are mapped across the Study Area, categorised by eight distinct land types (Table 2.1: Figure 2.3). The most dominant land system within the Study Area is the Fan land system, defined as washplains and gilgai plains supporting groved Mulga shrublands and minor tussock grasslands and occurs across 49.5% of the Study Area. Together wash plains and alluvial plains occur across 75.95% of the Study Area, therefore occurring as the dominant landscape within the Study Area.
Table 2.1 Land Systems of the Study Area
Land Extent in Study Area Land Type Description System Ha % Wash plains on Washplains and gilgai plains hardpan with supporting groved Mulga Fan 28,957.51 35.03 Mulga shrublands and minor tussock shrublands grasslands. Stony alluvial plains with gilgaied Alluvial plains and non-gilgaied surfaces Turee with tussock supporting tussock grasslands 15,462.01 18.70 grasslands and grassy shrublands of Mulga and Snakewood. Wash plains on Stony hardpan plains and rises hardpan with supporting groved Mulga Jamindie 14,533.34 17.58 Mulga shrublands, occasionally with shrublands spinifex understorey. Hills and Rugged jaspilite plateaux, ridges ranges with Newman and mountains supporting hard 8,376.72 10.13 spinifex spinifex grasslands. grasslands Hills, ridges, plateaux remnants Hills and and breakaways of meta ranges with McKay sedimentary and sedimentary 3,784.18 4.58 spinifex rocks supporting hard spinifex grasslands grasslands. River plains Flood plains with weakly gilgaied with grassy clay soils supporting Coolibah Coolibah woodlands and 3,576.47 4.33 woodlands with tussock grass tussock understorey. grasslands Sandplains and occasional Sandplains and occasional dunes Divide dunes with supporting shrubby hard spinifex 3,095.46 3.74 spinifex grasslands. grasslands Alluvial washplains with Alluvial plains prominent internal drainage foci Narbung with acacia supporting Snakewood and 1,097.35 1.33 shrublands Mulga shrublands with halophytic low shrubs. Low calcrete platforms and plains Calcrete plains supporting Mulga and cassia Warri with acacia 1,086.75 1.31 shrublands and minor halophytic shrublands low shrublands.
Page 8 Roy Hill Level 1 and Targeted Vertebrate Fauna Survey
Land Extent in Study Area Land Type Description System Ha % Stony lower slopes and plains Stony plains below hill systems supporting Boolgeeda with spinifex 873.83 1.06 hard and soft spinifex grasslands grasslands or Mulga shrublands. Alluvial plains Gilgai alluvial plains with cracking Brockman with tussock clay soils supporting tussock 565.21 0.68 grasslands grasslands. Salt lakes and Lakebeds and flood plains subject fringing alluvial to regular inundation, supporting Marsh plains with samphire shrublands, salt water 430.54 0.52 halophytic couch grasslands and halophytic shrublands shrublands. River plains Active flood plains, major rivers with grassy and banks supporting grassy River woodlands and eucalypt woodlands, tussock 348.03 0.42 tussock grasslands and soft spinifex grasslands grasslands. Calcrete plains Low calcrete platforms and plains Calcrete with spinifex supporting shrubby hard spinifex 235.26 0.28 grasslands grasslands. Stony plains Dissected plains and slopes Billygoat with spinifex supporting hard spinifex 159.02 0.19 grasslands grasslands. Stony plains with acacia Stony plains and low silcrete hills Adrian shrublands and supporting hard spinifex 88.42 0.11 halophytic grasslands. shrublands Total 82,670.11 100
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JAM NEW NEW ROC ELI ELI CAL BGD JUR JAM LAT PDG BRO
CAL SPH ROC ELI SPH
LAT BLG CWA MCK TUR ROC LAT WAI MCK BLG 7510000
NEW SPH ELI JAM LAT ELI
CAL ELI WAI MCK WAI ROC ELI WAI RIV
7500000 MSH
ADR BGD CAL COB CAL MCK
JAM COB WAI TUR WAI COB COB CAL COB TUR JAM MRA
7490000 DIV WSP NAB BRO
NAB TUR
MRA ADR WSP
DIV
ADR COB 7480000 DIV DIV DIV
DIV FAN
DIV DIV
DIV 7470000
FAN DIV FAN FAN 7460000
NEW FTC BGD
NEW NEW DIV WSP
NEW DIV 7450000
WSP
Legend Roy Hill Holding Pty Ltd Study Area Brockman Fan Marsh Rocklea Roy Hill Tenements Calcrete Fortescue McKay Spearhole Vertebrate Fauna Survey Land Systems Coolibah Jamindie Narbung Turee Fig. 2.3: Land Systems Adrian Cowra Jurrawarrina Newman Warri Billygoat Divide Laterite Pindering Washplain of the Study Area 1:200,000 Boolgeeda Elimunna Marillana River Coordinate System: GDA 1994 MGA Zone 50 0 2.75 5.5 11 Projection: Transverse Mercator ¯ km Datum: GDA 1994 Size A3. Created 28/08/2017 Roy Hill Level 1 and Targeted Vertebrate Fauna Survey
2.6 Important Areas 2.6.1 Fortescue Marsh
The Fortescue Marsh is the largest ephemeral wetland in the Pilbara region (EPA, 2013). It is listed on the Australian Heritage Commission Register of the National Estate as an “Indicative Place”, and in the Directory of the Important Wetlands in Australia (Environment Australia, 2001). It is listed in the Directory of Important Wetlands in Australia because it is the only example of this wetland type in the Pilbara; plays an important hydrological and ecological role; is an important drought refuge for wildlife, and is of outstanding historical or cultural significance (Environment Australia, 2001). The Marsh itself extends over approximately 1,048 square kilometres (EPA, 2013). It is rich in plant and animal species of high conservation value and is part of an ancient and complex array of alluvial aquifers and groundwater systems (EPA, 2013).
Approximately 67,657 ha (81.84%) of the Study Area overlaps with the EPA’s Fortescue Marsh Management Area (Table 2.2; Figure 2.4). This Management Area is an area identified as having primary importance to the direct management of the Marsh, particularly in relation to the natural water regime and ecological perspectives. The Fortescue Marsh Management Area is divided into three zones: highest, medium and lowest environmental significance. Zones within the management area are assigned in relation to key environmental values and management / decision-making priorities assigned by the EPA (EPA, 2013). Most the Study Area is located within zone 3b ‘Marillana Plain’ and 3a ‘Kulbee Alluvial Flank’ which are both categorised as having the lowest environmental significance (Table 2.2). Approximately 2,823.83 ha of the Study Area is located within zone 2c, ‘Fortescue River Coolibah’, identified as having medium environmental significance (Table 2.2; Figure 2.4). Approximately 626.03 ha is located within zone 1b ‘Marsh’, identified as having a high environmental significance (Table 2.2; Figure 2.4). Although the Study Area overlaps with the zone 1b, no Roy Hill tenure overlaps with the this zone (Figure 2.4).
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Table 2.2 Fortescue Marsh Management Zones overlapping the Study Area
Extent of Study Relative Zone Key Environmental Values Area Priority Ha % • Natural water regimes; • Land systems; 3b Lowest • Mulga woodlands; Marillana environmental • Species of conservation 33,494.56 40.51 Plain significance significance; • Subterranean fauna; • Aquatic invertebrates. • Natural water regimes; 3a • Natural springs and pools; Lowest Kulbee • Mulga woodlands; environmental 30,713.43 37.15 Alluvial significance • Species of conservation Flank significance; • Subterranean fauna. 2c • Natural water regimes; Medium Fortescue • Riparian vegetation; environmental 2,823.83 3.41 River • Greater Bilby; significance Coolibah • Subterranean fauna. • Pools and springs • Wetland • Water quality gradient High 1b • Species of conservation environmental 626.03 0.76 Marsh significance significance • Samphire vegetation community • Aquatic invertebrates • Waterbirds Total 82,670.11 81.84
2.6.2 Priority Ecological Communities
Priority Ecological Communities (PEC’s) are naturally occurring biological assemblages that occur in a particular habitat type which is either possibly threatened, rare but not threatened or near threatened (DPaW, 2017a). They are deemed Priority by DBCA and require regular monitoring. The Study Area intersects the Priority 1 Fortescue Marsh PEC, and is located near the Priority 3 “Vegetation of sand dunes of the Hamersley Range/Fortescue Valley” (previously 'Fortescue Valley Sand Dunes') PEC (DPaW, 2017a).
Approximately 430 ha of the P1 Fortescue Marsh PEC, intersects the Study Area in the west (Figure 2.4). The Fortescue Marsh PEC is regarded as the largest ephemeral wetland in the Pilbara (DBCA, 2017b). It is a highly diverse ecosystem with fringing mulga woodlands (on the northern side), samphire shrublands and groundwater dependant riparian ecosystems (DBCA, 2017b). It harbours several endemic species of plants and supports a rich diversity of restricted aquatic and terrestrial invertebrates (DBCA, 2017b). In addition, the community has the second largest recorded populations of wetland birds in Western Australia (after Lake Gregory at Kumarina, ~350 km south of the Study Area) (DBCA, 2017b). Importantly, it is a recorded locality for Night Parrot, Greater Bilby and several other threatened vertebrate fauna (DBCA, 2017b). Page 12 Roy Hill Level 1 and Targeted Vertebrate Fauna Survey
The P3 Fortescue Valley PEC is located adjacent to the south-west of the Study Area (~3 km), lying at the junction of the Hamersley Range and Fortescue Valley between Weeli Wolli Creek and the low hills to the west (Figure 2.4). A small number of dunes are vegetated with Acacia dictyophleba scattered tall shrubs over Crotalaria cunninghamii, Trichodesma zeylanicum var. grandiflorum open shrubland (DBCA, 2017b). These vegetated sand dunes are regionally rare, small and fragile, and highly susceptible to threatening processes (DBCA, 2017b).
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Legend Roy Hill Holding Pty Ltd Study Area Fortescue Marsh Management Zones Roy Hill Tenements High Priority Vertebrate Fauna Survey Priority Ecological Communities Medium Priority Fig. 2.4: Fortescue Marsh and Fortescue Marsh PEC (P1) Low Priority Fortescue Sand Dunes PEC (P3) Ecological Communities 1:250,000 Coordinate System: GDA 1994 MGA Zone 50 0 3.5 7 14 Projection: Transverse Mercator ¯ km Datum: GDA 1994 Size A3. Created 28/08/2017 Roy Hill Level 1 and Targeted Vertebrate Fauna Survey
3 METHODOLOGY
3.1 Desktop Assessment 3.1.1 Literature Review
A review of available literature relevant to the Study Area was undertaken to compile a list of vertebrate fauna species with the potential to occur within the Study Area. A total of 11 assessments were reviewed, comprising three Level 1 surveys using passive survey techniques, five Level 2 surveys, which included detailed trapping methodology, one desktop assessment, one research focussed survey and one targeted Northern Quoll survey (Table 3.1).
Table 3.1 Literature sources used for the review
Survey Title Reference Survey Type Fauna Habitats and Fauna Assemblage of the Biota (2006) Level 2 FMG Stage B Rail Corridor and Mine Areas Proposed Infrastructure Supplementary Level 1 ecologia Environment Level 1 Terrestrial Fauna Survey (2008) Proposed Roy Hill Borefield Desktop Fauna ecologia Environment Desktop Assessment (2009a) Assessment ecologia Environment Roy Hill Vertebrate Fauna Assessment Level 2 (2009b) Roy Hill Borefield Vertebrate Fauna Assessment ENV Australia (2009) Level 2 Fauna Habitat Survey of the Proposed Bore-Fields Pipeline Route from Adjacent Roy Hill Station to APM (2010) Level 1 Eaton Bore Christmas Creek Airstrip Flora, Vegetation and ENV Australia (2011) Level 1 Fauna Assessment Christmas Creek Terrestrial Vertebrate Fauna and ENV Australia (2012) Level 2 Fauna Habitat Assessment Bamford Consulting Nyidinghu Iron Ore Project Fauna Assessment Level 2 Ecologists (2012) Winter bird assemblages of the Fortescue Marshes and surrounding vegetation, Pilbara region, Bell et al. (2014) Research Survey Western Australia Fauna Survey, trapping and translocation Phoenix (2016) Targeted Survey completion form: GDP2243 (mine pit)
3.1.2 Database Searches
Five databases were searched to provide a list of previous records of fauna of conservation significance, and those potentially occurring within and surrounding the Study Area. (Table 3.2). Of the databases searched, three were to obtain information on all species previously recorded (Birdlife Australia, 2017; DBCA, 2017a; Roy Hill Iron Ore, 2017), one was to identify species of conservation significance previously recorded (DBCA, 2017c), and one was to identify species of conservation significance known or likely to occur within the region (DoEE, 2017).
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Table 3.2 Databases used for the review
Provider Reference Database Parameters
Department of Circle of radius 40 km centred NatureMap. Accessed Parks and DBCA (2017a) on the coordinates 6 June 2017 Wildlife 22o30'33.34"S, 119o58'17.75"E
Department of Threatened Fauna Circle of radius 40 km centred Parks and DBCA (2017c) Database. Received 9 on the coordinates Wildlife June 2017 22o30'33.34"S, 119o58'17.75"E
Birdata Custom Bird Circle of radius 40 km centred Birdlife Australia BirdLife Australia Atlas. Received 13 on the coordinates (2017) June 2017 22o30'33.34"S, 119o58'17.75"E
Circle of radius 40 km centred Protected Matters on the coordinates Department of Database Search 22o30'33.34"S, 119o58'17.75"E Environment and DoEE (2017) Tool. Accessed 6 to identify species recorded Energy June 2017 within and in the vicinity of the Study Area. All Roy Hill records covering Roy Hill internal Roy Hill tenements that lie Roy Hill Iron Ore Vertebrate Fauna Roy Hill within the Study Area and Roy (2017) Database. Accessed Hill commissioned surveys 12 May 2017. since May 2009.
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3.2 Field Survey The purpose of the Level 1 and targeted survey was to verify the data collated during the literature and database reviews, map and describe the fauna habitats present within the Study Area, and undertake targeted searches for fauna of conservation significance.
The survey was undertaken between the 7th and 14th of August 2017. In the six months prior to the Survey (February to July 2017), Newman Airport recorded 162.6 mm of rainfall. This was slightly below the long-term annual average rainfall for the same period (188.1 mm; BoM, 2017). Minimum temperatures during the Survey ranged from 1.6oC to 15.9oC, with an average minimum of 8.2oC, and maximum temperatures ranged from 20.7oC to 31.8oC with an average maximum of 26.5oC (BoM, 2017). No rainfall was recorded during the Survey period (BoM, 2017). Conditions experienced prior to and during the Survey, were typical for the time of year and ideal for the type and level of the Survey undertaken.
3.2.1 Survey Team and Licensing
The assessment was undertaken by two senior zoologists, Chris Knuckey and Thomas Rasmussen, whom both have extensive experience with fauna in the Pilbara. The survey was conducted under DBCA Regulation 17 license 08-000958-1 issued to C. Knuckey. A Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) used during the Survey was piloted by Chris Knuckey and Thomas Rasmussen under licences issued by the Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA).
3.2.2 Habitat Assessments and Mapping
Habitat assessments were undertaken at 101 locations across the Study Area, including at every targeted search, song meter and motion camera location (Figure 3.1). Habitats in the Study Area were assessed using methodology and terminology modified from the Australian Soil and Land Survey Field Handbook (National Committee on Soil and Terrain, 2009). The characteristics recorded during the habitat assessments were:
• site information, photo and location.;
• landform: slope, relative inclination of slope, morphological type and landform type;
• vegetation: leaf litter %, twig litter %, wood litter, dead stags and hollow bearing trees, broad floristic formation, vegetation structure (tall, mid and low), and dominant species;
• land surface: micro relief, sheet erosion, rill erosion, gully erosion, gully depth, abundance and size of coarse fragments, rock outcropping, water bodies, comments on nests, burrows, roosts and diggings;
• soil: texture, colour;
• substrate: bare ground, rock size, rock type, rock outcropping; and
• disturbance: time since last fire, evidence of weeds, grazing, or human disturbances.
Fauna habitats were assessed for the likelihood that they may support conservation significant fauna. All major fauna habitats present within the Study Area were rated (High, Medium or Low) per the criteria in Table 3.3.
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Table 3.3 Fauna habitat significance assessment criteria
Score Possible criteria (score results from any possible criterion being met) Fauna listed as threatened on the EPBC Act or WC Act have been recorded within the habitat. Habitat is known to be suitable core habitat for EPBC listed species, and there are records of the species within 50 km. If survey work in the vicinity of the Study Area has been limited, then the species will be High considered likely to be present, using a precautionary approach. Habitat is uncommon (regionally) and considered critical for DBCA listed Priority fauna. For example, if the habitat for a Priority species is limited in the region and the extent within the Study Area forms a large proportion of the known habitat, it would be scored ‘high’. Habitat that only occurs in small, isolated geographic areas. Habitat is known to supports DBCA listed Priority fauna that do not occur in any of the other habitat types. Habitat that supports EPBC Act listed Migratory fauna. Moderate Habitat may be used by EPBC Act listed fauna but it is not their core habitat (i.e. may be used periodically/ seasonally or for dispersal). Habitat supports a particularly diverse and uncommon faunal assemblage. Habitat that occurs throughout region, and does not occur in small or isolated areas, is excluded. Low Habitat is widespread, common, and does not solely support any significant fauna.
Habitats were defined using habitat assessments undertaken during this assessment, as well as previous assessments. This included habitat mapping by ecologia Environment (2009b), which covered <25% of the Study Area, and habitat assessments undertaken by ecologia Environment (2006, 2008, 2010); and ENV Australia (2009). Habitats were delineated and mapped across the Study Area at a scale of ~1:20,000, with the aid of high-resolution aerial imagery, vegetation, topographical, land system and drainage mapping.
At each habitat assessment location, condition was assessed with respect to the Keighery (1994) scale. The assessment included the likelihood of recovery to assess the potential for areas to provide habitat in the future (i.e. in a hypothetical situation where human interference was removed).
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3.2.3 Targeted Searches
Targeted searches were undertaken to identify the occurrence of fauna of conservation significance and to search for important habitat features, such as waterpools and caves. Targeted searches were conducted within the most prospective areas in terms of habitat features and habitats suitable for species of conservation significance. During the targeted searches, and while traversing the Study Area, the team recorded all vertebrate fauna species of conservation significance encountered, either from primary (i.e. direct observation) or secondary (e.g. burrows, scratching’s, diggings and scats) evidence.
A total of seventeen targeted searches were undertaken across the Study Area, totalling approximately 24 person hours (Figure 3.2).
3.2.4 Remotely Piloted Aircraft Searches
A DJI Phantom 4 Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) was used to conduct searches for important habitat features (i.e. caves, waterpools) and locate suitable habitat to perform targeted searches (such as cave-forming geology, sandy substrate for Greater Bilby (Macrotis lagotis) and rocky terrain for Northern Quoll (Dasyurus hallucatus). Where prospective habitat was identified from the drone, on-foot searches were undertaken as a follow-up to search for evidence of targeted species, as per Section 3.2.3. Drone flights were conducted within the most prospective areas in terms of habitat features and habitats suitable for species of conservation significance. Approximately 5.75 hrs of drone flight time was undertaken across 14 flights (Figure 3.2).
Where potential habitat was identified for Greater Bilby from the ground, a grid-like flight path was developed and flown to search for potential Greater Bilby signs (i.e. burrows and diggings) which were subsequently verified on foot (Figure 3.2) to gain confirmation that these signs were actual evidence of Greater Bilby. Within such areas, the drone was flown at a height of approximately 20 m giving a resolution between 2-5 cm per pixel. All flights were undertaken in accordance with CASA’s Standard Operating Conditions (Figure 3.2).
3.2.5 Acoustic Recordings – Bats
Overnight recordings of bat echolocation calls were undertaken using SM2BAT+ (SM2; Wildlife Acoustics, USA) fitted with an external, omnidirectional SMX-US ultrasonic microphone. The location of each SM2 unit was selected based on prospective bat foraging grounds, such as at overhangs. The unit was positioned to provide shelter from direct sun or rain, whilst retaining an unobstructed 'line of sight' between the microphone and the likely bat flyway. Each SM2 was preconfigured to activate at astronomical sunset each day and deactivate at astronomical sunrise the following morning. Jumper settings, audio settings, selectable filters and selectable triggers used to preconfigure each SM2 unit, and hence define the volume and frequency ranges sought, followed the manufacturer’s recommendations for bat detection (Wildlife Acoustics, 2011).
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SM2 units were deployed at five locations across the Study Area for a total of 12 recording nights (Figure 3.2; Appendix B). Bat calls were analysed by Robert Bullen of Bat Call WA.
3.2.6 Acoustic Recordings – Night Parrot
Overnight recordings using SM2 units were also undertaken for the Night Parrot. SM2 units were fitted with SMX-II acoustic microphones and set to record between 0-500 Hz each night. Units were deployed within long unburnt spinifex hummock grasslands, specifically Triodia longiceps hummock grasslands, which is similar to habitat confirmed to support populations elsewhere (Murphy et al., 2017; Murphy et al.; Night Parrot Recovery Team, 2017) and in accordance with interim guidelines developed by DPaW (2017b)
SM2 units targeting Night Parrot were deployed across the Study Area at seven locations for a total of 21 recording nights (Figure 3.2; Appendix B). All recordings were analysed manually by Biologic personnel using the software program Song Scope (Wildlife Acoustics, USA) and against reference calls provided by the Night Parrot Recovery Team (2017). Acoustic recorders were deployed in habitat recommended with the Interim Guideline for Preliminary Surveys of Night Parrot (Pezoporus occidentalis) in Western Australia (DPaW, 2017b) – “stands of large, old clumps of spinifex (Triodia)... especially so if the identified area is part of a palaeo-drainage system or contains healthy stands of samphire.”. However, units were placed >300 m from one another to ensure spatial coverage of the suitable habitat within the Study Area.
3.2.7 Motion Cameras
Bushnell Trophy Cam motion cameras were deployed to survey for species of conservation significance, specifically Northern Quoll, Northern Brushtail Possum (Trichosurus vulpecula arnhemensis) and Ghost Bat. A camera was deployed at three locations considered prospective for detecting Northern Quoll, specifically Low Rocky Hills adjacent to productive drainage line habitat with water pools (Figure 3.2; Appendix B). Seven cameras were deployed within an area deemed suitable for the Northern Brushtail Possum and one camera was deployed within a cave targeting the Ghost Bat (Figure 3.2; Appendix B). Motion cameras were deployed at 11 locations for a total of 28 nights. The resulting footage was analysed manually by Biologic personnel.
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3.2.8 Taxonomy and Nomenclature
The latest checklist of mammal, reptile and amphibian names published by the Western Australian Museum (WAM, 2017) was used as a guide to the current taxonomy and nomenclature of these groups. For birds, the current checklist of Australian birds maintained by Birds Australia (based on Christidis & Boles, 2008) (based on Christidis and Boles 2008) was used in conjunction with the WAM species list (WAM, 2017).
3.3 Likelihood of Occurrence for Fauna of Conservation Significance Conservation significant fauna species not recorded within the Study Area, but identified from databases and previous reports, were assessed for their likelihood to occur within the Study Area using the decision matrix below (Table 3.4).
