Asian Renewable Energy Hub: Marine State Waters Environmental Impact Assessment
1250_01_001/1 Rev 0
September 2018 P:\IntercontinentalEnergy\1250_01SubseaCableApp&Studies\001_OriginalScope\Reports\MarineImpactAssessment\HVDCCable_Sta teMarineEIA_Rev0_20180927.docm
Asian Renewable Energy Hub: Marine State Waters Environmental
Impact Assessment
Prepared for
NW Interconnected Power Pty Ltd
Prepared by BMT Western Australia Pty Ltd
September 2018
Report No. 1250_01_001/1 Rev 0
Client: NW Interconnected Power Pty Ltd Document history
Distribution
No. copies Revision Author Recipients Organisation Date & format NW Interconnected A Bevilaqua A Tancock A Power 1 x doc 20/10/17 R De Roach G Humphries Biota NW Interconnected R De Roach A Tancock B Power 1 x pdf 10/11/17 A Bevilaqua G Humphries Biota NW Interconnected A Tancock C A Bevilaqua Power 1 x pdf 11/09/18 G Humphries Biota NW Interconnected A Tancock 0 A Bevilaqua Power 1 x pdf 27/09/18 G Humphries Biota
Review
Revision Reviewer Intent Date A Tancock A First Draft, no review G Humphries No review, awaiting updates to be made A Tancock B in reference to the Environmental G Humphries Scoping Document C A Tancock Client review 11/09/18
Status
This report is 'Draft' until approved for final release, as indicated below by inclusion of signatures from: (i) the author and (ii) a Director of BMT Western Australia Pty Ltd (BMT) or their authorised delegate. A Draft report may be issued for review with intent to generate a 'Final' version, but must not be used for any other purpose.
Approved for final release:
Author Director (or delegate) Date: 27/09/18 Date: 27/09/18
Disclaimer This report has been prepared on behalf of and for the exclusive use of NW Interconnected Power Pty Ltd, and is subject to and issued in accordance with the agreed terms and scope between NW Interconnected Power Pty Ltd and BMT Western Australia Pty Ltd (BMT). BMT accepts no liability or responsibility for it in respect of any use of or reliance upon this report by any third party. Copying this report without prior written consent of NW Interconnected Power Pty Ltd or BMT is not permitted. © Copyright 2018 BMT
Contents
Acronyms ...... ix 1. Introduction ...... 10 2. Project Description ...... 12 2.1 Specification for subsea cable installation in State Waters...... 12 3. Relevant Environmental Legislation and Approvals ...... 14 3.1 Decision-making authorities ...... 14 3.2 Relevant legislation and guidance material ...... 14 3.2.1 Environmental Protection Act 1986 ...... 14 3.2.2 Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Commonwealth) ...... 14 3.2.3 Conservation and Land Management Act 1984 ...... 15 3.2.4 Biodiversity Conservation Act 2018 ...... 15 3.2.5 Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972 ...... 16 3.2.6 Maritime Archaeology Act 1973 ...... 16 3.2.7 Biosecurity Act 2016 (Commonwealth) ...... 16 3.2.8 Navigable Waters Regulations 1958 ...... 16 3.2.9 Land Administration Act 1997 ...... 16 4. Marine Environmental Setting ...... 17 4.1 Eighty Mile Beach Marine Park ...... 17 4.2 Physical environment ...... 17 4.2.1 Climate ...... 17 4.2.2 Hydrodynamics ...... 18 4.2.3 Geology and geomorphology ...... 20 4.3 Biological environment ...... 20 4.3.1 Benthic primary producer habitat ...... 20 4.3.2 Protected marine fauna ...... 22 4.3.3 Protected avifauna ...... 25 4.4 Social environment ...... 25 4.4.1 Heritage and ethnography ...... 25 4.4.2 Commercial and recreation ...... 28 5. Marine Environmental Impact Assessment ...... 29 5.1 Causes of potential environmental impact ...... 29 5.1.1 Installation, maintenance and decommissioning of the cables ...... 29 5.1.2 Operation of the cables...... 29 5.2 Relevant environmental factors and impact assessment ...... 29 5.2.1 Environmental factors, values and objectives ...... 29 5.2.2 Alignment with values and objectives of the Eighty Mile Beach Marine Park Management Plan ...... 31 5.2.3 Potential for cumulative impacts ...... 32 5.3 Potential impacts on environmental factors ...... 34 5.3.1 Benthic communities and habitats ...... 34 5.3.2 Coastal processes ...... 34 5.3.3 Marine environmental quality ...... 34 5.3.4 Marine fauna ...... 36
BMT: NW Interconnected Power Pty Ltd: Asian Renewable Energy Hub: Marine State Waters Environmental Impact Assessment vii 5.3.5 Social surroundings and human health ...... 39 5.3.6 Indigenous and non- indigenous heritage areas ...... 39 5.3.7 Fisheries – commercial and recreational ...... 39 5.3.8 Maritime safety ...... 39 6. Marine Environmental Management ...... 40 7. References ...... 44
List of Figures
Figure 1.1 Proposed HDVC cable lay in Western Australian State Waters ...... 11 Figure 2.1 Map of the cable corridor survey area (red box; ~2 km x 6 km) in State Waters from the lowest astronomical tide (dotted black line) ...... 13 Figure 4.1 Broome airport wind speed and direction and tropical cyclone tracks influencing the region ...... 18 Figure 4.2 LandSat imagery showing very high levels of turbidity throughout the study area...... 19 Figure 4.3 Benthic habitat map of the cable lay corridor ...... 21 Figure 4.4 Cetacean sightings north of Gourdon Bay in 2009 ...... 24 Figure 4.5 Native title Determination Areas within and adjacent to Eighty Mile Beach and proposed cable corridor in State Waters (orange line) ...... 26 Figure 4.6 Map showing lack of registered Aboriginal Sites in the region of the HVDC cable corridor ...... 27 Figure 4.7 Maritime heritage sites adjacent to the cable corridor survey area (red box; ~2 km x 6 km) in State Waters from the lowest astronomical tide (dotted black line) ...... 27 Figure 5.1 Eighty Mile Marine Park Management Area Zoning (DPaW 2014) and proposed cable corridor in State Waters (orange line) ...... 33
List of Tables
Table 2.1 Coordinates of the cable corridor survey area corner boundaries ...... 13 Table 4.1 Tidal planes of Broome ...... 20 Table 4.2 Protected and threatened marine fauna ...... 23 Table 5.1 Environmental factors and objectives (EPA 2016a) ...... 30 Table 5.2 Alignment of environmental factors (EPA 2016a) with values and objectives of the Eighty Mile Beach Marine Park Management Plan (DPaW 2014) ...... 32 Table 6.1 Relevant environmental factors, objectives1, performance indicators and proposed measurement criteria ...... 41
List of Appendices
Appendix A EPBC Protected Matters Report Appendix B Aboriginal Heritage Inquiry System Search Results Appendix C Eighty Mile Beach Benthic Habitat Mapping Survey Results
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Acronyms
AH Act Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972 BC Act Biodiversity Conservation Act 2018 CALM Act Conservation and Land Management Act 1984 DBCA Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions DoEE Department of Environment and Energy DPIRD Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development DPLH Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage DWER Department of Water and Environmental Regulation EIA Environmental Impact Assessment EMF Electromagnetic field EP Act Environmental Protection Act 1986 EPA Environmental Protection Authority EPBC Act Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 ESD Environmental Scoping Document HAT Highest astronomical tide HDVC High voltage direct current IMS Invasive marine species JMB Joint Management Bodies LA Act Land Administration Act 1997 LAT Lowest astronomical tide MEMP Marine Environmental Management Plan MNES Matters of national environmental significance PER Public Environmental Review TNTM Temporary Notice to Mariners WA Western Australia
BMT: NW Interconnected Power Pty Ltd: Asian Renewable Energy Hub: Marine State Waters Environmental Impact Assessment ix 1. Introduction
Onshore wind and solar energy are now the most cost-effective sources of additional electricity capacity in countries with abundant renewable energy resources. At the same time, methods for transmitting cheap and clean power long distances are maturing. Including the use of high voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission technology and the production of green hydrogen electrolysis. NW Interconnected Power Pty Ltd ('the Proponent') propose to utilise the combination of these technological advancements to construct and operate a large-scale renewable energy supply project, the Asian Renewable Energy Hub ('the Proposal'; Figure 1.1). The Proposal will supply large energy users in the Pilbara, export power via HDVC cable to South-East Asia, and produce green hydrogen for domestic and export customers. In terms of installed capacity, it will be the second largest power hub in the world behind the Three Gorges Dam, China. site is approximately 220 km east of Port Hedland and 270 km south-west of Broome (Figure 1.1) and includes installation of (HVDC) subsea power cables from Eighty Mile Beach, Western Australia (WA).
The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has determined the Proposal be formally assessed at a Public Environmental Review (PER) level under Part IV of the Environmental Protection Act 1986 (EP Act). The Proposal has also been determined a controlled action under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) and the PER is an accredited assessment under the Federal bilateral agreement. The Proposal, as defined by the EPA Environmental Scoping Document (ESD; Biota 2018), only extends to the limit of State Waters; Commonwealth Waters and international permitting will be subject to a separate assessment once the final route planning is completed.
The purpose of this document is to present an environmental impact assessment (EIA) of HVDC cable lay, operation, maintenance and decommissioning within State (Coastal) Waters from the lowest astronomical tide (LAT), excluding the intertidal zone; the 2 km x 6 km study area for the cable corridor is presented in Figure 2.1 and Table 2.1. The document has been prepared in accordance with the ESD (Biota 2018) and may be used to support the environmental review for assessment of the Proposal.
10 BMT NW Interconnected Power Pty Ltd: Asian Renewable Energy Hub: Marine State Waters Environmental Impact Assessment
Source: Biota (unpublished) Figure 1.1 Proposed HDVC cable lay in Western Australian State Waters
BMT: NW Interconnected Power Pty Ltd: Asian Renewable Energy Hub: Marine State Waters Environmental Impact Assessment 11 2. Project Description
2.1 Specification for subsea cable installation in State Waters The specification for the Proposal's HVDC subsea cable installation and operation in WA State Waters is as follows:
• Four standard subsea cables will be installed, each comprising either a mass-impregnated high voltage cable, or a cross linked polyethylene high voltage cable. Each cable will be ~16 cm in diameter and ~60 kg/m in weight, with an aluminium or copper core; and nominally operating at 600–800 kV DC. • The cables will be placed up to 50 m apart, and the cable corridor will be 200 m wide to allow for a 25 m buffer either side of each cable (i.e. the envelope of direct disturbance). • The cables will be buried for the entire route. Burial will primarily be via jetting, hydro-ploughing or trenching up to 10 m below surface level. • Using a specialist cable laying vessel, the cables will be installed one after the other. In the case of cables going to Port Hedland or Dampier it is possible that two cables might be installed in a given season. For export to South-East Asia, each cable would be laid 2-3 years apart (i.e. the duration required for installation between Broome and Singapore). • It is proposed to operate the first laid cable independently in a monopole configuration (i.e. where the return current is via the ground and seawater). This process will require the installation of an anode to facilitate the return current. In the case of cables to Port Hedland or Dampier, monopole configuration could be for a period of months to 1 year. For cables to South-East Asia monopole configuration could be for up to 3 years. • Following installation of each cable pair, the pair of cables will typically operate in a bipolar configuration (where the return current is via the second cable and the anode is not used), over a minimum design life of 50 years. However, the configuration may occasionally revert to a monopole configuration during maintenance or repair works.
Given the fast nature of technological advances in renewables, there may be changes to the Proposal specifications presented herein and the EIA presented covers project specifications as presented at the time of preparing this report. Significance of any changes to the Proposal, as presented in the ESD (Biota 2018), will be determined in consultation with the EPA during the assessment process, as per s. 43A of the EP Act.
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Figure 2.1 Map of the cable corridor survey area (red box; ~2 km x 6 km) in State Waters from the lowest astronomical tide (dotted black line)
Table 2.1 Coordinates of the cable corridor survey area corner boundaries
Site Easting Northing
NE 268890 7828019 SE 268889 7821856 SW 267094 7820956 NW 267096 7827178 Note: coordinates are in GDA94, UTM51
BMT: NW Interconnected Power Pty Ltd: Asian Renewable Energy Hub: Marine State Waters Environmental Impact Assessment 13 3. Relevant Environmental Legislation and Approvals
3.1 Decision-making authorities The following key State and Commonwealth decision-making authorities have been identified for the coastal waters portion of the Proposal:
• Environmental Protection Authority • Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (DWER) • Department of Environment and Energy (DoEE) (Commonwealth) • Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) and Eighty Mile Beach Marine Park Joint Management Bodies (JMBs), specifically Nyangumarta Warrarn Aboriginal Corporation and other traditional owner groups • Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation • Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) • Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage (DPLH) • Department of Transport (DoT) • Department of Agriculture and Water Resources (Commonwealth) 3.2 Relevant legislation and guidance material 3.2.1 Environmental Protection Act 1986 The EP Act is the major piece of legislation relating to the environment in Western Australia (WA). For projects proposed within WA State Waters, the EP Act defines the primary approvals process for undertaking EIA. The EP Act (mainly Part IV) together with its Administration Procedures (2016) specify the objectives and requisite procedures for EIA of proposals, which must be complied with by all stakeholders, including: the proponent, the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), DWER EPA Services and any other relevant party.
The Proposal was referred to the EPA under Section 38(1) of the EP Act (Part IV) and the level of assessment set at PER. The ESD (Biota 2018) was prepared in consultation with the EPA to define the form, content, timing and procedure of the environmental review, required by S. 40(3) of the EP Act. The content of this EIA has been prepared to support the environmental review for assessment of the Proposal.
