Browse LNG Precinct ©WOODSIDE Browse Liquefied Natural Gas Precinct Strategic Assessment Report (Draft for Public Review) December 2010 Appendix C-3 James Price Point Intertidal Survey, Browse LNG Development WEL No. JA0006RH0086 Rev 2 Browse Kimberley LNG DFS10 – Intertidal Survey JAMES PRICE POINT INTERTIDAL SURVEY Rev 5 26 July 2010 Browse Kimberley LNG DFS10 – Intertidal Survey JAMES PRICE POINT INTERTIDAL SURVEY Rev 5 26 July 2010 Sinclair Knight Merz ABN 37 001 024 095 11th Floor, Durack Centre 263 Adelaide Terrace PO Box H615 Perth WA 6001 Australia Tel: +61 8 9268 4400 Fax: +61 8 9268 4488 Web: www.skmconsulting.com COPYRIGHT: The concepts and information contained in this document are the property of Sinclair Knight Merz Pty Ltd. Use or copying of this document in whole or in part without the written permission of Sinclair Knight Merz constitutes an infringement of copyright. The SKM logo trade mark is a registered trade mark of Sinclair Knight Merz Pty Ltd. James Price Point Intertidal Survey Limitation Statement The sole purpose of this report and the associated services performed by the Consolidated Environmental Services (CES) is to provide the findings of an intertidal survey conducted at James Price Point, in accordance with the scope of services set out in the contract between CES and the Client (Woodside Energy Limited; WEL). That scope of services, as described in this report, was developed with the Client. CES derived information in this report from that available publically and that provided by the Client, and facilitated by CES at the time or times outlined in this report. The passage of time, manifestation of latent conditions or impacts of future events may require further examination of the project and subsequent data analysis, and re-evaluation of the data, findings, observations and conclusions expressed in this report. CES has prepared this report in accordance with the usual care and thoroughness of the consulting profession, for the sole purpose of the project and by reference to applicable standards, procedures and practices at the date of issue of this report. For the reasons outlined above, however, no other warranty or guarantee, whether expressed or implied, is made as to the data, observations and findings expressed in this report. This report should be read in full and no excerpts are to be taken as representative of the findings. No responsibility is accepted by CES for use of any part of this report in any other context. This report has been prepared on behalf of, and for the exclusive use of the Client, and is subject to, and issued in connection with, the provisions of the agreement between CES and the Client. CES accepts no liability or responsibility whatsoever for, or in respect of, any use of, or reliance upon, this report by any third party. SINCLAIR KNIGHT MERZ I:\WVES\Projects\WV03926\Deliverables\CTR 10.212 DFS10 Intertidal Study\Reports\Rev 5\R5_WV03869_DFS10_26 07 10_final.docx PAGE i James Price Point Intertidal Survey Acronyms and Abbreviations ANOVA Analysis of Variance BPP Benthic Primary Producer BPPH Benthic Primary Producer Habitat EPA Environmental Protection Authority GIS Geographic Information Systems JPPN Survey Area James Price Point North Survey Area JPPN Reference Area James Price Point North Reference Area JPPS Survey Area James Price Point South Survey Area JPPS Reference Area James Price Point South Reference Area LADS Laser Airborne Depth Sounder LNG Liquefied Natural Gas MEG Mono-ethylene Glycol MOF Material Offloading Facility MPB Microphytobenthos Mtpa Million tonnes per annum nMDS non-metric Multi Dimensional Scaling NTU Nephelometric Turbidity Units PAR Photosynthetically Active Radiation PERMANOVA Permutational ANOVA SST Sea Surface Temperature TSM Total Suspended Matter TSS Total Suspended Solids UCL Upper Confidence Limit WAM Western Australian Museum WQ Water Quality SINCLAIR KNIGHT MERZ I:\WVES\Projects\WV03926\Deliverables\CTR 10.212 DFS10 Intertidal Study\Reports\Rev 5\R5_WV03869_DFS10_26 07 10_final.docx PAGE ii James Price Point Intertidal Survey Executive Summary The Browse liquefied natural gas (LNG) Development is based on the recovery of hydrocarbons from the Torosa, Brecknock and Calliance fields, located approximately 425 km north of Broome, Western Australia. The downstream component of the Browse LNG Development is proposed to be located at James Price Point, on the Dampier Peninsula, with development related activities to be undertaken in the adjacent coastal area. Development of the nearshore marine facilities and shore pipeline crossings will require extensive construction activities which may include dredging, excavating, blasting and trenching. As such, benthic habitats in close proximity to these facilities, including