Mining Area C SRE Invertebrate Fauna Impact Assessment
Mining Area C - Life of Project Environmental Management Plan Revision 6 Environmental Impact Assessment of Short-range Endemic Invertebrates
BHP Billiton Iron Ore Pty Ltd June 2015
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Mining Area C SRE Invertebrate Fauna Impact Assessment
Mining Area C Life of Project Environmental Management Plan Revision 6 Environmental Impact Assessment of Short-range Endemic Invertebrates
DOCUMENT STATUS
Version Review / Approved for Approved for Issue to Author No. Issue Name Date E. Drain (BHP 1 S. Callan, B. Durrant M. O'Connell 08/12/2014 Billiton Iron Ore) 2 S. Callan B. Durrant E. Drain 14/01/2015 3 S. Callan B. Durrant E. Drain 27/01/2015 Final S. Callan B. Durrant E. Drain 26/06/2015
IMPORTANT NOTE
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Mining Area C SRE Invertebrate Fauna Impact Assessment
TABLE OF CONTENTS
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ...... 4 1. INTRODUCTION ...... 7 1.1 Location and Overview of Operation ...... 7 1.2 Approvals History ...... 7 1.3 Project Description ...... 7 1.4 Aims and Objectives ...... 8 1.5 Short-range Endemism ...... 11 1.5.1 Legislation and Guidance ...... 11 2. ENVIRONMENT ...... 13 2.1 Biogeography (IBRA Bioregions) ...... 13 2.2 Climate ...... 13 2.3 Geology ...... 14 2.4 Soils ...... 15 2.5 Topography ...... 18 2.6 Surface hydrology ...... 18 2.7 Land Systems ...... 21 2.8 Vegetation ...... 22 3. METHODS ...... 25 3.1 Review of Previous Studies ...... 25 3.2 Faunal Database Review ...... 25 3.3 On-site Assessment of Habitats (September 2014) ...... 26 3.3.1 Site Selection ...... 26 3.4 Habitat Assessment Rationale ...... 30 3.5 Habitat Zone Mapping ...... 31 3.6 Constraints and Assumptions ...... 32 4. RESULTS ...... 33 4.1 Review of Previous Surveys ...... 33 4.1.1 Surveys within the Mining Area C Licence boundary ...... 33 4.1.2 Surveys Surrounding Mining Area C ...... 34 4.2 SRE Faunal Results ...... 37 4.2.1 Myriapoda ...... 37 4.2.2 Selenopidae ...... 37 4.2.3 Mygalomorphae ...... 37 4.2.4 Pseudoscorpiones ...... 38 4.3 Habitat Assessment Results ...... 40 4.3.1 Habitat Types Assessed ...... 40 4.3.2 SRE Habitat Zones ...... 41 4.4 SRE Species of Conservation Concern ...... 46 4.4.1 Antichiropus `DIP006` ...... 46 4.4.2 Chenistonia `MYG088` ...... 54 4.4.3 Karaops banyjima ...... 56 5. IMPACT ASSESSMENT ...... 58 5.1 Potential Impacts ...... 58 5.2 Direct Impacts to Species Populations ...... 58 5.3 Direct Impacts to Habitats ...... 58 5.3.1 Habitats of the Species of Conservation Concern ...... 59 5.4 Indirect Impacts to Habitats...... 63 6. KEY OUTCOMES ...... 64 7. REFERENCES ...... 65 APPENDIX 1: Morphospecies alignments - previous reports & WAM data ...... 68 APPENDIX 2: SRE habitat assessment survey data (September 2014) ...... 69
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Mining Area C SRE Invertebrate Fauna Impact Assessment
LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 1.1 Regional location and IBRA regionalisation ...... 9 Figure 1.2 Mining Area C proposed indicative general arrangement (supplied by BHP Billiton Iron Ore) ...... 10 Figure 2.1 Long-Term Climatic Averages (LTA) for monthly rainfall and diurnal temperature range at Newman Airport (BoM 2014)...... 14 Figure 2.2 Geology (1:500,000) of Mining Area C ...... 16 Figure 2.3 Soils of Mining Area C (CSIRO Atlas of Australian Soils) ...... 17 Figure 2.4 Topography of Mining Area C ...... 19 Figure 2.5 Drainage of Mining Area C...... 20 Figure 2.6 Land Systems of Mining Area C ...... 23 Figure 2.7 Mining Area C Licence Boundary Vegetation Mapping (supplied by Onshore Environmental)...... 24 Figure 3.1 Sites visited for SRE habitat assessment ...... 29 Figure 3.2 SRE habitat suitability assessment diagram ...... 31 Figure 4.1 SRE surveys at Mining Area C and surrounds ...... 36 Figure 4.2. SRE species recorded within Mining Area C ...... 39 Figure 4.3 Indicative extent of SRE habitat zones...... 42 Figure 4.4: Overall SRE suitability of habitat zones ...... 43 Figure 4.5 SRE species and topography (central) ...... 49 Figure 4.6 SRE species and habitat zones (central) ...... 50 Figure 4.7 SRE species and topography (east) ...... 51 Figure 4.8 SRE species and habitat zones (east) ...... 52 Figure 4.9 SRE survey gaps to the north of Mining Area C ...... 53
LIST OF TABLES
Table 2.1 Landforms, soils and vegetation types of the Land Systems present within the Licence boundary...... 21 Table 3.1 Databases used for the review ...... 26 Table 3.2 Location and habitat type of sites sampled during the SRE habitat assessment survey...... 27 Table 4.1 Location of SRE species sampled within the Licence boundary, relative to the Impact assessment area...... 38 Table 5.1 Area (ha) and proportion (%) of each SRE habitat zone within the Impact assessment area and within the Licence boundary...... 59 Table 5.2 Potential impacts to SRE species recorded only from inside the Impact assessment area, and their habitats...... 62
LIST OF PLATES
Plate 4.1 Site 01: Ridge/ breakaway at the top of large deep gully (burnt, view southeast) ... 48 Plate 4.2 Site 02: south facing Gorge/ deep gully (burnt, view south) ...... 48 Plate 4.3 Site 39 (OES8): top of south facing Gorge/ deep gully (part burnt, view south) ...... 55 Plate 4.4 Site 40: south facing Gorge/ deep gully with caves (part burnt, view north) ...... 55 Plate 4.5 Site 52: south facing Ridge/ breakaway within large gully (unburned, view east) ... 57 Plate 4.6 Site 60: part of Major gorge/ deep gully system with caves (part burnt, view northwest) ...... 57 Plate 4.7 Site 61: Major gorge/ deep gully system (burnt, view northeast) ...... 57
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Mining Area C SRE Invertebrate Fauna Impact Assessment
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
BHP Billiton Iron Ore Pty Ltd (BHP Billiton Iron Ore) is updating the Mining Area C Environmental Management Plan (EMP) in order to access the deposits P2, P5, P6 and R, modify existing deposits, and enable below water table mining of all deposits within the Mining Area C Licence Boundary (‘Licence boundary’). The Licence boundary covers approximately 25814 hectares (ha) and is located approximately 100 kilometres (km) northwest of the town of Newman in the Pilbara region of Western Australia.
The proposed Impact Assessment Area for the Life of Project EMP (Revision 6) (‘Impact assessment area’ hereafter) is estimated to be 11377 ha. Of this, 4234 ha comprises pits, overburden storage areas (OSAs) and infrastructure approved under EMP Revision 5, while the proposed pits, OSAs and infrastructure for the proposed EMP revision adds approximately 7143 ha to the indicative disturbance for the purpose of this assessment.
The scope of this report is to undertake an environmental impact assessment of short-range endemic (SRE) invertebrate fauna values throughout the Impact assessment area. This report aims to provide:
a review of relevant published literature, previous survey reports, and SRE database records within Licence boundary and surrounds; a description of the methods and results of the SRE habitat assessment survey; identification of key SRE values (including any restricted SRE species, conservation significant species, and important SRE habitats) within the Licence boundary; and an assessment of potential impacts to key SRE values (including discussion of potential impact receptors, pathways and magnitude) from the proposed development within the Impact assessment area.
The database searches and previous surveys reported 11 SRE species from within the Licence boundary (plus two indeterminate juvenile species of relevance), comprising two millipedes, one selenopid spider, seven mygalomorph spiders, and one pseudoscorpion. The majority of these SRE species have also been recorded outside of the Licence boundary, except for the millipede Antichiropus `DIP006`, the mygalomorph spider Chenistonia `MYG088`, and the selenopid spider Karaops banyjima, that have each been recorded only from the mountainous habitats of the Packsaddle Range, inside the Impact assessment area.
Detailed habitat assessment data was recorded at 85 sites throughout the Licence boundary from 23-26 September 2014, in accordance with BHP Billiton Iron Ore’s Guidance for Short- Range Endemic Invertebrate Surveys in the Pilbara Region (SPR-IEN-EMS-013). The habitat assessment survey aimed to determine the suitability, extent, and connectivity of SRE habitats inside and outside of the Impact assessment area, to refine the habitat mapping for SRE fauna, and inform the assessment of potential impacts.
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Mining Area C SRE Invertebrate Fauna Impact Assessment
The key SRE values within the Mining Area C Licence boundary comprise:
Three SRE species of conservation concern (Antichiropus `DIP006`, Chenistonia `MYG088`, and Karaops banyjima) that have only been recorded inside of the Impact assessment area; and Four highly suitable and moderately-highly suitable SRE habitat zones, comprising south-facing Major gorge/ gully systems, River gorges, north-facing Major gorge/ gully systems and Ridges/ open gullies.
These four habitat zones occupy only 5.1 % of the total Mining Area C Licence boundary area, most of which (71.4 %) occurs outside of the Impact assessment area. However, approximately 90.9 % of the extent of the south-facing Major gorge/ gully systems (highly suitable for SRE species) occurs inside the Impact assessment area, therefore this habitat zone is considered to be mostly restricted to the Impact assessment area and the level of impact upon it will be high. The removal of the majority of this habitat zone by mining and construction will have a high direct impact on the polydesmid millipede Antichiropus `DIP006` and the mygalomorph spider Chenistonia `MYG088`, which are currently recorded only from this habitat zone.
This finding is limited by the low number of specimens sampled (of both species), the lack of specific ecological information for these particular species, and the lack of detailed surveys in areas outside the Licence boundary to the north. While it remains possible that Antichiropus `DIP006` and Chenistonia `MYG088` could occur more widely than currently recorded, the limited ecological information we have suggests that these may be relictual SRE taxa that only occur within highly sheltered, complex, mesic habitats such as the Major gorge/ gully systems within which they were found.
Habitat assessment information from the 2014 survey has determined that the majority of this habitat zone occurs only along the south face of the Packsaddle Range, almost entirely within the Impact assessment area. Although aerial photography suggests that other major gorge habitats may occur within separate mountain ranges to the north, east, and west beyond the Licence boundary, these areas have either not been sampled for SRE fauna, or the sampling has failed to detect Antichiropus `DIP006` or Chenistonia `MYG088`, and the habitat assessment has not indicated continuous similar habitats. Based on current evidence, the extent of suitable habitats for Antichiropus `DIP006` and Chenistonia `MYG088` appears to be restricted to the Impact assessment area and therefore the potential impacts to these species are considered high.
Although the selenopid spider Karaops banyjima is also known only from the Impact assessment area, the assessment of this species is considerably different, based largely upon the wider potential extent of its habitat throughout the Licence boundary area, and possibly beyond. Most Karaops spiders from the Pilbara region are specialised inhabitants of rock cracks and crevices, which can be a limiting factor where mountainous landscapes are surrounded by extensive plains. However, the majority of habitat zones throughout the Licence boundary are rocky and mountainous (including Major gorge/ gully systems, River gorges, Shallow open gullies/ valleys, Ridges/ open gullies, and Open hill slopes/ crests), with
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Mining Area C SRE Invertebrate Fauna Impact Assessment
only smaller areas of plains dividing the major ranges. Within this landscape of extensive, nearly continuous rocky habitats in the Licence boundary and the wider local area beyond, there is no reason to suggest that the potential habitat for K. banyjima is likely to be restricted to the Impact assessment area. Under this scenario, the potential impacts on K. banyjima are considered moderate.
The risk of indirect impacts to the key SRE values was considered low, except in areas immediately adjacent to active mining areas, which would be susceptible to the impacts of dust, vibration/ shock and noise. Habitat fragmentation could indirectly impact the Major drainage habitat zone in the southeast of the Licence boundary, although this would not affect any of the key SRE values. The risks of indirect impacts from changes to surface hydrology, exotic pests, weeds, increased fire incidents, and spills/ contamination, would be expected to be adequately managed by current environmental management procedures.
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Mining Area C SRE Invertebrate Fauna Impact Assessment
1. INTRODUCTION
1.1 Location and Overview of Operation
Mining Area C is located approximately 100 km northwest of the town of Newman and approximately 35 km southwest of the Marillana Creek (Yandi) operation (Figure 1.1). The Mining Area C Licence boundary (referred to hereafter as the ‘Licence boundary') covers approximately 25,814.5 hectares (ha). The Northern Flank Valley is an active mining operation in the north-eastern corner of the mining lease and comprises 14 deposits, namely the Marra Mamba Iron Formation deposits A, B, C, D, E, F and R, the Brockman Detrital Deposit and six Brockman Iron Formation bedrock deposits (P1-6) on the Packsaddle Range. Additional deposits may be identified over time from continued exploration activity.
Mining Area C operates under Ministerial Statement (MS) 491. Iron ore is mined using conventional open pit methods, where iron ore is crushed, screened and loaded onto trains at the Mining Area C ore handling facilities for transport via rail to port facilities at Port Hedland.
1.2 Approvals History
An Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) was conducted in 1997 via the Public Environmental Review (PER) process. The PER presented BHP Billiton Iron Ore’s proposal to mine 14 iron ore deposits identified in the Northern Flank Valley at Mining Area C (i.e. deposits A, B, C, D, E, F, R, P1, P2, P3, P4, P5, P6 and the Brockman Detrital Deposit).
The PER was assessed by the Western Australian Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) Bulletin No. 913 in 1998 and a Ministerial Statement of Approval (MS 491) was issued by the Minister for the Environment in December 1998 under Part IV of the Environmental Protection Act 1986 (EP Act).
Two deposits were assessed in the PER – C Deposit and the Brockman Detrital Deposit. In addition to the specific assessment of these two deposits, MS 491 provided an on-going mechanism for the development of the remaining 12 deposits subject to the Mining Area C Environmental Management Plan (EMP) being reviewed and updated to the requirements of the EPA as the other deposits came on line. MS 491 also required that each new version of the EMP be made available for public review to the requirements of the EPA.
Deposits A, B, C, D, E, F, P1, P3, P4 and the Brockman Detrital have been described and assessed in previous versions of the EMP. EMP Revisions 1 through to 5 currently describe the extent of mining below the water table (A, C, E, F P1 and P3 deposits) and above the water table (B, D, P4 and Brockman Detrital deposits) at Mining Area C.
1.3 Project Description
BHP Billiton Iron Ore is seeking access to the remaining deposits at Mining Area C through the development of a Life of Project EMP (Revision 6) (refer Figure 1.2 for proposed indicative general mine arrangement). Comprehensive baseline surveys have been
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Mining Area C SRE Invertebrate Fauna Impact Assessment
completed to inform this EMP revision. A preliminary project description includes the assessment of:
access to the P2, P5, P6 and R deposits; current and planned pit boundaries and Overburden Storage Area (OSA) boundaries; below water table mining of all deposits and placement of overburden in mine voids; construction and use of haul and access roads; out-of-pit topsoil, Run-of-Mine and low grade ore stockpiles; continued groundwater abstraction and usage to meet operational demands; additional infrastructure required to support the future mine plan; and closure and progressive rehabilitation.
1.4 Aims and Objectives
The objective of this report is to provide a Life of Project assessment of the key SRE values throughout the Mining Area C Licence boundary, following a ‘maximum disturbance boundary’ approach to allow flexibility in mine planning. This report aims to provide:
a review of relevant published literature, previous survey reports, and SRE database records within Mining Area C and surrounds; a description of the methods and results of the SRE habitat assessment survey; identification of key SRE values (including any restricted SRE species, conservation significant species, and important SRE habitats) within the Mining Area C Licence boundary; and an assessment of potential impacts to key SRE values (including discussion of potential impact receptors, pathways and magnitude) from the proposed development within the Impact assessment area.
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400000 500000 600000 700000 800000 900000 1000000
Pindanland
Port Operations +$"PORT HEDLAND McLarty
Nimingarra +$
"SHAY GAP Yarrie Roebourne "DAMPIER +$ 7700000
Mackay
"MARBLE BAR
Chichester 7600000
Rudall
Marillana Hamersley +$ Fortescue 7500000 " Yandi (Marillana Creek) TOM PRICE +$
Hope Mining Area C Downs +$ Jinidi +$ +$ Trainor Mudlark +$ South Flank+$ +$South Parmelia
Ashburton OB 23/24/25 OB 31 Mt Whaleback +$ +$ OB 18+$ Jimblebar (Wheelarra Hill) +$ "NEWMAN OB 29/30/35+$ +$ Augustus 7400000
Legend 1:1,600,000 BHP Billiton Iron Ore " Pilbara Towns Chichester Pindanland Mining/ Exploration Locations 0 10 20 40 60 Mining Area C Life of Asset Assessment +$ km ¯ Fig. 1.1 Regional location and IBRA regionalisation Area C Licence Boundary Fortescue Roebourne Care & Maintenance IBRA sub-region Hamersley Rudall +$ Exploration Created 02/12/2014. Size A3. Coordinate System: GDA 1994 MGA Zone 50 Ashburton Mackay Trainor +$ Operations Projection: Transverse Mercator Augustus McLarty +$ Operations (Third party) Datum: GDA 1994 683727 685727 687727 689727 691727 693727 695727 697727 699727 701727 703727 705727 707727 709727 711727 713727 7467886 7467886
Packsaddle Accomodation Camp P6 Pit P6 Pit P4 Pit OSA 12
7465886 P5 Pit OSA 10 7465886 P3 Pit P4 Pit P2 Pit P4 Misc BRK Detritals Pit P1 East Pit Crusher 1 Crusher 3 OSA 7 OSA 7 OSA 5 and 8 7463886 P1 West Pit OSA 4 OSA 11 7463886 C Pit Crusher 2 OSA 3 OSA 1 OSA 1 OSA 2 A Pit OSA 6 D Pit E Pit C Misc OSA 9 F West Pit F Pit 7461886 OSA 13 B Pit 7461886
A Pit B Pit
7459886 B Misc 7459886 Crusher 4 (ROM) Mulla Mulla Accomodation Camp
R Pit 7457886 7457886
Hope Downs Secondary
7455886 Accommodation Village 7455886
!(Wedgefield !( PORT HEDLAND
Great Northern Highway Whim Creek
7453886 !( 7453886
Legend Marble BarMoolyella 0 2 4 6 8 Wodgina Tantalum Mine !( Salgash Area C Licence Boundary Hope Downs Primary Glen Herring Kilometers Accommodation Village Approved Indicative Pits and OSAs (Rev 5) ENVIRONMENTAL APPROVALS Hillside Camp
7451886 BHPBILLITON IRON ORE OSA Nullagine 7451886 !( PIT Wittenoom Proposed Indicative General Arrangement (Rev 6) !( MINING AREA C Auski Roadhouse Indicative OSA Area Proposed Indicative Indicative Pit Area TOM PRICE 7449886 General Arrangement !( 7449886 ± Indicative Infrastructure SCALE (A3): 1:80,000 DATUM: GDA94/MGA 50 Existing Infrastructure PARABURDOO Prepared: Chris Hopkins Revision: DRAFT FIGURE 1.2 !( Proposed EMP Rev 6 Boundary NEWMAN Centre: Perth Date: 01 July 2015 !(
683727 685727 687727 689727 691727 693727 695727 697727 699727 701727 703727 705727 707727 709727 711727 713727 7447886
Mining Area C SRE Invertebrate Fauna Impact Assessment
1.5 Short-range Endemism
Endemism refers to the restriction of a species to a particular area, whether it is at the continental, national or local scale, the latter being commonly referred to as short-range endemism (Allen et al. 2002, Harvey 2002). Short-range endemism is influenced by several factors including life history, physiology, habitat requirements, dispersal capabilities, biotic and abiotic interactions and historical conditions which, not only influence the distribution of a species, but also the tendency for differentiation and speciation (Ponder and Colgan 2002).
In recent years a number of taxonomic groups of invertebrates have been highlighted as comprising a high proportion of species likely to be regarded as short-range endemics (SREs) (i.e. Harvey 2002; freshwater snails: Ponder and Colgan 2002; land snails: Johnson et al. 2004; mygalomorph spiders: Main et al. 2000). This identification of restricted taxonomic groups has led to SRE invertebrate fauna becoming an important component of the environmental impact assessment process, as it has provided a focal point for survey work aimed at protecting species of conservation value.
Harvey (2002) proposed a range criterion for terrestrial short-range endemic (SRE) species at less than 10,000 km2 (or 100 km x 100 km), which has been adopted by regulatory authorities in Western Australia (EPA 2009). SRE invertebrate species often share similar biological, behavioural and life history characteristics that influence their restricted distributions and limit their wider dispersal (Harvey 2002). For example, burrowing taxa such as mygalomorph spiders and Urodacus scorpions may only leave their burrows (or a narrow home territory around the burrow) as juveniles dispersing from the maternal burrow, or when males search for a mate. In other cases SRE taxa are dispersal-limited because of their slow pace of movement and cryptic habitats (such as isopods, millipedes and snails), while some specialised taxa can be limited by very specific habitat requirements, such as selenopid spiders within fractured rocky outcrops.
1.5.1 Legislation and Guidance
An increasingly large number of terrestrial invertebrates exhibit short-range endemism in Western Australia. During EIA, the EPA’s primary objectives for SRE fauna are to:
"ensure the protection of key habitats for SRE species; maintain the distribution, abundance, and productivity of populations of SRE taxa; and ensure that the conservation status of SRE taxa is not adversely changed as a result of development proposals" (EPA 2009).
This assessment of SRE invertebrate fauna was designed to meet the objectives of a Level 2 (baseline) survey for SRE invertebrates, under the following guidelines:
EPA (2009) Guidance Statement 20 Sampling of Short Range Endemic Invertebrate Fauna for Environmental Impact Assessment in Western Australia; EPA (2004) Guidance Statement 56 Terrestrial Fauna Surveys for Environmental Impact Assessment in Western Australia; and EPA (2002) Position Statement 3 Terrestrial Biological Surveys as an Element of Biodiversity Protection.
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Mining Area C SRE Invertebrate Fauna Impact Assessment
Protection for listed (conservation significant) species and/ or Threatened or Priority Ecological Communities is provided under State and Federal legislation, including:
Environmental Protection Act 1986 (EP Act 1986) (WA); Wildlife Conservation Act 1950 (WC Act 1950) (WA); and Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act 1999) (Commonwealth).
However, the majority of SRE species and communities are not listed, due to incomplete taxonomic or ecological knowledge; therefore assessment of conservation significance is not only limited to listed species or ecological communities.
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Mining Area C SRE Invertebrate Fauna Impact Assessment
2. ENVIRONMENT
2.1 Biogeography (IBRA Bioregions)
Mining Area C falls within the Pilbara biogeographic region as defined by the Interim Biogeographic Regionalisation of Australia (IBRA) (Thackway and Cresswell 1995). The Pilbara is subdivided into four sub-regions, and the Licence boundary lies in the central eastern part of the Hamersley sub-region, which forms the southern section of the Pilbara Craton (Kendrick 2001) (Figure 1.1). This sub-region is characterised by mountainous areas of Proterozoic sedimentary (ironstone) ranges and plateaux dissected by gullies and gorges.