3.2.2 Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Commonwealth) The EPBC Act is the Australian Government's key piece of environmental legislation. EIA is required under the EPBC Act for projects that are likely to have a significant impact on matters of national environmental significance (MNES) defined under the Act, or in Commonwealth Waters.
Potentially relevant MNES for the Proposal in State Waters include (see Appendix A):
• Listed threatened and/or migratory species– including protected marine fauna • Wetlands of international importance (Ramsar wetlands), particularly as a habitat for birds
The Proposal was determined a 'controlled action' under the EPBC Act and deemed an accredited assessment under the Federal bilateral agreement (Biota 2018).
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The EPBC Act also provides Australia's key heritage law administered at a national level by DoEE, including the registration, maintenance and protection of sites on the Australian Heritage Database (DoEE 2017). The DoEE also administers the following Commonwealth heritage legislation:
• Historic Shipwrecks Act 1976 • Aboriginal Torres Strait Islander Heritage Protection Act 1984 • Australian Heritage Council Act 2003.
3.2.3 Conservation and Land Management Act 1984 The Conservation and Land Management Act 1984 (CALM Act) applies to this Proposal as the cable corridor traverses the Eighty Mile Beach Marine Park. The CALM Act provides for the declaration of marine parks and the establishment of management plans to conserve and protect these areas. The Eighty Mile Beach Marine Park Management Plan (DPaW 2014) is administered by DBCA and traditional owner JMBs; and specifies management of ecological, cultural, social and economic values of the marine park (further see Section 5.2.2).
The CALM Act also lists offences that apply in marine parks, including:
• s101C taking flora or fauna • r8 taking of flora and fauna other than fish • r9 fishing in restricted areas • r11 approaching dugongs, seals, sea lions, whale sharks, manta rays, marine turtles or any other marine fauna in a marine park • r14 removing plants • r21 discharging or depositing waste • rr41–50 entering restricted areas • r60 anchoring vessels in restricted areas • r61 operating vehicles in restricted areas.
A licence to enter the Marine Park was provided by DBCA to collect benthic habitat mapping data (Section 5.3.1).
3.2.4 Biodiversity Conservation Act 2018 The Biodiversity Conservation Act 2018 (BC Act) provides for the conservation and protection of wildlife within WA. The underlying principles of the BC Act are to conserve and protect biodiversity, biodiversity components, and to promote the ecologically sustainable use of biodiversity components, throughout WA, with regard to the principles of ecologically sustainable development. The BC Act is relatively new, so regulations replacing provisions under the Wildlife Act 1950 are still in preparation. It is likely that threatened species and ecological communities will be adequately assessed under Part IV of the EP Act and the EPBC Act; however, DBCA will be consulted as a stakeholder during referral under the EP Act, to ensure all matters of biodiversity protection are adequately addressed.
BMT: NW Interconnected Power Pty Ltd: Asian Renewable Energy Hub: Marine State Waters Environmental Impact Assessment 15 3.2.5 Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972 The Proponent will liaise with the appropriate traditional owners (Nyangumarta Warrarn Aboriginal Corporation) and relevant JMBs to obtain more information on the significance of the Proposal site and determine the need for an Aboriginal archaeological survey of the area of potential disturbance. A preliminary search of the Aboriginal Heritage Enquiry System (Appendix B) showed no registered Aboriginal sites within the Proposal footprint. If it appears that disturbance of an Aboriginal heritage site is unavoidable, there may be a requirement to submit a Notice under Section 18 of the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972 (AH Act), i.e. an application for consent for disturbance. The DPLH has prepared guidelines for the interaction between Section 18 of the AH Act and Part IV of the EP Act.
3.2.6 Maritime Archaeology Act 1973 The WA Museum is responsible for protection of pre-1900 maritime archaeological sites, under the Maritime Archaeology Act 1973. It is unlikely that the Proposal will affect a maritime archaeological site (see Section 4.4.1).
3.2.7 Biosecurity Act 2016 (Commonwealth) The Commonwealth Biosecurity Act 2016 provides a regulatory framework for management of biosecurity risks, including: non-indigenous species, pests, disease and contaminants. This is managed under the Australian Government Department of Agriculture and Water Resources. The Biosecurity Act 2016 includes regulations for ballast water, biofouling and biosecurity risks associated with marine pests and will be considered by the Proponent for management of these risks.
3.2.8 Navigable Waters Regulations 1958 The Navigable Waters Regulations 1958 (referring to the Shipping and Pilotage Act 1967, Jetties Act 1926 and Western Australian Marine Act 1982) manage maritime activities in Western Australian navigable waters, including the territorial sea adjacent to the State. Permission is required from the DoT under Regulation 8 of the Navigable Waters Regulations 1958 to install cables to shore.
3.2.9 Land Administration Act 1997 The principal legislation governing land use of the seabed within WA State Waters (Crown Lands) is the Land Administration Act 1997 (LA Act). Approval is required under Section 91 of the LA Act, in the form of an easement as appropriate to the cable corridor being proposed. The LA Act is administered by DPLH.
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4. Marine Environmental Setting
4.1 Eighty Mile Beach Marine Park The proposed 200 m wide HDVC cable corridor will traverse coastal waters through the Eighty Mile Beach Marine Park ('the Marine Park'), between Port Hedland and Broome, on the north-west coast of Western Australia. The Marine Park is central to the Northwest Marine Bioregion (DSEWPC 2012), covers an area of ~200 000 ha and extends for nearly 260 km from Mulla Mulla Downs Creek in the south to Cape Missiessy in the north. The Marine Park extends seaward from the high water mark to the limit of State Waters (and includes the waters, the airspace above those waters, the seabed below those waters, and the subsoil to a depth of 200 m below the seabed).
The Marine Park was gazetted as a Class A Marine Park in January 2013 and is jointly managed by the DBCA, DPIRD and traditional owners, through the establishment of joint management agreements with the Karajarri, Nyangumarta and Ngarla people who have native title determinations for the lands and waters (to low astronomical tide; LAT) in and adjacent to Eighty Mile Beach. All intertidal areas within the Marine Park, and the adjacent Mandora Salt Marsh ~40 km inland, are listed under the Ramsar Convention as recognised feeding grounds for migratory shorebirds and waders (DPaW 2014).
The Marine Park zoning scheme ensures that biodiversity, heritage, cultural, aesthetic, recreational and commercial values are upheld and includes zoned areas of: sanctuary (~24%), recreation (~2%), special purpose (cultural heritage; ~2%) and general use (~72%) (DPaW 2014). 4.2 Physical environment 4.2.1 Climate Eighty Mile Beach has a semi arid climate; with a winter dry season (April to October) and a summer wet season (late-November to March). During the wet season mean daily temperature ranges between ~12°C and 36°C and in the wet season between ~19°C and 36°C (BoM 2017a). During the wet season monthly mean rainfall ranges from ~7 to 109 mm whereas during the dry season the range is ~1 to 22 mm (BoM 2017a). The heaviest rainfall is generally associated with the passage of tropical cyclones – which typically occur between November and April, peaking in February and March – and can cause extensive flooding. Eighty Mile Beach is in an area with the highest occurrence of tropical cyclones in Australia; cyclones cross the coast close enough to cause damage approximately every 2 years in Port Hedland and 4 years in Broome, although the frequency has decreased in recent years (Hale & Butcher 2009, BoM 2017b; Figure 4.1).
Wind data recorded between 1942 and 2016 at Port Hedland, 150 km south of Eighty Mile Beach, indicates winds are predominantly from the south-east in the morning (0900) and from the north- west in the afternoon (1500) (Figure 4.1). Mean annual wind speed was 17.5 km/h and 22.2 km/h at 0900 and 1500, respectively (BoM 2017a; Figure 4.1). Sea temperatures in the region range from ~24 to 32°C throughout the year.
BMT: NW Interconnected Power Pty Ltd: Asian Renewable Energy Hub: Marine State Waters Environmental Impact Assessment 17
Figure 4.1 Broome airport wind speed and direction and tropical cyclone tracks influencing the region
4.2.2 Hydrodynamics Offshore from Eighty Mile Beach, the Leeuwin Current and Indonesian Throughflow drive warm low salinity ocean currents south into the region (Condie et al. 2006). The wave climate in the Broome region is influenced by the effects of tide and seasonal winds acting on a predominantly westerly swell regime that ranges from ~0.5 to 1.3 m (Hesp & Curry 1984). Offshore Commonwealth waters are generally clear but nearshore State Waters are turbid due to high energy macro-tidal flows (as well as episodic river runoff in the region, particularly during cyclone events) (Condie et al. 2006) (Figure 4.2). Tidal datums measured by DoT adjacent to the Port of Broome indicate tides in the region are semi-diurnal with a mean range of 8.27 m at spring tide (MHWS–MLWS) and 2.11 m at neap tide (MHWN–MLWN), with a lowest to highest astronomical range of 10.5 m (LAT-HAT) (Table 4.1; Oceanica 2010). Storm surges may range up to 2 m; however, it is rare that the water level surpasses the highest astronomical tide (HAT; 10.56 Chart Datum; Table 4.1) (Hesp & Curry 1984).
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Note: study area refers to habitat mapping survey within the cable lay area Section 4.3.1. Figure 4.2 LandSat imagery showing very high levels of turbidity throughout the study area
BMT: NW Interconnected Power Pty Ltd: Asian Renewable Energy Hub: Marine State Waters Environmental Impact Assessment 19 Table 4.1 Tidal planes of Broome
Tidal plane Elevation (m Chart Datum) HAT: Highest Astronomic Tide 10.56 MHWS: Mean High Water Springs 9.28 MHWN: Mean High Water Neaps 6.32 MSL: Mean Sea Level 5.41 MLWN: Mean High Water Neaps 4.51 MLWS: Mean Low Water Springs 1.54 LAT: Lowest Astronomic Tide 0.06 Source: Oceanica (2010)
4.2.3 Geology and geomorphology Eighty Mile Beach is situated in the southern part of the Canning Basin and consists of Pre- Cainozoic rock that extends offshore and is interspersed with small islands (Condie et al. 2006, DPaW 2014). The low relief and a macro-tidal regime result in an almost continuous 220 km beach supporting a large tidal mudflat area of ~60 000 ha (DPaW 2014). The intertidal zone is characterised by silty/clay organic marine sediments (within the 20 m isobath). The upper intertidal areas are courser grained, changing to an ~100 m wide white sandy beach fringed by low sand dunes to the east (Hale & Butcher 2009). The intertidal mudflats are on average 2.6 km wide but at the lowest spring tides can be ~4 km wide, and tend to be more extensive in the north (DPaW 2014). 4.3 Biological environment 4.3.1 Benthic primary producer habitat Benthic habitat mapping was completed between 12 and 16 December 2017 using side scan sonar and towed video within a study area containing the proposed HVDC cable lay corridor, within WA State Waters (Figure 1.1 and Table 2.1). The study area was 2 km wide, extending ~5 km north of the LAT, to remain within State Waters (Figure 4.2). The study area was limited to LAT and did not include the intertidal area.
Results of habitat mapping indicated that there was no significant benthic producer habitat within the study area (Figure 4.3; Appendix C). The sand dominated area was further categorised to reflect levels of resuspension related to levels of energy driven by metocean conditions and depth of site (moderate to high energy) and information on the degree of bioturbation (Figure 4.3; Appendix C). The benthic habitat was sand dominated with significant turbidity throughout most of the study area. Bioturbated sediments (<1%) were noted in the deeper section of the survey area to the north.
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Figure 4.3 Benthic habitat map of the cable lay corridor
BMT: NW Interconnected Power Pty Ltd: Asian Renewable Energy Hub: Marine State Waters Environmental Impact Assessment 21 4.3.2 Protected marine fauna The marine waters adjacent to the Proposal support a variety of fauna, several of which are significant and protected under the EPBC Act. A search of the online EPBC Act Protected Matters Reporting Tool identified 26 listed threatened species and 61 listed migratory species that may occur in the Proposal area (Appendix A). The listed marine species include: six marine reptiles (five turtles and one seasnake); five elasmobranch fish (three sawfish and two sharks); eleven marine mammals (Table 4.2). Additional marine fauna species listed as possibly occurring within the Proposal area included pipefishes (19) and seahorses (4) and seasnakes (16) (Appendix A).
The marine mammals identified for the Proposal area include dugongs, whales and dolphins (Table 4.2). The Commonwealth EPBC Act provides special protection for migratory species of national environmental significance. Current knowledge of the distribution, migratory habits and local importance of the Marine Park for whales and dolphins is limited. Humpback and blue whales are known to move through the region during their annual migration, north from April to August for calving in tropical waters and south from August to October for feeding, but are most often seen in deeper offshore waters (Figure 4.4). Similarly, migrating killer and bryde's whales are most commonly seen along the continental slope and shelf areas (IFWA 2011, Chevron Australia 2013). Due to the area’s shallow water depth (<10 m) and large tidal range, it is unlikely that the Marine Park comprises significant habitat for some of the larger marine mammal species (DPaW 2014).
The Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins, bottlenose dolphin and Australian snubfin dolphin have a preference for nearshore waters and are known to congregate in Roebuck Bay for breeding, feeding and/or calving (IFWA 2011, Brown et al. 2014), though there is no record of specific association with the Marine Park. The Risso's dolphin is pelagic (IFAW 2011), and unlikely to occur in nearshore shallow waters of the Marine Park. The common bottlenose dolphin occurs in both offshore and nearshore populations and can be associated with other dolphins and marine mammals (i.e. humpback whales) (IFAW 2011).
Information on dugongs in the Kimberley region is limited and the Western Australian Marine Science Institute (WAMSI) is currently completing a program that will integrate indigenous knowledge, aerial surveys and tagging to develop a baseline dugong management plan for the region (WAMSI 2014). Dugongs commonly aggregate in protected shallow bays and mangrove channels, primarily feeding on seagrass (DPaW 2014, Bennelongia et al. 2009). Dugongs are regularly sighted in the shallow embayments at the southern end of the Marine Park in relatively large aggregations (DPaW 2014). Concern has been raised regarding declining dugong populations, partially attributed to the indigenous use of the dugong (Chalmers & Woods 1987; cited in Oceanica 2010), though this practice is infrequent in the Marine Park (DPaW 2014). The lack of significant seagrass stands in the cable corridor area (Sections 4.3.1 and 5.3.1) suggests that it does not comprise significant habitat for dugongs.