Table 3.4 Species likelihood of occurrence decision matrix
Habitat Categories Core Foraging Dispersal Range Potential No known habitat habitat habitat categories: dispersal habitat known to known to known to habitat occurs occur occur occur Species recorded Highly Likely Likely Likely Possible Possible <5 km Species recorded Likely Likely Possible Possible Rarely 5-10 km Species recorded Likely Possible Possible Rarely Unlikely 10-40 km Species recorded Possible Possible Rarely Rarely Unlikely >40 km Species rarely Highly recorded in the Possible Rarely Unlikely Unlikely Unlikely region
This decision matrix is only intended to be used as an indicative guide, and was applied with the following considerations:
• The range categories are subject to interpretation based on the known range of each species and its natural dispersal capabilities. For example, >50km range may be a significant distance for a fossorial skink, but not a migratory bird; • Both the range categories and the habitat categories can vary markedly for different types of fauna such as birds, reptiles, mammals, and amphibians, and fauna with different ecological niches within each of these groups; • The degree of habitat specificity for each species is a major determining factor for each of the habitat categories, and this in turn is dependent on the current state of ecological knowledge of the species. For example, core habitat for Ghost Bat is only certain caves within mountainous terrains, whereas core habitat for the Anilios ganei can be most Page 23 Roy Hill Level 1 and Targeted Vertebrate Fauna Survey
habitat types in the Pilbara. This may also differ between different populations of the same species in different bioregions, such as Northern Quoll, which has a broader core habitat in the Northern Pilbara (comprising gorges/ gullies, drainage lines, and hills/ ridges) than in the Hamersley Ranges (core habitat is primarily gorges/ gullies); • The amount and location of previous sampling is a major factor influencing the applicability of the range categories, as well as the amount of effort that has been expended in (and the accessibility of) the area in question for sampling; • The current state of taxonomy is another major factor for species that are poorly known taxonomically and thus difficult to identify accurately, as well as for any recent changes of classification and/ or conservation category. Such taxonomic changes can affect the reliability of previous records within fauna databases, the conservation status of the newly defined species/ populations, and the assumptions regarding species ranges and habitat preferences; and • The language used in each of the habitat and range categories may be useful for some taxa and not for others (for example, ‘rare’ occurrences may be useful for describing birds or fauna which can traverse large distances, but in the case of fauna with more limited dispersal capabilities such as reptiles, there is no basis for ‘rare’ occurrences. Such likelihoods may be more likely to represent range extensions.
3.4 Potential Limitation and Constraints The EPA (2016b) outlines several potential limitations to fauna surveys. These aspects are assessed and discussed in Table 3.5 below.
Table 3.5: Survey limitations and constraints
Potential limitation Applicability to this survey or constraint Experience of The field personnel involved in the survey each have more than 6 years of personnel. fauna survey experience in the Pilbara. Scope (faunal groups The scope was a Level 1 survey and was conducted within that framework. sampled and whether No nocturnal work was undertaken by the field personal; this reduced the any constraints affect ability for opportunistic detection of nocturnally active species. this) Proportion of fauna All observed fauna were identified at the point of observation. All recorded identified bat calls were successfully identified. Sources of information A significant amount of survey work has been undertaken in the wider local (recent or historic) and area and the surrounding region, and the majority of these previous survey availability of results were available for review. DBCA has also undertaken the Pilbara contextual information Biological Survey, which provided information on regional distribution of selected species. These reports were available at the time of reporting. Proportion of the task A Level 1 survey of the Study Area was completed and related to the achieved results of surveys in the broader area. Disturbances (e.g. fire Conditions experienced during the survey were ideal for recording or flood) conservation significant species targeted. Intensity of survey A Level 1 and targeted survey was identified by Roy Hill as the requirement for this survey. Completeness of The survey was adequately completed to meet the requirements of a Level survey 1 targeted survey.
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Potential limitation Applicability to this survey or constraint Resources (e.g. All resources required to complete the survey were available. degree of expertise available) Remoteness or The majority of the Study Area was accessible either by vehicle or on foot, access issues thus the sampling techniques used during this survey were unconstrained by accessibility or remoteness.
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4 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
4.1 Fauna Habitats A total of 11 broad fauna habitat types were recorded and mapped across the Study Area. This comprised, in decreasing order of extent, Mulga Woodland, Open Tussock Grassland, Spinifex Stonyplain Spinifex Sandplain, Eucalypt Woodland, Mulga Drainage Line, Major Drainage Line, Mulga Spinifex, Low Rocky Hills, Minor Drainage Line, and Chenopod Shrublands (Table 4.1; Figure 4.1-Figure 4.5). An additional area was also mapped as Cleared Area, which comprised areas completely cleared by Roy Hill of all native vegetation. One of the habitats recorded, Spinifex Sandplain, was considered to have a high significance due to the occurrence of fauna of conservation significance, specifically the Greater Bilby. Two habitats, Low Rocky Hills and Major Drainage Line, were considered to have a moderate significance given that fauna of conservation significance were recorded in instances of this habitat and it may support small and sparse populations of such species, specifically the Northern Quoll, Pilbara Olive Python and Ghost Bat. The remaining nine habitats were deemed to have a low significance as they either do not support species of high conservation value and/ or such species are not dependent on these habitats at the broad-scale. Descriptions of the distinguishing characteristics and the occurrence inside and outside of the Study Area for each of these habitat types are presented in Table 4.1, and the data from on-site habitat assessments are presented in Appendix C.
The condition of habitats within the Study Area ranged from completely degraded to pristine. Areas considered completely degraded comprised only Cleared Areas. The largest impacting factor to the remaining fauna habitats within the Study Area was Cattle (Bos taurus). The threats caused by Cattle include overgrazing, trampling, and spreading weeds. The occurrence of weeds, particularly Buffell Grass (Cenchrus ciliaris) was apparent in many areas, particularly low lying habitats such as Major Drainage Line, Minor Drainage Line, Mulga Drainage Line and Eucalypt Woodland habitats. Areas with high weed infestation were considered unlikely to ever recover back to a native state as these areas are unlikely to recover back to a pristine state should they be left untouched. In most cases, weed free areas were assessed as having a high likelihood of recovery from other impacting factors such as clearing. This consisted mainly of habitats within rocky terrain, away from primary grazing areas.
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Table 4.1: Fauna habitat descriptions
Distinguishing habitat Occurrence of the habitat Extent of the habitat outside Habitat Photo characteristics within the Study Area Study Area Mulga This habitat includes The Mulga Woodlands is the A common habitat throughout the Woodland woodlands in which dominant habitat type within Fortescue and Hamersley Mulga is the dominant the Study Area. Located subregions. The Fortescue 38,959 ha strata, either as the throughout much of the Study subregion represents the principal Acacia species Area except the far north- northern limit of Mulga in 47.13 % or mixed with others. It east. The condition Western Australia’s north-west consists of disintegrating throughout the Mulga (Kendrick, 2001). Outside the groves on stony and Woodland is generally Very Pilbara Mulga Woodlands are a alluvial soils. Small Good with instances of over common and widespread habitat hollows, leaf litter and grazing and weed infestation. type, occupying ~20% of the woody debris are Australian continent and as a components of this result are well represented within habitat. Western Australians conservation estate. Open Vast plains dominated by The Open Tussock Open Tussock Grasslands are Tussock annual grasses and Grasslands were primarily relatively common throughout Grasslands herbs. These plains are located in the far eastern the Western Australian arid zone, often shrubless, section of the Study Area. including within the Pilbara. The 12,882 ha although sometimes Within the Study Area this habitat is broadly associated with occur with scattered habitat was exposed to heavy Mulga habitats that occur 15.58 % Acacia species as well grazing due to the annual through the Gascoyne and as the introduced grasses. As such, this habitat Murchison regions to the south Vachellia farnesiana. often looks bare during (van Vreeswyk et al., 2004). Soils are largely heavy periods without significant alluvial soils with rainfall. cracking clay properties.
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Distinguishing habitat Occurrence of the habitat Extent of the habitat outside Habitat Photo characteristics within the Study Area Study Area Spinifex Undulating plains and The Spinifex Stonyplain The Spinifex Stony Plain is one Stonyplain low hills mainly habitat was isolated to the of the most common and supporting hard spinifex north-eastern section of the widespread habitat types within 9,517 ha with a mantle of gravel Study Area, surrounded by the Pilbara and a defining and pebbles. Instances Low Rocky Hills. The habitat landscape of the region 11.51 % of this habitat types also type represents a transition (McKenzie et al., 2009). This comprised calcrete stony into the Chichester Ranges in habitat type and the fauna plains. Vegetation is the north from the alluvial species inhabiting this habitat dominated by a floodplains of the Fortescue type are well represented within hummock grassland with Valley. the regions conservation estate. scattered Acacia and Grevillea shrubs. The primary microhabitat is the spinifex hummocks. Spinifex Spinifex Sandplains are This habitat was largely The Spinifex Sandplain habitat is Sandplain characterised by sandy common in the southern a moderately uncommon habitat soils supporting dense section of the Study Area and in the Pilbara region. It is more 3,363 ha spinifex grasslands often within the corridor through the common within the northern with sparse shrubs. The centre. Within the Study Area Chichester subregion where it is 4.07 % shrub layer varied from the depth of soil within the often associated with large dense thickets to Spinifex Sandplain varied drainage systems and granite scattered shrubs often between deep sands to outcrops. dominated by Acacia. shallow relatively compact Mallee were also areas. Areas of deeper softer common within soils are likely to of instances of this habitat importance to species of type. Sandy soils for conservation significance burrowing were a key such as the Greater Bilby and feature of the habitat Brush-tailed Mulgara. type.
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Distinguishing habitat Occurrence of the habitat Extent of the habitat outside Habitat Photo characteristics within the Study Area Study Area Eucalypt Characterised by This habitat type is low in the A relatively uncommon habitat Woodland Eucalyptus woodland on landscape and occurs in the within the Pilbara. Occurrences sandy loam soils with a central areas surrounding the are located in large valleys away 3,042 ha moderately dense Fortescue River which from rocky areas and near major seasonal tussock become inundated during flooding river systems. The 3.68 % grassland. May periods of high rainfall. habitat is a characteristic habitat periodically be inundated of those surrounding and feeding after large rainfall events. into the Fortescue Marsh. Due to the abundance of Eucalypts, this habitat type contains numerous small hollows and is prone to invasion by Buffell Grass. Mulga The Mulga Drainage The habitat was located A relatively common habitat, Drainage Lines comprise drainage through the central section of particularly in the Fortescue Lines systems that are the Study Area as drainage valley which contains numerous dominated by dense systems from the drainage systems into the 2,873 ha stands of Mulga and no topographical high areas of Fortescue Marsh. This habitat Eucalypt species. The the Study Area’s north-east. type is also common elsewhere 3.48 % microhabitats within are The Mulga Drainage Lines in Western Australia where it similar to surrounding occurred as drainage occurs in association with Mulga Mulga Woodlands but systems through much of the Woodlands. with a high density of Mulga Woodlands. vegetation, leaf litter, woody debris and often sandier alluvial soils.
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Distinguishing habitat Occurrence of the habitat Extent of the habitat outside Habitat Photo characteristics within the Study Area Study Area Major The Major Drainage Line This habitat was located Major Drainage Lines are Drainage habitat was defined by throughout the central and common throughout the Pilbara Line large drainage channels northern sections of the region due to the topography of lined with large Study Area. This habitat was the region. This habitat is also 1,986 ha Eucalyptus trees. The associated with drainage well represented within the main drainage channel is from the Low Rocky Hills and regions conservation estate. 2.40 % often devoid of ranges to the north of the Major Drainage Lines within the vegetation or dense Study Area. The largest Pilbara are somewhat unique to Buffell Grasslands. Major Drainage Line within similar system found in Within the Study Area the Study Area was the surrounding regions, attributed this habitat was often Fortescue River, which mainly to the amount and lined with Mulga. The intersects the Study Area frequency of water that they are major feature influencing from the south-east, and the exposed to and the habitats in species composition is Kulkinbah Creek which feeds which they intersect. As with the extensive number of in to the Fortescue River from most drainage systems, this large hollows as well as the north-east. habitat is well connected within
the high vegetation the landscape. cover, woody debris and leaf litter. Mulga The Mulga Spinifex The Mulga Spinifex was The Mulga Spinifex habitat is Spinifex habitat comprised areas recorded in the south-west of relatively uncommon throughout where Mulga Woodlands the Study Area. It was the Pilbara. Sandy substrates of 1,970 ha occur over hummock recorded as isolated patches the region often occur in the grasslands. They differ between stands of Mulga north while Mulga Woodlands 2.38 % from Mulga Woodland Woodland and Spinifex are restricted to the regions habitat due to a sandier Sandy Plain. south. Outside of the Study Area, substrate and often the Mulga Spinifex habitat type is support a unique moderately common. composition of fauna due to this association.
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Distinguishing habitat Occurrence of the habitat Extent of the habitat outside Habitat Photo characteristics within the Study Area Study Area Low Rocky Low Rocky Hills This habitat type was The Low Rocky Hills are Hills comprises spinifex confined to the north-west characteristic features of the hummock grasslands margins of the Study Area as greater Chichester subregion 1,403 ha occurring on hills with a transition into the and are therefore common major ironstone Chichester subregion. through this subregion and 1.70 % outcropping. Vegetation Extensive areas of this throughout the Pilbara bioregion. also included scattered habitat are largely located As a result, this habitat and other shrubs including Acacia outside of the Study Area. habitats which contain similar and Grevillea species features to fauna, are well and occasional represented outside the Study Eucalyptus leucophloia. Area and within the Western The substrate exists as Australian conservation estate. skeletal red soils with exposed bedrock. The primary feature of the habitat is the abundance of rocky, cracks and crevices Minor The vegetation of this The Minor Drainage Line The Minor Drainage Line habitat Drainage habitat comprised dense habitat represents the small is common throughout the Line stands of shrubs, often drainage channels within the Pilbara bioregion particularly Acacia sp. and Spinifex Stonyplain and at the within the Chichester and 1,249 ha Petalostylis sp. The base of the Low Rocky Hills. Hamersley subregions where it is understorey generally The habitat was almost associated with the stony 1.51 % comprised tussock entirely isolated to the north- habitats. As a drainage-type grasses including Buffell east section of the Study habitat it is well connected Grass. The substrate can Area. Often these smaller through the landscape be sandy in places but channels feed into Major generally consists of a Drainage Lines and Mulga skeletal loam gravel or Drainage Line where it stone. intersects the alluvial soils closer to the Fortescue
Marsh.
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Distinguishing habitat Occurrence of the habitat Extent of the habitat outside Habitat Photo characteristics within the Study Area Study Area Chenopod The Chenopod The Chenopod Shrublands The Chenopod Shrublands are Shrubland Shrublands were a very were the most restricted an uncommon habitat within the homogenous habitat, habitat in the Study Area Pilbara and restricted to the 428 ha often dominated by one confined to the west margins areas surrounding the Fortescue species of chenopod close to the Fortescue Marsh. Marsh given that it is the only 0.51 % shrub. Within the Study Their occurrence is attributed marsh-like feature in the region. Area, this habitat to the periodic flooding near Chenopod shrublands are a consisted of Tecticornia the Fortescue Marsh and feature of many arid zone land shrublands as well as slightly saline soils. scapes and often associated with other low chenopod interior palaeodrainage systems. shrub species (e.g. Atriplex). Such areas are often void of leaf litter and woody debris.
Page 32 780000 790000 800000 810000 820000 830000
!( 7510000
!( 7500000
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!( 7490000 7480000 7470000 !(
!( 7460000
Legend Study Area Fauna Habitats Mulga Drainage Line Roy Hill Tenements Chenopod Shrubland Mulga Spinifex Habitat Feature Cleared Area Mulga Woodland !( Cave Eucalypt Woodland Open Tussock Grassland !( Claypan Low Rocky Hills Spinifex Sandplain 7450000 !( Semi-permanent Waterbody Major Drainage Line Spinifex Stonyplain Minor Drainage Line
Roy Hill Holding Pty Ltd Vertebrate Fauna Survey Fig. 4.1: Fauna habitats and features within the Study Area 1:200,000 Coordinate System: GDA 1994 MGA Zone 50 0 2.75 5.5 11 Projection: Transverse Mercator ¯ km Datum: GDA 1994 Size A3. Created 28/08/2017 800000 810000 7520000 7510000 7500000
Legend Roy Hill Holding Pty Ltd Study Area Fauna Habitats Minor Drainage Line Vertebrate Fauna Survey Roy Hill Tenements Chenopod Shrubland Mulga Drainage Line Cleared Area Mulga Woodland Fig. 4.2: Fauna habitats within Eucalypt Woodland Open Tussock Grassland the Study Area - North 1:70,000 Low Rocky Hills Spinifex Stonyplain Coordinate System: GDA 1994 MGA Zone 50 Major Drainage Line 0 1 2 4 Projection: Transverse Mercator ¯ km Datum: GDA 1994 Size A3. Created 28/08/2017 810000 820000 7510000 7500000 7490000
Legend Roy Hill Holding Pty Ltd Study Area Major Drainage Line Roy Hill Tenements Minor Drainage Line Vertebrate Fauna Survey Fauna Habitats Mulga Drainage Line Fig. 4.3: Fauna habitats within Chenopod Shrubland Mulga Woodland the Study Area - East Cleared Area Open Tussock Grassland 1:70,000 Coordinate System: GDA 1994 MGA Zone 50 Eucalypt Woodland Spinifex Stonyplain 0 1 2 4 Projection: Transverse Mercator Low Rocky Hills ¯ km Datum: GDA 1994 Size A3. Created 28/08/2017 800000 810000 7500000 7490000 7480000 Legend Study Area Mulga Drainage Line Roy Hill Tenements Mulga Spinifex Fauna Habitats Mulga Woodland Chenopod Shrubland Open Tussock Grassland Cleared Area Spinifex Sandplain Eucalypt Woodland Spinifex Stonyplain Major Drainage Line
Roy Hill Holding Pty Ltd Vertebrate Fauna Survey Fig. 4.4: Fauna habitats within the Study Area - Central 1:70,000 Coordinate System: GDA 1994 MGA Zone 50 0 1 2 4 Projection: Transverse Mercator ¯ km Datum: GDA 1994 Size A3. Created 28/08/2017 790000 800000 7480000 7470000 7460000
Legend Roy Hill Holding Pty Ltd Vertebrate Fauna Survey Study Area Mulga Spinifex Fig. 4.5: Fauna habitats within Roy Hill Tenements Mulga Woodland the Study Area - South Fauna Habitats Open Tussock Grassland 1:70,000 Coordinate System: GDA 1994 MGA Zone 50 0 1 2 4 Projection: Transverse Mercator Eucalypt Woodland Spinifex Sandplain ¯ km Datum: GDA 1994 Size A3. Created 28/08/2017
Roy Hill Level 1 and Targeted Vertebrate Fauna Survey
4.2 Habitat Features 4.2.1 Caves
One cave was recorded within the Study Area, RH-CA-01 (Appendix D). The cave was recorded within the Low Rocky Hills habitats (Figure 4.1). It measured approximately 15 m in depth, 12 m in width and 2 m in height, with an entrance measuring 12 m in width by 4 m in height. A Ghost Bat (Macroderma gigas) midden consisting of approximately 300-400 scats (ranging in age from fresh to old), was recorded within the cave. A motion camera deployed within the cave also recorded an individual Ghost Bat visiting the cave on two nights, indicating regular visitation by the species. Due to the lack of similar features within the Study Area, RH-CA-01 should be considered an important feature. The species was also recorded, via scats from two small, shallow overhangs in the north of the Study Area. However, the lack of evidence (1-2 scats each) and structure of these features (unsuitable for roosting) suggests that any use would be opportunistic/ sporadic night visitation only. Similar features are located throughout this habitat type within and outside the Study Area.
These two overhangs were very shallow, had unsuitable roosting conditions, contained only 1-2 scats each and therefore are probably used sporadically while foraging in the area. Such overhangs are common through this habitat type within, and outside, of the Study Area and unlikely to be of significance to the species (see Section 4.5).
4.2.2 Water Pools
Water sources are a limiting factor (James et al., 1995) and important habitat feature within the Pilbara region, and more broadly within arid-zone ecosystems (Burbidge et al., 2010; Doughty et al., 2011a). While temporary water sources may be abundant during and following the wet season, important features are those which can provide a resource for ecosystems for the majority of the year. Generally areas containing semi-permanent water sources are comparatively more productive ecosystems due to the direct and indirect benefit to fauna and flora (Murray et al., 2003).
A total of six waterbodies were recorded within the Study Area, consisting of two semi-permanent pools and four claypans (Figure 4.1), in addition to numerous temporary pools recorded along the Fortescue River (Appendix D). One semi-permanent waterbody was recorded within the Study Area (RH-WB-01), within the Major Drainage Line habitat, as a series of large pools, one fringed by Typha and containing aquatic vegetation, suggesting a permanent feature. The second semi-permanent waterbody (RH-WB- 02) was recorded within an isolated patch of Eucalyptus sp. upon an alluvial plain supporting Mulga and represented a unique and isolated feature unique to the Fortescue Valley (EPA, 2013).
The remaining four claypans were recorded throughout the southern portion of the Study Area, usually within Mulga Woodland habitat. Most features recorded contained little to no water at the time of survey but showed signs that they regularly collect and pool surface water, and therefore can be regarded as important features within the broader landscape. Numerous large pools were also recorded along the Fortescue River, which intersects the central portion of the Study Area. Such pools were large in extent and their occurrence likely to prevail for long periods after flooding.
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4.3 Desktop Assessment 4.3.1 Vertebrate Fauna Assemblage
The literature review and database searches identified a total of 335 species of vertebrate fauna, which have previously been recorded and/ or have the potential to occur within the Study Area (Appendix E). This comprised 35 native mammals, eight non-native mammals, 184 birds, 99 reptiles and nine amphibians (Appendix E). Some of these species are unlikely to occur in the Study Area as the database searches were undertaken over a larger area than the Study Area itself.
Of the 335 species of vertebrate fauna identified from the desktop, 176 species have been previously recorded within the Study Area, based on the two Level 2 surveys and the single Level 1 survey that were conducted within the Study Area (ecologia Environment, 2008, 2009b; ENV Australia, 2009) and the Roy Hill database (Roy Hill Iron Ore, 2017).
4.3.2 Fauna of Conservation Significance
Of the 335 species of vertebrate fauna identified as being previously recorded and/ or having the potential to occur, 36 are considered to be of conservation significance, comprising eleven mammals, 22 birds and three reptiles (Table 4.2). Ten of these have previously been recorded within the Study Area comprising two mammals, six birds and two reptiles (Appendix E).
Due to the length of time since the previous survey work undertaken within the area, the conservation status of many species has changed, as summarised in Table 4.2.
