EIS 710 AB019463 Preliminary environmental survey: Drake prospect N.S.W.: vegetation, fuana, water quality, archaeology Aberfoyle Limited Preliminary Environmental Survey nrnkch- M - -v scTm APRIL 1981 CEi - To Environmental Consultants co;( ENV r I r PRELIMINARY ENVIRONMENTAL SURVEY DRAKE PROSPECT N.S.W. Veg eta t ion Fauna Water Quality Archaeology Prepared by:NaturaJ. Systems Research Pty. Ltd. Cover :Mining at Drake 25 Burwood Road, Hawthorn during the late Victoria. 3122. 19th century. for :Aberfoyle Ltd. Probably the now abandoned copper APRIL, 1981 workings, Wann's ETS Mine,just south 710 of Mt. Carrington I CONTENTS Pa ge I 1.0 INTRODUCTION 1 1.1 Context 1 1.2 Physical Setting 1 I 1.3 Project Outline 2 1.4 Issues and Objectives 2 1.5 Future Work 3 I 1.6 Study Team 3 1.7 Acknowledgements 4 2.0 SUMMARY 6 1 2.1 Overview 6 2.2 Technical Summaries 10 2.2.1 Vegetation 10 I 2.2.2 Fauna 11 2.2.3 Water Quality 12 2.2.4 Archaeology 14 1 3.0 VEGETATION 15 3.1 Introduction 15 3.1.1 Objectives 15 I 3.1.2 Study Components 15 3.2 Methods 15 3.3 Results 16 3.3.1 Regional Vegetation 16 I 3.3.2 Classification of Vegetation 18 Types 3.3.3 Description of Vegetation 18 I 3.3.4 Soil-Water-Vegetation 23 Relationships 3.3.5 Past Modification of the 23 Vegetation I 3.4 Effects of the Proposal 23 3.4.1 Clearing and Disturbance 23 3.4.2 Regional Significance 24 I 3.4.3 Potential for Natural 24 Regeneration 3.4.4 Special Features 27 I 3.5 References 27 4.0 TERRESTRIAL FAUNA 29 4.1 Introduction 29 I 4.1.1 Objectives 29 4.1.2 Study Components 29 4.2 Methods 29 I 4.2.1 Fauna Assessment 29 4.3 Results 31 4.3.1 Habitat 31 4.3.2 Fauna Records 32 I 4.4 Effects of the Proposal 37 4.4.1 Implications 37 4.4.2 Special Features 38 I 4.5 References 38 5.0 AQUATIC BIOTA 39 5.1 Introduction 39 I 5.1.1 Objectives 39 5.1.2 Study Components 39 I(ii) CONTENTS (cont'd) Page I 5.2 Methods 39 5.2.1Site Assessment 39 5.2.2 Sampling Methods 40 5.2.3 Taxonomic Classification 40 5.3 Results 40 5.3.1 Timing 40 I 5.3.2 Sampling Results and Water 41 Quality Assessment Regional Significance 44 5.4 Effects of Past and Present Land Use 44 5.4.15.3.3 Mining 44 5.4.2 Settlement 46 5.4.3 Forestry 46 I 5.4.4 Pastoral Activity 46 5.5 Implications for Future Mining 46 I 5.6 References 47 6.0 WATER QUALITY 54 6.1 Introduction 54 I 6.1.1 Objectives 54 6.1.2 Study Components 54 6.1.3 Methods 54 6.2 Hydrological Setting and Water Use 55 f 6.2.1 Hydrology 55 6.2.2 Water Development and Use 57 6.3 Influence of Geology on Water Quality 58 I 6.4 Metal Toxicity and Aquatic Ecosystems 61 6.5 Results 61 6.5.1 Sampling Locations 61 I 6.5.2 Analysis Results 61 6.6 Comparison with Other Studies 66 6.6.1 Department of Mineral Resources 66 I 6.6.2 Aquatic Biota Study 66 6.7 Implications 67 I 7.0 ARCHAEOLOGY 73 7.1 Introduction 73 7.1.1 Objectives 73 7.1.2 Study Components 73 I 7.2 The Environment of the Study Area 73 7.3 Previous Archaeological Investigations 74 7.4 Types of Sites 74 I 7.4.1 Stone Quarries 74 7.4.2 Surface Scatters of Stone 74 Ar tef acts I 7.4.3 Burial Sites 75 7.4.4 Ceremonial Sites 75 7.4.5 Scarred Trees 76 7.4.6 Rock Art Sites 76 I 7.5 Fieldwork - Procedures and Results 76 7.5.1 The Lady Hampden and White Rock 76 Areas I 7.5.2 The Exploration Licences 77 7.5.3 Discussions with Local 77 Informants 11 I I CONTENTS (cont'd) Page 7.6 Discussion 79 I 7.7 Recommendations 80 7.8 References 80 1 APPENDIX A Vegetation A-i Rainforest Species List. 81 A-2 Scierophyli Forest, Fringing Woodland, 85 I Cleared and Disturbed Vegetation Species. APPENDIX B Fauna B-i Herpetofauna Species Checklist. 89 I B-2 Avifauna Species Checklist. 94 B-3 Mammal Species Checklist. 105 I APPENDIX C Water Analyses (SGS Australia Pty. Ltd.) 107 109 I APPENDIX D Principal Mineral Deposits at Drake I I I I I I I I 5 I I I (iv) PLATES Page 1. Mining near Drake Ca. 1900, possibly White 6 Rock mine. 2. Mining near Drake Ca. 1900, probably Lady 7 Hampden mine. 3. Drake township ca. 1900. 8 4. Drake township 1981. 9 5. Sawmill at Drake. 9 6. Land clearing for power-line easement. 10 7. Mount Richmond Trig station. 16 8. Ecotone between rainforest and wet 17 sclerophyll forest. 9. Wet sclerophyll forest: Eucalyptus 20 acmenioides - E. propingua - E. microcorys association. 10. Dry sclerophyll forest: Eucalyptus maculata - 21 E. paniculata association. 