Five species of turtles are known to occur in the Marine Park (Table 4.2). The flatback turtle is endemic to northern Australian waters and the Marine Park is an important rookery for the species (RIS 2009, DSEWPC 2012), with peak nesting activity between late-November and early December. Unlike other turtle species, flatback turtles spend majority of their lives in shallow water (<20 m), migrating longer distances between feeding and breeding (Hale & Butcher 2009). Other turtles may breed or forage in the area, but Eighty Mile Beach is not considered a significant habitat for these species.
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Four of the elasmobranch fish with habitat or breeding known to occur in the area were sawfish (Table 4.2). The Marine Park is known to support green and dwarf sawfish breeding and represents suitable habitat for largetooth and narrow sawfish (DSEWPC 2012, DPaW 2014, DoE 2015). Sawfish tracking surveys by Stephens et al. (2008) indicated that sawfish prefer very shallow water over mudflats and sandbanks, often resting during slack tide when water movement is low. Net and gillnet fishing were identified as the main threat for both the freshwater and green sawfish―as the saw gets entangled in the nets—and was banned in 2013 (ABC 2013). There are a number of sharks and rays that inhabit nearshore waters at Eighty Mile Beach, including: whaler sharks, pigeye sharks, nervous sharks, graceful sharks, black tip sharks, spinner sharks, hardnose sharks, lemon sharks, hammerhead sharks, stingrays and shovelnose rays (DPaW 2014). Commercial longline fishing was banned in 2005 to protect breeding stocks of sharks that use the shallow nearshore waters as a nursery (DPaW 200).
Manta rays range from Geraldton and through the Kimberley and are commonly sighted along coastlines where regular upwelling occurs, around shallow reefs and in sandy bottom areas. It is unlikely that whalesharks would access the shallower waters of the Marine Park. Table 4.2 Protected and threatened marine fauna
Species Category and/or status Type of presence Marine mammals Blue whale (Balaenoptera Threatened species: endangered Species or species habitat likely to musculus) Migratory occur within area Humpback whale (Megaptera Threatened species: vulnerable Species or species habitat known novaeangliae) Migratory to occur within area Species or species habitat may Bryde's whale (Balaenoptera edeni) Migratory occur within area Species or species habitat likely to Dugong (Dugong dugon) Migratory occur within area Species or species habitat may Killer whale (Orcinus orca) Migratory occur within area Spotted bottlenose dolphin Species or species habitat known Migratory (Tursiops aduncus) to occur within area Common dolphin (Delphinus Species or species habitat may Listed delphis) occur within area Species or species habitat may Risso's dolphin (Delphinus delphis) Listed occur within area Indian ocean bottlenose dolphin Species or species habitat likely to Listed (Tursiops aduncus) occur within area Bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops Species or species habitat may Listed truncatus) occur within area Indo-pacific humpback dolphin Species or species habitat may Migratory (Sousa chinensis) occur within area Reptiles Threatened species: endangered Loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta) Breeding likely to occur within area Migratory Threatened species: vulnerable Foraging, feeding or related Green turtle (Chelonia mydas) Migratory behaviour known to occur with area Leatherback turtle (Dermochelys Threatened species: endangered Breeding likely to occur within area coriacea) Migratory Hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys Threatened species: vulnerable Breeding likely to occur within area imbricata) Migratory Threatened species: vulnerable Flatback turtle (Natator depressus) Breeding likely to occur within area Migratory
BMT: NW Interconnected Power Pty Ltd: Asian Renewable Energy Hub: Marine State Waters Environmental Impact Assessment 23 Species Category and/or status Type of presence Short-nosed seasnake (Aipysurus Threatened species: critically Species or species habitat likely to apraefrontalis) endangered occur within the area Elasmobranch fish (sharks) White shark (Carcharodon Threatened species: vulnerable Species or species habitat may carcharias) Migratory occur within area Threatened species: vulnerable Breeding known to occur within Dwarf sawfish (Pristis clavata) Migratory area Threatened species: vulnerable Species or species habitat known Largetooth sawfish (Pristis pristis) Migratory to occur within area Threatened species: vulnerable Breeding known to occur within Green sawfish (Pristis zijsron) Migratory area Threatened species: vulnerable Species or species habitat may Whale shark (Rhincodon typus) Migratory occur within area Narrow sawfish (Anoxypristis Species or species habitat likely to Migratory cuspidata) occur within the area Species or species habitat may Reef manta ray (Manta alfredi) Migratory occur within area Species or species habitat may Giant manta ray (Manta birostris) Migratory occur within area
Source: Costin and Sandes (2009; cited in Oceanica 2010) Figure 4.4 Cetacean sightings north of Gourdon Bay in 2009
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4.3.3 Protected avifauna The 220 km stretch of Eighty Mile Beach and the Mandora Salt Marsh to the east of the coast is a Wetland of International Importance (under the Ramsar Convention) as a significant stopover area for non-breeding migratory shorebirds globally and within Australia; second only to Roebuck Bay near Broome (Hale & Butcher 2009, RIS 2009). A search of the online EPBC Act Protected Matters Reporting Tool revealed four critically endangered, three endangered, two vulnerable and 37 migratory marine and wetland bird species—most of which are listed in all or one of the following international treaties for migratory birds: the Japan-Australia Migratory Bird Agreement, the China- Australia Migratory Bird Agreement and Republic of Korea-Australia Migratory Bird Agreement (Appendix A).
The Marine Park's intertidal beach shoreline is an important habitat for bird stopovers or 'staging' for survival during their annual migrations. During an adult bird's migration, the Marine Park is predominantly used as a feeding and foraging ground (August–April), prior to migration to the northern hemisphere for breeding (March–May) (Hale & Butcher 2009). The Marine Park regularly supports >200,000 shorebirds during summer and >20,000 during winter, with 97 species of waterbird recorded from the beach (Hale & Butcher 2009). Birds may feed exclusively within intertidal and shallow water areas where there is an abundance of macroinvertebrates or use the beach for roosting while feeding further inland (Hale & Butcher 2009). The high diversity and abundance of macroinvertebrates is the result of heavy summer rainfall, which mobilises organic nutrients and organic matter that promotes bacteria and phytoplankton growth, supplying food for the macroinvertebrate community (Hale & Butcher 2009). Nesting at this Ramsar site is largely associated with the Mandora Saltmarsh area, except for species like the black-fronted dotterel that nest in a scrape close to the ocean (Hale & Butcher 2009). 4.4 Social environment 4.4.1 Heritage and ethnography There are three indigenous groups that have been recognised for their connections to the land and waters within and adjacent to the Marine Park; the Karajarri, Nyangumarta and Ngarla people (DPaW 2014). Registered native title determination areas cover a large portion of the Marine Park and land to the east, including intertidal areas to LAT (Figure 4.5). The coastal portion of the Proposal is likely to interface with the Nyangumarta people’s native title determination area (Figure 4.5). Joint management agreements between DBCA, DPIRD and the Nyangumarta and Ngarla people were signed in December 2014, as a requirement of the Marine Park Management Plan (DPaW 2014). The Nyangumarta Warrarn Aboriginal Corporation is involved as key stakeholders regarding the proposed Proposal, to ensure heritage sites are identified and preserved. A preliminary search of the Aboriginal Heritage Inquiry System did not identify any heritage sites in or adjacent to the proposed cable corridor in State Waters or near the coast (Appendix B).
There is a history of European heritage in the north-west region of WA, associated with exploration, commercial fishing, pastoralisation and World War II. North of the Proposal area there is a World War II plane wreck (Dornier Do-24 X-36), within the Anna Plains Sanctuary Zone (DPaW 2014). There are two pearl luggers wrecked on Eighty Mile Beach (DPaW 2014), and a search of the Australian National Shipwrecks Database indicates two wrecks in the region of Eighty Mile Beach (Figure 4.7). All identified heritage sites are ~10 km or more from the proposed Proposal site and are unlikely to be impacted during commissioning, maintenance and decommissioning of the cable.
The acoustic benthic survey of the area in which the cable corridor is proposed to be located (see Sections 4.3.1 and 5.3.1) did not find any large-scale features suggestive of heritage artefacts.
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Source: DPaW (2014) Figure 4.5 Native title Determination Areas within and adjacent to Eighty Mile Beach and proposed cable corridor in State Waters (orange line)
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Source: see Appendix B. Figure 4.6 Map showing lack of registered Aboriginal Sites in the region of the HVDC cable corridor
Figure 4.7 Maritime heritage sites adjacent to the cable corridor survey area (red box; ~2 km x 6 km) in State Waters from the lowest astronomical tide (dotted black line)
BMT: NW Interconnected Power Pty Ltd: Asian Renewable Energy Hub: Marine State Waters Environmental Impact Assessment 27 4.4.2 Commercial and recreation Eighty Mile Beach is a popular stopover and holiday destination for travellers between Broome and Port Hedland, mainly during the dry season (April–October). The region is popular for recreational fishing, camping, four-wheel driving and wildlife viewing. Tourism is generally concentrated at the beach adjacent to the Eighty Mile Beach Caravan Park, as this site provides one of the only public access roads to the beach.
Recreational fishing is predominantly shore-based, targeting a variety of species, including: barramundi, salmon and mud crabs. Driving is permitted on the beach and no mooring or anchoring restrictions currently exist in the Marine Park. Wild pearl oysters (Pinctada maxima) are recreationally and commercially 'fished' within but mostly adjacent to the Marine Park, which is managed through a quota system and based on stock assessments (DoF 2012, DPaW 2014). There are a number of commercial fisheries that are permitted to operate in the Marine Park (general use zone), that allow gill-netting for threadfin salmon and trapping of demersal fish (barramundi) in inshore waters (Hale & Butcher 2009, DoF 2012). In 2013 the DPIRD (previously the Department of Fisheries) bought back gillnet fisheries licences operating between the northern end of the Marine Park and Roebuck Bay (ABC 2013). Commercial fishing effort within the Marine Park is not significant compared to the large size of commercial fishing licence areas in the region beyond the Marine Park.
Inland of the Marine Park, four large pastoral leases (Pardoo Station, Wallal Downs Station, Mandora Station and Anna Plains Station) cover most of the area and operate principally as cattle stations. There are no mining tenements in the nearshore waters of the Marine Park.
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5. Marine Environmental Impact Assessment
5.1 Causes of potential environmental impact Environmental impacts of the Proposal in State Waters may potentially occur during the phases of cable installation, operation, maintenance and decommissioning.
5.1.1 Installation, maintenance and decommissioning of the cables It is generally assumed that the environmental impacts of subsea cable installation, decommissioning and maintenance will be similar (Gill 2005). Potential environmental impacts may occur as a result of:
• disturbance of seabed during cable lay/pull-up • increased water column turbidity during cable lay/pull-up • release of sediment contaminants • hydrocarbon spills and waste generation from vessels • introduced marine species from vessel biofouling or ballast water exchange • artificial lighting during cable lay/pull-up • marine fauna disturbance from vessels (collisions/noise).
The installation and decommissioning of each cable from the beach to the edge of WA State Waters will take a period of a few weeks. As a result, such activities are highly transitory. Maintenance activities that require disturbance of the seabed are unlikely to occur every year. However, in the unlikely scenario of the cable requiring repair work, such activities would also be completed in a matter of weeks.
5.1.2 Operation of the cables During the operational phase of the HVDC subsea cables, potential environmental impacts primarily involve:
• marine fauna disturbance from electromagnetic fields • benthic fauna and flora disturbance from heat dissipation • chlorine formation during monopole operation • sediment contamination related to cable deterioration. 5.2 Relevant environmental factors and impact assessment 5.2.1 Environmental factors, values and objectives The EPA's (2016a) environmental factors are those parts of the environment that may be impacted by an aspect of a proposal. They provide a systematic approach to organising environmental information for the purpose of EIA and a structure for the assessment report. The EPA has 14 environmental factors, organised into five themes: Sea, Land, Water, Air and People (Table 5.1). Environmental factors that are relevant to, and considered by, this marine EIA include:
• Benthic communities and habitats • Coastal processes • Marine environmental quality • Marine fauna • Social surroundings • Human health.