The vegetation of the sub-region is dominated by Eucalyptus leucophloia over Triodia brizoides on skeletal soils on the ranges, and swathes of Mulga woodland over bunch grasses on fine-textured soils (Kendrick 2001). Also within the Pilbara bioregion, the IBRA identifies River Red Gum (Eucalyptus camaldulensis) woodlands fringing drainage lines (Thackway and Cresswell 1995) and Mulga (formerly Acacia aneura) groves within the alluvial valley floors.
2.2 Climate
The Pilbara region has a semi-arid to tropical climate with highly variable rainfall, mostly occurring in summer. Two distinct seasons occur in the region; a hot, humid summer from October to April and a mild, dry winter from May to September (Australian Natural Resources Atlas 2008). Rainfall is heavily influenced by tropical cyclones that develop over the Indian Ocean in the north of Australia, and often cross the north-west coastline, bringing heavy showers and extreme winds to inland regions of the Pilbara.
Mining Area C experiences a wide range of temperatures throughout the year with an average maximum diurnal temperature of 31.3°C. During summer maximum temperatures may reach as high as 46.0°C, while in winter, minimum overnight temperatures may be as low as -2.0°C (BoM 2014).
Long-term climatic data is not available for Mining Area C; however the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) weather station at Newman Airport (located 105 km south-west) can be used as a rough estimate for climatic observations in the area (Figure 2.1, data from BoM 2014).
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Mining Area C SRE Invertebrate Fauna Impact Assessment
45
40 120
35 100
30
C 80
25
20 60 Rainfall (mm) Rainfall Temperature Temperature
15 40
10
20 5
0 0 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC
LTA rainfall LTA (max) temp LTA (min) temp
Figure 2.1 Long-Term Climatic Averages (LTA) for monthly rainfall and diurnal temperature range at Newman Airport (BoM 2014).
2.3 Geology
The regional geology has been described and mapped by the Geological Survey of Western Australia at a scale of 1:250,000 (Tyler et al. 1991). The geology within Mining Area C Licence boundary belongs to the Hamersley Group of the Hamersley Basin, a late Archaean to early Proterozoic (2765-2470 Ma) basin which occurs over the southern part of the Pilbara Craton (Thorne and Tyler 1997). The geology is broadly classified into six units (Figure 2.2), following Thorne and Tyler (1997):
1. Weeli Wolli Formation: interlayered jaspilitic BIF, mudstone, siltstone and metadoleritic sills. Occurs only in small patches large band around the northern Licence boundary, although a large continuous band extends further north and east beyond Mining Area C.
2. Brockman Iron Formation: banded iron-formation, chert, mudstone and siltstone with minor shale. An extensive band stretches from west to east through the northernmost section of Mining Area C, representing the Packsaddle Range.
3. Mount McRae Shale and Mount Sylvia Formation: interbedded shale, chert, BIF and dolomite. This unit occurs as a thin band stretching west to east through the northern section of Mining Area C, on the southern flanks of the Packsaddle Range.
4. Wittenoom Formation: metamorphosed dolomite, dolomitic mudstone, chert, and felsic to mafic volcanic sandstone. This unit occurs as a narrow band stretching west to east
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Mining Area C SRE Invertebrate Fauna Impact Assessment
through the northern half of the Mining Area C Licence boundary in the valley between the Packsaddle and Jirrpalpur Ranges.
5. Marra Mamba Iron Formation: metamorphosed chert, BIF, mudstone, and siltstone. This unit comprises the central and southern portion of Mining Area C, representing the Jirrpalpur Range, and also extending beyond the Licence boundary to the south and east.
6. Jeerinah Formation: metamorphosed volcaniclastic rocks including massive basaltic flows and basaltic breccia, intermixed with mudstone, siltstone, sandstone and chert. Occurs in small pockets in the far south eastern section of Mining Area C.
2.4 Soils
Tille (2006) collated the most recent and detailed soil mapping of Western Australia’s Rangelands and Arid Interior. Mining Area C falls within the Hamersley Plateaux zone of the Fortescue Province, which is said to comprise, “Hills and dissected plateaux (with some stony plains and hardpan wash plains) on sedimentary and volcanic rocks of the Hamersley Basin (Ophthalmia Fold Belt)” (Tille 2006). The soils of this province are described as, “Stony soils with Red shallow loams and some Red/brown non-cracking clays and Red loamy earths” (Tille 2006).
The CSIRO’s Atlas of Australian Soils describes and maps the soils of Australia following Northcote et al. (1960-1968) (Figure 2.3). The Licence boundary, and thus the Impact assessment area is mainly composed of one soil type, following Northcote et al. (1960-1968):
Fa13 – Ranges of banded jaspilite and chert along with shales, dolomites, and iron ore formations; some areas of ferruginous duricrust as well as occasional narrow winding valley plains and steeply dissected pediments. This unit is largely associated with the Hamersley and Ophthalmia Ranges. The soils are frequently stony and shallow and there are extensive areas without soil cover: chief soils are shallow stony earthy loams along with some soils on the steeper slopes. Associated are (Dr2.33, Dr2.32) soils on the limited areas of dissected pediments, while (Um5.52) and (Uf6.71) soils occur on the valley plains.
Meanwhile, the soils of the far west of the Licence boundary (associated with Coondewanna Flats which lies further to the south west, outside the Licence boundary) are composed of 'Fb3' type, following Northcote et al. (1960-1968); "High-level valley plains set in extensive areas of the Fa13 unit. There are extensive areas of pisolitic limonite deposits: the principal soils are deep earthy loams (Um5.52) along with small areas of (Gn2.12) soils."
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670000 680000 690000 700000 710000 720000 7470000 7460000 7450000
Legend Area C Licence Boundary Wittenoom Frm. dolomite 1:150,000 BHP Billiton Iron Ore Impact Assessment Area Marra Mamba Iron Frm. 0 1 2 4 6 Area C Life of Project Assessment (EMP Rev6) km Geology (1:500k) Mt McRae Shale/ Mt Sylvia BIF ¯ Fig. 2.2 Geology (1:500,000) of Mining Area C Dolerite intrusives Brockman Iron Frm. Created 24/06/2015. Size A3. Jeerinah Frm. basaltic flows Weeli Wolli Jaspilitic BIF Coordinate System: GDA 1994 MGA Zone 50 Projection: Transverse Mercator Jeerinah Frm. volcaniclastics Datum: GDA 1994 670000 680000 690000 700000 710000 720000 7470000 7460000 7450000
Legend Area C Licence Boundary Impact Assessment Area 1:150,000 BHP Billiton Iron Ore Soil Type 0 1 2 4 6 Area C Life of Project Assessment (EMP Rev6) km Fa13- Ranges, banded jaspilite/ chert/ shales ¯ Fig. 2.3 Soils of Mining Area C (CSIRO Atlas of Australian Soils) Fa14- Steep hills/ dissected pediments, jaspilite/ chert/ shales Created 24/06/2015. Size A3. Fb3- High valley plains, pisolitic limonite with deep earthy loams Coordinate System: GDA 1994 MGA Zone 50 Projection: Transverse Mercator Ja2- Centres of high valley plains, earthy clays Datum: GDA 1994
Mining Area C SRE Invertebrate Fauna Impact Assessment
2.5 Topography
Mining Area C occurs within the central Hamersley Ranges which dominate the sub-region (Thorne and Tyler 1997). The topography of the area is highly mountainous with two major mountain ranges striking east-west; the Packsaddle Range in the north and Jirrpalpur Range in the central and southern parts (Figure 2.4). Both of these ranges feature significant rocky landforms such as outcrops, breakaways, caves, boulders, and steep scree slopes, and both ranges are heavily dissected by gorges, gullies and drainage lines, leading mainly south from the Packsaddle Range, and east from the Jirrpalpur Range.
The Packsaddle Range is the taller and narrower of the two ranges (particularly within its western extent), while the Jirrpalpur Range features a broad undulating plateaux, descending into a series of rolling hills in the eastern central part of Mining Area C, which grade further downslope into open alluvial plains to the east. The major ranges are separated by a wide valley that features undulating stony plains and low hills.
Both of the major mountain ranges and the plains extend beyond the Licence boundary, with the Packsaddle Range connecting up with other mountainous habitats to the immediate north, the Jirrpalpur Range extending to the south, and both the plains to the east and west continuing on in their respective directions beyond the Licence boundary (Figure 2.4).
2.6 Surface hydrology
The average annual rainfall in the region is approximately 310 mm (as measured at Newman airport), although annual totals can vary widely; therefore all local watercourses flow only after heavy or prolonged rainfall, as short-duration floods with rapid peaks and slightly less rapid decline (RPS Aquaterra 2012). Water may pond along major drainage lines, persisting as a series of small pools for several weeks following major flow events. Mining Area C lies atop a catchment divide between the Weeli Wolli Creek catchment, which drains the majority of the Licence boundary area eastwards towards Weeli Wolli Creek, and the Coondewanna Flats catchment which drains the western part of the Licence boundary to the south west towards Coondewanna Flats and Lake Robinson (Figure 2.5) (RPS 2014).
Coondewanna Flats (including Lake Robinson) is a centrally draining, ephemeral wetland/ claypan catchment located further to the south west beyond the Mining Area C Licence boundary. The seasonal clay pans and extensive Coolibah (Eucalyptus victrix) and Mulga (formerly Acacia aneura) woodland in this area is considered by the Western Australian Department of Parks and Wildlife (DPaW) to be at risk (Kendrick 2001). The DPaW lists the "Coolibah and Mulga woodland over lignum (Muehlenbeckia florulenta) and tussock grasses on clay plains" at Coondewanna Flats as a Priority 3 (i) Priority Ecological Community (PEC) (DPaW 2013). At Lake Robinson, the "Coolibah woodlands over lignum, over swamp wandiree" community is considered to be a Priority 1 PEC (DPaW 2013).
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690000 700000 710000 7470000
Packsaddle Range
Jirrpalpur Range 7460000
Legend 7450000 Impact Assessment Area 588 652 716 780 844 908 Area C Licence Boundary 596 660 724 788 852 916 Contours (mAHD) 604 668 732 796 860 924 1:90,000 BHP Billiton Iron Ore 550 612 676 740 804 868 932 0 0.5 1 2 3 Area C Life of Project Assessment (EMP Rev 6) km 556 620 684 748 812 876 940 ¯ Fig. 2.4 Topography of Mining Area C 564 628 692 756 820 884 Created 24/06/2015. Size A3. 572 636 700 764 828 892 Coordinate System: GDA 1994 MGA Zone 50 Projection: Transverse Mercator 580 644 708 772 836 900 Datum: GDA 1994
To Weeli Wolli Creek
Pebble Mouse Creek
Coondewanna Flats 680000 690000 700000 710000 720000 7470000
To Weeli Wolli Creek
Pebble Mouse
7460000 Creek
Coondewanna Flats 7450000
1:125,000 BHP Billiton Iron Ore Legend 0 0.75 1.5 3 4.5 Area C Life of Project Assessment (EMP Rev 6) Impact Assessment Area km ¯ Fig. 2.5 Drainage of Mining Area C Area C Licence Boundary Created 24/06/2015. Size A3. Pilbara Drainage Coordinate System: GDA 1994 MGA Zone 50 Projection: Transverse Mercator Datum: GDA 1994
Mining Area C SRE Invertebrate Fauna Impact Assessment
2.7 Land Systems
Van Vreeswyk et al. (2004) classified and mapped the Land Systems of the Pilbara. Land types and land systems are classified according to similarities in landform, soil, vegetation, geology and geomorphology. Four Land Systems occur within the Licence boundary, as described in van Vreeswyk et al. (2004) and shown in Figure 2.6:
Newman Land System: rugged jaspilite plateaux, ridges and mountains supporting hard spinifex grasslands; Boolgeeda Land System: Stony lower slopes and plains below hill systems supporting hard and soft spinifex grasslands and Mulga shrublands; Wannamunna Land System: Hardpan plains and internal drainage tracts supporting Mulga shrublands and woodlands (and occasionally eucalypt woodlands); and Platform Land System: Dissected slopes and raised plains supporting hard spinifex grasslands.
The broad characteristics of these Land Systems are detailed in Table 2.1 below.
Table 2.1 Landforms, soils and vegetation types of the Land Systems present within the Licence boundary.
Landform Soil Vegetation
Newman Land System Hummock grasslands Triodia wiseana, T. brizoides with very Stony soils on upper scattered to scattered shrubs and trees including Acacia and Lower slopes margins with red loams on Senna spp., Grevillea wickhamii, Eucalyptus leucophloia and lower margins other eucalypts. Smaller floors support hummock grassland of Triodia pungens Narrow Red shallow loams, red with very scattered shrubs. Larger floors and channels support drainage floors loamy earths. Channels with tall shrublands/ woodlands of Acacia spp. and Eucalyptus victrix with channels river bed soils. with tussock grass or hummock grass understoreys. Hummock grasslands of Triodia wiseana, T. brizoides, Plateaux, Stony soils, red shallow T. plurinervata with very scattered to scattered shrubs and trees ridges, loams and some red shallow including Acacia and Senna spp., Grevillea wickhamii, mountains and sands. Eucalyptus leucophloia and other eucalypts. Occasionally hills hummock grass is Triodia biflora. Hummock grasslands of Triodia wiseana, T. spp. with isolated to Stony soils, red shallow very scattered shrubs of Acacia and Senna spp. and occasional Stony plains loams with some red loamy eucalypt trees. Occasionally hummock grasslands of Triodia earths. pungens. Boolgeeda Land System Low hills and Stony soils and red shallow Hummock grasslands of Triodia wiseana and other Triodia spp.
rises loams with very scattered Acacia shrubs. Moderately close woodlands or tall shrublands of A. aneura with Groves Red loamy earths sparse low shrubs and tussock or hummock grasses. Scattered to close tall shrublands or woodlands of A. aneura, Narrow Red loamy earths and minor A. atkinsiana, Corymbia hamersleyana (Hamersley bloodwood) drainage floors self-mulching cracking clays. with sparse low shrubs and hummock and tussock grasses. and channels Channels with river bed soils Occasionally hummock grasslands of T. pungens.
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Mining Area C SRE Invertebrate Fauna Impact Assessment
Table 2.1 Continued.
Landform Soil Vegetation
Hummock grasslands T. wiseana, T. lanigera or Stony lower T. pungens. Also scattered to moderately close tall shrublands Red loamy earths plains of A. aneura and other acacias with hard and soft spinifex ground layer. Hummock grasslands of T. lanigera, T. wiseana (hard spinifex) Stony slopes or scattered tall shrublands of Acacia aneura (mulga), Red shallow loams or red and upper A. ancistrocarpa (shiny leaf wattle), A. atkinsiana and other loamy earths plains acacias, occasional Eucalyptus trees and prominent hard spinifex ground layer. Wannamunna land system
Red loamy earths and red- Very scattered to scattered tall shrublands of Acacia aneura Stony plains brown hardpan shallow (mulga) with sparse low shrubs and Triodia sp. (hard spinifex) loams. understorey.
Moderately close to closed woodlands of Acacia aneura with Red deep loamy duplex Groves - numerous undershrubs and tussock grasses such as soils, red loamy earths and drainage foci Chrysopogon fallax (ribbon grass) and Themeda triandra self-mulching cracking clays. (kangaroo grass). Moderately close to closed woodlands of Acacia aneura and Eucalyptus victrix (coolibah) with sparse undershrubs such as Deep red/ brown non- Internal Muehlenbeckia florulenta (lignum) and Chenopodium cracking clays, self-mulching drainage auricomum (swamp bluebush) and patchy tussock grasses. cracking clays and red plains Also grasslands of Eriachne sp. with isolated Eucalyptus victrix loamy earths. trees and shrubs such as M. florulenta or grassy scattered woodlands of E. victrix. Platform Scattered to close tall shrublands/ woodlands with Acacia Red loamy earths and minor citrinoviridis (black mulga), A. tumida (pindan wattle) and other Drainage red shallow sandy duplex acacias, occasional eucalypt trees, numerous low shrubs
floors soils; Channels with river including Senna spp. (cassias), Ptilotus obovatus (cotton bed soils. bush), Corchorus walcottii (grey corchorus) and Triodia pungens (soft spinifex).
2.8 Vegetation
Vegetation mapping of the Pilbara region was completed on a broad scale (1:1,000,000) by Beard (1975). Mining Area C is situated in the Hamersley Plateau in the Eremaean Botanical Province of Western Australia as per Beard (1975) who broadly mapped the area as ranges and valley plains. The most common vegetation associations within the Licence boundary were Eucalyptus leucophloia (snappy gum) and Triodia wiseana (hard spinifex) tree steppe occurring on hills, and tall woodlands of Eucalyptus camaldulensis (River red gum), Eucalyptus victrix (Coolibah) and Acacia aneura (Mulga - now recognised as comprising multiple other Acacia species) along drainage lines and in groves within the valley floors.
Onshore Environmental Consultants recently described and mapped the vegetation of the area in detail (Onshore 2014). Figure 2.7 shows the vegetation associations mapped by Onshore (2014).
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670000 680000 690000 700000 710000 720000
McKay
Boolgeeda
7470000 Newman
Robe Elimunna Spearhole
Oakover
7460000 River Calcrete
Pindering
Wannamunna
Platform Egerton 7450000
Rocklea
1:150,000 BHP Billiton Iron Ore Legend 0 1 2 4 6 Area C Life of Project Assessment (EMP Rev6) Area C Licence Boundary Calcrete Newman River Wannamunna km ¯ Fig. 2.6 Land Systems of Mining Area C Impact Assessment Area Egerton Oakover Robe Created 24/06/2015. Size A3. Land Systems Elimunna Pindering Rocklea Coordinate System: GDA 1994 MGA Zone 50 Boolgeeda McKay Platform Spearhole Projection: Transverse Mercator Datum: GDA 1994 685000 690000 695000 700000 705000 710000 7470000 7470000 7465000 7465000 7460000 7460000
Legend
MAC Licence Boundary GG CcoCfeEl EmuTmbCa HS TsTwTp ElCh AhiAad ME TtEaEte ApyAtpPl EvCh Vegetation Code GG CfeElFb AhDvmAha CaEmuTmb HS TwTbrTs ElExCh PcaPasAhi MI AtpPlAmo TpTs ChEl 7455000 7455000 Cleared GG TtEmuTmb ElChCfe AtpGrPl HS TwTpTbr El Ep MI PlAtpAmo ChEl TwTp CP TwTa Es AbPlApy HC TpTwTs ElCh AarGoKv HS TwTpTs El AprAaAan SP AaApr TmTwTp TtCfAin FP AaAcaApa ElaSlPo AcoEdAj HC Tw Ah EkEgCh MA AtpApyAse Ec TmbTtCpr SP TpTb Eg PlAbAan FP TtEa ExAa AprAtpElo HC TwTsTp ElCh Ah ME TpTl ExAciCh PlApyGr SP TpTm AaExAca ApaEffAad FS Ts CdHc AanAiGw HS AaApr EjAmmCco TwTp ME TtAinCa ChEl AmoPlAlu SP TsTwTp EgEt AbApaApr FS TsTpTw El AbApaAan HS Tp El SggGwEll ME TtCfEa ExEvCh PlApaApy Source: Esri, DigitalGlobe, GeoEye, i-cubed, USDA, USGS, AEX, Getmapping, Aerogrid, IGN, IGP, swisstopo, and the GIS User Community
685000 690000 695000 700000 705000 710000
BHP BILLITON IRON ORE ¯ MINING AREA C LICENCE BOUNDARY 0 0.5 1 2 3 4 PO Box 7215 Figure: 9 Date: 15 Sept 2014 Kilometers Vegetation Mapping 1:75,000 Eaton WA 6232 Sheet Size: A3 Status: FINAL [email protected] Drawn by Requested by GSM Reference Datum: GDA94 Figure 2.7 GSM DB MAC_VegMap Projection: MGA Zone 50 +61 8 9725 3213
Mining Area C SRE Invertebrate Fauna Impact Assessment
3. METHODS
3.1 Review of Previous Studies
All reports from previous SRE surveys within the Licence boundary and surrounds were reviewed in the Desktop Review of SRE invertebrates (Biologic 2014a). These reports included:
Area C Mining Operation Environmental Management Plan (Revision 4) A, D, P1 and P3 Deposits: Terrestrial Invertebrate Short-range Endemic Assessment (Outback Ecology 2008); Area C Mine Short-range Endemic Habitat Assessment (Outback Ecology 2009); Area C and Surrounds Short Range Endemic Survey (Biota 2011a); and Short Range Endemic Invertebrate Fauna Survey - South Flank (Biota 2011b).
Additional reports from previous surveys within 50 km of Mining Area C were also reviewed for regional context, including:
Assessment of Terrestrial Short-range Endemic Invertebrates, from Area C to Jinayri to Mount Newman Railway (AMBS 2010); Jinidi Lease and Jinidi to Mainline Rail SRE Review (Biota 2011c); Targeted Survey for Short Range Endemic Invertebrate Fauna of Area C West (Biota 2013a); A Survey of the Short Range Endemic Invertebrate Fauna of South Flank to Jinidi (Biota 2013b); A Survey of the Short-Range Endemic Invertebrate Fauna of South Parmelia (Biota 2013c); Targeted Survey for Short Range Endemic Fauna in the Mudlark Survey Area (Biota 2013d); and A Survey of Short Range Endemic Invertebrates in the Jinidi to Mainline Rail Corridor (Biota 2013e).
3.2 Faunal Database Review
Four fauna databases were searched for terrestrial SRE records within search areas surrounding Mining Area C as listed in Table 3.1 below. These databases were:
Department of Parks and Wildlife (DPaW) NatureMap database (March 2014); Atlas of Living Australia (ALA 2014) (March 2014); WAM Arachnida and Mollusca databases (October 2014); and Previous survey data provided by BHP Billiton Iron Ore (May 2014).
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Mining Area C SRE Invertebrate Fauna Impact Assessment
Table 3.1 Databases used for the review
Database Parameters NatureMap 40 km radius from point: 22°56'30"S; 118°56'35"E ALA 10 km radius from point: 22°56'30"S; 118°56'35"E WAM Arachnida/ Mollusca North west: 22°33'35"S; 118°24'24"E South east: 23°22'55"S; 119°26'39"E
Within these databases, records of mygalomorph spiders, selenopid spiders, pseudoscorpions, scorpions, millipedes, terrestrial snails, and isopods were targeted. Within the WAM databases, a distribution criterion of 10,000 km2 was applied (following Harvey 2002), thereby selecting species within these groups where the known records occur within 10,000 km2. Indeterminate records were excluded, except where generic level characters and distribution information was sufficient to point to a high likelihood that the species could be SRE. The WAM list of species was then used as a filter for the other databases, which did not have the ability to perform a search based on a distribution criterion of 10,000 km2. Secondary filtering and examination of the data was also applied internally, within the constraints and assumptions noted in section 3.5
3.3 On-site Assessment of Habitats (September 2014)
SRE habitats and microhabitats at 85 sites throughout the Mining Area C Licence boundary were assessed from 23-26 September 2014, in accordance with BHP Billiton Iron Ore’s Guidance for Short-Range Endemic Invertebrate Surveys in the Pilbara Region (SPR-IEN- EMS-013) (BHP Billiton Iron Ore 2009). These assessments were based on various aspects of the habitat related largely to its protective qualities, e.g. topography and aspect, and vegetation, leaf litter, soil and rock type and availability. The aim of the habitat assessment survey was to assess the suitability, extent, and connectivity of important SRE habitats within and outside of the Impact assessment area, to inform the current assessment of potential impacts.
