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Chapter 9: Biodiversity

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Chapter 9: Biodiversity Arafura Resouces Ltd Nolans Environmental Impact Statement volume one 09 Biodiversity Chapter 9 Nolans Project Environmental Impact Statement 9. Biodiversity 9.1 Introduction This chapter describes the flora, vegetation and fauna present in the study area, including a description of biodiversity values at the species and ecosystem level, and in a local and regional context. This chapter also describes the potential direct and indirect impacts of the project on local and regional biodiversity, including TPWC listed threatened flora and fauna species. Mitigation measures that will be implemented in order to minimise the impact of project construction and operation area documented. Section 5.4.1 of the Terms of Reference (TOR) for the preparation of an environmental impact assessment issued by the NT EPA for the Project provided the following environmental objective in relation to biodiversity: The Project will maintain the conservation status, diversity, geographic distribution and productivity of flora and fauna, at the species and ecosystem levels, through the avoidance or management of adverse impacts. This chapter addresses the biodiversity values, as required in the TOR for the project. The delegate of the Commonwealth Minister has determined that the project is a controlled action that has the potential to significantly impact listed threatened species and communities (under Sections 18 and 18A of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 – EPBC Act). The project will be assessed under the Bilateral Agreement between the NT and Commonwealth governments. Matters of National Environmental Significance (MNES) and other matters protected under the EPBC Act are discussed separately in Chapter 10. This chapter provides the environmental context and the detailed habitat information that is the background to a discussion of the impact on MNES. Detailed flora and fauna assessments are provided in Appendix M and Appendix N respectively. The total study area for flora and vegetation assessment is approximately 5, 692 ha (Figure 9-1). The study area for fauna, assessed on foot, vehicle and helicopter covered more than 110,000 ha (Figure 9-2) and included: approximately 65,000 ha in the Reynolds Range and Hann Range (both ranges are far larger than the area assessed) where targeted threatened species surveys (Chapter 10) were carried out for Black-footed Rock-wallaby, and 41,568 ha of the broader borefield area. Chapter 9 – Biodiversity Volume 1 Page 9-1 Yundurbungu Reynolds Range Hills ek Cr e y b a l a W Anna's Reservoir Kerosene Camp Creek MINE SITE W ic ks t S e t e u d a C r r t e e H k ig h w a Aileron y PROCESSING ACCOMMODATION SITE VILLAGE k e e Napp r erby R C oad t i b b a R BOREFIELD AREA Roads Bore (! k e e C r Day Hann Reaphook Range Hills 1:225,000 @ A4 LEGEND Arafura Resources Limited Job Number 4322301 Revision 0 0 2 4 6 8 Water Bores Waterways Nolans Project (! Environmental Impact Statement Date 18 Mar 2016 Kilometres Existing Roads Study Area Map Projection: Universal Transverse Mercator Existing Access Track Borefield Area Horizontal Datum: GDA 1994 o Grid: GDA 1994 MGA Zone 53 Study area (flora and vegetation) Figure 9-1 G:\43\22301\GIS\Maps\4322301_025_StudyArea.mxd Level 5 66 Smith Street Darwin NT 0800 Australia T 61 8 8982 0100 F 61 8 8981 1075 E [email protected] W www.ghd.com © 2016. Whilst every care has been taken to prepare this map, GHD, GA and Arafura Resources make no representations or warranties about its accuracy, reliability, completeness or suitability for any particular purpose and cannot accept liability and responsibility of any kind (whether in contract, tort or otherwise) for any expenses, losses, damages and/or costs (including indirect or consequential damage) which are or may be incurred by any party as a result of the map being inaccurate, incomplete or unsuitable in any way and for any reason. Data source: GA - Imagery (2008), Roads, Waterways, Placenames (2015). ESRI - Shaded Relief (2009). ARL - Water Bores, Proposed Pipelines, Borefield Area, Proposed Mine Site, Treatment Plant and Accommodation Village (2015). Created by: CW, CM Chianina Yalyirimbi Range Yundurbungu ek e Nolans Hills Cr y b a l a Bore W Annas Kerosene(! Camp Creek Reservoir MINE SITE W ic ks t e e d C r e e k PROCESSING SITE k Napperby Road e e r C t i b b a R BOREFIELD AREA k (! e re y C Roads Bore Da Hann Reaphook Hills Range Stuart Highway Sandover HighwaySandover 1:425,000 @ A4 LEGEND Arafura Resources Limited Job Number 4322301 Revision 0 0 2.5 5 7.5 10 Water Bores Waterways Nolans Project (! Environmental Impact Statement Date 18 Mar 2016 Kilometres Existing Roads Study Area Map Projection: Universal Transverse Mercator Existing Access Track Borefield Area Horizontal Datum: GDA 1994 o Grid: GDA 1994 MGA Zone 53 Study area (fauna) Figure 9-2 G:\43\22301\GIS\Maps\4322301_026_StudyArea.mxd