BMT: NW Interconnected Power Pty Ltd: Asian Renewable Energy Hub: Marine State Waters Environmental Impact Assessment 29 The EPA has identified an environmental objective for each environmental factor (Table 5.1). The EPA makes judgements against these objectives on whether the environmental impact of a proposal may be significant. The environmental objectives are aimed towards ensuring the objects and principles of the EP Act are achieved. The EPA has also published guidelines on every environmental factor and associated objective and technical guidance for several of the environmental factors. Table 5.1 Environmental factors and objectives (EPA 2016a)
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5.2.2 Alignment with values and objectives of the Eighty Mile Beach Marine Park Management Plan The Eighty Mile Beach Marine Park Management Plan (DPaW 2014) sets out ecological and social values for protection and establishes specific objectives and associated long-term targets for each of those values. These values are listed below, as described in DPaW (2014). Summary of cultural values • Aboriginal culture and heritage: Traditional owners maintain connection to their traditional coastal and sea country through identity and place, family networks, spiritual practice and resource gathering. Native title rights and interests have been recognised over the intertidal areas of the marine park. Summary of ecological values • Geomorphology: Eighty Mile Beach is a unique and exceptional feature, which contrasts with a distinctly different seabed and coastal topography in the south-west corner of the marine park. • Water and sediment quality: Water and sediment quality is likely to be high and is essential to maintain healthy marine ecosystems. • Intertidal sand and mudflat communities: Intertidal sand and mudflat communities are primary producers with an abundance and diversity of invertebrate life, providing a valuable food source for waterbirds and other fauna. • Subtidal filter-feeding communities: A diverse range of subtidal filter-feeding communities, with a high diversity of invertebrate species. • Macroalgal and seagrass communities: Macroalgal and seagrass communities are important primary producers that provide habitat and refuge areas for fish and invertebrates. • Coral reef communities: Intertidal and subtidal reef systems support a high diversity of hard corals. • Mangrove communities and saltmarshes: Mangrove communities and adjacent saltmarshes provide nutrients to the surrounding waters and habitat for fish and invertebrates. • Waterbirds, including migratory species: Many nationally and internationally important shorebirds and waders are found in the marine park. • Marine turtles: Flatback turtles are endemic to northern Australia and nest at Eighty Mile Beach. • Marine mammals: Dugongs and several whale and dolphin species inhabit or migrate through the marine park. • Invertebrates: A highly diverse marine invertebrate fauna provides an important food source for a variety of animals, including birds, fish and turtles, along with recreational and commercial fishing opportunities. • Scalefish: A diversity of fish species provide recreational and commercial fishing opportunities. • Sharks and rays: A diversity of sharks and rays, including several protected species, are found in the park. Summary of social and economic values • European heritage: The region has a history of European contact associated with exploration, pastoralism, commercial fishing and the Second World War. Relics in the marine park include a plane wreck and shipwrecks. • Remote seascapes: Remote areas with natural beaches, rocky shores, sand and mudflats and mangroves, with visible and abundant wildlife. • Nature-based tourism: A generally undisturbed natural environment offering a variety of nature-based attractions and opportunities.
BMT: NW Interconnected Power Pty Ltd: Asian Renewable Energy Hub: Marine State Waters Environmental Impact Assessment 31 The values, management objectives and long-term targets described in the Eighty Mile Marine Park Management Plan (DPaW 2014) can be readily aligned with the EPA's (2016a) environmental factors and primary management objectives (EPA 2016b), as shown in Table 5.2. The proposed cable corridor is located within a general use zone of the marine park (Figure 5.1), which allows for (DPaW 2014):
• pipeline installation, on assessment • dredging, on assessment • marine infrastructure development, on assessment • anchoring.
This marine EIA considers potential impacts on both the EPA's (2016a) environmental factors and the values of the Eighty Mile Beach Marine Park Management Plan (DPaW 2014). Table 5.2 Alignment of environmental factors (EPA 2016a) with values and objectives of the Eighty Mile Beach Marine Park Management Plan (DPaW 2014)
Environmental Factor (EPA 2016a) Eighty Mile Marine Park Values (DPaW 2014) • Subtidal filter-feeding communities • Macroalgal and seagrass communities Benthic communities and habitats • Coral reef communities • Mangrove communities and saltmarshes Coastal processes • Geomorphology Marine environmental quality • Water and sediment quality • Intertidal sand and mudflat communities • Waterbirds, including migratory species • Marine turtles Marine fauna • Marine mammals • Invertebrates • Scalefish • Sharks and rays • Aboriginal culture and heritage • European heritage Social surroundings and human health • Remote seascapes • Nature-based tourism
5.2.3 Potential for cumulative impacts Although there is a risk an individual project may have potential impacts to the environment, impacts from other projects in the region can lead to increased deleterious effects on environmental and social values. However, development of coastal infrastructure in the Eighty Mile Marine Park is so negligible that cumulative impacts can be discounted.
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Figure 5.1 Eighty Mile Marine Park Management Area Zoning (DPaW 2014) and proposed cable corridor in State Waters (orange line)
BMT: NW Interconnected Power Pty Ltd: Asian Renewable Energy Hub: Marine State Waters Environmental Impact Assessment 33 5.3 Potential impacts on environmental factors 5.3.1 Benthic communities and habitats Given the highly mobile nature of marine sediments and strong currents in the area, establishment of macroalgae, seagrass or coral communities are unlikely. Disturbance of sediments during cable installation, decommissioning or maintenance works may potentially lead to an increase in local water column turbidity and localised sediment deposition, arising from suspended and resuspended sediments being transported by prevailing water movements (tides, waves and currents) (Meissner et al. 2006, OSPAR Commission 2009). As noted in Section 4.2.2, the prevailing high-energy tidal regime of the region causes naturally turbid coastal waters (Figure 4.2) and precludes the growth of benthic primary producers (see above). Additional turbidity and sediment deposition caused by cable trenching, ploughing or jetting is expected to be localised, temporary and not significant to ecological processes (Meissner et al. 2006).
Trenching, ploughing or jetting activities may result in the temporary disturbance of an area of bioturbated sediments (<1% bioturbated); equivalent to ~120 ha within the study area. Bioturbated sediments could indicate the presence of filter feeders and other macroinvertebrates. This disturbance to 120 ha of bioturbated sediments is not considered to be ecologically significant. EPA (2016b) Technical Guidance: Protection of Benthic Communities and Habitats recommends the use of a local assessment unit of ~50 km2 (5 000 ha) to assess potential impacts on benthic habitat at an appropriate scale. Direct temporary loss of 120 ha bioturbated bare sand within a 5000 ha local assessment unit equates to a potential loss of 2% of habitat. Noting that the disturbance will be temporary, and sediments will likely be rapidly reinstated due to the high energy environment (Section 4.2.2).
Trenching, ploughing or jetting activities will cause reworking and settling out of sediments along the cable route, which may cause temporary, localised changes in particle size distribution (e.g. an increase in the silt and clay fractions) and carbon content (e.g. a lower proportion of organic carbon than natural sediments, which contain microphytobenthos and detritus). Changing the physical and chemical properties of sediment may impact the abundance of macroinvertebrates, (Hale & Butcher 2009). Since the HVDC cables will be completely buried, any temporary and localised changes in particle size distribution and carbon content are not anticipated to permanently impact the sediment quality of the marine environment, particularly given the influence of tidal flows.
5.3.2 Coastal processes Disturbance to coastal processes will be negligible since sediment disturbance during cable lay/pull-up will be temporary; and complete burial of the cable during operation will ensure no impediment to regional sediment movement processes.
5.3.3 Marine environmental quality Release of contaminants during sediment disturbance The risk of contamination from seabed disturbance arises from the potential release and mobilisation of contaminated sediments into the water column from cable burial, recovery of buried cables and maintenance work (Meissner et al. 2006). The risk of contamination is only anticipated for localities that have historically been used for human activity in the vicinity of coastal infrastructure and urban or industrial catchments (Meissner et al. 2006). The risk of contamination arising from seabed disturbance during cable installation decommissioning or maintenance works is considered negligible given the cable corridor traverses the coast through a state marine park fringed by low density pastoral leases, with limited public access points, and no urban or industrial development.
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Hydrocarbon spills and waste generation Various hydrocarbons will be used during the cable commissioning, decommissioning and any maintenance repair works, including: fuel, oil and lubricants. There is a risk that hydrocarbon spills will negatively impact on marine environmental quality. Rubbish and hazardous waste may also be generated, which can pollute the environment if not contained and removed from site. Therefore, hydrocarbon use and waste will be appropriately managed via appropriate house- keeping and spill prevention processes during commissioning, maintenance and decommissioning work, to be detailed and contractually required in a Marine Environmental Management Plan (refer to Section 6). Contamination related to cable deterioration There is a potential risk of contamination from subsea cables which may arise from cable deterioration and the release of contaminants from the cable itself due to cable damage or degradation. This is a potential environmental issue mainly during the operation of subsea cables and decommissioning. Contamination through cable damage or deterioration has the potential to expose marine organisms to toxic substances (Meisner et al. 2006). As the HVDC cables will be buried, cable weathering due to wave action or currents will be negligible. The risk of cable deterioration will be managed with an adequate maintenance schedule as part of the Marine Environmental Management Plan. Chlorine formation during monopole operation In a monopole transmission system using a ground return, the entire reverse electrical current flows to the ground via electrodes; whereas in a bipolar transmission system the reverse current flows via cable (closed circuit) and there are no electrodes used (Schmidt 1996). In monopole operation, hydrogen (at the cathode) and chlorine (at the anode) are produced in the surrounding sea water by electrolysis. On the cathode, to be located in WA State Waters, no potentially harmful chemical products are produced (Balslev 2014).
The following reactions take place at the anode (Söderberg & Abrahamsson 2001):
+ − 2H2O → 4H + O2(g) + 4e − − 2Cl → Cl2(g) + 2e
Chlorine gas generated will react almost exclusively with water to produce hypochlorous acid as follows (Söderberg & Abrahamsson 2001):
− + Cl2(g) + H2O → HClO + Cl + H
The amount of chlorine products generated depends on the temperature, salinity, pH, the chlorine content of the seawater and reaction energies (i.e. how much current goes through the circuit) (Baslev 2014). Therefore, while the first cable is run in monopole transmission for up to 3 years, chlorine gas and hypochlorous acid formed may potentially affect marine fauna and flora in close proximity to the anode. Any chlorine formation is entirely eliminated in the closed circuit bipolar transmission, as no electrolysis can occur (due to the lack of electrodes) (Söderberg & Abrahamsson 2001).
A study on the Baltic Cables indicates that chlorine gas and hyplochlorous acid that are formed do not react with biological material to produce polychlorinated hydrocarbons and there was no accumulation of organic chlorine in the surrounding biomass (Liljestrand 1999; cited in Söderberg & Abrahamsson 2001).
BMT: NW Interconnected Power Pty Ltd: Asian Renewable Energy Hub: Marine State Waters Environmental Impact Assessment 35 Anodes will not be located within the Marine Park waters and the potential impacts of hypochlorous acid on marine flora and fauna has therefore not been investigated as part of this EIA. However, studies near sea electrodes to date have raised no environmental concerns (Sutton et al. 2016). If anodes are required in WA State Waters in relation to the transmission of power to Port Hedland or Dampier, potential impacts and, if necessary, mitigation measures will be further detailed in the Marine Environmental Management Plan (i.e. material selection, maintaining low local pH and/or reducing the current density).
5.3.4 Marine fauna Marine fauna disturbance from vessels (collisions/noise) The marine fauna species (including avifauna) that may potentially interact with the Proposal are described in Sections 4.3.2 and 4.3.3. Marine fauna may potentially be impacted by collisions with vessels or entanglement with equipment and anchor lines during installation, decommissioning and any maintenance works, with the potential impact resulting in injury or fatality to individual animals but not regional populations.
In comparison to activities such as seismic surveys, military activities and pile driving works, maximum sound pressure levels related to the installation and decommissioning of power cables are considered moderate to low. There are no clear indications that underwater noise impacts related to the installation, decommissioning and maintenance repair works of subsea cables pose a high risk of harming marine fauna (OSPAR Commission 2009). The risk of adverse impacts from noise are particularly low given the naturally turbid nearshore (<10 m) waters where megafauna are not expected, have time to respond to the noise and the capability to avoid the local area.
Cable lay and trenching vessels move very slowly and those species or individuals that are naturally inquisitive and attracted to moving vessels (e.g. dolphins) will have time to leave the area. Nevertheless, marine fauna observation and avoidance management measures will be emplaced in the Marine Environmental Management Plan to avoid vessel strikes or entanglement of marine fauna, including preferential avoidance of activities during peak turtle nesting and shorebird migration seasons (i.e. March to July is the most appropriate period for cable installation/maintenance/decommissioning activities).
In summary, cable installation/maintenance/decommissioning will be a small-scale, temporary disturbance that is unlikely to significantly affect marine fauna or shore bird populations. There will be no risk of marine fauna entanglement or entrainment with the cables once operational, since they will be buried up to 10 m below the seabed.
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Electromagnetic fields during cable operation Electromagnetic fields (EMF) consist of both magnetic and electric fields that many marine species can detect (Boemre 2011). Magnetic or electric senses have been recorded for a wide range of marine taxa including marine mammals, sea turtles, many groups of fishes (including elasmobranches) and several groups of invertebrates (Boemre 2011). Functions supported by an electro or magnetic sense may include the detection of prey, predators, or conspecifics to assist with feeding, navigation, predator avoidance, and social or reproductive behaviours. These functions are at risk of interference if sensory capabilities overlap with cable EMF levels detectable by the organism. Factors influencing the environmental impact of EMFs include:
• type of cable used and transmission system (monopolar or bipolar) • depth of cable burial • distance between cables in bipolar configuration • strength of current passed through the cable • marine biota present along the cable route and their sensitivity to EMF (either magnetosensitivity or electrosensitivity) • ability of marine biota to avoid the EMF.
In general, HVDC cables produce stronger EMF than HVAC cables (OSPAR Commission 2009). In the case of monopolar HVDC systems, with a single power cable and return current via the ground, there can be a resultant direct electric field of 20 mV/cm, which is above the sensory detection thresholds for elasmobranchs (sharks and rays), which may result in behavioural changes within a few metres of the cable; either repelling or attracting elasmobranchs (Boemre 2011, Sutton et al. 2016). In contrast, bipolar HVDC transmission systems should have no direct electric current path in seawater; rather a magnetic field will be produced, which will induce an electric field (Boemre 2011). As the strength of both magnetic and electric fields rapidly declines as a function of distance from the cable, exposure of marine species to EMF can be eliminated by cable shielding and burial to adequate depths (OSPAR Commission 2009).
The Proponent will specify cable shielding and burial requirements to mitigate potential EMF impacts on marine fauna within a Marine Environmental Management Plan, including post-installation verification. Heat dissipation during cable operation Theoretical calculations of the heat dissipation of operational buried subsea power cables are consistent in their predictions of temperature rise of the surrounding environment (OSPAR Commission 2009). In addition to the direct effects on marine biota, heat dissipation leading to a temperature rise in the sediment may also alter the physico-chemical conditions in the sediment and potentially increase bacterial activity (Meissner & Sordyl 2006).