3.3.1 Site Selection
Sites for the targeted SRE survey were chosen according to EPA Guidance Statement 20 (EPA 2009) and BHP Billiton Iron Ore’s (2009) Guidance for SRE Surveys in the Pilbara Region (SPR-IEN-EMS-013).
Habitats considered suitable for SRE terrestrial invertebrates in the Pilbara region were targeted, specifically focussing on the same or similar types of habitat where SRE species were collected, particularly those that had only been collected in the Packsaddle Range (as identified by Biologic 2014a). These habitat types comprised mainly south-facing ridges, gorges/ deep gullies, and shallow/ open gullies. Surrounding habitats such as hill slopes/ crests, drainage lines, drainage foci, vegetation groves, and plains were also visited throughout the Impact assessment area. A site selection process was undertaken with the aim of providing:
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Mining Area C SRE Invertebrate Fauna Impact Assessment
1. high representation of the important SRE habitats throughout the Impact assessment area and surrounding areas; 2. high representation of the types of habitats where the species of conservation concern were previously collected; 3. adequate geographical coverage throughout the Impact assessment area and immediately surrounding areas (contingent upon site accessibility and the need to avoid active mining areas); and 4. sufficient habitat representation and sampling intensity to accurately map SRE habitats throughout the Mining Area C Licence boundary, and assess habitat continuity inside and outside of the Impact assessment area.
Table 3.2 and Figure 3.1 provide details on the location and habitat type of sites visited during the SRE habitat assessment survey.
Table 3.2 Location and habitat type of sites sampled during the SRE habitat assessment survey.
LAT LONG IMPACT ASSESSMENT SITE DATE HABITAT TYPE (GDA94) (GDA94) AREA LOCATION 1 -22.913366 118.916702 23/09/2014 Ridge/ breakaway Outside 2 -22.912305 118.925195 23/09/2014 Gorge/ deep gully P2 Deposit (Rev 6) 3 -22.912916 118.933142 23/09/2014 Gorge/ deep gully P2 Deposit (Rev 6) 4 -22.908498 118.928989 23/09/2014 Shallow gully P2 Deposit (Rev 6) 5 -22.908283 118.924115 23/09/2014 Gorge/ deep gully Outside 6 -22.903223 118.933699 23/09/2014 Ridge/ breakaway Outside 7 -22.903736 118.934910 23/09/2014 Gorge/ deep gully Outside 8 -22.906041 118.939663 23/09/2014 Shallow/ open gully Outside Rocky outcrop/ 9 -22.905903 118.945351 23/09/2014 P3 Deposit (Rev 6) boulder pile 10 -22.903726 118.943817 23/09/2014 Gorge/ deep gully P3 Deposit (Rev 6) 11 -22.904832 118.945982 23/09/2014 Gorge/ deep gully P3 Deposit (Rev 6) 12 -22.909325 118.933244 23/09/2014 Gorge/ deep gully P2 Deposit (Rev 6) 13 -22.906455 118.925719 23/09/2014 Shallow/ open gully Outside 14 -22.905914 118.924875 23/09/2014 Hillslope/ crest Outside 15 -22.898414 118.927780 23/09/2014 Ridge/ breakaway Outside 16 -22.898215 118.931614 23/09/2014 Shallow/ open gully Outside 17 -22.901420 118.924235 23/09/2014 Drainage focus Outside 18 -22.904394 118.922991 23/09/2014 Shallow gully Outside Rocky outcrop/ 19 -22.907526 118.918690 23/09/2014 Outside boulder pile 20 -22.912719 118.938821 23/09/2014 Shallow/ open gully P2 Deposit (Rev 6) 21 -22.910792 118.869534 23/09/2014 Vegetation grove Outside 22 -22.909174 118.888309 23/09/2014 Shallow/ open gully Outside 23 -22.908730 118.892047 23/09/2014 Drainage focus Outside 24 -22.905741 118.893502 23/09/2014 Gorge/ deep gully Outside 25 -22.909474 118.890799 23/09/2014 Hillslope/ crest Outside 26 -22.902450 119.018219 24/09/2014 Gorge/ deep gully P5 Deposit (Rev 6) 27 -22.903317 119.015449 24/09/2014 Shallow/ open gully P5 Deposit (Rev 6) 28 -22.902254 119.013767 24/09/2014 Gorge/ deep gully P4 Deposit (Rev 6) 29 -22.900141 119.016052 24/09/2014 Shallow/ open gully P5 Deposit (Rev 6) 30 -22.899151 119.012388 24/09/2014 Gorge/ deep gully P4 Deposit (Rev 6) 31 -22.897995 119.009439 24/09/2014 Hillslope/ footslope P4 Deposit (Rev 6) 32 -22.901073 119.005739 24/09/2014 Gorge/ deep gully P4 Deposit (Rev 6) 33 -22.902048 119.007667 24/09/2014 Shallow/ open gully P4 Deposit (Rev 5) 34 -22.903277 118.996392 24/09/2014 Ridge/ breakaway P4 Deposit (Rev 5) 35 -22.900240 118.998669 24/09/2014 Gorge/ deep gully OSA 12 (Rev 6) 36 -22.908214 118.991860 24/09/2014 Ridge/ breakaway P4 Deposit (Rev 5)
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Mining Area C SRE Invertebrate Fauna Impact Assessment
LAT LONG IMPACT ASSESSMENT SITE DATE HABITAT TYPE (GDA94) (GDA94) AREA LOCATION 37 -22.898580 119.003039 24/09/2014 Gorge/ deep gully Outside 38 -22.899431 118.993286 24/09/2014 Hillslope/ crest OSA 12 (Rev 6) 39 -22.901047 118.994016 24/09/2014 Gorge/ deep gully OSA 12 (Rev 6) 40 -22.906081 118.973547 24/09/2014 Gorge/ deep gully P3 Deposit (Rev 6) 41 -22.901082 118.975915 24/09/2014 Drainage focus P4 Deposit (Rev 6) 42 -22.897538 118.971271 24/09/2014 Shallow/ open gully Outside 43 -22.892777 118.985020 24/09/2014 Shallow/ open gully Outside 44 -22.908132 119.007240 24/09/2014 Gorge/ deep gully P4 Deposit (Rev 5) 45 -22.907743 118.999564 24/09/2014 Gorge/ deep gully P4 Deposit (Rev 5) 46 -22.900951 119.061922 25/09/2014 Shallow/ open gully OSA 10 (Rev 6) 47 -22.898759 119.068765 25/09/2014 Shallow/ open gully P6 Deposit (Rev 6) 48 -22.896386 119.061004 25/09/2014 Drainage focus P6 Deposit (Rev 6) 49 -22.892351 119.061379 25/09/2014 Hillslope/ crest Outside 50 -22.885105 119.067350 25/09/2014 Hillslope/ crest Outside 51 -22.884668 119.069229 25/09/2014 Vegetation grove Outside 52 -22.895389 119.044829 25/09/2014 Ridge/ breakaway P6 Deposit (Rev 6) 53 -22.899344 119.054225 25/09/2014 Ridge/ breakaway P6 Deposit (Rev 6) 54 -22.897744 119.044057 25/09/2014 Gorge/ deep gully P6 Deposit (Rev 6) 55 -22.896303 119.036176 25/09/2014 Shallow/ open gully P6 Deposit (Rev 6) 56 -22.895864 119.035102 25/09/2014 Gorge/ deep gully P6 Deposit (Rev 6) 57 -22.899488 119.028219 25/09/2014 Gorge/ deep gully P5 Deposit (Rev 6) 58 -22.898229 119.028299 25/09/2014 Shallow/ open gully P5 Deposit (Rev 6) 59 -22.898381 119.023065 25/09/2014 Gorge/ deep gully P5 Deposit (Rev 6) 60 -22.904196 119.025230 25/09/2014 Gorge/ deep gully P5 Deposit (Rev 6) 61 -22.904583 119.027086 25/09/2014 Shallow/ open gully P5 Deposit (Rev 6) 62 -22.908439 119.016463 25/09/2014 Ridge/ breakaway P5 Deposit (Rev 6) 63 -22.912321 119.016533 25/09/2014 Vegetation grove Brockman detritals (Rev 5) 64 -22.912801 119.018353 25/09/2014 Plain (stony) Brockman detritals (Rev 5) 65 -22.915217 119.018663 25/09/2014 Vegetation grove Brockman detritals (Rev 5) 66 -22.909990 119.023217 25/09/2014 Drainage focus P5 Deposit (Rev 6) 67 -22.909408 118.995479 25/09/2014 Shallow/ open gully P4 Deposit (Rev 5) 68 -22.928938 119.027322 26/09/2014 Gorge/ deep gully A Deposit (Rev 6) 69 -22.931460 119.028871 26/09/2014 Shallow/ open gully A Deposit (Rev 6) 70 -22.931259 119.031000 26/09/2014 Shallow/ open gully A Deposit (Rev 6) 71 -22.938373 119.043606 26/09/2014 Gorge/ deep gully A Deposit (Rev 5) 72 -22.930256 119.053929 26/09/2014 Plain (sandplain) OSA 9 (Rev 6) 73 -22.934017 119.064899 26/09/2014 Vegetation grove OSA 9 (Rev 6) 74 -22.944263 119.029971 26/09/2014 Ridge/ breakaway Outside 75 -22.943997 119.026079 26/09/2014 Drainage focus Outside 76 -22.938766 119.016538 26/09/2014 Shallow/ open gully Outside 77 -22.952842 119.035037 26/09/2014 Vegetation grove Outside 78 -22.965808 119.046944 26/09/2014 Vegetation grove Crusher 4 (Rev 6) 79 -22.966491 119.057859 26/09/2014 Drainage focus R Deposit (Rev 6) 80 -22.971672 119.065763 26/09/2014 Gorge/ deep gully R Deposit (Rev 6) 81 -22.975943 119.043683 26/09/2014 Ridge/ breakaway R Deposit (Rev 6) 82 -22.968959 119.036258 26/09/2014 Vegetation grove R Deposit (Rev 6) 83 -22.980479 119.013816 26/09/2014 Shallow/ open gully R Deposit (Rev 6) 84 -22.955092 118.995732 26/09/2014 Drainage line Outside 85 -22.950801 118.980909 26/09/2014 Drainage line Outside
Page | 28
685000 690000 695000 700000 705000 710000
50 51 (!jk
43 49 #* 52 ") 16 42 56 55 48 15 31 58 54 )" 38 37 30 59 #* 47 17 )" #* #* 41 35 ") 29 57 XW 53 GF 39 32 #* 46 ") XW XW XW " # 18 6 7 10 XW #*26 XW ) * GF 11 GF XW XW 24 )" 8 )" XW #* 33 60 61 #* 23 19 #* XW XW 40 XW#*XW 22 XW ") 4 XW+$ 45 #* #* 12 #* 36 44 27 62 XW 21 +$ 9 XW 67 66 #* ")GF XW #* )" " jk 5 2 XW 20 XW XW ) 25 1 3 #* 63 GF )" XW #* 7465000 XW jk(! 65 64 jk
68 70 72 XW (! #* #* 73 69 jk 76 71 #* XW 75 74 GF )" 85 GF 77 84 jk GF 7460000
78 79 jk 82 GF jk 80
81 XW )" 83 #* 7455000
BHP Billiton Iron Ore Legend 1:72,000 0 0.5 1 2 3 Area C Life of Project Assessment (EMP Rev 6) Area C Licence Boundary GF Drainage line )" Ridge/ breakaway km ¯ Fig. 3.1 Sites visited for SRE habitat assessment Impact Assessment Area XW Gorge/ deep gully +$ Rocky outcrop/ boulder pile Created 24/06/2015. Size: A3 Habitat type ") #* Shallow/ open gully Hillslope/ crest Coordinate System: GDA 1994 MGA Zone 50 GF Drainage focus (! Plain jk Vegetation grove Projection: Transverse Mercator Datum: GDA 1994
Mining Area C SRE Invertebrate Fauna Impact Assessment
3.4 Habitat Assessment Rationale
The habitat assessments were aimed at determining the significance of each site as potential SRE habitat, and hence the likelihood that each site may contain SRE fauna. The habitat assessment was based on three major factors influencing the significance of habitats for SRE species; isolation, protection and habitat complexity, as briefly outlined below and illustrated in Figure 3.2.
Isolation: based on the level of connectivity between sites, which share similar habitat characteristics. Isolation is the most important factor when it comes to the level of risk, as any fauna with limited dispersal characteristics, regardless of the habitat preference, will likely be, at least, an isolated population. Examples include islands and mountaintops; in the Pilbara, peaks like Mt Meharry have been shown to harbour significant SRE species (Durrant 2011).
Protection: this primarily covers protection from exposure. With respect to the Pilbara region however, protection from disturbance is also very important for the long term viability of SRE habitats and communities, i.e. protection from fire, flood and invasive species.
Protection is provided at two levels; the site level where the structural composition of the site (aspect, slope etc.) can provide protection from exposure and disturbance by providing physical barriers (e.g. gorges and gullies); and the habitat level where certain microhabitat characteristics, associated with habitat complexity, provide more direct protection, particularly from exposure (i.e. leaf litter, rocky substrates, canopy cover and soil depth).
Habitat complexity: this factor drives species richness and often abundance at a site, i.e. the more complex a site is, the more species and individuals it is likely to contain. This is particularly important, as a number of SRE groups are predators; therefore the richness and abundance of prey species are critical to their survival.
Complexity, with respect to SREs, is based around a number of microhabitat types:
Leaf litter: both depth and structural variation; Rocky substrates: loose rocks and crevices; Vegetation variation: flora richness and structural variation; and Soil: depth and structural variation.
Similarly, the complexity of the habitat is important to detritivore SRE taxa, such as isopods, millipedes and some snails, which rely upon decaying leaf litter, woody debris and organic matter for survival. Examples in the Pilbara include deep gullies and gorges, where many of these areas contain most of the above microhabitat types, and therefore tend to be the richest areas.
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Mining Area C SRE Invertebrate Fauna Impact Assessment
Figure 3.2 SRE habitat suitability assessment diagram
3.5 Habitat Zone Mapping
The habitats within the Mining Area C Licence boundary were classified into nine habitat zones that reflect major changes in the important landform features, drainage features and vegetation features which influence SRE likelihood. The mapping of the SRE habitat zones was initially based on Biologic's (2011a, 2011b, 2014e) vertebrate fauna habitat map. To better reflect SRE habitat values, the zones were refined based on the integration of several other GIS layers, including vegetation mapping (Onshore 2014, Figure 2.7), topography (Figure 2.4), drainage (Figure 2.5), aerial photography (Figure 1.2), and on-site habitat assessment data (Figure 3.1, Appendix 2). The resulting map of the indicative extent of habitat zones (Figure 4.3) is an estimation based on a combination of the sources listed above. Specific habitat and microhabitat characteristics that influence SRE likelihood may vary significantly within each habitat zone. Multiple different habitat types can occur at specific sites within each larger habitat zone, and the level of congruence between the extent of a habitat type and the broader zone within which it occurs depends upon the habitat type and the habitat zone in question.
The overall suitability of the habitat zones (Figure 4.4) is an indicative assessment based on the dominant landform, vegetation, and drainage characteristics within each zone, as observed during the habitat assessment survey. Where some of the habitat zones (particularly the Major gorge/ gully systems, Ridges/ open gullies, and Shallow open gullies/ valleys) contain multiple habitat types with varying SRE suitability, the zone's overall suitability was assigned according to the most common habitat type present. Owing to the impracticalities of visiting each part of each habitat zone to validate this assessment, the overall suitability scores were determined as a ranking of potential SRE likelihood and suitability at the scale of the total extent of the zone (i.e. throughout the Licence boundary).
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Mining Area C SRE Invertebrate Fauna Impact Assessment
The highest suitability rank of 5 (high) was assigned to the zone/s most likely to contain significant SRE habitats/ fauna values, while the zone/s least likely to contain significant SRE values were ranked 1 (low), and the other suitability rankings represented intermediate values (i.e. 4= mod-high, 3= moderate, and 2= mod/low). Areas currently disturbed by mining or infrastructure and areas already approved for development were omitted from the assessment.
3.6 Constraints and Assumptions
The taxonomy for nearly all SRE groups in the Pilbara is incomplete, and in various stages of development, depending upon the group in question. Additional survey work over time has increased the number of groups known to have SRE tendencies (for example, selenopid spiders and isopods), leaving some groups more well-studied than others. The previous SRE surveys within the Licence boundary each had their own survey areas and varied significantly in terms of sampling intensity and target groups, as discussed in section 4.1.
There are many taxonomic groups that require mature male specimens for positive morphological identifications, while the specimens collected are often females or juveniles. As such, identifications often cannot be verified without the use of DNA analyses, which are recently becoming more widely used, although these have their own limitations in terms of suitable species thresholds (Hebert et al. 2003) and the need for previous sequences to enable regional comparisons (Helix 2012). In some cases for taxa collected within the Licence boundary, taxonomic/ genetic developments over time have significantly changed species identifications, and the resulting interpretation of distribution, and SRE status. The current assessment has relied on the most recent WAM database data and advice from WAM taxonomists to indicate the most up-to-date list of SRE species that are relevant to the assessment of impacts within the Impact assessment area.
Many terrestrial invertebrate species in the Pilbara are only known from a handful of locations where intensive sampling has been undertaken. Species distributions are therefore dependent upon the size and extent of targeted surveys, as well as the ecology, behaviour, and natural history of the species in question, much of which remains uncertain, especially where the species is undescribed. Detailed habitat assessment data can be used as a basis for inferring the potential occurrence of species within suitable, connected habitats where sampling has been limited; however, such inference has its own limitations in terms of how much is actually known about a species habitat requirements and dispersal capabilities.
The effects of uneven sampling are exacerbated by differences in the experience of survey personnel, methodologies, sampling intensities, and survey timing. Collection of habitat data and the classification of suitable habitats for SREs have been inconsistent over time, as no well-established, standardised habitat assessment guidelines exist. The SRE habitat assessment survey conducted as part of this EIA was an attempt to resolve the inconsistencies in habitat information from previous survey work, some of which was undertaken before any formal guidance for assessment of SRE invertebrates was published.
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Mining Area C SRE Invertebrate Fauna Impact Assessment
4. RESULTS
4.1 Review of Previous Surveys
There have been many previous surveys conducted within the Mining Area C Licence boundary and the wider local area, as summarised below. The locations of the surveys below are shown in Figure 4.1. Appendix 1 aligns the morphospecies identifications from the previous surveys with the current WAM database identifications, and provides an update of the current SRE status of each morphospecies where information was available.
4.1.1 Surveys within the Mining Area C Licence boundary
1. Area C: A, D, P1 and P3 Deposits: SRE Assessment (Outback Ecology 2008)
This survey sampled 15 sites in the northern and eastern parts of the Licence boundary in April and June 2008. Three SRE species were collected from south facing ridges and gullies in the Packsaddle Range: Aname sp. (potential SRE), Synothele sp. (likely SRE) and Antichiropus sp. nov. `Area C` (confirmed SRE). Subsequent identification and DNA analysis revealed that the "Synothele" specimens belong to the widespread species Aurecocrypta `chichester` (not SRE), while the Aname and Antichiropus specimens were further resolved as the confirmed SRE species Chenistonia `MYG088`, and Antichiropus `DIP006` (M. Castalanelli, WAM pers. comm. 2014). The latter two SRE species are dealt with extensively in this report.
2. Area C Mine Short Range Endemic Habitat Assessment (Outback Ecology 2009)
This survey was an additional habitat assessment survey subsequent to Outback Ecology (2008) and no additional specimens were collected. Potential mygalomorph spider burrows were located at the base of a south-facing ridge.
3. Area C and Surrounds SRE Survey (Biota 2011a)
This survey sampled 52 sites spread between the north east and south east of the Licence boundary, and beyond the Licence boundary in the eastern Packsaddle Range. Seven species were considered to have SRE potential, comprising three mygalomorph spiders (Aname `MYG104`, A. `MYG195`, and Yilgarnia `MYG197`), two millipedes (Antichiropus `Area C sp. 2` and Gen. `indet.` sp. `indet.`), one pseudoscorpion (Synsphyronus `long hand 2`), and one scorpion (Urodacus `firetail`). Aname `MYG104` was recorded from Mulga Woodland, A. `MYG195` from hill slopes, gullies and drainage lines, and Yilgarnia `MYG197` from hills, ridges and valleys. The two millipede species were both considered to be confirmed SREs until further taxonomic work could be undertaken, and were both collected in hill slope/ ridge habitats. Synsphyronus `long hand 2` was considered a potential SRE, and was collected in hill/ridge habitat. The scorpion Urodacus `firetail` was tentatively considered a potential SRE.
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Mining Area C SRE Invertebrate Fauna Impact Assessment
4. Short Range Endemic Invertebrate Fauna Survey - South Flank (Biota 2011b)
This survey sampled 27 sites mainly at South Flank, to the immediate south of the current Licence boundary, but also some within the boundary. Four species were considered to have SRE potential, comprising one mygalomorph spider (Aname `MYG195`), two myriapods (Antichiropus `Area C sp. 2` and Gen. ‘indet.’ sp. ‘indet.’), and one scorpion (Urodacus `firetail`). All were collected on rocky gully slopes. A. `Area C sp. 2` and U. `firetail` were also collected on Mulga plains.
4.1.2 Surveys Surrounding Mining Area C
1. Assessment of Terrestrial Short-range Endemic Invertebrates, from Area C to Jinayri to Mount Newman Railway (AMBS 2010)
This survey was conducted within 10 km of the eastern part of the Licence boundary. Eight species were considered to have SRE potential. The pseudoscorpions Beierolpium sp. and Beierolpium sp. `8/3`, B. sp. `8/2` and B. sp. `8/4 small` (possible SREs) were collected from gullies and range slopes. The mygalomorph spiders Aname `MYG098` and Conothele `MYG002` were both collected from open plains, and were possible SRE, while Missulena `MYG003` was collected from a range slope. The centipede Cryptops sp. was regarded as a possible SRE.
2. Jinidi Lease and Jinidi to Mainline Rail SRE Review (Biota 2011c)
Biota's (2011b) review of AMBS (2010) did not collect any new specimens or sample new habitats. The review came to the same conclusions as AMBS (2010) regarding the SRE status of the mygalomorph spiders collected in the earlier survey; however, the report added another potential SRE spider from the survey; Yilgarnia sp. `MYG033`. The Beierolpium pseudoscorpions and the centipede Cryptops sp. were re-appraised and were no longer considered to be SRE fauna.
3. Targeted Survey for Short Range Endemic Invertebrate Fauna of Area C West (Biota 2013a)
This survey was conducted to the immediate west and north of the Licence boundary. Nine mygalomorph spider species were identified as potential SRE taxa by DNA analyses undertaken as part of this survey (Helix 2012). Barychelid sp. `B1`, `B2`, `B3` and `B34` were all collected from hardpan plains and drainage lines. Ctenizid sp. `C3` was collected from stony plains with Acacia shrublands and spinifex grasslands. Idiopid sp. `I2` was collected from Mulga woodlands and groves in broad valleys and drainage lines, and Idiopid sp. `I7` from stony plains with Acacia shrublands. Idiopid sp. `I55` and Nemesiid sp. `N121` were both collected from hardpan plains and drainage lines supporting Mulga shrublands.
4. Survey of the Short Range Endemic Invertebrate Fauna of South Flank to Jinidi (Biota 2013b)
This survey was conducted within 3 km south and east of the Licence boundary. Eleven trapdoor spider morphospecies were considered to be potential SRE species by DNA analyses undertaken as part of the survey (Helix 2012).