Table 4.2 Species of conservation significance identified and their conservation status Previous Current Conservation Conservation
Status** Status
Species Scientific Name
WC Act WC Act WC
EPBC Act EPBC Act EPBC
Mammals Northern Quoll Dasyurus hallucatus EN S1 EN S2 Black-flanked Rock Wallaby Petrogale lateralis lateralis EN S1 EN S2 Greater Bilby Macrotis lagotis VU S1 VU S3 Northern Brushtail Possum Trichosurus vulpecula arnhemensis - - S3 Ghost Bat Macroderma gigas - P4 VU S3 Pilbara Leaf-Nosed Bat Rhinonicteris aurantia VU S1 VU S3 Spectacled Hare-wallaby Lagorchestes conspicillatus leichardti - P3 - P3 Brush-tailed Mulgara Dasycercus blythi - P4 - P4 Long-tailed Dunnart Sminthopsis longicaudata - P3 - P4 Short-tailed Mouse Leggadina lakedownensis - P4 - P4 Western Pebble-mound Mouse Pseudomys chapmani - P4 - P4 Birds
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Previous Current Conservation Conservation
Status** Status
Species Scientific Name
WC Act WC Act WC
EPBC Act EPBC Act EPBC
Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea MI - CR/MI S5 Night Parrot Pezoporus occidentalis EN S1 EN S1 Australian Painted Snipe Rostratula australis MI - EN S2 Princess Parrot Polytelis alexandrae VU S1 VU P4 Grey Falcon Falco hypoleucos - P4 - S3 Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus - S4 - S7 Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica MI - MI S5 Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia MI - MI S5 Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos MI - MI S5 Fork-tailed Swift Apus pacificus MI - MI S5 Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea - - MI S5 Caspian Tern Hydroprogne caspia MI - MI S5 Gull-billed Tern Gelochelidon nilotica MI - MI S5 Oriental Plover Charadrius veredus MI - MI S5 Pectoral Sandpiper Calidris melanotos MI - MI S5 Sharp-tailed Sandpiper Calidris acuminata MI - MI S5 Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola MI - MI S5 Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava - - MI S5 Osprey Pandion haliaetus MI - MI S5 Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis MI - S5 Great Egret Ardea modesta MI - S5 Rainbow Bee-eater Merops ornatus MI - S5 Reptiles Pilbara Olive Python Liasis olivaceus barroni VU S1 VU S3 - Anilios ganei - P1 - P1 - Ctenotus nigrilineatus - P1 - P1 ** as noted by APM (2010); ecologia Environment (2008, 2009a, 2009b); ENV Australia (2009)
The following species were also recorded, or assessed as possible to occur, during previous surveys of the Study Area. At the time of the previous surveys, the following species were considered to be of conservation significance but have since been delisted:
• Australian Bustard (Ardeotis australis) – Priority 4; • Bush Stone-curlew (Burhinus grallarius) – Priority 4; • Star Finch (Neochmia ruficauda) – Priority 4; • Woma (Aspidites ramsayi) – Priority 1.
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4.4 Recorded During this Survey During this survey, nine conservation species were recorded:
• Northern Quoll (Dasyurus hallucatus) – Schedule 2 (WC Act); Endangered (EPBC Act); • Greater Bilby (Macrotis lagotis) – Schedule 3 (WC Act); Vulnerable (EPBC Act); • Ghost Bat (Macroderma gigas) – Schedule 3 (WC Act); Vulnerable (EPBC Act); • Northern Brushtail Possum, potential only, see Section 4.5 (Trichosurus vulpecula subsp. arnhemensis) – Schedule 3 (WC Act); • Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) – Schedule 7 (WC Act); • Brush-tailed Mulgara (Dasycercus blythi) – Priority 4 (DBCA); • Western Pebble-mound Mouse (Pseudomys chapmani) – Priority 4 (DBCA); • Great Egret (Ardea modesta) – Schedule 5 (WC Act); and • Rainbow Bee-eater (Merops ornatus) – Schedule 5 (WC Act).
Details of conservation significant records are detailed in Appendix F and within their applicable discussion points within Section 4.5. All of these species bar one, the Northern Quoll (Dasyurus hallucatus) have been recorded within tenements currently held by Roy Hill.
4.5 Likelihood of Occurrence for Fauna of Conservation Significance Of the 36 species of conservation significance identified, 15 have been recorded within the Study Area based on the literature review, desktop assessment and/or this field survey. Based on habitats present within the Study Area and nearby records, it was assessed that five species of conservation significance may possibly occur, two species of conservation significance may rarely occur and seven species of conservation significance are unlikely to occur.
4.5.1 Confirmed within Study Area
Northern Quoll (Dasyurus hallucatus)
The Northern Quoll is listed as Endangered under the EPBC Act and Schedule 2 under the WC Act. Northern Quolls have experienced significant declines in eastern and northern Australia, mainly due to the western expansion of the Cane Toad (*Rhinella marina), which is highly toxic to predators (Woinarski et al., 2000). At present Northern Quolls are relatively common in the northern Pilbara region (generally within 150 km of the coast) but are much less common in southern and south-eastern parts of the region (Cramer et al., 2016).
The species has previously been recorded within the Study Area by DPaW in 2016 (Roy Hill Iron Ore, 2017). The record was of a scat from an isolated hill within the Low Rocky Hill habitat. This record was located <1,500 m from a scat found during this Survey. Both scat records were collected <1,200 m from the semi-permanent waterbody (RH-WB-01) located in the north of the Study Area. Northern Quolls are known to occur in rocky habitats associated with water sources (Oakwood, 2002), believed to be attributed to the higher productivity of such habitats. The species is known to occur within the region, having been recorded north, south, east and west of the Study Area (DBCA, 2017a). The Low Rocky Hills, which is the most suitable habitat in the Study Area for the species, is considered only a
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Roy Hill Level 1 and Targeted Vertebrate Fauna Survey moderately suitable habitat for the species. While the habitat is rocky relative to other habitats within the Study Area, it was noticed that these Low Rocky Hills possessed few deep cracks, crevices and few large boulder piles that are considered suitable for denning. The suitability of habitat, paucity of records and the lack of direct records (i.e. observations of individuals), suggests that the species is likely to occur in low numbers if permanent, or that the records to date have been made by individuals dispersing from nearby populations. However, due to the lack of targeted survey effort undertaken for the species in the Study Area, further survey work would be required to confirm this.
Greater Bilby (Macrotis lagotis)
The Greater Bilby is listed as Vulnerable under the EPBC Act and Schedule 2 under the WC Act. The Greater Bilby was formerly associated with a variety of inland habitats, including desert sandplains, dune fields with hummock grasslands, and massive red earths and Acacia shrublands (Woinarski et al., 2014), but populations underwent a sudden and widespread collapse in the early 1900s (van Dyck & Strahan, 2008). The species is now restricted to approximately 20% of its’ former range, with wild populations restricted predominantly to the Tanami Desert in the Northern Territory, the Great Sandy and Gibson Deserts and Pilbara region in Western Australia (Woinarski et al., 2014).
The species has recently (2017) been confirmed at Christmas Creek, ~15 km west of the Study Area (T. Edwards pers. comm.) and 15 km east of the Study Area by DBCA (2017c). Evidence of the species was recorded within the Study Area, from seven old burrow systems and four (probable) old diggings (Appendix F), no scats were recorded. Each of these records was from within the Spinifex Sandplain, specifically within a vegetation community on softer deeper sands. All the records were old and there was no indication of current occupation, despite extensive survey effort. Records were either recorded in long unburnt hummock grasslands or very recently burnt (<1 year) hummock grasslands, which were potentially too old and young to provide habitat (respectively) for the species. While not present at the time of survey, the presence of the species (albeit old evidence) confirms that the Spinifex Sandplains within the Study Area can provide suitable habitat for the species, with the correct temporal variables.
Ghost Bat (Macroderma gigas)
The Ghost Bat is listed as Vulnerable by DoEE and Schedule 3 by DBCA. The Ghost Bat formerly occurred over a wide area of central, northern and southern Australia but has declined significantly in the southern parts of its’ range in the last 200 years (Armstrong & Anstee, 2000). The species now occurs in only a few highly disjunct sites across northern Australia, confined to the Kimberley and Pilbara regions in Western Australia (van Dyck & Strahan, 2008). In the Pilbara region, the species roosts in deep, complex caves beneath bluffs of low rounded hills, often composed of Marra Mamba or banded iron formation, granite rock piles and abandoned mines (Armstrong & Anstee, 2000). They roost either individually or in colonies up to 1500 (Churchill, 2008) and move between a number of caves, both seasonally and as dictated by weather changes (van Dyck & Strahan, 2008).
Populations are potentially distinct at local and regional scales (Worthington-Wilmer et al., 1994). It is conceivable that low gene flow is occurring between the northern and southern Pilbara due to the partial
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Roy Hill Level 1 and Targeted Vertebrate Fauna Survey barrier of the Fortescue Marsh; although a Ghost Bat was captured (mist net) during surveys within the Fortescue Marsh (J. Turpin, pers. comm.) many kilometres from suitable roosting habitat suggesting the flat expanse of the Fortescue Marsh is not a total barrier.
The Ghost Bat was previously recorded acoustically by ecologia Environment (2009b) from within Mulga Woodlands and <1 km east of the Study Area in Low Rocky Hills (DBCA, 2017c). The species was recorded on eight occasions during this Survey, including directly via motion camera (n = 2), by call (n = 1), deceased individual on a barbed-wire pastoral fence (n = 1), and via scat from one cave and two small overhangs (n = 4). Additionally, the species was recorded via secondary evidence, i.e. via scats on three occasions. The motion camera records and one of the scat records were located at cave RH- CA-01. This cave provides suitable roosting conditions for the species and contains a large midden with 300-400 old-fresh scats. The deceased individual recorded on the barbed-wire fence was located <100 m from the entrance of this cave, although confirmed as a different individual to that recorded using the cave during the Survey (via motion camera) as the dead individual appeared to be dead for some days and was observed prior to the camera capture date.
Given the high amount of survey effort expended searching for caves in the Low Rocky Hills habitat, via walking, driving and flying of the drone, it is unlikely that many, if any, similar cave features exist within the Study Area. Although similar features may be present within such habitat outside the Study Area. The species is believed to forage on wooded plains (Tidemann et al., 1985) thus making much of the Study Area suitable foraging habitat. The cave recorded within the Study Area is potentially one of the closest roost sites to the Fortescue Marsh and therefore should be considered of significance to the species. The cave is highly likely to represent a diurnal roost for the species and may possibly represent a maternity roost. The species was also recorded via scat from two other small overhangs within the Study Area (Appendix F); however, only a small number of new scats (1-2) were recorded in each feature suggesting they provide a temporary nocturnal feeding site only, of which there are many in the surrounding habitat.
Figure 4.6: Ghost Bat’s recorded within Study Area, in cave (left), on barbed-wire fence (right)
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Pilbara Olive Python (Liasis olivaceus barroni)
The Pilbara Olive Python is listed as Vulnerable under the EPBC Act and Schedule 3 under the WC Act. It commonly occurs in the ranges, water courses and pools in rocky gorges and gullies of the Pilbara region (Pearson, 1993). This species is primarily nocturnal and tends to shelter in small caves or under vegetation during the day, although it is occasionally active after sunrise, particularly in the warmer summer months (Pearson, 2003).
The species was not recorded during this Survey; however, three records recorded by Roy Hill staff are located within the Study Area. A further two records are located <2 km from the margins of the Study Area; one to the north from Christmas Creek in 2011, and two to the east from 2013 (DBCA, 2017c). The Low Rocky Hills and Major Drainage Line provide suitable habitats for the species, particularly in the area surrounding the waterbody RY-WB-01.
Northern Brushtail Possum (Trichosurus vulpecula subsp. arnhemensis)
The Northern Brushtail Possum was listed as Schedule 3 (Vulnerable) under the WC Act in 2016. This subspecies occurs from the north-west Pilbara, through the Kimberley into the Northern Territory (van Dyck & Strahan, 2008). Little ecological information is known about the Pilbara population, although it is most often recorded from major drainage lines that contain large hollow-bearing Eucalypts (DBCA, 2017c). Within the Northern Territory, the species is omnivorous often feeding on flowers and insects (Cruz et al., 2012a; Cruz et al., 2012b).
Multiple scratching’s, possibly belonging to the species, were recorded during the Survey on the trunks of large hollow-bearing Eucalypts at RH-WB-02. The scratching’s were deemed as possible evidence of the species only, as no other evidence of the species could be located. The scratching’s were characteristic of the species, being laterally positioned from one-another, of suitable size, with extended lateral thumb and with relatively deep clinch marks.
The nearest DBCA (2017a) record of the species is located approximately 60 km west of the Study Area, north of the Cloudbreak mine site. The species is infrequently recorded within the Pilbara, with less than 20 records existing on NatureMap (DBCA, 2017a). The isolated Eucalypt Woodland surrounding RH-WB-02 and instances of the Major Drainage Line habitat, such as the Fortescue River, both contain a high density of suitable denning hollows and provide potential habitat for the species.
Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus)
The Peregrine Falcon is listed under the WC Act as Schedule 7 “other specially protected fauna” and is considered rare over much of its range (Johnstone & Storr, 1998). In arid areas, it is most often encountered along cliffs above rivers, ranges and wooded watercourses where it hunts birds (Johnstone & Storr, 1998). It typically nests on rocky ledges occurring on tall, vertical cliff faces between 25 m and 50 m high (Olsen & Olsen 1989). It also appears to prefer nesting on large ledges a reasonable distance (average of 13 m) from the top of the cliff (Olsen & Olsen, 1989), possibly to avoid ground dwelling predators.
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An individual Peregrine Falcon was recorded at a bore during the Survey. The species was also recorded hunting waterbirds along a creekline tributary of Kulkinbah Creek by ecologia Environment (2009b), in ‘rocky areas’ by ecologia Environment (2008) and in the east of the Study Area by DBCA (2017c) in 2013. An additional six records are scattered within 30 km of the Study Area (DBCA, 2017c). Potential nesting habitat may be present within the Low Rocky Hills and along the Major Drainage Line habitat, either within the Study Area or nearby. The Major Drainage Line habitat within the Study Area is likely to provide suitable foraging habitat for the species, although the species may occur throughout the majority of the Study Area.
Anilios ganei
Anilios ganei is a blind-snake (DBCA Priority 1) endemic to the Pilbara region (Wilson & Swan, 2014). Given its cryptic fossorial habit, there are few records of the species. Little is known of the species’ ecology but, like most other blind-snakes, it is insectivorous, feeding on termites and their eggs, and larvae and pupae of ants (Wilson & Swan, 2014). This species is often associated with moist soils and leaf litter within gorges and gullies (Doughty et al., 2011b), and potentially within a wide range of other stony habitats.
The species has previously been recorded within the Study Area within the Low Rocky Hills habitat (DBCA, 2017a). The species has been recorded from numerous habitats within the region but is most likely to be present in Low Rocky Hills and along Major Drainage Lines. The species was recorded by APM in 2009 (Roy Hill Iron Ore, 2017), 25 km west of the Study Area in what appears to be drainage line habitat.
Spectacled Hare-wallaby (Lagorchestes conspicillatus leichardti)
The Spectacled Hare-wallaby is currently listed as Priority 3 by DBCA. The Spectacled Hare-wallaby is sparsely distributed and generally uncommon across northern Australia, occurring from northern Queensland to the Pilbara, where the species is considered relatively rare (van Dyck & Strahan, 2008). The species shelters within grass tussocks and spinifex hummocks and low shrubs (Ingleby & Westoby, 1992).
The species was not recorded during this Survey; however, scats of the species were recorded by APM (2010) from tall long unburnt spinifex in the southern section of the Study Area within the Spinifex Sandplain habitat. The scats were collected and subsequently identified by the Western Australian Museum (APM, 2010). The species is patchily distributed throughout the Pilbara region and is likely to occur within Spinifex Sandplain habitat within the Study Area.
Brush-tailed Mulgara (Dasycercus blythi)
The Brush-tailed Mulgara is listed as Priority 4 by DBCA. This species is closely associated with Spinifex Sandplain, distributed from south-western Queensland across the Simpson, Tanami, and Great Sandy Deserts of southern and central Northern Territory and central Western Australia, including parts of the Pilbara (Pavey et al., 2012).
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The species was recorded during this Survey on one occasion (Appendix F; by scat and burrow) and has been recorded immediately west of the Study Area boundary (4.5 km) in Spinifex Sandplain habitat (DBCA, 2017c). The species has also been recorded ~50km west of the Study Area at Yandi in 2014 (DBCA, 2017a). The species is moderately common in suitable habitat and is likely to occur throughout the Spinifex Sandplain habitat in the Study Area.
Lakeland Downs Mouse (Leggadina lakedownensis)
The Lakeland Downs Mouse is listed as Priority 4 by DBCA. Populations of this small, elusive rodent are distributed across northern Australia, but records are sporadic (van Dyck & Strahan, 2008). The species occupies a diverse range of habitats from the monsoon tropical coast to semiarid climates, including spinifex and tussock grasslands, samphire and sedgelands, Acacia shrublands, tropical eucalypt and Melaleuca woodlands and stony ranges; however, in the Pilbara, the species is usually found in seasonally inundated habitats on red or white sandy-clay soils (Moro & Morris, 2000).
The species was not recorded during this Survey but has previously been recorded in the central- eastern margins of the Study Area in 2004 and areas ~4.5 km outside the Study Area to the east, and to the west near Christmas Creek (DBCA, 2017c). The species is relatively common in suitable habitat and is likely to occur in the Open Tussock Grasslands and Mulga Woodlands.
Western Pebble-mound Mouse (Pseudomys chapmani)
The Western Pebble-mound Mouse is currently listed as Priority 4 by DBCA. This species has experienced a significant decline in its range through the Gascoyne and Murchison, and is now considered endemic to the Pilbara (van Dyck & Strahan, 2008). This species almost exclusively occurs on the gentler slopes of rocky ranges where the ground is covered with a stony mantle and vegetated by hard spinifex, often with a sparse overstorey of eucalypts and scattered shrubs (van Dyck & Strahan, 2008).
One active and one inactive mound was recorded during the Survey (Appendix F). Two inactive mounds were recorded in the Study Area by ecologia Environment (2009b) and a number of inactive and active mounds were recorded by ecologia Environment (2008). It is likely that the Western Pebble-mound Mouse occurs throughout the Low Rocky Hills and Spinifex Stonyplain habitats located within the Study Area.
Grey Falcon (Falco hypoleucos)
The Grey Falcon is classified as Schedule 3 under the WC Act. This species appears to have a distribution centred on ephemeral or permanent creek lines (Garnett & Crowley, 2000), with numerous records from the Fortescue Marsh region (DBCA, 2017c). Grey Falcons prefer sparsely-treed, open plains and creek lines for hunting (Olsen & Olsen, 1986). They typically nest in the abandoned nest of a raptor or corvid (Olsen & Olsen, 1986) in trees or man-made structures, most notably repeater towers.
The species was recorded within the northern section of the Study Area by ecologia Environment (2009b) and was previously recorded within the eastern section of the Study Area in 2001 (DBCA,
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Roy Hill Level 1 and Targeted Vertebrate Fauna Survey
2017c). Additionally, there are three records of the species <20 km from the Study Area within the last 20 years (DBCA, 2017c). The species may nest within the major drainage systems that intersect the Study Area and may also forage through most of the surrounding habitats, if present.
Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis)
The Cattle Egret is listed as Schedule 5 (Migratory) under the WC Act. The Cattle Egret is a partial migrant occurring in the better-watered areas of Australia. In Western Australia, Cattle Egrets are casual visitors to the Kimberley and occasionally to the south-west corner, principally in autumn (Johnstone et al., 2013). Cattle Egrets occur typically in small flocks in grassy habitats and wetlands, particularly damp pastures, and are usually found in the company of cattle or other livestock (Johnstone & Storr, 1998). Cattle Egrets breed in colonies, usually with other waterbirds. Their nests, rough, loose platforms of sticks, can be found in trees and bushes in wetland areas (Johnstone & Storr, 1998).
The Cattle Egret has previously been recorded from the Study Area along the Fortescue River in 1999 (Birdlife Australia, 2017). The species is an uncommon visitor to the Pilbara, although may infrequently occur within the major drainage line that intersects the Study Area.
Great Egret (Ardea modesta)
The Great Egret is listed as Schedule 5 (Migratory) under the WC Act. The Great Egret is often associated with inland rivers and lakes that contain surface water (Johnstone & Storr, 1998). The species is highly mobile and can be found throughout most of the Pilbara region (Johnstone et al., 2013). One individual of the species was recorded in the Study Area during the Survey, along the Fortescue River (Appendix F). The species has previously been recorded within the Study Area on two occasions, once in 2002 and once in 2007 (Johnstone et al., 2013), both along the Fortescue River. The large Eucalypts along the Fortescue River provide suitable nesting and foraging habitat for the species.
Rainbow Bee-eater (Merops ornatus)
The Rainbow Bee-eater is listed as Schedule 5 (Migratory) under the WC Act. This species has broad habitat preferences and lives almost anywhere suitable for hawking insects (Boland, 2004). The demographics of the species are complex, with populations in WA being resident, breeding visitors, post-nuptial nomads, passage migrants and winter visitors (Johnstone & Storr, 1998). Many individuals move northwards to overwinter in Indonesia but most individuals that are recorded within the Pilbara region are believed to be resident (Johnstone et al., 2013).
Three individuals were recorded during the Survey (Appendix F) and the species has been previously recorded several times throughout the Study Area, including by ecologia Environment (2008, 2009b) and DBCA (2017c). The species is likely to be found throughout the Study Area, particularly in the Major Drainage Line habitat which often contains soft sandy substrate, which the species uses for its burrowing nests.
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Roy Hill Level 1 and Targeted Vertebrate Fauna Survey
4.5.2 May Possibly Occur
Night Parrot (Pezoporus occidentalis)
The Night Parrot is listed as Endangered under the EPBC Act and Schedule 1 (Critically Endangered) under the WC Act. The Night Parrot is one of Australia’s rarest birds, with very few confirmed sightings in recent years (Pyke & Ehrlich, 2014). Night Parrots reportedly occur in spinifex grasslands in stony or sandy areas on floodplains or near creeks, shrubby samphire and chenopod vegetation on claypans or at the edges of salt lakes, and in dense, low vegetation around watercourses (Murphy et al.; Night Parrot Recovery Team, 2017; Pyke & Ehrlich, 2014). There are only two contemporary records of the species within Western Australia, one located approximately 65 km west of the Study Area at Minga Qwirriawirie Well, south of the Cloudbreak mine site (Davis & Metcalf, 2008) and the other from an unnamed location in early 2017 (Night Parrot Recovery Team, 2017).
Seven acoustic recorders were deployed in the Study Area within long unburnt Triodia longiceps hummock grasslands. Despite the species not being recorded, it is possible that the species may still occur due to the inability for acoustic recorders to completely survey the expansive amount of suitable habitat. SM2 recorders were placed in long unburnt Triodia longiceps hummock grasslands associated with a palaeo-drainage system or healthy stands of samphire, similar to habitats where the species was recorded in Queensland (Night Parrot Recovery Team, 2017) and as recommended by (DPaW, 2017b). Such areas within the Study Area are of particular interest due to their location with respect to suitable foraging areas on and surrounding the Fortescue Marsh and the previous record located ~65 km to the west.
Pilbara Leaf-nosed Bat (Rhinonicteris aurantia)
The Pilbara Leaf-nosed Bat is listed as Vulnerable under the EPBC Act and Schedule 2 under the WC Act. The species is restricted to the Pilbara region and is thought to have been separated from populations of the Orange Leaf-nosed Bat in the Kimberley, Northern Territory and western Queensland for at least 30,000 years (Churchill, 1991). The species is heavily reliant on warm (28-32°C), humid (85 to 100%) sites for roosting (Armstrong, 2001), which enable individuals to reduce water loss and energy expenditure (Baudinette et al., 2000). The distribution of the species is therefore limited by the scarcity of caves that possess the required microclimates (Armstrong, 2001; Churchill, 1991).
The nearest record of the species is located approximately 17 km south of the Study Area at Kalgan River in the Hamersley ranges. The average nightly flight distance is believed to be approximately 20 km per night (Bullen & McKenzie, 2011), and therefore it is possible that the species may forage in the Study Area. No roosting locations have been recorded within the Study Area and none are likely to occur. The Study Area may provide foraging habitat for the species on an irregular basis.
Long-tailed Dunnart (Sminthopsis longicauda)
The Long-tailed Dunnart (DBCA Priority 4) is a nocturnal and agile species that is distributed through the Pilbara, north eastern goldfields and Gibson desert, south to the Nullarbor Plain, to central Northern Territory and western South Australia (McKenzie et al., 2008). Its core habitat includes rocky scree
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Roy Hill Level 1 and Targeted Vertebrate Fauna Survey slopes with hummock grass and shrubs, and tall open Acacia shrubland and woodlands (McKenzie et al., 2008), which are well represented within the Study Area.