Heat generation was considered a potential impact during the monopole HVDC Basslink subsea cable operation in Bass Strait Australia (OSPAR Commission 2009). The external surface temperature of the subsea cable was calculated to reach 30–35ºC, and the seabed surface temperature directly overlying the cables was predicted to rise by a few degrees Celsius at a burial depth of 1.2 m (OSPAR Commission 2009). Given the tropical seawater temperatures in the region naturally range from 23–32°C, heat dissipation in the small footprint affected by the Proposal is unlikely to have any negative impacts, particularly with cable burial.
The Proponent will specify cable shielding and burial requirements to mitigate potential heat impacts on marine fauna within a Marine Environmental Management Plan, including post-installation verification.
BMT: NW Interconnected Power Pty Ltd: Asian Renewable Energy Hub: Marine State Waters Environmental Impact Assessment 37 Artificial lighting If artificial lighting is used during cable installation, decommissioning or maintenance works, it has the potential to disrupt the behaviour of light sensitive marine fauna (RPS 2015). This is an environmental impact that can be mitigated through appropriate management systems to ensure there is no unnecessary external lighting (Section 6). Since commissioning, decommissioning and any maintenance works will be temporary and localised in nature, artificial lighting is not expected to be a key environmental impact during cable lay. Introduced marine species Commissioning, decommissioning and maintenance works may result in the introduction of non-indigenous marine species to the area (introduced marine species; IMS). IMS can have significant impacts on marine ecosystems and marine industries; however, only a small fraction of IMS are able to thrive and successfully colonise new habitats (Mack et al. 2000). IMS have the potential to displace native species, change community structure and food webs, and alter ecosystem processes such as nutrient cycling and sedimentation or damage marine industries through diminishing fisheries, fouling ship's hulls and clogging intake pipes (Molnar et al. 2008). The primary means by which non indigenous marine species may be introduced is via biofouling (the attachment of organisms) to vessel hulls and/or ballast water (water that a vessel takes on board to provide stability).
Both cable installation and maintenance vessels have the potential to introduce marine species via biofouling or ballast water exchange. Cable ships are equipped with a variety of devices to locate, raise, lay or bury cables. Cables in water depths of less than 2000 m (the entire project cable route) are routinely buried via a cable plough or water jetting (Kinloch et al. 2003). These factors, in addition to the vessels large size and extensive seawater plumbing systems, including bow and stern thrusters, mean that cable vessels may entrain marine pests when remotely deploying cables or through biofouling (Kinlock et al. 2003). The cable ships equipment and use are factors that will influence the potential to carry introduced marine species.
In Australia, around 250 introduced marine pests have been identified, of which over 75% are believed to have been introduced through biofouling rather than in ballast water (Bax et al. 2003). Indeed, biofouling may pose a higher potential risk of introducing marine species. Mitigation measures can be employed for both biofouling and ballast water to minimise the risk of introduced marine species. As such, the Proponent will verify each vessel's operational history, fouling control and ballast water details are accurate and reliable before contracting vessels. This process will involve completing the DPIRD risk assessment (likely including liaison with the DPIRD; see https://vesselcheck.fish.wa.gov.au/) once the proposed cable lay or maintenance vessels have been identified.
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All work vessels (from intrastate, interstate and international water) will comply with the Department of Fisheries Aquatic Biosecurity Policy (19 January 2017) and vessel management procedures in line with Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry marine pest management guidelines (CA 2009b), with the following information to be provided to the relevant government authorities:
• Evidence that sediment and ballast water has been, or will be, managed to prevent IMS entering and moving within WA. Alternatively, a maintained ballast water management plan and record book should be provided on request. • Vessel's log entries showing operational history since last antifouling coating application or IMS inspection, or a maintained biofouling management plan and record book. • The most recent in-water cleaning or dry dock/slip report and IMS inspection report. • Evidence of either an active marine growth prevention system or a suitable manual treatment regime for internal seawater pipe-works. • The most recent antifouling coating application certificate or original receipts or invoices stating the coating type, volume purchased, vessel name (if possible) and date of application. • Type of vessel.
5.3.5 Social surroundings and human health 5.3.6 Indigenous and non- indigenous heritage areas Desktop searches of relevant databases have not identified any known Aboriginal or maritime heritage sites registered in the Proposal area. Further, the acoustic benthic survey of the area in which the cable corridor is proposed to be located (see Sections 4.3.1 and 5.3.1) did not find any large-scale features suggestive of heritage artefacts.
The marine park Joint Management Body Groups – including the Nyangumarta Warrarn Aboriginal Corporation – are being consulted as key stakeholders regarding the proposed Proposal, to ensure heritage sites are identified and preserved.
5.3.7 Fisheries – commercial and recreational It is highly unlikely that recreational and commercial fisheries will be negatively impacted as a result of the Proposal. In terms of both commercial and recreational fisheries, a temporary closure area/exclusion zone of ~50 m by 6 km (subject to Proposal approvals) is comparatively very small, and predominantly sandy seabed and unlikely to have any significant impact on fishing.
5.3.8 Maritime safety The potential maritime safety risks associated with increased vessel traffic during commissioning, decommissioning and maintenance works are negligible, particularly given the low number of vessels present in the region. Further, the Proponent proposes a temporary closure area/exclusion zone of ~50 m by 6 km (subject to DoT approvals) to further mitigate risks associated with vessel traffic.
The Proponent will also ensure maritime charts are updated to include the cable route to mitigate any issues related to ship's magnetic compasses.
BMT: NW Interconnected Power Pty Ltd: Asian Renewable Energy Hub: Marine State Waters Environmental Impact Assessment 39 6. Marine Environmental Management
A register of measurable and/or auditable environmental commitments to manage the potential environmental impacts associated with the Proposal in State Waters are provided in Table 6.1.
40 BMT NW Interconnected Power Pty Ltd: Asian Renewable Energy Hub: Marine State Waters Environmental Impact Assessment
Table 6.1 Relevant environmental factors, objectives1, performance indicators and proposed measurement criteria
Equivalent marine park Performance Environmental factor cultural and ecological Objective Performance criteria3 Standards4 indicators5 values2 • Subtidal filter- feeding communities • Macroalgal and Ensure that benthic To protect benthic Marine Environmental seagrass communities and habitat communities and habitat Management Plan (MEMP) • Navigational aids on Benthic communities and communities outside of the cable 1 so that biological detailing procedures for cable vessel to track cable habitat • Coral reef corridor footprint are not diversity and ecological installation only within the lay operations communities impacted as a result of integrity are maintained surveyed cable corridor area. • Mangrove the Proposal communities and saltmarshes MEMP detailing procedures To maintain the quality of • System in place to for: water, sediment and No impacts to marine ensure waste Marine environmental • Water and sediment • Waste management and 2 biota so that environmental quality as management and quality quality disposal environmental values are a result of the Proposal spill prevention • Hydrocarbon spill protected procedures management) MEMP detailing procedures for the management of works, including: • Intertidal sand and • Specification of cable mudflat communities Ensure the risk of harm shielding and burial • Systems in place to • Waterbirds, to susceptible marine requirement to ensure record presence and including migratory To protect marine fauna fauna from all aspects of negligible impact of EMF location of protected species so that biological the Proposal (including and heat dissipation on marine fauna 3 Marine fauna • Marine turtles diversity and ecological noise, electromagnetic marine fauna • Post-installation • Marine mammals integrity are maintained field, heat dissipation, • Definition and verification of • Invertebrates collision) is acceptably maintenance of marine negligible EMF and • Scalefish low fauna exclusion zone heat dissipation • Sharks and rays • Night-time lighting requirements to reduce potential impacts
BMT: NW Interconnected Power Pty Ltd: Asian Renewable Energy Hub: Marine State Waters Environmental Impact Assessment 41 • Aboriginal culture and heritage MEMP to outline procedures To protect social System in place to • European heritage No impact to known to be followed in the event a 4 Social surroundings surroundings from ensure the MEMP is • Remote seascapes heritage sites shipwreck, relic, indigenous significant harm followed • Nature-based or otherwise, is identified tourism MEMP to outline procedure for: • Systems in place to • Reducing the impact of ensure the MEMP is the works on public Access to the area followed access to the area during commissioning, • Adherence to MEMP To protect human health • Obtaining a DoT 5 Human health n/a maintenance and methods and from significant harm Temporary Notice to decommissioning works timeframes Mariners (TNTM) to is restricted • TNTM to be obtained restrict access to the site prior to works during commissioning, commencing decommissioning and maintenance works Notes: 1. EPA (2016) Statement of Environmental Principles, Factors and Objectives 2. Cultural and ecological values as per DPaW (2014), as relevant to State Waters 3. Performance criteria = the performance criteria are the proposal-specific desired state for an environmental factor/s that an organisation sets out to achieve from the implementation of outcome-based provisions 4. Standards = can include company standards, regulatory requirements, and recognised Australian and International Standards 5. Performance indicators = measurable/auditable outcomes that ensure that the company's environmental performance 6. EMF = electromagnetic field, MEMP = Marine Environmental Management Plan, n/a = not applicable, TNTM = Temporary Notice to Mariners
42 BMT NW Interconnected Power Pty Ltd: Asian Renewable Energy Hub: Marine State Waters Environmental Impact Assessment 7. References
ABC (2013) ABC Kimberley: Commercial fishing to be removed from Broome's Roebuck Bay. Available at
44 BMT NW Interconnected Power Pty Ltd: Asian Renewable Energy Hub: Marine State Waters Environmental Impact Assessment
Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation and Department of Environment, Western Australia, Perth DoEE (2017) Australian Government Department of the Environment and Energy: Australian National Shipwreck Database. Department of the Environmental and Energy, Australian Capital Territory, Canberra DoF (2012) North Coast Bioregion: status reports of the fisheries and aquatic resources of Western Australia 2011/12. Department of Fisheries, Western Australia, Perth DPaW (2014) Eighty Mile Beach Marine Park Management Plan 80 2014–2024. Department of Parks and Wildlife, Western Australia, Perth DSEWPC (2012) Marine Bioregional Plan for the North Marine Regions. Department of Sustainability Environment Water Population and Communities EPA (2016a) Statement of Environmental Principles, Factors and Objectives. Environmental Protection Authority, Western Australia, December 2016 EPA (2016b) Technical Guidance: Protection of Benthic Communities and Habitats. Environmental Protection Authority, December 2016 Gill AB (2005) Offshore renewable energy: ecological implications of generating electricity in the coastal zone. Journal of Applied Ecology 42:605–615 Hale J, Butcher R (2009) Ecological Character Description of the Eighty-mile Beach Ramsar Site. Prepared for the Department of Environment and Conservation, Western Australia, Perth, Hesp PA, Curry P (1984) A Land Resource Survey of the Fall Point Coastline, Broome, WA – Resource Management. Prepared for Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Report No. 38, Perth, Western Australia, July 1984 IFAW (2011) Australia's Last Great Whale Haven: cetacean distribution and conservation needs in the north-west marine region. International Fund for Animal Welfare, Western Australia, November 2011 Kinloch M, Summerson R, Curran D (2003) Domestic vessel movements and the spread of marine pests. Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Commonwealth of Australia, Canberra, November 2003 Mack RN, Simberloff D, Lonsdale WM, Evan H, Clout M, Bazzaz FA (2000) Biotic invasions: causes epidemiology, global consequences, and control. Ecological applications 10(3):689–710 Meissner K, Schabelon H, Bellebaum J, Sordyl H (2006) Impacts of submarine cables on the marine environment – a literature review. Prepared for Federal Agency of Nature Conservation by the Institute of Applies Ecology Ltd. Broderstorf, Germany, September 2006 Oceanica (2010) Broome Boating Facility at West Roebuck Bay – Desktop Assessment of Environmental Issues. Prepared for Department of Transport by Oceanica Consulting Pty Ltd, Report No. 178_003/1, Perth, Western Australia, November 2010 OSPAR Commission (2009) Assessment of the environmental impacts of cables. Prepared for the Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic, the "OSPAR Convention". Report No. 437/2009, Lauterbach, Germany, 2009
BMT: NW Interconnected Power Pty Ltd: Asian Renewable Energy Hub: Marine State Waters Environmental Impact Assessment 45 RIS (2009) Eighty Mile Beach Ramsar information sheet. Department of Conservation and Land Management. Available at
46 BMT NW Interconnected Power Pty Ltd: Asian Renewable Energy Hub: Marine State Waters Environmental Impact Assessment
Appendix A
EPBC Protected Matters Report
EPBC Act Protected Matters Report
This report provides general guidance on matters of national environmental significance and other matters protected by the EPBC Act in the area you have selected.
Information on the coverage of this report and qualifications on data supporting this report are contained in the caveat at the end of the report.
Information is available about Environment Assessments and the EPBC Act including significance guidelines, forms and application process details.
Report created: 31/08/17 13:11:11
Summary Details Matters of NES Other Matters Protected by the EPBC Act Extra Information Caveat Acknowledgements
This map may contain data which are ©Commonwealth of Australia (Geoscience Australia), ©PSMA 2010
Coordinates Buffer: 3.0Km
Summary
Matters of National Environmental Significance
This part of the report summarises the matters of national environmental significance that may occur in, or may relate to, the area you nominated. Further information is available in the detail part of the report, which can be accessed by scrolling or following the links below. If you are proposing to undertake an activity that may have a significant impact on one or more matters of national environmental significance then you should consider the Administrative Guidelines on Significance.
World Heritage Properties: None National Heritage Places: None Wetlands of International Importance: 1 Great Barrier Reef Marine Park: None Commonwealth Marine Area: 1 Listed Threatened Ecological Communities: None Listed Threatened Species: 26 Listed Migratory Species: 61
Other Matters Protected by the EPBC Act
This part of the report summarises other matters protected under the Act that may relate to the area you nominated. Approval may be required for a proposed activity that significantly affects the environment on Commonwealth land, when the action is outside the Commonwealth land, or the environment anywhere when the action is taken on Commonwealth land. Approval may also be required for the Commonwealth or Commonwealth agencies proposing to take an action that is likely to have a significant impact on the environment anywhere.
