Appendix N: Biodiversity - Fauna and Threatened Species Report
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Arafura Resouces Ltd Nolans Environmental Impact Statement volume three N Biodiversity – Fauna and Threatened Species Report Appendix N Arafura Resources Limited Nolans Project Environmental Impact Statement Appendix N: Biodiversity - Fauna and Threatened Species Report May 2016 Executive summary Introduction GHD was engaged by Arafura Resources Ltd to undertake a range of biodiversity assessments of the Nolans Rare Earths Study area. This report presents information pertaining to fauna within and surrounding the Study area. The main objective of this report is to address the biodiversity assessment requirements (fauna component) of the Terms of Reference set by the Northern Territory Environment Protection Authority (NT EPA) for assessment of the Nolans Rare Earths Project. These Terms of Reference take into account formal assessment and approval under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act 1999, by way of the NT/Commonwealth bilateral environmental assessment process. This report describes the methods used and results obtained from desktop and field surveys spanning two main periods: late 2010 and early 2011, and mid-2015. The assessed area included the proposed mine site, processing site, accommodation facility, access roads, haul route, utilities corridor (potable water pipeline, water supply pipeline, power line corridor) and borefield area. The assessed area in 2010/11 also included a proposed haul route that has since been removed from the area of investigation. However, results from surveys in that area are discussed where relevant, because that area contained habitats that are similar to those in the current footprint. During the course of the assessments for this project, the Commonwealth Department of the Environment made changes to the threatened species lists considered under the EPBC Act. Two of these changes concern species identified for this project (Crest-tailed/Brush-tailed Mulgara and Southern Marsupial Mole). Accordingly, information in this report pertaining to those species was updated in May 2016 in an effort to keep the information as current and accurate as possible. This is discussed in section 1.5. Methods This assessment involved desktop and field methods. Desktop methods included reviews of Commonwealth and Northern Territory government database information relating to fauna, use of aerial imagery, and review of information and reports from earlier reviews and field assessments. Field methods were intensive and varied. In both 2010 and 2015, a range of sites was selected for sampling in a representative range of vegetation/habitat types. The choice of sites was made in an effort to maximise the likelihood of detecting fauna, including threatened species. Twelve sites were sampled in September 2010 and an additional 13 sites were sampled in April/May 2015. Survey methods follow the standard terrestrial vertebrate survey methods used by the Department of Land Resource Management (Appendix A in NT EPA 2013). At sites, and across the broader Study area, survey methods included the use of: Habitat assessment, baited Elliot-type traps, pitfall bucket traps, funnel traps, Anabat bat call detection, bird surveys (including instantaneous bird count), active search (diurnal), active search (nocturnal), motion-sensing cameras, opportunistic (incidental) observations and opportunistic snail searches. In December 2011, a targeted survey for Black-footed Rock-wallaby habitat within the mine site was conducted to address one of the project’s EPBC requirements. This survey GHD | Report for Arafura Resources Limited - Nolans Project Environmental Impact Statement | i was conducted using specific methods, as described in the report. Additional targeted fauna surveys will be undertaken in 2015 and reported separately. During the 2010 survey, 124 indigenous terrestrial fauna species were recorded including 16 mammals, 78 birds, 27 reptiles, two frogs and one invertebrate. During the 2015 survey, 130 indigenous terrestrial fauna species were recorded, including 21 mammals, 78 birds, 28 reptiles, two frogs and one invertebrate. Three introduced fauna species (all mammals) were also recorded in 2010 and five species (all mammals) in 2015. With both surveys combined, a total of 174 native terrestrial fauna species were recorded, including 25 mammals, 103 birds, 41 reptiles, three frogs and two invertebrates, and five introduced fauna species (all mammals). Compared with previous information from the area, the species counts from this assessment closely match those that have been recorded historically in the local area (DLRM database), suggesting that the survey methods and effort were effectively at sampled sampling