The Long-tailed Dunnart has been recorded twice within 40 km east and north of the Study Area (DBCA, 2017c). Owing to the occurrence of suitable habitats on Low Rocky Hills in the north-west margins of the Study Area, it is regarded as possible that the species occurs within the Study Area.
Fork-tailed Swift (Apus pacificus)
This species is listed as Migratory under the EPBC Act and Schedule 5 under the WC Act. The species breeds in north-east and east Asia and winters in Australia and southern New Guinea (Johnstone & Storr, 1998). This species is entirely aerial within the Pilbara and does not utilise the terrestrial surface. The nearest record is located ~2 km east of the Study Area from 2013 (DBCA, 2017c). This species is expected to utilise the skies above the Study Area sporadically in the summer months, being attracted to thunderstorms and cyclonic systems (Johnstone & Storr, 1998). Due to the sporadic nature of its occurrence (as a visitor or temporary resident), it is considered that this species may possibly occur.
Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)
The Osprey is listed as Migratory under the EPBC Act and WC Act (as Schedule 5). The Osprey is a large (50-60 cm), highly visible and water-dependent bird of prey with a world-wide distribution (Johnstone & Storr, 1998). It occurs around most of the Australian coastline, inhabiting coastal areas and favouring mangroves, rivers and estuaries, inshore seas as well as coastal islands (Johnstone & Storr, 1998).
The nearest record to the Study Area is located approximately 45 km west of the Study Area from 2011. The Major Drainage Line habitat, particularly the Fortescue Marsh, provides potential nesting and foraging habitat for the species.
4.5.3 May Rarely Occur
Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)
The Barn Swallow is a globally widespread species which includes a number of populations that are migratory over long distances, therefore it is listed as Migratory under the EPBC Act. The species builds cup nests in shallow caves and overhangs, and also makes use of human structures (Johnstone & Storr, 2004). In Western Australia, the species is regarded as an uncommon visitor (Johnstone & Storr, 2004).
Given the widespread nature of this species and its generalist habitat requirements, this species could occur within the Study Area; however, as there are no previous records in the local area it would appear less likely.
Migratory Waterbirds/ Waders
The faunal databases indicated that the wider local area of the Study Area may contain suitable habitat for, or records of, eight species of waterbirds/ waders, as follows:
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Roy Hill Level 1 and Targeted Vertebrate Fauna Survey
• Curlew Sandpiper; • Common Greenshank; • Common Sandpiper; • Gull-billed Tern; • Caspian Tern; • Pectoral Sandpiper; • Sharp-tailed Sandpiper; • Wood Sandpiper.
Each of these species inhabits fresh to brackish wetland habitats. Many of these species have been recorded within the vicinity of the Study Area (i.e. within the search area of databases searched) or may occur due to the presence of suitable habitat in the Study Area or surrounds. Potential habitat for these species within the Study Area would be limited to ephemeral pools within major drainage habitats or partially filled claypans after major flows. As such, these species would only be expected to occur within the Study Area on rare occasions (i.e. for short periods of time following heavy rainfall, if at all). The Study Area is within the migratory range for all these species, so it is considered that these species may Possibly or Rarely occur in the Study Area, with their likelihood of occurrence adjusted based on the occurrence of nearby recent records.
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Roy Hill Desktop Review of Vertebrate Fauna and Habitats
Table 4.3 Conservation significant species likelihood assessment Conservation Status Recorded Recorded in
Within Current Distance to Habitat Within Previously Study Area Likelihood of
Species Preferred Broad Habitats Known Nearest Record - Study Area? Within During this Occurrence Distribution? Year
Act Study Area Survey
EPBC WC Act WC
Mammals
Northern Quoll EN S2 Gorge/gully, hill crest/hill slope, low hills with breakaways Confirmed Yes - Yes Yes Confirmed
Black-flanked Rock Wallaby EN S2 Gorge/gully, hill crest/hill slope, low hills (caves) Likely No 25 km (S) - 1970 No No Unlikely
Greater Bilby VU S3 Sand plains Confirmed Yes 35 km (W) - 2017 No Yes (old only) Confirmed (old only)
Northern Brushtail Possum S3 Major drainage lines with large Eucalypts Likely Yes 60 km (W) - no date No Yes (likely record) Confirmed (likely record)
Ghost Bat VU S3 Gorge/gully, hill crest/hill slope, low hills (caves) Confirmed Yes - Yes Yes Confirmed
Pilbara Leaf-Nosed Bat VU S3 Gorge/gully, hill crest/hill slope, low hills (caves) Possible Yes 17 km (S) – 2013 No No Possible
Spectacled Hare-wallaby P3 Long unburnt spinifex of sandy/stony plains Confirmed Yes - Yes No Confirmed
Brush-tailed Mulgara P4 Hummock grasslands of sandy plains Confirmed Yes 4.5 km (W) - 2009 No Yes Confirmed
Long-tailed Dunnart P4 Gorge/gully, hill crest/hill slope, low hills Likely Yes 40 km (E) - 2004 No No Possible
Short-tailed Mouse P4 Cracking clays and low lying alluvial plains Confirmed Yes - Yes No Confirmed
Western Pebble-mound Mouse P4 Stony plains, hill crest/hill slope Confirmed Yes - Yes Yes Confirmed
Birds
Curlew Sandpiper CR/MI S5 Exposed tidal mudflats or inland freshwater wetlands Possible Yes 40 km (SW) - 2005 No No Rarely
Night Parrot EN S1 Sandy/stony plains Possible Yes 65 km (W) - 2005 No No Possible
Australian Painted Snipe EN S2 Major drainage (waterbodies) Unlikely Yes 15 km (W) - 2012 No No Unlikely
Princess Parrot VU P4 Low eucalypt woodlands, especially Marble Gum Unlikely No 3 km (W) - 2012 No No Unlikely
Grey Falcon S3 Drainage area, Major drainage Confirmed Yes - Yes Yes Confirmed
Peregrine Falcon S7 Gorge/gully, Hill crest/hill slope, Low hills Confirmed Yes - Yes Yes Confirmed
Barn Swallow MI S5 Migratory terrestrial Likely Yes >300 km (N) No No Rarely
Common Greenshank MI S5 Exposed tidal mudflats or inland freshwater wetlands Likely Yes 15 km (W) - 2016 No No Rarely
Common Sandpiper MI S5 Exposed tidal mudflats or inland freshwater wetlands Likely Yes 40 km (S) - 2006 No No Rarely
Fork-tailed Swift MI S5 Migratory terrestrial Likely Yes 2 km (E) - 2013 No No Possible
Grey Wagtail MI S5 Migratory terrestrial Likely Yes >500 km (N) No No Unlikely >200 km (W) - Caspian Tern MI S5 Inland watercourses, saline and brackish lakes Likely Yes No No Rarely 2003 Gull-billed Tern MI S5 Inland watercourses, saline and brackish lakes Likely Yes 65 km (N) - 2014 No No Rarely
Oriental Plover MI S5 Migratory wetlands (Major drainage: waterbodies) Likely Yes >200 km (N) - 2005 No No Unlikely
Pectoral Sandpiper MI S5 Exposed tidal mudflats or inland freshwater wetlands Likely Yes 40 km (S) - 1981 No No Rarely
Sharp-tailed Sandpiper MI S5 Migratory wetlands (Major drainage: waterbodies) Likely Yes 65 km (N) - 2010 No No Rarely
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Roy Hill Desktop Review of Vertebrate Fauna and Habitats
Conservation Status Recorded Recorded in
Within Current Distance to Habitat Within Previously Study Area Likelihood of
Species Preferred Broad Habitats Known Nearest Record - Study Area? Within During this Occurrence Distribution? Year
Act Study Area Survey
EPBC WC Act WC
Wood Sandpiper MI S5 Migratory wetlands (Major drainage: waterbodies) Likely Yes 8 km (W) - 2009 No No Rarely
Yellow Wagtail MI S5 Migratory terrestrial Likely Yes >200 km (N) - 1982 No No Unlikely
Osprey MI S5 Wetlands (Major drainage: waterbodies) Likely Yes 100 km (W) - 2011 No No Possible
Cattle Egret S5 Migratory wetlands (Major drainage: waterbodies) Confirmed Yes - Yes No Confirmed
Great Egret S5 Migratory wetlands (Major drainage: waterbodies) Confirmed Yes - Yes Yes Confirmed
Rainbow Bee-eater S5 Sandy/stony plains, Drainage area Confirmed Yes - Yes Yes Confirmed
Reptiles
Pilbara Olive Python VU S3 Rocky ridges and major drainage lines (waterbodies) Confirmed Yes - Yes No Confirmed
Anilios ganei P1 Variety habitats, preferably moist areas Confirmed Yes 25 km (W) - 2009 Yes No Confirmed
Ctenotus nigrilineatus P1 Sandy substrate often ear granite outcrops Unlikely Yes 55 km (N) - 2006 No No Unlikely
Page 52 *# 760000 770000 780000 790000 800000 810000 820000 830000 840000 7530000 *# *# (! (!(! (! (!
(! (! (! 7520000 (! (! )")" *# *# )" *# (! (!*# # (!*# )")" (!* (!*# )")" *# *# *# *# *# *# *# *# *# 7510000 (! )" (! (! (!(! (!*# *#(! *# (! )" (!(! (!*# *#*# *# (!
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7490000 )" (!*# *# *# )")")")")" )" *#*# *#*#*#*#*#*# *# *#*#*#*#*# *# *#*#*#*#*#*#*# 7480000
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Legend Study Area DBCA Records Roy Hill Tenements (! Brush-tailed Mulgara
7460000 Fauna Habitats (! Ghost Bat Chenopod Shrubland (! Lakeland Downs Mouse (!(!(! (!(! (! Cleared Area (! Northern Quoll Eucalypt Woodland (! Pilbara Olive Python Low Rocky Hills (! Pilbara leaf-nosed Bat Major Drainage Line (! Western Pebble-mound Mouse 7450000 Minor Drainage Line Roy Hill & 3rd Party Records Mulga Drainage Line *# Anilios ganei Mulga Spinifex *# Brush-tailed Mulgara Mulga Woodland *# Ghost Bat Open (!Tussock Grassland *# Greater Bilby
7440000 (! Spinifex Sandplain *# Northern Quoll Spinifex Stonyplain *# Pilbara Olive Python Survey Records *# Spectacled Hare-wallaby )" Brush-tailed mulgara *# Western Pebble-mound Mouse )" Ghost Bat )" 7430000 Greater Bilby )" Northern Brushtail Possum )" Northern Quoll )" Western Pebble-mound Mouse
Roy Hill Holding Pty Ltd Vertebrate Fauna Survey Fig. 4.7: Mammal and reptiles of conservation significance records 1:300,000 Coordinate System: GDA 1994 MGA Zone 50 0 4.25 8.5 17 Projection: Transverse Mercator ¯ km Datum: GDA 1994 Size A3. Created 28/08/2017 *# 780000 790000 800000 810000 820000 830000 *#!(!( !(
# *# !( * **##!!(()" !( !( *# !( *# *# !( *# **## *# !( *#
7510000 *# GF!( !( GGFGFF!!!((( !( *# *# GF!( !( GF !( *#(! !( *#***### GF!( GGFF!!((G(F! GF!( !(GGGFFFFG(((!!! !( GF!( !( *# GF GF!(**## *#
*# G!F( (! GF!( 7500000 FG(! *# *#G!F(*# )" G!F(
GF!( *#GF(! *# GGFF!!(( GF 7490000
GF!( 7480000
Legend Study Area DBCA Records Roy Hill Tenements (! Cattle Egret Fauna Habitats (! Common Greenshank Chenopod Shrubland (! Fork-tailed Swift
)" Cleared Area (! Great Egret Eucalypt Woodland (! Grey Falcon
7470000 Low Rocky Hills (! Peregrine Falcon Major Drainage Line (! Princess Parrot Minor Drainage Line (! Rainbow Bee-eater Mulga Drainage Line (! Wood Sandpiper Mulga Spinifex Birdlife Australia Records FG Caspian Tern Mulga Woodland (! Open Tussock Grassland FG Cattle Egret
!( Spinifex Sandplain FG Great Egret
7460000 Spinifex Stonyplain FG Grey Falcon (! Survey Records FG Peregrine Falcon !!(((!(! )" Great Egret FG Rainbow Bee-eater )" Peregrine Falcon FG White-bellied Sea-Eagle )" Rainbow Bee-eater FG Wood Sandpiper Roy Hill & 3rd Party Records *# Great Egret *# Peregrine Falcon
7450000 *# Rainbow Bee-eater *# White-bellied Sea-Eagle
!!!!(((( Roy Hill Holding Pty Ltd Vertebrate Fauna Survey Fig. 4.8: Birds of conservation significance records 1:200,000 Coordinate System: GDA 1994 MGA Zone 50 0 2.75 5.5 11 Projection: Transverse Mercator ¯ km Datum: GDA 1994 Size A3. Created 28/08/2017 Roy Hill Level 1 and Targeted Vertebrate Fauna Survey
5 CONCLUSION A total of five field surveys have been undertaken previously within the Study Area, comprising two Level 1, two Level 2 and one targeted survey. These surveys, together with the regional surveys and databases searches, identified 335 species of vertebrate fauna that have the potential to occur within the Study Area. This comprises 35 native mammals, eight non-native mammals, 184 birds, 99 reptiles and nine amphibians. Of the 335 species of vertebrate fauna identified as being previously recorded and/ or having the potential to occur, 36 are considered to be of conservation significance, comprising eleven mammals, 22 birds and three reptiles.
An eight-day survey was completed over the Study Area in August 2017 to detail and map the habitats present and identify the occurrence of conservation significant fauna species. A total of 11 broad fauna habitat types were recorded and mapped across the Study Area. Comprising, in decreasing order of extent, Mulga Woodland, Open Tussock Grassland, Spinifex Stonyplain Spinifex Sandplain, Eucalypt Woodland, Mulga Drainage Line, Major Drainage Line, Mulga Spinifex, Low Rocky Hills, Minor Drainage Line, and Chenopod Shrublands. An additional area was also mapped as Cleared Area, which comprised those areas completely devoid of all native vegetation. One of the habitats recorded, Spinifex Sandplain, was considered to have a high significance due to the occurrence of fauna of conservation significance. Two habitats, Low Rocky Hills and Major Drainage Line, were considered to have a moderate significance given that fauna of conservation significance were recorded in instances of this habitat and it may support small and sparse populations of such species. The remaining nine habitats were deemed to have a low significance. The condition of habitats within the Study Area ranged from completely degraded to pristine. Areas considered completely degraded comprised only Cleared Areas. The largest impacting factor to fauna habitats within the Study Area was Cattle (Bos taurus).
One cave, which is likely to represent at least a diurnal roost for the Ghost Bat and possibly a maternity roost, was recorded within the Study Area. This feature is unique within the Study Area and should be considered a significant feature. Two semi-permanent pools were recorded in the Study Area. One recorded within the Major Drainage Line habitat contained aquatic vegetation, suggesting a potentially permanent feature. The second semi-permanent waterbody was recorded within an isolated patch of Eucalyptus sp. upon an alluvial plain supporting Mulga. The waterbody showed high levels of grazing pressure but supported a unique and isolated feature within the landscape. Each of these features is likely to support conservation significance species occurring within the Study Area, as well as a diverse array of species and should be considered a significant feature of the Study Area.
A total of 36 fauna species of conservation significance were identified from the literature review and database searches, as having previously been recorded and/ or have the potential to occur based on distribution. This comprised 11 mammals, 22 birds and three reptiles. Of the 36 species of conservation significance identified, 15 have been recorded within the Study Area based on the literature review, database searches and/or this field survey. All of these species bar one, the Northern Quoll (Dasyurus hallucatus) have been recorded within tenements currently held by Roy Hill. Based on habitats present within the Study Area and nearby records, it was assessed that five species of conservation significance may possibly occur, two species of conservation significance may rarely occur and seven species of
Page 55 Roy Hill Level 1 and Targeted Vertebrate Fauna Survey conservation significance are unlikely to occur. Species confirmed and possible to occur within the Study Area were:
Confirmed
• Northern Quoll (Dasyurus hallucatus) – EPBC Act, Endangered; WC Act, Schedule 2; • Greater Bilby (Macrotis lagotis) – EPBC Act, Vulnerable; WC Act, Schedule 3; • Ghost Bat (Macroderma gigas) – EPBC Act, Vulnerable; WC Act, Schedule 3; • Pilbara Olive Python (Liasis olivaceus barroni) – EPBC Act, Vulnerable; WC Act, Schedule 3. • Northern Brushtail Possum (Trichosurus vulpecula subsp. arnhemensis) – WC Act, Schedule 3; - possible record from tree scratching; • Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) – WC Act, Schedule 7; • Anilios ganei – DBCA, Priority 1; • Spectacled Hare-wallaby (Lagorchestes conspicillatus leichardti) – DBCA, Priority 3; • Brush-tailed Mulgara (Dasycercus blythi) – DBCA, Priority 4; • Short-tailed Mouse (Leggadina lakedownensis) – DBCA, Priority 4; • Western Pebble-mound Mouse (Pseudomys chapmani) – DBCA, Priority 4; • Grey Falcon (Falco hypoleucos) – WC Act, Schedule 3; • Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis) – WC Act, Schedule 5; • Great Egret (Ardea modesta) – WC Act, Schedule 5; and • Rainbow Bee-eater (Merops ornatus) – WC Act, Schedule 5.
Possible
• Night Parrot (Pezoporus occidentalis) – EPBC Act, Endangered; WC Act, Schedule 1; • Pilbara Leaf-nosed Bat (Rhinonicteris aurantia) – EPBC Act, Vulnerable; WC Act, Schedule 3; • Long-tailed Dunnart (Sminthopsis longicaudata) – DBCA, Priority 4; • Fork-tailed Swift (Apus pacificus) – EPBC Act, Migratory; WC Act, Schedule 5; and • Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) – EPBC Act, Migratory; WC Act, Schedule 5.
Of the species of conservation significance recorded within the Study Area, four are considered Matters of National Environmental Significance (MNES), an additional two MNES were considered possible to occur:
• The Northern Quoll, has been recorded on three occasions, two in 2016 by the Department of Parks and Wildlife and on one occasion (via fresh scat) during this survey. The species is likely to occur in low densities within the northern section of the Study Area, away from current mining disturbance. • The Greater Bilby was confirmed as having previously occurred within the Study Area due to presence of old diggings and burrows. However, there was no evidence during this survey to suggest that a population continues to persist. Given the lack of mining-related development near the Greater Bilby records, it is likely that the absence of the species is due to other
Page 56 Roy Hill Level 1 and Targeted Vertebrate Fauna Survey
pressures, such as changes to fire regimes and the presence of introduced predators, which are known factors influencing the occurrence of the species. • The Ghost Bat has been confirmed within the Study Area during previous surveys and was recorded within the Study Area on eight occasions during this survey. One cave feature containing extensive evidence of Ghost Bat presence was recorded in the Study Area and is likely to support a colony of the species due to the high-quality foraging habitat within the Study Area. • The Pilbara Olive Python, although not recorded during this Survey, has previously been recorded in the Study Area by Roy Hill staff and it is likely that a population persists within the Low Rocky Hills and Major Drainage Line habitats in the northern section of the Study Area. • The Night Parrot was identified as possibly occurring within the Study Area. Based on the habitat data collected from known populations, the Study Area contains suitable habitat for the species. Additionally, a relatively recent record (2008) from the Fortescue Marsh (65 km west) indicates that a population is likely to occur somewhere within or surrounding the Fortescue Marsh, which intersects the Study Area. • The Pilbara Leaf-nosed Bat was not recorded in the Study Area during this survey or during previous surveys of the Study Area. No caves suitable for roosting of the species were recorded and it is unlikely that a roost occurs within the Study Area. The species has however been recorded <20 km south of the Study Area and it is possible that the species may forage within habitats of the Study Area on an irregular basis.