The EPBC Act protects the environment on Commonwealth land, the environment from the actions taken on Commonwealth land, and the environment from actions taken by Commonwealth agencies. As heritage values of a place are part of the 'environment', these aspects of the EPBC Act protect the Commonwealth Heritage values of a Commonwealth Heritage place. Information on the new heritage laws can be found at http://www.environment.gov.au/heritage
A permit may be required for activities in or on a Commonwealth area that may affect a member of a listed threatened species or ecological community, a member of a listed migratory species, whales and other cetaceans, or a member of a listed marine species.
Commonwealth Land: None Commonwealth Heritage Places: None Listed Marine Species: 95 Whales and Other Cetaceans: 11 Critical Habitats: None Commonwealth Reserves Terrestrial: None Commonwealth Reserves Marine: 1
Extra Information
This part of the report provides information that may also be relevant to the area you have nominated.
State and Territory Reserves: 1 Regional Forest Agreements: None Invasive Species: 6 Nationally Important Wetlands: None Key Ecological Features (Marine) None
Details
Matters of National Environmental Significance Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar) [ Resource Information ] Name Proximity Eighty-mile beach Within Ramsar site
Commonwealth Marine Area [ Resource Information ] Approval is required for a proposed activity that is located within the Commonwealth Marine Area which has, will have, or is likely to have a significant impact on the environment. Approval may be required for a proposed action taken outside the Commonwealth Marine Area but which has, may have or is likely to have a significant impact on the environment in the Commonwealth Marine Area. Generally the Commonwealth Marine Area stretches from three nautical miles to two hundred nautical miles from the coast.
Name EEZ and Territorial Sea
Marine Regions [ Resource Information ] If you are planning to undertake action in an area in or close to the Commonwealth Marine Area, and a marine bioregional plan has been prepared for the Commonwealth Marine Area in that area, the marine bioregional plan may inform your decision as to whether to refer your proposed action under the EPBC Act.
Name North-west
Listed Threatened Species [ Resource Information ] Name Status Type of Presence Birds Calidris canutus Red Knot, Knot [855] Endangered Species or species habitat known to occur within area
Calidris ferruginea Curlew Sandpiper [856] Critically Endangered Species or species habitat known to occur within area
Calidris tenuirostris Great Knot [862] Critically Endangered Roosting known to occur within area Charadrius leschenaultii Greater Sand Plover, Large Sand Plover [877] Vulnerable Roosting known to occur within area Charadrius mongolus Lesser Sand Plover, Mongolian Plover [879] Endangered Roosting known to occur within area Limosa lapponica baueri Bar-tailed Godwit (baueri), Western Alaskan Bar-tailed Vulnerable Species or species habitat Godwit [86380] known to occur within area
Limosa lapponica menzbieri Northern Siberian Bar-tailed Godwit, Bar-tailed Godwit Critically Endangered Species or species habitat (menzbieri) [86432] known to occur within area
Numenius madagascariensis Eastern Curlew, Far Eastern Curlew [847] Critically Endangered Species or species habitat known to occur within area
Rostratula australis Australian Painted Snipe [77037] Endangered Species or species habitat may occur within area
Name Status Type of Presence Mammals Balaenoptera musculus Blue Whale [36] Endangered Species or species habitat likely to occur within area
Dasyurus hallucatus Northern Quoll, Digul [Gogo-Yimidir], Wijingadda Endangered Species or species habitat [Dambimangari], Wiminji [Martu] [331] likely to occur within area
Macroderma gigas Ghost Bat [174] Vulnerable Species or species habitat likely to occur within area
Macrotis lagotis Greater Bilby [282] Vulnerable Species or species habitat likely to occur within area
Megaptera novaeangliae Humpback Whale [38] Vulnerable Species or species habitat known to occur within area
Reptiles Aipysurus apraefrontalis Short-nosed Seasnake [1115] Critically Endangered Species or species habitat likely to occur within area
Caretta caretta Loggerhead Turtle [1763] Endangered Breeding likely to occur within area Chelonia mydas Green Turtle [1765] Vulnerable Foraging, feeding or related behaviour known to occur within area Ctenotus angusticeps Airlie Island Ctenotus [25937] Vulnerable Species or species habitat may occur within area
Dermochelys coriacea Leatherback Turtle, Leathery Turtle, Luth [1768] Endangered Breeding likely to occur within area Eretmochelys imbricata Hawksbill Turtle [1766] Vulnerable Breeding likely to occur within area Natator depressus Flatback Turtle [59257] Vulnerable Breeding known to occur within area Sharks Carcharodon carcharias White Shark, Great White Shark [64470] Vulnerable Species or species habitat may occur within area
Pristis clavata Dwarf Sawfish, Queensland Sawfish [68447] Vulnerable Breeding known to occur within area Pristis pristis Freshwater Sawfish, Largetooth Sawfish, River Vulnerable Species or species habitat Sawfish, Leichhardt's Sawfish, Northern Sawfish known to occur within area [60756] Pristis zijsron Green Sawfish, Dindagubba, Narrowsnout Sawfish Vulnerable Breeding known to occur [68442] within area Rhincodon typus Whale Shark [66680] Vulnerable Species or species habitat may occur within area
Listed Migratory Species [ Resource Information ] * Species is listed under a different scientific name on the EPBC Act - Threatened Species list. Name Threatened Type of Presence Migratory Marine Birds Anous stolidus Common Noddy [825] Species or species
Name Threatened Type of Presence habitat likely to occur within area Apus pacificus Fork-tailed Swift [678] Species or species habitat likely to occur within area
Calonectris leucomelas Streaked Shearwater [1077] Species or species habitat may occur within area
Fregata ariel Lesser Frigatebird, Least Frigatebird [1012] Species or species habitat likely to occur within area
Fregata minor Great Frigatebird, Greater Frigatebird [1013] Species or species habitat may occur within area
Sternula albifrons Little Tern [82849] Species or species habitat may occur within area
Migratory Marine Species Anoxypristis cuspidata Narrow Sawfish, Knifetooth Sawfish [68448] Species or species habitat likely to occur within area
Balaenoptera edeni Bryde's Whale [35] Species or species habitat may occur within area
Balaenoptera musculus Blue Whale [36] Endangered Species or species habitat likely to occur within area
Carcharodon carcharias White Shark, Great White Shark [64470] Vulnerable Species or species habitat may occur within area
Caretta caretta Loggerhead Turtle [1763] Endangered Breeding likely to occur within area Chelonia mydas Green Turtle [1765] Vulnerable Foraging, feeding or related behaviour known to occur within area Dermochelys coriacea Leatherback Turtle, Leathery Turtle, Luth [1768] Endangered Breeding likely to occur within area Dugong dugon Dugong [28] Species or species habitat likely to occur within area
Eretmochelys imbricata Hawksbill Turtle [1766] Vulnerable Breeding likely to occur within area Manta alfredi Reef Manta Ray, Coastal Manta Ray, Inshore Manta Species or species habitat Ray, Prince Alfred's Ray, Resident Manta Ray [84994] may occur within area
Manta birostris Giant Manta Ray, Chevron Manta Ray, Pacific Manta Species or species habitat Ray, Pelagic Manta Ray, Oceanic Manta Ray [84995] may occur within area
Megaptera novaeangliae Humpback Whale [38] Vulnerable Species or species habitat known to occur within area
Natator depressus Flatback Turtle [59257] Vulnerable Breeding known to occur within area Orcinus orca Killer Whale, Orca [46] Species or species
Name Threatened Type of Presence habitat may occur within area Pristis clavata Dwarf Sawfish, Queensland Sawfish [68447] Vulnerable Breeding known to occur within area Pristis pristis Freshwater Sawfish, Largetooth Sawfish, River Vulnerable Species or species habitat Sawfish, Leichhardt's Sawfish, Northern Sawfish known to occur within area [60756] Pristis zijsron Green Sawfish, Dindagubba, Narrowsnout Sawfish Vulnerable Breeding known to occur [68442] within area Rhincodon typus Whale Shark [66680] Vulnerable Species or species habitat may occur within area
Sousa chinensis Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphin [50] Species or species habitat may occur within area
Tursiops aduncus (Arafura/Timor Sea populations) Spotted Bottlenose Dolphin (Arafura/Timor Sea Species or species habitat populations) [78900] likely to occur within area
Migratory Terrestrial Species Cuculus optatus Oriental Cuckoo, Horsfield's Cuckoo [86651] Species or species habitat may occur within area
Hirundo rustica Barn Swallow [662] Species or species habitat likely to occur within area
Motacilla cinerea Grey Wagtail [642] Species or species habitat may occur within area
Motacilla flava Yellow Wagtail [644] Species or species habitat likely to occur within area
Migratory Wetlands Species Actitis hypoleucos Common Sandpiper [59309] Species or species habitat known to occur within area
Arenaria interpres Ruddy Turnstone [872] Roosting known to occur within area Calidris acuminata Sharp-tailed Sandpiper [874] Roosting known to occur within area Calidris alba Sanderling [875] Roosting known to occur within area Calidris canutus Red Knot, Knot [855] Endangered Species or species habitat known to occur within area
Calidris ferruginea Curlew Sandpiper [856] Critically Endangered Species or species habitat known to occur within area
Calidris melanotos Pectoral Sandpiper [858] Species or species habitat may occur within area
Calidris ruficollis Red-necked Stint [860] Roosting known to occur within area Calidris tenuirostris Great Knot [862] Critically Endangered Roosting known to occur within area
Name Threatened Type of Presence Charadrius leschenaultii Greater Sand Plover, Large Sand Plover [877] Vulnerable Roosting known to occur within area Charadrius mongolus Lesser Sand Plover, Mongolian Plover [879] Endangered Roosting known to occur within area Charadrius veredus Oriental Plover, Oriental Dotterel [882] Roosting known to occur within area Gallinago megala Swinhoe's Snipe [864] Roosting likely to occur within area Gallinago stenura Pin-tailed Snipe [841] Roosting likely to occur within area Glareola maldivarum Oriental Pratincole [840] Roosting known to occur within area Limicola falcinellus Broad-billed Sandpiper [842] Roosting known to occur within area Limnodromus semipalmatus Asian Dowitcher [843] Roosting known to occur within area Limosa lapponica Bar-tailed Godwit [844] Species or species habitat known to occur within area
Limosa limosa Black-tailed Godwit [845] Roosting known to occur within area Numenius madagascariensis Eastern Curlew, Far Eastern Curlew [847] Critically Endangered Species or species habitat known to occur within area
Numenius minutus Little Curlew, Little Whimbrel [848] Roosting known to occur within area Numenius phaeopus Whimbrel [849] Roosting known to occur within area Pandion haliaetus Osprey [952] Species or species habitat known to occur within area
Philomachus pugnax Ruff (Reeve) [850] Roosting known to occur within area Pluvialis fulva Pacific Golden Plover [25545] Roosting known to occur within area Pluvialis squatarola Grey Plover [865] Roosting known to occur within area Tringa brevipes Grey-tailed Tattler [851] Roosting known to occur within area Tringa nebularia Common Greenshank, Greenshank [832] Species or species habitat known to occur within area
Tringa stagnatilis Marsh Sandpiper, Little Greenshank [833] Roosting known to occur within area Tringa totanus Common Redshank, Redshank [835] Roosting known to occur within area Xenus cinereus Terek Sandpiper [59300] Roosting known to occur within area
Other Matters Protected by the EPBC Act Listed Marine Species [ Resource Information ] * Species is listed under a different scientific name on the EPBC Act - Threatened Species list. Name Threatened Type of Presence Birds Actitis hypoleucos Common Sandpiper [59309] Species or species habitat known to occur within area
Anous stolidus Common Noddy [825] Species or species habitat likely to occur within area
Apus pacificus Fork-tailed Swift [678] Species or species habitat likely to occur within area
Ardea alba Great Egret, White Egret [59541] Species or species habitat likely to occur within area
Ardea ibis Cattle Egret [59542] Species or species habitat may occur within area
Arenaria interpres Ruddy Turnstone [872] Roosting known to occur within area Calidris acuminata Sharp-tailed Sandpiper [874] Roosting known to occur within area Calidris alba Sanderling [875] Roosting known to occur within area Calidris canutus Red Knot, Knot [855] Endangered Species or species habitat known to occur within area
Calidris ferruginea Curlew Sandpiper [856] Critically Endangered Species or species habitat known to occur within area
Calidris melanotos Pectoral Sandpiper [858] Species or species habitat may occur within area
Calidris ruficollis Red-necked Stint [860] Roosting known to occur within area Calidris tenuirostris Great Knot [862] Critically Endangered Roosting known to occur within area Calonectris leucomelas Streaked Shearwater [1077] Species or species habitat may occur within area
Charadrius leschenaultii Greater Sand Plover, Large Sand Plover [877] Vulnerable Roosting known to occur within area Charadrius mongolus Lesser Sand Plover, Mongolian Plover [879] Endangered Roosting known to occur within area Charadrius ruficapillus Red-capped Plover [881] Roosting known to occur within area Charadrius veredus Oriental Plover, Oriental Dotterel [882] Roosting known to occur
Name Threatened Type of Presence within area Cuculus saturatus Oriental Cuckoo, Himalayan Cuckoo [710] Species or species habitat may occur within area
Fregata ariel Lesser Frigatebird, Least Frigatebird [1012] Species or species habitat likely to occur within area
Fregata minor Great Frigatebird, Greater Frigatebird [1013] Species or species habitat may occur within area
Gallinago megala Swinhoe's Snipe [864] Roosting likely to occur within area Gallinago stenura Pin-tailed Snipe [841] Roosting likely to occur within area Glareola maldivarum Oriental Pratincole [840] Roosting known to occur within area Haliaeetus leucogaster White-bellied Sea-Eagle [943] Species or species habitat likely to occur within area
Heteroscelus brevipes Grey-tailed Tattler [59311] Roosting known to occur within area Himantopus himantopus Black-winged Stilt [870] Roosting known to occur within area Hirundo rustica Barn Swallow [662] Species or species habitat likely to occur within area
Limicola falcinellus Broad-billed Sandpiper [842] Roosting known to occur within area Limnodromus semipalmatus Asian Dowitcher [843] Roosting known to occur within area Limosa lapponica Bar-tailed Godwit [844] Species or species habitat known to occur within area