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Mining Area C SRE Invertebrate Fauna Impact Assessment
Of these, Barychelid sp. `B1`, Ctenizid sp. `C1`, Idiopid sp. `I2`, and I. `I4`, Nemesiid sp. `N30`, N. `N34`, and N. `N36` were all collected in Mulga woodlands in valleys and drainage areas. Idiopid sp. `I1` and I. sp. `I6` were collected in drainage channels and valley floors. Nemesiid sp. `N36` was collected on open plains and in gullies, and Nemesiid sp. `N64` was collected in a gorge/ breakaway habitat.
5. A Survey of the Short-Range Endemic Invertebrate Fauna of South Parmelia (Biota 2013c)
This survey was conducted within 10 km south and east of the Licence boundary. Six species of mygalomorph spider were identified as potential SRE taxa by DNA analyses undertaken as part of this survey (Helix 2012): Missulena sp. nov. `Eastern Pilbara`, Conothele sp. `Eastern Pilbara`, Aganippe sp. `Lineage IA`, Aname sp. `Hooded Aname` (`MYG001`), Aname sp. `Spray` and Kwonkan sp. One mygalomorph spider (Gaius sp. `Pilbara`) was identified as possible SRE, and the SRE status of Idiommata sp. was unknown. Idiommata sp. and Aname sp. `MYG001` were collected in Open Low Woodland. Aganippe sp. `IA` was collected in Very Open Mallee habitat.
6. Targeted Survey for Short Range Endemic Fauna in the Mudlark Survey Area (Biota 2013d)
This survey was conducted within 8 km to the south and west of the Licence boundary. Seventeen species were considered to have SRE potential by DNA analyses undertaken as part of this survey (Helix 2012). These species comprised 13 mygalomorph spiders, one pseudoscorpion, one scorpion and two snails. Of these, nine of the spider species (Barychelid sp. `B1`, `B3`, `B4`, and `B17`, Idiopid sp. `I4` and `I7`, Nemesiid sp. `N33` and `N37`) were all collected within Mulga woodlands. The spider Ctenizid sp. `C21`, pseudoscorpion Synsphyronus gracilis, scorpion Aops sp. `Mudlark`, and snail species cf. Pleuroxia sp. Z, and cf. Quistrachia sp. X, were all collected in gorge/gully habitats. The mygalomorph spider Actinopodid sp. `A2` was collected on stony plains.
7. A Survey of Short Range Endemic Invertebrates in the Jinidi to Mainline Rail Corridor (Biota 2013e)
This survey was conducted within 12 km north and east of the Licence boundary. Twelve mygalomorph spider species were considered to have SRE potential by DNA analyses undertaken as part of this survey (Helix 2012). These species comprised Missulena sp. `A1` (mulga dominated groves, valley floors), Conothele sp. `C6` (mulga open shrubland), and C. `C13` (Acacia spp. shrubland over open hummock grassland), Aganippe sp. `I1` (valley floors, drainage lines, alluvial fans), Idiopid sp. `I9` (Acacia habitats), Kwonkan sp. `N38` (Eucalyptus open woodland, Acacia shrubland, scattered hummock grassland), K. `N42` (hill ranges), K. `N43` (Acacia open woodland over hummock grassland), K. `N44` (Weeli Wolli Creek), Aname sp. `N1` (Acacia habitats, broad plains), A. `N16` (Acacia habitats), and A. `N18` (drainage floors, low slopes and plains).
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655000 660000 665000 670000 675000 680000 685000 690000 695000 700000 705000 710000 715000 720000 725000 730000 735000 740000 745000 750000 7480000 7475000 7470000 7465000
7460000 Karijini National Park 7455000 7450000 7445000 7440000 7435000 Legend Area C Licence Boundary Impact Assessment Area 7430000 Project Boundary Area C Deposit A, D, P1 and P3 SRE Survey (and Habitat assessment) (Outback Ecology 2008, 2009) Area C and Surrounds SRE Invertebrate Fauna Survey (Biota 2011a) 7425000 Assessment of SRE Invertebrates - Jinidi to Mainline Rail (AMBS 2010) and Review (Biota 2011c) Short-range Endemic Fauna Survey - South Flank (Biota 2011b) 1:250,000 BHP Billiton Iron Ore Targeted Survey for SRE Invertebrate Fauna of Area C West (Biota 2013a) 0 1.75 3.5 7 10.5 Area C Life of Project Assessment (EMP Rev 6) km A Survey of the SRE Invertebrate Fauna of South Flank to Jinidi (Biota 2013b) ¯ Fig. 4.1 SRE surveys at Mining Area C and surrounds A Survey of the SRE Invertebrate Fauna of South Parmelia (Biota 2013c) Created 24/06/2015. Size: A3. Targeted Survey for SRE Fauna in the Mudlark Survey Area (Biota 2013d) Coordinate System: GDA 1994 MGA Zone 50 Projection: Transverse Mercator A Survey of SRE Invertebrate Fauna in the Jinidi to Mainline Corridor (Biota 2013e) Datum: GDA 1994
Mining Area C SRE Invertebrate Fauna Impact Assessment
4.2 SRE Faunal Results
The database searches reported 11 confirmed SRE species from within the Licence boundary, comprising two millipedes, one selenopid spider, seven mygalomorph spiders, and one pseudoscorpion, plus two indeterminate juvenile taxa (Table 4.1, Figure 4.2). Further details regarding these taxa are as follows:
4.2.1 Myriapoda
An adult specimen of the confirmed SRE Antichiropus `DIP006` (WAM# T91862) was found within the Packsaddle Range during Outback Ecology's (2008) survey (Figure 4.2). At the time of the survey it was identified as Antichiropus `Area C`, and later, Antichiropus `Area C sp. 1` (Biota 2011a) (Appendix 1). Two juvenile millipede specimens (Antichiropus sp. indet. (juv.)), which were found in similar habitats during the same survey are considered likely to belong to Antichiropus `DIP006`. In any case, all Antichiropus specimens from within the Licence boundary were collected within the Impact assessment area, with the adult Antichiropus `DIP006` recorded only from areas approved under EMP Revision 5.
Four unidentified spirobolid millipedes (WAM# T106000, T106001, T106005, and T106006) were collected both within and outside of the Licence boundary during Biota's (2011a) survey (Figure 4.2). The four specimens could not be identified at the time because they were females or juveniles. As such, they were expected to belong to the widespread species Austrostrophus stictopygus, which was detected from mature males throughout the Licence boundary (Biota 2011a). Subsequent morphological and DNA analyses have shown that these specimens to belong to a different species of Austrostrophus (A. sp. `DIP018`) that is considered to be SRE (M. Castalanelli, WAM pers. comm. 2014).
4.2.2 Selenopidae
Biota (2011a) collected one adult specimen of an SRE selenopid spider that has recently been described by Crews (2013) as Karaops banyjima (synonym K. `sp. Area C`, WAM# T101159). The WAM data showed another juvenile specimen of Karaops (WAM# T121790) was also collected during the same survey, although the specimen was not reported in Biota (2011a). The identification of the juvenile specimen cannot be resolved without DNA analysis, although it is likely to belong to K. banyjima owing to the proximity of the records and the similarity of the habitats in both locations (Figure 4.2). Both specimens were collected within the Impact assessment area, outside of areas approved under EMP Revision 5.
4.2.3 Mygalomorphae
Seven species of SRE mygalomorph spiders have been recorded within the Licence boundary, comprising Missulena langlandsi, Conothele `MYG282-DNA`, Aname `MYG104`, Chenistonia `MYG088`, Kwonkan `MYG339-DNA`, Teyl `MYG027` and Yilgarnia `MYG197`. Almost all of these species (excluding Chenistonia `MYG088`) have also been recorded outside of the Licence boundary, within a distance of 50 km.
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Mining Area C SRE Invertebrate Fauna Impact Assessment
Outback Ecology (2008) collected three adult specimens of Chenistonia `MYG088` (at the time identified as Aname sp.) within the Impact assessment area along the Packsaddle Range (Figure 4.2). Two specimens, WAM# T54238 and T54237 were collected from areas approved under EMP Revision 5, while one specimen (WAM# T89291) was collected outside of the EMP Revision 5 areas, but within the Impact assessment area.
4.2.4 Pseudoscorpiones
Biota (2011a) collected an adult male of the confirmed SRE species Synsphyronus PSE014 (WAM# T10583, at the time identified as S. `long hand 2`) from a pit trap under a low ridge habitat in the Packsaddle Range (Figure 4.2). This species has subsequently been found to occur further south outside of the Licence boundary at Wonmunna (WAM# T115889), although the species' distribution is still within the nominal limits of a SRE species. Several other specimens of a more widespread species, Synsphyronus `sp. nov. 8/1 Pilbara`, were also collected throughout the Mining Area C Licence boundary.
Table 4.1 Location of SRE species sampled within the Licence boundary, relative to the Impact assessment area. Outside Licence Grand Higher Taxon Species/ Morphospecies Inside Outside boundary Total (<50 km) Myriapoda Polydesmida Antichiropus `DIP006` 1 1 Antichiropus `sp. indet. (juv.)` 2 2
Spirobolida Austrostrophus `DIP018` 1 3 4 Araneomorphae Selenopidae Karaops banyjima 1 1 Karaops `sp. indet. (juv.)` 1 1 Mygalomorphae Actinopodidae Missulena langlandsi 4 2 6 Ctenizidae Conothele `MYG282-DNA` 1 16 17
Nemesiidae Aname `MYG104` 1 1 2
Chenistonia `MYG088` 3 3
Kwonkan `MYG339-DNA` 1 16 17
Teyl `MYG027` 1 2 3
Yilgarnia `MYG197` 1 1 2 Pseudoscorpiones Garypidae Synsphyronus `PSE014` 1 1 2 Total species 9 2 8 11
Note: species of conservation concern i.e. those that are not known to occur beyond the Impact assessment area, are highlighted orange. Indeterminate specimens, shown in grey font, are considered to be potential SRE taxa, and are not included in species totals.
DPaW's Naturemap database and the ALA database did not report any SRE species additional to those shown in Table 4.1.
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XW ") Area C Licence Boundary Antichiropus `sp. indet. (juv.)` Kwonkan `MYG339-DNA` 1:72,000 BHP Billiton Iron Ore Impact Assessment Area ") Missulena langlandsi X W Austrostrophus `DIP018` 0 0.5 1 2 3 Area C Life of Project Assessment (EMP Rev 6) *# SRE species )" Chenistonia `MYG088` Synsphyronus `PSE014` km ¯ Fig. 4.2 SRE species recorded within Mining Area C ") Aname `MYG104` Conothele `MYG282-DNA` Teyl `MYG027` Created 24/06/2015. Size A3. XW Antichiropus `DIP006` kj Karaops `sp. indet. (juv.)` Yilgarnia `MYG197` Coordinate System: GDA 1994 MGA Zone 50 Projection: Transverse Mercator kj Karaops banyjima Datum: GDA 1994
Mining Area C SRE Invertebrate Fauna Impact Assessment
4.3 Habitat Assessment Results
4.3.1 Habitat Types Assessed
Nine general habitat types were identified at sites visited throughout the Mining Area C Licence boundary, comprising:
Gorges/ deep gullies - deeply incised rocky landforms offering high levels of shade and shelter, complex rocky microhabitats, and patches of dense vegetation. Gorges/ deep gullies can be amongst the most highly suitable habitats for SRE fauna owing to the potential for high protection from exposure, high complexity and moisture retention, and inherent isolation due to discontinuous landforms. These habitats differ from Shallow/ open gullies by having steeper faces that generally provide greater shelter throughout the day. Shallow/ open gullies - wider and more open gully habitats that offer a reduced amount of shade from the landform, but can be densely vegetated. The suitability of these habitats can be moderate to high depending largely on slope, aspect and vegetation density (with medium to high south facing slopes and dense vegetation being more highly suitable for SRE fauna). Shallow/ open gullies can be isolated or occur in large, well- connected networks, as occurs in the central part of the Mining Area C Licence boundary. Ridges/ breakaways - complex rocky/ mountainous habitats featuring extensive breakaway/ rock face. The suitability of these habitats tends to be moderate to high, depending largely on slope, aspect, rocky microhabitat complexity, and vegetation density. Ridges/ breakaways differ from Rocky outcrops and Hillslopes by being taller and larger, and by having steep faces that generally provide greater shelter and habitat complexity. Rocky outcrops/ boulder piles - generally smaller, more discontinuous outcrops and boulder piles occurring on plains or open slopes. Rocky outcrops can be as complex as Ridge/ breakaway habitats, but they tend to be less continuous and less sheltered, and they rarely feature dense vegetation. The suitability of these types of habitats ranges from moderate-low to moderate-high, due to fewer highly sheltered aspects, and lower vegetation density. Hillslopes/ hill crest - open (exposed) habitats on the slopes or tops of hills and mountains that are not highly complex and are sparsely vegetated. These are not generally considered to be suitable for SRE fauna, but were visited in some cases for representation. Drainage foci - minor drainage areas featuring a range of rock-based and vegetation- based microhabitats, as well as deep alluvial soils. These areas can range from low to moderately high suitability for SRE fauna, depending on the density of vegetation, the soil type and the presence/ absence of rocky outcrop. Drainage foci often provide more stable (i.e. less prone to flooding) and more isolated habitats for SRE species than the major Drainage lines.
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Mining Area C SRE Invertebrate Fauna Impact Assessment
Drainage lines - major drainage areas that can be densely vegetated, and extensive, but tend to be more prone to disturbance from flooding. These types of habitats are generally considered to be moderately suitable dispersal habitats for SRE fauna as the vegetation-based microhabitats are inherently continuous throughout the drainage channel and periodic flood events provide a higher level of disturbance and opportunities for dispersal for some species. Vegetation groves - dense patches of tall vegetation (often Mulga or Eucalyptus) that are structurally distinct from the surrounding landscape and provide a high degree of shelter and detrital microhabitats. Vegetation groves show varying degrees of isolation and habitat complexity (which influence their suitability for SREs), depending upon the dominant vegetation species, the age since fire, and the broader landscape context. These kinds of habitats can be particularly important for burrowing species as they often occur on patches of deeper clay-loam soils, and for detritivore species that rely on dense leaf litter. Plains - flat/ open, extensive areas that often feature pockets of vegetation and detrital microhabitats, but are unlikely to support SRE species due to high exposure, low complexity, and high connectivity. These are not generally considered to be suitable for SRE species, but were visited in some cases for representation.
Appendix 2 provides further details regarding the key habitat and microhabitat characteristics of each site visited during the habitat assessment survey. Refer to Figure 3.1 for location and habitat types of the sites visited.
The important characteristics of these habitat types (as assessed on-site during the survey) were used to inform the classification of SRE habitat zones, as discussed further below in section 4.3.2. Depending upon the habitat zone type and its indicative spatial extent, some zones contained multiple different (although related) SRE habitat types, while other zones were more homogeneous and contained mostly one dominant habitat type. For example, the large, complex mountainous habitat zones such as Major gorge/ gully systems can encompass a variety of rocky habitat types such as Gorges/ deep gullies, Shallow/ open gullies, Ridges/ breakaways and Rocky outcrop/ boulder piles. Conversely, some of the simpler habitat zones such as the Vegetation groves zone or the Open plains zone contained only Vegetation grove habitats and Plains habitats respectively.
4.3.2 SRE Habitat Zones
The habitats within the Licence boundary were classified into nine habitat zones reflecting the major changes in landform features, drainage features and vegetation features that influence SRE occurrence. Depending upon the type and spatial extent of the habitat zone, each zone contained one or several SRE habitat types (as discussed above). The methods and assumptions of this classification system have been discussed in more detail in section 3.5. Figure 4.3 shows the location and indicative extent of the habitat zones as described below. Figure 4.4 shows the ranked overall suitability of the habitat zones for SRE fauna, with a suitability rank of 5 (High) representing the zones most likely to contain significant SRE values, and a rank of 1 (Low) being the least likely to contain significant SRE values.
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Legend 1:72,000 BHP Billiton Iron Ore Area C Licence Boundary Major gorge/ gully system (N) Ridges/ open gullies 0 0.5 1 2 3 Area C Life of Project Assessment (EMP Rev 6) km Impact Assessment Area Major gorge/ gully system (S) Shallow open gullies/ valleys ¯ Fig. 4.3 Indicative extent of SRE habitat zones SRE Habitat Zones Minor drainage areas Vegetation groves Created 24/06/2015. Size: A3. River gorges Open hillslopes/ crests Coordinate System: GDA 1994 MGA Zone 50 Projection: Transverse Mercator Major drainage areas Open plains Datum: GDA 1994 685000 690000 695000 700000 705000 710000 7465000 7460000 7455000
Legend 1:72,000 BHP Billiton Iron Ore Area C Licence Boundary Overall SRE suitability 3 - Moderate 0 0.5 1 2 3 Area C Life of Project Assessment (EMP Rev 6) km Impact Assessment Area 1 - Low 4 - Mod/ High ¯ Fig. 4.4 IOverall suitability of SRE habitat zones 2 - Mod/ Low 5 - High Created 24/06/2015. Size: A3. Coordinate System: GDA 1994 MGA Zone 50 Projection: Transverse Mercator Datum: GDA 1994
Mining Area C SRE Invertebrate Fauna Impact Assessment
The SRE habitat zones within the Licence boundary comprised:
Major gorge/ gully systems
This habitat zone comprises a series of massive, deeply incised gorge/ deep gully/ chasm systems occurring only in the more mountainous areas (Figure 4.3). These systems feature interconnected rocky habitats such as Gorges/ deep gullies, Ridges/ breakaways, scattered Rocky outcrops/ boulder piles, and wide expanses of Shallow/ open gullies leading down the steep, open faces. The largest of these systems occur in the Packsaddle Range, although a few smaller examples occur between A and B deposits, and near R deposit. The SRE suitability of the habitat types within this zone is highly dependent upon slope and aspect, with the south-facing Major gorge/ gully systems being more highly suitable overall (rank 5) than the north-facing Major gorge/ gully systems (rank 4), which were in some cases just as steep and complex, but more exposed due to their northerly aspect (Figure 4.4).
River gorges
This habitat zone comprises deeply incised low to moderate gorges carved by moderate or major drainage lines, where the base of the gorge is relatively flat, and the vertical or near vertical faces offer consistent shade. This habitat zone can form in highly mountainous areas at the base of steep slopes (as in the Packsaddle Ranges), or in deeply incised rolling hills (as observed south of Jirrpalpur Range). The habitat types within this zone may include Gorges/ deep gullies, Drainage lines, Drainage foci, and Ridges/ breakaways in areas where one face is more deeply incised than another. The overall SRE suitability of this habitat zone is high (rank 5), and is not as variable depending on slope and aspect as the more mountainous Major gorge/ gully systems. This is because the narrower, more meandering course of River gorges provides plenty of sheltered aspects, complex microhabitats within rocks, dense vegetation, and higher persistence of moisture.
Shallow open gullies/ valleys
This habitat zone comprises all other gully/ valley systems that are not considered to be Major gorge/ gully systems or River gorges; including smaller and shallower gullies as well as larger and more open gully systems. These kinds of formations occur throughout the Licence boundary and are often connected to more deeply incised habitat zones upslope (e.g. Major gorge/ gully systems or River gorges), as well as Major/ Minor drainage zones downslope. The dominant habitat type within this zone is Shallow/ open gullies, which vary from moderate-low to high suitability, depending on slope, aspect, the abundance of rocky outcrop, and vegetation structure and density. At the landscape scale however, this zone forms a reasonably well-connected network of similar habitat throughout the Licence boundary (Figure 4.3), therefore its overall SRE suitability ranking is moderate (rank 3) (Figure 4.4).
Ridges/ open gullies
This habitat zone comprises moderate to tall ridgelines occurring in mountainous areas (e.g. Packsaddle Range, Jirrpalpur Range, and R deposit). The ridges feature cliffs/ breakaways at their crest, and steep to moderate slopes leading down from the crest. These can range from relatively straight/ continuous landforms to highly convoluted landforms that are incised in
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Mining Area C SRE Invertebrate Fauna Impact Assessment
many places by open gullies leading downslope. The major SRE habitat types present are Ridges/ breakaways and Shallow/ open gullies, and the suitability of the landforms is variable from moderate to high, depending upon slope and aspect and the level of vegetation cover. This habitat zone encompasses some more isolated Ridges/ breakaways occurring on the fringes of larger mountain ranges as well as Ridges/ breakaways and Shallow/ open gullies that form part of a more well-connected network of rocky habitat, therefore the overall SRE suitability ranking is moderate-high (rank 4).
Open hill slopes/ crests
This habitat zone comprises the remaining rocky habitats on open slopes and hill crests that do not feature major outcrops, ridges, or gullies, and occur widely throughout the Mining Area C Licence boundary (Figure 4.3). Such areas generally have skeletal soils and therefore sparse vegetation (mainly Triodia hummock grassland) that provides little if any protection from exposure. Steeper, south-facing hill slopes can provide a degree of protection; however, due to a lack of rocky outcrop, gullies, or dense vegetation, these areas still have a low overall suitability SRE fauna (rank 1) (Figure 4.4).
Major drainage areas
This habitat zone comprises Drainage line and Vegetation grove habitats associated with the major drainage lines occurring in the eastern part of the Mining Area C Licence boundary. These areas are dominated by dense shrubland and groves/ thickets of Acacia (Mulga and other Acacia species) and Eucalyptus/ Corymbia species; therefore the majority of SRE habitats are based on vegetation and detritus. Slope and aspect are more or less irrelevant to SRE suitability here; instead the density and structure of vegetation influences complexity of detrital microhabitats, and amount of shelter available. Isolation is generally low, as the groves and drainage line habitats form an interconnected network of vegetation-based habitats along the course of the drainage line and flood plains (Figure 4.3). The overall SRE suitability of this habitat zone is moderate-low (rank 2) (Figure 4.4).
Minor drainage areas
This habitat zone comprises Drainage focus and Vegetation grove habitats associated with the minor drainage channels occurring throughout the Licence boundary. These areas can feature moderate to dense shrubland and some groves of Mulga and Eucalyptus. Similarly to the Major drainage areas, the SRE suitability of the habitat types is largely dependent on the density and structure of vegetation and detrital microhabitats. However, the isolation factor is more variable in the Minor drainage zone, with some areas being well-connected to other similar habitats throughout the wider drainage network (particularly in the eastern part of the Licence boundary), while other areas are more discontinuous due to changes in the surrounding landforms. These more isolated Minor drainage areas may have a greater potential to be suitable for SRE habitat, if other habitat factors such as dense vegetation and deep soils are prevalent. Overall, however, the SRE suitability rank of this habitat zone is moderate-low (rank 2) (Figure 4.4).
Vegetation groves
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Mining Area C SRE Invertebrate Fauna Impact Assessment
This habitat zone comprises Vegetation groves (generally Mulga) that are not necessarily following the course of distinct drainage channels, but rather occurring on open plains. These areas are distinguished from the surrounding shrubland/ grassland of the Open plains by providing more shade and a greater abundance of leaf litter and detrital microhabitats. Vegetation groves within the Licence boundary tend to occur on deep clay-loam soils that provide optimal burrowing habitats for many mygalomorph spiders and scorpions. This zone generally occurs in large or well-connected patches, and shares many habitat similarities with the Minor drainage areas (particularly in the east of the Licence boundary). The overall SRE suitability of this habitat zone is moderate-low (rank 2) (Figure 4.4).
Open plains
This habitat zone comprises the remaining open, flat habitats on detrital or alluvial plains that do not feature significant groves/ thickets, drainage features, or rocky outcrops. This zone is extensive in the far east and west of the Licence boundary (Figure 4.3). Moderately dense shrubland on the Plains can provide patches of detrital microhabitats throughout; however, the low levels of habitat complexity, shelter, and isolation generally make these areas unsuitable for SRE species (rank 1) (Figure 4.4).