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6 REFERENCES APM, Animal Plant Mineral. (2010). Fauna Habitat Survey of the Proposed Bore-fields Pipeline Route from Adjacent Roy Hill Station to Eaton Bore. Unpublished report prepared for Roy Hill Iron Ore Pty Ltd. Armstrong, K. N. (2001). The distribution and roost habitat of the orange leaf-nosed bat, Rhinonicteris aurantius, in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. Wildlife Research, 28(1), 95-104. doi:https://doi.org/10.1071/WR00011 Armstrong, K. N., & Anstee, S. D. (2000). The Ghost Bat in the Pilbara: 100 years on. Australian Mammalogy, 22, 93-101. Bamford Consulting Ecologists. (2012). Fauna Assessment, Nyidinghu Iron Ore Project. Unpublished report prepared for Fortescue Metals Group. Bastin, G. (2008). Rangelands 2008 - Taking the Pulse. Canberra, Australian Capital Territory: Baudinette, R. V., Churchill, S. K., Christian, K. A., Nelson, J. E., & Hudson, P. J. (2000). Energy, water balance and the roost microenvironment in three Australian cave-dwelling bats (Microchiroptera). Journal of Comparative Physiology B-Biochemical Systemic and Environmental Physiology, 170(5-6), 439-446. doi:10.1007/s003600000121 Beard, J. S. (1975). The Vegetation Survey of Western Australia. Vegetatio, 30(3), 179-187. Bell, D. T., Agar, P. K., Luyer, J. R., & Robertson, H. M. (2014). Winter bird assemblages of the Fortescue Marshes and surrounding vegetation, Pilbara Region, Western Australia. Amytornis, 6, 1–18. Biota, Environmental Sciences. (2006). Desktop Assessment of the Probable Environmental Values of the Mesa A Southern Transport Corridor. Unpublished report prepared for Pilbara Iron Pty Ltd. Birdlife Australia. (2017). Birdata: Custom Atlas Bird Lists (custom search). Retrieved 2017 http://www.birdata.com.au/custom.vm Boland, C. J. (2004). Breeding biology of Rainbow Bee-eater (Merops ornatus): A migratory, colonial, cooperative bird. The Auk, 121(3), 811-823. BoM, Bureau of Meteorology. (2017). Climate Data Online. Retrieved 2017 http://www.bom.gov.au./climate/data/index.shtml Bullen, R. D., & McKenzie, N. L. (2011). Recent developments in studies of the community structure, foraging ecology and conservation of Western Australian bats. In B. Law, P. Eby, D. Lunney, & L. Lumsden (Eds.), The Biology and Conservation of Australasian Bats (pp. 31-43). Mosman, New South Wales: Royal Zoological Society of NSW. Burbidge, A. H., Johnstone, R. E., & Pearson, D. J. (2010). Birds in a vast arid upland: avian biogeographical patterns in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. Records of the Western Australian Museum Supplement, 78, 247-270. Christidis, L., & Boles, W. E. (2008). Systematics and Taxonomy of Australian Birds. Melbourne, Victoria: CSIRO Publishing. Churchill, S. K. (1991). Distribution, abundance and roost selection of the Orange Horseshoe-bat, Rhinonycteris aurantius, a tropical cave-dweller. Wildlife Research, 18, 343-353. Churchill, S. K. (2008). Australian Bats (Second Edition ed.). Crow's Nest, New South Wales: Allen and Unwin. Cramer, V. A., Dunlop, J., Davis, R. A., Ellis, R., Barnett, B., Cook, A., . . . van Leeuwen, S. (2016). Research priorities for the northern quoll (Dasyurus hallucatus) in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. Australian Mammalogy, 38(2), 135-148. doi:https://doi.org/10.1071/AM15005 Cruz, J., Sutherland, D. R., & Leung, L. K. P. (2012a). Den use, home range and territoriality of the Koomal (Trichosurus vulpecula hypoleucus) with implications for current forest management strategies. Australian Journal of Zoology, 60(3), 141-151. doi:10.1071/ZO12051 Cruz, J., Sutherland, D. R., Martin, G. R., & Leung, L. K. P. (2012b). Are smaller subspecies of common brushtail possums more omnivorous than larger ones? Austral Ecology, 37(8), 893- 902. doi:10.1111/j.1442-9993.2011.02346.x Davis, R. A., & Metcalf, B. M. (2008). The Night Parrot (Pezoporus occidentalis) in northern Western Australia: a recent sighting from the Pilbara region. Emu, 108(3), 233-236. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/MU07058 DBCA, Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions. (2017a). NatureMap: Mapping Western Australia's Biodiversity (custom search). Retrieved 2017 http://naturemap.dec.wa.gov.au./default.aspx
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DBCA, Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions. (2017b). Priority Ecological Communities for Western Australia. Perth, Western Australia: www.dpaw.wa.gov.au/plants- and-animals/threatened-species-and-communities/wa-s-threatened-ecological-communities DBCA, Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions. (2017c). Threatened and Priority Fauna Database (custom search). Retrieved 2017 http://www.dpaw.wa.gov.au/plants-and- animals/threatened-species-and-communities/threatened-animals DoEE, Department of the Environment and Energy. (2017). Protected Matters Search Tool (custom search). www.environment.gov.au/erin/ert/epbc/index.html Doughty, P., Rolfe, J., Burbidge, A., Pearson, D. J., & Kendrick, P. G. (2011a). Herpetological assemblages of the Pilbara biogeographic region, Western Australia: ecological associations, biogeographic patterns and conservation. Records of the Western Australian Museum, Supplement, 78, 315-341. Doughty, P., Rolfe, J. K., Burbidge, A. H., Pearson, D. J., & Kendrick, P. G. (2011b). Herpetological assemblages of the Pilbara biogeographic region, Western Australia: ecological associations, biogeographic patterns and conservation. Records of the Western Australian Museum, Supplement, 78, 315-341. DPaW, Department of Parks and Wildlife. (2017a). Threatened and Priority Ecological Communities Database (custom search). Retrieved 2017 http://www.dpaw.wa.gov.au/plants-and- animals/threatened-species-and-communities/wa-s-threatened-ecological-communities DPaW, D. o. P. a. W. (2017b). Interim guideline for the preliminary surveys of Night Parrot (Pezoporus occidentalis) in Western Australia. Kensington, Western Australia: ecologia Environment. (2006). Roy Hill Iron Ore Project: Short-range Endemic Survey. Unpublished report prepared for Hancock Prospecting Pty Ltd. ecologia Environment. (2008). Proposed Infrastructure Supplementary Level 1 Terrestrial Fauna Survey. Unpublished report prepared for Hancock Prospecting Pty Ltd. ecologia Environment. (2009a). Proposed Roy Hill Borefield Desktop Fauna Assessment. Unpublished report prepared for Hancock Prospecting Pty Ltd. ecologia Environment. (2009b). Roy Hill Vertebrate Fauna Assessment. Unpublished report prepared for Hancock Prospecting Pty Ltd. ecologia Environment. (2010). Roy Hill Additional Short-range Endemic Invertebrate Survey. Unpublished report prepared for Roy Hill Iron Ore Pty Ltd. ENV Australia. (2009). Roy Hill Borefield Vertebrate Fauna Assessment. Unpublished report prepared for Hancock Prospecting Pty Ltd. ENV Australia. (2011). Christmas Creek Airstrip Flora, Vegetation and Fauna Assessment. Unpublished report prepared for Fortescue Metals Group Pty Ltd. ENV Australia. (2012). Christmas Creek Terrestrial Vertebrate Fauna and Fauna Habitat Assessment. Unpublished report prepared for Fortescue Metals Group. Environment Australia. (2001). A Directory of Important Wetlands in Australia (Third Edition ed.). Canberra, Australian Capital Territory: Environment Australia. EPA, Environmental Protection Authority. (2013). Environmental and Water Assessments Relating to Mining and Mining-related Activities in the Fortescue Marsh Management Area. Report 1484. Perth, Western Australia: EPA, Environmental Protection Authority. (2016a). Technical Guidance: Sampling Methods for Terrestrial Vertebrate Fauna. Perth, Western Australia. EPA, Environmental Protection Authority. (2016b). Technical Guidance: Terrestrial Fauna Surveys. Guidance Statement No.56. Perth, Western Australia: Garnett, S., & Crowley, G. (2000). The Action Plan for Australian Birds. Canberra, Australian Capital Territory: Environment Australia and the Royal Australia Ornithologists Union. Ingleby, S., & Westoby, M. (1992). Habitat requirements of the Spectacled Hare-wallaby (Lagorchestes conspicillatus) in the Northern Territory and Western Australia. Wildlife Research, 19, 721-741. James, C., Landsberg, J., & Morton, S. (1995). Ecological functioning in arid Australia and research to assist conservation of biodiversity. Pacific Conservation Biology, 2, 126-142. Johnstone, R., & Storr, G. M. (1998). Handbook of Western Australian Birds Volume 1 - Non- passerines (Emu to Dollarbird). Perth, Australia: Western Australian Museum. Johnstone, R., & Storr, G. M. (2004). Handbook of Western Australian birds. Volume II - Passerines (Blue-winged Pitta to Goldfinch). Perth: Western Australian Museum. Johnstone, R. E., Burbidge, A. H., & Darnell, J. C. (2013). Birds of the Pilbara region, including seas and offshore islands, Western Australia: distribution, status and historical changes. Records of the Western Australian Museum Supplement, 78, 343-441.
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Keighery, B. J. (1994). Bushland Plant Survey: a Guide to Plant Community Surveys for the Community. Nedlands, Western Australia: Wildflower Society of Western Australia (Inc.). Kendrick, P. (2001). Pilbara 2 (PIL2 - Fortescue Plains subregion). In A Biodiversity Audit of Western Australia’s 53 Biogeographical Subregions in 2002 (pp. 559-567). Kensington, Western Australia: Department of Conservation and Land Management. Kendrick, P., & McKenzie, N. L. (2001). Pilbara 1 (PIL1 - Chichester subregion). In A Biodiversity Audit of Western Australia’s 53 Biogeographical Subregions in 2002 (pp. 547-558). Kensington, Western Australia: Department of Conservation and Land Management. Leighton, K. A. (2004). Climate. In A. M. E. van Vreeswyk, A. L. Payne, K. A. Leighton, & P. Hennig (Eds.), An Inventory and Condition Survey of the Pilbara Region, Western Australia. Perth, Western Australia: Technical Bulletin No. 92. Western Australian Department of Agriculture. McKenzie, N., Woinarski, J., & Burbidge, A. A. (2008). Sminthopsis longicaudata Retrieved 2 September 2013, from IUCN McKenzie, N. L., May, J. E., & McKenna, S. (2003). Bioregional Summary of the 2002 Biodiversity Audit for Western Australia: A Contribution to the Development of Western Australia's Biodiversity Conservation Strategy. Kensington, Western Australia: Department of Conservation and Land Management. McKenzie, N. L., van Leeuwen, S., & Pinder, A. M. (2009). Introduction to the Pilbara Biodiversity Survey, 2002-2007. Records of the Western Australian Museum Supplement, 78, 3-89. Moro, D., & Morris, K. (2000). Movements and refugia of Lakeland Downs short-tailed mice, Leggadina lakedownensis, and house mice, Mus domesticus, on Thevenard Island, Western Australia. Wildlife Research, 27(1), 11-20. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/WR99016 Murphy, S. A., Austin, J. J., Murphy, R. K., Silcock, J., Joseph, L., Garnett, S. T., . . . Burbidge, A. H. (2017). Observations on breeding Night Parrots (Pezoporus occidentalis) in western Queensland. Emu - Austral Ornithology, 117(2), 107-113. doi:10.1080/01584197.2017.1292404 Murphy, S. A., Silcock, J., Murphy, R., Reid, J., & Austin, J. J. Movements and habitat use of the night parrot Pezoporus occidentalis in south-western Queensland. Austral Ecology. doi:10.1111/aec.12508 Murray, B. B. R., Zeppel, M. J. B., Hose, G. C., & Eamus, D. (2003). Groundwater-dependent ecosystems in Australia: It's more than just water for rivers. Ecological Management & Restoration, 4(2), 110-113. doi:10.1046/j.1442-8903.2003.00144.x National Committee on Soil and Terrain. (2009). Australian Soil and Land Survey Field Handbook (Third Edition ed.). Collingwood, Victoria: CSIRO Publishing. Night Parrot Recovery Team. (2017). Movements of the Night Parrot. Retrieved from https://nightparrot.com.au/ Oakwood, M. (2002). Spatial and social organization of a carnivorous marsupial Dasyurus hallucatus (Marsupialia: Dasyuridae). Journal of Zoology, 257, 237-248. Olsen, P., & Olsen, J. (1986). Distribution, status, movement and breeding of the Grey Falcon Falco hypoleucos. Emu, 86, 47-51. Olsen, P., & Olsen, J. (1989). Breeding of the Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus. III. Weather, nest quality and breeding success. Emu, 89(1), 6-14. doi:https://doi.org/10.1071/MU9890006 Pavey, C. R., Nano, C. E. M., Cooper, S. J. B., Cole, J. R., & McDonald, P. J. (2012). Habitat use, population dynamics and species identification of mulgara, Dasycercus blythi and D. cristicauda, in a zone of sympatry in central Australia. Australian Journal of Zoology, 59(3), 156-169. Pearson, D. (1993). Distribution, status and conservation of pythons in Western Australia. In D. Lunney & D. Ayers (Eds.), Herpetology in Australia: a Diverse Discipline (pp. 383-395). Sydney, New South Wales: Royal Zoological Society of New South Wales. Pearson, D. (2003). Giant Pythons of the Pilbara. Landscope, 19(1), 32-39. Phoenix, Environmental Services. (2016). Fauna Survey, trapping and translocation completion form: GDP2243 (mine pit). Unpublished report prepared for Roy Hill Iron Ore Pty Ltd. Pyke, G. H., & Ehrlich, P. R. (2014). Conservation and the Holy Grail: The Story of the Night Parrot. Pacific Conservation Biology, 20(2), 221-226. Roy Hill Iron Ore. (2017). Terrestrial Vertebrate Fauna GIS Database (custom search). Shepherd, D. P., Beeston, G. R., & Hopkins, A. J. M. (2001). Native Vegetation in Western Australia, Extent, Type and Status. Resource Management Technical Report 249. Perth, Western Australia: Thackway, R., & Cresswell, I. D. (1995). An Interim Biogeographical Regionalisation for Australia. Canberra, Australian Capital Territory: Australian Nature Conservation Agency.
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Tidemann, C., Priddel, D., Nelson, J., & Pettigrew, J. (1985). Foraging Behaviour of the Australian Ghost Bat, Macroderma gigas (Microchiroptera: Megadermatidae). Australian Journal of Zoology, 33(5), 705-713. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/ZO9850705 van Dyck, S., & Strahan, R. (2008). Mammals of Australia (Third Edition ed.). Sydney, New South Wales: Australian Museum. van Vreeswyk, A. M. E., Payne, A. L., Leighton, K. A., & Hennig, P. (2004). An Inventory and Condition Survey of the Pilbara region, Western Australia. Perth: WAM, Western Australian Museum. (2017). Checklist of the Vertebrates of Western Australia (April 2017). http://museum.wa.gov.au/research/departments/terrestrial-zoology/checklist- terrestrial-vertebrate-fauna-western-australia Wildlife Acoustics, Inc. (2011). Song Meter User Manual: Model SM2+ Firware Version 3.1.0. Wildlife Acoustics Inc. Retrieved from http://media.nhbs.com/equipment/SM2+%20User%20Manual.pdf Wilson, S., & Swan, G. (2014). A Complete Guide to Reptiles of Australia. Sydney, New South Wales: New Holland Publishers. Woinarski, J., Fensham, R., Whitehead, P., & Fisher, A. (2000). Digest of biodiversity changes and threatening processes across each rangeland bioregion. Appendix A to background paper 1: A review of changes in status and threatening processes. In Developing an Analytical Framework for Monitoring Biodiversity in Australia’s Rangelands. Darwin: Tropical Savannas Cooperative Research Centre. Woinarski, J. C. Z., Burbidge, A. A., & Harrison, P. L. (2014). The Action Plan for Australian Mammals 2012. Collingwood, Victoria: CSIRO Publishing. Worthington-Wilmer, J., Moritz, C., Hall, L., & Toop, J. (1994). Extreme population structuring in the threatened ghost bat, Macroderma gigas: evidence from mitochondrial DNA. Proceeding of the Royal Society of London B, 257, 193-198.
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7 APPENDICES
Appendix A Conservation Status Codes
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International Union for Conservation of Nature
Category Definition A taxon is Extinct when there is no reasonable doubt that the last individual has died. A taxon is presumed Extinct when exhaustive surveys in known and/or Extinct (EX) expected habitat, at appropriate times (diurnal, seasonal, annual), throughout its historic range have failed to record an individual. Surveys should be over a time frame appropriate to the taxon's life cycle and life form. A taxon is Extinct in the Wild when it is known only to survive in cultivation, in captivity or as a naturalized population (or populations) well outside the past range. A taxon is presumed Extinct in the Wild when exhaustive surveys in Extinct in the Wild (EW) known and/or expected habitat, at appropriate times (diurnal, seasonal, annual), throughout its historic range have failed to record an individual. Surveys should be over a time frame appropriate to the taxon's life cycle and life form. A taxon is Critically Endangered when the best available evidence indicates that it meets any of the criteria A to E for Critically Endangered (see Section V), and Critically Endangered (CE) it is therefore considered to be facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild. A taxon is Endangered when the best available evidence indicates that it meets Endangered (EN) any of the criteria A to E for Endangered (see Section V), and it is therefore considered to be facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild. A taxon is Vulnerable when the best available evidence indicates that it meets Vulnerable (VU) any of the criteria A to E for Vulnerable (see Section V), and it is therefore considered to be facing a high risk of extinction in the wild. A taxon is Near Threatened when it has been evaluated against the criteria but does not qualify for Critically Endangered, Endangered or Vulnerable now, but Near Threatened (NT) is close to qualifying for or is likely to qualify for a threatened category in the near future A taxon is Data Deficient when there is inadequate information to make a direct, or indirect, assessment of its risk of extinction based on its distribution and/or population status. A taxon in this category may be well studied, and its biology well known, but appropriate data on abundance and/or distribution are lacking. Data Deficient is therefore not a category of threat. Listing of taxa in this category indicates that more information is required and acknowledges the Data Deficient (DD) possibility that future research will show that threatened classification is appropriate. It is important to make positive use of whatever data are available. In many cases, great care should be exercised in choosing between DD and a threatened status. If the range of a taxon is suspected to be relatively circumscribed, and a considerable period of time has elapsed since the last record of the taxon, threatened status may well be justified.
Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999
Category Definition Extinct (EX) Taxa not definitely located in the wild during the past 50 years. Extinct in the Wild (EW) Taxa known to survive only in captivity. Taxa facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild in the immediate Critically Endangered (CE) future. Endangered (EN) Taxa facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future. Vulnerable (VU) Taxa facing a high risk of extinction in the wild in the medium-term future. Consists of species listed under the following International Conventions: Japan-Australia Migratory Bird Agreement (JAMBA) Migratory (MG) China-Australia Migratory Bird Agreement (CAMBA) Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild animals (Bonn Convention)
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Wildlife Conservation Act 1950
Category Definition Schedule 1 (S1) Critically Endangered Schedule 2 (S2) Endangered Schedule 3 (S3) Vulnerable Schedule 4 (S4) Presumed Extinct Schedule 5 (S5) Migratory Schedule 6 (S6) Conservation Dependent Schedule 7 (S7) Other Specially Protected Fauna
Department of Environment and Conservation Priority codes
Category Definition Priority 1 (P1) Taxa with few, poorly known populations on threatened lands. Taxa with few, poorly known populations on conservation lands; or taxa with Priority 2 (P2) several, poorly known populations not on conservation lands. Priority 3 (P3) Taxa with several, poorly known populations, some on conservation lands. Taxa in need of monitoring. Taxa which are considered to have been adequately surveyed, or for which sufficient knowledge is available, and which Priority 4 (P4) are considered not currently threatened or in need of special protection, but could be if present circumstances change.
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Appendix B SM2 and Motion Camera Sampling Locations