Limosa limosa Black-tailed Godwit [845] Roosting known to occur within area Merops ornatus Rainbow Bee-eater [670] Species or species habitat may occur within area
Motacilla cinerea Grey Wagtail [642] Species or species habitat may occur within area
Motacilla flava Yellow Wagtail [644] Species or species habitat likely to occur within area
Numenius madagascariensis Eastern Curlew, Far Eastern Curlew [847] Critically Endangered Species or species habitat known to occur within area
Numenius minutus Little Curlew, Little Whimbrel [848] Roosting known to occur within area Numenius phaeopus Whimbrel [849] Roosting known to occur within area
Name Threatened Type of Presence Pandion haliaetus Osprey [952] Species or species habitat known to occur within area
Philomachus pugnax Ruff (Reeve) [850] Roosting known to occur within area Pluvialis fulva Pacific Golden Plover [25545] Roosting known to occur within area Pluvialis squatarola Grey Plover [865] Roosting known to occur within area Recurvirostra novaehollandiae Red-necked Avocet [871] Roosting known to occur within area Rostratula benghalensis (sensu lato) Painted Snipe [889] Endangered* Species or species habitat may occur within area
Sterna albifrons Little Tern [813] Species or species habitat may occur within area
Stiltia isabella Australian Pratincole [818] Roosting known to occur within area Tringa nebularia Common Greenshank, Greenshank [832] Species or species habitat known to occur within area
Tringa stagnatilis Marsh Sandpiper, Little Greenshank [833] Roosting known to occur within area Tringa totanus Common Redshank, Redshank [835] Roosting known to occur within area Xenus cinereus Terek Sandpiper [59300] Roosting known to occur within area Fish Campichthys tricarinatus Three-keel Pipefish [66192] Species or species habitat may occur within area
Choeroichthys brachysoma Pacific Short-bodied Pipefish, Short-bodied Pipefish Species or species habitat [66194] may occur within area
Choeroichthys suillus Pig-snouted Pipefish [66198] Species or species habitat may occur within area
Doryrhamphus janssi Cleaner Pipefish, Janss' Pipefish [66212] Species or species habitat may occur within area
Filicampus tigris Tiger Pipefish [66217] Species or species habitat may occur within area
Halicampus brocki Brock's Pipefish [66219] Species or species habitat may occur within area
Halicampus grayi Mud Pipefish, Gray's Pipefish [66221] Species or species habitat may occur within area
Halicampus nitidus Glittering Pipefish [66224] Species or species habitat may occur within area
Name Threatened Type of Presence Halicampus spinirostris Spiny-snout Pipefish [66225] Species or species habitat may occur within area
Haliichthys taeniophorus Ribboned Pipehorse, Ribboned Seadragon [66226] Species or species habitat may occur within area
Hippichthys penicillus Beady Pipefish, Steep-nosed Pipefish [66231] Species or species habitat may occur within area
Hippocampus histrix Spiny Seahorse, Thorny Seahorse [66236] Species or species habitat may occur within area
Hippocampus kuda Spotted Seahorse, Yellow Seahorse [66237] Species or species habitat may occur within area
Hippocampus planifrons Flat-face Seahorse [66238] Species or species habitat may occur within area
Hippocampus trimaculatus Three-spot Seahorse, Low-crowned Seahorse, Flat- Species or species habitat faced Seahorse [66720] may occur within area
Micrognathus micronotopterus Tidepool Pipefish [66255] Species or species habitat may occur within area
Solegnathus hardwickii Pallid Pipehorse, Hardwick's Pipehorse [66272] Species or species habitat may occur within area
Solegnathus lettiensis Gunther's Pipehorse, Indonesian Pipefish [66273] Species or species habitat may occur within area
Solenostomus cyanopterus Robust Ghostpipefish, Blue-finned Ghost Pipefish, Species or species habitat [66183] may occur within area
Solenostomus paegnius Rough-snout Ghost Pipefish [68425] Species or species habitat may occur within area
Syngnathoides biaculeatus Double-end Pipehorse, Double-ended Pipehorse, Species or species habitat Alligator Pipefish [66279] may occur within area
Trachyrhamphus bicoarctatus Bentstick Pipefish, Bend Stick Pipefish, Short-tailed Species or species habitat Pipefish [66280] may occur within area
Trachyrhamphus longirostris Straightstick Pipefish, Long-nosed Pipefish, Straight Species or species habitat Stick Pipefish [66281] may occur within area
Mammals Dugong dugon Dugong [28] Species or species habitat likely to occur within area
Reptiles Acalyptophis peronii Horned Seasnake [1114] Species or species habitat may occur within area
Aipysurus apraefrontalis Short-nosed Seasnake [1115] Critically Endangered Species or species habitat likely to occur
Name Threatened Type of Presence within area Aipysurus duboisii Dubois' Seasnake [1116] Species or species habitat may occur within area
Aipysurus eydouxii Spine-tailed Seasnake [1117] Species or species habitat may occur within area
Aipysurus laevis Olive Seasnake [1120] Species or species habitat may occur within area
Aipysurus tenuis Brown-lined Seasnake [1121] Species or species habitat may occur within area
Astrotia stokesii Stokes' Seasnake [1122] Species or species habitat may occur within area
Caretta caretta Loggerhead Turtle [1763] Endangered Breeding likely to occur within area Chelonia mydas Green Turtle [1765] Vulnerable Foraging, feeding or related behaviour known to occur within area Dermochelys coriacea Leatherback Turtle, Leathery Turtle, Luth [1768] Endangered Breeding likely to occur within area Disteira kingii Spectacled Seasnake [1123] Species or species habitat may occur within area
Disteira major Olive-headed Seasnake [1124] Species or species habitat may occur within area
Emydocephalus annulatus Turtle-headed Seasnake [1125] Species or species habitat may occur within area
Ephalophis greyi North-western Mangrove Seasnake [1127] Species or species habitat may occur within area
Eretmochelys imbricata Hawksbill Turtle [1766] Vulnerable Breeding likely to occur within area Hydrelaps darwiniensis Black-ringed Seasnake [1100] Species or species habitat may occur within area
Hydrophis elegans Elegant Seasnake [1104] Species or species habitat may occur within area
Hydrophis mcdowelli null [25926] Species or species habitat may occur within area
Hydrophis ornatus Spotted Seasnake, Ornate Reef Seasnake [1111] Species or species habitat may occur within area
Natator depressus Flatback Turtle [59257] Vulnerable Breeding known to occur within area Pelamis platurus Yellow-bellied Seasnake [1091] Species or species habitat may occur within area
Whales and other Cetaceans [ Resource Information ] Name Status Type of Presence Mammals Balaenoptera edeni Bryde's Whale [35] Species or species habitat may occur within area
Balaenoptera musculus Blue Whale [36] Endangered Species or species habitat likely to occur within area
Delphinus delphis Common Dophin, Short-beaked Common Dolphin [60] Species or species habitat may occur within area
Grampus griseus Risso's Dolphin, Grampus [64] Species or species habitat may occur within area
Megaptera novaeangliae Humpback Whale [38] Vulnerable Species or species habitat known to occur within area
Orcinus orca Killer Whale, Orca [46] Species or species habitat may occur within area
Sousa chinensis Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphin [50] Species or species habitat may occur within area
Stenella attenuata Spotted Dolphin, Pantropical Spotted Dolphin [51] Species or species habitat may occur within area
Tursiops aduncus Indian Ocean Bottlenose Dolphin, Spotted Bottlenose Species or species habitat Dolphin [68418] likely to occur within area
Tursiops aduncus (Arafura/Timor Sea populations) Spotted Bottlenose Dolphin (Arafura/Timor Sea Species or species habitat populations) [78900] likely to occur within area
Tursiops truncatus s. str. Bottlenose Dolphin [68417] Species or species habitat may occur within area
Commonwealth Reserves Marine [ Resource Information ] Name Label Eighty Mile Beach Multiple Use Zone (IUCN VI)
Extra Information State and Territory Reserves [ Resource Information ] Name State Nyangumarta Warrarn WA
Invasive Species [ Resource Information ] Weeds reported here are the 20 species of national significance (WoNS), along with other introduced plants that are considered by the States and Territories to pose a particularly significant threat to biodiversity. The following feral animals are reported: Goat, Red Fox, Cat, Rabbit, Pig, Water Buffalo and Cane Toad. Maps from Landscape Health Project, National Land and Water Resouces Audit, 2001.
Name Status Type of Presence Mammals
Name Status Type of Presence Camelus dromedarius Dromedary, Camel [7] Species or species habitat likely to occur within area
Equus asinus Donkey, Ass [4] Species or species habitat likely to occur within area
Equus caballus Horse [5] Species or species habitat likely to occur within area
Felis catus Cat, House Cat, Domestic Cat [19] Species or species habitat likely to occur within area
Vulpes vulpes Red Fox, Fox [18] Species or species habitat likely to occur within area
Plants Cenchrus ciliaris Buffel-grass, Black Buffel-grass [20213] Species or species habitat likely to occur within area
Caveat The information presented in this report has been provided by a range of data sources as acknowledged at the end of the report.
This report is designed to assist in identifying the locations of places which may be relevant in determining obligations under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. It holds mapped locations of World and National Heritage properties, Wetlands of International and National Importance, Commonwealth and State/Territory reserves, listed threatened, migratory and marine species and listed threatened ecological communities. Mapping of Commonwealth land is not complete at this stage. Maps have been collated from a range of sources at various resolutions.
Not all species listed under the EPBC Act have been mapped (see below) and therefore a report is a general guide only. Where available data supports mapping, the type of presence that can be determined from the data is indicated in general terms. People using this information in making a referral may need to consider the qualifications below and may need to seek and consider other information sources.
For threatened ecological communities where the distribution is well known, maps are derived from recovery plans, State vegetation maps, remote sensing imagery and other sources. Where threatened ecological community distributions are less well known, existing vegetation maps and point location data are used to produce indicative distribution maps.
Threatened, migratory and marine species distributions have been derived through a variety of methods. Where distributions are well known and if time permits, maps are derived using either thematic spatial data (i.e. vegetation, soils, geology, elevation, aspect, terrain, etc) together with point locations and described habitat; or environmental modelling (MAXENT or BIOCLIM habitat modelling) using point locations and environmental data layers.
Where very little information is available for species or large number of maps are required in a short time-frame, maps are derived either from 0.04 or 0.02 decimal degree cells; by an automated process using polygon capture techniques (static two kilometre grid cells, alpha-hull and convex hull); or captured manually or by using topographic features (national park boundaries, islands, etc). In the early stages of the distribution mapping process (1999-early 2000s) distributions were defined by degree blocks, 100K or 250K map sheets to rapidly create distribution maps. More reliable distribution mapping methods are used to update these distributions as time permits.
Only selected species covered by the following provisions of the EPBC Act have been mapped: - migratory and - marine The following species and ecological communities have not been mapped and do not appear in reports produced from this database:
- threatened species listed as extinct or considered as vagrants - some species and ecological communities that have only recently been listed - some terrestrial species that overfly the Commonwealth marine area - migratory species that are very widespread, vagrant, or only occur in small numbers The following groups have been mapped, but may not cover the complete distribution of the species: - non-threatened seabirds which have only been mapped for recorded breeding sites - seals which have only been mapped for breeding sites near the Australian continent Such breeding sites may be important for the protection of the Commonwealth Marine environment.
Coordinates
-19.662304 120.720748,-19.729537 120.723495,-19.724366 120.720748
Acknowledgements This database has been compiled from a range of data sources. The department acknowledges the following custodians who have contributed valuable data and advice: -Office of Environment and Heritage, New South Wales -Department of Environment and Primary Industries, Victoria -Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment, Tasmania -Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources, South Australia -Department of Land and Resource Management, Northern Territory -Department of Environmental and Heritage Protection, Queensland -Department of Parks and Wildlife, Western Australia -Environment and Planning Directorate, ACT -Birdlife Australia -Australian Bird and Bat Banding Scheme -Australian National Wildlife Collection -Natural history museums of Australia -Museum Victoria -Australian Museum -South Australian Museum -Queensland Museum -Online Zoological Collections of Australian Museums -Queensland Herbarium -National Herbarium of NSW -Royal Botanic Gardens and National Herbarium of Victoria -Tasmanian Herbarium -State Herbarium of South Australia -Northern Territory Herbarium -Western Australian Herbarium -Australian National Herbarium, Canberra -University of New England -Ocean Biogeographic Information System -Australian Government, Department of Defence Forestry Corporation, NSW -Geoscience Australia -CSIRO -Australian Tropical Herbarium, Cairns -eBird Australia -Australian Government – Australian Antarctic Data Centre -Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory -Australian Government National Environmental Science Program -Australian Institute of Marine Science -Reef Life Survey Australia -American Museum of Natural History -Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery, Inveresk, Tasmania -Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, Hobart, Tasmania -Other groups and individuals
The Department is extremely grateful to the many organisations and individuals who provided expert advice and information on numerous draft distributions.
Please feel free to provide feedback via the Contact Us page.