4.4 SRE Species of Conservation Concern
There were three SRE species of conservation concern, Antichiropus `DIP006`, Chenistonia `MYG088`, and Karaops banyjima, as these species are currently only known to occur inside the Impact assessment area. Further details on the taxonomy, ecology, and conservation status of each of these species are presented below. The locations of the specimens collected are shown in Figures 4.5 and 4.7 (relative to habitat assessment sites and topography), and in Figures 4.6 and 4.8 relative to SRE habitat zones.
4.4.1 Antichiropus `DIP006`
The vast majority of Antichiropus millipedes are restricted SRE species, with very few widespread species known to occur in the genus, none of which occur in the Pilbara region (C. Car WAM pers. comm. 2014). Antichiropus millipedes are detritivores that are particularly susceptible to desiccation, and are rarely found in open habitats. Dense patches of vegetation sheltered by tall ridges/ gorges/ deep gullies are thought to provide the most highly suitable microhabitats for these species, within dense leaf litter piles among rocks and boulders.
Antichiropus `DIP006` was collected from a single adult specimen by Outback Ecology (2008) at site OES12 (22°55'0.5"S, 118°54'37.7"E). Potential additional specimens were also collected at site OES8 (22°54'2.2"S, 118°59'35.4"E); however, these remain as unidentified juveniles (Antichiropus sp. indet. juv.) (Figures 4.5 - 4.8). Site OES8 was visited during the current Biologic survey (Biologic site 39); however, OES12 was inaccessible due to active mining. The nearest similar sites were Biologic sites 1 and 2; both south-facing ridges/ gorges located approximately 1-2 km east of OES12 (Plates 4.1, 4.2, Appendix 2).
Based on the available habitat information and what is known of the genus, Antichiropus `DIP006` is likely to inhabit the south facing Major gorge/ gully systems of the Packsaddle
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Mining Area C SRE Invertebrate Fauna Impact Assessment
Range, particularly in areas where the steep southerly aspect and complex landforms provide high levels of protection from exposure (refer Figures 4.5- 4.8). High shelter from complex landforms in such areas promotes moisture retention and the growth of dense, stable pockets of vegetation, which produce the deep detrital microhabitats that Antichiropus millipedes require. Owing to the steep, complex topography of the Packsaddle Range, it is possible that pockets of suitable habitat may also occur in some north facing Major gorge/ gully systems or the River gorge zones. Nevertheless, suitable habitats for this species would be expected to be more prevalent in the south facing Major gorge systems, as these are the areas where protected southerly aspects more prevalent, and these are the habitats within which all Antichiropus millipedes from the Licence boundary were sampled.
Assuming that the south facing Major gorge/ gully systems are the primary habitat for Antichiropus `DIP006`, Figure 4.3 shows that the majority of habitat occurs along the south face of the Packsaddle Range. The current habitat mapping has not been extended beyond the Licence boundary owing to the lack of intensive survey outside of the Licence boundary. However, aerial photography shows extensive steep rugged terrain to the north, and in some areas to the east and west of the Licence boundary (Figures 2.4, 4.3). Based on current information, it is difficult to determine whether these areas may offer suitable habitats for Antichiropus `DIP006` beyond the Packsaddle Range.
The majority of previous SRE surveys have focused on areas within the Licence boundary and to the immediate south, except for Biota (2011a), which included 11 sample sites in the eastern part of Packsaddle Range (beyond the Licence boundary), and Biota (2013a), which sampled an area within 5 km to the north west of the Licence boundary (Area C West) (Figure 4.9). In general, these surveys did not assess SRE habitats in a level of detail that would allow for direct comparisons of the suitability and potential connectivity of potential habitats for Antichiropus `DIP006`. Nevertheless, Biota (2011a) indicated that gorges/ gullies (in a broad sense) occur in the eastern part of the Packsaddle Range beyond the Licence boundary, while Biota (2013a) did not specifically map gorge/ gully systems, but mentioned two sites within a broader "hills and ranges" habitat type at Area C West.
Aerial photography of the wider local area surrounding the Licence boundary shows large areas of mountainous terrain beyond the Licence boundary to the immediate north of the Packsaddle Range that remain unsurveyed, extending north towards the Yandi (Marillana Creek) tenement for approximately 15 km (Figure 4.9). The lack of information from this area represents a significant knowledge gap in terms of the potential distribution of Antichiropus `DIP006 beyond the Impact assessment area.
The considerable survey effort conducted to the south and east of the Licence boundary (Biota 2011b, 2013b) at South Flank recorded a distinct sister species, Antichiropus `DIP007` (synonym A. `Area C sp. 2`), indicating a high likelihood that A. `DIP006` does not occur further to the south around South Flank. There are large areas of potentially suitable habitats such as River gorges and some smaller patches of Major gorge/ gully systems within the central parts of the Licence boundary (south of the Jirrpalpur Range) that have not been intensively sampled, therefore we cannot entirely rule out the possibility that A. `DIP006`
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Mining Area C SRE Invertebrate Fauna Impact Assessment
could occur elsewhere within the Licence boundary as well. However, due to the discontinuous nature of the Major gorge/ gully systems of the Packsaddle Range, and the fact that Antichiropus `DIP007`occurs immediately to the south at South Flank, it is impossible to confidently assess whether any unsurveyed habitats between these two areas might contain Antichiropus `DIP006` or Antichiropus `DIP007`. The lack of survey data in these potentially suitable areas inside the Licence boundary (but beyond the Impact assessment area) represents a further knowledge gap in terms of assessing the potential distribution of Antichiropus `DIP006` beyond the Impact assessment area.
Within the constraints of these knowledge gaps, and based on the limited ecological information we know about the genus, the current evidence indicates that the only adult record and all of the potential juvenile records of Antichiropus `DIP006` were found only within the south-facing Major gorge gully systems of the Packsaddle Range, which are almost entirely restricted to the Impact assessment area; therefore, this species is of high conservation concern.
Plate 4.1 Site 01: Ridge/ breakaway at the top of large deep gully (burnt, view southeast)
Plate 4.2 Site 02: south facing Gorge/ deep gully (burnt, view south)
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693000 694000 695000 696000 697000 698000 699000 700000 701000 702000 703000 704000
43 ! 7467000
15 16 42 ! ! ! P4 Pit ! 17 OSA ! 41 ! 12 XW ! 6 7 10
7466000 ! 18 ! ! 24 ! 11 ! 14 8 9 ! ! ! ! 40 P4 Pit 19 ! 13 ! 23 ! 5 4 22 ! ! 25 ! ! 12 P3 Pit ! ! ! ! 2 )" )" ! P2 Pit 20 7465000 1 ! 3 ! ! P4 Misc
P1 East WXWX Pit XW Crusher 1
OSA 7
7464000 OSA 7 P1 West OSA 5 and 8 Pit OSA 4
Crusher 2 OSA 3 OSA 1 C Pit OSA 1 OSA 2 7463000 D Pit
E Pit
C Misc
7462000 OSA F Pit 13
B Pit 7461000
Legend 85 ! Area C Licence Boundary Elevation (mAHD) 778 870 ! Habitat Assessment Site 698 790 878 Impact Assessment Area 710 798 890 ! Proposed Indicative General Arrangement 718 810 898 1:30,000 BHP Billiton Iron Ore Species of conservation concern 730 818 910 0 0.225 0.45 0.9 1.35 Area C Life of Project Assessment (EMP Rev 6) km 738 830 918 ¯ Fig. 4.5 SRE species and topography (central) XW Antichiropus `DIP006` 750 838 930 Created 24/06/2015. Size A3. XW Antichiropus `sp. indet. (juv.)` 758 850 Coordinate System: GDA 1994 MGA Zone 50 )" Chenistonia `MYG088` Projection: Transverse Mercator 770 858 Datum: GDA 1994 695000 696000 697000 698000 699000 700000 701000 702000 703000 704000
43 ! 7467000
16 42 15 ! ! ! P4 Pit
17 41 ! ! 6
7466000 ! 7 10 18 ! ! ! 11 24 ! ! 14 8 9 ! 13 40 ! ! ! 19 ! P4 Pit 23 ! 5 ! 4 ! ! P3 Pit ! 12 ! ! )" )" 2 P2 Pit
7465000 ! 3 20 1 ! ! ! P4 Misc
P1 East XWXW Pit XW Crusher 1
OSA 7 7464000 OSA 7 OSA 5 and 8 OSA 4
C Pit Crusher 2 OSA 3 OSA 1 OSA 2 7463000
D Pit
E Pit
C Misc 7462000
Legend Area C Licence Boundary SRE Habitat Zones ! Habitat Assessment Site River gorges Impact Assessment Area Major gorge/ gully system (N) Proposed Indicative General Arrangement Major gorge/ gully system (S) 1:25,000 BHP Billiton Iron Ore Species of conservation concern Minor drainage areas 0 0.1750.35 0.7 1.05 Area C Life of Project Assessment (EMP Rev 6) km Open hillslopes/ crests ¯ Fig. 4.6 SRE species and habitat zones (central) XW Antichiropus `DIP006` Open plains Created 24/06/2015. Size A3. XW Antichiropus `sp. indet. (juv.)` Ridges/ open gullies Coordinate System: GDA 1994 MGA Zone 50 )" Chenistonia `MYG088` Projection: Transverse Mercator Shallow open gullies/ valleys Datum: GDA 1994 702000 703000 704000 705000 706000 707000 708000 709000 710000 711000 712000 713000 7468000 50 51 ! !
43 ! 49 P6 Pit ! 7467000 P6 Pit P4 Pit 56 ! 55 jk! 42 ! 52 48 ! 31 ! 37 59 58 P4 Pit ! 54 ! OSA 12 ! 30 ! ! 47 38 ! 35 ! 29 57 53 ! 41 ! ! ! ! XW)" P4 Pit 32 ! ! 39 ! 33 46 ! 28 26 ! 7466000 34 ! ! ! 27 ! 60 ! 61 40 ! P5 Pit ! P4 Pit jk OSA 10 45 36 44 ! ! 62 P3 Pit 67 ! ! ! 66 )" )" !
7465000 63 P4 Misc ! 64 BRK ! Detritals Pit 65 ! Crusher 1 Crusher 3 OSA 5 and 8 7464000
OSA 4 OSA 11
C Pit A Pit
68 ! 7463000 72 69 70 ! ! !
73 C Misc OSA 9 !
76 71 7462000 ! ! OSA 13 B Pit Legend 75 A Pit ! 74 Area C Licence Boundary Elevation (mAHD) B 778Pit 870 ! ! Habitat Assessment Site 698 790 878 B Pit
7461000 Impact Assessment Area 710 798 890 Proposed Indicative General Arrangement 718 810 898 ! 1:30,000 BHP Billiton Iron Ore Species of conservation concern 730 818 910 0 0.225 0.45 0.9 1.35 Area C Life of Project Assessment (EMP Rev 6) XW 738 830 918 Antichiropus `sp. indet. (juv.)` km ¯ Fig. 4.7 SRE species and topography (eastern) )" Chenistonia `MYG088` 750 838 930 Created 24/06/2015. Size A3. 758 850 938 jk Karaops `sp. indet. (juv.)` Coordinate System: GDA 1994 MGA Zone 50 770 858 Projection: Transverse Mercator jk Karaops banyjima Datum: GDA 1994 703000 704000 705000 706000 707000 708000 709000 710000 711000 712000 7468000 51 50 ! !
43 ! 49 !
7467000 P6 Pit P6 Pit P4 Pit 56 ! ! 55 jk ! 52 48 ! 31 54 P4 Pit 37 ! 59 58 ! OSA 12 ! ! ! 30 47 ! 38 ! 53 35 29 ! 57 ! ! ! ! ! P4 Pit 32 XW)"! 39 ! 46 33 ! ! 28 26
7466000 ! 34 27 ! ! ! 60 ! 61 P5 Pit !
P4 Pit jk OSA 10 45 36 ! 44 ! ! 62 67 ! ! 66 ! 7465000 P4 Misc 63 ! 64 BRK ! Detritals Pit 65 !
Crusher 1 Crusher 3
OSA 5 7464000 and 8 OSA 11
C Pit A Pit 68 ! 7463000 72 69 70 ! ! Legend ! B Pit Area C LicenceC Boundary Misc SRE Habitat Zones OSA 9 73 ! Habitat Assessment Site Major drainage areas ! Impact Assessment Area OSA 13 Major gorge/ gully system (N) Proposed Indicative General Arrangement Major gorge/ gully system (S) Species of conservation concern Minor drainage areas ! 1:25,000 ! BHP Billiton Iron Ore XW Antichiropus `sp. indet. (juv.)` Open hillslopes/ crests 0 0.1750.35 0.7 1.05 Area C Life of Project Assessment (EMP Rev 6) km Open plains ¯ Fig. 4.8 SRE species and habitat zones (eastern) )" Chenistonia `MYG088` Ridges/ open gullies jk Karaops `sp. indet. (juv.)` Created 24/06/2015. Size A3. Shallow open gullies/ valleys Coordinate System: GDA 1994 MGA Zone 50 jk Karaops banyjima Projection: Transverse Mercator Vegetation groves Datum: GDA 1994 690000 700000 710000 720000 7470000
jk WX)" jk )")" WXWXXW 7460000
Legend Area C Licence Boundary Previous Survey Areas Impact Assessment Area Area C - Outback Ecology (2008, 2009) Species of conservation concern Area C and Surrounds - Biota (2011a) XW Antichiropus `DIP006` South Flank - Biota (2011b) 1:105,000 BHP Billiton Iron Ore Area C West - Biota (2013a) 0 0.75 1.5 3 4.5 Area C Life of Project Assessment (EMP Rev 6) XW Antichiropus `sp. indet. (juv.)` South Flank to Jinidi - Biota (2013b) km ¯ Fig. 4.9 SRE survey gaps to the north of Mining Area C )" Chenistonia `MYG088` South Parmelia - Biota (2013c) Created 24/06/2015. Size A3. jk Karaops `sp. indet. (juv.)` Mudlark - Biota (2013d) Coordinate System: GDA 1994 MGA Zone 50 Projection: Transverse Mercator Jinidi to Mainline - Biota (2013e) jk Karaops banyjima Datum: GDA 1994
Mining Area C SRE Invertebrate Fauna Impact Assessment
4.4.2 Chenistonia `MYG088`
Very little is known about the ecology of Western Australian Chenistonia spiders. No named species of Chenistonia are known to occur within the Pilbara region, although there are several named species in eastern Australia (mainly Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria) and one species, C. boranup, has recently been described from the south-west of Western Australia (Main 2012). Many of the described species are known from temperate forests or rainforests (Main 2012, Harvey et al. 2012), and it may follow that any Pilbara species may be relictual SREs, restricted to mesic habitats (as in Harvey 2002). Chenistonia `MYG088` has been identified by morphological and DNA analysis and found to be unique from other known mygalomorph spider species (M. Castalanelli, WAM pers. comm. 2014).
Chenistonia `MYG088` was collected during the Outback Ecology (2008) survey at site OES1 (22°54'35.0"S, 118°58'14.0"E), OES10 (22°54'37.7"S, 118°57'58.9"E), and OES8 (22°54'2.2"S, 118°59'35.4"E) (Figures 4.5 - 4.8). Site OES8 was visited during the current survey (Biologic site 39), although sites OES1 and OES10 were inaccessible due to active mining. The nearest similar site was site 40, a Gorge/ deep gully approx. 0.7 km east of OES1 (Figure 4.5) (Plates 4.3, 4.4, Appendix 2). The habitats within which Chenistonia `MYG088` was sampled comprised steep, south facing Gorges/ deep gullies and Ridges/ breakaways within the south facing Major gorge/ gully systems of the Packsaddle Range.
As for all mygalomorph spiders, it is expected that Chenistonia `MYG088` would be highly susceptible to desiccation, particularly when juveniles or males are outside of their burrows during dispersal. The sites where the species was collected appeared to be dominated by rocky substrates on slopes, rather than the deep clay-loam soils on plains favoured by many other mygalomorph spider species. It is likely that Chenistonia `MYG088` builds its burrows within small patches of soil among rocks in gullies and beneath ridges. It is difficult to determine whether south-facing aspects are as important for Chenistonia `MYG088` as they are inferred to be for Antichiropus `DIP006`; however, both species are only known from south-facing Major gorge/ gully systems at the current time.
The previously mentioned survey gaps regarding the mountainous areas to the north of the Packsaddle Range beyond the Licence boundary, and to the south within the River gorges and south facing Major gorge/ gully systems in the central part of the Licence boundary apply equally for Chenistonia `MYG088` as they do for Antichiropus `DIP006`. Owing to the high diversity of other mygalomorph species detected from the intensive surveys at South Flank (Biota 2011b, 2013b), it can be assumed that C. `MYG088` does not occur further to the south, but there are large areas to the north, and to some extent the east and west of the Licence boundary that have not been as highly sampled (Figure 4.9). Within the Licence boundary, the intensively sampled plains to the east and south east have revealed a high diversity of other mygalomorph species, providing a further indication that Chenistonia `MYG088` is restricted to mountainous habitats, although no burrows of the species have yet been documented.
Within the constraints of the previously mentioned survey/ knowledge gaps, and in the context of the species being recorded only from pitfall trapped or opportunistic specimens, it is difficult
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Mining Area C SRE Invertebrate Fauna Impact Assessment
to assess the potential range of Chenistonia `MYG088` relative to the Impact assessment area. However, all specimens collected to date have been found within the south-facing Major gorge gully systems of the Packsaddle Range which occur almost entirely within the Impact assessment area; therefore, this species is of high conservation concern.
Plate 4.3 Site 39 (OES8): top of south facing Gorge/ deep gully (part burnt, view south)
Plate 4.4 Site 40: south facing Gorge/ deep gully with caves (part burnt, view north)
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Mining Area C SRE Invertebrate Fauna Impact Assessment
4.4.3 Karaops banyjima
The majority of Karaops species collected in the Pilbara are highly specialised inhabitants of rock cracks and crevices within mountainous terrains (M. Castalanelli WAM pers. comm. 2013). This specialisation makes them susceptible to short-range endemism in areas where mountainous habitats are discontinuous or isolated by open plains that lack rocky outcrop (as found during the OB19-31 SRE survey, Biologic 2014b). However, several species recently described from the central and western Pilbara (Crews and Harvey 2011; Crews 2013) have shown wider distributions than would be expected for SRE species, presumably due to the presence of interconnected rocky/ mountainous habitats that may facilitate their dispersal.
Karaops banyjima was collected during the Biota (2011a) SRE survey at site SUR25 (22°53'43.37''S, 119°02'42.47''E), while unidentified juvenile specimens (Karaops sp. indet. juv.) were also collected at site SUR19 (22°54'20.16"S, 119°01'44.4"E). Site SUR25 was visited during the current habitat assessment survey (Biologic site 52), while site SUR19 was not visited due to poor track conditions. Nevertheless, Biologic sites 60 and 61 (Appendix 2) were placed within similar, connected rocky habitats (Gorge/ deep gully and Shallow/ open gullies) immediately to the northwest of site SUR19 (within 0.2 - 0.5 km) (Plates 4.5- 4.7).
In general, Karaops spiders can be expected to occur wherever there are suitable microhabitats in rock cracks and crevices, regardless of the slope, aspect, underlying geology, vegetation characteristics, moisture retention, or disturbance by fire (S. Callan pers. obs. 2014). During recent SRE surveys, Biologic has detected Karaops spiders in a wide variety of rocky habitat types, from steep, sheltered Gorges/ deep gullies and tall Ridges/ breakaways at OB25 and OB19 (Biologic 2014c, 2014b), to highly exposed, low Rocky outcrops and Shallow/ open gullies at Yandi and OB31 (Biologic 2013, 2014d).
The scarcity of selenopid spiders recorded throughout the Mining Area C Licence boundary almost definitely reflects the lack of dedicated sampling for this taxon; not a lack of suitable habitat. The SRE habitat assessment survey showed abundant rocky habitats throughout the Packsaddle Range, the Jirrpalpur Range and the lower hilly areas extending further to the north, east and west beyond the Licence boundary (Figures 3.1, 4.5, 4.6). It is important to reiterate here that Karaops spiders are not considered to be restricted to the south facing Major gorge/ gully systems that provide habitat for Antichiropus `DIP006` and Chenistonia `MYG088`. Based on current knowledge of the genus, all rocky or mountainous habitat zones within the Licence boundary (including Major gorge/ gully systems, River gorges, Shallow open gullies/ valleys, Ridges/ open gullies, and even possibly some boulder piles within the Open hill slopes/ crests) may potentially provide suitable rock cracks and crevices for Karaops spiders. While habitat quality may vary considerably with slope, aspect, and the size or abundance of rock face and boulders, these habitat zones form a vast, connected network of potential habitat for Karaops spiders throughout the Licence boundary area (Figure 4.3).
Although Karaops banyjima has only been found within the Impact assessment area to date, the wider extent of suitable rocky/ mountainous habitats within and beyond the Licence boundary suggests that the species is unlikely to be restricted to the Impact assessment area.
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Mining Area C SRE Invertebrate Fauna Impact Assessment
Based on the extent of its potential habitat relative to the Impact assessment area, this species is considered to be of moderate conservation concern.
Plate 4.5 Site 52: south facing Ridge/ breakaway within large gully (unburned, view east)
Plate 4.6 Site 60: part of Major gorge/ deep gully system with caves (part burnt, view northwest)
Plate 4.7 Site 61: Major gorge/ deep gully system (burnt, view northeast)
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Mining Area C SRE Invertebrate Fauna Impact Assessment
5. IMPACT ASSESSMENT
5.1 Potential Impacts
Potential impacts on SRE fauna and habitats from the proposed development may include:
Direct impacts comprising the loss of SRE individuals or populations, the removal of SRE habitat, or complete degradation of SRE habitat values arising from; o Mining and earthworks; o Construction of infrastructure, OSAs/ stockpiles/ dumps; and o Vegetation clearing. Indirect impacts i.e. more subtle or gradual degradation of SRE habitat values via changes to the physical condition of habitats and microhabitats associated with vegetation, landforms, and drainage features. Indirect impacts may include: o Habitat fragmentation (creation of barriers to species movement, increased edge effects); o Alteration to surface drainage patterns or groundwater hydrology (via effects on drainage and vegetation-based habitats); o Spread of introduced flora or fauna species that may degrade the quality of terrestrial habitats; o Alteration of fire regimes (effects on vegetation-based habitats); o Spills and contamination (localised effects); and o Vibration, noise and dust (localised effects near active mining areas).
5.2 Direct Impacts to Species Populations
Each of the SRE species of conservation concern (Antichiropus `DIP006`, Chenistonia `MYG088` and Karaops banyjima) was detected only from observations within the Impact assessment area in the mountainous habitats of the Packsaddle Range. The development of mine pits, OSAs, stockpiles and associated infrastructure throughout most of the Packsaddle Range will have a direct impact on the known records of these three species. However, the three species each differ in the likely extent of their potential habitats, which changes the assessment of potential impacts for each case, as discussed further below (section 5.3.1).
5.3 Direct Impacts to Habitats
The Impact assessment area is assumed to be the maximum boundary for all disturbance and vegetation clearing associated with earthworks, construction and mining within this assessment. Table 5.1 shows the areas (ha) of each habitat zone within the Impact assessment area, compared to the total area mapped within the Licence boundary. Table 5.1 also shows the proportion of each habitat zone occurring within the Impact assessment area, and the proportion of the total area within the Licence boundary that each habitat zone represents. The habitat zones are ordered in terms of overall SRE suitability rank.
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Mining Area C SRE Invertebrate Fauna Impact Assessment
Table 5.1 Area (ha) and proportion (%) of each SRE habitat zone within the Impact assessment area and within the Licence boundary.