intertidal habitats, may potentially be impacted. A baseline intertidal survey was conducted in October 2009 to describe the spatial variability in benthic communities on intertidal beaches, sand flats, rocky shores and reef platforms at the James Price Point coastal area (between Quondong and Coloumb Points). Intertidal habitats are, in general, ecologically diverse and provide habitat for a range of benthic primary producers (BPP) as well as sessile and motile organisms. In the broader Kimberley region, intertidal BPP include mangroves, salt marsh, seagrass, corals, seaweeds (macroalgae) and turf algae. Based on sub-tidal surveys conducted in the vicinity of the study area, macroalgae and turf algae dominate large expanses of the intertidal platform around James Price Point. The local physical environment and associated processes (e.g. tides, weather) are critical in defining intertidal habitats. Prior to the commencement of field work, CES developed and submitted to Woodside Energy Ltd the proposed Intertidal Sampling Plan and Methodology. To facilitate regional comparisons, method development incorporated methodologies used in other studies in the region. This also ensured that the survey: recorded data required to provide accurate impact assessments set a baseline from which to assess temporal changes in future studies was compliant with approval requirements including those of the EPAs Environmental Assessment Guidelines No. 3. The locations of four intertidal survey sites were selected prior to commencement of field work. These included two sites located to the south and north of James Price Point, encompassing areas of potential development (northern site subsequently discounted), and two reference sites, each located at James Price Point South (JPPS) reference area (Quondong Point) and James Price Point North (JPPN) reference area (Flat Rock). The four survey sites were mapped prior to field work. SINCLAIR KNIGHT MERZ I:\WVES\Projects\WV03926\Deliverables\CTR 10.212 DFS10 Intertidal Study\Reports\Rev 5\R5_WV03869_DFS10_26 07 10_final.docx PAGE iii James Price Point Intertidal Survey Each survey site covered an area approximately 1 km in length along the shore, and extended from the highest to lowest astronomical tide. From the maps produced, geomorphic zones were identified and their boundaries set. Within each identified geomorphic zone, two pre-defined survey areas, each approximately 1,600 m2 in size, were randomly selected for quantitative assessment. Within each of the quantitative survey areas, coordinates of three 25 m transects were selected using stratified random sampling. Note: due to access restrictions encountered during the field trip, the JPPS reference area was not surveyed. Some site locations were also altered during field work due to accessibility or timing restrictions, or to completely capture community types within the zones. The omission of JPPS reference area and alteration of other survey locations did not affect the results of this study. The intertidal survey was undertaken to coincide with the lowest spring equinox tides, which occurred from 6–9 October 2009. Survey methods included: general observations of all sites and sub-sites video and digital photography of all transects and quadrats identification of species present in survey areas collection of voucher specimens by Western Australian Museum staff, where necessary. Video and digital photography was analysed to determine species composition, relative abundance and percentage cover. The benthic characteristics identified were mapped and classified using a combination of littoral zone, biota and substrate attributes. Data from all sites were statistically analysed to determine differences in taxa between sites, between areas within sites and at different heights on the shore. Overall, the intertidal zone at JPPN survey area and JPPN reference area was up to 500 m wide with a slight slope characteristic of beaches exposed to low energy waves. In contrast, the intertidal zone at JPPS survey area consisted of a lower to upper-mid littoral reef platform, approximately 200 m at its widest, with a moderately sloped upper littoral beach zone up to 50 m wide. All survey sites consisted of a mix of reef and sand substrates. Reef substrates were concentrated in the upper-mid littoral zone, while sand substrates were common in all littoral zones. The species composition of the biota classes varied between geomorphic units and survey areas. Biota density was low in all littoral zones, with the exception of the lower-mid littoral zone at JPPS survey area. Abiotic substrata typically constituted the greatest percentage cover of any biota type. Reef and sandy substrata generally had very little attached biota other than turf algae.