11. Cleared forest grasslands: Paspalum dilatatum 22 - Axonopus affinis association. 12. Tailings dam at Silver King mine. 24 13. Sterilised ground near Silver King mine. 25 14. Erosion of tailings dam at Silver King mine. 25 15. Mullockheaps near White Rock mine. 26 16. Lady Hampden open cut mine. 26 17. Lady Hampden pit. 27 18. An undescribed tortoise found during the 34 survey. 19. Crooked Creek. 42 20. Plumbago Creek. 43 21. Cataract River. 45 22. White Rock Gully. 45 23. Abandoned copper mine near Drake. 59 24. White Rock mine. 64 25. Cedar Log Creek. 65 26. Water runoff from mullock heaps. 67 I FIGURES fU Page 1. Locality Map. 1 2. Principal Features and Land Use Map (in envelope) ' 3. Vegetation Map (in envelope) 4. Clarence River Basin and Regional Drainage Map. 56 ' 5. Schematic Representation of Metal Contamination from Mineralized and tjnmineralized Catchments. 60 6. Surface Drainage and Sampling Locations Map (in envelope). I 1 I I I I I I I I (vi) TABLES Page 5.1 Aquatic Biota Sampling Sites. 48 5.2 Biota Collected at Sampling Sites: 49 Algae, Diatoms and Fungi. 5.3 Biota Collected at Sampling Sites: 51 Invertebrates. 5.4 Classification and Quality of Aquatic 53 Habitats. 6.1 Clarence River at Tabulam, Flow Frequency 57 Averages. 6.2 Clarence Basin Water Resource and Use. 57 6.3 Water Quality Sample Station Locations. 62 6.4 Results of Water Quality Analyses. 63 6.5 Sampling Location Subcatchment Areas. 65 6.6 Department of Mineral Resources, Sample 69 Station Locations, June 1980. 6.7 Department of Mineral Resources, Water 70 Quality Results, June 1980. - 6.8 Department of Mineral Resources, Stream 71 Sediment Analyses. 6.9 Qualitative Comparison of Water Quality 72 Indicators. I 1.0 INTRODUCTION I 1.1 Context Aberfoyle Exploration Pty. Ltd. are the operators of a joint venture with Mt. Carrington Mines Ltd. to explore I and develop several prospects around Drake, a small town in northern New South Wales, about 70 km west of Casino. Drilling continues to determine more fully the extent and I grade of mineralisation, but results to date indicate sub-economic deposits of silver, gold, copper, lead and zinc. Further reserves of silver will need to be I delineated to consider the feasibility of mining. The location of the project is shown in Figure 1. The present study initiates systematic environmental work associated with the project, which must ultimately meet two objectives: I permit the assessment of environmental effects and safeguards by government agencies; I define the status of the project area and surrounds prior to any development, as a basis for monitoring I its effects in operation. The present study is neither a full impact assessment nor I pre-operation baseline; however it addresses specifically what are believed to be the major issues raised by the proposal at this time. 1.2 Physical Setting Drake lies on the eastern slopes of the New England Range I in northeastern New South Wales, midway between Tenterfield and Lismore. The climate is cool subtropical, with rainfall of 1430 mm and a distinct wetter season from December to April. The average summer maximum temperature I is 300C and winter 200C. Terrain varies from steep and mountainous in the south, with a maximflni height of 1100 m A.S.L. at Mt. Richmond, to undulating hills in the I central and northern sectors of the study area (Figure 2) . Dry sclerophyll forest covers most of the study area, although large tracts have been cleared for agriculture, logging, power line easements and past mining activities. I Small pockets of rainforest are found in the south of the Gjrarc3 State Forest, a flora and fauna reserve which occupies about 50% of the study area. A dendritic pattern I of small streams drain toward the northeast where they meet the northerly flowing Clarence River. 2 The area's history, since European settlement, is dominated by mining. Silver, gold and copper mines at I White Rock and Lady Adeline were opened in 1886 and numerous shafts were sunk producing metals to the value of .250,000 prior to 1908. In all, nineteen major mineral deposits have been recorded at Drake (Appendix D) . Mining I waned from the early 1900's to the end of World War II, when North Broken Hill Limited revived exploration activities.