Level 5 66 Smith Street Darwin NT 0800 Australia T 61 8 8982 0100 F 61 8 8981 1075 E [email protected] W www.ghd.com © 2016. Whilst every care has been taken to prepare this map, GHD, GA and Arafura Resources make no representations or warranties about its accuracy, reliability, completeness or suitability for any particular purpose and cannot accept liability and responsibility of any kind (whether in contract, tort or otherwise) for any expenses, losses, damages and/or costs (including indirect or consequential damage) which are or may be incurred by any party as a result of the map being inaccurate, incomplete or unsuitable in any way and for any reason. Data source: GA - Imagery (2008), Roads, Waterways, Placenames (2015). ESRI - Shaded Relief (2009). ARL - Water Bores, Proposed Pipelines, Borefield Area, Proposed Mine Site, Treatment Plant and Accommodation Village (2015). Created by: CW, CM Nolans Project Environmental Impact Statement 9.2 Bioregional context The study area is located within the Burt Plain Bioregion, on the Aileron and Napperby pastoral stations which have been used for grazing since the early 1880s. The bioregion covers an area of 73,605 km2, which represents approximately 5% of the Northern Territory (NRETAS 2005). It is characterised by arid to semi-arid plains and low rocky ranges with some of Australia’s best established and most extensive mulga (Acacia aneura) and other acacia woodlands (NRETAS 2005). Geologically the bioregion lies over the Arunta Province, Tennant Inlier, and small areas of Georgina, Wiso and Ngalia basins, with metamorphic, plutonic, and sedimentary rocks of Precambrian age. One of the distinguishing features of the Burt Plain Bioregion is the predominance of earthy, alluvial soils as opposed to sandplains and sand dunes. It also has a relatively high density of mountain ranges, in the east, north and west of the bioregion. In the Reynolds Range, northwest of the Nolans site (Figure 1-6), Mt Thomas reaches 1113 m. Running parallel and to the north of the Reynolds Range are the Anmatjira and Yundurbulu Ranges, both with peaks over 1000 m above sea level (asl) and with significant long-term freshwater springs. These ranges generate the major north flowing rivers of the study area. Running south from the Reynolds Range are Napperby Creek and also Gidyea and Day creeks, which carry water about 50 km to the ephemeral Lake Lewis and the surrounding swamps. The mean annual rainfall data shows a regional area of relatively high rainfall in the area of the Reynolds, Anmatjira and Yundurbulu Ranges, however there are no permanent natural waters in the creeks running north and south, despite the mountains. There are five broad vegetation types that have been mapped within the bioregion (Wilson et al. 1990), the most abundant being Acacia woodland. Other broad vegetation types recorded within the bioregion include Eucalyptus low woodland with tussock grass understory, Eucalyptus woodland with hummock grass understory, Hummock grassland and Tussock grassland (NRETAS 2005). The Burt Plain Bioregion is known to contain more than 1100 flora species and 350 fauna species. However, the bioregion is one of the most poorly documented bioregions in the Northern Territory in terms of its biodiversity values (Neave et al. 2006), and it is consequently recognised as a national priority bioregion for conservation planning. Less than 0.3% of the bioregion is reserved in National Parks and other conservation reserves (NRETAS 2005). There are 16 sites of botanical significance within the Burt Plain Bioregion, none of which occur within or near the study area (Neave et al. 2006). There are six sites in the bioregion that are listed in the directory of important wetlands. None of these are within or near the Nolans site. There are no sites of conservation significance in or near the study area. Lake Lewis site of conservation significance is 30 km to the west. Potential and existing threats to biodiversity that have been identified within the bioregion include exotic flora, introduced animals, fire, erosion, land clearing, grazing and mining (Neave et al. 2006). Much of the bioregion has been impacted by a range of broadscale processes such as grazing by livestock and/or feral animals, feral predators and weed infestations. Exotic species are widespread and there are fifteen declared weed species currently listed under the Northern Territory Weeds Management Act 2001 known to occur in the Burt Plain Bioregion. Other exotic plants species, most notably buffel and couch grass, also pose significant threats to some habitats. Chapter 9 – Biodiversity Page 9-4 Volume 1 Nolans Project Environmental Impact Statement 9.2.1 Fauna and Habitat Characteristics (Neave et al 2006) The fauna and flora habitat of the Burt Plain Bioregion are characterised by the following: Vegetation is predominantly mulga and other acacia woodlands with short grasses and forbs, and spinifex grasslands.
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