Inside % inside Total inside % of total area SRE Impact Impact Licence Habitat zone within Licence suitability assessment assessment boundary boundary area (ha) area (ha) Major gorge/ gully system High 191.44 90.9 210.50 0.8 (South) River gorges High 32.76 13.5 241.94 0.9 Major gorge/ gully system Mod/ high 59.49 39.7 149.84 0.6 (North) Ridges/ open gullies Mod/ high 92.44 13.0 710.89 2.8 Shallow open gullies/ Moderate 287.07 16.9 1697.29 6.6 valleys Major drainage areas Moderate 619.40 51.1 1211.67 4.7
Minor drainage areas Moderate 594.81 43.9 1356.08 5.3
Vegetation groves Moderate 124.62 14.9 834.51 3.2
Open hill slopes/ crests Low 3316.27 32.2 10305.16 39.9
Open plains Low 888.76 23.7 3752.99 14.5 Disturbed/ approved N/A 5170.44 96.8 5343.93 20.7 disturbance Total area 11377.50 25814.81
*Note: 'Disturbed/ approved disturbance' includes areas mapped as 'disturbed', as well as areas approved for mining pits and OSAs up to EMP Revision 5.
Table 5.1 shows that the majority of the Licence boundary area (54.5 %) comprises Open hillslope/ crest and Open plains habitats that have a low suitability for SRE fauna, and that the habitats of high or moderate-high SRE suitability (i.e. the south and north facing Major gorge/ gully systems, the River gorges, and Ridges/ open gullies) together comprise only 5.1 % of the total Licence boundary area, excluding areas already approved (EMP Revision 5). The proportion of these highly and moderate-highly suitable habitats that occurs within the Impact assessment area varies for each habitat type. For instance, the majority of south facing Major gorge/ gully systems (90.9 %) are inside the Impact assessment area, while a much greater proportion of north facing Major gorge/ gully systems (60.3 %), River gorges (86.5 %) and Ridges/ open gullies (87.0%) occur outside of the Impact assessment area.
5.3.1 Habitats of the Species of Conservation Concern
In regards to the likely extent of habitat for the SRE species of conservation concern, both Antichiropus `DIP006` and Chenistonia `MYG088` were recorded only from south facing Major gorge/ gully systems on the Packsaddle Range. Within the Licence boundary, this habitat zone occurs mostly along the southern side of the Packsaddle Range. Similar habitat characteristics are also found within the River gorges habitat zone in the central part of the Licence boundary outside of the Impact assessment area; however, there is no habitat connectivity between these major areas of gorges; they are clearly separated by habitat zones with considerably different characteristics (i.e. Open hill slopes/ crests, Shallow open gullies/ valleys, and Ridges/ open gullies) over a distance of (minimally) 4 km (Figure 4.3).
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Owing to a lack of SRE survey in the central section of the River gorges habitat zone, and the presence of different species of mygalomorph spiders and Antichiropus millipedes only a further 4-5 km south at South Flank, there is currently no evidence to indicate whether Antichiropus `DIP006` and Chenistonia `MYG088`, or different species could occur in this habitat.
The assessment of the potential extent of suitable habitat for these two species beyond the Impact assessment area to the north, east and west is also hampered by a lack of intensive survey, and a lack of (or inconsistent) habitat assessment data. Aerial photos (e.g. Figure 4.9) appear to indicate large mountainous areas beyond the Licence boundary to the north, and to some degree to the east and west of the Packsaddle Range that could potentially provide habitats similar to the Major gorge/ gully systems, but the limitations of the survey and habitat assessment data in these areas prevent meaningful comparisons of the important habitat and microhabitat characteristics that would indicate suitable habitat for these species. In the case of the eastern Packsaddle Range, and the area to the north west known as Area C West, SRE surveys did not detect Antichiropus `DIP006` or Chenistonia `MYG088` (although the chance of finding suitable habitats remains possible in Packsaddle east), while further to the south at South Flank, extensive surveys detected a variety of other species of mygalomorph spiders and a different Antichiropus millipede; therefore, it can reasonably be assumed that Antichiropus `DIP006` and Chenistonia `MYG088` do not occur within these areas.
Based on the total extent of the south-facing Major gorge/ gully systems within the Licence boundary, the proposed development within the Impact assessment area would directly impact almost all (90.9%) of the most likely potential habitat of Antichiropus `DIP006` and Chenistonia `MYG088`, therefore the potential impacts on these species are considered high.
These findings are limited by the general limitations of detecting SRE fauna, as well as the constraints of the previous sampling/ habitat assessment data and the limited ecological information regarding these two, poorly known species. Based on the few collection records we have for Antichiropus `DIP006` and Chenistonia `MYG088`, we can only assume that their likely habitat matches the sites in which they were detected. This comprises the large, highly sheltered Ridges/ breakaways, Gorges/ deep gullies, and Rocky outcrops/ boulder piles that occur in the south facing Major Gorge/ gully systems of the Packsaddle Range.
The available ecological information regarding these two taxa suggests that they may be relictual SRE species that are restricted to complex, mesic microhabitats in rocky soils and dense leaf litter. Such habitats regularly occur within steep south-facing slopes, where shelter and microhabitat complexity is enhanced by rugged terrain and patches of dense vegetation. Based on these general principles and the location of the only known records, Antichiropus `DIP006` and Chenistonia `MYG088` are most likely to inhabit the south facing Major gorge/ gully systems of the Packsaddle Range. However, we cannot entirely rule out the chance that Antichiropus `DIP006` and Chenistonia `MYG088` could occur more widely than currently recorded, as aerial photography suggests that similar habitats could occur outside the Licence boundary in major gorges and gullies to the north, east, and west, and within the
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Licence boundary (outside the Impact assessment area) in the River gorge habitat zone, which for the most part, has not been sampled (refer Figure 4.9).
In contrast, the extent of suitable habitat for Karaops banyjima is likely to be more abundant and locally widespread. This is because Karaops spiders are not limited only to the highly sheltered, mesic habitats found in south-facing Major Gorge/ gully systems. In recent similar surveys within the eastern and central Pilbara (Biologic 2013, 2014b, 2014c) Karaops spiders have been sampled from a wide variety of rocky habitats including Gorges/ deep gullies, Shallow/ open gullies, Ridges/ breakaways, Rocky outcrops, Boulder piles, and even in Drainage lines and open Hillslopes/ footslope habitats, provided there are enough rock cracks and crevices to provide shelter at the microhabitat level.
Following the regional trend for the genus, Karaops banyjima could potentially occur throughout (or at least disperse throughout) the River gorges, north and south facing Major gorge/ gully systems, Ridges/ open gullies, Shallow open gullies/ valleys, and possibly even some areas of the Open hill slopes/ crests habitat zone, which collectively cover 51.6% of the Licence boundary, with approximately 70.1% of their area occurring outside the Impact assessment area (Table 5.1, Figure 4.3). The most likely reason that the only record of this species was found within a Major gorge/ gully system on the Packsaddle Range is that none of the previous SRE surveys targeted selenopid spiders, and the only specimens collected were regarded as by-catch at the time.
Based on these locally common and widespread habitat requirements, it is highly likely that this species could also occur beyond the Licence boundary within rocky/ mountainous habitats to the north, east, and west. Based on these findings, the proposed mining within the Impact assessment area would be expected to have only a moderate impact on Karaops banyjima, directly affecting the populations living on the Packsaddle Range, but only removing part of the wider potential habitat throughout the local area.
Table 5.2 summarises the types of potential impacts, pathways, and the magnitude of impacts to the SRE species of conservation concern within the Licence boundary.
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Table 5.2 Potential impacts to SRE species recorded only from inside the Impact assessment area, and their habitats.
Location of collection SRE taxon Indicative extent of habitat Potential impacting processes Magnitude of impact records
Millipedes
1 inside EMP Revision 5 South facing Major gorge/ gully system on and Impact assessment Direct impact to known locations High impact Packsaddle Range, 90.9% of habitat area at P1 East of this species Majority of habitat within Packsaddle Range removed; minimal Antichiropus occurs within Impact assessment area Potential additional Removal of habitat via mining, suitable habitat is known to occur outside Impact assessment area. `DIP006` Knowledge of habitat extent limited by low records - unidentified construction, earthworks, number of adult specimens collected and Indirect impacts from mining potentially high within any remaining juveniles inside Impact vegetation clearing unidentified juvenile specimens Major gorge/ gully habitat in the vicinity of active mining areas. assessment area at P4
Mygalomorph spiders
South facing Major gorge/ gully system on Direct impact to known locations High impact 2 inside EMP Revision 5 Packsaddle Range, 90.9% of habitat of this species Majority of habitat within Packsaddle Range removed; minimal Chenistonia boundary at P3, 1 inside occurs within Impact assessment area suitable habitat is known to occur outside Impact assessment area. `MYG088` Impact assessment area Removal of habitat via mining, at P4 Knowledge of habitat extent limited by few construction, earthworks, Indirect impacts from mining potentially high within any remaining collection records and poorly known taxon vegetation clearing Major gorge/ gully habitat in the vicinity of active mining areas.
Selenopid spiders
1 inside Impact assessment area at P6 Cracks/ crevices within complex rocky habitats such as Major gorge/ gully Direct impact to known locations Moderate impact Potential additional record systems, River gorges, Ridges/ open of this species Decreased habitat within Packsaddle Range, but other suitable Karaops - unidentified juvenile gullies, Shallow open gullies habitat occurs throughout Mining Area C Licence boundary and banyjima inside Impact assessment Partial removal of habitat via beyond, to the north and east. area at P5 Potential habitat occurs inside and outside mining, construction, of Impact assessment area and beyond earthworks, vegetation clearing Negligible indirect impacts throughout most of the suitable habitat. Known records limited by Licence boundary lack of targeted sampling
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5.4 Indirect Impacts to Habitats
Owing to their proximity to proposed active mining areas, the habitats of higher SRE suitability (mainly north facing Major gorge/ gully systems, River gorges, and Shallow open gullies/ valleys) outside the Impact assessment area, within close proximity to P2, P3, P5, A, B, and R deposits may be subject to a variety of indirect impacts such as vibration/ shock, noise and dust. Many of the gorges, gullies, and ridges in these areas would be partially removed by mining; therefore habitat fragmentation may also be an issue, reducing the ability of species to disperse between the remaining fragments of the current habitat zones. However, these impacts would be expressed only in close proximity to the active mining areas, and a large proportion of the total extent of these habitat types occurs well beyond the Impact assessment area. Overall, the potential indirect impacts to the north facing Major gorge/ gully systems, River gorges, and Shallow open gully/ valley habitat zones are considered moderate to low. These indirect impacts are unlikely to materially affect any of the SRE species of conservation concern, except to reduce the likelihood that any of these species could inhabit the remaining habitats within the Packsaddle Range in close proximity to the active mining areas.
The indirect impacts of changes to surface hydrology could affect the moderately suitable SRE habitats of the Major drainage area and associated vegetation groves. Large areas of the Major and Minor drainage zones between B and R deposits occurs within the Impact assessment area. The active mining and associated development within the Impact assessment area would be expected to divide the upper and lower parts of a major drainage line occurring through this area (which flows eastward to Pebble-Mouse Creek), and it is assumed that a range of surface water management strategies would be implemented to "maintain a continuous drainage corridor" (RPS 2014) during mining of the B and R deposits. Although the Major Drainage habitat zone in this area would be reduced and habitats upstream and downstream would be fragmented during mining, the Major Drainage habitat zone is likely to extend well beyond the Licence boundary to the east, and it is not known to support any SRE species restricted to the Impact assessment area or the Licence boundary. Assuming that a continuous drainage corridor can be maintained via surface water management strategies, the impacts of habitat fragmentation would be considered low.
The proposed development will include mining below the groundwater table, which will require pit dewatering, and could result in the propagation of groundwater drawdown. However, none of the SRE species of conservation concern to Mining Area C appear to be associated with habitats that feature groundwater dependent vegetation. The risk of indirect impacts to SRE habitats from alteration of groundwater hydrology is therefore negligible.
The risks of indirect impacts from environmental incidents such as spills and contamination, increased fire risk, and introduction of exotic pests and weeds would be expected to be adequately managed throughout the Licence boundary area by the extension of current environmental management procedures.
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6. KEY OUTCOMES
The key SRE values within the Mining Area C Licence boundary comprise:
Three SRE species of conservation concern (Antichiropus `DIP006`, Chenistonia `MYG088`, and Karaops banyjima) that have only been recorded inside of the Impact assessment area; and Four highly suitable and moderately-highly suitable SRE habitat zones, comprising south-facing Major gorge/ gully systems, River gorges, north-facing Major gorge/ gully systems and Ridges/ open gullies.
These four habitat zones occupy only 5.1 % of the total Mining Area C Licence boundary area, most of which (71.4 %) occurs outside of the Impact assessment area. However, approximately 90.9 % of the extent of the south-facing Major gorge/ gully systems (highly suitable for SRE species) occurs inside the Impact assessment area, therefore this habitat zone will be highly impacted by the proposed development. The removal of the majority of this habitat zone by mining and construction will have a high direct impact on the polydesmid millipede Antichiropus `DIP006` and the mygalomorph spider Chenistonia `MYG088`, which are currently only known from within this habitat zone.
This finding is limited by the low number of specimens sampled, the lack of specific ecological information for these particular species, and the lack of detailed surveys in areas outside the Licence boundary to the north. While it remains possible that Antichiropus `DIP006` and Chenistonia `MYG088` could occur more widely than recorded, current ecological information suggests that these may be relictual SRE taxa that tend to be restricted to highly sheltered, complex, isolated habitats such as the Major gorge/ gully systems within which they were found. The majority of this habitat zone occurs along the south face of the Packsaddle Range, almost entirely within the Impact assessment area. Under this scenario, the potential impacts to Antichiropus `DIP006` and Chenistonia `MYG088` are high.
The selenopid spider Karaops banyjima is also known only from the Impact assessment area, but this species has more generalised habitat requirements that occur more widely throughout the Licence boundary area, and possibly beyond. Karaops spiders are known to inhabit rock cracks and crevices within a wide variety of rocky habitat types; therefore the potential habitat for K. banyjima is unlikely to be restricted to the Impact assessment area. Under this scenario, the potential impacts on K. banyjima are considered moderate.
The risk of indirect impacts to the key SRE values was considered low, except in areas immediately adjacent to active mining areas, which would be susceptible to the impacts of dust, vibration/ shock and noise. Habitat fragmentation could indirectly impact the Major drainage habitat zone in the southeast of the Licence boundary, although this would not affect any of the key SRE values. The risks of indirect impacts from changes to surface hydrology, exotic pests, weeds, increased fire incidents, and spills/ contamination, would be expected to be managed by current environmental management procedures.
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7. REFERENCES
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BHP Billiton Iron Ore (2009) BHP Billiton Iron Ore’s Guidance for Short-Range Endemic Invertebrate Surveys in the Pilbara Region (SPR-IEN-EMS-013); Central Pilbara Region Short-Range Endemic Assessment Scope, Approach and Methods. BHP Billiton Iron Ore, 20 March 2009.
Biologic (2011a) Area C and Surrounds Fauna Survey. Unpublished report to BHP Billiton Iron Ore.
Biologic (2011b) Southern Flank Vertebrate Fauna Survey. Unpublished report to BHP Billiton Iron Ore.
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Biologic (2014a) Mining Area C Short Range Endemic Invertebrate Desktop Review. Report to BHP Billiton Iron Ore. Perth.
Biologic (2014b) Biologic Environmental Survey. Orebody 19-31 Short-range Endemic Invertebrate Survey. Report to BHP Billiton Iron Ore. Perth.
Biologic (2014c) Biologic Environmental Survey. Orebody 24-25 Short-range Endemic Invertebrate Survey. Report to BHP Billiton Iron Ore. Perth.
Biologic (2014d) Orebody 31 Targeted Survey and Environmental Impact Assessment of Short-Range Endemic Fauna. Report to BHP Billiton Iron Ore. Perth.
Biologic (2014e) Mining Area C – Desktop Review of Baseline Information on Vertebrate Fauna
Biota (2011a). Area C and Surrounds Short Range Endemic Survey. Unpublished report to BHP Billiton.
Biota (2011b). Short Range Endemic Invertebrate Fauna Survey - South Flank. Unpublished report to BHP Billiton.
Biota (2011c). Jinidi lease and Jinidi to Mainline SRE Review. Unpublished report to BHP Billiton.
Biota (2013a). Targeted Survey for Short Range Endemic Invertebrate Fauna of Area C West. Unpublished report to BHP Billiton.
Biota (2013b). Survey of the Short Range Endemic Invertebrate Fauna of South Flank to Jinidi. Unpublished report to BHP Billiton.
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Biota (2013c) A Survey of the Short-Range Endemic Invertebrate Fauna of South Parmelia. Unpublished report to BHP Billiton.
Biota (2013d) Targeted Survey for Short Range Endemic Fauna in the Mudlark Survey Area. Unpublished report to BHP Billiton.
Biota (2013e) A Survey of Short Range Endemic Invertebrates in the Jinidi to Mainline Rail Corridor. Unpublished report to BHP Billiton.
(BoM) Bureau of Meteorology (2014). Online Climate Data. Newman Aero Station 007176. Available online at: http://www.bom.gov.au/. Last accessed September 2014.
Crews, S.C. and Harvey, M.S. (2011) The spider family Selenopidae (Arachnida, Araneae) in Australasia and the Oriental Region. ZooKeys 99:1-103
Crews, S.C. (2013) Thirteen new species of the spider genus Karaops (Araneae: Selenopidae) from Western Australia. Zootaxa 3647:3. pp 443-469.
(EPA) Environmental Protection Authority (2002) Position Statement No. 3 Terrestrial Biological Surveys as an Element of Biodiversity Protection. Perth, WA.
(EPA) Environmental Protection Authority (2004) Guidance for the Assessment of Environmental Factors (in accordance with the Environmental Protection Act 1986). Terrestrial Fauna Surveys for Environmental Impact Assessment in Western Australia. No. 56. Perth, WA.
(EPA) Environmental Protection Authority (2009) Guidance for the Assessment of Environmental Factors (in accordance with the Environmental Protection Act 1986). Sampling of Short Range Endemic Fauna for Environmental Impact Assessment in Western Australia. No. 20. Perth, WA.
Department of Parks and Wildlife (DPaW) (2013) Priority Ecological Communities for Western Australia Version 19; 20 September 2013. Department of Parks and Wildlife Species & Communities Branch.
Durrant, B.J. (2011) Short-range endemism in the Central Pilbara. Unpublished report to BHP Billiton Iron Ore. Perth, WA.
Harvey, M.S. (2002). Short-range endemism among the Australian fauna: some examples from non- marine environments. Invertebrate Systematics 16: 555-570.
Harvey, F. S., V. W. Framenau, J. M. Wojcieszek, M. G. Rix, and M. S. Harvey (2012) Molecular and morphological characterisation of new species in the trapdoor spider genus Aname (Araneae: Mygalomorphae: Nemesiidae) from the Pilbara bioregion of Western Australia. Zootaxa 3383:15-38.
Hebert, P. D. N., Cywinska, A., Ball, S.L., and deWaard, J.R. (2003) Biological identifications through DNA barcodes. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London 270, 313–321
(Helix) Helix Molecular Solutions (2012) Report on the molecular systematics of Mygalomorphae from the Pilbara. Unpublished report to Biota Environmental Sciences.
Johnson, M.S., Hamilton, Z.R, Murphy, C. E., MacLeay, C. A., Roberts, B., & Kendrick, P.G. (2004). Evolutionary genetics of island and mainland populations of Rhagada (Gastropoda: Pulmonata) in the Pilbara Region, Western Australia. Australian Journal of Zoology 52: 341-355.
Kendrick, P. (2001) Pilbara 3 (PIL3 – Hamersley subregion). In: May, J. and McKenzie, N (Eds.), A Biodiversity Audit of Western Australia’s 53 Biogeographical Subregions in 2002. Department of Conservation and Land Management, Perth.
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Main, B.Y., Sampey, A. and West, P.L.J. (2000) Mygalomorph spiders of the southern Carnarvon Basin, Western Australia. Records of the Western Australian Museum Supplement 61: 281-293.
Main (2008) Mygalomorphae from 120km NW of Newman (Area C) Western Australia and Cundaline (170 km ESE Pt Hedland). Report to Outback Ecology Pty Ltd.
Main, B. Y. (2012) Description and biogeographic implications of a new species of the Chenistonia maculata group from south-western Western Australia and rediagnosis of Chenistonia (Araneae: Mygalomorphae: Nemesiidae). Records of the Western Australian Museum 27: 176-181
Northcote, K. H. with Beckmann, G. G., Bettenay, E., Churchward, H. M., Van Dijk, D. C., Dimmock, G. M., Hubble, G. D., Isbell, R. F., McArthur, W. M., Murtha, G. G., Nicolls, K. D., Paton, T. R., Thompson, C. H., Webb, A. A. and Wright, M. J. (1960-1968). Atlas of Australian Soils, Sheets 1 to 10. With explanatory data (CSIRO Aust. and Melbourne University Press: Melbourne).
Ponder, W.F. and Colgan, D.J. (2002). What makes a narrow-range taxon? Insights from freshwater snails. Invertebrate Systematics 16: 571-582.
(Onshore) Onshore Environmental (2014) Consolidation of Regional Vegetation Mapping - BHP Billiton Iron Ore Pilbara Tenure. Unpublished Report to BHP Billiton Iron Ore Pty Ltd. June 2014.
Outback Ecology (2008). Area C Mining Operation Environmental Management Plan (Revision 4) A, D, P1 and P3 Deposits: Terrestrial Invertebrate Short-range Endemic Assessment. Unpublished report to BHP Billiton.
Outback Ecology (2009) Area C Mine Short-range Endemic Habitat Assessment. Unpublished memo report to BHP Billiton.
RPS Aquaterra (2012) Mining Area C Operations Environmental Management Plan (Revision 5) – B and P4 deposits surface water assessment. Unpublished report to BHP Billiton Iron Ore Pty Ltd.
RPS (2014) Mining Area C Environmental Surface Water Initial Assessment. Unpublished report to BHP Billiton Iron Ore Pty Ltd.
Thackway, R. and Cresswell, I.D. (1995) An interim Biogeographic Regionalisation for Australia: a framework for establishing the national system of reserves, Version 4. Australian Nature Conservation Agency: Canberra, Australia.
Tille, P. (2006) Soil-landscapes of Western Australia’s Rangelands and Arid Interior. Resource Management Technical Report 313. Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia. Perth, WA.
Thorne, A.M. and Tyler, I,M, (1997). Mt Bruce, Western Australia (2nd Edition). Map Sheet and explanatory notes. 1:250 000 geological series. Sheet SF50-11. Geological Survey of WA.
Tyler, I. M., Hunter, W. M. & Williams, I. R. (1991). Newman, Western Australia. 1:250,000 Geological Series – Explanatory Notes. Geological Survey of Western Australia.
Van Vreeswyk, A.M.E., Payne, A.L., Leighton, K.A. and Hennig, P. (2004) An inventory and condition survey of the Pilbara region, Western Australia. Technical Bulletin No. 92. Department of Agriculture, South Perth.