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Site Name Date Deployed Date Retrieved Sampling Nights Latitude Longitude Habitat Type SM2 - Acoustic Recording ACO-01 2017-08-11 2017-08-13 2 -22.5981 119.9391 Spinifex Stonyplain ACO-02 2017-08-13 2017-08-14 1 -22.6020 119.9359 Spinifex Stonyplain ACO-03 2017-08-07 2017-08-14 7 -22.6062 119.9415 Spinifex Stonyplain ACO-04 2017-08-07 2017-08-11 4 -22.6081 119.9471 Spinifex Stonyplain ACO-06 2017-08-08 2017-08-13 5 -22.5117 120.0100 Spinifex Stonyplain ACO-07 2017-08-13 2017-08-14 1 -22.6131 119.9429 Spinifex Stonyplain ACO-08 2017-08-13 2017-08-14 1 -22.5988 119.9306 Spinifex Stonyplain Motion Camera MCA-01 2017-08-11 2017-08-14 3 -22.4466 119.9877 Low Rocky Hills MCA-02 2017-08-11 2017-08-14 3 -22.4462 119.9879 Low Rocky Hills MCA-03 2017-08-11 2017-08-14 3 -22.4459 119.9886 Low Rocky Hills MCA-04 2017-08-08 2017-08-13 5 -22.5323 120.0078 Low Rocky Hills/Cave MCA-05 2017-08-12 2017-08-14 2 -22.8661 119.8279 Eucalypt Woodland MCA-06 2017-08-12 2017-08-14 2 -22.8661 119.8279 Eucalypt Woodland MCA-07 2017-08-12 2017-08-14 2 -22.8661 119.8279 Eucalypt Woodland MCA-08 2017-08-12 2017-08-14 2 -22.8661 119.8279 Eucalypt Woodland MCA-09 2017-08-12 2017-08-14 2 -22.8661 119.8279 Eucalypt Woodland MCA-10 2017-08-12 2017-08-14 2 -22.8661 119.8279 Eucalypt Woodland MCA-11 2017-08-12 2017-08-14 2 -22.8661 119.8279 Eucalypt Woodland SM2 - Ultrasonic Recording ACO-07 2017-08-13 2017-08-14 1 -22.6131 119.9429 Spinifex Stonyplain SM2-02 2017-08-08 2017-08-11 3 -22.5638 120.1034 Spinifex Stonyplain SM2-05 2017-08-11 2017-08-14 3 -22.5027 119.9991 Low Rocky Hill SM2-06 2017-08-12 2017-08-14 2 -22.6806 119.9373 Spinifex Sandplain SM2-07 2017-08-11 2017-08-14 3 -22.4885 120.0113 Spinifex Stonyplain
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Appendix C Habitat Assessments
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Roy Hill Level 1 and Targeted Vertebrate Fauna Survey
Outcropping Ground Cover Microhabitats Condition Site Soil Type and Latitude Longitude Date Habitat Type Landform Slope Amount and Vegetation Rocky Cracks/ Burrowing Hollows Hollows Water Habitat ID Availability Rock Type Disturbances Recoverability Fire Ages Type Litter Crevices Suitability (<10 cm) (>10 cm) Presence Condition Lignum HAB- Loam, Few Prone to Full Recovery -22.5920 119.9352 7/08/2017 Melaleuca Sand Plain Low Negligible Negligible Evenly Spread Nil Moderate Scarce None Very Good Cattle Grazing Old (6+ yr.) 01 Small Patches Flooding Possible Shrubland Clay Loam, HAB- Chenopod Few Small Prone to Full Recovery -22.5929 119.9336 7/08/2017 Alluvial Plain Flat Many Large Negligible Negligible Nil Low None None Very Good Cattle Grazing Old (6+ yr.) 02 Shrubland Patches Flooding Likely Patches Drainage Silty Loam, HAB- Medium Few Small Very Very Prone to Cattle Grazing, Full Recovery -22.5636 120.1016 8/08/2017 Area/ Low Few Large Negligible Negligible Nil Moderate Good Old (6+ yr.) 03 Drainage Line Patches Common Common Flooding Weed Invasion Unlikely Floodplain Patches Clay Loam, Road/ Access HAB- Spinifex Stony Pebbles (5- Full Recovery -22.5822 120.1025 8/08/2017 Stony Plain Low Many Small Negligible Scarce Nil Low Scarce None None Very Good Track, Cattle Old (6+ yr.) 04 Plain 10cm) Likely Patches Grazing Clay Loam, HAB- Spinifex Stony Gravel (1- Few Small Road/ Access Full Recovery -22.5939 120.1124 8/08/2017 Stony Plain Low Few Small Negligible Nil Moderate Scarce None None Excellent Old (6+ yr.) 05 Plain 4cm) Patches Track Likely Patches Drainage Silty Loam, HAB- Eucalypt Many Small Prone to Weed Invasion, Full Recovery -22.6123 119.9638 8/08/2017 Area/ Flat Many Small Negligible Negligible Nil Moderate Common Moderate Very Good Old (6+ yr.) 06 Woodland Patches Flooding Cattle Grazing Unlikely Floodplain Patches Hillcrest/ Minor HAB- Low Spinifex Clay Loam, Pebbles (5- Few Small Road/ Access Full Recovery -22.6022 119.9537 8/08/2017 Upper Flat Outcropping, Low Low Moderate None None Excellent Old (6+ yr.) 07 Hill Scarce 10cm) Patches Track Likely Hillslope Sandstone Mixed Clay Loam, HAB- Many Large Very Prone to Weed Invasion, Full Recovery -22.5873 119.9560 8/08/2017 Mulga/Eucalyp Sand Plain Flat Many Small Negligible Negligible Nil Moderate Common Excellent Old (6+ yr.) 08 Patches Common Flooding Cattle Grazing Unlikely t Woodland Patches Clay Loam, HAB- Samphire Saline Flats Prone to Full Recovery -22.5607 119.9196 8/08/2017 Flat Many Large Negligible Negligible Scarce Nil Low None None Excellent Cattle Grazing Old (6+ yr.) 09 Shrubland and Marsh Flooding Likely Patches Acacia Clay Loam, Cattle Grazing, HAB- Shrubland - Few Small Full Recovery -22.5551 119.9448 8/08/2017 Stony Plain Flat Many Large Negligible Negligible Nil Moderate Moderate None None Very Good Tracks, Weed Old (6+ yr.) 10 not Mulga Patches Possible Patches Invasion Woodland Clay Loam, HAB- Mulga Sandy/ Stony Gravel (1- Many Small Full Recovery -22.5646 119.9702 8/08/2017 Flat Few Large Negligible Nil Moderate Common None None Very Good Cattle Grazing Old (6+ yr.) 11 Woodland Plain 4cm) Patches Likely Patches Drainage Cattle Grazing, HAB- Medium Sandy Clay Pebbles (5- Few Large Prone to Full Recovery -22.5597 120.0260 8/08/2017 Area/ Flat Negligible Nil Moderate Common Common Very Good Weed Invasion, Old (6+ yr.) 13 Drainage Line Loam, Scarce 10cm) Patches Flooding Unlikely Floodplain Tracks Moderate HAB- Breakaway/ Moderat Clay Loam, Gravel (1- Cattle Grazing, Full Recovery -22.5399 120.0095 8/08/2017 Breakaway Outcropping, Scarce Moderate Nil Scarce None None Excellent Old (6+ yr.) 14 Cliff e Scarce 4cm) Tracks, Likely BIF HAB- Spinifex Sandy Clay Gravel (1- Cattle Grazing, Full Recovery -22.4710 120.0177 8/08/2017 Stony Plain Low Negligible Scarce Nil Low None None None Very Good Old (6+ yr.) 15 Stonyplain Loam, Scarce 4cm) Tracks, Likely Hillcrest/ Clay Loam, Limited HAB- Low Spinifex Gravel (1- Pristine -22.5633 120.1005 8/08/2017 Upper Low Few Small Outcropping, Scarce Low Nil Scarce Scarce None Pristine Cattle Grazing Old (6+ yr.) 16 Hill 4cm) Condition Hillslope Patches BIF Sandy Loam, Tracks, Cattle HAB- Tussock Sandy/ Stony Pebbles (5- Many Small Full Recovery -22.5975 120.0676 8/08/2017 Flat Many Large Negligible Nil Moderate None None None Good Grazing, Weed Old (6+ yr.) 17 Grassland Plain 10cm) Patches Unlikely Patches Invasion Drainage Clay Loam, Cattle Grazing, HAB- Major Few Large Very Very Prone to Full Recovery -22.6170 119.9579 8/08/2017 Area/ Flat Many Large Negligible Negligible Nil Moderate Good Tracks, Old (6+ yr.) 18 Drainage Line Patches Common Common Pooling Likely Floodplain Patches Hydrology Clay Loam HAB- Mulga Gravel (1- Many Large Tracks, Weed Full Recovery -22.5779 120.0382 8/08/2017 Sand Plain Flat Sandy, Many Negligible Nil Moderate Common None None Excellent Old (6+ yr.) 18 Woodland 4cm) Patches Invasion Likely Large Patches Silty Clay Weed Invasion, HAB- Mulga Sandy/ Stony Gravel (1- Few Large Full Recovery -22.5776 119.9979 8/08/2017 Flat Loam, Few Negligible Nil Moderate Common None None Very Good Cattle Grazing, Old (6+ yr.) 19 Woodland Plain 4cm) Patches Unlikely Large Patches Tracks, HAB- Spinifex Stony Clay Loam, Gravel (1- Full Recovery -22.4202 119.9808 10/08/2017 Stony Plain Low Negligible Scarce Low Low None None None Excellent Tracks, Old (6+ yr.) 19 Plain Scarce 4cm) Likely HAB- Medium Medium Clay Loam, Pebbles (5- Many Small Very Prone to Cattle Grazing, Full Recovery -22.5431 120.0376 10/08/2017 Flat Negligible Nil Moderate Common Good Old (6+ yr.) 20 Drainage Line Drainage Line Scarce 10cm) Patches Common Flooding Tracks Unlikely HAB- Eucalypt Sandy/ Stony Loam, Many Gravel (1- Many Small Prone to Weed Invasion, Full Recovery -22.6569 119.9563 9/08/2017 Flat Negligible Nil Moderate Common Common Very Good Old (6+ yr.) 20 Woodland Plain Small Patches 4cm) Patches Flooding Cattle Grazing Possible Limited HAB- Minor Clay Loam, Gravel (1- Prone to Cattle Grazing, Full Recovery -22.5609 120.0694 10/08/2017 Stony Plain Low Outcropping, Evenly Spread Nil High Common Scarce Excellent Old (6+ yr.) 21 Drainage Line Evenly Spread 4cm) Flooding Tracks, Likely BIF Clay Loam, HAB- Acacia Mixed Sandy/ Stony Gravel (1- Few Large Cattle Grazing, Full Recovery -22.6870 119.9700 9/08/2017 Flat Many Large Negligible Nil Moderate Moderate Scarce None Very Good Old (6+ yr.) 21 Shrubland Plain 4cm) Patches Tracks, Possible Patches Clay Loam, Cattle Grazing, HAB- Major Major Pebbles (5- Few Large Very Very Prone to Full Recovery -22.5217 119.9477 11/08/2017 Low Many Large Negligible Nil Moderate Good Tracks, Weed Old (6+ yr.) 22 Drainage Line Drainage Line 10cm) Patches Common Common Flooding Unlikely Patches Invasion HAB- Clay Loam, Gravel (1- Full Recovery -22.6482 120.0526 9/08/2017 Gilgai Plain Stony Plain Flat Negligible Scarce Nil Moderate None None None Degraded Cattle Grazing Old (6+ yr.) 23 Evenly Spread 4cm) Unlikely Clay Loam, Cattle Grazing, HAB- Mulga Gravel (1- Few Small Prone to Full Recovery -22.6441 119.9877 9/08/2017 Calcrete Plain Flat Many Small Negligible Nil Low Scarce None Good Weed Invasion, Old (6+ yr.) 23 Woodland 4cm) Patches Flooding Unlikely Patches Tracks HAB- Medium Clay, Full Recovery -22.6508 120.1111 9/08/2017 Gilgai Plain Gilgai Plain Flat Negligible Negligible Scarce Nil Moderate None None None Good Cattle Grazing Old (6+ yr.) 24 Evenly Spread Possible
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Roy Hill Level 1 and Targeted Vertebrate Fauna Survey
Outcropping Ground Cover Microhabitats Condition Site Soil Type and Latitude Longitude Date Habitat Type Landform Slope Amount and Vegetation Rocky Cracks/ Burrowing Hollows Hollows Water Habitat ID Availability Rock Type Disturbances Recoverability Fire Ages Type Litter Crevices Suitability (<10 cm) (>10 cm) Presence Condition Drainage Silty Loam, Cattle Grazing, HAB- Drainage Area/ Small Rocks Few Large Prone to Full Recovery -22.5391 119.9352 9/08/2017 Area/ Flat Many Large Negligible Nil Moderate Moderate Moderate Good Tracks, Weed Old (6+ yr.) 25 Floodplain (11-20cm) Patches Flooding Unlikely Floodplain Patches Invasion HAB- Mulga Silty Loam, Many Small Full Recovery -22.5136 119.9290 9/08/2017 Stony Plain Flat Negligible Negligible Nil Nil Scarce None None Very Good Cattle Grazing Old (6+ yr.) 26 Woodland Evenly Spread Patches Likely HAB- Silty Loam, Few Small Full Recovery -22.4992 119.8853 9/08/2017 Stony Plain Stony Plain Flat Negligible Negligible Nil Nil None None None Excellent Cattle Grazing Old (6+ yr.) 27 Evenly Spread Patches Likely HAB- Mulga Clay Loam, Few Small Full Recovery -22.8550 119.8907 12/08/2017 Alluvial Plain Flat Negligible Negligible Nil Low Moderate None None Very Good Cattle Grazing Old (6+ yr.) 28 Woodland Evenly Spread Patches Possible Clay Loam, Cattle Grazing, HAB- Minor Minor Few Small Prone to Full Recovery -22.4523 120.0040 10/08/2017 Flat Many Small Negligible Negligible Nil High Moderate None Good Tracks, Weed Old (6+ yr.) 29 Drainage Line Drainage Line Patches Flooding Unlikely Patches Invasion Minor HAB- Spinifex Undulating Clay Loam, Gravel (1- Full Recovery -22.5008 119.9883 10/08/2017 Flat Outcropping, Scarce Low Low Scarce None None Excellent Tracks Old (6+ yr.) 30 Stonyplain Low Hills Scarce 4cm) Likely BIF Clay Loam, HAB- Medium Medium Many Large Prone to Cattle Grazing, Full Recovery -22.5468 120.0382 10/08/2017 Low Many Large Negligible Negligible Nil Low Common Scarce Excellent Old (6+ yr.) 31 Drainage Line Drainage Line Patches Flooding Tracks Likely Patches Limited HAB- Spinifex Undulating Clay Loam, Gravel (1- Few Small None Pristine -22.5155 120.0334 10/08/2017 Low Outcropping, Nil Low Scarce None None Pristine Old (6+ yr.) 32 Stonyplain Low Hills Scarce 4cm) Patches Discernible Condition BIF HAB- Spinifex Clay Loam, Gravel (1- Few Large Full Recovery -22.5604 120.0692 10/08/2017 Stony Plain Low Negligible Nil Low Moderate None None Excellent Cattle Grazing Old (6+ yr.) 33 Stonyplain Scarce 4cm) Patches Likely Clay Loam, Cattle Grazing, HAB- Sandy/ Stony Sandy/ Stony Few Large Full Recovery -22.5730 120.0682 10/08/2017 Flat Few Small Negligible Negligible Nil Low Scarce None None Excellent Mining Old (6+ yr.) 34 Plain Plain Patches Possible Patches Exploration HAB- Mulga Clay Loam, Gravel (1- Few Small Full Recovery -22.7738 119.9058 12/08/2017 Alluvial Plain Flat Negligible Nil Low Scarce None None Very Good Cattle Grazing Old (6+ yr.) 35 Woodland Evenly Spread 4cm) Patches Possible Drainage Cattle Grazing, HAB- Medium Loam, Few Pebbles (5- Many Small Prone to Full Recovery -22.6286 120.0763 9/08/2017 Area/ Flat Negligible Nil High Common Common Degraded Tracks, Weed Old (6+ yr.) 36 Drainage Line Small Patches 10cm) Patches Flooding Unlikely Floodplain Invasion Drainage Clay Loam, HAB- Mulga Gravel (1- Frequent Fire, Full Recovery -22.5020 119.9167 9/08/2017 Area/ Flat Many Small Negligible Evenly Spread Nil Moderate Common None None Good Old (6+ yr.) 37 Drainage Line 4cm) Weed Invasion Unlikely Floodplain Patches HAB- Spinifex Gravel (1- Full Recovery -22.4477 120.0064 11/08/2017 Stony Plain Low Loam, Scarce Negligible Scarce Nil Low Scarce None None Excellent Tracks Old (6+ yr.) 38 Stonyplain 4cm) Likely HAB- Minor Minor Loam, Many Gravel (1- Many Small Prone to Cattle Grazing, Full Recovery -22.4488 120.0028 11/08/2017 Low Negligible Nil Moderate Scarce None Very Good Old (6+ yr.) 39 Drainage Line Drainage Line Large Patches 4cm) Patches Flooding Weed Invasion Unlikely HAB- Mulga Sandy/ Stony Clay Loam, Many Small Full Recovery -22.7253 119.9362 12/08/2017 Flat Negligible Negligible Nil Low Scarce None None Very Good Cattle Grazing Old (6+ yr.) 40 Woodland Plain Evenly Spread Patches Likely Spinifex HAB- Loamy Sand, Few Small Full Recovery -22.7315 119.9307 12/08/2017 Alluvial Sand Plain Flat Negligible Negligible Nil High Scarce None None Excellent Cattle Grazing Old (6+ yr.) 41 Evenly Spread Patches Likely Sandplain Acacia Sandy Clay HAB- Gravel (1- Many Small Full Recovery -22.7381 119.9277 12/08/2017 Shrubland over Alluvial Plain Flat Loam, Evenly Negligible Nil Moderate Common Scarce None Excellent Cattle Grazing Old (6+ yr.) 42 4cm) Patches Likely Triodia Spread Sandy Clay HAB- Gravel (1- Many Large Full Recovery -22.7541 119.9179 12/08/2017 Mulga Spinifex Alluvial Plain Flat Loam, Many Negligible Nil Moderate Common Scarce None Excellent Cattle Grazing Old (6+ yr.) 43 4cm) Patches Likely Large Patches Drainage Sandy Clay HAB- Mulga Many Large Full Recovery -22.7595 119.9142 12/08/2017 Area/ Flat Loam, Evenly Negligible Negligible Nil Moderate Common None None Very Good Cattle Grazing Old (6+ yr.) 44 Woodland Patches Possible Floodplain Spread Clay Loam, Limited HAB- Minor Minor Pebbles (5- Few Small Prone to None Pristine -22.4317 119.9732 10/08/2017 Low None Outcropping, Low Low Common Scarce Pristine Old (6+ yr.) 45 Drainage Line Drainage Line 10cm) Patches Flooding Discernible Condition Discernible Conglomerate HAB- Open Acacia Clay Loam, Gravel (1- Few Small Full Recovery -22.8013 119.8887 12/08/2017 Alluvial Plain Flat Negligible Nil Low Scarce None None Excellent Cattle Grazing Old (6+ yr.) 46 Shrubland Evenly Spread 4cm) Patches Likely HAB- Spinifex Loamy Sand, Many Small Full Recovery -22.8209 119.8669 12/08/2017 Sand Plain Flat Negligible Negligible Nil High Moderate None None Excellent Cattle Grazing Old (6+ yr.) 47 Sandplain Evenly Spread Patches Likely HAB- Mulga Clay Loam, Full Recovery -22.7038 119.9607 13/08/2017 Alluvial Plain Flat Negligible Negligible Evenly Spread Nil Moderate Common Scarce None Excellent Cattle Grazing Old (6+ yr.) 48 Woodland Evenly Spread Likely HAB- Mulga Tussock Clay Loam, Few Small Full Recovery -22.8931 119.8453 12/08/2017 Alluvial Plain Flat Negligible Negligible Nil Low Scarce None None Very Good Cattle Grazing Old (6+ yr.) 49 Grassland Evenly Spread Patches Possible HAB- Clay Loam, Few Small Prone to Cattle Grazing, Full Recovery -22.8965 119.8312 12/08/2017 Wetland Claypan Flat Negligible Negligible Nil Moderate Moderate Scarce Degraded Old (6+ yr.) 50 Evenly Spread Patches Pooling Weed Invasion Highly Unlikely Sandy Clay HAB- Mulga over Few Large Full Recovery -22.9534 119.8446 12/08/2017 Alluvial Plain Flat Loam, Evenly Negligible Negligible Nil Moderate Moderate None None Excellent Cattle Grazing Old (6+ yr.) 51 Spinifex Patches Likely Spread HAB- Mulga Clay Loam, Few Large Full Recovery -22.9678 119.8933 12/08/2017 Alluvial Plain Flat Negligible Negligible Nil Low Common None None Very Good Cattle Grazing Old (6+ yr.) 52 Woodland Evenly Spread Patches Possible HAB- Clay Loam, Full Recovery -22.9555 119.9188 12/08/2017 Cracking Clay Alluvial Plain Flat Negligible Negligible Scarce Nil Moderate None None None Very Good Cattle Grazing Old (6+ yr.) 53 Evenly Spread Likely Drainage Cattle Grazing, HAB- Eucalypt Loam, Evenly Many Small Full Recovery -22.6155 119.9461 13/08/2017 Area/ Flat Negligible Negligible Nil Moderate Common Moderate None Very Good Tracks, Weed Old (6+ yr.) 54 Woodland Spread Patches Unlikely Floodplain Invasion Tussock HAB- Grassland with Clay Loam, Few Small Full Recovery -22.9091 119.9148 12/08/2017 Alluvial Plain Flat Negligible Negligible Nil Moderate None None None Excellent Cattle Grazing Old (6+ yr.) 55 mixed Acacia Evenly Spread Patches Possible shrubland
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Roy Hill Level 1 and Targeted Vertebrate Fauna Survey
Outcropping Ground Cover Microhabitats Condition Site Soil Type and Latitude Longitude Date Habitat Type Landform Slope Amount and Vegetation Rocky Cracks/ Burrowing Hollows Hollows Water Habitat ID Availability Rock Type Disturbances Recoverability Fire Ages Type Litter Crevices Suitability (<10 cm) (>10 cm) Presence Condition HAB- Clay Loam, Few Large Full Recovery -22.8487 119.8710 12/08/2017 Mulga Spinifex Alluvial Plain Flat Negligible Negligible Nil Moderate Moderate None None Excellent Cattle Grazing Old (6+ yr.) 56 Evenly Spread Patches Likely HAB- Spinifex Loamy Sand, Few Small Full Recovery -22.8796 119.7936 12/08/2017 Sand Plain Flat Negligible Negligible Nil Moderate Scarce None None Excellent Tracks Old (6+ yr.) 57 Sandplain Evenly Spread Patches Likely Cattle Grazing, HAB- Major Major Loamy Sand, Pebbles (5- Many Large Very Prone to Full Recovery -22.4294 119.9164 14/08/2017 Flat Negligible Nil Nil Common Very Good Tracks, Weed Old (6+ yr.) 58 Drainage Line Drainage Line Evenly Spread 10cm) Patches Common Flooding Unlikely Invasion Drainage Cattle Grazing, HAB- Medium Loam, Evenly Many Large Prone to Full Recovery -22.4320 119.9154 14/08/2017 Area/ Flat Negligible Negligible Nil Moderate Common Scarce Good Tracks, Weed Old (6+ yr.) 59 Drainage Line Spread Patches Flooding Highly Unlikely Floodplain Invasion Limited Mining HAB- Hillcrest/ Undulating Gravel (1- Few Small Full Recovery -22.4307 119.9065 14/08/2017 Low Loam, Scarce Outcropping, Low Low Scarce None None Very Good Exploration, Old (6+ yr.) 59 Hillslope Low Hills 4cm) Patches Likely BIF Tracks, HAB- Spinifex Loamy Sand, Few Small Cattle Grazing, Full Recovery -22.7037 119.9442 13/08/2017 Sand Plain Flat Negligible Negligible Nil High Scarce None None Excellent Old (6+ yr.) 60 Sandplain Evenly Spread Patches Tracks Likely Clay Loam, ACO- Gravel (1- Many Small Cattle Grazing, Full Recovery -22.5982 119.9391 11/08/2017 Spinifex Plain Stony Plain Low Many Small Negligible Nil Moderate Scarce None None Excellent Old (6+ yr.) 01 4cm) Patches Tracks, Likely Patches Clay Loam, ACO- Gravel (1- Many Small Cattle Grazing, Full Recovery -22.6021 119.9360 13/08/2017 Spinifex Plain Calcrete Plain Low Few Small Negligible Nil Moderate Scarce None None Very Good Old (6+ yr.) 02 4cm) Patches Weed Invasion Possible Patches Sandy Loam, ACO- Sandy/ Stony Gravel (1- Few Small Full Recovery -22.6063 119.9416 7/08/2017 Spinifex Plain Flat Many Small Negligible Nil Moderate Scarce None None Excellent Cattle Grazing Old (6+ yr.) 03 Plain 4cm) Patches Likely Patches ACO- Clay Loam, Pebbles (5- Few Small None Pristine -22.6082 119.9472 7/08/2017 Calcrete Plain Calcrete Plain Low Negligible Nil Moderate None None None Pristine Old (6+ yr.) 04 Evenly Spread 10cm) Patches Discernible Condition Drainage ACO- Spinifex Loam, Few Gravel (1- Few Small Prone to Full Recovery -22.5117 120.0100 8/08/2017 Area/ Flat Negligible Nil Moderate Scarce Scarce Very Good Cattle Grazing Old (6+ yr.) 06 Stonyplain Small Patches 4cm) Patches Flooding Likely Floodplain ACO- Spinifex Stony Gravel (1- Full Recovery -22.6131 119.9430 13/08/2017 Calcrete Plain Low Loam, Scarce Negligible Scarce Low Low Scarce None None Excellent Cattle Grazing Old (6+ yr.) 07 Plain 4cm) Likely Silty Clay ACO- Spinifex Gravel (1- Few Small Cattle Grazing, Full Recovery -22.5989 119.9307 13/08/2017 Calcrete Plain Flat Loam, Evenly Negligible Nil Low Scarce None None Excellent Old (6+ yr.) 08 Stonyplain 