the region’s fauna (acknowledging that more species would be detected with greater survey effort). Mammals Across both surveys, 25 native and five non-native mammal species were identified within the Study area. This is more than twice the number of native mammals that had previously been recorded on the DLRM list. The small list of mammalian fauna on the current DLRM database for this region suggests that insufficient fauna survey has occurred in the area, particularly in recent times. Four mammals recorded during the surveys are listed as threatened species. One is listed as Vulnerable under the EPBC Act (Black-footed Rock-wallaby, Petrogale lateralis), and four are listed as Near Threatened or Vulnerable under the Northern Territory’s Territory Parks and Wildlife Conservation (TPWC) Act (the Black-footed Rock-wallaby; and Brush-tailed Mulgara, Dasycercus blythi; Spectacled Hare-wallaby, Lagorchestes conspicillatus; and Northern Nailtail Wallaby, Onychogalea unguifera). The hare-wallaby and nailtail wallaby were detected as tracks and/or scats only – no individuals were seen. Birds Across both surveys, 103 native bird species were identified within the Study area. Each survey (i.e. 2010 and 2015) resulted in the detection of 78 bird species, but there was only 68% overlap in species detected. The survey results represent approximately 85% of species recorded historically within 20 km of the Study area (DLRM database). Four bird species recorded during the surveys are currently listed as threatened. All four are listed as Near Threatened under the TPWC Act. These are two large ground birds (Australian Bustard, Ardeotis australis, and Emu, Dromaius novaehollandiae), one small ground bird (Bush Stone-curlew, Burhinus grallarius), and one pigeon (Flock Bronzewing, Phaps histrionica). Reptiles Across both surveys, 41 native reptile species were identified within the Study area. Each survey (i.e. 2010 and 2015) resulted in the detection of similar reptile species numbers (27 and 28 respectively). The total across the two surveys appears to closely match the reptile species that are recorded for the 20 km area on the DLRM list. However, 20 reptile species in the DLRM list were not detected during this assessment, and 18 species detected during this assessment are not in the DLRM list. This suggests that the DLRM database inadequately describes the reptile fauna in this area, and that more survey work would be likely to result in the detection of more reptile species. ii | GHD | Report for Arafura Resources Limited - Nolans Project Environmental Impact Statement One reptile recorded in 2015 is currently listed as threatened: Great Desert Skink (Liopholis kintorei) - Vulnerable EPBC Act and Vulnerable TPWC Act. While no individuals were seen, a communal burrow system and reptile latrine was found that can only have been made by the Great Desert Skink. This was verified by identification of scats collected and by ecologists experienced with this species including Dr Rachel Paltridge (Desert Wildlife Services) and Dr John Read (Ecological Horizons) who both visited the warren and observed the collected scat. Frogs Three native frog species were identified within the Study area. Detecting frogs in arid country is highly seasonal, and typically, higher numbers are recorded in warm and wet conditions. For the 2015 survey, the conditions were cool and dry and not conducive to the detection of large numbers or high diversity of frogs. In 2010, a 24-hr period of heavy rainfall brought out small to moderate numbers of frogs, of a small number of species. No frog species that are known to occur in the vicinity of the Study area are currently listed as threatened species. Invertebrates Invertebrates are poorly known fauna. No invertebrate species are included in the DLRM list for the area. However, one species of snail listed as threatened under the TPWC has the potential to occur within the Study area. Targeted searches for snails and snail shells in apparently suitable habitat failed to detect the threatened species. Patterns of species richness and habitat specificity The native vegetation across the Study area can be broadly grouped into six fauna habitat types: Mulga woodland Spinifex-dominated grassland on sandplain Rocky rises Acacia and mallee shrubland/woodland Riparian woodland Non-spinifex grassland (occasionally with sparse open woodland). Three of these habitats dominate the area: Mulga woodland, Spinifex grassland sandplain and Rocky habitats. Overall, mulga woodland was the most species rich of the fauna habitats. This species richness was influenced by a high diversity of mammals and birds. Spinifex-dominated grassland on sandplain was also species-rich fauna habitat, with species richness influenced by high overall diversity of mammals and reptiles.