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APPENDIX 1: Morphospecies alignments - previous reports & WAM data
Mining Area C SRE Invertebrate Fauna Impact Assessment
Higher Current WAM ID Previous ID/ synonyms WAM Voucher # Collected by Current SRE/ distribution status Taxon Myriapoda Antichiropus `sp. Area C`; A. Antichiropus `DIP006` 91862 Outback Ecology 2008 Confirmed SRE, inside Impact Assessment Area `Area C sp. 1` Antichiropus `sp. indet. Potential SRE, may be same as A. `DIP006`, 91863; 91864 Outback Ecology 2008 (juv.)` inside Impact Assessment Area Austrostrophus `DIP018` Austrostrophus `sp. (juv.)` 106005 Biota 2011a Confirmed SRE, known beyond Licence boundary Selenopidae Karaops banyjima Karaops `sp. nov. Area C` 101159 Biota 2011a Confirmed SRE, inside Impact Assessment Area Potential SRE, may be same as K. banyjima, Karaops `sp. indet. (juv.)` Karaops `sp. indet. (juv.)` 121790 Biota 2011a inside Impact Assessment Area Pseudoscorpiones 103490; 103492; 105134; 105155; 105140; 105184; Olpiidae `Gen. nov. 7/4` Olpiidae `Gen. nov. 7/4` 105199; 105060; 105061; Biota 2011a Not SRE (widespread) 105111; 105128; 105173; 105070; 105206 Synsphyronus `sp. PSE014 Synsphyronus `PSE014` 105083 Biota 2011a Confirmed SRE, known beyond Licence boundary long hand 2` Scorpiones 106054; 106013; 106041; Urodacus `firetail` Urodacus `sp. Area C` Biota 2011a Not SRE (widespread) 106036 Mygalomorphae Aganippe `sp.`; Anidiops Aganippe ‘MYG083’ 91909; 91910 Outback Ecology 2008 Not SRE (widespread) `MYG083` Aname `MYG104` 105948 Biota 2011a Confirmed SRE, known beyond Licence boundary
105924; 105940; 105984; 105986; 105966; 105980; Aname `MYG195` 105969; 105977; 105937; Biota 2011a Not SRE (widespread)
105941; 105953; 105970; 105971; 105949 Aname `sp.`; Chenistonia Chenistonia ‘MYG088’ 54238; 54237; 89291 Outback Ecology 2008 Confirmed SRE, inside Impact Assessment Area `MYG088 female` Conothele `MYG282-DNA` Conothele `sp. (female)` 103234 Biota 2011a Confirmed SRE, known beyond Licence boundary Kwonkan `MYG339-DNA` Aname `sp. (juv.)` 103191 Biota 2011a Confirmed SRE, known beyond Licence boundary Missulena langlandsi Missulena `sp. nov. Newman` 91911; 91912; 91913; 91914 Outback Ecology 2008 Confirmed SRE, known beyond Licence boundary Teyl `MYG027` Teyl `sp. nov. Area C` 91918 Outback Ecology 2008 Confirmed SRE known beyond Licence boundary Yilgarnia `MYG197` 105955 Biota 2011a Confirmed SRE, known beyond Licence boundary Note: this list includes species within the Licence boundary previously reported as Potential/ Confirmed SRE by Biologic (2014a) Mining Area C Desktop Review of SRE Fauna. Additional species may have been previously reported (Outback Ecology 2008, 2009, Biota 2011a) that were not regarded as Potential/ Confirmed SREs, or that do not occur within the Licence boundary for the current assessment.
Appendix 1 - Morphospecies alignment between previous reports and current WAM data
Mining Area C SRE Invertebrate Fauna Impact Assessment
APPENDIX 2: SRE habitat assessment survey data (September 2014)
Mining Area C SRE Invertebrate Fauna Impact Assessment
Location vs Canopy Habitat Leaf Litter: Leaf litter Geology, Impact Slope; Disturbance; shade %: Site Photo type; SRE Habitat comment Vegetation comments % Cover; micro-habitat; rock type; Soil Depth; Type Assessment Aspect Fire age Midstorey Suitability Depth Wood debris % size Area shade %
Ridge/ Outside; Open Eucalyptus/ Frequent Fire; Ridge top overlooking Very Steep; <2; No Leaf BIF; Boulder Shallow (0 to 10cm); 1 Breakaway; -22.913366 Corymbia; Triodia Recent (0 to 2 <2; 2 to 10 Burnt; <2 deep gully South Litter (>250mm) Light Medium Clay Mod/Hi 118.9167022 Grassland yrs)
Some burnt piles Gorge/ Deep P2 Deposit; Eucalyptus/ Corymbia Frequent Fire; Deep steep south gully Very Steep; 2 to 10; 11 among rocks. BIF; Boulder Shallow (0 to 10cm); 2 Gully; -22.9123049 Grove; Other Shrub; Recent (0 to 2 <2; <1cm with caves South to 30 Previous grove; (>250mm) Silty Clay Loam Mod/Hi 118.9251952 Triodia Grassland yrs) <2
Gorge/ Deep P2 Deposit; Eucalyptus and native Frequent Fire; Steep; Eucalyptus/ Corymbia N/A; No Native pine; 2 to BIF; Boulder Shallow (0 to 10cm); 3 Gully; -22.9129162 pine in moderately Recent (0 to 2 <2; 2 to 10 South Grove; Other Tree Leaf Litter 10 (>250mm) Clay Loam Mod/Hi 118.933142 deep gully yrs)
Shallow P2 Deposit; Ridge on south face of Open Eucalyptus/ Frequent Fire; 2 to 10; 11 BIF; Boulder Moderate (10 to 4 Gully; -22.9084975 wide gully with major Cliff; South Corymbia; Other Shrub; Recent (0 to 2 <2; <1cm Mostly burnt; <2 to 30 (>250mm) 20cm); Sandy Loam Mod/Hi 118.928989 outcrop Triodia Grassland yrs)
Gorge/ Deep Outside; Small moderately Eucalyptus/ Corymbia Frequent Fire; Very Steep; <2; No Leaf BIF; Boulder Shallow (0 to 10cm); 5 Gully; -22.9082827 steep gully with Grove; Soft/ Tussock Recent (0 to 2 <2; 2 to 10 None; <2 South Litter (>250mm) Sandy Loam Mod/Hi 118.9241149 overhangs and caves Grassland yrs)
Ridge/ Outside; Minor outcrop on Frequent Fire; Very Steep; Other Shrub; Triodia N/A; No Completely BIF; Boulder 6 Breakaway; -22.9032234 extremely steep ridge Recent (0 to 2 <2; <2 Skeletal; Silty Loam North Grassland Leaf Litter burnt; N/A (>250mm) Mod 118.9336991 facing north yrs)
Very steep north-west Outside; Frequent Fire; Gorge/ Deep gorge with Eucalyptus Cliff; Open Eucalyptus/ N/A; No BIF; Boulder Shallow (0 to 10cm); 7 -22.9037363 Recent (0 to 2 <2; 2 to 10 None; <2 Gully; High regrowth, outcrops and South/East Corymbia Leaf Litter (>250mm) Light Medium Clay 118.9349099 yrs) caves
Shallow Outside; Shallow burnt gully Frequent Fire; Moderate; Eucalyptus/ Corymbia Burnt scattered BIF; Boulder 8 Gully; -22.906041 leading down to major Recent (0 to 2 2 to 10; <2 <2; <1cm Skeletal; Silty Loam South Grove; Triodia Grassland remains; <2 (>250mm) Mod/Low 118.9396626 deep gully yrs)
Appendix 2: Habitat assessment summary, Biologic survey 23-26 September 2014
Mining Area C SRE Invertebrate Fauna Impact Assessment
Location vs Canopy Habitat Leaf Litter: Leaf litter Geology, Impact Slope; Disturbance; shade %: Site Photo type; SRE Habitat comment Vegetation comments % Cover; micro-habitat; rock type; Soil Depth; Type Assessment Aspect Fire age Midstorey Suitability Depth Wood debris % size Area shade %
P3 Deposit; Open Eucalyptus/ Frequent Fire; Boulder Pile/ Deep gully with Very Steep; N/A; No BIF; Boulder Shallow (0 to 10cm); 9 -22.9059031 Corymbia; Triodia Recent (0 to 2 <2; 2 to 10 None; <2 Tor; High overhangs and caves South/East Leaf Litter (>250mm) Sandy Loam 118.9453511 Grassland yrs)
P3 Deposit; Eucalyptus/ Corymbia Frequent Fire; Gorge/ Deep Burnt out gorge with 2 to 10; 2 to Completely burnt BIF; Boulder Moderate (10 to 10 -22.9037259 Cliff; South Grove; Other Shrub; Recent (0 to 2 <2; <1cm Gully; High drainage line 10 out; N/A (>250mm) 20cm); Sandy Loam 118.943817 Soft/ Tussock Grassland yrs)
P3 Deposit; Open Eucalyptus/ None Gorge/ Deep Steep sided small and Very Steep; 11 to 30; 2 <2; No Leaf BIF; Boulder Moderate (10 to 11 -22.9048317 Corymbia; Ficus Tree/ Discernible; None; <2 Gully; High shallow gorge South/East to 10 Litter (>250mm) 20cm); Sandy Loam 118.9459821 Shrub; Other Shrub None Evident
P2 Deposit; Open Eucalyptus/ Frequent Fire; Scarce among Gorge/ Deep Deep gully with outcrop Very Steep; 11 to 30; 11 2 to 10; BIF; Boulder 12 -22.9093253 Corymbia; Other Shrub; Recent (0 to 2 rocks mostly Skeletal; Silty Loam Gully; High and boulders South/East to 30 <1cm (>250mm) 118.9332435 Triodia Grassland yrs) burnt; <2
Outside; Shallow gully at hill top Open Eucalyptus/ Frequent Fire; Shallow Moderate; 2 to 10; 2 to <2; No Leaf BIF; Boulder Moderate (10 to 13 -22.9064552 with outcrops and Corymbia; Triodia Recent (0 to 2 None; <2 Gully; Mod South/East 10 Litter (>250mm) 20cm); Sandy Loam 118.9257192 regrowth Grassland yrs)
Outside; Open Eucalyptus/ Frequent Fire; Detritals; Stony Plain; Open hill crest in stony Low; N/A; No Completely Shallow (0 to 10cm); 14 -22.9059143 Corymbia; Other Shrub; Recent (0 to 2 <2; <2 Pebble (2 to Low undulating plain South/East Leaf Litter burnt; N/A Silty Clay Loam 118.9248751 Triodia Grassland yrs) 60mm)
Eucalyptus/ Corymbia Ridge/ Outside; Ridge system with Frequent Fire; Shale; Moderate; Woodland; Open <2; No Leaf Kangaroo grass. Shallow (0 to 10cm); 15 Breakaway; -22.8984141 breakaways, boulders Recent (0 to 2 2 to 10; <2 Boulder South/East Eucalyptus/ Corymbia; Litter Burnt grove; <2 Silty Loam Mod 118.9277797 and outcrops yrs) (>250mm) Soft/ Tussock Grassland
Wide open steep gully Shallow Outside; Open Eucalyptus/ Frequent Fire; Shale; surrounded by tall Very Steep; 2 to 10; 2 to 2 to 10; Scarce under 16 Gully; -22.8982154 Corymbia; Soft/ Tussock Recent (0 to 2 Boulder Skeletal; Silty Loam shale ridges and South/East 10 <1cm trees; <2 Mod/Hi 118.9316144 Grassland yrs) (>250mm) breakaway
Appendix 2: Habitat assessment summary, Biologic survey 23-26 September 2014
Mining Area C SRE Invertebrate Fauna Impact Assessment
Location vs Canopy Habitat Leaf Litter: Leaf litter Geology, Impact Slope; Disturbance; shade %: Site Photo type; SRE Habitat comment Vegetation comments % Cover; micro-habitat; rock type; Soil Depth; Type Assessment Aspect Fire age Midstorey Suitability Depth Wood debris % size Area shade %
Eucalyptus/ Corymbia Drainage Outside; Drainage focus in Frequent Fire; BIF; Cobble Low; Grove; Triodia 11 to 30; 2 <2; No Leaf Moderate (10 to 17 Foci; -22.9014199 valley near ridge Recent (0 to 2 None; <2 (60 to South/East Grassland; Soft/ Tussock to 10 Litter 20cm); Sandy Loam Mod/Low 118.9242345 system yrs) 250mm) Grassland
Recently Outside; Shallow gully with Open Eucalyptus/ Frequent Fire; Shallow Steep; 11 to 30; 1 dropped leaf and BIF; Boulder Shallow (0 to 10cm); 18 -22.904394 minor outcrop and leaf Corymbia; Triodia Recent (0 to 2 11 to 30; <2 Gully; Mod South/West to 5cm bark under (>250mm) Silty Clay Loam 118.9229908 litter under Eucalyptus Grassland yrs) coolibah; 2 to 10
Eucalyptus. Outcrop/ Outside; Steep hillslope above Open Eucalyptus/ Frequent Fire; Corymbia, BIF; Cobble Very Steep; <2; No Leaf Shallow (0 to 10cm); 19 Dome; -22.907526 valley/gully with Corymbia; Soft/ Tussock Recent (0 to 2 2 to 10; <2 Kangaroo grass. (60 to South Litter Silty Clay Loam Mod/Hi 118.9186899 outcrops Grassland yrs) A little Triodia; 250mm) <2
Unburned P2 Deposit; Rocky nook high in Frequent Fire; Shallow Open Eucalyptus/ 51 to 70; 2 11 to 30; 1 patches under BIF; Boulder 20 -22.9127192 gully system with Cliff; South Recent (0 to 2 Skeletal; Silty Loam Gully; High Corymbia; Other Tree to 10 to 5cm native pines; 2 to (>250mm) 118.9388205 unburnt native pines yrs) 10
Non Vegetation Outside; Open and unburnt Mulga Grove; Open Flat; N/A Weed Invasion; 2 to 10; 2 to 2 to 10; Discernible; Deep (>20cm); 21 Grove; -22.910792 Mulga grove on flat Mulga Shrubland; Soft/ None; <2 (flat) None Evident 10 <1cm Pebble (2 to Medium Clay Mod/Low 118.8695343 plain Tussock Grassland 60mm)
Outside; Open gully with Open Eucalyptus/ Frequent Fire; Conglomerat Shallow Steep; 2 to 10; Scarce scattered Deep (>20cm); 22 -22.9091736 conglomerate Corymbia; Triodia Recent (0 to 2 2 to 10; <2 e; Pebble (2 Gully; Mod South/East <1cm and burnt; <2 Clayey Sand 118.8883086 breakaway Grassland yrs) to 60mm)
Drainage Outside; Minor drainage focus Open Eucalyptus/ Frequent Fire; Detritals; Flat; N/A 11 to 30; 2 2 to 10; Deep (>20cm); 23 Foci; -22.9087295 with Eucalyptus with Corymbia; Other Shrub; Recent (0 to 2 None; <2 Pebble (2 to (flat) to 10 <1cm Sandy Loam Mod/Low 118.8920467 small ridges alongside Soft/ Tussock Grassland yrs) 60mm)
Outside; Major gorge with figs Mulga Grove; Ficus None Gorge/ Deep Very Steep; 11 to 30; 11 11 to 30; 1 Deeper patches BIF; Boulder Moderate (10 to 24 -22.9057413 and tall ridges either Tree/ Shrub; Soft/ Discernible; Gully; High West to 30 to 5cm under figs; <2 (>250mm) 20cm); Sand 118.8935017 side Tussock Grassland None Evident
Appendix 2: Habitat assessment summary, Biologic survey 23-26 September 2014
Mining Area C SRE Invertebrate Fauna Impact Assessment
Location vs Canopy Habitat Leaf Litter: Leaf litter Geology, Impact Slope; Disturbance; shade %: Site Photo type; SRE Habitat comment Vegetation comments % Cover; micro-habitat; rock type; Soil Depth; Type Assessment Aspect Fire age Midstorey Suitability Depth Wood debris % size Area shade %
Hillslope/ Outside; Hill crest/slope Open Eucalyptus/ Frequent Fire; Moderate (10 to Moderate; N/A; No BIF; Pebble 25 Footslope; -22.9094736 overlooking drainage Corymbia; Triodia Recent (0 to 2 <2; <2 None; <2 20cm); Sandy Clay North Leaf Litter (2 to 60mm) Low 118.8907987 line and ridges Grassland yrs) Loam
Steep minor gorge Gorge/ Deep P5 Deposit; Open Eucalyptus/ Frequent Fire; leading into deep open Steep; 11 to 30; 2 2 to 10; Mostly burnt; 2 BIF; Boulder Shallow (0 to 10cm); 26 Gully; -22.9024504 Corymbia; Triodia Recent (0 to 2 gully system with South to 10 <1cm to 10 (>250mm) Silty Clay Loam Mod/Hi 119.0182187 Grassland yrs) outcrops
Shallow P5 Deposit; Frequent Fire; Eucalyptus and Very shallow gully on Moderate; Open Eucalyptus/ N/A; No BIF; Boulder Shallow (0 to 10cm); 27 Gully; -22.9033167 Recent (0 to 2 <2; 2 to 10 Triodia regrowth; hillcrest South Corymbia Leaf Litter (>250mm) Sandy Loam Mod/Low 119.015449 yrs) <2
Gorge/ Deep P4 Deposit; Steep open gully with Open Eucalyptus/ Frequent Fire; Mostly burnt and Very Steep; 11 to 30; 2 BIF; Boulder 28 Gully; -22.9022544 major outcrop and Corymbia; Other Tree; Recent (0 to 2 <2; <1cm scattered; 2 to Skeletal; Silty Loam South/West to 10 (>250mm) Mod/Hi 119.0137669 vegetation groves Triodia Grassland yrs) 10
Shallow P5 Deposit; Shallow gully at top Open Eucalyptus/ Frequent Fire; BIF; Boulder Shallow (0 to 10cm); 29 Gully; -22.9001412 leading into large Steep; North Corymbia; Triodia Recent (0 to 2 <2; <2 <2; <1cm None; 2 to 10 (>250mm) Sandy Loam Mod/Hi 119.0160519 gorge system Grassland yrs)
Estimated based P4 Deposit; Wide deep gully Mulga Grove; Frequent Fire; Gorge/ Deep 51 to 70; 31 31 to 50; 1 on observations BIF; Boulder Shallow (0 to 10cm); 30 -22.899151 system with gorge in Cliff; North Eucalyptus/ Corymbia Recent (0 to 2 Gully; High to 50 to 5cm from cliff top; 2 (>250mm) Silty Clay Loam 119.0123881 lower reaches Grove; Triodia Grassland yrs) to 10
Hillslope/ P4 Deposit; Open Eucalyptus/ Frequent Fire; BIF; Cobble Hill crest slope on Moderate; N/A; No Skeletal; Sandy 31 Footslope; -22.8979945 Corymbia; Triodia Recent (0 to 2 <2; <2 None; <2 (60 to north side North Leaf Litter Loam Mod/Low 119.009439 Grassland yrs) 250mm)
Observed P4 Deposit; Steep south facing Eucalyptus/ Corymbia Frequent Fire; Gorge/ Deep 71 to 100; 31 to 50; 1 estimated from BIF; Boulder Shallow (0 to 10cm); 32 -22.9010731 gully with unburned Cliff; South Grove; Other Tree; Recent (0 to 2 Gully; High 31 to 50 to 5cm top of cliff; 11 to (>250mm) Silty Clay Loam 119.0057392 native pine grove Triodia Grassland yrs) 30
Appendix 2: Habitat assessment summary, Biologic survey 23-26 September 2014
Mining Area C SRE Invertebrate Fauna Impact Assessment
Location vs Canopy Habitat Leaf Litter: Leaf litter Geology, Impact Slope; Disturbance; shade %: Site Photo type; SRE Habitat comment Vegetation comments % Cover; micro-habitat; rock type; Soil Depth; Type Assessment Aspect Fire age Midstorey Suitability Depth Wood debris % size Area shade %
P4 Deposit Eucalyptus/ Corymbia None Moderate (10 to Shallow (EMP Rev5); Shallow to moderate Very Steep; 31 to 50; 2 2 to 10; 1 to BIF; Boulder 33 Grove; Other Shrub; Discernible; None; 2 to 10 20cm); Sandy Clay Gully; High -22.9020475 open gully South/East to 10 5cm (>250mm) Soft/ Tussock Grassland None Evident Loam 119.0076666
P4 Deposit Steep ridge with major Ridge/ Open Eucalyptus/ Frequent Fire; Scattered Shale; (EMP Rev5); outcrop overhang on Very Steep; 2 to 10; Shallow (0 to 10cm); 34 Breakaway; Corymbia; Soft/ Tussock Recent (0 to 2 11 to 30; <2 throughout but Boulder -22.9032769 south face of massive South <1cm Silty Clay Loam High Grassland yrs) thin; <2 (>250mm) 118.9963924 gully chasm
Other Acacia Thicket; Steep sided gorge with OSA 12; Open Eucalyptus/ None Moderate (10 to Gorge/ Deep many caves and Cliff; 11 to 30; 31 11 to 30; 1 BIF; Boulder 35 -22.9002399 Corymbia; Triodia Discernible; None; 2 to 10 20cm); Sandy Clay Gully; High overhangs and South/West to 50 to 5cm (>250mm) 118.9986689 Grassland; Soft/ Tussock None Evident Loam boulders Grassland
P4 Deposit Ridge/ Open Eucalyptus/ Frequent Fire; (EMP Rev5); South facing ridge on 11 to 30; 2 2 to 10; Minimal patches BIF; Boulder 36 Breakaway; Cliff; South Corymbia; Soft/ Tussock Recent (0 to 2 Skeletal; Silty Loam -22.9082139 side of open gully to 10 <1cm among rocks; <2 (>250mm) Mod Grassland yrs) 118.99186
Large gorge system Gorge/ Deep Outside; with tall cliff faces, Open Eucalyptus/ Frequent Fire; <2; No Leaf BIF; Boulder Skeletal; Sandy 37 Gully; -22.8985795 many caves, Cliff; North Corymbia; Triodia Recent (0 to 2 <2; <2 None; <2 Litter (>250mm) Clay Loam Mod/Hi 119.0030387 overhangs and Grassland yrs) outcrops
Frequent OSA 12; Open Eucalyptus/ Fire,Mining BIF; Cobble Stony Plain; Stony plain at hill crest N/A; No Completely Skeletal; Silty Clay 38 -22.8994314 Low; East Corymbia; Triodia Exploration; <2; 2 to 10 (60 to Low with minor gullies Leaf Litter burnt; 2 to 10 Loam 118.9932857 Grassland Recent (0 to 2 250mm) yrs)
Gorge/ Deep OSA 12; Open wide gully with Open Eucalyptus/ Frequent Fire; Very Steep; 2 to 10; 2 to 2 to 10; 1 to BIF; Boulder Skeletal; Sandy 39 Gully; -22.9010465 outcrops and Corymbia; Soft/ Tussock Recent (0 to 2 None; <2 South 10 5cm (>250mm) Clay Loam Mod/Hi 118.9940164 overhangs Grassland yrs)
Deep gully/gorge with Scattered P3 Deposit; Eucalyptus/ Corymbia Frequent Fire; Gorge/ Deep multiple caves and Very Steep; 31 to 50; 11 11 to 30; 1 around rocks BIF; Boulder Shallow (0 to 10cm); 40 -22.9060805 Grove; Other Shrub; Recent (0 to 2 Gully; High overhangs with some South to 30 to 5cm under grove; 2 to (>250mm) Silty Clay Loam 118.9735466 Soft/ Tussock Grassland yrs) unburnt leaflitter 10
Appendix 2: Habitat assessment summary, Biologic survey 23-26 September 2014
Mining Area C SRE Invertebrate Fauna Impact Assessment
Location vs Canopy Habitat Leaf Litter: Leaf litter Geology, Impact Slope; Disturbance; shade %: Site Photo type; SRE Habitat comment Vegetation comments % Cover; micro-habitat; rock type; Soil Depth; Type Assessment Aspect Fire age Midstorey Suitability Depth Wood debris % size Area shade %
Drainage focus in P4 Deposit; Open Eucalyptus/ Frequent Fire; Drainage minor open gully in Moderate; 11 to 30; 2 11 to 30; BIF; Boulder Deep (>20cm); Silty 41 -22.9010815 Corymbia; Other Shrub; Recent (0 to 2 None; 2 to 10 Foci; Mod sandy alluvial plain North to 10 <1cm (>250mm) Clay Loam 118.9759147 Triodia Grassland yrs) with outcropping
Other Acacia Thicket; Shallow Outside; Frequent Fire; Burnt out grove in Very Steep; Eucalyptus/ Corymbia 11 to 30; 11 2 to 10; BIF; Boulder Moderate (10 to 42 Gully; -22.897538 Recent (0 to 2 Mostly burnt; <2 shallow gully South Grove; Other Shrub; to 30 <1cm (>250mm) 20cm); Sandy Loam Mod/Hi 118.9712714 yrs) Soft/ Tussock Grassland
Shallow Outside; Open Eucalyptus/ Frequent Fire; Shallow, narrow but Moderate; 11 to 30; 2 2 to 10; BIF; Boulder Shallow (0 to 10cm); 43 Gully; -22.8927766 Corymbia; Other Shrub; Recent (0 to 2 None; <2 long gully South/East to 10 <1cm (>250mm) Silty Clay Loam Mod/Hi 118.98502 Soft/ Tussock Grassland yrs)
Unburned deep south- P4 Deposit Eucalyptus/ Corymbia Patches under facing gorge/gully with None Gorge/ Deep (EMP Rev5); Grove; Triodia 31 to 50; 11 11 to 30; 1 Eucalyptus BIF; Boulder Shallow (0 to 10cm); 44 Eucalyptus groves, Cliff; South Discernible; Gully; High -22.9081318 Grassland; Soft/ Tussock to 30 to 5cm among rocks; 2 (>250mm) Silty Clay Loam breakaway and None Evident 119.0072399 Grassland to 10 boulders
Unburnt deep P4 Deposit Other Acacia Thicket; gully/gorge system with None Gorge/ Deep (EMP Rev5); Very Steep; Eucalyptus/ Corymbia 51 to 70; 11 31 to 50; 1 BIF; Boulder Shallow (0 to 10cm); 45 healthy vegetation Discernible; None; <2 Gully; High -22.9077429 South/East Grove; Other Shrub; to 30 to 5cm (>250mm) Silty Clay Loam grove, large outcrops None Evident 118.9995635 Soft/ Tussock Grassland and boulders
Scattered OSA 10; Burnt open gully with Other Acacia Thicket; Frequent Fire; Shallow Moderate; 11 to 30; 51 11 to 30; around rocks BIF; Boulder Shallow (0 to 10cm); 46 -22.9009512 major outcrop and Eucalyptus/ Corymbia Recent (0 to 2 Gully; Mod South/West to 70 <1cm and part burnt; (>250mm) Sandy Loam 119.0619215 Acacia grove Grove; Triodia Grassland yrs) <2
Other Acacia Open P6 Deposit; None Conglomerat Shallow Unburnt shallow and Steep; Shrubland; Open 11 to 30; 11 31 to 50; 1 Skeletal; Sandy 47 -22.8987594 Discernible; None; <2 e; Boulder Gully; Mod open gully near railway South/East Eucalyptus/ Corymbia; to 30 to 5cm Loam 119.0687647 None Evident (>250mm) Triodia Grassland
Large patches Drainage P6 Deposit; Minor drainage Acacia Other Acacia Thicket; Frequent Fire; under Detritals; Flat; N/A 11 to 30; 71 51 to 70; 1 Deep (>20cm); Clay 48 Foci; -22.8963864 thicket and eucs Open Eucalyptus/ Moderate (3 to Eucalyptus and Sand (0.1 to (flat) to 100 to 5cm Loam Mod/Low 119.0610043 floodplain Corymbia; Other Shrub 5 yrs) widespread in 2mm) thicket; 2 to 10
Appendix 2: Habitat assessment summary, Biologic survey 23-26 September 2014
Mining Area C SRE Invertebrate Fauna Impact Assessment
Location vs Canopy Habitat Leaf Litter: Leaf litter Geology, Impact Slope; Disturbance; shade %: Site Photo type; SRE Habitat comment Vegetation comments % Cover; micro-habitat; rock type; Soil Depth; Type Assessment Aspect Fire age Midstorey Suitability Depth Wood debris % size Area shade %
Hillcrest on low hills Hillslope/ Outside; looking north. Open Eucalyptus/ Frequent Fire; BIF; Cobble Moderate; N/A; No Shallow (0 to 10cm); 49 Footslope; -22.8923507 moderate fire, not Corymbia; Triodia Moderate (3 to <2; <2 None; <2 (60 to North Leaf Litter Silty Loam Low 119.0613794 recent. minor gully Grassland 5 yrs) 250mm) adjacent.