4cm) Patches Tracks Likely Spread Extensive MCA- Boulders/ Loam, Few Small Rocks Permanen Full Recovery -22.4466 119.9877 11/08/2017 Breakaway Steep Outcropping, Scarce High Nil Scarce None Excellent Weed Invasion Old (6+ yr.) 01 Rockpiles Small Patches (11-20cm) t Unlikely BIF Extensive MCA- Breakaway/ Very Small Rocks Few Small Permanen Full Recovery -22.4462 119.9880 11/08/2017 Breakaway Loam, Scarce Outcropping, Very High Low Scarce None Excellent Weed Invasion Old (6+ yr.) 02 Cliff Steep (11-20cm) Patches t Unlikely BIF Extensive MCA- Breakaway/ Very Small Rocks Few Small Permanen None Pristine -22.4460 119.9886 11/08/2017 Breakaway Loam, Scarce Outcropping, Very High Nil Scarce None Pristine Old (6+ yr.) 03 Cliff Steep (11-20cm) Patches t Discernible Condition BIF Hillcrest/ Major MCA- Moderat Boulders Few Small None Full Recovery -22.5324 120.0079 8/08/2017 Cave Upper Loam, Scarce Outcropping, Very High Nil Common Scarce None Excellent Old (6+ yr.) 04 e (>61cm) Patches Discernible Likely Hillslope BIF MCA- Clay Loam, Few Small Very Very Prone to Cattle Grazing, Full Recovery -22.8662 119.8279 12/08/2017 Wetland Claypan Flat Negligible Negligible Nil Low Good Old (6+ yr.) 05 Evenly Spread Patches Common Common Pooling Weed Invasion Unlikely Extensive SM2- Breakaway/ Clay Loam, Large Rocks Full Recovery -22.5261 119.9915 7/08/2017 Breakaway Steep Outcropping, Scarce High Nil Scarce None None Excellent Tracks Old (6+ yr.) 01 Cliff Scarce (21-60cm) Highly Unlikely BIF Clay Loam, SM2- Sandy/ Stony Gravel (1- Full Recovery -22.5639 120.1034 8/08/2017 Spinifex Plain Flat Few Small Negligible Scarce Nil Moderate Scarce None None Excellent Cattle Grazing Old (6+ yr.) 02 Plain 4cm) Likely Patches SM2- Major Major Silty Loam, Permanen Full Recovery -22.6441 119.9670 9/08/2017 Flat Negligible Negligible Evenly Spread Nil Nil Common Common Degraded Cattle Grazing Old (6+ yr.) 03 Drainage Line Drainage Line Evenly Spread t Unlikely Major SM2- Moderat Gravel (1- Full Recovery -22.5326 120.0076 10/08/2017 Cave Breakaway Loam, Scarce Outcropping, Scarce High Nil Moderate None None Excellent Tracks Old (6+ yr.) 04 e 4cm) Likely BIF Extensive SM2- Ironstone Very Gravel (1- None Pristine -22.5028 119.9991 11/08/2017 Cave Loam, Scarce Outcropping, Scarce High Nil Scarce None None Pristine Old (6+ yr.) 05 Outcrops Steep 4cm) Discernible Condition BIF SM2- Spinifex Sandy Loam, Few Small Full Recovery -22.6807 119.9374 12/08/2017 Sand Plain Flat Negligible Negligible Nil High Scarce None None Excellent Cattle Grazing Old (6+ yr.) 06 Sandplain Evenly Spread Patches Likely Mining Limited Exploration, SM2- Low Spinifex Pebbles (5- None Full Recovery -22.4885 120.0114 11/08/2017 Stony Plain Low Loam, Scarce Outcropping, Low Nil None None None Good Tracks, Artificial Old (6+ yr.) 07 Hill 10cm) Discernible Likely BIF Lighting, Excess Noise Extensive TAR- Breakaway/ Clay Loam, Small Rocks Few Small Full Recovery -22.5208 120.0073 8/08/2017 Breakaway Steep Outcropping, Very High Nil Scarce None None Excellent Tracks Old (6+ yr.) 01 Cliff Scarce (11-20cm) Patches Likely BIF Extensive TAR- Breakaway/ Small Rocks Many Small None Pristine -22.4983 120.0196 8/08/2017 Breakaway Steep Loam, Scarce Outcropping, Very High Nil Moderate None None Pristine Old (6+ yr.) 02 Cliff (11-20cm) Patches Discernible Condition BIF Extensive TAR- Breakaway/ Clay Loam, Large Rocks Few Small None Pristine -22.4342 119.9767 10/08/2017 Breakaway Steep Outcropping, Very High Nil Moderate Scarce None Pristine Old (6+ yr.) 03 Cliff Scarce (21-60cm) Patches Discernible Condition BIF TAR- Minor Minor Loam, Many Gravel (1- Few Small Prone to Cattle Grazing, Full Recovery -22.4296 119.9938 11/08/2017 Low Negligible Nil High Moderate None Good Old (6+ yr.) 04 Drainage Line Drainage Line Small Patches 4cm) Patches Flooding Weed Invasion Unlikely
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Roy Hill Level 1 and Targeted Vertebrate Fauna Survey
Outcropping Ground Cover Microhabitats Condition Site Soil Type and Latitude Longitude Date Habitat Type Landform Slope Amount and Vegetation Rocky Cracks/ Burrowing Hollows Hollows Water Habitat ID Availability Rock Type Disturbances Recoverability Fire Ages Type Litter Crevices Suitability (<10 cm) (>10 cm) Presence Condition Eucalyptus Minor TAR- Medium Loam, Many Pebbles (5- Many Large Very Very Prone to Cattle Grazing, Full Recovery -22.4318 119.9943 11/08/2017 Medium Low Outcropping, Low High Very Good Old (6+ yr.) 05 Drainage Line Large Patches 10cm) Patches Common Common Pooling Weed Invasion Unlikely Drainage Line BIF Extensive TAR- Breakaway/ Very Large Rocks Many Large None Pristine -22.5092 119.9981 11/08/2017 Breakaway Loam, Scarce Outcropping, Very High Nil Moderate None None Pristine Old (6+ yr.) 06 Cliff Steep (21-60cm) Patches Discernible Condition BIF Extensive TAR- Very Clay Loam, Gravel (1- Few Small None Pristine -22.4538 119.9992 10/08/2017 Rocky Ridge Breakaway Outcropping, Very High Low Moderate Scarce None Pristine Old (6+ yr.) 07 Steep Scarce 4cm) Patches Discernible Condition BIF TAR- Spinifex Loamy Sand, Many Small Full Recovery Moderate (3 to -22.7081 119.9448 12/08/2017 Sand Plain Flat Negligible Negligible Nil Very High Moderate None None Excellent Cattle Grazing 08 Sandplain Evenly Spread Patches Likely 5 yr.) TAR- Spinifex Loamy Sand, Few Small Full Recovery -22.6815 119.9373 12/08/2017 Sand Plain Flat Negligible Negligible Nil High Scarce None None Excellent Cattle Grazing Old (6+ yr.) 09 Sandplain Evenly Spread Patches Likely TAR- Clay Loam, Few Small Very Very Prone to Cattle Grazing, Full Recovery -22.8662 119.8279 12/08/2017 Wetland Claypan Flat Negligible Negligible Nil Low Good Old (6+ yr.) 10 Evenly Spread Patches Common Common Pooling Weed Invasion Unlikely TAR- Spinifex Loamy Sand, Few Small Full Recovery Moderate (3 to -22.9374 119.7897 12/08/2017 Sand Plain Flat Negligible Negligible Nil Moderate Scarce None None Excellent Cattle Grazing 11 Sandplain Evenly Spread Patches Likely 5 yr.) Loamy Sand, TAR- Spinifex Many Small Cattle Grazing, Full Recovery -22.7056 119.9512 13/08/2017 Sand Plain Flat None Negligible Negligible Nil Very High Scarce None None Very Good Old (6+ yr.) 12 Sandplain Patches Weed Invasion Unlikely Discernible TAR- Spinifex Loamy Sand, Few Small Full Recovery Moderate (3 to -22.7122 119.9538 13/08/2017 Sand Plain Flat Negligible Negligible Nil High Scarce None None Excellent Cattle Grazing 13 Sandplain Evenly Spread Patches Likely 5 yr.) TAR- Spinifex Loamy Sand, Many Small Full Recovery -22.7065 119.9467 13/08/2017 Sand Plain Flat Negligible Negligible Nil Very High Scarce None None Excellent Cattle Grazing Old (6+ yr.) 14 Sandplain Evenly Spread Patches Likely TAR- Spinifex Loamy Sand, Many Large Cattle Grazing, Full Recovery -22.7197 119.9309 13/08/2017 Sand Plain Flat Negligible Negligible Nil Very High Common Scarce None Excellent Old (6+ yr.) 15 Sandplain Evenly Spread Patches Tracks Likely TAR- Spinifex Loamy Sand, Gravel (1- Few Small Full Recovery -22.7007 119.9563 13/08/2017 Sand Plain Flat Negligible Nil High Scarce None None Excellent Cattle Grazing Old (6+ yr.) 16 Sandplain Evenly Spread 4cm) Patches Likely TAR- Spinifex Loamy Sand, Few Small Full Recovery -22.7017 119.9296 13/08/2017 Sand Plain Flat Negligible Negligible Nil Very High Scarce None None Excellent Cattle Grazing Old (6+ yr.) 17 Sandplain Evenly Spread Patches Likely
Page 71 Roy Hill Level 1 and Targeted Vertebrate Fauna Survey
Appendix D Locations of Habitat Features
Type Name Latitude Longitude
Semi-permanent Waterbody RY-WB-01 -22.4363 119.9872
Semi-permanent Waterbody RY-WB-02 -22.8664 119.8275
Claypan RY-WB-03 -22.628 119.9459
Claypan RY-WB-04 -22.6291 119.9378
Claypan RY-WB-05 -22.674 119.9344
Claypan RY-WB-06 -22.8963 119.8313
Cave RY-CA-01 -22.5325 120.0077 (Ghost Bat Day Roost)
Page 72 Roy Hill Level 1 and Targeted Vertebrate Fauna Survey
Appendix E Species recorded or with the potential to occur in the Study Area
Page 73 Roy Hill Level 1 and Targeted Vertebrate Fauna Survey
MAMMALS
Species Conservation status Online Databases Literature Review
l 1 l
Rail
Nature Map
WCA
IUCN
EPBC
DBCA
Marsh
Nyidinghu
Threatened Species
CreekAirstrip
Bamford (2012):
VertebrateFauna VertebrateFauna
BirdLifeAustralia
DBCA
InfrastructureLeve
ENV (2009): ENV Borefield
Bell (2014): Fortescue Bell Fortescue (2014):
ENV (2012): ENV Christmas (2011): ENV Christmas
CreekFauna Vertebrate
EPBC Protected MattersEPBC
Ecologia (2008): Roy Hill Ecologia (2009): Roy Hill BiotaStage (2005): FMG B
DBCA TACHYGLOSSIDAE Tachyglossus aculeatus Echidna ● ● DASYURIDAE Dasykaluta rosamondae Little Red Kaluta ● ● ● Dasyurus hallucatus Northern Quoll EN S1 EN ● ● ● ● Dasycercus blythi Mulgara P4 ● ● ● Ningaui timealeyi Pilbara Ningaui ● ● ● Planigale sp. 1 Undescribed Pilbara planigale ● ● ● Pseudantechinus woolleyae Woolley's Pseudantechinus ● Sminthopsis hirtipes Hairy-footed Dunnart ● Sminthopsis longicaudata Long-tailed Dunnart P4 ● ● Sminthopsis macroura Stripe-faced Dunnart ● ● ● ● ● Sminthopsis youngsoni Lesser Hairy-footed Dunnart ● ● THYLACOMYIDAE Macrotis lagotis Greater Bilby, Dalgyte VU S1 VU ● ● MACROPODIDAE Osphranter robustus erubescens Euro, Biggada ● ● ● ● ● Osphranter rufus Red Kangaroo, Marlu ● ● ● ● ● ● Petrogale lateralis lateralis Black-flanked Rock Wallaby EN S2 ●
Page 74 Roy Hill Level 1 and Targeted Vertebrate Fauna Survey
Species Conservation status Online Databases Literature Review
l 1 l
Rail
Nature Map
WCA
IUCN
EPBC
DBCA
Marsh
Nyidinghu
Threatened Species
CreekAirstrip
Bamford (2012):
VertebrateFauna VertebrateFauna
BirdLifeAustralia
DBCA
InfrastructureLeve
ENV (2009): ENV Borefield
Bell (2014): Fortescue Bell Fortescue (2014):
ENV (2012): ENV Christmas (2011): ENV Christmas
CreekFauna Vertebrate
EPBC Protected MattersEPBC
Ecologia (2008): Roy Hill Ecologia (2009): Roy Hill BiotaStage (2005): FMG B
DBCA Petrogale rothschildi Rothschild's Rock-wallaby ● ● PHALANGERIDAE Trichosurus vulpecula arnhemensis Northern Brushtail Possum S3 ● MEGADERMATIDAE Macroderma gigas Ghost Bat S3 VU ● ● ● ● HIPPOSIDERIDAE Rhinonicteris aurantia Pilbara Leaf-nosed Bat VU S1 ● ● EMBALLONURIDAE Saccolaimus flaviventris Yellow-bellied Sheathtail-bat ● ● ● ● ● Taphozous georgianus Common Sheathtail-bat ● ● ● MOLOSSIDAE Chaerophon jobensis Northern Freetail-bat ● ● ● ● Mormopterus beccarii Beccari's Freetail-bat ● VESPERTILIONIDAE Chalinolobus gouldii Gould's Wattled Bat ● ● ● ● ● ● Nyctophilus bifax daedalus Eastern Long-eared Bat ● Nyctophilus daedalus North-western Long-eared Bat ● Nyctophilus geoffroyi Lesser Long-eared Bat ● ● ● ● ● ● Scotorepens greyii Little Broad-nosed Bat ● ● ● ● ● ● Vespadelus finlaysoni Finlayson's Cave Bat ● ● ● ● ● ●
Page 75 Roy Hill Level 1 and Targeted Vertebrate Fauna Survey
Species Conservation status Online Databases Literature Review
l 1 l
Rail
Nature Map
WCA
IUCN
EPBC
DBCA
Marsh
Nyidinghu
Threatened Species
CreekAirstrip
Bamford (2012):
VertebrateFauna VertebrateFauna
BirdLifeAustralia
DBCA
InfrastructureLeve
ENV (2009): ENV Borefield
Bell (2014): Fortescue Bell Fortescue (2014):
ENV (2012): ENV Christmas (2011): ENV Christmas
CreekFauna Vertebrate
EPBC Protected MattersEPBC
Ecologia (2008): Roy Hill Ecologia (2009): Roy Hill BiotaStage (2005): FMG B
DBCA MURIDAE Leggadina lakedownensis Short-tailed Mouse P4 ● ● ● *Mus musculus House Mouse ● ● ● ● ● ● Pseudomys chapmani Western Pebble-mound Mouse P4 ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Pseudomys desertor Desert Mouse ● ● ● ● Pseudomys hermannsburgensis Sandy Inland Mouse ● ● ● ● Zyzomys argurus Common Rock-rat ● ● BOVIDAE *Bos taurus European Cattle ● ● ● ● ● CANIDAE *Canis lupus dingo Dingo ● ● ● ● ● ● *Vulpes vulpes Red Fox ● ● CAMELIDAE *Camelus dromedarius Dromedary, Camel ● ● ● ● ● EQUIDAE *Equus asinus Donkey ● ● ● ● *Equus caballus Horse ● ● ● ● ● FELIDAE *Felis catus Cat ● ● ● ● ● ● LEPORIDAE
Page 76 Roy Hill Level 1 and Targeted Vertebrate Fauna Survey
Species Conservation status Online Databases Literature Review
l 1 l
Rail
Nature Map
WCA
IUCN
EPBC
DBCA
Marsh
Nyidinghu
Threatened Species
CreekAirstrip
Bamford (2012):
VertebrateFauna VertebrateFauna
BirdLifeAustralia
DBCA
InfrastructureLeve
ENV (2009): ENV Borefield
Bell (2014): Fortescue Bell Fortescue (2014):
ENV (2012): ENV Christmas (2011): ENV Christmas
CreekFauna Vertebrate
EPBC Protected MattersEPBC
Ecologia (2008): Roy Hill Ecologia (2009): Roy Hill BiotaStage (2005): FMG B
DBCA *Oryctolagus cuniculus Rabbit ● ●
Page 77 Roy Hill Level 1 and Targeted Vertebrate Fauna Survey
BIRDS
Species Conservation status Online Databases Literature Review
Hill Hill
Rail
Nature Map
WCA
IUCN
EPBC
DBCA
Marsh
Threatened Species
Infrastructure
CreekAirstrip
VertebrateFauna VertebrateFauna
BirdLifeAustralia
DBCA
ENV (2009): ENV Borefield
Bell (2014): Fortescue Bell Fortescue (2014):
ENV (2012): ENV Christmas (2011): ENV Christmas
CreekFauna Vertebrate
EPBC Protected MattersEPBC
Ecologia(2008): Roy Ecologia (2009): Roy Hill
BiotaStage (2005): FMG B DBCA Bamford Nyidinghu (2012): CASUARIIDAE Dromaius novaehollandiae Emu ● ● ● ● ● ● PHASIANIDAE Coturnix pectoralis Stubble Quail ● ● ● Coturnix ypsilophora Brown Quail ● ● ● ● ● ANATIDAE Anas gracilis Grey Teal ● ● ● ● Anas superciliosa Pacific Black Duck ● ● ● ● Chenonetta jubata Australian Wood Duck ● ● ● Cygnus atratus Black Swan ● ● ● ● Dendrocygna eytoni Plumed Whistling-Duck ● ● ● ● Malacorhynchus membranaceus Pink-eared Duck ● ● ● Stictonetta naevosa Freckled Duck ● ● ● Tadorna tadornoides Australian Shelduck ● ● ● ● ● ● ANHINGIDAE Anhinga novaehollandiae Australasian Darter ● ● ● Aythya australis Hardhead ● ● ● ● PODICIPEDIDAE Poliocephalus poliocephalus Hoary-headed Grebe ● ● ●
Page 78 Roy Hill Level 1 and Targeted Vertebrate Fauna Survey
Species Conservation status Online Databases Literature Review
Hill Hill
Rail
Nature Map
WCA
IUCN
EPBC
DBCA
Marsh
Threatened Species
Infrastructure
CreekAirstrip
VertebrateFauna VertebrateFauna
BirdLifeAustralia
DBCA
ENV (2009): ENV Borefield
Bell (2014): Fortescue Bell Fortescue (2014):
ENV (2012): ENV Christmas (2011): ENV Christmas
CreekFauna Vertebrate
EPBC Protected MattersEPBC
Ecologia(2008): Roy Ecologia (2009): Roy Hill
BiotaStage (2005): FMG B DBCA Bamford Nyidinghu (2012): Tachybaptus novaehollandiae Australasian Grebe ● ● ● GLAREOLIDAE Stiltia isabella Australian Pratincole ● PELECANIDAE Pelecanus conspicillatus Australian Pelican ● ● ● ● RALLIDAE Fulica atra Eurasian Coot ● ● ● ● Gallirallus philippensis Buff-banded Rail ● ● Porzana fluminea Australian Spotted Crake ● Tribonyx ventralis Black-tailed Native-hen ● ● ● COLUMBIDAE Geophaps plumifera Spinifex Pigeon ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Geopelia cuneata Diamond Dove ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Geopelia humeralis Bar-shouldered Dove ● Geopelia striata Peaceful Dove ● ● ● ● ● ● Ocyphaps lophotes Crested Pigeon ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Phaps chalcoptera Common Bronzewing ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Phaps histrionica Flock Bronzewing ● PODARGIDAE Podargus strigoides Tawny Frogmouth ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Page 79 Roy Hill Level 1 and Targeted Vertebrate Fauna Survey
Species Conservation status Online Databases Literature Review
Hill Hill
Rail
Nature Map
WCA
IUCN
EPBC
DBCA
Marsh
Threatened Species
Infrastructure
CreekAirstrip
VertebrateFauna VertebrateFauna
BirdLifeAustralia
DBCA
ENV (2009): ENV Borefield
Bell (2014): Fortescue Bell Fortescue (2014):
ENV (2012): ENV Christmas (2011): ENV Christmas
CreekFauna Vertebrate
EPBC Protected MattersEPBC
Ecologia(2008): Roy Ecologia (2009): Roy Hill
BiotaStage (2005): FMG B DBCA Bamford Nyidinghu (2012): EUROSTOPODIDAE Eurostopodus argus Spotted Nightjar ● ● ● ● ● AEGOTHELIDAE Aegotheles cristatus Australian Owlet-nightjar ● ● ● ● ● ● APODIDAE Apus pacificus Fork-tailed Swift MG S5 ● ● ● ● ● PHALACROCORACIDAE Phalacrocorax carbo Great Cormorant ● ● Phalacrocorax melanoleucos Little Pied Cormorant ● ● ● Phalacrocorax sulcirostris Little Black Cormorant ● ● ● ● ● Phalacrocorax varius Pied Cormorant ● ● ARDEIDAE Ardea garzetta Little Egret ● Ardea ibis Cattle Egret MG S5 ● ● ● ● Ardea modesta Eastern Great Egret MG S5 ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Ardea pacifica White-necked Heron ● ● ● ● ● ● Ardea novaehollandiae White-faced Heron ● ● ● ● Platalea flavipes Yellow-billed Spoonbill ● ● ● Platalea regia Royal Spoonbill ● ● ● ● Plegadis falcinellus Glossy Ibis ●
Page 80 Roy Hill Level 1 and Targeted Vertebrate Fauna Survey
Species Conservation status Online Databases Literature Review
Hill Hill
Rail
Nature Map
WCA
IUCN
EPBC
DBCA
Marsh
Threatened Species
Infrastructure
CreekAirstrip
VertebrateFauna VertebrateFauna
BirdLifeAustralia
DBCA
ENV (2009): ENV Borefield
Bell (2014): Fortescue Bell Fortescue (2014):
ENV (2012): ENV Christmas (2011): ENV Christmas
CreekFauna Vertebrate
EPBC Protected MattersEPBC
Ecologia(2008): Roy Ecologia (2009): Roy Hill
BiotaStage (2005): FMG B DBCA Bamford Nyidinghu (2012): LARIDAE Larus novaehollandiae Silver Gull ● ● Sterna caspia Caspian Tern MG S5 ● ● ● Sterna hybrida Whiskered Tern ● ● ● ● Sterna nilotica Gull-billed Tern ● ● ● ● FREGATIDAE Fregata ariel Lesser Frigatebird ● THRESKIORNITHIDAE Threskiornis molucca Australian White Ibis ● Threskiornis spinicollis Straw-necked Ibis ● ● ● ● ● CICONIIDAE Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus Black-necked Stork ● ● ACCIPITRIDAE Aquila audax Wedge-tailed Eagle ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Accipiter cirrocephalus Collared Sparrowhawk ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Accipiter fasciatus Brown Goshawk ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Circus approximans Swamp Harrier ● ● ● Circus assimilis Spotted Harrier ● ● ● ● ● ● Elanus caeruleus axillaris Black-shouldered Kite ● ● ● ● ● Haliaeetus leucogaster White-bellied Sea Eagle ● ● ●
Page 81 Roy Hill Level 1 and Targeted Vertebrate Fauna Survey
Species Conservation status Online Databases Literature Review
Hill Hill
Rail
Nature Map
WCA
IUCN
EPBC
DBCA
Marsh
Threatened Species
Infrastructure
CreekAirstrip
VertebrateFauna VertebrateFauna
BirdLifeAustralia
DBCA
ENV (2009): ENV Borefield
Bell (2014): Fortescue Bell Fortescue (2014):
ENV (2012): ENV Christmas (2011): ENV Christmas
CreekFauna Vertebrate
EPBC Protected MattersEPBC
Ecologia(2008): Roy Ecologia (2009): Roy Hill
BiotaStage (2005): FMG B DBCA Bamford Nyidinghu (2012): Haliastur sphenurus Whistling Kite ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Hamirostra isura Square-tailed Kite ● Milvus migrans Black Kite ● ● ● ● ● Hamirostra melanosternon Black-breasted Buzzard ● ● ● ● ● Hieraaetus morphnoides Little Eagle ● ● ● ● ● ● Pandion cristatus Eastern Osprey MG S5 ● FALCONIDAE Falco berigora Brown Falcon ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Falco cenchroides Nankeen Kestrel ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Falco hypoleucos Grey Falcon S3 ● ● ● ● Falco longipennis Australian Hobby ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Falco peregrinus Peregrine Falcon S7 ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Falco subniger Black Falcon ● OTIDIDAE Ardeotis australis Australian Bustard ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● BURHINIDAE Burhinus grallarius Bush Stone-curlew ● ● Cladorhynchus leucocephalus Banded Stilt ● RECURVIROSTRIDAE Himantopus himantopus Black-winged Stilt ● ● ● ●
Page 82 Roy Hill Level 1 and Targeted Vertebrate Fauna Survey
Species Conservation status Online Databases Literature Review
Hill Hill
Rail
Nature Map
WCA
IUCN
EPBC
DBCA
Marsh
Threatened Species
Infrastructure
CreekAirstrip
VertebrateFauna VertebrateFauna
BirdLifeAustralia
DBCA
ENV (2009): ENV Borefield
Bell (2014): Fortescue Bell Fortescue (2014):
ENV (2012): ENV Christmas (2011): ENV Christmas
CreekFauna Vertebrate
EPBC Protected MattersEPBC
Ecologia(2008): Roy Ecologia (2009): Roy Hill
BiotaStage (2005): FMG B DBCA Bamford Nyidinghu (2012): Recurvirostridae novaehollandiae Red-necked Avocet ● ● CHARADRIIDAE Charadrius ruficapillus Red-capped Plover ● ● Charadrius veredus Oriental Plover MG S5 ● ● Erythrogonys cinctus Red-kneed Dotterel ● ● ● ● Elseyornis melanops Black-fronted Dotterel ● ● ● ● ● Peltohyas australis Inland Dotterel ● Vanellus miles Masked Lapwing ● Vanellus tricolor Banded Lapwing ● SCOLOPACIDAE Actitis hypoleucos Common Sandpiper MG S5 ● Calidris acuminata Sharp-tailed Sandpiper MG S5 ● ● ● Calidris ferruginea Curlew Sandpiper CR S3 ● Calidris melanotos Pectoral Sandpiper MG S5 ● Tringa glareola Wood Sandpiper MG S5 ● ● ● ● Tringa nebularia Common Greenshank ● ● Tringa stagnatilis Marsh Sandpiper MG S5 ● ROSTRATULIDAE Rostratula australis Australian Painted Snipe EN EN ● TURNICIDAE