© Commonwealth of Australia Department of the Environment GPO Box 787 Canberra ACT 2601 Australia +61 2 6274 1111
Appendix B
Aboriginal Heritage Inquiry System Search Results
Aboriginal Heritage Inquiry System For further important information on using this information please see the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage’s Terms of Use statement at List of Registered Aboriginal Sites http://www.daa.wa.gov.au/Terms-Of-Use/
Search Criteria No Registered Aboriginal Sites in Custom search area - Line with 3000m buffer - 120.767100782434°E, 19.7163345256204°S (GDA94) : 120.76229426388°E, 19.6381021643701°S (GDA94) : 120.761607618372°E, 19.6374554568683°S (GDA94)
Disclaimer The Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972 preserves all Aboriginal sites in Western Australia whether or not they are registered. Aboriginal sites exist that are not recorded on the Register of Aboriginal Sites, and some registered sites may no longer exist.
The information provided is made available in good faith and is predominately based on the information provided to the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage by third parties. The information is provided solely on the basis that readers will be responsible for making their own assessment as to the accuracy of the information. If you find any errors or omissions in our records, including our maps, it would be appreciated if you email the details to the Department at [email protected] and we will make every effort to rectify it as soon as possible.
Copyright Copyright in the information contained herein is and shall remain the property of the State of Western Australia. All rights reserved.
Coordinate Accuracy Coordinates (Easting/Northing metres) are based on the GDA 94 Datum. Accuracy is shown as a code in brackets following the coordinates.
© Government of Western Australia Report created: 19/10/2017 4:53:34 PM by: GIS_NET_USER Identifier: 310722 Page 1 Aboriginal Heritage Inquiry System For further important information on using this information please see the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage’s Terms of Use statement at List of Registered Aboriginal Sites http://www.daa.wa.gov.au/Terms-Of-Use/
Basemap Copyright Map was created using ArcGIS software by Esri. ArcGIS and ArcMap are the intellectual property of Esri and are used herein under license. Copyright © Esri. All rights reserved. For more information about Esri software, please visit www.esri.com.
Satellite, Hybrid, Road basemap sources: Esri, DigitalGlobe, GeoEye, Earthstar Geographics, CNES/Airbus DS, USDA, USGS, AeroGRID, IGN, HERE, DeLorme, Intermap, INCREMENT P, NRCan, Esri Japan, METI, Esri China (Hong Kong), Esri Korea, Esri (Thailand), MapmyIndia, NGCC, © OpenStreetMap contributors, and the GIS User Community.
Topographic basemap sources: Esri, HERE, DeLorme, Intermap, increment P Corp., GEBCO, USGS, FAO, NPS, NRCAN, GeoBase, IGN, Kadaster NL, Ordnance Survey, Esri Japan, METI, Esri China (Hong Kong), swisstopo, MapmyIndia, © OpenStreetMap contributors, and the GIS User Community.
© Government of Western Australia Report created: 19/10/2017 4:53:34 PM by: GIS_NET_USER Identifier: 310722 Page 2 Aboriginal Heritage Inquiry System For further important information on using this information please see the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage’s Terms of Use statement at Map of Registered Aboriginal Sites http://www.daa.wa.gov.au/Terms-Of-Use/
Legend
6.67 kilometres
Map Scale 1 : 202,000
MGA Zone 51 (GDA94)
Copyright for topographic map information shall at all times remain the property of the Commonwealth of Australia, Geoscience Australia - National Mapping Division. All rights reserved.
Aerial Photos, Cadastre, Local Government Authority, Native Title boundary, Roads data copyright © Western Australian Land Information Authority (Landgate).
Mining Tenement, Petroleum Application, Petroleum Title boundary data copyright © the State of Western Australia (Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety).
© Government of Western Australia Map created: 19/10/2017 4:53:49 PM by: GIS_NET_USER Identifier: 310722
Appendix C
Eighty Mile Beach Benthic Habitat Mapping Survey Results
BMT PO Box 2305 Churchlands WA 6018 Australia Tel: +61 8 6163 4900 www.bmt.org
BMT Western Australia Pty Ltd ACN: 093 752 811
MEMORANDUM
ATTN: Alexander Tancock CC: Garth Humphries ORGANISATION: NW Interconnected Power Pty Ltd FROM: Jonathan Anderson PROJECT NO: 1250_01_001 DATE: 26/09/2018 SUBJECT: Eighty Mile Beach Benthic Habitat Map
1. Introduction NW Interconnected Power Pty Ltd (‘the Proponent’) is seeking to develop the Asian Renewable Energy Hub (‘the Proposal’). The Proposal is to construct and operate a large-scale wind and solar renewable energy project at a site approximately 220 km east of Port Hedland and 270 km southwest of Broome, in the north-west of Western Australia (Figure 1.1). The Proposal will supply large energy users in the Pilbara, export power via HDVC cable to South-East Asia, and produce green hydrogen for domestic and export customers.
BMT was contracted to prepare a marine Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) document to support the environmental review for assessment of the Proposal. This memorandum describes the field survey and development of a benthic habitat map for the HVDC cable corridor for the Proposal.
27 September 2018 1 Source: Biota (unpublished) Figure 1.1 Proposal footprint including the HDVC cable lay in Western Australian State Waters 1.1 Background The cable lay corridor is approximately 18 km north-east of Eight Mile Beach Caravan Park (Figure 1.2). The cable corridor survey area is ~2 km wide and 6 km from the lowest astronomical tide (LAT), with the intertidal area extending to the high water mark. The survey area was limited to the LAT and did not include the intertidal area. This benthic habitat mapping is required by the EIA document to allow the potential habitat disturbance to be assessed in the context of EPA (2016a) and EPA (2016b). 1.2 Scope of Works The objectives of this scope of work were to:
• Complete a field survey using side scan sonar and towed video to ground truth the benthic habitats within the proposed cable lay corridor in State Waters; ~2 km x 6 km area in State Waters from the LAT (Figure 1.2). • Prepare a benthic habitat map for use in the EIA.
27 September 2018 2
Figure 1.2 Study area location of the potential cable lay corridor near Eighty Mile Beach, Western Australia
27 September 2018 3 2. Methods Side scan sonar and towed video transects were completed between 12 and 16 October 2017 at the Eight Mile Beach survey location. The survey was completed during a neap tide cycle and wind was predominately from the west during the survey (Figure 2.1 and Figure 2.2, respectively). These weather conditions typically would have resulted in very good conditions for limited turbidity in the water column. Although even with limited tidal range and favourable weather conditions the turbidity in the majority of the survey area limited the underwater visibility to <1 m.
Figure 2.1 Tidal predictions for survey period
27 September 2018 4
Figure 2.1 continued
27 September 2018 5
Figure 2.2 Weather forecast issued on 10/10/2017 for the Eighty Mile Beach region 2.1 Pre-existing data Very little existing data were available for the study area. Low resolution bathymetry data were the only data available, but this yielded limited information for the survey. From qualitative analysis of LandSat images it was apparent the survey area was typically highly turbid and no benthic features were able to be determined from the imagery (Figure 2.3). It was deducted from this that towed video footage may be of limited use and a side scan sonar survey was determined to be the best option for returning habitat information suitable for broad scale mapping, with towed video footage to be used as ground truthing of the side scan sonar and subsequent classification of any potentially unique habitat features.
27 September 2018 6
Figure 2.3 Representative LandSat imagery showing very high levels of turbidity throughout the study area
27 September 2018 7 2.2 Study area The survey area boundaries were delineated as a parallelogram with the corner coordinates listed in Table 2.1. The survey area extends from LAT to 3 nm offshore. During the survey, water depths ranged from 2 m at the southern boundary to approximately 10 m at the northern boundary. Table 2.1 Coordinates of the survey area corner boundaries (UTM51 GDA 94)
Corner Easting Northing
NE 268890 7828019 SE 268889 7821856 SW 267094 7820956 NW 267096 7827178
2.3 Side Scan Sonar UTEC Survey Australia Pty Ltd was contracted by BMT Oceanica to conduct side scan sonar (SSS) operations over the survey area from 12 to 14 October 2017. An Edgetech 4125 Side Scan Sonar System was deployed off the vessel and acquired High Frequency (HF) sonar data (900 kHz) using a line spacing of 65 m. The low frequency (LF) channel of the SSS was showing noise that was interfering with acquisition and was therefore not collected.
Prior to commencing SSS operations, a reconnaissance was conducted along the centre line of the survey area to confirm average seabed depths and identify any possible SSS obstructions. The reconnaissance was paused at the 3 m water depth approximately 1 km shy of the proposed survey area in toward the beach to ensure SSS hazard avoidance. Survey lines were spaced more widely towards the end of the survey to achieve the maximum possible SSS coverage over the survey area, but this did result in some gaps between lines (Figure 2.4).
The HYPACK SSS software package was used for processing, analysis and mosaic tasks. Individual SSS lines and a full mosaic were produced with a resolution of 0.2 m per pixel (GeoTiff format) and supplied together with the raw files (XTF format).
Following SSS data acquisition, the SSS data was assessed in the field to identify targets for the video tow operations. An expert geophysicist (Allen Hundley), with particular experience in shallow water benthic habitat recognition using side scan sonar, screened the data to determine areas of interest which may represent benthic habitat. Areas of interest captured in scan view mode were exported to high resolution field images in JPG format (examples shown in results section Figure 3.2 thru Figure 3.5), along with target coordinates.
The data were collected by a survey team to ensure the data will also be suitable for engineering design/cable lay planning as the survey precision is greater than typically required for benthic habitat mapping. 2.4 Towed video ground truthing Areas of interest captured from the high resolution SSS images during the SSS survey were designated as potential targets for ground truthing using underwater video footage. Where possible, multiple targets identified were surveyed using towed video along a single transect. A total of 18 towed video transects (305 minutes of footage) were completed between 15 and16 October 2017 (Figure 2.4). Towed video footage was collected as both standard and high definition and subsequently reviewed and analysed by an experienced marine scientist.
27 September 2018 8
Figure 2.4 Side scan sonar and towed video transect coverage over the survey area
27 September 2018 9 2.5 Habitat mapping The processed SSS data were used in combination with the video data and high resolution field SSS images to map benthic habitats over the survey area. Both the individual lines and full mosaic images were visually assessed using ArcGIS 10.2.1 at a scale of approximately 1:1000. The images were enhanced to highlight relevant benthic features and improve separation of potential habitats. Overlapping lines captured at different angles were assessed individually make sure no features were missed.
Textural and backscatter attributes of benthic features identified from the video data and high resolution SSS field images were assessed in the SSS data and extrapolated over the entire survey area. Features below 20 m diameter were disregarded. Gaps between the SSS lines containing no data could not be assessed, but habitats were interpolated across these areas based on large scale features visible in the SSS lines on either side of the gap.
Due to the high levels of turbidity, not all towed video footage could be used to identify benthic habitats. However, it was apparent from the different levels of turbidity that very high levels of energy (bedload/suspension) were evident in sections of the survey area. This was recorded during the visual assessment within each video transect and this additional information was added to the habitat categories.
As a result, the mapped habitat was split into three zones ranging from moderate to high energy and attributed with information on the degree of bioturbation. A fourth zone was added to describe the intertidal zone outside of the survey area consisting predominantly of sand flats.
27 September 2018 10
3. Results Reconnaissance of the bathymetry of the area showed a homogenous shallow gradient over the survey area. Starting from the central point on the northern survey area boundary and working directly south, the gradient ranged from approximately a 1 m rise over the first 2.5 km; steepening slightly to 1 m per 1 km to the southern boundary. Overall, the area is a homogenous sand flat with no identified significant topographic features. The side scan sonar data supported this, although there were areas of interest identified, these were very small in scale and likely sediment density related (e.g. sand versus sand/silt) for the most part. Some areas of interest were identified as coral rubble which has likely been transported inshore from unidentified coral areas in deeper water outside of the study area. The towed video footage ground truthing supported the information identifying a mostly featureless flat sandy seabed. In the deeper water, the video footage had better visibility and revealed some filter feeders (<1%) and some bioturbation within the sand flats. Turbidity increased greatly with shallowing water and the bioturbation and filter feeders quickly diminished as the areas become higher energy with greater sediment bedloads. In the central and southern portions of the survey area turbidity was high due to high levels of resuspension of bedload materials which appeared to limit bioturbation and excluded filter feeders or other habitats. 3.1 Extent of habitats No significant benthic producer habitat was found during the survey. The benthic habitat was sand dominated and moderate to high energy with significant turbidity throughout most of the survey area. Bioturbation was noted in the deeper section of the survey area to the north with limited filter feeders present (<1%). As the benthic habitat was identified as sand dominated, the area was divided up into four different sand dominated environments (Figure 3.1). Representative photographs of the seabed within the survey area are shown in Figure 3.6 through to Figure 3.8.
27 September 2018 11
Figure 3.1 Benthic habitat map of the cable lay corridor
27 September 2018 12 3.2 Examples of areas of interest captured on side scan sonar
Figure 3.2 Prominent sand ripples
27 September 2018 13
Figure 3.3 Sand ripples with small boulder (<2 m diameter)
27 September 2018 14
Figure 3.4 Potential sparse rubble
Figure 3.5 Potential harder sediment and/or dense rubble
27 September 2018 15 3.3 Screen grabs from towed video footage
Figure 3.6 Sand dominated, moderate energy, bioturbated
Figure 3.7 Sand dominated, high energy, lightly bioturbated
27 September 2018 16
Figure 3.8 Sand dominated, high energy
27 September 2018 17
4. References EPA (2016a) Environmental Factor Guideline - Benthic Communities and Habitats EPA (2016b) Technical Guidance - Protection of Benthic Communities and Habitats UTEC (2017) Eighty Mile Beach survey final report. Prepared for BMT Oceanica. Report number AU-BMT0001-FR-0001 19 October 2017
27 September 2018 18 PO Box 2305 Churchlands WA 6018 Australia Tel: +61 8 6163 4900 www.bmt.org