Undulating stony plain Other Acacia Open Outside; Frequent Fire; Dense patches Detritals; Stony Plain; with isolated vegetation Shrubland; Open 11 to 30; 31 31 to 50; 1 Deep (>20cm); 50 -22.8851046 Low; North Moderate (3 to under Pebble (2 to Low groves in minor Eucalyptus/ Corymbia; to 50 to 5cm Sandy Clay Loam 119.06735 5 yrs) Eucalyptus; <2 60mm) drainage foci. Triodia Grassland
Non Outside; Eucalyptus and Mulga Other Acacia Thicket; None Vegetation Flat; N/A 51 to 70; 11 71 to 100; 5 Discernible; Deep (>20cm); Silty 51 -22.8846681 grove on Triodia Eucalyptus/ Corymbia Discernible; None; 2 to 10 Grove; Mod (flat) to 30 to 10cm Sand (0.1 to Clay Loam 119.0692293 grassland plain Grove None Evident 2mm)
Ridge/ P6 Deposit; Large overhang in low Open Eucalyptus/ None Patches under 2 to 10; 11 11 to 30; 1 BIF; Boulder Shallow (0 to 10cm); 52 Breakaway; -22.8953887 cliff on south face of a Cliff; South Corymbia; Other Shrub; Discernible; Eucalyptus; 2 to to 30 to 5cm (>250mm) Silty Loam High 119.0448289 gully Soft/ Tussock Grassland None Evident 10
Outcrop on small ridge Open Eucalyptus/ Ridge/ P6 Deposit; Frequent Fire; Conglomerat infront of a unburnt Steep; Corymbia; Triodia N/A; No Skeletal; Sandy 53 Breakaway; -22.899344 Recent (0 to 2 <2; <2 None; <2 e; Boulder south facing Mulga South Grassland; Soft/ Tussock Leaf Litter Loam Mod 119.0542246 yrs) (>250mm) grove Grassland
Gorge/ Deep P6 Deposit; Burnt out large gorge Eucalyptus/ Corymbia Frequent Fire; Very Steep; 2 to 10; 2 to 2 to 10; Mostly burnt out; BIF; Boulder 54 Gully; -22.8977443 gully system with major Grove; Other Shrub; Recent (0 to 2 Skeletal; Silty Loam South/East 10 <1cm 11 to 30 (>250mm) Mod/Hi 119.0440573 outcrop Triodia Grassland yrs)
P6 Deposit; Steep open gully with Open Eucalyptus/ Mining BIF; Cobble Shallow Very Steep; 2 to 10; Skeletal; Sandy 55 -22.8963027 Eucalyptus groves and Corymbia; Triodia Exploration; 11 to 30; <2 None; <2 (60 to Gully; Mod North/East <1cm Clay Loam 119.0361763 outcrops Grassland None Evident 250mm)
Mostly burnt but Gorge/ Deep P6 Deposit; Rocky, wide gully Open Eucalyptus/ Frequent Fire; Cliff; 2 to 10; some patches BIF; Boulder 56 Gully; -22.895864 system with major Corymbia; Triodia Recent (0 to 2 2 to 10; <2 Skeletal; Silty Loam North/West <1cm observed; 2 to (>250mm) Mod/Hi 119.0351015 outcrop and boulders Grassland yrs) 10
Appendix 2: Habitat assessment summary, Biologic survey 23-26 September 2014
Mining Area C SRE Invertebrate Fauna Impact Assessment
Location vs Canopy Habitat Leaf Litter: Leaf litter Geology, Impact Slope; Disturbance; shade %: Site Photo type; SRE Habitat comment Vegetation comments % Cover; micro-habitat; rock type; Soil Depth; Type Assessment Aspect Fire age Midstorey Suitability Depth Wood debris % size Area shade %
Other Acacia Open Extensive, deep gorge Shrubland; Open Gorge/ Deep P5 Deposit; Frequent Fire; system with many Eucalyptus/ Corymbia; 11 to 30; 2 2 to 10; BIF; Boulder Skeletal; Silty Clay 57 Gully; -22.8994878 Cliff; South Moderate (3 to None; <2 caves, overhangs and Other Tree; Triodia to 10 <1cm (>250mm) Loam Mod/Hi 119.0282187 5 yrs) outcrops Grassland; Soft/ Tussock Grassland
P5 Deposit; Steep open gully at top Open Eucalyptus/ Frequent Fire; Mostly burnt and Shallow Very Steep; 2 to 10; 2 to 11 to 30; BIF; Boulder 58 -22.8982294 of deep gully chasm Corymbia; Other Shrub; Recent (0 to 2 scattered Skeletal; Silty Loam Gully; Mod North 10 <1cm (>250mm) 119.028299 with major cliffs Triodia Grassland yrs) throughout; <2
Gorge/ Deep P5 Deposit; Extensive open gully Open Eucalyptus/ Frequent Fire; Very Steep; 2 to 10; 2 to BIF; Boulder Skeletal; Silty Clay 59 Gully; -22.8983811 with several outcrops Corymbia; Other Shrub; Recent (0 to 2 <2; <1cm None; <2 North 10 (>250mm) Loam Mod/Hi 119.0230646 and boulders Triodia Grassland yrs)
P5 Deposit; South facing Mulga Grove; Frequent Fire; Estimated from Gorge/ Deep Very Steep; 31 to 50; 51 11 to 30; 1 BIF; Boulder Shallow (0 to 10cm); 60 -22.9041961 gorge/gully with major Eucalyptus/ Corymbia Recent (0 to 2 viewpoint; 11 to Gully; High South to 70 to 5cm (>250mm) Silty Clay Loam 119.0252301 outcrop and caves Grove; Other Shrub yrs) 30
Open Eucalyptus/ Shallow P5 Deposit; Steep open gully with Frequent Fire; Very Steep; Corymbia; Triodia 2 to 10; 2 to 2 to 10; 1 to Eucalyptus BIF; Boulder Shallow (0 to 10cm); 61 Gully; -22.9045828 boulders, outcrops, Recent (0 to 2 South/East Grassland; Soft/ Tussock 10 5cm regrowth; <2 (>250mm) Silty Clay Loam Mod/Hi 119.027086 caves and overhangs yrs) Grassland
Open Mulga Shrubland; None Patches under Ridge/ P5 Deposit; Tall ridge with major Open Eucalyptus/ Very Steep; Discernible; 31 to 50; 2 11 to 30; 1 Eucalyptus BIF; Boulder 62 Breakaway; -22.9084392 outcrop overhang and Corymbia; Triodia Skeletal; Silty Loam South Recent (0 to 2 to 10 to 5cm among rocks; 2 (>250mm) High 119.0164628 boulders Grassland; Soft/ Tussock yrs) to 10 Grassland
Brockman Dense Eucalyptus and Non Detritals (EMP Mulga Grove; None Vegetation Mulga grove Flat; N/A 71 to 100; 71 to 100; 5 Discernible; Deep (>20cm); Clay 63 Rev5); Eucalyptus/ Corymbia Discernible; None; 2 to 10 Grove; Mod surrounded by Triodia (flat) 51 to 70 to 10cm Sand (0.1 to Loam -22.9123212 Grove; Triodia Grassland None Evident grassland near railway 2mm) 119.0165332
Brockman Detritals (EMP Undulating stony plain Open Eucalyptus/ Frequent Fire; Detritals; Stony Plain; Low; 2 to 10; Deep (>20cm); 64 Rev5); with sparse Eucalyptus Corymbia; Triodia Recent (0 to 2 2 to 10; <2 None; N/A Pebble (2 to Low South/East <1cm Sandy Clay Loam -22.9128009 and spinifex Grassland yrs) 60mm) 119.0183532
Appendix 2: Habitat assessment summary, Biologic survey 23-26 September 2014
Mining Area C SRE Invertebrate Fauna Impact Assessment
Location vs Canopy Habitat Leaf Litter: Leaf litter Geology, Impact Slope; Disturbance; shade %: Site Photo type; SRE Habitat comment Vegetation comments % Cover; micro-habitat; rock type; Soil Depth; Type Assessment Aspect Fire age Midstorey Suitability Depth Wood debris % size Area shade %
Brockman Non Detritals (EMP None Vegetation Mulga grove on stony Flat; N/A 51 to 70; 11 11 to 30; Discernible; Deep (>20cm); Light 65 Rev5); Mulga Grove Discernible; None; <2 Grove; Mod plain (flat) to 30 <1cm Pebble (2 to Clay -22.915217 None Evident 60mm) 119.0186628
Mostly burnt litter Drainage P5 Deposit; Regrowth in drainage Open Eucalyptus/ Frequent Fire; Detritals; Flat; N/A 2 to 10; 31 2 to 10; except under Deep (>20cm); 66 Foci; -22.90999 floodplain below major Corymbia; Other Shrub; Recent (0 to 2 Pebble (2 to (flat) to 50 <1cm Eucalyptus. High Sandy Clay Loam Mod/Low 119.0232169 gorge and rocky ridges Triodia Grassland yrs) 60mm) regrowth; <2
Patches of leaf Mulga Grove; Other P4 Deposit litter under trees Acacia Thicket; Open None Shallow (EMP Rev5); Shallow open gully with Moderate; 11 to 30; 11 11 to 30; 1 and on rocks. BIF; Boulder Shallow (0 to 10cm); 67 Eucalyptus/ Corymbia; Discernible; Gully; High -22.9094082 moderately high slopes South to 30 to 5cm Mulga grove at (>250mm) Silty Clay Loam Triodia Grassland; Soft/ None Evident 118.9954791 top of gully; 2 to Tussock Grassland 10
Undisturbed gorge with Dense piles A Deposit; Eucalyptus/ Corymbia None Gorge/ Deep major outcrop, Steep; 51 to 70; 11 31 to 50; 1 under BIF; Boulder 68 -22.9289375 Grove; Other Shrub; Discernible; Skeletal; Silty Loam Gully; High overhang and dense North/East to 30 to 5cm Eucalyptus; 2 to (>250mm) 119.0273221 Triodia Grassland None Evident vegetation 10
Shallow north-east A Deposit; Open Eucalyptus/ None Conglomerat Shallow gully on hillcrest Steep; 11 to 30; 11 11 to 30; 1 Skeletal; Silty Clay 69 -22.9314603 Corymbia; Triodia Discernible; None; <2 e; Boulder Gully; Mod leading into ridge North/East to 30 to 5cm Loam 119.028871 Grassland None Evident (>250mm) system
Open rocky gully at top Shallow A Deposit; Eucalyptus/ Corymbia None Deep patches of ridge chasm with Steep; 31 to 50; 11 11 to 30; 5 BIF; Boulder 70 Gully; -22.9312588 Grove; Other Shrub; Discernible; among rocks; 2 N/A; N/A boulders and dense North/East to 30 to 10cm (>250mm) Mod/Hi 119.0310004 Triodia Grassland None Evident to 10 undisturbed vegetation
A Deposit Other Acacia Open Gorge/ Deep (EMP Rev5); Short but steep gorge Very Steep; Shrubland; Open Rubbish/ Litter; 31 to 50; 11 11 to 30; 1 BIF; Boulder Moderate (10 to 71 Gully; None; 2 to 10 -22.9383727 with unburnt vegetation North/East Eucalyptus/ Corymbia; None Evident to 30 to 5cm (>250mm) 20cm); Sandy Loam Mod/Hi 119.0436056 Soft/ Tussock Grassland
Alluvial sandplain with Dense patches OSA 9; Open Eucalyptus/ None Detritals; Sand Plain; occasional Eucalyptus Flat; N/A 11 to 30; 31 11 to 30; 1 under Deep (>20cm); 72 -22.9302561 Corymbia; Other Shrub; Discernible; Sand (0.1 to Low and shrubs on dense (flat) to 50 to 5cm Eucalyptus Medium Clay 119.0539287 Triodia Grassland None Evident 2mm) Triodia undisturbed; <2
Appendix 2: Habitat assessment summary, Biologic survey 23-26 September 2014
Mining Area C SRE Invertebrate Fauna Impact Assessment
Location vs Canopy Habitat Leaf Litter: Leaf litter Geology, Impact Slope; Disturbance; shade %: Site Photo type; SRE Habitat comment Vegetation comments % Cover; micro-habitat; rock type; Soil Depth; Type Assessment Aspect Fire age Midstorey Suitability Depth Wood debris % size Area shade %
Open Eucalyptus and Non OSA 9; Mulga Grove; Vegetation young Mulga grove on Flat; N/A Weed Invasion; 51 to 70; 31 51 to 70; 1 Discernible; Deep (>20cm); 73 -22.9340166 Eucalyptus/ Corymbia None; 11 to 30 Grove; Mod stony plain with (flat) None Evident to 50 to 5cm Sand (0.1 to Medium Clay 119.0648994 Grove grassland 2mm)
Open Eucalyptus/ None Ridge/ Outside; Small nook in low ridge Small patches Steep; Corymbia; Triodia Discernible; 31 to 50; 11 11 to 30; BIF; Boulder 74 Breakaway; -22.9442625 at the south face of under Skeletal; Silty Loam South Grassland; Soft/ Tussock Moderate (3 to to 30 <1cm (>250mm) Mod 119.0299713 open gully Eucalyptus; <2 Grassland 5 yrs)
Other Acacia Open Drainage Outside; None BIF; Cobble Drainage foci between Flat; N/A Shrubland; Open 31 to 50; 11 31 to 50; 1 Major unburnt Moderate (10 to 75 Foci; -22.9439972 Discernible; (60 to low ridge systems (flat) Eucalyptus/ Corymbia; to 30 to 5cm Triodia; <2 20cm); Sandy Loam Mod/Low 119.0260791 None Evident 250mm) Triodia Grassland
Large open gully with None Dense under Shallow Outside; major outcrop, Open Eucalyptus/ Very Steep; Discernible; 11 to 30; 2 2 to 10; 1 to Eucalyptus but BIF; Boulder Shallow (0 to 10cm); 76 Gully; -22.9387656 boulders and Corymbia; Other Shrub; South/East Moderate (3 to to 10 5cm small patches; (>250mm) Silty Loam Mod/Hi 119.0165377 moderately dense Triodia Grassland 5 yrs) <2 vegetation
Non Outside; Mulga Grove; Triodia None Vegetation Mulga grove on Flat; N/A 51 to 70; 31 31 to 50; 1 Discernible; Deep (>20cm); Light 77 -22.9528418 Grassland; Soft/ Tussock Discernible; None; 11 to 30 Grove; Mod grassland stony plain (flat) to 50 to 5cm Pebble (2 to Medium Clay 119.0350372 Grassland None Evident 60mm)
Dense large Moderately dense Mulga Grove; Vegetation Crusher 4; None undisturbed Detritals; Mulga grove on stony Flat; N/A Eucalyptus/ Corymbia 51 to 70; 11 31 to 50; 1 Deep (>20cm); 78 Grove; -22.9658079 Discernible; Old patches under Pebble (2 to plain in broad alluvial (flat) Woodland; Triodia to 30 to 5cm Medium Heavy Clay Mod/Hi 119.0469438 (6+ yrs) Mulga shrubs; 60mm) floodplain Grassland 11 to 30
Non R Deposit; Acacia grove on Other Acacia Thicket; None Drainage Flat; N/A 11 to 30; 31 51 to 70; 1 Discernible; Deep (>20cm); 79 -22.9664905 drainage foci over Triodia Grassland; Soft/ Discernible; None; <2 Foci; Mod (flat) to 50 to 5cm Sand (0.1 to Sandy Clay Loam 119.0578592 grassland Tussock Grassland None Evident 2mm)
Moderately deep, Open Eucalyptus/ Gorge/ Deep R Deposit; north-facung gorge None Scattered and Moderate (10 to Corymbia; Triodia 11 to 30; 2 11 to 30; 1 BIF; Boulder 80 Gully; -22.971672 with undisturbed Steep; North Discernible; Old small piles under 20cm); Sandy Clay Grassland; Soft/ Tussock to 10 to 5cm (>250mm) Mod/Hi 119.0657632 vegetation, boulders (6+ yrs) Eucalyptus; <2 Loam Grassland and outcrop
Appendix 2: Habitat assessment summary, Biologic survey 23-26 September 2014
Mining Area C SRE Invertebrate Fauna Impact Assessment
Location vs Canopy Habitat Leaf Litter: Leaf litter Geology, Impact Slope; Disturbance; shade %: Site Photo type; SRE Habitat comment Vegetation comments % Cover; micro-habitat; rock type; Soil Depth; Type Assessment Aspect Fire age Midstorey Suitability Depth Wood debris % size Area shade %
Siltstone/ Ridge/ R Deposit; Small outcrop ridge Open Eucalyptus/ None Steep; 11 to 30; 2 2 to 10; Mudstone; Skeletal; Sandy 81 Breakaway; -22.9759428 overlooking Triodia low Corymbia; Triodia Discernible; None; <2 South to 10 <1cm Boulder Clay Loam Mod/Hi 119.0436829 hills Grassland None Evident (>250mm)
Other Acacia Thicket; Dense mixed R Deposit; Small mixed grove on None Detritals; Vegetation Flat; N/A Eucalyptus/ Corymbia 31 to 50; 71 71 to 100; 1 leaf litter Deep (>20cm); 82 -22.9689594 sandplain or broad Discernible; Old Pebble (2 to Grove; Mod (flat) Grove; Other Shrub; to 100 to 5cm throughout; 11 to Medium Clay 119.0362584 drainage focus (6+ yrs) 60mm) Triodia Grassland 30
Siltstone/ Shallow R Deposit; Shallow gully with large Open Eucalyptus/ None Steep; 11 to 30; 2 11 to 30; 1 Mudstone; Skeletal; Sandy 83 Gully; -22.9804788 boulders and Corymbia; Other Shrub; Discernible; None; <2 South to 10 to 5cm Boulder Clay Loam Mod/Hi 119.0138164 overhangs Triodia Grassland None Evident (>250mm)
Dense Other Acacia Thicket; Outside; Low ridge along major Road/ Access throughout Drainage Moderate; Eucalyptus/ Corymbia 11 to 30; 71 71 to 100; 5 CID; Boulder Shallow (0 to 10cm); 84 -22.955092 drainage line with Track; Old (6+ thicket and in Line; Mod East Woodland; Triodia to 100 to 10cm (>250mm) Silty Clay Loam 118.9957324 dense Acacia thicket yrs) flow piles; 2 to Grassland 10
Drainage line with Eucalyptus/ Corymbia Outside; boulders and None Drainage Very Steep; Woodland; Open 11 to 30; 11 11 to 30; 1 BIF; Boulder Moderate (10 to 85 -22.9508011 overhangs bordering Discernible; Native pine; <2 Line; High South Eucalyptus/ Corymbia; to 30 to 5cm (>250mm) 20cm); Sand 118.9809087 ridges and Eucalyptus/ None Evident Soft/ Tussock Grassland Triodia plain
Appendix 2: Habitat assessment summary, Biologic survey 23-26 September 2014
Mining Area C SRE Invertebrate Fauna Impact Assessment
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