Page 83 Roy Hill Level 1 and Targeted Vertebrate Fauna Survey
Species Conservation status Online Databases Literature Review
Hill Hill
Rail
Nature Map
WCA
IUCN
EPBC
DBCA
Marsh
Threatened Species
Infrastructure
CreekAirstrip
VertebrateFauna VertebrateFauna
BirdLifeAustralia
DBCA
ENV (2009): ENV Borefield
Bell (2014): Fortescue Bell Fortescue (2014):
ENV (2012): ENV Christmas (2011): ENV Christmas
CreekFauna Vertebrate
EPBC Protected MattersEPBC
Ecologia(2008): Roy Ecologia (2009): Roy Hill
BiotaStage (2005): FMG B DBCA Bamford Nyidinghu (2012): Turnix velox Little Button-quail ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● CACATUIDAE Cacatua roseicapillus Galah ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Cacatua sanguinea Little Corella ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Nymphicus hollandicus Cockatiel ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● PSITTACIDAE Melopsittacus undulatus Budgerigar ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Neopsephotus bourkii Bourke's Parrot ● ● ● ● Neophema elegans Elegant Parrot ● Pezoporus occidentalis Night Parrot CR S1 CE ● Platycercus zonarius Australian Ringneck ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Platycercus varius Mulga Parrot ● ● ● Polytelis alexandrae Princess Parrot VU P4 ● ● CUCULIDAE Centropus phasianinus Pheasant Coucal ● ● Chalcites basalis Horsfield's Bronze-Cuckoo ● ● ● ● ● ● Chalcites osculans Black-eared Cuckoo ● ● ● Cacomantis pallidus Pallid Cuckoo ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● STRIGIDAE Ninox novaeseelandiae Southern Boobook ● ● ● ● ● ●
Page 84 Roy Hill Level 1 and Targeted Vertebrate Fauna Survey
Species Conservation status Online Databases Literature Review
Hill Hill
Rail
Nature Map
WCA
IUCN
EPBC
DBCA
Marsh
Threatened Species
Infrastructure
CreekAirstrip
VertebrateFauna VertebrateFauna
BirdLifeAustralia
DBCA
ENV (2009): ENV Borefield
Bell (2014): Fortescue Bell Fortescue (2014):
ENV (2012): ENV Christmas (2011): ENV Christmas
CreekFauna Vertebrate
EPBC Protected MattersEPBC
Ecologia(2008): Roy Ecologia (2009): Roy Hill
BiotaStage (2005): FMG B DBCA Bamford Nyidinghu (2012): TYTONIDAE Tyto alba Barn Owl ● ● ● Tyto javanica Eastern Barn Owl ● ● HALCYONIDAE Dacelo leachii Blue-winged Kookaburra ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Todiramphus pyrrhopygius Red-backed Kingfisher ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Todiramphus sanctus Sacred Kingfisher ● ● ● ● ● MEROPIDAE Merops ornatus Rainbow Bee-eater MG S5 ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● CLIMACTERIDAE Climacteris melanura Black-tailed Treecreeper ● PTILINORHYNCHIDAE Ptilonorhynchus maculatus guttatus Western Bowerbird ● ● ● MALURIDAE Amytornis striatus whitei Striated Grasswren P4 ● ● ● ● Malurus lamberti Variegated Fairy-wren ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Malurus leucopterus White-winged Fairy-wren ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Malurus splendens Splendid Fairy-wren ● Stipiturus ruficeps Rufous-crowned Emu-wren ● ACANTHIZIDAE
Page 85 Roy Hill Level 1 and Targeted Vertebrate Fauna Survey
Species Conservation status Online Databases Literature Review
Hill Hill
Rail
Nature Map
WCA
IUCN
EPBC
DBCA
Marsh
Threatened Species
Infrastructure
CreekAirstrip
VertebrateFauna VertebrateFauna
BirdLifeAustralia
DBCA
ENV (2009): ENV Borefield
Bell (2014): Fortescue Bell Fortescue (2014):
ENV (2012): ENV Christmas (2011): ENV Christmas
CreekFauna Vertebrate
EPBC Protected MattersEPBC
Ecologia(2008): Roy Ecologia (2009): Roy Hill
BiotaStage (2005): FMG B DBCA Bamford Nyidinghu (2012): Acanthiza apicalis Inland Thornbill ● ● ● Acanthiza chrysorrhoa Yellow-rumped Thornbill ● Acanthiza robustirostris Slaty-backed Thornbill ● ● ● ● ● ● Acanthiza uropygialis Chestnut-rumped Thornbill ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Aphelocephala leucopsis Southern Whiteface ● Gerygone fusca Western Gerygone ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Pyrrholaemus brunneus Redthroat ● ● ● Smicrornis brevirostris Weebill ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● PARDALOTIDAE Pardalotus rubricatus Red-browed Pardalote ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Pardalotus striatus Striated Pardalote ● ● ● ● MELIPHAGIDAE Acanthagenys rufogularis Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Certhionyx variegatus Pied Honeyeater ● ● ● ● ● ● Lacustroica whitei Grey Honeyeater ● ● Lichmera indistincta Brown Honeyeater ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Lichenostomus penicillatus White-plumed Honeyeater ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Gavicalis virescens Singing Honeyeater ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Melithreptus brevirostris Brown-headed Honeyeater ● Melithreptus gularis Black-chinned Honeyeater ● ●
Page 86 Roy Hill Level 1 and Targeted Vertebrate Fauna Survey
Species Conservation status Online Databases Literature Review
Hill Hill
Rail
Nature Map
WCA
IUCN
EPBC
DBCA
Marsh
Threatened Species
Infrastructure
CreekAirstrip
VertebrateFauna VertebrateFauna
BirdLifeAustralia
DBCA
ENV (2009): ENV Borefield
Bell (2014): Fortescue Bell Fortescue (2014):
ENV (2012): ENV Christmas (2011): ENV Christmas
CreekFauna Vertebrate
EPBC Protected MattersEPBC
Ecologia(2008): Roy Ecologia (2009): Roy Hill
BiotaStage (2005): FMG B DBCA Bamford Nyidinghu (2012): Purnella albifrons White-fronted Honeyeater ● ● ● Ptilotula keartlandi Grey-headed Honeyeater ● ● ● ● ● ● Sugomel niger Black Honeyeater ● ● ● ● ● ● Manorina flavigula Yellow-throated Miner ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Epthianura aurifrons Orange Chat ● ● ● Epthianura tricolor Crimson Chat ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● POMATOSTOMIDAE Pomatostomus superciliosus White-browed Babbler ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Pomatostomus temporalis Grey-crowned Babbler ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● CINCLOSOMATIDAE Cinclosoma castaneothorax Chestnut-breasted Quail-thrush ● ● ● Psophodes occidentalis Chiming Wedgebill ● ● NEOSITTIDAE Daphoenositta chrysoptera Varied Sittella ● ● ● ● CAMPEPHAGIDAE Coracina maxima Ground Cuckoo-shrike ● ● ● ● Coracina novaehollandiae Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Lalage tricolor White-winged Triller ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● PACHYCEPHALIDAE Pachycephala rufiventris Rufous Whistler ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Page 87 Roy Hill Level 1 and Targeted Vertebrate Fauna Survey
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Hill Hill
Rail
Nature Map
WCA
IUCN
EPBC
DBCA
Marsh
Threatened Species
Infrastructure
CreekAirstrip
VertebrateFauna VertebrateFauna
BirdLifeAustralia
DBCA
ENV (2009): ENV Borefield
Bell (2014): Fortescue Bell Fortescue (2014):
ENV (2012): ENV Christmas (2011): ENV Christmas
CreekFauna Vertebrate
EPBC Protected MattersEPBC
Ecologia(2008): Roy Ecologia (2009): Roy Hill
BiotaStage (2005): FMG B DBCA Bamford Nyidinghu (2012): Colluricincla harmonica Grey Shrike-thrush ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Oreoica gutturalis Crested Bellbird ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ARTAMIDAE Artamus cinereus Black-faced Woodswallow ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Artamus minor Little Woodswallow ● ● ● ● Artamus personatus Masked Woodswallow ● ● ● ● ● Cracticus nigrogularis Pied Butcherbird ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Cracticus tibicen Australian Magpie ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Cracticus torquatus Grey Butcherbird ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● HIRUNDINIDAE Hirundo rustica Barn Swallow MG S5 ● RHIPIDURIDAE Rhipidura albiscapa Grey Fantail ● ● ● Rhipidura leucophrys Willie Wagtail ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● MOTACILLIDAE Motacilla cinerea Grey Wagtail MG S5 ● Motacilla flava Yellow Wagtail MG S5 ● CORVIDAE Corvus bennetti Little Crow ● ● ● ● ● ● Corvus coronoides Australian Raven ●
Page 88 Roy Hill Level 1 and Targeted Vertebrate Fauna Survey
Species Conservation status Online Databases Literature Review
Hill Hill
Rail
Nature Map
WCA
IUCN
EPBC
DBCA
Marsh
Threatened Species
Infrastructure
CreekAirstrip
VertebrateFauna VertebrateFauna
BirdLifeAustralia
DBCA
ENV (2009): ENV Borefield
Bell (2014): Fortescue Bell Fortescue (2014):
ENV (2012): ENV Christmas (2011): ENV Christmas
CreekFauna Vertebrate
EPBC Protected MattersEPBC
Ecologia(2008): Roy Ecologia (2009): Roy Hill
BiotaStage (2005): FMG B DBCA Bamford Nyidinghu (2012): Corvus orru Torresian Crow ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● MONARCHIDAE Grallina cyanoleuca Magpie-lark ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● PETROICIDAE Petroica goodenovii Red-capped Robin ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Melanodryas cucullata Hooded Robin ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ALAUDIDAE Mirafra javanica Horsfield’s Bushlark ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ACROCEPHALIDAE Acrocephalus australis Australian Reed-Warbler ● ● MEGALURIDAE Cincloramphus cruralis Brown Songlark ● ● ● ● Cincloramphus mathewsi Rufous Songlark ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Eremiornis carteri Spinifexbird ● ● ● ● ● ● HIRUNDINIDAE Cheramoeca leucosterna White-backed Swallow ● Petrochelidon ariel Fairy Martin ● ● ● ● ● ● Petrochelidon nigricans Tree Martin ● ● ● ● ● ● ● NECTARINIIDAE Dicaeum hirundinaceum Mistletoebird ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Page 89 Roy Hill Level 1 and Targeted Vertebrate Fauna Survey
Species Conservation status Online Databases Literature Review
Hill Hill
Rail
Nature Map
WCA
IUCN
EPBC
DBCA
Marsh
Threatened Species
Infrastructure
CreekAirstrip
VertebrateFauna VertebrateFauna
BirdLifeAustralia
DBCA
ENV (2009): ENV Borefield
Bell (2014): Fortescue Bell Fortescue (2014):
ENV (2012): ENV Christmas (2011): ENV Christmas
CreekFauna Vertebrate
EPBC Protected MattersEPBC
Ecologia(2008): Roy Ecologia (2009): Roy Hill
BiotaStage (2005): FMG B DBCA Bamford Nyidinghu (2012): ESTRILDIDAE Emblema pictum Painted Finch ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Neochmia ruficauda Star Finch ● ● ● Taeniopygia guttata Zebra Finch ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● MOTACILLIDAE Anthus novaeseelandiae Richard's Pipit ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Page 90 Roy Hill Level 1 and Targeted Vertebrate Fauna Survey
REPTILES
Online Conservation status Literature Review
Species Databases
B B
Matters
Rail
Nature Map
WCA
IUCN
EPBC
DBCA
Marsh
Threatened Species
Infrastructure
CreekAirstrip
VertebrateFauna VertebrateFauna
BirdLifeAustralia
DBCA
ENV (2009): ENV Borefield
Bell (2014): Fortescue Bell Fortescue (2014):
ENV (2012): ENV Christmas (2011): ENV Christmas
CreekFauna Vertebrate
EPBC Protected EPBC
Ecologia (2008): Roy Hill Ecologia (2009): Roy Hill
BiotaStage (2005): FMG DBCA Bamford Nyidinghu (2012): CHELUIDAE Chelodina steindachneri Flat-shelled Turtle ● ● ● AGAMIDAE Amphibolurus longirostris ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Caimanops amphiboluroides ● ● ● Ctenophorus caudicinctus Ring-tailed Dragon ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Ctenophorus isolepis Crested Dragon ● ● ● Ctenophorus nuchalis Central Netted Dragon ● ● ● Ctenophorus reticulatus Western Netted Dragon ● ● ● Pogona minor ● ● ● ● ● Tympanocryptis cephalus Pebble Dragon ● ● ● DIPLODACTYLIDAE Diplodactylus conspicillatus Fat-tailed Gecko ● ● ● ● ● Diplodactylus pulcher ● ● Diplodactylus savagei Yellow-spotted Pilbara Gecko ● ● Lucasium stenodactylum Pale-snouted Ground Gecko ● ● ● ● ● Lucasium wombeyi ● ● ● ● ● Oedura marmorata Marbled Velvet Gecko ●
Page 91 Roy Hill Level 1 and Targeted Vertebrate Fauna Survey
Online Conservation status Literature Review
Species Databases
B B
Matters
Rail
Nature Map
WCA
IUCN
EPBC
DBCA
Marsh
Threatened Species
Infrastructure
CreekAirstrip
VertebrateFauna VertebrateFauna
BirdLifeAustralia
DBCA
ENV (2009): ENV Borefield
Bell (2014): Fortescue Bell Fortescue (2014):
ENV (2012): ENV Christmas (2011): ENV Christmas
CreekFauna Vertebrate
EPBC Protected EPBC
Ecologia (2008): Roy Hill Ecologia (2009): Roy Hill
BiotaStage (2005): FMG DBCA Bamford Nyidinghu (2012): Rhynchoedura ornata Beaked Gecko ● ● ● ● Strophurus elderi ● ● ● Strophurus jeanae ● Strophurus wellingtonae ● ● ● ● ● ● ● CARPHODACTYLIDAE Nephrurus wheeleri Banded Knob-tailed Gecko ● ● GEKKONIDAE Gehyra pilbara ● Gehyra punctata Spotted Rock Dtella ● ● ● ● ● ● Gehyra purpurascens ● Gehyra variegata Tree Dtella ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Heteronotia binoei Bynoe's Gecko ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Heteronotia spelea Desert Cave Gecko ● ● ● PYGOPODIDAE Delma butleri Unbanded Delma ● ● ● ● Delma elegans Pilbara Delma ● ● Delma haroldi ● ● ● Delma nasuta ● ● ● ● Delma pax ● ● ● ● ● ● Delma tincta ● ● ● ●
Page 92 Roy Hill Level 1 and Targeted Vertebrate Fauna Survey
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Species Databases
B B
Matters
Rail
Nature Map
WCA
IUCN
EPBC
DBCA
Marsh
Threatened Species
Infrastructure
CreekAirstrip
VertebrateFauna VertebrateFauna
BirdLifeAustralia
DBCA
ENV (2009): ENV Borefield
Bell (2014): Fortescue Bell Fortescue (2014):
ENV (2012): ENV Christmas (2011): ENV Christmas
CreekFauna Vertebrate
EPBC Protected EPBC
Ecologia (2008): Roy Hill Ecologia (2009): Roy Hill
BiotaStage (2005): FMG DBCA Bamford Nyidinghu (2012): Lialis burtonis Burton's legless lizard ● ● ● ● Pygopus nigriceps Hooded Scaly foot ● ● ● ● SCINCIDAE Carlia munda ● ● ● ● ● Carlia triacantha Desert Rainbow Skink ● Cryptoblepharus buchananii ● ● Cryptoblepharus plagiocephalus Fence or Wall Skink ● Ctenotus ariadnae ● ● Ctenotus atlas ● Ctenotus duricola ● ● ● ● ● Ctenotus grandis ● Ctenotus greeri ● Ctenotus hanloni ● ● ● Ctenotus helenae ● ● ● ● Ctenotus leonhardii ● ● Ctenotus nigrilineatus P1 ● Ctenotus pantherinus Leopard Ctenotus ● ● ● ● ● ● Ctenotus piankai ● Ctenotus quattuordecimlineatus ● Ctenotus rubicundus ●
Page 93 Roy Hill Level 1 and Targeted Vertebrate Fauna Survey
Online Conservation status Literature Review
Species Databases
B B
Matters
Rail
Nature Map
WCA
IUCN
EPBC
DBCA
Marsh
Threatened Species
Infrastructure
CreekAirstrip
VertebrateFauna VertebrateFauna
BirdLifeAustralia
DBCA
ENV (2009): ENV Borefield
Bell (2014): Fortescue Bell Fortescue (2014):
ENV (2012): ENV Christmas (2011): ENV Christmas
CreekFauna Vertebrate
EPBC Protected EPBC
Ecologia (2008): Roy Hill Ecologia (2009): Roy Hill
BiotaStage (2005): FMG DBCA Bamford Nyidinghu (2012): Ctenotus rutilans Pilbara Rusty Ctenotus ● ● Ctenotus saxatilis Rock Ctenotus ● ● ● ● ● Ctenotus schomburgkii Barred Wedge-tailed Ctenotus ● Ctenotus serventyi ● Ctenotus uber ● ● ● ● Cyclodomorphus melanops Slender Blue-tongue ● ● ● ● ● Eremiascincus richardsonii Broad-banded Sand Swimmer ● ● ● ● Lerista amicorum ● ● ● Lerista bipes ● Lerista flammicauda ● ● Lerista labialis ● ● Lerista jacksoni ● Lerista muelleri ● ● ● ● ● ● Lerista timida ● ● ● Menetia greyii Dwarf Skink ● ● ● ● ● ● Menetia surda ● ● Morethia ruficauda Fire-tailed Skink ● ● ● ● Proablepharus reginae ● Tiliqua multifasciata Central Blue-tongue ● ● VARANIDAE
Page 94 Roy Hill Level 1 and Targeted Vertebrate Fauna Survey
Online Conservation status Literature Review
Species Databases
B B
Matters
Rail
Nature Map
WCA
IUCN
EPBC
DBCA
Marsh
Threatened Species
Infrastructure
CreekAirstrip
VertebrateFauna VertebrateFauna
BirdLifeAustralia
DBCA
ENV (2009): ENV Borefield
Bell (2014): Fortescue Bell Fortescue (2014):
ENV (2012): ENV Christmas (2011): ENV Christmas
CreekFauna Vertebrate
EPBC Protected EPBC
Ecologia (2008): Roy Hill Ecologia (2009): Roy Hill
BiotaStage (2005): FMG DBCA Bamford Nyidinghu (2012): Varanus acanthurus Spiny-tailed Monitor ● ● ● ● ● Varanus bushi Pilbara Mulga Monitor ● Varanus caudolineatus Stripe-tailed Monitor ● ● ● ● Varanus eremius Desert Pygmy Monitor ● ● Varanus giganteus Perentie ● ● Varanus gouldii Bungarra or Sand Monitor ● ● ● Varanus panoptes Yellow-spotted Monitor ● ● ● ● ● Varanus pilbarensis Pilbara Rock Monitor ● ● Varanus tristis Racehorse Monitor ● ● ● ● ● TYPHLOPIDAE Anilios ammodytes ● ● ● Anilios grypus ● ● Anilios hamatus ● BOIDAE Antaresia perthensis Pygmy Python ● ● ● ● Antaresia stimsoni Stimson's Python ● ● ● Aspidites melanocephalus Black-headed Python ● ● Liasis olivaceus barroni Pilbara Olive Python VU VU ● ● ● ● ● ELAPIDAE Acanthophis wellsi Pilbara Death Adder ●
Page 95 Roy Hill Level 1 and Targeted Vertebrate Fauna Survey
Online Conservation status Literature Review
Species Databases
B B
Matters
Rail
Nature Map
WCA
IUCN
EPBC
DBCA
Marsh
Threatened Species
Infrastructure
CreekAirstrip
VertebrateFauna VertebrateFauna
BirdLifeAustralia
DBCA
ENV (2009): ENV Borefield
Bell (2014): Fortescue Bell Fortescue (2014):
ENV (2012): ENV Christmas (2011): ENV Christmas
CreekFauna Vertebrate
EPBC Protected EPBC
Ecologia (2008): Roy Hill Ecologia (2009): Roy Hill
BiotaStage (2005): FMG DBCA Bamford Nyidinghu (2012): Brachyurophis approximans ● ● ● ● Demansia psammophis Yellow-faced Whipsnake ● ● ● ● ● ● Demansia rufescens Rufous Whipsnake ● Furina ornata Moon Snake ● ● ● Parasuta monachus Inland Hooded Snake ● Pseudechis australis Mulga Snake ● ● ● ● ● Pseudonaja mengdeni Western Brown Snake ● ● Pseudonaja modesta Ringed Brown Snake ● ● Pseudonaja nuchalis Gwardar ● ● ● Suta fasciata Rosen's Snake ● Suta punctata Spotted Snake ● ● ● ● Vermicella snelli ●
Page 96 Roy Hill Level 1 and Targeted Vertebrate Fauna Survey
AMPHIBIANS
Species Conservation status Online Databases Literature Review
Rail
Nature Map
WCA
IUCN
EPBC
DBCA
Marsh
ifeAustralia
Threatened Species
Infrastructure
CreekAirstrip
VertebrateFauna VertebrateFauna
BirdL
DBCA
ell (2014): Fortescue
ENV (2009): ENV Borefield
B
ENV (2012): ENV Christmas (2011): ENV Christmas
CreekFauna Vertebrate
EPBC Protected MattersEPBC
Ecologia (2008): Roy Hill Ecologia (2009): Roy Hill
BiotaStage (2005): FMG B DBCA Bamford Nyidinghu (2012): HYLIDAE Cyclorana maini Main's Frog ● ● ● ● ● ● Cyclorana platycephala Water-Holding Frog ● ● Litoria rubella Desert Tree Frog ● ● ● ● MYOBATRACHIDAE Pseudophryne douglasi Douglas' Toadlet ● Uperoleia russelli Russell's Toadlet ● Uperoleia glandulosa Glandular Toadlet ● LIMNODYNASTIDAE Neobatrachus sutor Shoemaker Frog ● Notaden nichollsi ● Platyplectrum spenceri Centralian Burrowing Frog ●
Page 97 Roy Hill Level 1 and Targeted Vertebrate Fauna Survey
Appendix F Records for Species of Conservation Significance Recorded During the Survey
Page 98 Roy Hill Level 1 and Targeted Vertebrate Fauna Survey
Common Name Species No. of Individuals Record Type Latitude Longitude Mammals Brush-tailed Mulgara Dasycercus blythi 1 Scat -22.7173 119.9304 Northern Quoll Dasyurus hallucatus 1 Scat -22.4313 119.9770 Ghost Bat Macroderma gigas 1 Scat -22.4318 119.9760 Ghost Bat Macroderma gigas 1 Scat -22.4334 119.9778 Ghost Bat Macroderma gigas 1 Individual (alive) -22.5323 120.0078 Ghost Bat Macroderma gigas 1 Individual (alive) -22.5323 120.0078 Ghost Bat Macroderma gigas 1 Scat -22.4318 119.9760 Ghost Bat Macroderma gigas 1 Individual (dead) -22.5342 120.0071 Ghost Bat Macroderma gigas 1 Scat -22.5323 120.0078 Ghost Bat Macroderma gigas 1 Recording (social call) -22.5027 119.9991 Greater Bilby Macrotis lagotis 1 Burrow (inactive) -22.7080 119.9448 Greater Bilby Macrotis lagotis 1 Burrow (inactive) -22.7087 119.9421 Greater Bilby Macrotis lagotis 1 Digging -22.6816 119.9367 Greater Bilby Macrotis lagotis 1 Digging -22.6827 119.9360 Greater Bilby Macrotis lagotis 1 Burrow (inactive) -22.7188 119.9309 Greater Bilby Macrotis lagotis 1 Digging -22.7183 119.9298 Greater Bilby Macrotis lagotis 1 Burrow (inactive) -22.7065 119.9467 Greater Bilby Macrotis lagotis 1 Burrow (inactive) -22.7065 119.9465 Greater Bilby Macrotis lagotis 1 Digging -22.7066 119.9464 Greater Bilby Macrotis lagotis 1 Burrow (inactive) -22.7054 119.9510 Greater Bilby Macrotis lagotis 1 Burrow (inactive) -22.7052 119.9514 Greater Bilby Macrotis lagotis 1 Burrow (inactive) -22.7053 119.9522 Western Pebble-mound Mouse Pseudomys chapmani 1 Mound (active) -22.4326 119.9799 Northern Brushtail Possum Trichosurus vulpecula arnhemensis 2 Tree Scratching -22.8661 119.8276 Birds Great Egret Ardea modesta 1 Individual (alive) -22.6171 119.9576
Page 99 Roy Hill Level 1 and Targeted Vertebrate Fauna Survey
Common Name Species No. of Individuals Record Type Latitude Longitude Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus 1 Individual (alive) -22.8425 119.8509 Rainbow Bee-eater Merops ornatus 3 Individual (alive) -22.4334 119.9881
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